[21:16:19] The seas were rough, wind and weather never favourable about the islands of old. Between scars of the land capable of splitting boats in two, waves strong enough to capsize them or even the rowdy creatures of the sea, Agartha was always an exciting tourist destination to sail around. But the group of daring individuals landed safely upon the shores of one of the minor islands surrounding Agartha itself, one entirely uncharted.

It was in the dead of night, perhaps out of curiosity, against better judgement that they now stood upon the sands, before what was no doubts to be challenging dangers. The wind around them howled, as light rain trinkled down above them, not quite hard enough to soak the group from intial contact, but never quite pleasant should they linger in it.

The air here was foul with Occultisc presence, that much was certain to Excorcist and Occultist alike-- far more potent than any normal group or person could ever exude. It was twisted beyond telling, butin the ways more akin to biological terror than anything else.

What were before them? Uncertainty. Time would be the one telling.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[21:21:03] It's dark and it's quiet. Of course. It had to be. There's never much in the region to see, especially when they make landfall in an uncharted location. It's like the very first days of Agartha, when rapid expansion, colonization and arming was necessary. Thankfully, the man was a scout and a damn good one at that. Low Light Vision came in handy against all odds and whatever this foul presence in the distance was, the purple haired man akinned it to that of the Dread Forest.

There's always something odd, off or outright Bipolar in the region after all. Nothing is truly light, nothing is truly dark. One can't ever be too sure after all.

"Any objections to me scouting the region out?"

With one Mythril Knife in hand and eyesights peeled to watch for any sudden moves, anomalies or motions, the man steps before the group. Before long, moonlight shall shine in the region and luck is on their side, no clouds will cover what meager light it provides. It's good to have low light vision and experience in scouting out dark areas.

"First come, first serve and all that jazz. Better to know what we're up against than going in blind."
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[21:21:17] Tarquin stared out into the blackness, his hunger rising in his belly both out of curiosity at this new ominous twist on an old recipe and also out of defensive anxiety. He was at home in the dark, sure, but this was unfamiliar territory! He wouldn't be too keen on stumbling around all fumble-fingers. He went to pat Rilla on the small of her back before thinking better of it, in his state.

"Well dear, it's your show. How do you want to play this?"
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[21:21:21] For a woman who had fared the seas since her childhood, this was still rather rough to traverse. In fact, all the rocking nearly made her sick. But she did not get sick, instead, she'd hold herself together and move forwards.

The island had something wrong with it, like it was tainted. There was that looming presence, and everything about this island just felt wrong. Nevertheless, she'd keep pushing forwards.

She was the first to step off the boat, stepping into the sands and into the rain. It was very much so not her cup of tea, but this was all of the sake of knowledge. She wanted to learn more, she wanted to know more.

As the rest of the crew stepped out, Aesperus would look inwards towards the islan, and mutter one phrase.

"Fuck. I can't believe I've done this."
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[21:21:30] LOOC - Aesperus Entreri: [*island
[21:22:44] It was on short notice, but the reclusive Occultist had opted to join the locals on an expedition when the opportunity had arisen. He carries himself confidently as the Magi collectively disembark, curious blue eyes squinting into the darkness beyond as he treads the sand.

What wonders would be found here, if any at all...?

"Reminds me of the Dreadwoods." He passively observes, sparing his allies a few meaningful words as he waits patiently their decision-- Gorou was not in charge here by any means, content but to follow as long as it suited him to do so.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[21:22:45] Raindrops steam right off of the hulking Jianghese's skin and armour as he squints into the dark ahead. He might have seen a shape darting through the blackness-- But it might just be nothing. He worries too much. Paranoid, probably!

"Don't seem like a good idea to me... I say we advance steadily. Keep a formation. Eyes in all directions. Last time I came to an island, met all kinds of mutants."

His new sword, Dai Tseng's sword, s whipped from his back. The weight is still unfamiliar.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:24:04] Melli lurked mostly behind the others of the expedtionary party, silvery eyes flickering left right and center on the dot to a rhythm unknown. No, wait! It was exactly known! A warm, campy tune with only a subtle introduction of spookiness was played by her with gut strings, to keep spirits up in the dead dark.

She was still dripping water, from having slipped into the ocean on the way by means of overcuirousity, but it didn't seem it was going to get her down! Yet...
(Melli)
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[21:27:35] LOOC - Wilhelm Bishop: (Too bad there's no overlay for drizzling rain.)
[21:27:49] Rilla would look out over the island. Already she could feel the looming presence of the Occult over the island. It's foul air reacting to her holy magic...

The weather itself was foreboding. Wind and rain blew and fell around them... This wouldn't be a cakewalk. More then likely, this was going to be one of the hardest challenges that any in Agartha had faced up to this point.

Rilla would hold her hand out in front of Wilhelm, as he suggested he went on ahead...

"Yes, in fact. We're all scouting this time Wilhelm. If it were something safe enough to send you in alone, we would have done so first. We're sticking together through this."

Rilla would nod, before looking to Tarquin now.

"We'll move ahead, slowly. We'll want... Gorou in front. Seeing as how he's an Occultist, if we were to run into any traps around that magic then I imagine they'd have the least effect on him. Wilhelm right behind him to see, Aesperus in the back, then Sima in front of her, with me, you, and Melli in the middle."

Rilla would look to the rest of the group now, to see if they agreed with the formation she suggested.

(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[21:29:14] Sima Kang says, "...Well! Guess yer up, Gorou."
[21:29:16] Aesperus Entreri says, "Sounds like a plan to me."
[21:29:32] Aesperus Entreri says, "Sima, allow me to keep hold of your shoulder when we travel."
[21:29:35] Gorou Sasaki says, "If there's any interiors, send your own undead ahead-- else, fine."

[21:29:36] Whatever the party decided, the path was clear. Whoever made this place originally had been kind to make stairs.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[21:29:43] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I got your back, big man."
[21:29:55] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "... anyone brought marking flares or lumber?"
[21:30:06] Aesperus Entreri says, "... I've got a lot of acorns."
[21:30:10] Sima Kang says, "I got lumber, actually! "
[21:30:15] Wilhelm Bishop says, "This rain'll make for low enough visibility and that's a bad sign."

[21:30:21] Rilla nods
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[21:30:30] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Before we move up ahead Sima, put down a small bonfire. We'll use it to keep track of our pathway."

[21:30:42] Melli plops some useless trash on the ground as she leers suspiciously at the dark.
(Melli)
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[21:30:44] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... there's not all that much moonlight..."
[21:30:52] Sima Kang says, "Dair 'nuff..."
[21:31:00] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... I'll take that."
[21:31:06] Aesperus Entreri says, "Too many skeletons."
[21:31:13] Wilhelm Bishop says, "The man's right."
[21:31:15] Aesperus Entreri says, "It ruins the SOUP."
[21:31:16] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Send the undead ahead."
[21:31:17] Sima Kang exclaims, "Let's get movin'!"
[21:31:27] Gorou illuminates his own way as he moves to the front, the crystal of his staff glowing a soft purple.
(Gorou Sasaki)
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[21:31:36] Melli says, "... hey, they've only one life left, know..."

[21:31:45] Tarquin nods, ordering his team to go ahead and make noise if they encounter something.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[21:31:48] Wilhelm Bishop says, "But they're a hell of a lot hardier than they look."
[21:31:55] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I'll have eyes and ears on 'em."

[21:32:03] Aesperus produces a clone to watch out behind the crew.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[21:32:10] Wilhelm Bishop exclaims, "Rest of the team, single file line!"
[21:32:19] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "What the hell was that...?"
[21:32:33] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I saw some movement up ahead."
[21:32:45] Tarquin Brubeck asks, "Was it one of mine?"
[21:32:49] Wilhelm Bishop says, "No."
[21:33:00] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck asks, "Doubtful. Further up these cliffs yes?"
[21:33:02] Wilhelm Bishop says, "It brustled against the trees... far too big for that."

[21:34:47] A mountain came into view before the group. Slanted stairs lead the up the side of it, but the granite was smooth and slippery. The unkeen might have found themselves slipping, where the more wary likely would not. As they ascended, the feeling of warped nature grew stronger and stronger.

It was like the air was getting thicker already.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[21:35:15] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Remember, these are Agarthan ruins. We're liable to run into Demons and Daemons. Presumably angry ones..."

[21:37:04] Maybe things could get her down.

As Melli's feet hit the stairs, the oppressive aura of the world abound and her own song acting her distraction caused her to- hit a hit on the harsh stone, releasing a faint, hissing, "Eeeeee..."

And with it came a twang as her song hit a grave error, but she recovered the music and her legs, both shakier than before. On a painful rise she looks up to Wilhelm to see...
(Melli)
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[21:39:41] "Stop."

Past the drizzle, past the wind, past the subtle brustling of leaves, bushes and trees, the man grinds to a halt on these forsaken stairs. Sea brine and moss tend to make the pathways slippery and seeking elevation is good and dandy. However, that also means making the trek back is just as dangerous. They're literally heading in for the high ground without confirming or watching for anything or sudden possible incomings everywhere else.

It's a dangerous and risky endeavor.

But one that the group seems to be willing to immediately take.

Once the group grinds to a halt, Wilhelm kneels down immediately, with one knife in hand and the other to the ground. The drizzling in the region is likely to make this task somewhat harder... but the man begins to search for footprints, signs of wildlife on the ground and marks or disturbances in the nearby trees. The grass is grasped tofeel the moist dirt, while purple eyes scan the nearby tree lines for any sort of tampering.

"I know I saw something. I want to get a feel for what it is before we go up ahead."

Years spent gathering reagents, hunting wild game for food and sneaking through the Gehennan Badlands have shored up this man's tracking skills. He won't let some meager hunter immediately prowl up and get the jump on them before they notice they're treading into it's hunting grounds.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[21:44:17] Aesperus is cursing and muttering under her breath about climbing, but goes silent as Wilhelm starts speaking. There was some pride on her face, and she'd give Wilhelm a thumbs up.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[21:45:14] Rilla would stop. She knew better then to not heed the words of the experienced scout. It was one of the reasons she'd set him just behind Gorou in the first place anyways...

She'd remain silent as he went to work, watching as he kneeled down ands began to look over the surrounding area. She felt the instinct to back away, but knew that that could just lead to her covering up something important, so for now she would stay still.

She would give him a nod, before taking a moment to look around herself. Though nowhere near as thoroughly. She would simply look to the treeline, in case they missed something obvious while searching so thoroughly.
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[21:45:24] The Occultist of the party pauses, however displeased for the delay as he waits for Wilhelm to go about his work-- a note of impatience in his tone as he makes his own assessment.

"No doubt, there's Demons around here. We know that, and we're prepared for it... let's not waste any more time. If any of you are incompetent enough to be taken by surprise by these things, you probably deserve to die anyway."

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[21:46:30] Sima grunts a bit as they halt. Again.

"Give 'em a couple more years t'set somethin' up, why don't we."

Sword passes from hand to hand anxiously. This needs to get /done/.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:49:21] Slowly making his way up the cliffside, he drew his own dagger and went flush against the rock wall when Wilhelm bade them to stop. Pushing his fingers into the stone for leverage, he pulled himself up to peer over the ledge. The scout wasn't the only one who had spent time in infiltration school, but from what he could see this wouldn't be a hunting grounds per se.

"This could be an ambush point. The narrow paths, the one stairway leading up. If they're set up, they've been set up since they saw us build that fire." He nodded down to the beach, a single mote of light in the hazy gloom flickering in the distance.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[21:53:00] If there had been anything stalking the woods, it was certainly gone now. Fresh prints were visible in the muddied ground around where Wilhelm stood, from something far more nasty than any normal wood-dwelling critter.

But that was the only sign of it. They were headed up the mountain. If they dared venture onwards, the party would find the plateau to be split by age and weather; a new challenge to overcome. They would need to pass, to proceed.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[21:54:33] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... these tracks are way bigger than anything I've seen before..."
[21:54:47] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... and it was here recently. With this drizzle, I can't tell where it went."
[21:54:47] Sima Kang says, "Seen much bigger. Don't you worry."
[21:54:58] Gorou Sasaki says, "It seems we are in need of a Fairy."
[21:54:58] Tarquin Brubeck says, "We shall be mindful of the beast that made them on the way back."
[21:55:19] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... judging by depth and size, I'd say it's also heavy."
[21:55:22] Sima Kang says, "Naw, you'll be alright. Me n' Melli can handle any falls."
[21:55:35] Melli says, "Under our feet... lay a viridian path... to victory it does le-"
[21:55:41] Gorou Sasaki says, "No, to build a bridge-- it's a joke."
[21:55:41] Melli says, "... ah... there the path goes.."

[21:55:43] Sima, demonstratively, rises effortlessly off his feet.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:55:59] Melli says, "- ah, yes, yes, verily funny, Mister Gorou..."
[21:56:02] Melli says, "Ihahah..."
[21:56:24] Tarquin Brubeck asks, "Well... I mean that practically settles it, no?"
[21:56:26] Aesperus Entreri asks, "If you two can float, then why don't you just float all of us across?"
[21:56:27] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Aside from the winds..."
[21:56:47] Aesperus Entreri asks, "... Hey Tarquin, do you think we could form a clone-bridge out of both of our clones?"
[21:57:17] Tarquin Brubeck says, "It might be a bit wide, but we can try."
[21:57:22] Sima Kang says, "I got it in me t'carry someone. Don't see why not."
[21:57:23] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... I do have some rope we could use too."

[21:57:23] Rilla looks between the hole, and the large trees...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[21:57:26] Tarquin Brubeck says, "They are though, I should stress... ILLUSORY."
[21:57:39] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Wait. What if..."
[21:57:42] Melli says, "Whatever you wish me to..."
[21:57:44] Tarquin Brubeck says, "So USING them as a bridge might be ill-advised."
[21:57:48] Sima Kang says, "...Good plan t'make a bridge that doesn't exist."
[21:58:01] Sima Kang asks, "Who wants carryin' first?"

[21:58:01] Aesperus Entreri says, "If you think it exists your mind will carry you over there."
[21:58:06] Aesperus taps her temple.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[21:58:09] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We're strong enough to take these trees down quickly. And they look large enough to cover the gap..."
[21:58:22] Wilhelm Bishop says, "That's also a pretty good idea."
[21:58:35] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We set three or four of them across it, we could make a makeshift bridge large enough to account for the winds."
[21:58:40] Tarquin Brubeck says, "I can strap them together."
[21:58:58] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Alright. Enough talking."
[21:59:03] Aesperus Entreri asks, "Trees it is?"

[21:59:16] Rilla nods
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[21:59:22] Sima Kang asks, "I... I guess? You want me t'pull the one on the other side down?"
[21:59:32] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I also have the rope for it too."

[21:59:34] Without further delay, Tarquin drew and swung Caesura in one smooth motion, in an attempt to fell the nearby tree.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[21:59:39] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Just gotta knock 'em down."
[22:00:06] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "If you'd like. Though I think it might be better for you to try and get across to be on the other end to catch them."

[22:00:15] Gorou stands off to the side, letting them work out a means-- one he would find acceptable, hopefully.
(Gorou Sasaki)
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[22:00:15] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "If you think you could make it with the winds"
[22:00:31] The tree was soon felled! To be used for whatever clever ploys the Neries found in his thoughts.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[22:00:38] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I imagine we could get them over on this side, but it'd be easier with support on the other side"
[22:00:50] Sima Kang says, "Well! I'm not wastin' time, then."
[22:00:53] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "Sima, you got a good arm?"
[22:00:59] Sima Kang asks, "Wh-- Yeah?"
[22:01:00] Aesperus Entreri asks, "Did someone say good arm?"
[22:01:01] Gorou Sasaki says, "Those adept in physical enhancement could just... leap over."
[22:01:01] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Make sure to take your time first, test the waters"
[22:01:03] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I can probably hook this rope over on a tree on the other side."
[22:01:04] Gorou Sasaki says, "Just saying."
[22:01:11] Wilhelm Bishop says, "And we tug the tree down."
[22:01:18] Sima Kang says, "Wilhelm."
[22:01:24] Sima Kang says, "I am /flyin'/."
[22:01:29] Melli says, "... reasonable people might just grasp the rocks and climb over..."
[22:01:32] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... Fuck it."
[22:01:33] Aesperus Entreri says, "I mean... Could just leap over, like Gorou said."
[22:01:45] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "The winds would blow you off course."
[22:01:54] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I'll join you on the otherside."
[22:01:55] Aesperus Entreri says, "Ah, fair point."
[22:01:57] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "The rain is going to make the rock slick, and dangerous to climb"

[22:02:11] Sima wastes no more time, and with a small *boom* of force, moves to shoot himself directly across. No dainty floating.
(Sima Kang)
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[22:02:18] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Sima can fly, so he'll be fine. We'll let him go to the other side, and pass him the logs across"
[22:02:27] Melli exclaims, "For children, maybely!"

[22:02:53] Stripping the tree of extraneous branches, save for a few towards the top for stability's sake, Tarquin used his massive strength to heft the lumber across the gap. With a sigh, he moved to the next tree to repeat the process.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[22:03:18] While Sima employed his gravitational means to fly on over to the other side, Wilhelm took a step back to get a running start... and charge his way over at high speeds to make the leap of the gap. Wilhelm was a spry, acrobatic and speedy bastard. A small jump like this shouldn't be much issue!
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[22:03:21] Well, now that Tarquin was doing that, she'd join him and assist with the tree felling.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:03:32] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Wilhelm, wait-"

[22:03:43] Melli only rubs her head with the head of her instrument, seeming some sort of bothered by all of this. She lets out a huff she hadn't even known she was holding, and changes the tune of the song, a tune of sarradian nights lifting her from the ground to float at the cliff's edge- almost mocking th-
(Melli)
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[22:03:47] This tree, too, would soon know the might of the Cardinal, slayer of all things lush and partially corrupted by dark magic.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[22:03:54] Rilla goes to stop Wilhelm. Though it's doubtful she'd be fast enough
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[22:04:18] Melli grasps at Wilhelm on the way.
(Melli)
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[22:04:26] Aesperus attempts to dive for him.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:04:36] Tarquin is just curious.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[22:05:38] Aaand Wilhelm flies right across. Brace for a slippery landing in dirty far too muddy and watery to provide any friction.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[22:05:51] The towering Redeemer puts both arms around the tree on his side... And just tries to RIP IT straight out of the ground to lay it across the gap. No fancy stuff.
(Sima Kang)
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[22:05:52] Having completed a second bridge component, Tarquin goes to work on the third.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[22:08:25] Melli says, "-.. Wil- oh."
[22:08:32] This jump is a cake walk. No meager drizzling winds have any hope of knocking him off to the ground that easily. However? Muddied grounds, slippery slopes and uneven terrain does! So the second his footing hits the ground, the man is forced to kneel and to jam his knife to the earth to catch their footing. Urgh... some of that slop got in his mouth. Disgusting.

The water pools up on this cliff. It doesn't filter. It also tastes like an animal has been here recently. Ugh.

"Ptf! Ptooh! Eurgh... I'm gonna need some mouth wash after this."

And now his city clothes are all dirty and muddied up. Great. Shortly after, he stands up from his position to keep his eyes peeled on the other side.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[22:08:49] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We, are not risking that. "
[22:09:09] Melli says, "Relax, it is only but a couple hundred meters down."
[22:09:21] Wilhelm Bishop says, "It looks more like a fifty foot drop."
[22:09:23] Aesperus Entreri says, "... Couple hundred meters."
[22:09:27] Aesperus Entreri says, "Fifty feet."
[22:09:30] Aesperus Entreri says, "There's a large difference."
[22:09:36] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Damn straight."
[22:09:48] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "What. None o' y'all ever done rock climbing before?"
[22:10:07] Aesperus Entreri says, "I have, but the leader of this mission does not want me to tempt fate."

[22:10:09] Aesperus shrugs.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:10:13] Sima pulls the tree up, roots and all. A rather astounding feat, really, or it would have been, had they been ordinary humans. Three trees would probably do the trick for something relatively safe.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[22:10:25] Rilla nods
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[22:10:52] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I've not been rock climbing either, but I'm smart enough to know not to go hopping around when the terrain is slick and wet."
[22:11:12] Melli says, "It is something you learn when you are a clumsy child..."

[22:11:13] Sima thrusts a hand out, palm facing up. Prepared to lift with gravity if someone happens to fall.

"Think yer good!"
(Sima Kang)
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[22:11:29] Melli says, "... or Wilhelm."
[22:12:14] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Spend a couple of years scouting the Badlands and you learn how to scramble up a mountain side real quick."
[22:12:28] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Anywho. Lemme help tie down these logs..."
[22:13:53] Tarquin had already started on three three on his end, and four would be extra safe! He placed it down beside the rest, and then the finishing touch began.

Tendrils of cosmic ichor, the inky magics of the Dreamer, oozed from the shadows and wrapped around the makeshift bridge. Holding the four trees together snugly, filling in the cracks between them to prevent shifting, he nodded to the rest.

"Alright everyone, let's go. Keep low, try to keep three points of contact at all times, and don't fall over."
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[22:14:17] Once the trees are down, Sima's defenses are set in place and the logs have been felled down to the ground... Wilhelm produces a small length of rope with some nails. Gear for a tent to be sure. He begins to help in affixing the log's width down to the ground. The ground and terrain is slippery after all... don't want these logs slipping and rolling off at last second. Also, having an escape route available is also good.

Although to be fair, he's not doing much else to help at this rate save fixing the trees into place.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[22:15:26] Well, not that they were done just pussyfooting around, the woman would start on her way. Like Tarquin said, three points of contact at all times, so she'd get on all fours.

It looked extremely odd, but when you came from Aesperus' line of work, scouting, to a soldier, you did whatever you could to get the mission done.

And boy howdy was that mission done. She'd, hopefully, get to the other side with no problems.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:15:32] LOOC - Aesperus Entreri: [*now
[22:16:03] Melli shakes her head almost exasperatedly, but it was Rilla's mission, sure! She continues to float on past the edge, whilst strumming a song of wind-stilling that sung through the air smoothly and jazzily.

She sure was loud.
(Melli)
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[22:16:32] Rilla would nod. With the logs secured, and the path safe, it would seem they were ready for their journey to continue.

Rilla would look over the log bridge. Four wide, to give them room to stumble. Secured by magic of the dreamer, and rope... Despite it's simple make, the sheer presence of the magic likely made it a stronger bridge at most...

After Aesperus, Rilla would follow behind. Maintaining three points of contact, she would be sure to cross cautiously, but quickly. So as to not fall off...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[22:16:53] It had taken longer than anticipated, but the makeshift bridge was finally done with. The Izhuran does not lead this time, hardly reluctant as he steps upon the logs and finds his footing-- as steady as any self-respecting ice magi ought be as he crosses.

There really shouldn't be any problems.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[22:18:53] Aesperus peers down the side of the mountain. Is she able to see that structure down there? Who knows.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:19:07] LOOC - Rilla Lithia-Brubeck: (And there goes the light)
[22:19:18] The tippy top, perhaps! It's quite dark, after all.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[22:19:34] Sima Kang exclaims, "Well, time's wastin'!"
[22:19:41] LOOC - Narrator Butterfly: (The heck.)
[22:19:45] Aesperus would stare at it for a moment longer then follow behind Sima.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:19:49] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Indeed. We're across, so let's move on..."
[22:20:02] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Let's keep moving."
[22:20:03] Aesperus Entreri says, "Yeah... Somethin' like that. Though I thought I saw something down there."
[22:20:29] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "Whaddya see?"
[22:20:50] Aesperus Entreri says, "Looked like the top of some building."
[22:21:01] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Probably some ruins."
[22:21:09] Wilhelm Bishop says, "We can check them out later."

[22:22:51] The party ventures further up the mountainside, not hindered by a bugged set of stairs at all. The entrance to a came comes into vision past plants and foilage, damp air clearly felt through the draft from further within. It had an exit, somewhere. But the air within? It would reek of something rotten. It wasn't your usual undead-type of rot. No, this rot belonged to plants and the like-- yet-living, biological matter.

Would they dare enter?
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[22:22:52] Aesperus Entreri says, "Definitely."

[22:23:28] SIMA KANG DARES...
(Sima Kang)
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[22:23:48] Aesperus dares as well, since she has a hand on his shoulder.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:23:59] LOOC - Rilla Lithia-Brubeck: (I'm following Wilhelm so is good)
[22:24:00] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... smells like decay. Half eaten meal."
[22:24:08] Rilla also dares
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[22:24:26] Wilhelm doesn't dare as immediately as the others.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[22:24:36] Tarquin flips his cloak around to reveal, instead of an eye, the words DARE MASTER on the back!
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[22:24:59] Tarquin does this metaphorically.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[22:25:13] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "It's the Occult most likely, brought to it's extreme. Holy and Occult brought to their most extreme can be just as corrupting on the land as any other magic we use."

[22:26:25] Melli 's song wavered even further; spooked? Who was afraid?
(Melli)
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[22:27:13] Gorou Sasaki says, "Sounds like nonsense to me. Demons are demons-- out for themselves."
[22:27:37] Sima Kang says, "Well, everythin' else here's dead."
[22:27:43] Aesperus Entreri says, "No, no, they had a great civilization a long while back."
[22:28:30] Gorou Sasaki says, "I strongly doubt."
[22:28:48] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "It's hard to doubt when we saw some of their ruins just outside the cave."

[22:33:32] The cave they enter remains about as dark as the ouside, holding to it an echo upon rounded walls. The air is hard to breathe and almost every surface is coated in purple-esque, tar-like fungal growths. Exorcists and Occultists in particular find themselves repulsed by it as they venture deeper inside. It reeks of ancient, once-potent magic faded to time, now in the form of something wholly wrong.

The cave opens up into a larger room, donned with a field of purple, trees and rather large mushrooms of purple-glowing nature, almost the size of a person. They don't look quite friendly at all. Among more, grizzled howls and roars are soon heard, something stalks out of the darkness, coated in tar-like plantgrows and toadstools. The demon's eyes are glazed over, flesh molded and sagging where fungi didn't touch.

It was old. Much too old, kept from miserable death, only by all the more miserable life.

The back of the cavern held more such shrieking, asa second demon made itself known.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[22:41:06] As the group began to progress further into the caverns, it would be made clear as they ventured forth into the darkness that there were other lingering... nefarious presences nearby them.

There was a strange, quaint smell in the air. Air akin to that of a musky sewer, yet with not as much stink. The air was humid and little spores could be seen lingering in the space before their eyes should they focus long enough.

Could this be some sort of phenomenon paved way by more spires influence?


Little tiny sentient fungi, it seemed, scrambled around the fringes of their vision skittering with eerie little cries.

It didn't take long, though, for the ground to begin shaking after the first sight of these creatures.

"AGHRRRRRRRRRRRAGHAGH—" the creature was roaring unintelligibly, it seemed robbed of all its intelligence as it charged forward. The demon bore semblance to a Kaor Demon or Yokai of some sort, yet flagrant throughout his complexion was a deep rot settled in with roots canalizing the exterior of its skin. Grotesque mushrooms sprouted all over the place, sporadically protruding through its epidermis as the fungal growth penetrated deeper into its skin.

The head was completely replaced by a mass of mushroom growth, the cortex of the creature's brain and control system evidently taken over by the parasitic organism.

As it walked, it oozed aggressive, more foul-smelling spores that seemed to attack onto nearby wildlife and fauna and begin assimilating it.

Absolutely terrifying.
(Vasniir)
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[22:46:27] This was terrifying indeed. As the woman stepped in her eyes would widen, this place, it was simply vile. At that point was when she started to notice the figures running around them. It was something akin to a little kid's nightmare.

But no, this was a lot worse. There'd be a roar of some creature, and her eyes would immediately flicker to that. That was more than enough to give her goosebumps, however, she kept her cool. That thing was running straight for them, to harm them all.

It was time for Aesperus to shine. Her blade would be drawn and a copy of herself would appear in front of the daemon. Though she wasn't sure if the clone would do much, she sure as hell tried, hopefully distracting it long enough for her to bark orders.

"Tarquin, Sima, Wilhelm! On me, we're on distraction duty! Keep this fucking thing busy while the others take it out!"

With that, the woman would jump towards it, blade drawn, more than ready for combat.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[22:46:46] Sima came here with rather noble intentions. Study the past. Learn more about the natives-- His favourite neighbours. All of that goes out the window rather quickly when the huge, almost-undead mutant roars into view, an obvious abomination against... Surely ANYONE's beliefs! Sword brought to the fore. What he says next isn't very Redeemerly.

"Fuck, get it!"
(Sima Kang)
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[22:47:59] Petty argument is cut short as they did not progress far before the inevitable Demon presence showed itself openly. Even Gorou is struck briefly silent by the sheer abnormality however, his own delvings into the Dreadwoods having come upon nothing quite so terrible.

A hulking monstrosity-- no, two of them.

With giant mushrooms for heads.

Lacking in human failings, the atmosphere is of little to no apparent hindrance to the Occultist; his grip upon Umbran is firm as he gathers his strength to fight. An aura of darkness and chill emanates from him, drowned out in part by the ambient magic of the place.

"Don't get in my way."

He speaks those selfish words, though his experience in battling alongside Valmasian forces during the recent skirmishes would hopefully aid him in choosing the correct targets and avoid friendly fire.

It would be unfortunate.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[22:49:41] Whipping sword and dagger out, mana whipped around the man in a whirlwind as his hunger flared. With the sweep of an arm, his undead clattered to the fore; The skeletal soldiers would no doubt harry the massive thing even as the four of them picked at it.

"Do we have a target preference? I don't suppose we could bring back some samples for Ceres? Or Istvan...?"
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[22:49:47] Aesperus Entreri assumes the Ifrit stance!
[22:49:50] Long before the screams, before the movement, before the musky scents of decay hit the field thanks to the occultic properties left behind, the man was already bringing up his shirt upwards to try and vainly cover his nose from the spores. What if they were toxic? What if they were a trick used by local fauna to lure and debilitate local appearances in the region? Thankfully, the Mythril brigandine that sits underneath remains as comfortable as ever and the man merely follows along with his eyes peeled.

Just what kind of warped, sick and twisted flora had fauna call this place hom-

Oh... Company. That didn't take too long.

One knife was already drawn and the other was just as swiftly flourished out in the dark as the man was quick to fall in line and unto position. Ironically? Aesperus was already issuing orders at this sudden apparition of living mold that was seeking to weaponized the local fungi and probably end them just as quickly and indecently. They had undead and they had numbers. These things were likely here for centuries.

"Yes ma'am!"

With knives at the ready, he was prepared to bring up the rear guard whilst the boy tried his best to fade away into the shadows. The darkness was to be his ally here, even through the muffled breaths and speech through the shirt. He was ready to charge in with his Redeemer, knives prepared and body ready for combat. Let's hope he's learned anything from his prior encounters with his enemies...
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[22:50:29] Well then... This hadn't been quite what she'd been expecting. Rill had imagined a survivor, living in the ruins. Or a particularly powerful Daemon living within... But certainly not one that seemed to be in the process of changing as they spoke!

It was... Disgusting to look at. And it seemed to be in pain... Almost as if it's very being was being broken down into the mushrooms. Rilla would make note of this...

However there wouldn't be much time. Rilla would allow her sound to surround her, as she prepared herself for the Demon's assault. Perhaps they could take it alive... Try to get some answers. If it was possible to get any.

Or, at the very least they could put it out of it's clear misery and take the body back to study...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[22:51:36] The song stuttered to a slow pause, and finally broke; there was no more of that, nope, nope, nope! The bard shrunk from her high holy place, and almost hit the ground running, pride blasted away like a cat in a hurricane.

"Eahihi, waiiit a moment, we'd not-t-t sp-p-poken of t-t-thi-s-s..."

In fact, maybe no one had spoken of much with her at all! The word 'exploration' had been enough then but it was increasingly feeling like less and less enough. She switched to a glimmering, chiming staff, twirling it loosely and unsteadily, casting brights like firefly over the party as a sort of nervous support.

today was the day she learned she was afraid of the dark
(Melli)
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[23:37:27] Throughout the encounter, one of the demons continuously oozed parasitic spores out from it. The little critters attached to whomever came close and began to grow on them—they'd have to tear or cleanse the surface of the skin that was probably exposed to Vasniir's spore clouds.

Shockwaves of poison blasted from him in particular, whilst the group had managed to finally take the mindless beast down from its frenzied attempt to convert more of them into brainless guards of the dilapidated ruin.

Sima Kang in particular, was exposed to too much of this noxious organism spilling from the creature amidst his bouts.

"GHGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr—hrrrrrrrrrr.........hrrrrrrrrr......"

The hollow of a Kaor Lord began to die down in its deathrattle as its vital systems finally gave way despite the fungi's control. He would feel the exterior of his facial structure begin to strain as millions of tiny fungal growths began to penetrate the pores of the exposed skin upon his face.

His left cheek, in particular, began to turn green with rot before little bulbous growths began to spring forth from it. He could feel the canals being dug towards the bone of his cheek as the organism attempts to assimilate his brain through whatever reach over him.

A small, mushroom sprouted amidst the dark-green, mucous like membrane that had appeared upon his cheek as a searing pain shot straight to his psych. This would have to be dealt with quick lest the growth continued.
(Vasniir)
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[23:42:38] The fight raged across the caves. Seven against two, but quality made way over quality, as evenly as the two parties seemed matched. Demonic half-flesh was scorched, torn and shredded, leaving spores to fly in the air like noxious gas whenever particularly potent strikes struck the demon.

The flooring hissed and shifted, as it it held a mind of its own as waves of flame soared across the mucky underlayers, bathing the party in vile, Occultic and cataclysmic death. It was unfortunately Aesperus who stood too close, caught in such wave moments before the demon shifted closer, pieces of fungi falling from his body as it rapidly began to break down. By all means, it yet had fight left, but it was dying, a wheezing gurgle catching in its throat as it loomed over a smoking Aesperus, who had up until now only suffered minor burns from its attacks.

But that would change. A two-fingered claw would smash down on her, pushing her into the ground as its head began to split apart above her, revealing the fungal brain within, twisted and changed. It was glowing a deep, toxic green, sludge starting to spill forth like sewage waters, right onto the poor woman.

It burned. But worst of all, it was deeply tainted. And she would soon feel sleeping past her mouth and nose, seeking entrance through whichever oriface it could find. Oh Gods what kind of vile shit was this? She would have drowned in the disgusting fluid, had it not been for the intervention of an ally, shoving the creature off, but the damage had already been done.

Aesperus felt her insides shift and turn with the intruding goop, threatening to break her apart, but it never did. Instead, it left her skin tained by greened veins and her mind assaulted by otherworldly desires to spread the infection she'd just been given. It was not to the point of overpowering her, but it was ever-present.

The demon skittered around, to its friend, hissing and re-folding its skull back together, parts yet falling from its form. It had no intention to stop.
(Rakk)
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[23:54:08] Melli was afraid all throughout the battle; in fact, relatively, she was barely even touched- out of range of clouds, evading strikes with near pin point accuracy. Her song was all they got- but eventually, she realised her song wasn't enough. Trembling gripping feet attached to a rock briefly; and mana laden sights coursed onto Aesperus' peril-

"Aespe-- no- nonono-"

Legs coiled further, panic driven stride- bursting cacophonous dash blasting through the air- a streak of bard careening in a blur across the battlefield in a warp of exploding vortex. Collision;

BANG

A flash of momentarily blinding light like a camera flash rings out, and whatever had happened in the altercation separated beast from smaller beast that resembled a woman- Aesperus was saved-?! Maybe?! And Melli-

She quickly landed nearby, still facing whatever bits remained of the monstrosities, legs trembling as a flash of steel in the form of a bladed bow was raised-, pupils dialating in intensity of it all.

huff... huff... huff... it hurt to breathe- "Are you- back there- living forward- please-"

what would she say to ceres
(Melli)
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[23:56:11] The combat had been fierce, the horrid fungal abominations being creatures of moist annihilation was a wholly new kind of unpleasant. This was, however, not inelegant Gehenna or prissy Jianghu. This was Valmasia, the same Valmasia that saw horrid acidic black ooze creep from the unknowable fathoms of the sea and taught it to praise Azrael. The same Valmasia that gleefully created an artificial star, because it could. A few daemons with some mushrooms growing out of them?

Tarquin was already trying to figure out a recipe for vegetable wellington to make Istvan prepare with these things.

He dove in against the pair, hopping to and fro until an errant burst of spores hit him in the eyes, blinding him! Frantically he did the only thing he could do: These were living things, presumably, and living things required mana to live. Pain wracked his body as he frantically tried to kill the things creeping behind his eye sockets, taking him out of the fight as he slammed against the cave wall in his personal struggles.

Finally, fortunately, after some effort, the lifeless husks of this parasitic mindjacker burst from his face in a twin spray of cosmic ichor. Black streaks ran down his face, twinkling and oily, as he surveyed the situation.

"One down! We've got this, ladies and gentlemen! FINISH IT!"
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[23:57:39] The Redeemer loses all dignity, clawing wildly at his own face, casting aside a likely sacred-to-some sword in absolute panic.

"F-Fuck, FUCK!"

He's not an ESPECIALLY vain man. But he's always liked the idea of actually looking good, and the feeling that his brain is about to be riddled with woodworm doesn't exactly calm him down either. Every bit of calm he might have given others, all his supposed dignity and professionalism, seems like a joke now. He's crumpled onto his knees, head hung-- A single cruel-looking mythril finger stabbed into his cheek-- And a burst of flame to violently banish the horror infesting one side of his face at the cost of further, lasting agony.

He whimpers on the ground. He just wanted to help the demons.
(Sima Kang)
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[23:58:23] The Occultist's works of darkness and cold are fairly ineffective a means of defeating the fungal husks, more baneful to what lives than puppets sharing a similar affinity. He weaves his magic offensively between the movements of his allies, composed as he endures some punishment in closing for his more lethal works of magic-- nonetheless upright, as they had both fallen.

One of them spilling the contents of its control centre upon Aesperus, apparently.

Gorou busies himself with putting his own self properly in order, enchanted material fortunately resilient and the harsh cold of his form making for an unwelcome bed for any lingering spores; he would be of little use regardless in lending aid to those meaningfully harmed in any case, setting himself aside and alert for anything more that might approach from the darkness.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[00:02:40] This was quite the fight, and it left Aesperus on her ass reeling more than once. The woman would however keep rushing in, trying to stick to her plan of keeping the ancient entities distracted while the others would kill it.

Perhaps she did too good of a job. In the heat of the moment she was caught by a wave of something absolutely horrific. The flames impacted her, and it bathed her in Occult magic. However, this was far from the end of it.

The monster would smash Aesperus into the ground, and by the graces was that monster strong. The woman reached for her blade, which was knocked away just as she was thrown into the ground, but no such luck. It seemed as if it had been thrown somewhere.

No matter, Aesperus would attempt to shove at the thing with her hands, try to rip it open and shove it off. It seemed as if it was working at first, but it seemed as if it ripped open way too easily.

Perhaps it was the Daemon that did that, and revealed it's fungal... Whatever the fuck it was. It began dripping though, and whatever it was burned like hell. The woman's head thrashed to and fro, attempting to get away from the burning.

"GET THIS FUCKING THING OFF OF M-"

The woman's panicked yell was halted as it began to pour all of it's fungal goop on her. Aesperus closed her mouth and kept thrashing to and fro, but to no avail. That goop was getting inside of her.

She immediately felt the effects, and there were thoughts in her head beginning to churn about how she'd explain this death to the star. However, there was a blinding light that rang out, and suddenly the beast was thrown off of her.

Who saved her, it was no other than Mai. However, that wasn't exactly on her mind at the moment. Instead, the woman would quickly turn over onto her hands and knees and begin to puke. That feeling she had on the inside, the feeling of her insides moving, it was awful.

However, after a minute of throwing up and shuddering, she'd steel herself. She had to move on. The pale woman would slowly stand up, her veins green with the fungal infection, but a stoic look on her face growing.

Her eyes turned to survey the situation, something was happening to Sima, but over all everyone seemed fine. Those eyes rested on Mai, and she'd grip her shoulder, saying.

"Thank you."

With that out of the way, she'd turn to Sima and pull out a potion from her old scouting waist bag. There were many things in here, but most importantly, there was a potion that she could splash all over his face to make the fungus lessen. She did so.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[00:02:56] The fight would be fierce, the Demons powerful and dangerous... But in the end, they would beat them. At a cost... Sima was injured, and Aesperus... Aesperus looked awful... Fortunately, Tarquin, Melli, and Gorou looked to be alright. With Rilla also having survived the fight that would be more then enough...

"Alright. Me and Melli will tend to Aesperus and Sima. Tarquin, Gorou. Finish off the Demons and secure the bodies. There's something different about them... So we'll take them back for study on our way back."

With that, Rilla turned her attention to Sima and Aesperus... For Sima, some bandages would do for a quick treatment... Aesperus on the other hand would need something more. Unfortunately for now all she could do was numb the pain for her...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[00:07:51] One demon remained now, however rapidly it was falling apart. It remained a threat, gurgling and splattering more goop upon the ground, which almost immediately had mushrooms growing around the area it affected. That stuff had gone inside her? Oh Gods.

It would yet charge forwards, towards the group, uncaring if it stood no chance without its partner.
(Rakk)
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[00:08:47] "ICE THIS SON OF A BITCH."

Aesperus jumps back into the fray. She was pissed.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[00:09:22] Melli grins back towards Aesperus as she proves consciousness, barely visible just under her mask. She buckles down and prepares to actually... fight- it was fight or die, yeah, yeah.
(Melli)
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[00:09:49] Sima staggers up, with his re-collected sword. He looks somewhere between shaken and furious, one cheek a hole-ridden, blackened mess.

"KILL IT."
(Sima Kang)
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[00:24:11] Melli wasn't having any of that, any of it at all, none of it and nothing of it, no no no. The charge brought retalliation. In complete unorthodoxy to herself, SHE was the one to charge in, practically darting like a dragonfly and smacking into deathly spore filled clouds with her staff and her will, eyes shut the entire time-

And of all things-
With every single blow-
Blows she was very used to not dealing so violently-
She cried apologies profusely of half a hundred kinds, the most simple of which rung out when she finally stopped to cast a spell upon a presumably lurching failing demon-

"SORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY!"

twirling chiming staff summons torrential winds shining unnaturally and playing a melody harsher than life itself, crashing in and bursting upon Rakk like a compacting ruined flower in the image almost of a dying star shrieking and waling supernaturally until the ghost gave up and the end was hopefully and then thankfully still.

In the end it would just be reduced to a pressurised sickly bubble if it all went ahead like that - floating before her -, the bard still there standing with her eyes shut, eventually peaking one open to see the results of near accidental murder.
(Melli)
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[00:30:59] The demon fought valiantly, but without a friend to back it up, the hive-struck creature could do little against the absolute landslide of attacks it suffered. As glowing blood and spores spread everywhere, it was pushed further and further back, until it stood with its flank against the wall, only able to hold up what was left of its arms.

But no amount of guarding could prevent what Melli was doing to the infected thing. Screams of anquish echoed in the tainted halls as its limbs began to fold together, mushy flesh and bones breaking apart more and more, but never fell to the ground. Instead, it compressed, until it was but a fleshy sack before her, dead and broken.
(Rakk)
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[00:32:48] Melli says, "... eeeeeeeee..."
[00:32:55] Melli says, "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
[00:33:22] Melli says, "Aesperuuuuuus."
[00:33:31] Aesperus Entreri asks, "... Yes?"
[00:33:46] Melli says, "It is DISTURBING what have I DONE where do I PLACE it."

[00:34:02] Tarquin greedily sucks in ambient mana, which in this case is probably making the ambience a little more pleasant.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[00:34:09] Aesperus Entreri says, "Mai, it just placed it's fungus babies inside of my body and now I feel like throwing up twenty four seven."
[00:34:15] Melli had peaked a single eye open in time, absolutely mortified by the compressed sack of sort-of-flesh.
(Melli)
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[00:34:21] Aesperus Entreri says, "I don't care what you do with it's body."
[00:34:57] Melli says, "Eeeee... I'll... I'll see if I might... keep for... research..."
[00:35:02] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "It's... I would have preferred it in tact."
[00:35:04] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "But this can work."
[00:35:06] Melli says, "Ceres... Ceres would..."
[00:35:08] Melli says, "... want..."
[00:35:12] Tarquin Brubeck says, "We have one intact corpse."
[00:35:13] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We'll secure it and take it to the lab in Lengsel when we're done"
[00:35:20] Aesperus Entreri asks, "... Do you want me to carry it?"
[00:35:30] Melli says, "It'll- it'll- leak-"
[00:35:31] Aesperus Entreri says, "I'm already... Infected, I think. I don't want you guys to get harmed."
[00:36:11] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We're not carrying it."

[00:36:19] Melli continued to flotate the gruesome orb in orbit around her as she swiveled, turning away, and taking a deeeeeep inhale. For someone who hung around corpses all day.
(Melli)
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[00:36:23] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We secure it here. We'll have to head back this way when we leave."
[00:36:44] Melli says, "We know not for certain... I'll flotate this one- with, yes, yes-"
[00:37:03] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Hm... Alright."

[00:37:38] Aesperus looks really deep at Mai.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[00:37:59] Aesperus quickly clears her throat and turns away.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[00:38:12] Aesperus Entreri asks, "Do any of you have a water pouch?"
[00:38:26] Aesperus Entreri says, "Actually... Don't give me one. I have one of my own."
[00:38:43] Aesperus washes her mouth out with said water pouch and spits the water out onto the ground.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[00:39:37] The water glows. It seems her spit, now, is quite unleasantly corrupted.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[00:39:43] Aesperus Entreri says, "... Great."
[00:39:53] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Well..."
[00:39:59] Melli says, "... do... do not do anything... funny with Ceres for awhile..."
[00:40:01] Melli says, "... please..."
[00:40:03] Melli says, "Ah-h-h-hem."
[00:40:04] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Maybe it's not all bad. Imagine what it would be like if that got on someone..."
[00:40:08] Aesperus Entreri says, "I haven't done anything funny with Ceres in years."
[00:40:14] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "You have a spitting weapon now."
[00:40:16] Aesperus Entreri says, "That's... A fair point."
[00:40:19] Melli asks, "... you too?"
[00:40:34] Aesperus Entreri says, "I've been busy wi-"
[00:40:35] Melli says, "Anyab-b-b-bouts, let us p-p-proeed."
[00:40:36] Melli says, "Yes, yes."

[00:40:40] Aesperus dashes and pukes.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[00:40:52] Aesperus Entreri says, "It's SO BAD, MAI."
[00:41:05] Melli exclaims, "YOU LIVE WORRY NOT!"
[00:41:07] Aesperus Entreri says, "G-... Gorou you use occult magic."
[00:41:11] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "A-aesperus."
[00:41:12] Aesperus Entreri asks, "What the fuck is happening to me?"
[00:41:19] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Just... Focus on the positives until we can fix you."
[00:41:48] Gorou Sasaki says, "...It's no work of the sort of magic I use."
[00:41:57] Aesperus Entreri says, "Well... It was worth an ask."
[00:42:03] Gorou Sasaki says, "As such, I have no idea-- maybe your head is going to be a mushroom too."

[00:42:20] The cave grew quiet. There were two ways now-- back the way the party came.

Or the way deeper, into the ruins themselves.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[00:43:15] Melli glances to Rila with a puzzling sort of idle stare.
(Melli)
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[00:43:26] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Well... Let"
[00:43:26] Aesperus Entreri says, "Well... There's only one way we can go."
[00:43:27] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Let"
[00:43:47] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Let's head deeper in. We're not going to come this far just to turn away at the last minute..."
[00:44:02] Aesperus Entreri says, "wwwwwwww"
[00:44:09] Aesperus Entreri says, "Oh, pardon that."
[00:44:16] Aesperus Entreri says, "I guess it's starting to get to me."
[00:44:33] Melli says, "... worry not-t-t."
[00:44:40] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Yep."
[00:44:46] Tarquin Brubeck says, "This sure did work."
[00:45:01] Aesperus Entreri says, "Tarquin get out of the way and move already."

[00:51:00] If the group thought they had been through the worst, they were wrong. The moment they left the confines of the caves, they entered into a deeply purple miasmatic fog, that stretched over the whole mountain. This fog seemed to be the source of the dreading feeling they had been experiencing up until now, weighting heavy upon those of Exorcism nature. Gorou? Not quite so much, but the kind of occultic powers at play here, though faded, were far outside his own abilities. No doubts somewhat uncomfortable, if only for the sake of being dwarfed.

The fog seemed to stem from the nearby trees, which were all covered in mushrooms. In fact, pretty much... Everything was. Even the husked bodies long-since dead, seemed almost perfectly preserved by the strange fungal flesh that maintained unlife. Thankfully, the lad in front of them, was very dead.

The air was toxic to breathe, that much became readily apparent as they continued. It would need to be warded against, somehow, lest the party suffer to the fine spores. Aesperus, however? She seemed oddly... Fine. She felt at home. As if she'd been living in the ruins for all of her life.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[00:56:32] Moving on from the remains of the controlled Demons, the Occultist of the group is unchanged in expression as he's struck silent by the omnipresent sensation of a greater power in the vicinity, a fortunate lack of an actual need to breathe sparing him particular discomfort within the miasma.

His eyes remain peeled, glowing softly blue as he scans ahead of them for threats.

Presumably, more awaited them further ahead.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[00:56:38] The woman's eyes wandered to everything, the fog was a little unnatural, but to the woman it seemed fine. Everything seemed fine, she seemed right at home in this fog and these mushrooms. That's what scared her the most.

Her eyes flickered to everything, and she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. It almost felt like she was at home in this atmosphere. There was fear spurring in her heart and eyes at this feeling.

"I feel... Fine in this. It's odd."
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[00:56:51] Warding against the toxic air of the ruins was easy enough... Tarquin had the Dreamer's protect, Melli was a wind mage, Gorou was undead, Aesperus seemed fine, and Rilla herself was a sound mage. Which, itself did just as well at moving air as any wind mage. They simply did so louder... The only one that might have had some trouble was Wilhelm, but as long as he stayed nearby it probably wouldn't be a problem...

Rilla allowed her sounds to surround her, the gentle vibrations in the air causing the spores to sort of... dome around her. As they were pushed away by the sounds...

Just in case, Rilla would move herself closer to Tarquin, so that he was within range of the dome...
And now, it was on to the ruins...

"Hm. It's... Similar to the dreadwoods, but different. It seems that the fungus get's thicker up ahead. More then likely there's a source... I wonder if we could ease up the fog if we got rid of it."

Rilla would muse to no one in particular. It was certainly food for thought... Though there was always the potential that the Source, in this case, was some very powerful Demon...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[01:00:27] IMMEDIATELY redoubling his Blessing's channeling, any spores that dared touch him withered and died. Though he had to dust the things off occasionally, he was more or less okay.

"The sooner we eliminate that the better, this is unbearable. I'm going to need several long baths after this..."

Plucking a mushroom off one of the trees, it shriveled and died in his hand moments later. He frowned.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[01:01:14] Aesperus Entreri says, "Tell me about it, Tarquin."

[01:01:18] Melli at first seemed glad to practically lead the party, vigorated if shakily by the recent encounters, the success. Yet her will would then deteroriate at lightning speed- yet again. That was right, slowly crushed, beginning to look like she was walking against a current-

Falling behind, not too far, but it started to look like living was a struggle; some of them had not grown up in Valmasia, some of them were not too used to crushing opposing power! She began to hum a spellsong almost wholely for her sake, a shroud of soothing protecting glowing emanating to areas not absorbed by Tarquin's grasp.

"Eahihih... do not think this will much wash off anymore, Mister t-t-t-t-t-Tarquin..."
(Melli)
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[01:01:25] Aesperus coughs up some spores.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[01:01:55] Melli says, "It is certt-t-t-t-tainly very intert-t-t-t-eresting, t-t-t-t-though."
[01:02:49] Melli says, "Maybb-b-b-b-ely we'll... we'll... save t-t-this place in a way- yes- yes-"
[01:02:59] Melli says, "What an- end t-t-to adventure that-"

[01:06:24] Wilhelm's been missing since the past battle. The situation had grown dire in the midst of the fight and his lack of endurance showed. He couldn't just readily join the fight in full brazen combat, lest he risk death or worse. Infection. The man was missing.

... and the others probably didn't notice or care.

Nevertheless, the sudden slow footsteps in the back make it evident that the man was indeed coming back. Dusting off spores, with a knife in hand and with soft steps that were barely audible amidst the cacophony of nature, Wilhelm was back while holding his face still with the aid of his shirt. He wasn't going to risk infection or meager injury so easily. He knew better. He knew about poisonous plants and the like and wasn't about ready to do something stupid. The others are up ahead.

All he had to do after that brazen wandering in the dark? Was follow the light. They were the only moving and noticeable light source for milesafter all. Low Light vision tends to come in real handy while the man arrives like something out of a horror movie.

"... did I miss something?"

After that fight, he fell through the cave's floors only to appear in some other part of the island. Thankfully? Nothing happened.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[01:09:50] Aesperus Entreri asks, "Is that a lake up ahead?"
[01:10:16] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... I'm gonna assume no one's noticed I'm here yet."
[01:10:33] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I noticed. I'm just... concentrating on keeping the fog away right now."

[01:10:42] Aesperus Entreri says, "*looks back to Wilhelm. Aesperus looked extremely sick, her veins were green, and it looked like she was going to puke at any moment.*\"
[01:10:48] Aesperus looks back to Wilhelm. Aesperus looked extremely sick, her veins were green, and it looked like she was going to puke at any moment.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[01:10:52] Tarquin Brubeck says, "I assumed you were on the fringes. I'm keeping more of an eyes forward mentality right now."
[01:11:07] Aesperus Entreri says, "I knew you'd make it out alive, buddy."

[01:11:44] A lake.

But something was wrong about it. The water was darkened-- fouled with something more than just still waters. It looked deep, but not particularly inviting to anyone except for Asperus herself. Or, if you were one hella weird dude.

The ruins were rather vast, it seemed, never ceasing being coated in mushrooms. Hundreds of thousands of mushrooms, too. All aiding in the effort to produce the dreaful smog.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[01:12:14] Aesperus Entreri says, "I... Want to go in there."
[01:12:26] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Don't do it, ho."
[01:12:28] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Don't."
[01:12:43] Gorou Sasaki says, "Or we could look for something valuable."
[01:12:50] Tarquin Brubeck says, "That would be the ideal, yes."
[01:15:02] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "... anyone mind if I test the waters with a stone?"

[01:15:35] Rilla would look over the lake... Still, and dark. No doubt tainted by Occultic magic and the fungus that seemed to permeate throughout the area... It didn't seem to be much at first glance but...

"We should get a sample of it. In fact... We should probably be taking samples of anything of interest. It could be of use..."

Rilla would look around. Any and all of this... It was foreign, really. Something never seen in Valmasia, at least. A phenomenon that seemed to be unique to Agartha, and Agartha alone. And not only that, but it was effecting one of it's ruins sites... And then, Wilhelm would make a suggestion...

"Yes, that would be smart Wilhelm... Don't throw it however. Just drop it in. We don't want it hitting anything unpleasant..."
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[01:16:28] Aesperus Entreri says, "Yeah, drop a stone in there, Wilhelm."
[01:16:33] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I don't have anything with me to take a sample with safely."
[01:16:38] Wilhelm Bishop says, "So I'm just going to..."
[01:17:47] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I've got some things. I never leave the clinic without things like that... Typically for blood samples. But they'd be able to hold samples of Fungus and Water"
[01:18:29] Melli says, "It is verily clearly biological- maybely we've ought to drop a bone-"
[01:18:39] Melli says, "Or somet-t-thing-"

[01:19:21] Another shrug of spores are pushed away from his dirt caked clothes. This far inside, no matter rain or fog, the man kneels down to roll a stone into the murky depths of the water. But not only does he do so cautiously, peering in deeply at the edge of whatever depth the meager light they hold will provide.

Then? Immediately after the stone... the man takes one of the myriad of throwing knives he holds... and stares at it long and hard. If this water is poisoned? It could be of use against any up and coming things they find up ahead.

...

Or it could very well heal their wounds. This is a mushroom infested place after all.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[01:22:04] The rock drops. And it hits the water. But there's no splash at all from the impact, infact, the noise made was more of a 'Plop' as the surface broke, the fluid's viscosity so thick it hardly seemed to move at all. Only, as the surface broke, a deeply acidic gas spewed forth from below it. Unpleasant.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[01:22:21] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Well. Aesperus get away from there."
[01:22:25] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Hm..."
[01:22:33] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Wilhelm."

[01:22:43] Aesperus looks back at Tarquin, stares at the lake for just a moment and and gently takes a step back.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[01:23:04] Rilla holds out a needle attached to a vial
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[01:23:08] LOOC - Rilla Lithia-Brubeck: (Welp)
[01:23:46] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Actually..."
[01:24:19] Rilla hands the needle and vial over to one of her undead, and directs them to take some samples from the lake. Since they were nothing but bone they wouldn't be harmed by the acidic gas
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[01:24:38] Melli says, "We're marching... b-b-boldy and wit-t-th p-p-pride... "
[01:25:19] Melli was at the singing again, what undead she had around shambling lightly like a rattle-filled dance to stuttering tune.
(Melli)
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[01:29:12] ... That wasn't water.

The man took a step back, already having been covering his mouth and nose with his shirt since they entered the cave. That was gas to be sure, but the way the stone sank? That wasn't water. That was goo.

"Stay back at least ten feet. That's not water. That's either a secretion or goo. It's almost like..."

He's studied the flora and fauna of the Gehennan badlands. He's seen what they're capable of. How bugs create certain liquids to fester their nesting grounds and maintain defense by their mere nature and existence. Certain mushrooms and trees in the Dread Forest have been also known to create secretions that are deadly to the touch. Be it expelling pheromones or harmful liquids and gases, it's clear that whatever that liquid was.

It's not meant for touching, nor is it meant for consumption. It's meant as a defense or as a byproduct of the severe corruption the land has suffered.

"... it's like a nesting ground. I've seen this before."
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[01:30:10] Aesperus experimentally spits in the lake.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[01:31:37] A bit of water was soon collected from the lake. The undead didn't seem too worse off for it, either, the needle hardly a large hole to make. Well, the syringe itself was rendered useless after use, but it was a low price for something so inherently lethal.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[01:32:55] Rilla removes the vial from the damaged syringe, seals it up, and sets it into a special container in her bag
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[01:32:58] Aesperus Entreri asks, "Well... What now?"
[01:33:00] Tarquin Brubeck asks, "So. We are at an impasse. Left or right, North or south?"
[01:33:20] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Hm..."
[01:33:20] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Never. Eat. Sea. Weed."
[01:33:22] Gorou Sasaki says, "Anywhere but here."
[01:33:29] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Northeast, then."
[01:33:33] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Tarquin. See if you can sense anything down either of the paths firest"
[01:33:35] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Wait"
[01:33:53] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I can scout ahead if need be."
[01:33:59] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Look for mana signatures and the like, if you can. Before we just go strutting down whatever path catches our fancy."
[01:34:02] Aesperus Entreri says, "No, we need to stick together."
[01:34:09] Tarquin Brubeck says, "This place is SATURATED with occult and holy magic. It's like looking for glass in water."
[01:34:14] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I see..."
[01:34:26] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... that's what our eyes and ears are for now."
[01:34:37] Tarquin Brubeck says, "The spores aren't helping."
[01:34:49] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I hope none of you have been breathing those in."
[01:34:55] There did seem to be a glow of something blue-ish, in the south-east.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[01:35:01] Tarquin Brubeck says, "If they touch me, they die."
[01:35:06] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Hmm."
[01:35:18] Wilhelm Bishop says, "..."
[01:35:19] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... if it shines in the dark, it's a trap."
[01:35:30] Gorou Sasaki says, "Let's spring it."
[01:35:31] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Oh absolutely, ominous glows are always bad news."
[01:35:34] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "This is true..."
[01:35:49] Aesperus Entreri says, "But... Let's see what lies ahead in that glow-ness."
[01:35:51] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Nothing like a lethal rafflesia to get us started."
[01:36:04] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck asks, "Is that a building?"
[01:36:10] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Seems like it."
[01:36:25] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Indeed."

[01:40:45] The crater the group crossed seemed to be a high-impact explosion-type. Something struck this area, hard, from above. The concentration of fungi especially seemed colourful and deadly, exuding far more spores than even some of the larger mushrooms.

In fact, every crater in the area was coated with the same type, stronger and healthier then their brethen. They also passed by the ruins of what was once a house, though of course, they'd gone by several structures in the dark already. They were crude in design, but functional. It was tribal simplicity and efficieny that kept the most intact ones from falling completely apart, but alas, it was still unsalvagable.
(Narrator Butterfly)
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[01:41:28] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "... Biological... Bombardment?"
[01:41:51] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "Rilla. Can you get a sample of this mushroom for toxicology study?"
[01:41:59] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Hm... Maybe. I hadn't thought of it but.. What if these are the source."
[01:42:02] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I can, yes."
[01:42:39] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Probably my worst idea yet, but having a biohazardous toxin on hand can be useful."

[01:43:52] Sporing Poring over the crater and its unusual flora, Tarquin rubbed his chin.

"That'd be wise. Isn't is supposed to be brighter colors are more potent? Considering everything else is sort of... Washed-out, I'd imagine these are either newer growth or something's keeping them healthy..."

"But what would cause these explosions...? Perhaps whatever it was ended up being more potent fertilizer."
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[01:43:53] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Well. We've got a sample of the water. We can run some tests on everything here, and if it's useful I suppose we could get an alchemist to start working on ways to synthesize something similar..."

[01:44:10] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Let's see..."

[01:44:50] Rilla hands one of her undead a few tools, before directing them to start gathering samples from the mushrooms. Soon enough, they would seal the samples into the vials for safekeeping...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[01:44:58] Aesperus Entreri says, "Well, it had to have been something occultic. There's no way that this type of magic could be here without a some sort of massive source."
[01:45:39] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck asks, "What would happen if we tried destroying, or burning, the fauna in the craters?"
[01:45:54] Aesperus Entreri says, "We have more than one potent fire magi here, Rilla."
[01:46:04] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I know. It's not the burning part that's the hard part."
[01:46:16] Tarquin Brubeck says, "It's taking care of the fallout."
[01:46:16] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "It's the making sure we have it contained so if something terrible happens it doesn't kill us all."
[01:46:44] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "I imagine between Mellia and I, we could create a sort of protective buffer."
[01:47:03] Wilhelm Bishop says, "You'd be risking sending all of these contents into the air and suffocating us all."
[01:47:19] Wilhelm Bishop says, "For now, it's better that we leave these spores and flora exactly as is."
[01:47:33] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "Weren't we going to check the 'shiny' down to the South East?"
[01:48:08] Aesperus Entreri says, "I'd say let's go see what's shining first. We can make another trip back here in time."
[01:48:11] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... I'm really wondering just how toxic these shrooms are. Wonder if they're as potent as Nightshade though."
[01:48:14] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Yes. Let's do this experiment in an area we're not going back to."
[01:48:16] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Perhaps... And, alright."

[01:49:30] Wilhelm Bishop says, "This looks like some sort of plaza."

[01:57:19] The group came across a machine of old, covered halfway in corrupted moss and mushrooms. It was the origin of the glow. And it was impressive to say the least, for its damaged state. Half of its chest-cavity was torn open by something, revealing the source-- a giant, blue-glowing hunk of metal, lined with green circuitry and runes. It had a single eye left within its half-missing, metallic face, its entire design a halfway between magical and metalworking. But was there really a difference?

It sat upon its knees, hunched forwards, unmoving. But for how long would it yet be immobile?

(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dotd/images/1/1d/Guardian_Golem.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120601002750)
(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[02:01:36] The Izhuran's own interest in the various works of corrupted nature had been obviously limited, his own reluctance to engage with it made clear with time. At last though, they stumble upon a curiosity-- the war machine, albeit presently motionless.

Surely, at some point, it had moved...

And may yet do so.

"Now this could be worth a closer look." He eyes the core in particular, though would not rush to approach; he was too cautious yet, expecting the others to investigate in any case.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[02:03:14] Now... This was something interesting. This was exactly the sort of thing she'd wanted to find. Not simply toxic mushrooms or tainted waters... But ancient Agarthan tech. And they'd not simply found something like, blueprints or stories... They'd stumbled upon what seemed to be a true piece of technology...

And yet it seemed to still be awake. It was partially damaged, partially covered in the mushrooms... But still functional, it seemed. Which meant it could potentially be a threat...

"Hm... Approach cautiously. If it's inactive... We'll secure it now and leave. If not... Then leave it as intact as possible. This is something we can't afford to damage very much."

Rilla would nod... Before looking at one of her skeletons. She would wait for the others to prepare themselves, but as soon as they were Rilla would send it over to investigate...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[02:04:29] Hmm...

That's a war golem if he's ever seen one. He's seen the drawn depictions of the moon golems during the battle against the Belial Cultists in books. He's read about the Kok'bael Genocide Machines of old. He's heard of their wanton and rampant destruction... so when there's something this massive here, half destroyed? A sudden curiosity sparks in him to tinker with it. See what makes it work. What makes it tick.

...

But he holds back. In it's damaged and unmoving state, it's best they don't immediately seek to touch it, no.

"Look at it's damaged parts. Think it was here to defend this land against whatever sort of biohazard hit it?"/font>

It's badly hurt, this is a given... but it does also have fungus upon it. As evidenced before, the fungus was sentient. It knew how to be aggressive and what to do. It'd be best to not aggravate such a massive machine that could likely squish them like bugs.

"I... don't think we can secure something 'this' big Rilla. That thing would likely sink a Taldaran War Galleon if it was set upon it. We'd need bigger numbers for something like that."
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[02:06:05] Oh. Oh. This was like putting a large bowl of candy in front of a child. The glowing core attacked his magical senses like a ten-course Krausmas dinner. He salivated.

The minor distortion around him due to ambient mana being drawn in intensified, a magnitude beyond what most ever saw. Tarquin was eager, both to taste and to bring this thing home as a trophy. Still, despite a distinctly more intense pull from the man his sanity was still intact. His own skeletal forces advanced alongside Rilla's, unspoken orders heeded.

"Oh Wilhelm, who are you here with after all? We have this well in hand, and we can always call Sima back when the coast is clear to help haul it to shore and safely dismantle it."
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[02:06:32] The woman's eyes would widen as this was spotted, a giant, near broken golem of some sort. The runes and the circuitry confused her, she wasn't one that would get exactly how this would work.

What she did get though was that this could be an extremely valuable piece of machinery. Her eyes would look towards Rilla, Gorou, then back at Wilhelm.

This woman's job wasn't to gather, it wasn't to do anything. At the moment, she'd simply put a hand on the hilt of her blade, waiting for further instructions.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[02:07:22] Like a line in the sand, there seemed a point now that Melli would not cross, feet treading to a pained sort of stop. almost. Grinding, ceasing, without any movement left to bear. No effort would seem to bring her past that point, shining unnatural silvery eyes piercing towards the mythos of the machine.

Crushed by the atmosphere that emanated form this place, she might well have been looking upon a god that were unhappy with her, everything like an enemy.

A weak strum was all that marked her meager glowing presence, and then, equally passive words that spoke a different internal tale:
(Melli)
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[02:07:35] Melli says, "c-Come on... Wilh-h-h-helm-"
[02:07:36] (Valmasia) Nina Drakanov {Bulwark}: wrong chat
[02:07:44] Melli says, "We f-f-f-felled a dragon."
[02:08:04] Wilhelm Bishop says, "You're stammering uncontrollably and we are in unknown territory, surrounded by a biohazard."
[02:08:09] Melli says, "w-w-w-With t-these number-"
[02:08:11] Wilhelm Bishop says, "An ounce of caution has never hurt anyone."
[02:08:12] Melli says, "..."
[02:08:24] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Yes. If they could bring back a dragon as big as they said it was to raise back in Avalon, we should be able to handle bringing home something like this."
[02:08:34] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "In all honestly, we couldn't afford not to."
[02:08:38] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... Nevertheless, I'm willing to climb into that thing to take a look at what's inside."
[02:08:49] Aesperus Entreri says, "Dyle's gonna have a- Wait... No he's not."
[02:08:54] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Just hope it doesn't actually turn on while I'm taking a look."
[02:09:04] Aesperus Entreri says, "Sima, Ceres, and Adrian are going to have a field day with this."
[02:09:22] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "That's why we're sending the Skeletons to look first... They're more durable. "
[02:09:23] Tarquin Brubeck whispers: Mecha Azrael...
[02:09:25] Aesperus takes a look around, trying to see if she can find any form of inscriptions or writings on the wall.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[02:09:39] Aesperus Entreri whispers something.
[02:09:43] Rilla side glances at Aesperus at the mention...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[02:10:02] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Regardless."
[02:10:13] Tarquin 's face, what can be seen of it at any rate, splits into a wide, eager grin.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[02:10:18] Unfortunately, there's no walls here. It's a raised plateau.
(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[02:10:32] Aesperus is delusional, don't mind her.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[02:10:42] Wilhelm Bishop says, "..."

[02:10:46] Fungal-Coated crazy toadstool lady.
(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[02:10:57] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "Any objections to me attempting to take a closer look?"
[02:11:08] Aesperus Entreri says, "I'd send the skeletons in, personally."
[02:11:17] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Indeed. That's what we're doing now..."
[02:11:18] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Yes, let the skeletons inspect it."
[02:11:28] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Alright."
[02:11:35] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Might as well give them my climbing gear."

[02:11:42] Rilla allows the skeletons to move forward cautiously, examining the war machine carefully
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[02:12:02] Wilhelm holds out a sizable lentgh of rope, some hooks and a number of spikes for the skeletons to use.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[02:12:08] Tarquin follows suit.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[02:18:13] Five feet.

That was when a massive arm would sweep across the scene, slapping away any of the scrawled bone-men. Its singular eye began to glow an imposing cyan as steam vented from its back, hissing like a thousand angry snakes. From inaction, to action, in less than five seconds, the world around them began to quake as it moved.

"INTRUDERS." A metallic crackle roared, the creation struggling to stand, as sparks of blue fizzled from its open chest. "CORRUPTION DETECTED. PROCEEDING." There was a click and a whirl, before its head jerked, metal groaning. "OBJECTIVE UNCLEAR. FOLLOWING LAST STATED ORDERS." More steam. And now flames, too, was visible along its backside.

"CORRUPTION DETECTED. PURGING CORRUPTION."

Oh dear.
(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[02:23:55] And there it was. That was why Rilla had the Skeletons go first... They could take far more punishment then they could. Which would be enough... Rilla backed away as the giant war machine began to activate.

Allowing sound and lightning to surround her, she knew that they'd need to deactivate it... More then likely, something in the core would be enough to do so. Though she didn't want to damage it... So instead.

"Find a way to loosen the core. Melli... Gravity and wind. I'll try and loosen it. I'll need you to remove the core without damaging it. Everyone else can keep it distracted."

Rilla would nod. That would be the best way to do this. Anything else... Well, more then likely they'd just be wasting their energy.
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[02:25:41] Melli says, "l-Let us sing a song... t-t-t-then. A p-p-p-please no p-p-p-purging while we t-t-t-tear your hear-t-t-t out-t kindl-l-ly song-"
[02:26:57] Cracking his knuckles and hopping from foot to foot, this was fine too! Bringing it in quietly would certainly have been a boon for Valmasia, but then he wouldn't have an excuse to get a taste of that delicious blue-and-green core!

Drawing his blades, the man's arms extended at bizarre angles. His body took on a flowing, inhuman posture and fluid, almost liquid-like gait. The pale oval that made up his face had a jagged crescent upturned on it, an eager grin as he prepared for battle.

"Ohhhh nooo, what a shaaaaaame, I guess we have to fiiiight it noooow..." He was so believable.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[02:27:06] Well, that wasn't not unexpected. It was certainly a surprise though. The woman would let out a gasp of shock as it used it's giant arm to sweep the skeletons out of the way. Rest in pieces, skele-boys.

The woman would draw her blade and grip it tight, the feeling of sickness was still in her. It was absolutely awful, but she'd bear it.

Seeing the size, they also needed a bit more of a heavy hitter. With a bit of a growl, the woman would flush mana into her muscles, into her veins.

Her muscles would twitch and convulse for a moment, before suddenly the woman would grow to a size of twelve feet tall. Her muscles were a lot larger than before, good thing her armor and blade would expand to suit her new size.

With that, a clone would crawl out of the ground, matching Aesperus' current look. It seemed as if she needed to pull out all the stops to try and protect everyone here. With that in mind, Aesperus would jump in front of Mai, her clone running towards the giant Warmachine.

The clone could deal with it, Aesperus would be on the defensive for the time being.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[02:27:25] Aesperus Entreri assumes the Ifrit stance!
[02:28:18] Only once those gathered had gotten their hopes up a little did the inevitable happen. Unfortunate skeletons are swatted aside as the damaged titan comes to life, the automation's hostile intent impossible to miss and prompting Gorou to alertness.

Darkness and his chosen elements are weaved together, an aegis of wicked magic shrouding his form as he cautiously steps forward-- the imposing size of the enemy not insignificant, but at once not immediately terrifying.

It was difficult to genuinely fear in his state.

"This had better be worth it." He states bitterly, not quite as enthusiastic as others might be for the fight. The Occultist could find little enjoyment in fighting a machine.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[02:30:38] Aw shit. It was a machine. Machina have been proven to have adept night vision. It was damaged, but... bah. Everyone saw this coming. It was literally impossible not to. But... what it said. It was very, very interesting to be sure! It was actually interesting to hear too. It was programmed somehow. This means, whoever or whatever was here? Well. They knew how to make golems act and respond on command. If that's no boon, nothing is. Taking this mecha down in parts would be a pain, but... they did have quantity this time. And just enough quality too.

So Wilhelm just took in one deeeep, deeeeep breath and silently produced his knives. It said 'purging corruption'. He did make it a mission to shake off those spores off of him and he hasn't suffered any bio hazards. With luck, he'd go unnoticed long enough to lunge himself forward and into the machine's chest cavity to rip apart whatever 'core' it was that it held inside!

"Y'know, it'd be real nice if things actually remained quiet for once... but why do I even bother hoping for the best at this rate?"
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[02:30:47] (Valmasia) Velnsk Malrick {Avenger}: man Valm just keeps getting bigger by the moment.
[02:31:20] As the machine began to lurch to life, Melli fumbled a hand at her waistband, eventually producing a stiff drink that was popped open easily. She swigged. She passed it to a ghoul. He swigged. She gave him a thumbs up. All her remaining skeletons promptly groaned.

The necrodancer seemed happy with this, beginning to loosen up even as she seemed to get ever and ever closer to the floor, spreading her hands out once and then discarding her instrument. Why? She was going to need a bigger instrument.

From a small pouch she pulls a tuba easily larger than she was, barely able to keep it in balance before magical correction caught her, "Init-t-t-tiating t-t-t-thef-f-f-ft winds, Miss r-r-rRilla."

A trembling breath was swallowed whole and largely, and when she placed her lips to the tuba's bit, lo, she breathed out in force, and hey, it sung a deep bass maybe almost, almost, almost comparable to those thundering footsteps of the awakened golem-

And the intense air pressure ripped forward like a scarring hurricane right at the core- focused as it could be under the orders to which she was given and the shakedness of her flickering mind.
(Melli)
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[03:11:12] Melli says, "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..."
[03:11:19] Aesperus Entreri says, "CHAARGE."
[03:11:29] Melli exclaims, "C-C-C--CHARGE!"
[
[03:22:06] Teamwork makes the dream work.
Like a well oiled machine they'd become throughout their ventures here.
None could doubt it the fluidity with which they worked, narrowly avoiding terrible fates and rebounding with a vigor; with splendor.

Melli kept on pulling and pulling, trying a hundred different songs all to ill effect, and in the end she'd been flung up in the mix of things- and spun through the air helplessly, and landed right inside the thick of things-

Literally, almost splattering against its hull and pulling up into the gaping hole to the massive machine's exposed centre. Suddenly a deadly grin crossed onto her features as she scrambled inside with the others' stratagems bringing all manner of destructive distraction- and for awhile she was not seen,

Maybe flashes of energy emanating, dangerously. Maybe sparks, fire, no doubt in that case, it was her that was on fire from sheer exposure. Frizzled hair stood out as a silhouette, cast over the battlefield momentarily- and if it would yield, a series of powerful tuba notes would explode outwards, and with luck shatter the core from its holdings and send it flying out-

... rolling along the ground victoriously as a triumphant kazoo played in the background, Melli peaking over the edge of the hole in the chasis like a mouse given human form, still shaking through all of it- but oh gods she looked so happy.

"Ihihihihihihahahahahheeaahahahhhahahaiiiiiiii-"
(Melli)
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[03:24:28] Too tired to make anything resembling a proper post, Gorou comes off a little worse for wear as holy flames baneful to his existence prove problematic. He voices not a word of complaint however, setting himself off to the side-- weakened, likely, for the time it would take to recover his strength.

The core had been secured, presumably with no other benefit.

(Gorou Sasaki)
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[03:32:59] This battle was Hell. Fire and brimstone reigned around them as the golem advanced, shashing its way through their ranks. Tactics were reduced to frantic running as the creation of magitech science overwhelmed them time and time again. But the group, through whatever friendship, dark powers, or luck, prevailed handily in the end.

Its form was battered and dented as it struggled to stand, making a quick swing of its arm to swipe away close-range fighters, only to be bombarded with sound-magic that had it stumbling backwards, its core flickering for a brief moment as tubing was pulled inside of it. Blue-green liquids poured from its open 'Injury', until the magic at play would tug it loose enough for gravity to take the rest, sending the machine forwards over, bracing its hands upon the floor, which immediately shattered and shifted from the impact.

Light flickered across its battered body now, the liquid, raw mana-like substance bleeding from its heart, which now struck the ground like an anvil dropped from third floor. It tried to speak, but all that happened was static sounding from an odd device now dangling from its neck, now frizzling and sparking... Perhaps that was worth checking out?

The golem was felled at last. And Valmasia could celebrate a hard-won victory, luck on their side this day.
(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[03:33:01] Oh god. He got slammed into the earth once. This is the pains of being a spry and very speedy bastard in the field of battle. You can't exactly stab into solid rock, but you can certainly try. He slashed and slashed and slashed and-

Oh dear Christ, he got sent flying out of the plaza. Okay. Fuck this. New plan.

From the shadows, in the depths of nothingness, Wilhelm moved away from sight. He was a scout. He was used to using the shadows. The lack of light was his ally and as such, this is what he would do. From a distance, every time an opening was seen? A knife was cast forward towards it's one single eye. Knives, Spikes, even a Gunshot from time to time from the sidearm he carries that very rarely sees use.

He is no heavy hitter. He is no Aesperus.

But he knows the true value of precision and how good aim and dexterous hands can make or break the field of battle. Of course, his harassment did not go unnoticed. He only vanished from time to time in due to the elevation of the region and the chaos of battle taking the creature's attention.

But in the end, Melli did what he wanted to so desperately do. She clambered into the machine like a rodent and...

...

Did... did she just play a fucking Tuba and blew off the construct's core flying? Why... why a Tuba...

With a startled grimace, Wilhelm wandered back into the midst of the group, away from the shadow with all manner of throwing weapons in hand. Knives. Caltrops. Throwing Stars even. This is how he fought. It could certainly be much better. One can practically see the fear in the man's eyes when that machine targeted him and he had to rapidly back pedal into the shadows. He at least kept his shirt up to not breathe in those toxic spores!

"I... she... y'know what. Doesn't matter. She broke the thing. THAT. Is what's important."

And after the construct began to buckle, break down and lose control over whatever may have very well been it's power source, programming and mainframe? The man approached the core to gently pick it up in his hands. If he wasn't stopped of course...
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[03:36:18] Narrowly avoiding the absolute worst of the flames with all the grace and beauty befitting Tarquin Brubeck, though he may have taken a few nasty burns here and there they were ultimately superficial, the Cardinal ended the battle still standing! The thing was massive, and its attacks made trivial work of his skeletons, but between Rilla's absolute cannon-fire blasts of holy magic, Melli's wind- and sound-powered offensive, Gorou's creeping frost, Wilhelm's quite frankly terrifying hit-and-run tactics, and of course the combined might of G A I N S Q U A D , Melli had the opening she needed.

As the core rolled along the floor before them, he could feel the energies coming from it, its lifeblood looking like so much forbidden fruit juice. Rather than the core, which everyone would be likely swarming for and - yep there goes Wilhelm - making a scene over, he moved to help disentangle Melli, inspect the sparking box, and maybe stick a finger in this magical blood? Just a taste couldn't hurt that bad, right?
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[03:37:41] Rilla would in fact stop Wilhelm. First of all, it could still be dangerous... But there also seemed to be a bit of something else. Regardless, Rilla would step in Wilhelm's way and examine the core herself.

"No one touch yet. We don't know anything about it quite yet. We wouldn't want you to touch it and have a hand melted off or something... The undead will carry the core. The rest of us can take a the Chasis."

Rilla would gesture to the numerous undead about... They held no danger in taking something such as the core up. If there was any danger present in the first place.

"Let's just get it back to the boat. We'll pick up the corpses of the Demons on the way back. I feel we may be making a return to these ruins very soon however..."
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[03:39:35] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Also..."

[03:39:46] Rilla walks over to the odd device...
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[03:40:03] Melli gladly took a hand of Tarquin to be led somewhat more gracefully from her confines, bowing her head to him once she was down onto any of the more level surfaces, wiping someone wiring-fragments from herself in a proper pat down. She inspects the sparking box with him, humming joyously and pridefully aloud.

Where had the tuba gone?
It was anyone's guess.
She was still so damn happy.
She heard Rilla's orders, but they did not involve 'don't stare at the parts from very close up'!
Child's logic...
(Melli)
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[03:41:54] He leaned over this giant lump of... what was it? Steel? Iron? Arcanium??? It's so hard to tell, even with the nearby light sources. With a heavy hand and a hefty move, the male leaned over to plant his hands upon it and-

"OOOF!"

Rilla got in the way. Oh. Oh... saddening. He was about ready to pop a muscle and strain his charming good looks over the massively heavy weight of the super mega fighting robot that quite frankly, just proceeded to wipe the floor with them just a minute ago before he employed tactics known to former 01 combatants. Wilhelm was no fighter.

But he was damn fast and damn good at it.

"Fine... fine..."

And with that, he turned to eye the robot and- Oh crap. Melli was in there. Uh... the robot fell over. Thankfully, Tarquin was very quickly on scene! Guess that this means he'll just follow Aesperus to check this voice box of static and electrical discharge. That is actually really, really cool! What if they could implement something like this for long range communications!?

"These are times I thank the great gods I was born a son to a clocksmith. I think I can take a look at it. What do you think Wasp?"

And with luck? Aesperus wasn't about ready to vomit her guts out with those glowing green poisons in her bloodstream. She might need Dialysis when she gets back to Agartha for sure.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[03:41:59] Teamwork indeed made the dream work, and with Aesperus already quite upset with the current happenings, she let it all loose. There was two twelve foot women at the beasts legs, wailing and attempting to drive the largened blade through the legs.

She all but forgot about defending Mai, instead she was all for attacking the beast and unleashing her anger on it. Through some form of miracle, or perhaps it was through friendship, or maybe it was skill, the thing had been felled, but not killed.

As Aesperus simmered down, literally, the woman would look towards everyone and everything. It seemed as if she had lost herself in the midst of the combat, and she had sustained a good couple of wounds as well. There were many burns, cuts, bruises, but nothing major.

Aesperus would move towards the box, trying to see exactly what was wrong with it. If it was something simple, she'd be able to fix it, but Dyle, or someone more experienced would have to be there to fix itif it was out of her knowledge.

For the time being though, she rested a palm on it's head, if it was trying to speak, surely it had a mind, yes? The woman would open a channel from it's mind to Aesperus', if it had one. She wanted to see what it had to say.
(Aesperus Entreri)
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[03:42:51] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Maybe it needs a stable mana source."
[03:42:58] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Let's give it some juice and see what's up."
[03:43:05] Aesperus Entreri says, "Perhaps, try to see what happens."
[03:43:21] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Preferably a magi that can actually control their magic."
[03:44:03] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Let me get my pins out... Lockpicking and clockwork are close enough."

[03:44:24] Wilhelm prompts to approach the mechanical box to try and see if he has precision knowledge for this shit!
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[03:46:18] Melli was a huge mess right now, if that wasn't apparent.
(Melli)
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[03:49:55] She was going to need a lot of undead. A lot of undead. No mindless zombie could ever hold the same magical strength a trained Magi could. And neither what Rille, or Tarquin brought, would serve to lift it alone.

Tarquin would find his finger singed if he placed it in the fluid. It was potent and likely delicious, but it certainly also had just been inside a golem tossing fire and steam like a monkey its shit at tourists.

The mechanical box continued to dangle loosely. It was a voice-box of some value, but broken. Perhaps someone skilled in such repair could mend the thing? Only time would tell, if they brought it along. For now? All it made was annoying static, already being supplied with mana through the odd tubes it was held up by. It was about the size of a football, really, easy to handle.


(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[03:51:22] Wilhelm Bishop says, "... This thing is... wow. This thing is so cool."
[03:51:33] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I wanna bring this back for reverse engineering."
[03:51:50] Wilhelm Bishop exclaims, "Imagine how useful it'd be to have a mechanized means for long distance communication!"

[03:51:57] No mind to be connected to. It was never sentient. Or, at least, if it had been, it wasn't very alive anymore, with its 'Heart' on the ground.

The voicebox, though? No dice. Field repairs were impossible.
(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[03:52:11] Aesperus Entreri says, "Nothing."
[03:52:17] Aesperus Entreri says, "No mind, nothing of the sort."
[03:52:24] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Hm. Then we'll just need to take it back"
[03:52:30] Aesperus Entreri says, "... We can't."
[03:52:40] Tarquin Brubeck says, "We can dismantle it, and bring it in bits."
[03:52:44] Aesperus Entreri says, "Your skeletons are having enough trouble carrying the heart. Me and Tarquin will have to."
[03:53:04] Aesperus Entreri says, "Plus, I'm pretty sure this thing is too heavy to bring back by ourselves."
[03:53:11] Aesperus Entreri says, "We'd need multiple boats."

[03:56:54] Touching the box that dangles was easy. Pins were quick to check it's innards, open whatever small latches it holds while cables were held gently and gingerly to avoid any further damage. Seconds ago they were trying to take this thing apart after all.

"Hey. Wasp. Help me climb up this mecha's head. I wanna dismantle this thing's box properly. Also? Check the eye for damage. I want all of it's more important precise parts first!"

Wilhelm here, was like a child with a new toy. His pins worked as screwdrivers, his hands gently touching whatever sort of chip, whatever piece of metal, whatever slight object of value was inside to hear it's static and then trace the dangling object back to it's root source. To the half melted and seriously damaged head. This monstrosity was dangerous as it was, so imagining what it'd have been like at it's prime was even more terrifying.

"I did say this thing would sink a Taldaran War Galleon! Just look at the size of it!"

So exclaimed Wilhelm as he held the football sized voice box in one arm and began to gently, calmly and cautiously scale the side of the massive golem construct to take a good, good look at what this box was attached to. So he could dismantle it safely and with his set of tools in hand.

"I can also safely say that with all it's damage, some of it's constituting parts can be used for scrap. Man, this thing is made out of some seriously stern stuff."

As the son of a modestly acclaimed Clocksmith back at Nostvale, he knew where to put his praise when appraising machines. This golem was like clockwork. Every little piece had it's purpose.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[03:57:27] Tarquin turns from the gaping chest wound, the tip of his tongue peeking sadly out from his mouth.
(Tarquin Brubeck)
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[03:57:44] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Ah buwned muh thongue."
[03:57:57] Aesperus Entreri says, "Well then stop burning your thong."

[03:58:00] Wilhelm snickers like a moron. Okay. That was funny.
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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[04:00:10] Wilhelm Bishop exclaims, "Actually? Fuck it! Wasp! See if we can take the whole head back!"

[04:00:49] Fungal-Coated noted that the heard was firmly attached to its neck. That was a lotta saw-work.
(Fungal-Coated Warmachine)
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[04:01:34] "If we need more boats, we'll get more boats. We've cleared the path, so they can get in here safely. We'll just need to warn them about the mist."

Rilla would nod. Now she was getting a bit annoyed however... This was her expedition after all, one she'd planned for years. And now they were climbing all over her prize like it was some sort of jungle gym...

"We are not disassembling it out here unless it's absolutely necessary. We'll be doing research on it when we get home, not before. And it will be done in Lengsel, nowhere else. If you wish to help, then you can come down there."

Rilla would put her foot down... Her tone suddenly harsh and commanding. For most, there wouldn't be much context... Though Tarquin would certainly be able to tell why she was so upset.

"Let's just get the core, the pieces we can take now, and then get back so we can send another team out here to get the Chassis then."
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[04:02:19] Aesperus Entreri says, "I... Really don't think it's a good idea to seperate it."
[04:02:24] Wilhelm Bishop asks, "... dammit. Guess I'll just... quietly take apart it's voice box then?"
[04:02:32] Wilhelm Bishop says, "It's about the only dangling bit I can see here."
[04:02:33] Aesperus Entreri says, "It looked as if it was trying to speak."
[04:02:37] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Aside from it's eye."
[04:02:47] Wilhelm Bishop says, "Since it spoke, I figured we could power the head and talk to the thing."
[04:02:55] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We'll take the voice box. It will be put in with the rest of the materials."
[04:03:13] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "The core, the voice box, and any pieces that have fallen off."
[04:03:14] Aesperus Entreri says, "But this thing is also NOT fitting on any boat, the boat would sink."
[04:03:23] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "We'll also want a sample of the fluid that Tarquin burned himself on."
[04:03:29] Aesperus Entreri says, "Not even I can carry it, me and Tarquin together couldn't carry it."
[04:03:34] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "It seems magical in nature, and potentially key to how it runs."
[04:03:58] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "Not the Chasis, Aesperus. The Core."
[04:03:58] Tarquin Brubeck says, "Awright Aeshperus. You an' I wiw take d' heawt."
[04:03:58] Wilhelm Bishop says, "I don't think she's paying attention..."
[04:04:05] Rilla Lithia-Brubeck says, "The core is only about as big as I am. If our ship can't carry that then I'll be sorely disappointed in our craftsmanship."
[04:04:17] Wilhelm Bishop exclaims, "You try lifting it up then!"
[04:04:30] Aesperus Entreri says, "No, but you guys are talking about taking it back. If we seperate it it'll... Bre- Fuck it."
[04:04:37] Aesperus Entreri says, "Alright Tarquin, let's grab the heart."
[04:04:51] Tarquin Brubeck says, "We'w come back for d' retht."

[04:04:53] Wilhelm proceeds to gently take apart the voice box, by untying any cables or bolts and plates that might be holding it down. Safety and caution first!
(Wilhelm Bishop)
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