Enter The Arena As Your Avatar -- The Spinoff!

"He has a son? ... ah, is it loud red haired Thor?", Iris asks as she sits back down. She tilts her head.

"I wonder if he even knows about his father doing this. I haven't seen him that much, but he didn't strike me as the type to keep his mouth shut when someone's doing something evil. ... or keep his mouth shut at all."

She then crosses her arms (after putting the Deliderp down on the ground) and hums thoughtfully.

"Right. So we need an airtight battle plan."

She looks uncertain for a moment.

"I'd suggest maybe the Cyber Angel Queen could help come up with a strategy, but... it's probably gonna be weird to see her again, even if she doesn't know who I really am. ... what do you think?"

Withervine Public Library

"Ah, greetings." Gravia's head rotates to face Sam, the rest of her body not moving at all. "I was searching for books on various topics, such as the force of gravity, or constructs similar to myself."

She places a thick book on the table. It appears to be a physics book on gravity. "Unfortunately, it seems that most relevant books are a touch beyond my comprehension."

Not wishing to linger on that topic, Gravia spins her head back into place, looking at Ken. Or rather, the boardgame peeking out of his backpack.

"Well, we do have at least 4 people here. Are you perhaps interested in examining it with us?"

"I suspect he's too blindly loyal to his father to even consider the possibility that the old man might be corrupt, let alone raise a hand against him. Besides, for all I know, that same unquestioning obedience means he could potentially be complicit in Odin's scheme, especially if it gave him a chance to fight someone as powerful as Set," Thor replies.

He then raises an eyebrow when Iris suggests going to Pandora for help coming up with a plan.

"Why her specifically, if you don't mind me asking?"

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Mar 2nd 2024 at 6:33:34 AM

Commander Yammark - Phone Conversation

While the others are busy with non-feast related stuff, Commander Yammark is talking to her girlfriend Morph Moth via phone. Even a Reploid gets homesickness, it seems. The line between humanity and Reploidkind is blurring more and more by the day.

With a sigh, Leah asks, "Howphy, Mor are you?"

Morph Moth replies, " D-doing fine... Just c-cleaning around the house. How a-about, uh, you?"

"I'm just doing a sidequest to pass the time."

"Oh, c-cool! Save me a souvenir, p-please!"

Grom

Cecil's bread magic works its usual wonder, to see someone that looks pretty familiar to him capable of eating that class of bread without convulsing. It's a different kind of kindness he isn't able to express. Around his gruff demeanor are eyes that clearly look at Corrin as if he was one of his own, even for a fleeting moment.

"Just eat, kid."

His voice of tone's wildly changes for that moment, and silence fills the eating in between. He clears his throat and sits down, clearly he was just passing bread around but something about Corrin struck him for the moment.

"Right, that shit you cobbled up earlier. Some good shit...

Make of it what you will."

Weathertop

The lightning clads the Shockspine — holy shit that's why they're called shockspine — and despite being horrifically outclassed against lightning, Mark raises his fist once again. the electricity around the Shockspine jumps for his chain wrapped arms but before the circuit could complete, it seemingly slows down for Reiss. Nick's agape mouth ready to berate Mark's usual antics, the droplets of saliva, the near-instant obliteration of his minions, all grind to a halt. Reiss begins his move.

He throws the rapier forward for the Shockspine's leg, not to stab it but to redirect all the electricity towards it akin to a curtain pullback to create an opening for him to strike without being touched by lightning, its shuttlecock-like shape makes it able to move in the air even in this enhanced state of haste but its tip only points at the hide, not being strong enough to pierce through just yet.

Unlike Mark who only has rudimentary knowledge of magic and Nick who's an active but incredibly sloppy practitioner, Reiss is an amateur. Unlike another mage in the Arena, he needs a much long chant to cast anything, but he can cut down the actual casting time to a near instant relative to everyone with his birthright magic.

A simple intonation which enchants his rapier with stronger penetration power. He then kicks the pommel to shove the blade all the way in, making the surrounding electricity slowly begin its chase towards his blade. He dashes back to avoid the shock and to see his tactic come to fruition.

If the rapier is stuck on Shockspine in any way, it would give the fighters a weak spot to focus on.

In Reiss' haste, Mark's still in the middle of his charge and Nick,

"COME ON MARK! IT'S LIKE WATCHING SOMEONE FIGHT A BEAR WITH HONEY SOAKED UNDERWEAR!"

Is Nick.

Estraole forest (we now return to our regularly-scheduled program)

Othar was a quicker thinker than he might of let on. Just as the Spectator was summoning a wall of stone plants, Othar jumped up to climb over the still-forming wall and continue his charge. And now that he lifted himself up, Othar was now hurdling himself towards the beast from a higher angle.

Tarvek, admittedly, did not expect the Spectator to move its whole body around to quickly. When he (quickly) figured out what was happening, Tarvek tried to get his grappling hook to retract back into his suit; but it was too little, too late, for by the time he was free, Tarvek was already sent flying. The back of his powered armour slammed against petrified former tree; fortunately his poor spine was intact, but his armour probably had a dent or two in the back. Meh, he thought, nothing he couldn't fix after the battle. But he was still concerned for Mouz and Zalade, so he shouted asking: "Mouz! Zalade! Are you okay there?!"

As this was happening, Othar was now much closer to the monster's body. He swung a punch at its body that (had it hit a normal animal) would probably punch through flesh. Then again, the Spectator wasn't exactly a normal animal, was it?

"Maybe. I don't know him well, so I'm not sure how he'd react either. But if he turns out to have been complicit he'd have to pay too."

She then shrugs.

"She's invaded places before, so I figured she could help come up with a plan."

Blunt, but not inaccurate.

"I... really don't think that's the compliment you believe it is, Iris. Perhaps you ought to avoid saying that to Pandora's face should you ever cross paths with her again ," Thor replies. "Tact has never exactly been your strong suit, has it?"

He strokes his chin thoughtfully, thinking back to Iris' earlier suggestion of assembling a team to bring down Odin.

"I'm only somewhat decent at being tactful with people I'm close to I guess."

She then nods.

"It's already gonna be awkward enough to see her again. I don't think she knows who I am. ... I don't think it'd be a good idea to tell her either."

Withervine Public Library

"It certainly looks interesting..."

Sam is silent for a moment as the others speak, before humming softly to herself in thought.

"Well, there seems to be five people here, but I wouldn't mind just watching, if it comes to that."

She glances around the others- an odd grouping, she notes. Though weirder have come and gone in the past few days.

Lourent

Lute's eyes go wide.

"Ohfuck-"

She rolls to the side, but still gets sent flying away by the resulting impact of Potemkin's impact, slamming into a tree. Hard.

She groans, catching her breath before pushing herself back up slowly.

Fucking hell... Is that what counts as 'normal' for his world?!

She has a few cuts on her now- the resulting shards of earth from the impact got her too, it seems. Gritting her teeth, she lets out a groan.

"Man, I'm not cut out for this. Then again, I keep saying that, without really trying..."

She clenches her fists.

"Not gonna give up, goddammit. Phillip needs me, just like I need him."

Lute launches herself forward- expending all of the pressure in her mechanical leg to leap once again- but this time, it seems to be...

Amplified, somehow. Wisps of white energy mixed with black spark off of her leg, As she aims to body-slam the much larger man that is Potemkin.

"SO GO AHEAD, WORLD!! KEEP TRYING TO KNOCK ME DOWN, I'LL JUST GET THE FUCK BACK UP!!"

Directed at Potemkin? Nope. Still loud as fuck? Yes.

"I'M NOT DOWN YET!!"

"I mean, I doubt either of us were planning to bring her into the fold regarding your true nature," Thor replies. "But anyway, before I forget to ask, is there a particular reason you're so eager to help me vanquish Odin?"

"Because Gods who think they can push other people around deserve to get what's coming to them.", Iris says, looking serious, even angry. "Look at what happened when my people did it to me! My reactions caused so much suffering and destruction that I don't know if I can ever fully make up for. And apparently there's some jackass gods out there who think that doing stuff like that and causing such things to happen is entertaining or something!? I won't have it!"

When her anger starts making her necklace glow a bit, she catches herself and makes herself calm down. The necklace stops glowing. The Deliderp looks up at her now with its beady eyes, to which Iris pats it.

"I'm alright."

Withervine Public Library

Ken looks back at Gravia.

"Play? With you guys?"

He ponders for a bit, glances at the game and smirks.

"Sure, why not. I could use a distraction."

As he takes out the game and unfolds it, he hears the point Sam makes.

"Five of us? One of us'll have to sit out then. Not me though, it's my game."

Once the game is unfolded◊, he re-reads the text on the sides for them.

"Jumanji: A game for those who seek to find, a way to leave their world behind. Adventurers Beware: Do not begin unless you intend to finish! The exciting consequences of the game will vanish only after a player has reached Jumanji and called out its name.", he says, putting on a spooky tone before grinning smugly.

"Hope you girls aren't chicken."

He seems to be ignoring the fact that at least one of them is an adult and thus would be very unlikely to be 'chicken'.

He then goes on to read the gameplay rules.

"You roll the dice to move your token and take a danger card upon reaching a space. Doubles gets another turn. Cheaters get a punishment. The first player to reach the end wins."

Not a single second after Ken finishes reading the rules, and all of a sudden the token pieces on the board get up all on their own. Ken pauses for a bit, then looks excited.

"Cool! Magnetic pieces! Heh, shame one of us has to sit out, huh?"

The 'Jumanji' glass sphere on the middle of the board suddenly begins to shift the letters inside, creating a new message.

"For fair and fun Jumanji strives."

"For this sole time four will be five."

After that a fifth path and token magically appear on the board. Ken stares again, this time in confusion. But hey, now there's enough room for everyone.

"Alright, guess we're all playing.", Ken says as he grabs the two dice and makes the first throw. His game, so he gets to be player 1, he's decided.

3 + 2

Ken's token moves five spaces on its own. Ken grabs a danger card that has a bat symbol on it, and the message on the screen changes again.

"At night they fly; You better run."

"These winged things are not much fun."

No sooner has that message appeared and constructs of bats suddenly fly out of the game board, making Ken yelp and fall off of his chair as they circle above him and harass him. Until he picks up his chair and starts swinging it at the bats, causing them to retreat further into the library.

"... what the HECK just happened!?"

Edited by DevilPsyco on Mar 2nd 2024 at 1:49:08 PM

Needless to say, Thor is more than a little taken aback by Iris' sudden outburst. Once she's managed to calm down, he places a hand on her shoulder.

"Are... are you certain you're okay, though?"

"I am now. This little bird has a tendency to calm me down when I get stressed. I dunno why, I just feel a bit more relaxed when it's close to me."

She then grabs the Deliderp and puts it on Thor's lap.

"Don't you feel it too?", she asks, and the Deliderp derpily looks up at him. He... probably won't feel any different.

SDM

Sora also shrugs as he takes a bite of his stir fry.

U!Rumia finishes her burger.    "Well, bye. I had fun. Maybe next time we can work on controlling that darker side of you."   

Sora coughs. "That wha-"

And she's gone. Vanished in a plume of darkness.

The Wind Caller

Reyna now rushes in to face the Wind Caller.

"I see how it is," Reyna mutters. She wasn't gonna do this just yet, but Byleth has provoked her.

"Emblem, Engage!"

With her own Engage-boosted levitation, she hovers out of the Wind Caller's reach and launches the Kinsect at his body. If it hits his chest, back, tail, or hind legs, it'll get orange extract, which is what Reyna is looking for. Wings and forelegs are white, head is red.

—

Emblem Corrin appears, looking a little embarrassed about Nicole hyping her up. "Ah...uh-huh. It's good to meet you, Miss Nik."

Nik looks her up and down. "Wow. I can feel your power from here. Are you part-dragon, too?"

"I am, but we shouldn't exactly idle and make small talk until the battle's over," Corrin warns.

Nik nods. Cyan-scaled dragon wings sprout from her back. She takes off for the Wind Caller.

Nik unleashes an omnidirectional shockwave, while close enough to the Wind Caller for it to potentially hit him.

—

Valflame blows Legendary Alear out of the air. As she goes crashing to the ground, Past Alear runs in and catches her.

"Are you okay?!"

"Yeah, thanks." As she finds her footing, she remarks, "Still weird fighting side-by-side with you. What happened to Sombron?"

"Let's not talk about that right now. I need a weapon."

"I suppose you do."

Legendary Alear shoots off, making the ground around her explode and leaving poor Past Alear coughing in a dust cloud.

The Fire Emblem's objective is none other than Arvis. She launches for him with frightening speed, but slows down on approach, as if baiting him to cast Valflame again before she fires another energy wave from her palm. If he does cast it, she'll fire through the spell, tanking the explosion while using the flames to obscure her own attack.

After recovering, Past Alear makes a break for Hilda on foot, running in and attempting a brutal stab.

Hollyfrost Farm

"I mean we're not exactly busy right now, just kinda hanging out." RF!Anna awkwardly falls silent, waiting for Zelgius to finish his conversation with Douglas and Brendan.

"Can I get in on that spar?" Se'arah asks.

Idunn puts a hand to her chest. "Thank you. That...means a great deal to me, believe it or not."

She holds a dragonstone between her hands. It shines with light, then her wings and tail pop out from her back. She can tell Oliver likes this kind of thing, and is letting him see it as thanks for his encouragement.

Edited by KiriK on Mar 2nd 2024 at 7:15:14 AM

Live Laugh Love-iathan

At the sight of Sirensong Namielle going for a nova attack of some kind, Morag begins charging up his own; rearing up to standing upright and charging his fire breath. Rumia notices that but remembers the fire not doing much before. She gets an idea though and flies down and grabs onto a confused Morag's head. She then closes her eyes and focuses. Darkness flows out of her hands and wrapping around Morag, his scales taking a black coloration with a yellow highlight much like another related species.

The fireball turns into a black orb of energy with lightning crackling around it before Morag spits it out and fires it at the Namielle. When it hits, rather than fire or toxin the Namielle will feel like it got hit by a combination of frigid ice and scathing dragon element, alongside Rumia's darkness energy.

SDM

   "Oh, um. Bye-"    Rumia begins only for her counterpart to vanish just like that. She sighs and frowns, looking away from the others still here.    "Control, huh..."   

Whatever this darker side of her is (though Sora might be able to guess it had to do with how frenzied she was when he first arrived), it obviously seems to be something that troubles her.

Librarby

"Huh- Eh!? I never agreed to play with you ingra-" Mai sputters then clears her throat, trying to at least keep a polite façade for now. She says the next part in a faux cheery voice that drips of venom. "Haha. I guess I'll play too."

She rolls the dice with possibly too much force.

3 + 9

Much like Ken, her token moves ahead on its own. She looks a bit smug at having outpaced him already. She draws a card with a storm on it.

"A giant ice storm, Cover your knees."

"Quick get inside, Or you might freeze."

Mai blinks as a localized hailstorm starts dropping baseball sized chunks of ice on her. She just stares at it with an incredibly bored look on her face until the storm dissipates in an almost sheepish manner.

"Well that was weird I suppose." she shrugs, completely unscathed.

GOBBOTOWN

Corrin does as asked, pushing aside thoughts of Cecil trying to poison him or what-not. It was impossible to shove them so far away they weren't whispering in his ears, telling him tales of flour conspiracies and poisoned corn, but the young prince felt a bit too tired to dwell on them.

He briefly stopped chewing when he realized that he'd been called "kid". How old even was Cecil? Well, it didn't matter. Both of them. The situation felt like a childhood memory. Lost, hungry and far from home, being fed bread on the whims of a kind stranger. Not that Corrin was an helpless child in that scenario or was really lost, since he knew where to go. And... bleh.

The young man let his brain cool off as he listened to Cecil, keeping a little part of his head working to give Cecil a coherent answer. In another context, he'd have been wary of the compliment in the context of a competition - perhaps Cecil meant to get his hopes up to watch Grom better squash them. But, having tasted that bread, Corrin had gotten it into his head that no one with bread-making skills that good could have a speck of evil somewhere in them.

Thank you? He says, with a tired smile, huffing/chuckling at the compliment. It's... very eccentric. But I think... Corrin pauses, raising his index in contemplation, than lowering it with a satisfied chuckle. I think it'd stand out a little here. Though it's going to taste horrible next to what you guys have been cooking.

It's just too bad that there's probably something that's going to happen. I wanted to relax and go on a bit of an adventure but... Was he gonna dump his issues on this guy? Cecil looked like he wanted that to be the case but Corrin felt bad about doing that, plus awkward about Cecil maybe not being here for that. Plus generally opening himself up to anyone that wasnt a part of his close friends.

He'd just discovered that Anna had lied to him. So when he said "close friends", he couldn't even tell who fit in that category. His wife was probably part of that group, damn it!

I don't know, I kind of felt jealous watching what you guys were doing. And I shouldn't, but I just can't get into a mindset where I'm free from stress. Nevermind that this whole... Corrin gestures to the town. I'm going to have to kill people again, I think. It bothers me.

Corrin absent-mindedly put his hands on the handle of Siegfried and Yato, having shifted both weapons to point to the right before sitting down, so as to stop either from impaling the bench. He proceed to realize he's doing it and quickly lower his hands. It's just annoying being somewhere where I should relax but I feel cramped anyway.

...

I hope Corrin's doing alright.

   Why wouldn't he be?   

Back at Hub Centralis, Beruka and Joker approach the dojo - the former having cleaned up her face in between. Black goo was still an unsightly thing and she didn't want to run into something or someone thinking she'd been possessed.

Because she wasn't.

   I can go looking for him if you want. I don't think physical training is going to be any tough for you.    Joker remarks, glancing at the dojo. It looked... dismal. But then again, not a lot of places could impress the King of Curses.    Before we figure out your technique, you'll need to learn how to reinforce your body with Cursed Energy. It's basic, but it'll help you figure out the rest. And figuring out how immediately fast and strong you are will be helpful. But this place... looks regular. I doubt you'll be able to find peers capable of matching your new physical power.   

We'll have to see. I want to watch this.

Beruka observes some silence as she silently try to see if she can't peer at the fight. There was an obvious physical difference between the two contestants : if the male were to triumph despite his handicaps, then Beruka could have sparring partners who'd probably be able to keep up despite her difference in strength and speed.

She'd need that to keep up, after all.

Beruka keep her eyes on the ring, not trying to glance at her hands or keep track of her breathing. For how changed she was, she didn't feel it. There were no big immediate changes, she couldn't hear a bird's flapping wings from hundreds of miles away nor could she see the movements of stars beyond the horizon.

Perhaps it was something to awaken later.

Meanwhile, Sukuna likewise follow after her, if only because he need to mimic concern as a friend. But there was another motive.

Back in the good old days, people would fight like this to know who'd be sacrificed to him as an offering. So he felt kind of nostalgic looking at the ring and the way people gathered to watch the pair.

Granted, even if the girl won, he'd probably have devored her anyway. The boy was more bone than meat.

Edited by Bolded1 on Mar 2nd 2024 at 2:18:02 PM

Thor just sort of fixes the strange bird with an odd look before handing it back to Iris.

"Not really, no. Is there something you know about this strange creature that Loki and I don't?" he asks.

"Not really. It can't talk, I can't read minds, and sometimes I think it functions on its own kind of logic because half of the time I have no idea what it wants to do. And I have a feeling that sometimes it doesn't know what it wants to do. But it's holding onto my staff for me and it makes me feel calmer, so it's staying with me.", she says as she takes the Deliderp back. The Deliderp digs into its tail and takes out a present, then offers it to Thor.

Hollyfrost Farm

The Black Knight puts his helmet back on.

"Now is unfortunately not the best of times. Given the skill level I expect you all to possess, our spar would likely last longer than I am allowed to be out, even if we were to choose for it to be all of you against me at the same time."

He nods.

"If I am beaten and my card is reclaimed, or if Julius manages to succeed in his plans and you have all survived, come find me. I shall give you the spar we all desire. As for the limited time we have for right now, would you tell me how these 'Emblems' function? I'm intrigued."

As for Oliver, he's treated to the sight of Idunn's glorious and vibrant form, and he looks ecstatic.

"OOOHOHOHO! Marvelous and radiant, both on and off the battlefield! Thank you for showing it to me once again."

Yeah, he's probably not gonna be catching anything of the explanation on Emblems if they decide to give it to the Black Knight.

The Wind Caller

   "What-"   

Cue Hilda getting stabbed, gasping in pain as she begins to slightly glow.

   "Y-you... little... we-"   

She disappears before she can finish that, turning back into a card that Arvis immediately picks up.

"As much as I'd love to be rid of her... well, it's one thing to come back to my son with nothing in tow. It's another to come back with less than what I went out with."

He smirks a little, glancing up at Legendary Alear when he sees her coming, then back at Robyn.

"Surely you understand."

Arvis then villain-warps out with Hilda's card at literally the last possible second before Legendary Alear could have gotten to him. ... Well, at least the Einherjar have left the battlefield. No more Valflame to worry about.

Thus leaving their original target as the only enemy still left on the field.

As for Past Alear... well, even before Arvis left Hilda was kinda already beaten.

-

The Wind Caller moves to evade, but the Kinsect still connects with its tail, giving Reyna the orange extract she needs. Since this did no damage, Counterattack doesn't activate. The fact that whatever Reyna did did no damage seems to briefly confuse the Wind Caller even, but it doesn't lose focus on the fight.

Nik's shockwave still hits it though, making it grunt in pain. It breaks the front center barrier tile.

Counterattack!

A tornado appears beneath Nik and attempts to strike.

The shockwave also hits the Immaculate One, however, due to her size and close proximity to the Wind Caller. She, too, grunts in pain.

"AH! Careful, I almost instinctively counterattacked you.", she calls out to Nik.

Seteth dives down at the Wind Caller and strikes at the back left barrier tile, with Flayn using Nosferatu to strike at the back right barrier tile.

Counterattack!

Combing both counterattacks into one due to Seteth and Flayn being on the same wyvern, the now larger and stronger tornado hits them and knocks them down into the sand. Neither look badly hurt thankfully. Maybe the Wind Caller was at least slightly holding back on that one despite his earlier statement?

The Immaculate One, meanwhile, launches a fireball at the center left barrier tile.

Counterattack!

For which she gets a tornado in the face.

The Wind Caller begins to glow red. You all know what's coming. Make sure he'll need an extra turn to pull it off.

-

BARRIER STATUS:

— — —

— — —

[- — [-

*The Wind Caller, Level 42

• Crest: Crest of Macuil (20% chance to raise Might by 5 during attacks)

• Weapons: Crest Stone of Macuil (20 Might, Magic Weapon, 1-4 Range), Gale (25 Might, 1 Range, but hits all areas in a square in front and next to unit. All enemies hit by this attack will be staggered for one turn and will be hit out of their Engage status)

• Stats: 89, 176 HP, 27 Str, 40 Mag, 25 Dex (Skl), 36 Spd, 34 Lck, 18 Def, 34 Res, 38 Chrm

• Skills: Magic Bind (Inflicts Silence upon hitting an enemy), Ancient Dragonskin (Reduces all damage dealt to unit by 50%, negates Lethality and Assassinate, nullifies status effects (except being staggered from an Armor Break), unit cannot be moved), Avoid +10 (Grants +10 avoid), Counterattack (Lets unit counterattack from any range), Dragon-Scale Wall (Reduces all damage dealt to the user by 70% if an intact barrier is targeted), Vital Defense (Grants unit immunity to critical hits), Giant Wings (+30 avoid if the enemy uses swords, lances or axes), Darting Blow (+6 speed if user initiates combat), Miracle (If an enemy's attack would otherwise kill the user, reduces its damage to leave the user with 1 HP, Luck% chance to activate if HP is greater than 1), Desperation (Reorders any follow-up attacks to take place right after the initial attack if unit has 50% HP or less and initiates combat)

Edited by DevilPsyco on Mar 2nd 2024 at 2:57:33 PM

Dojo,

Liam seemed ignorant of the newcomers as he trained his eyes on his opponent. The sun beat down on him overheard and drew a droplet of sweat, running down the side of his face. The teacher and his assistants noticed, though, yet they said nothing; the former only shone his welcoming smile at Beruka and Joker. Watchers were always welcome to their events; it had been many years since their organization had last been present in the Arena, and very little from that bygone era remained who would yet remember them. If they wanted to defend it, they’d have to earn its trust, and if they wanted to earn its trust, the Arena would have to know of their existence.

Though…the man only hoped that the newcomers wouldn’t get the wrong idea of what they do here, if the upcoming match was the first they saw. It was regrettably, yet admittedly, one-sided, and you didn’t need to be a genius to see it.

On the mat, Liam had already ceded defeat to himself. He only hoped it wouldn’t hurt too hard when his sister, so far beyond him in skill and ability, dropped him to the mat. He saw only a sympathetic spark in her eyes before her hand shot into his stomach. The boy felt his entire body seize, as though his joints were locked in place.

BASIC METHOD: PARALYZE

Liam was nosedeep in the mat when next he was aware of the world around him. Lily’s hand gently wrapped around his arm and helped him to his feet, and he limped back to his corner, a pain throbbing in his shin where she must’ve kicked him to bring him to the ground. He felt his classmate’s pats on his backs; their kindness was his shame. He didn’t want their support—he wanted their respect. He wanted to be better.

But while he glowered, Teacher Cardell stepped back onto the mat. "That’s everyone, yes? You all did good today—every last one of you. Now, as you make your way back to the bus, make sure to pick up anything you brought, leave this place better than you…" The man trailed off, as though considering something new. A velvet-colored aura flared to life around him for a moment, and then he continued. Whatever he said next probably wouldn’t be noticed by Berukuna or Jokuna, given that immediately after the glow faded, he approached the duo while another him continued to speak on the lifted platform.

ADVANCED METHOD: DUPLICATION

"Not a bad class, huh?" He began, flashing that same white smile. "They’re young, lively…and inexperienced, but, well, they’ll get there. Nice to meet you. I’m Cardell." He extended his hand for either of the two to shake, immediately continuing his dialogue: "I think I’ve got a proposition for you two."

Withervine Public Library

As the game progresses, Gravia becomes increasingly concerned. What kind of board game was this? Was it really just a game, or... something more? In that case, its rules could well be magically enforced, especially the parts about having to finish & cheaters getting punished. She's not keen on making a fool out of herself.

Gravia reaches out for the pair of dice, cradling them in her palm as she shakes her hand up and down, then tosses them onto the board.

5 + 3

Gravia's token shifts 8 spaces forward, sitting in a spot between Ken's token and Mai's. She eyes the danger cards suspiciously for a moment... then draws one card. This one depicts a human hand covered in leeches. The message on the screen changes to read:

"Crawling and slithering, Up from the flood"

"Come thousands of leeches, To suck your blood."

Leeches leap up from the board, sailing through the air and landing on Gravia's body. Luckily, there are far fewer leeches than a thousand, and they all settle on the lady made of stone.

"Apologies, do excuse me."

Gravia briefly inspects the table for any loose leeches, then steps away from the group to pluck out & crush the leeches with her own hands. After dropping the dead leeches into a nearby wastebasket, she returns to the group. She's still worried...

Edited by Hotpizza on Mar 4th 2024 at 4:38:48 AM

"Imagine if this bird actually turned out to be a missing fragment of your soul this entire time," Thor replies with a goodnatured smirk, briefly studying the present the Deliderp was offering him before opening it up.

With Hilda finally slain, Robyn moves to claim her card, only Arvis to scoop it up instead and teleport away before the Irish demigoddess can do anything to prevent his escape.

"Ah, feck. Guess we'll be seein' that wicked ol' hag again real soon."

With no other Einherjar remaining, she turns her sights on the Wind Caller and begins sprinting headlong towards her party's central opponent.

Taking a running leap at the Wind Caller, she roars out a battle cry worthy of history's greatest Celtic warriors as she grips the Dagda's Fury with both hands and aims a mighty swing directly at the dragon's face, triggering a rather sizable explosion of fire upon impact should it connect.

-

"Alright, Corrin, we can't let Glali and the others have all the fun here," Nicole remarks. "Emblem, Engage! Let's bring 'em down!"

Now standing garbed from head to toe in Female Corrin's signature armor and blue cape, she spreads her own dragon wings and rockets towards the main event.

Once she's managed to close the distance, she hurls an Arcane Magic-coated Wakizashi directly at the Wind Caller's face.

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Mar 2nd 2024 at 7:57:20 AM

"Are you saying I look like I have no thoughts in my head?", Iris asks, looking insulted... for about four seconds, after which she can't help but smirk a little. She's just teasing him.

The present, meanwhile, contains... a small doll◊. The kind that a small child would play with. Cute, but... why?

There's also a single grain of rice in it. ... also why?

Iris looks as well and raises her eyebrow.

"... What are those things?"

The Deliderp, of course, just looks derpily as always.

Fixing the Deliderp with an understandably confused look, Thor picks up the doll in order to closely examine it.

"I honestly have no bloody idea, Iris. Do you think maybe it's trying to tell us something?" he inquires.

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Mar 2nd 2024 at 8:15:48 AM

"It looks cute, but I dunno how that could be a clue."

She picks up the grain of rice.

"Or this for that matter. What is this, food? Really tiny food?"

She almost tosses it into her mouth instinctively, but catches herself just in time.

"Oh... guess I shouldn't be eating potential clues to things, huh? What's this called, I'll get it in one of the towns later, then I can taste it there."