Se'arah and Mordecai do some pondering. Minus the orb. Ultimately, Se'arah decides to tap Leah on the shoulder.
"Hey, Leah. Could I borrow one of your Warp Panels? I'm feeling like I wanna try and help on both fronts."
If Leah does not allow it, she'll stick to the Camilla team.
Mordecai isn't changing anything.
—
RF!Anna shrugs. "I've been using them a lot and I haven't suffered any adverse effects just yet. Maybe a demonstration will prove it to you?"
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.""Crap. Maybe I should've given him one of these magic books to drop instead. Or better yet, just stayed back and let everyone else handle things."
When nobody comes to investigate, Nicole allows herself to breathe a quiet sigh of relief. At least her mistake hadn't been a catastrophic one. So, with both guards handily incapacitated, she retreats back into the armory and listens to Beruka's explanation regarding the mission's next phase.
"In hindsight, I probably should've at least seen if Loki was available to tag along. He could've figured out a way to slip right past those guards or talked Camilla into helping."
She furrows her brow, a look of uncertainty crossing her face. Should she stick with the rescue team like she originally intended, even though she was nowhere close to Snake's level in regards to to stealthiness? Or would joining the group planning to meet with Camilla instead be a wiser choice?
"On the one hand, Corrin would be happy to see a familiar face, especially if I'm keeping a close eye on Morgan. Plus, Selena and Beruka both know Camilla well enough to know exactly what to say, while I'm not sure me and her actually talked all that much before shit hit the fan. But I'm no Snake or Batman when it comes to sneaking around, and Camilla might still be willing to hear me out. Goddammit, Nicole, now's not the time to start getting indecisive."
She swallows hard and, praying she wouldn't come to regret her decision, approaches Beruka and Selena.
"At the risk of making the wrong choice... you got room for one more member of the Convince Camilla Club? Yeah, I know I said I was gonna be part of the rescue team, but I did a little reconsidering."
She casts a glance at Odin.
"Y'know, if you're really unsure, you could always join the rescue team. If nothing else, you'd get to get watch over Morgan, even if I don't think we've gotta worry about him backstabbing us. It's just a thought, though."
Sure thing, boss! Just take it back in one place, as usual! Leah says, handing one warp panel, apparently guessing what she wants to do.
The "Rat Catchers" are only humans. And though armored, they can still bleed. To "destroy" them, simply split their skull open, tear out their throats or stab them. Should they spot you, you need to beware their staff: it can cast a spell to immobilize anyone, and they have powerful tomes to use in battle. Says Beruka. In the field, they can use that to entrap Hoshidan soldiers and leave them vulnerable to death or capture, at their hands or at an ally's.
They can also spread a purple mist around their person. It is not hamrful but it can detect movement within and their sight can see through that smoke, or any other for that matter. It is how they detect Hoshidan soldiers, but lately, there have been counters. Such as moving below a certain speed, slower than you would walking around while crouching. They also notice any moving thing, be it a human or a mere prop. Hence, inexperienced ones can mistakenly freeze or report an ally. As such, they will check on but sometimes ignore "regularities", such as allies walking into the mist, or only raise the alarm when the number of moving things around them unexpectedly drop or raise.
It is good to ask questions, worry not. But no, they cannot see through illusions yet. Luckily, Hoshido has yet to come up with such magic tools themselves. And because of the thick corridors of the dungeons, these mages are unlikely to be using the mist : it is preferably used in less... secure positions.
Again, I would recommend not killing or taking them out. But if you can somehow control them or interfere with their magic, you may proceed. Should you be close enough to Corrin, you may also intervene, so long as you are confident in your ability to disable the enemy quickly. One last thing: Iago can send holograms of himself around the castle if needed. They are not particularly sturdy and are weaker than he is, but they are still a considerable threat. Only act if you anticipate the fight to be swift.
Very well, she says, after a short time. She nods to Selena, again, being really just too tired and, under the collar, stressed to really appreciate it. [[blue:One at a time. We will see for Xander and Leo. Elise was sent to the Northern Fortress by Xander, with this world's Corrin, to be kept safe from the odd events happening around the castle. While Lady Camilla has been retreating to her room, both Xander and Leo are taking parts in strategic meetings and reunions. It will be difficult to corner them both. And both Odin and Laslow are clumsy and unreliable, I will add.]]
The path to Lady Camilla will be easy. Should she be recruited, we will use her room as a... temporary headquarter. It leads to a tunnel, itself linking up with the rest of the castle. And it will be easy to free the Shepherds from here. Should you succeed in freeing Corrin, you will only need to trace your steps back to this room. And take the path back to Lady Camilla's room. I've marked it as well.
Ya know, I could set up a warp portal in the dungeon once we've saved Corrin, Leah intervenes, seeing her time coming and tiring of Beruka's exposition. It's simple but awesome! I can set up a portal A in the dungeon while Se'arah set up a portal B in Camilla-
Lady Cami-
Camilla's room, once she's convinced, and we walk through it once Corrin is freed. That way, we instantly link up before anyone can show up to stop us. And since it's an "easy" way in, you guys will be done before we are, so it'll be easy to set up. Hell, if we do it right, we could get Camilla in the dungeon and give her definitive proof that something fishy is up! Whaddya say?
itisdecent. There is nothing more to say besides good... Beruka suddenly stop and glances at Yamame, having heard her out. I would have an idea indeed, with one of your spiders. Could you feasibly convince one to... distract the guards ahead, on our path to Lady Camilla? I will explain this to you later, and only need to acquire a spider righ- A spider crawls out of the suit of armor worn by one of the guards, dragging its ugly little hairy body across his face in a panic. Good. The rest of you, move out.
Leah sighs at Beruka's unfazed reaction to her amazing invention but still grab her O R B just in case.
So, who's heading out first?
Along the way, she glances at the sword, hesitate and... tap it with the orb, sending it straight there. Even she can't resist the Berserk references.
...
Outside, there is no guards. The hallway is empty.
Both teams can begin moving out. There are no guards at all... yet. But one must remember that these voices were coming from the left, where Beruka's team is heading.
We only need to access one room down the hall to get to the tunnel. But there are two guards stationed nearby. Luckily for us, they are guarding the hall's entrance. We won't need to fight past them.
Indeed, in the middle of the hall, there's a shorter hall leading to a big red door. there are two goobers stationed near a larger door, wearing full suits of armor this time. Being Fates unit, they look like big red transfomers, with impossibly well-concealing face helmet and huge blocky red and black armor, with gargantuan shoulderpads and massive shields the size of a barn, which complement their axes that stand four times taller than Beruka, with enormous blocky ends with sharp spikes.
This armor is so huge, if there was a spider in there I'd-
Shut up with the spiders already!
Meanwhile, to the right, there is that door Beruka mentioned... But the way there is free, it seems, although Beruka is still sneaking around instead of walking normally, hugging the wall and what-not.
Edited by Bolded1 on May 18th 2023 at 3:30:17 PM
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterRF!Anna holds up a finger, steps concerningly far back, and grabs an astral spirit who takes the form of a purple-haired woman in rough, punkish uniform, wielding a lance with a bladesaw tip.
"Now hold still for me."
She drinks the Hyper Elixir and tosses it aside. A second later, she flares up with a fiery aura of pale purple light.
She proceeds to deliver a strike with her weapon in Sword Mode, then the instant it hits she is suddenly knocking the spirit skywards with a rising uppercut, before once again cancelling into a downwards slam.
She lands with the spirit and switches to Axe Mode for a horizontal sweep that seems like it should launch the spirit away, but instead she cancels on impact into a Lance Mode switch and cancels that into a stab that catches the spirit before it can go flying, and while the spirit is skewered she finally swings her weapon backwards over her head and slams it into the ground behind her.
There is no time between the end of one attack and the beginning of the next.
—
Se'arah receives Blue Panel B and pockets it for later, listening in on Leah's suggestion. "I like that."
She then goes with Beruka and crouch-shuffles along until they arrive at the guards. "Okay, what's our plan?"
—
Mordecai heads down the path to the dungeons. He tells the others with him, "I can blast those Rat Catchers from out of their field of vision, or use Talon to distract them. Really, I can do that with any guard."
Edited by KiriK on May 18th 2023 at 8:40:31 AM
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."Nohr
"Aw, aren't you a sweet little thing." Yamame says, cooing at the disgusting little arachnid as she gently pats it with one of the spider legs sprouting from her back. She says a few things that are rather unintelligible to human ears but the spider seems to get. She pats it on the abdomen again. "She'll work with us, though I did promise her a juicy snack."
While she does intend to still go with the rescue team, she does stay long enough to hear out Beruka's distraction plan to then relay to the spider, seeing as how it won't exactly listen to anyone else. With that done she'll quietly sneak away to rejoin the rescue team.
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."Sneaky Nohr Mission
"Immobilization spell from staff, good magical offense with tome, and movement-detecting purple mist. They have little to no defense, but they broadcast info directly to Iago so even knocking them out is not an option. How very annoying..." Jeridan quickly summarized what to watch out for when it comes to these Rat Catchers with a grunt, prior to tucking the Staff of Loss away for the moment.
Then, he borrowed the copycat nanomachines of Linette, a mass of something his allies can't make out with their eyes that quickly enveloped his entire body and assumed the look of the honorary agent in his Confessor outfit. Aside from being able to copy appearances and abilities perfectly (or near perfectly, as Jeridan is borrowing it at below maximum capacity), the nanomachines can assume the color of his surroundings, allowing him to obscure himself from sight as long as he's not moving too quickly.
Jeridan slid his phone into the mass of nanomachines, making the electronic device look as if it just sunk into his skin. Upon hearing the proposal of Leah, he can't help but let out a sigh of relief. "Please do set up a portal, it would make leaving the dungeon so much easier." The honorary agent wasted no time in joining the dungeon rescue team, shaking his head at Mordecai. "As much as I want to pop a few tranq shots in them, it would be bad if Iago notice that something is up. Let's try to avoid them if possible."
Follow the map Beruka showed him, Jeridan proceeded to activate his camouflage, hug the walls to move along the right hallway, and arrive at the entrance for the room with two soldiers in it. Should he make it to the door with no troubles, he would wait for his teammates to arrive while searching for spots where he can peek inside without opening the door.
Edited by cyzja922 on May 18th 2023 at 6:51:20 AM
Now this has Anna intrigued.
"Talk about blinding speed.", she says, seemingly impressed. "That stuff may make Jake as fast as me."
"Sounds like just the kind of enemies I'd be able to handle well.", Ban snickers as Beruka tells everyone about the Rat Catchers. "... well, in case of an emergency I mean."
"Hey!", Odin says upon being called out. Laslow, on the other hand, shakes his hand a little in a 'meh, probably' motion, which doesn't amuse Odin one bit.
"I mean, at least a little at times.", Laslow says. Odin crosses his arms, then hears what Nicole suggests and glances at Morgan.
"... Perhaps so. Well, I suppose I'll be using my talents to keep an eye on Morgan while we go to rescue Lord Corrin.", he says.
"Are you sure?", Selena asks. Odin looks at her and whispers to her and Laslow.
"Out of the three of us, I think I'll be able to cooperate with him with the least strife. Plus, I'll recognize it faster if he prepares to use dark magic on us.", he says, speaking normally and without theatrics.
"I suppose so. Good luck. Be careful. And don't let him get under your skin."
Odin gives Selena and Laslow a thumbs up before nodding. Selena and Laslow do the same, after which the two of them leave with Beruka's group.
"Do you have a tome that doesn't make use of Grima's fell magic?", Odin then asks Morgan. The boy, a bit surprised that he's talking to him, nods.
"I have a Thoron tome."
"Good. Use that one instead. Iago's magic is potent, loathe as I am to admit. He may sense the cruel sadistic aura of Grima's Truth, and then our cover would be blown."
"Got it.", Morgan says. Ban taps them both on their heads and points at the entrance.
"Alright, enough talking. Time to go."
—
Selena and Laslow creep along the wall as well. They both know that out of all the Nohrian retainers, Beruka is best at missions like this. As such, they trust that she knows what to do and how to move about.
Neither of them can really do anything about the guards without being spotted, and it's probably best not to risk trying to go up to them and pretend like they're on their side. If that backfires for any reason, it's all over. For now, all they can do is wait and see what their allies can do.
—
Morgan, Ban and Odin follow Mordecai.
"I can snatch them from afar, but I dunno if that'll actually deactivate them.", Ban says, shrugging.
"Thoron might be too bright to safely use. If there's another one near the one I attack, it might be alerted."
"Perhaps the blinding speed of one of my tomes can prove useful. Excalibur does naught but kick up lethal winds. No light, no sound, simply death.", Odin says. His other tome, Nosferatu, would be held back for emergencies. It wouldn't be much better than Thoron in this scenario anyway. It may not make any light, but it's casted slower than Thoron.
Jeridan reminds them of the whole 'connected to Iago' thing though. Perhaps trying to sneak around them is the better solution after all.
Edited by DevilPsyco on May 18th 2023 at 4:07:48 PM
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Nohr
When Nicole announced she would be in her team, Ms. Thingies let out a discrete smile.
I don't know her... Or the others with me, but she looks like a wise and calm woman... A perfect counterweight for Mr. Preacher over there.
Both teams split out their respective ways, after the briefing.
...
Ms. Thingies (Lady Camille's Team)
The Principal follows Beruka and the others. She asks Beruka and Nicole, whispering:
Do you know Cam- er... Lady Camilla? Any thing we could use to help convince her?
In this moment, they reached the guards. She readies more shurikens, but she returns them to the pocket. Instead, she lifts sightly her dress, trying to avoid making some noise with it.
...
Cardboard and Sawdust (Corrin Team)
They follow the path to the dungeon, with their hands on their glass blades for a quick draw just in case of troubles.
Edited by BombonBombin on May 18th 2023 at 9:45:02 AM
Three freaking ghosts!"She's just been under a crapton of stress, boys. I'm sure she didn't mean that," Nicole assures Laslow and Odin, offering them a sheepishly apologetic look.
Once everyone begins heading out, she quickly throws on a set of light Nohrian armor, capping off her disguise by donning the cloak she purchased from Anna before the mission began. After lowering her helmet's faceplate and raising her hood, she follows after Beruka's group.
—
Nicole stealthily follows alongside her group, keeping close to the wall as well. Once they come across the guards blocking their path to Camilla's room, she waits to see if Selena might use her status as Camilla's retainer to their advantage. When she doesn't, the Arcane half-dragon decides to step up.
"Alright, I've got an idea. You guys stay hidden, I'll go up and tell the guards one of the higher ups gave them the rest of the day off," she whispers, drawing back her cloak's hood and gesturing to her disguise. "I just gotta talk and act like a Nohrian with authority, and hopefully they'll be outta our way without a hassle."
Predicting that Beruka would likely express her opinion in the bluntest manner possibly, she looks at the stoic assassin.
"Yeah, I know it could go south real quick if I'm not careful. But unless they suddenly get bored and leave, or Loki somehow waltzes in outta nowhere with a convenient illusion, they're probably not going anywhere any time soon. So, you got any better ideas?"
Subaru looks like she's going to be SICK. That's one messed up bug. time to skedaddle
...
She seems perturbed when Yamame rejoins the rescue team.
Listening along to the others' suggestions.
"If it comes down to it, I can probably hit them with a ranged chi blast. It would take some of my stamina, though."
Edited by Rbade on May 19th 2023 at 8:29:58 AM
/\。。/\The Throne Room, at the uppermost spire of the palace, is a room that no one is happy to see, be it the common grunt, the maids, Garon's own children or even his greatest subordinates, such as no less than the Grand Vizir of Nohr himself, Iago.
Though he is usually The Dreaded in any setting, in and out of the castle, the throne room is where Iago is reminded of his place in the Nohrian hierarchy as merely another pawn, discarded at the whims of his master as the former Grand Vizir was. And though he has had a generally healthy amount of successes, enough that he think he could probably justify a few failures, the recent events could very well be the death of him if he screw up once, important as they are to the history of Nohr as a nation.
Walking down the long red curtain, with blood-red light likewise shining through the tall windows, Iago cautiously ignores the cages hanging on the ceiling of the room, with the skeletons of particularly hated enemies of the king left within, bodies left to rot with severe penalties should one attempt to remove them. Surely, this justified the smell, didn't it? And yet, they were new guests to these chains, all deeply unconscious thanks to Iago's magic.
Over the left side of the room, one can find enormous paintings, mostly depicting Garon himself, or his children. Be it Xander, standing defiant with his legendary sword at hands, or a forgotten victim of the "conflict" with the concubines years ago, innocently staring at any spectator. Only Corrin, the last child, is missing, his portrait replaced by Xander again.
Over the throne itself is a statue of Katerina, naked with her long blonde hair covering her features, arms held wide in invitation, with a soft smile on her face. Rays of light emanate from around her, with clashing knights in the "background" of the scene. Though Iago never knew the woman, he isn't very sure that having a statue of her staring at him at all time is really healthy for his king. But he knows better than to comment on it, instead humbly kneeling in front of the stairs leading up to the throne, volcanic rock carved into the shape of a chair.
Well, the old throne was regular metal, but like many things with Krakenburg...
Garon stares at Iago from within his throne, inert. He is a tall, burly man with grey corpse-like skin and a sadly receding hairline, linking up with his greying beard, marked with a black streak in the middle. Though heavy and practical, his armor is outlined with a gigantic spiky collar behind his neck, where his furred purple cape hang. Marked with golden motifs and some sharp spikes, his forearms have chains as a part of the armor, with the right arm's chains being tied to his massive axe, Bölverk.
Like his owner, Bölverk is black, with golden motifs all over it. The right side of the axe has notable golden spikes on the sharp side of the axe, although even the "blunt" side of the axe could, at any time, cut through Iago's neck like butter. The axe is as long as Iago is tall, with a long black handle, with chains tied around it.
Garon's red eyes simply widen slightly, and Iago see it as the time to speak. We've leaked the false prince's location to Hoshido. They have to play by our schedules with this one. I've understood the Queen is apparently making mistakes... rash decisions. But her fearsome ninjas are struggling to progress through. They shall not impede the executions, should they try, Iago knows not to stop until Garon say something. He doesn't. So he keeps going. They will retrieve Corrin at a later date, and our trap will be sprung. Mother and child alike will be reunited, as they plunge into the darkest recesses of Hell together to suffer eternally! What kindness on my part, after they've spent their short mortal lives separated!
Garon smiles approvingly, although it looks almost forced and lean over slightly. Decent. But I am not summoning you here to hear of a plan I already know about, Iago. Garon's smile fade, right as Iago had begun to hope for the best. The girl is still active, despite my numerous requests to have her brought here and the presence of my powerful army to assist you. Why is that? Garon growls, his scowl growing more and more visible. The Hoshidan ninjas might as well be there under your nose right now, Iago, if you are so incompetent at uncovering her location.
Ah, she has... yet to be caught indeed, Iago says, keeping his gaze down to the ground. I have, however, devised a plan to capture her. I will lure her to us, by threatening Corrin' life directly. Him or the false Camilla should do, he says . I thought her too minor a concern to use such obvious tactics on but-
Minor? Garon frowns, prompting Iago to freeze, deeply aware words will only drag him deeper in. I apologize, were my repeated demands not enough to clue you in to her usefulness to me? Did you perhaps think to dismiss direct orders from your King?
My liege, I had to attend to the logis-
I need to have Corrin broken. I need to hear his moans of despair from the castle. I need his disgusting little smiling face to twist his despair and agony. I want Hoshido's ninjas to drag a pathetic shell home to his traitorous mother. I want him to be hurt in ways none of your petty tortures can achieve. I want his smile to fade forever. I want him to curse, and beg and writhe and cry, Garon doesn't step up, but he does clench his fist, which make Iago flinch slighly, sweat pouring down his face like he's been splashed with water. I want him to be hurt beyond the ability to heal. Which is why I will also need you to have his mother plunge to Hell alone. May he live on, knowing that he killed her!
Garon's face and tone stay composed, but even Iago is aghast at the venom in his voice. True, he was torturing Corrin. And true, he hated him for as little as him bearing Hoshidan blood. But yet the King hated him in ways that baffled even the Grand Vizir. Not even him could understand the depths of hatred in the King, when Corrin's only true crime was to be born Hoshidan. Why, even with the Queen, he was less vitrolic.
Why, for a second, Garon has the most twisted smile on his face, his mouth splitting in half with rows and rows of teeth.
But Iago didn't need to understand. He only needed to obey. I will act on it. Bu-but if I may, and know that I intend to act upon Beruka immediately, I must report: We've managed to catch no less than three intruders. Two disgraceful little dwarves and one man with most bizarre clothing. Though they were disoriented and subdued, their weaponry and powers are unlike anything we've seen.
Break their will, Garon says, going back to normal. They, too, will be... executed with the rest of them.
Very well. And let them be joined Beruka by the next time we meet, my Liege.
Which is soon. Go.
...
Beruka nods to Ms.Thingies but put her finger in front of her mouth, telling her to keep things quiet with the guards so soon ahead. She then turns to Nicole, eyebrow raised.
... The day off'? Are you insane? No Nohrian soldier would be granted such in this situation, she hiss. Your strength will be useful here, however. Take that cloak off and approach them with Laslow. You will be able to distract them, give yourself some credibility and may be able to breach their armor up close. Act in tandem with Yamame's spider. If you are confident with breaching their armor, follow up on Nicole. If not, follow me. We will need to be swift.''
She motion at them to go, and offer her hand to take the cloak. Truly, she had her plans, but she wanted to test her allies's skills again. It's why they were there for.
...
Meanwhile, there's small gaps through the wall and the door is about half-open, allowing the group to peer inside from the door or the gaps.
The room seem to be a spot where the guards are taking a break, being that the man and woman inside have their helmets laying in the ground to eat easier. Though still dressed in their light armor, they're relaxed and feasting on their gruel both. There no one else within the room.
As far as furniture go, there's a very large wooden table in the middle, with closets in the background. Light stream out from a window in the right side of the room, over the bench next to the table: it reveals a wooden door on the left side of the room, with a lit chimney close to it. There's a bunch of chairs close to it, along with plates and such, for the servants to take care of. They look freshly disposed of.
We're going to be late to our spot in the dungeon if you eat that gruel any slower. Just shove it down already, chide the man, although the woman just shake her head. They both look somewhat disheveled, if still pretty well-groomed by Nohrian standards. Notably, the woman is entirely bald.
Oh, it's just us two being assigned to it, they won't even notice us even if we make it in time!
There's a lot of soldiers being assigned to the dungeons, with all these intruders. Did you hear they caught three more? Bunch of weirdos, I heard. Like... one of those could shoot purple magic beams? And yet they're just throwing them out in the dungeons immediately unless they're too dangerous to be kept alive. Them and people who are being too noisy in the streets. I'd be safer with 'em all executed right away.
Oh, you're protesting the King's order, are you?
N-n-no I'm-
Don't worry, that secret is going to stay one... so long as I get to enjoy my gruel.
Enjoy? It's literally garbage, I... rahhgh! The soldier throws his hands into the air and turn around, turning his back to the door to put his plate elsewhere.
Edited by Bolded1 on May 19th 2023 at 10:47:04 AM
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterReach Camilla Mission
"Breaching their armor? Not a problem thanks to this.", Selena says with a grin, revealing an Armorslayer that she bought in the My Castle.
She waits behind the wall for her chance to move.
Laslow, meanwhile, nods and will move along with Nicole.
Once Nicole, Laslow and Yamame's spider are able to distract the guards (and potentially take out one of them), Selena will rush the other and go for a lethal slash before he can call out for help. Even if the guard sees her, the sight of one of the royal retainers charging at him should surely confuse him enough to ensure he can't raise any alarms in time.
Rescue Corrin Mission
Morgan, Odin and Ban peek into the room and observe the guards.
"You work for the royals, right?", Morgan asks Odin. "Can't you talk to them to distract them?"
"For you guys to take them out? Bad idea. If there are any other guards close enough to that room they'll hear us for sure."
Morgan ponders for a bit.
"... But they do trust you?"
"They should. As far as I'm aware there shouldn't be any reason they wouldn't."
Morgan turns to the rest of the group.
"In that case, Odin could go inside with a few of us, maybe two just to be safe, and claim that they are intruders who attempted to sneak in and break out Corrin and need to be escorted to the dungeons. Odin and the guards will escort the 'intruders' while the rest follow closely behind. Whichever two of us are the toughest should play the intruders so that they can break free and take out the guards the moment we get where we need to be."
"That could work, but it's still risky.", Odin says.
"I'll be a captive. Sounds funny.", Ban grins. "With my immortality I won't be in any real danger anyway."
Morgan and Odin pause. Immortality? Surely that's just him making a big deal of himself and not literal, right?
"... well, anyway. I'll need one other volunteer. If you're good at stealth, stay in the group following us."
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Nohr, Camilla team
Yammy's spider pal crawls along the ceiling, sticking to the shadows to try and get past the two guards. After that it descends on a web to climb up the back of one of the guards and towards his face for maximum arachnophobia, possibly biting him if he doesn't move fast enough.
Nohr, Rescue Team
Yamame lags a bit behind due to having to help the other team briefly but catches up quickly, listening in on their planning. She fails to notice Subaru's unease with her, though her youkai instincts do make her feel satisfied for reasons unknown to her.
"That does sound risky, plus who's to say they won't suspect it? A lot of stories I read use this trick so maybe they'd press for details." Yamame said with a frown. "Though admittedly they might not have stories like that here. Either way I don't think I'd be a good fit for the fake prisoner role."
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."Rescue team
I'd be a "prisoner"!
Sawdust says, almost breaking stealth. Cardboard puts her hand over her sister's mouth.
Are you sure?
Yeah! It would be more believable a kid would get into the castle than a grown-up. Also, you are big enough to defend yourself.
...
Convincing team
I actually liked her plan...
Ms. Thingies follows Beruka, thinking that her shurikens would do naught on the guards' armor...
Edited by BombonBombin on May 19th 2023 at 5:03:41 AM
Three freaking ghosts!Now it's Nicole's turn to raise an eyebrow at Beruka and her suggested plan.
"Take them on? Are you insane? Look at what kinda big-ass armor those two are wearing. It's like the world's best Optimus Prime cosplay! You drop them, they're gonna make way more noise than a falling helmet when they hit the floor," she points out. "Noise that will bring a whole garrison down on our heads because there's no way in hell anyone's gonna brush off something that friggin' loud as just random vermin knocking things over. I thought we were gonna be handling things quietly. Picking a fight with the Iron Giant and the shrunken-down Gundam is pretty much the exact opposite of quiet."
She nearly suggests using the fact that Selena is Camilla's royal retainer, only for both Selena herself and Laslow to agree to Beruka's idea. Sighing, she removes her cloak and thrusts it into Beruka's hands.
"Loud and risky, it is."
She marches forth and approaches the guards, making sure to do her best drill sergeant impression.
"Attention! Quit your babbling and look at me when I'm talking to you, soldier! While you're busy going on about these stupid spiders, one of Hoshido's assassins could drop in and slit your throat at any minute!"
With the guards hopefully distracted, she attempts to drive an Arcane Magic-coated fist straight into the face of whichever guard Selena hasn't targeted.
Edited by IchigoMontoya on May 19th 2023 at 3:09:32 AM
Subaru takes Ban's claim at face value, and is suitably impressed. This guy's awesome.
She thinks about the plan for a second, before turning to Sawdust.
"I'm not sure an enemy kingdom would normally send kids. ... Plus, they said the 'prisoners' ought to be the toughest. You... eheheh, I remember you kind of not really managing
to lift something earlier. It might be safer for you to not."
Bah, like you look much more bulky. That said, she does have at least one demonstrable feat this scene (neck-chops).
Edited by Rbade on May 19th 2023 at 3:45:21 AM
/\。。/\Nohr Rescue Team
Jeridan planned to just tranq his way through the entire enemy guard team. It's the easiest and laziest solution, but such a solution is often the best case scenario in a rescue mission such as this. Though, he paused for a moment at Morgan's suggestion and can't help but smile. "That might actually just work." He whispered to the group. "This way, we can be led straight to the dungeon without expending any real effort." That's even better than his own idea!
The honorary agent quickly considered who could be suitable hostages. "You, uh... martial artist." He turned to Subaru. "You look like a Hoshidan warrior the most out of all of us, so you'd be most suited to play hostage, not to throw you to the wolves or anything." Jeridan considered playing a hostage himself, but he's Chinese, not Japanese, so the guards might realize something is off as they've likely dealt with Hoshidans for a long time. Besides, his entire face is bandaged, which doesn't help either.
"I'm personally on-board with this plan, and I will follow the actors since I'm one of the few who can reliably stay out of sight. That, and we will need to fake some injuries or just make minor ones for the 'intruders' so the guards don't notice something is up." The young man turned to Ban. "We just need to pick another hostage, and I feel like Ban could pass off as a bandit or thief pretty well, no offense. We need to spin a proper story, but I doubt Odin will have trouble with that."
Edited by cyzja922 on May 19th 2023 at 4:51:58 AM
The guards inside are still talking. But, since the group is taking some time, the man put his helmet on and look at his fellow guard. Right, but you're really not gonna tell them, will you?
Just keep the other asshole-
Hey! I can fucking hear you from there!
company... Hey, did you hear that? She suddenly whisper, getting up and grabbing her helmet to put it on. I'm hearing a bunch of... noises near the door. What's that? Since the team seemingly didn't take too much precaution talking about, the guards could hear them: there are little holes through the wall after all. And the entire hallway is dead silent.
The other guard understands straight away that chatting time is over and draw his sword, glancing at her. Nohrian discipline comes through. Stay put, I'll warn the other guys to come over as backup. The female guard nod but make shooing motions, and off he goes. If Odin is particularly slick about it, he can probably talk his way out, but their window of opportunity is shrinking.
There's now only one guard, but her attention is solely on the door, although she isn't moving. The other guard is going over to the next room. Though professional, they do make the mistake of making the intruders aware that they've been heard, so at least they're not too experienced as a threat.
This is why you'll need to be fast. Don't worry, reinforcements will have trouble coming in... if you do it right.
When the guards sees Nicole coming with Laslow, the more confident one just laugh. Which arranges Beruka, in giving the others time to make their own plot. Nicole presumably has to wait for the spider to come through.
Meanwhile, the meeker guard salute upon seeing Laslow, although the fact that the other one keep laughing isn't a good sign. Still, the first one speak quietly, intending not to be too loud. S-sir Laslow! What are you doing out here with a fe... o-oh ! Erm, we won't report this, I'm just glad for you, sir, the guys say that you would ne-
Why the fuck are you talking to me like that, you grunt?! Snaps the more confident guard, surprising the other. And what are you doing out there, talking like you're my fucking General?! Coming out of nowhere like that, you're a fucking s-ARRGGHHHH THERES A FUCKING SPIDER ON MY BACK TAKE IT OFF! TAKE IT OFFF! TAKE IT O- The first nameless soldier drops his shield and axe rather loudly but both wouldn't have saved him from being cleaved in half by Selena.
The other guard would probably react with a "i told you so!" about spiders if Nicole hadn't swiftly moved to cave his fucking face in, prompting him to loudly fall on his back, dying without so much as a sound, his face completely crushed along with his helmet.
What the fuck?! Move in! The door swing open... or would have, if not for the massive armored corpses blocking the way in. Whoever is on the other side, they can't get through. Fucking castle architects! Bust that door down NOW!
Beruka is already on the other side of the hallway, opening the first wooden door. It won't hold on for too long, but you will get to it in time. She enters another armory and pry her fingers in a small little fissure in the ground, with the possibility for someone else to help her. They'll see the entrance to another Nohrian tunnel, the dark and cold innards of the castle blasting the room's inhabitants with the foul stench of death.
... Get in but whoever goes last, place that stone back there, Beruka moves back. The entrance to the tunnel is small, and it's expectedly cramped. Moving down there will be slow, although with Beruka's gambit, the reinforcements will still take time coming here. And for the troops on the other side of the hallway? That's going to be another team's problem.
And there are some more soldiers this side, of course, but she'll take care of them.
I'll meet you there in five minutes. Try to stop me and I'll punch you out cold and drop you in the tunnel myself. Get. In. With that, Beruka exit the room quickly, closing it down behind herself.
And as for the "Rescue Corrin side of the mission?" They'll have to make-do but Beruka is expecting them to manage.
As for Leah, she just get down the tunnel first, doing so as soon as Beruka reveals it. Me first!
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterFiguring she could help keep the oncoming reinforcements at bay for at least a little longer, Nicole grabs the fallen guards' axes before using them to bar the door. She hurries after Beruka into the armory, removes her helmet, then nods to Selena and Laslow.
"Nice job back there, you two. Xander and Camilla sure as hell know how to pick their retainers."
She goes through the secret passage and begins heading down the tunnel.
"Just hope that little commotion wasn't loud enough for Camilla to hear from her room."
Camille Team
Ms. Thingies helps to open the passage door, and she enters following Nicole and the others.
...
Corn Team
Cardboard giggles after remembering about Sawdust's "feat". She crosses her arms angrily.
Aw man, that's not faaaair...
Cardboard pats her shoulder tenderly. There will be time to shine later... We hope.
Edited by BombonBombin on May 19th 2023 at 8:05:49 AM
Three freaking ghosts!Team Camilla
Laslow and Selena do look a little guilty about what they had to do just now, but they know they have no other choice if they want to save their friends.
They move fast though, and Laslow immediately goes to help Beruka open the way to the tunnel.
"Gods, it smells like home down there.", Laslow mutters before jumping in.
Selena follows and looks at Nicole.
"Thanks. You were swift and to it as well. But I've come to expect that from you.", she says. While she wants to argue with Beruka's decision, in the end she simply nods to her, silently telling her to be careful.
She'll go down into the tunnel as well, but if she's the last one of the group to go in she'll make sure not to forget to move the stone back into place.
Team Corrin
Odin, hearing what's being said from inside, motions for Ban to grab some ropes hanging from the walls. As he takes them so that everyone else can wrap them around him and Subaru, Odin suddenly enters the guard room.
"Ah, finally. For a well-guarded castle it took me an agonizingly long time to find some guards.", he says to the female guard, walking inside with utmost confidence and ham. Exactly how any guards would have seen him behave in the past. He continues to speak before the female guard has any time to ask questions.
"Why are you stationed on your own? I thought our mighty King's orders explicitly said that nobody was to be stationed alone in case Hoshidans attempted to breach our defenses. And lo and behold, my Lord Leo discovered a pair of intruders! A Hoshidan warrior and a hired goon, who I have been graciously tasked with bringing to the dungeons. You two, get in here!"
As Odin turns back to the door, a now tied-up Ban (as well as presumably a tied-up Subaru) walks into the room, looking as angry yet afraid as any captive would be.
"Look, they promised me a lot of money, I have nothing against your ki-"
"Silence yourself, lest my arcane magic blast you to bits right n-... no, no, orders are orders. Prince Leo personally gave them to me. These two are to be executed tomorrow along with the others."
He turns back to the female guard.
"I'm not usually the one who has to bring prisoners to the dungeons. Not to mention that I will not risk them somehow releasing themselves and overpowering me to escape. I do hope that there are other guards stationed nearby? Bring me to them and let us go down together. I still have many duties to get back to, so I will do a good word for you with my Lord Leo if we do this swiftly and effectively."
As for Morgan (and likely the rest of the group), he remains hidden in the hallway, using the darkness as cover. He puts his finger on his mouth, gesturing for the others to remain quiet. If the female guard hears any sound from their location over Odin's voice, their cover will be blown.
Edited by DevilPsyco on May 19th 2023 at 3:07:06 PM
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Nohr, Camilla team
The spooder skedoodles off into the darkness, probably not to be seen again.
Nohr, Corn team
Yamame quickly shoots a web at the ceiling and Spider-Man's her way up, sticking in the shadows up above to stay out of sight and their hearing range. If anyone gestures or asks for her help in hiding she'll quite easily pick them up with her webs. Perks of being an earth spider.
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."Nohr Rescue Team (Corrin)
Jeridan just activated his nanomachine's camouflage again and hugged the walls, his appearance completely blending into the background thanks to the darkness and his lack of movement for the moment. He couldn't resist a grin upon seeing how well Odin took advantage of the opportunity, but stayed silent for now.

Nohrian Castle
Thankfully, the shurikens weren't needed, so Ms. Thingies puts them back in the pocket.
They heard attently at Beruka's explaination.
I think I'll go with my sister.
So, here will be where we part ways, Ms. Thingies.
The Principal gives Cardboard her shurikens.
Use them wisely. And please, get alive out of here.
The Principal and the two girls hug. Then, Cardboard addresses Beruka:
I have another question about those... "Rat catchers". What they are exactly? Are there a way to avoid them, or destroy them?
Three freaking ghosts!