DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE SHORE

[phantasmods]

The morning of the 9th, everyone will get a message sent to their communication devices -

Okay, guys! I think we have enough stabilizers to try and get the shoreline stable. If you want to help out, grab your supplies and come on up to the roof!

When characters arrive at the roof, they'll find Top - with a wheeling table full of many copies of the same odd-looking device - the two exploratory drones, and a ramp down off the roof to the ground. (The latter looks a little hastily constructed.)

"Okay," Top says, picking up one of the devices. "Here's the stabilizers. Stick them to walls and stuff - mostly out of the way places where they're not going to get knocked off - and then press the buttons along the side."

They demonstrate, unfolding the set of legs at one end of the device before showing the buttons to anyone who's close enough. "Go ahead and take a couple, especially if you've got one of those space-saving inventories going on, I know there's like four of you with those? Strange got some first aid kits together, too, if you want."

Sure enough, another table nearby has the med kits... As well as traditional paper bag lunches, courtesy of Bottom. Don't question it too much.

"We'll be staying back here to keep track of the stabilization progress and work the drones," Top says, "but don't hesitate to call if you get in trouble! We'll send one of these guys down to get you an evac if you need it."

And with that, you're free to go down the ramp... Or to make for the beach however else you might choose to go.

Comments

[riderofcharlemagne]

You any good at swimming?

I'm sorry

[founderinglight]

[What's that about being a normal person, Noctis? Your ancestor can't hear you over ALL THESE FUCKING COMBAT BARDS and also the fact that he's warping in straight over your head, a certain familiar greatsword held one-handed for the strike -

He stops to wave before warping out of range again.]

[nightcure]

[ Are you kidding him right now. Noctis actually ducks to avoid him, and rolls his eyes. ]

Way to show off!

[ But he's warping, too, away from a strike meant for him. ]

[riderofcharlemagne]

Oh, really?

[He pauses in his haste to run off into the ocean.]

What was that like? Especially living in space.

[newlawtolight]

Watch out!

[She sounds way too cheerful to be worried about him being killed. More like she's watching someone while having a picnic.]

[superstylishsquid]

[Well, that certainly helps. The rip in the membrane finishes healing as the magic flows into him and he gives a nod.]

Thanks.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He chuckles at the particular way he's worded it.]

Ah, well- why spend your time chasing after experiences you've already had when you can go after brand new ones, right?

[byanyother_name]

[Of course he had to be deep in the caverns when all the ruckus started. At least he missed the glitterbomb? Kurama emerges from the cave mouth at a dead run, sliding to a halt in the sand as he squints in an attempt to see past the distortion around the bird.

....Tell him that isn't actually a giant seagull.

No, of course it is, this is his life now.

One of Kurama's hands slides into his hair as the other snaps up, palm out, and he's never even seen an Iron Man movie, to fire off an arrow of dark magic at the center of where the bird's body should be. Lightning from Pidonus' song trails the attack. If it hits, not only should it hurt, but it will make the bird easier to hurt.

The hand that went to his hair comes out with a rose, petals falling away as it transforms to a thorned whip.]

Of course, nothing is ever simple...

[fantasykiller]

"Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Touma let out a terrified scream as the winged horse began to thrash about in panic. He did his best to hang on to Wren using only his left arm, but every jolt from her airborne mount threatened to dislodge him from its back and send him plummeting to his death. Like a drowning man desperately seeking something to keep himself afloat, he instinctively reached out towards Wren with his right hand in order to better secure himself. It took nearly all his willpower to stop himself from touching her. The last thing they needed was for him to accidentally negate something important and doom them both. He had to endure.

Thankfully, the shaking stopped before his arm gave out. Relieved that they were now relatively stable, Touma tried to slow his erratic breathing and calm his thumping heart.

"O-oh, right," Touma stammered. He had been so preoccupied with his fear that he nearly forgot why he was risking his life ridding a magical flying horse to begin with. "Can you try flying above it?"

[thoroff]

"I can, but if I'm going to get anywhere near that thing, you're explaining why first."

Like. Touma did see what it did to that landshark, right?

[fantasykiller]

"I need you fly above it so I can jump onto its back. Otherwise, I can't negate its camouflaging ability."

His plan was the definition of insanity. Despite witnessing the strength of the massive seagull, he still fully intended on throwing himself at it.

[thoroff]

Insanity indeed. Wren is honestly at a loss for words for a moment.

"You want to—Are you mad?!"

[fantasykiller]

"Don't worry, it's not like I need you to stay close to it for long. You don't even need to stop. I can make the jump while you zoom right pass it. That way you can minimize the chance of getting hurt."

Touma tried his best to reassure her. Unfortunately, he seemed to have completely misinterpreted her reaction.

[thoroff]

"That is not the issue here! That creature will tear you apart! Don't you have any concern for your own life?"

She's kind of one to talk there, but.

[fantasykiller]

"Of course I do! I'm absolutely terrified of dying! If I can avoid it, I'd rather not risk my life. Do you honestly think I want to sacrifice myself fighting something as ridiculous as a giant seagull? Hell no! I want nothing more than to abandon this fight and run away! But I can't do that."

Touma gestured at all the people below fighting the seagull.

"Everybody here is risking their lives trying to battle that thing. How can I abandon this fight knowing that? Even if I can't do much, I still want to help," His eyes shone with unwavering conviction. "Please fly me to that seagull. This is something only I can do. Without its camouflage, I'm certain we can end this battle quickly."

[thoroff]

Well, she certainly wasn't expecting such an impassioned speech. Wren looks into Touma's eyes, sees the determination within, and there's no way she can deny him. With a sigh, she nods, before looking outward again, seeking the gull's new position.

"...Fine. You'd better ready yourself."

[fantasykiller]

Touma flashed her a confident grin.

"I've been ready. Now lets go take down that stupid seagull!"

[bulletnews]

[Well, it's not like her to show up late, but it seems almost like everyone's having trouble.

Though Aya does note there's a few among the fighters she hasn't seen before...

She can't see it yet, but she's at least going to blow some high-powered gusts at the Seagullord to ground it, or at least disrupt its flight.]

[thoroff]

With no more words and only a second or two's delay, Wren pushes Catria to dash forth, closing the distance between them and their quarry in no time flat. She grits her teeth as they draw nearer, until they're close enough to feel the force of the massive bird's wingflaps...

And she yells "Now!" at the top of her lungs. Time seems to slow as she waits for Touma to make the jump — and then, the moment he's off, she immediately pulls Catria into a sharp rise to escape the bird's reach as quickly as possible.

[bulletnews]

That's true.

[She's just not going to name herself.]

Or it could just go away once things get more stable. I'm not sure how this will work.

[fantasykiller]

Touma leaped from Catria without any hesitation. A sense of weightlessness briefly filled him before being quickly replaced with instinctive fear. Despite this being his second time voluntarily jumping into open air, he couldn't stop himself from screaming. His screams, thankfully, were muffled by the turbulent winds surrounding him as he descended towards his destination.

Like a dropped package from a high-speed bomber, Touma was set to impact the monstrous seagull. Once he makes contact, its mirage-like cloaking will be negated thanks to his Imagine Breaker.

[have_hat_will_travel]

[Pidonus focuses on her dance.]

I can't do too many of these in one day, keep your focus up!

[have_hat_will_travel]

I'm no Sirene, but I took a couple ranks after one incident, so... I'm okay?

[phantasmods]

[The seagull tries to bank out of the way of the thrown sword, but can't quite make it. It's a grazing hit, but still a hit! A couple of large feathers come loose along the electrified slash in the bird's side, though the sword will continue to fall unless Alastor does a thing.]

[phantasmods]

[WHY IS THIS

This time the bird has to beat the air frantically to stay airborne. It's too bad most of the others are occupied with glitter eyes, because one good shot - ]