(As I heard from Marlon on the mountain warfare, I decided to pitch in.) We can safely rule out an all out assault on a steep incline. I would suggest that we create a distraction as some of sneak in her base and put her down, but considering the lack of cover on mountains to aid in the latter, possible cave networks notwithstanding, it won't be a safe bet.
"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, MythraRoad to the Mountain
Despite now being in an open field with significantly less traffic on the road, progress isn't much faster. In the distance the vegetated mountain
◊ is clearly visible, without any of the blue haze that signifies distance. Ludovic seems interested in hearing what the others are coming up with for plans, his ears perked up, though he keeps quiet and faces their destination at all times.
Perhaps, but anything we can use on her she can use on us. Don't forget that as far as guerilla warfare is concerned, the smaller units have the advantage, and that's ignoring her ace-in-the-hole of illusion magic. That said, figuring out her possible plans of attack beforehand could be valuable.
edited 11th Apr '18 7:37:31 PM by Cabe_Bedlam
I need to update these things more often
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
Eluant Canyon, Rockslide
I guess I'm being a little childish, or whatever... *Sarah shrugs to Cam, and takes another puff before adding* ...it's just the way of the world, can't fight the current, and all that jazz...
Foxfell Kingdom, Road to Mount [Schrodinger]
*apparently having been added to the psy-channel, Tilly adds* (Not necessarily difficult, often the more difficult climbing approach can offer ample cover...)
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.Main group
(I let out a whistle upon seeing the mountain we're approaching. It looks pretty nice...almost like the mountains back in our old world.)
(Then, for reasons I'm not sure what, I get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach as we continue walking along. I'm not even sure if it's nervousness, fear, or anticipation over what'll be happening next.)
Are you alright, Goobert? (I hear Delilah ask me.)
Oh, uh, yeah. Just a bit nervous, I guess, that's all. (I say.)
I'm almost positive we all are. (Delilah chuckles, smiling at me. She gives me a reassuring pat on the shoulder.) Just...um...get your mind on something else for now, okay?
(I begin running another song through my head to get my mind off my nerves. "Growing up...you don't see the writing on the wall...")
(Delilah looks ahead at the mountain for a moment before turning to Ludovic.) Do you think she could have traps all around the mountain? (She says.) We should be on the lookout for anything that looks suspicious as we get closer, if you ask me.
Treasure
Yeah...guess the best thing we can do is just not let the bad stuff bother us too badly, I guess. (Cam says.) Well, like, that's what my dad always used to tell me, anyway.
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."Road to the Mountain
As if on cue and aware of the pun in Noriaki's comment, the ground underfoot shifts to reveal that the path the party has been walking on has been in open field, their slow pace due to the height of the grass around them compared to the level walking surface now a good 50 feet to their right. Right afterwards, a voice whispers, seemingly coming from just behind each individual who hears it.
If I can already trick you from this far... what do you think is going to happen? The real illusion is your belief you can win.
edited 12th Apr '18 12:03:00 AM by Cabe_Bedlam
I need to update these things more oftenMain Group > road to ??
Before I could reasonably answer anyone...that voice, the sudden appearing illusion...she's right on top of us, isn't she? And her voice seems to be coming from behind us too...uh, think, think...aha!
Not wanting to turn around for as long as I can, I stand attention and continue looking ahead, hoping to set an example for everyone else. Although right now I honestly do feel scared.
June 27thFoxfell, En Route
Zeb is a bit startled by the thing with the illusions and the whispers, but lets out a sigh. He then decides to ask something.
"One thing I'm curious about, actually. We're in all these groups. We gonna split up and search separately or we all gonna go together?"
"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also EveryMain group
What was that...? (Lucy asks, inching a bit closer to Eliot and looking worriedly between he and Benji.)
(I shiver upon hearing the voice. Oof, this person who wants to hurt us is right behind us isn't she? No amount of humming can get my nervousness about facing the Granbull fully suppressed.) Ooookay, getting nervous, getting nervous! (I say, grabbing my antennae.)
Goobert, calm down. Don't let her get to you! (Delilah says, putting an arm around me.)
(I try to relax and take some deep breaths. Hearing Zeb ask about our groups, I can't help but ask:) Are we still going to split up?
Did anyone make out what she said? (Delilah also asks.)
Sounded kinda like she said dat she was already trickin' us...? (Marsha says, looking around.) Aw crap, are we already hosed?
(I notice Marlon looking as though he's just steadfastly facing forward. Why is he doing that?)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."Main Group
Well, that's going to be irritating. Long-range illusions will prove difficult to counter, especially considering the high level of accuracy they posses. Still, the advice from Noriaki is sound. Nonetheless, a more effective countermeasure would be useful. We can't just rely on our own senses to detect anything illogical, or abnormal. The chance of failing to detect something out of the ordinary will be too high, even without the Granbull's psychological warfare attempts. But how? What could be used to achieve thi-
It hits me in an instant. I'm a Psychic type. I can, easily enough, read minds. Granbull is not a Dark type. What are the odds that the Granbull's making certain to create an illusion that not only tricks our eyes, but a Psychic's mental senses? It seems I may have a strategy, but I ought to run some more calculations first, if only to be certain. I overlooked Teleport's properties earlier, after all, and I do not intend to make the same mistake as before.
[Processors 1 and 2 reassigned. Calculations beginning.]
Let's see what this results in. If I'm correct, we may have a way of dealing with that Granbull's illusions.
edited 12th Apr '18 9:57:20 AM by Clockwork_Heart
Those poor bastards won't know what hit 'em when the grey geese fly.
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
Foxfell Kingdom, Road to Mount [Name Here]
*the sudden shift in terrain shocks Tilly...there's no way she'd have fallen for that if she were in the dirt, or so she tells herself. The false voice causes her to turn around, though she's not all surprised it's a fake*
*Tilly chimes in with the Goop Troop's discussion by adding* There's no sense trying to parse it — it was clearly an intimidation tactic.
Eluant Canyon, Rockslide
Yeah... *Sarah trails off to Cam, then looks at the others and asks* I'm probably going to take the rear, since I can...y'know, climb and all. If you guys wanna climb over this thing then... *she shrugs and takes another puff*
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.(When I heard the voice taunt us, I narrowed my eyes. It was obvious she was trying to toy with us, likely thinking about us killing each other for her own amusement, if not, driving us crazy. There has to be a flaw to the illusions, or at the very least, a weakness to this Granbull. Figuring out how is another story. I asked the guard without turning to him.) What more can you tell us about Anastasia?
"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, MythraMain group
(I chill a little after hearing Tilly.) Yeah...good point. I just gotta stay strong...don't let her get to me...
(Feeling a bit more confident, I look ahead at the mountain and get ready to move on. Delilah smiles at me and does the same.)
Jeepers...can't believe I let my guard down like dat... (Marsha says. She looks back at Marlon.)
Welp...guess we keep goin', I reckon. (Benji says, shooting a quick reassuring glance in Lucy's direction.)
Treasure
Well...whatever you say, Sar... (Cam says, walking over to the rope to wait for the others.) HB? You still back there?
edited 12th Apr '18 1:28:31 PM by kablammin45
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."Elulant Canyon
"Yeah! Making my way over!"
The Quagsire is currently climbing the rope, bit more slowly than the others, but she's doing it and is eventually on the other side.
"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also EveryNearing the Mountain
Seeing as we don't know where she's stationed on the mountain, splitting up will be necessary, yes. As for Anastasia herself, these illusions were not something she had shown any signs of before. Granted she wasn't wholly normal, but the best rarely are. In any case, the illusions can be shattered in certain situations, as you saw at the cafe. The particular requirements to do so, however, are unclear to me.
As Ludovic speaks he makes his way back to the main road, not wanting to waste his time out in the weeds any further. The forest that adorns the sides of the mountain is growing closer, and it's clear that visibility inside will be limited by the dense foliage above. Mila notes that it almost looks like some of the terrain back at her home in the human world, though her unease keeps her from vocalizing that familiarity with the biome could aid her.
I need to update these things more oftenMain Group > Road to ??
I keep my attention as straight forward as possible, though faltering only slightly to look to my left at Goobert and Marsha.
Steadfast. It's how I could focus for that long.
Forest ahead, and it looks mighty dense. If only I had actual swords on my arms instead of what basically are...what are my arms again? Tonfas? I then add on to the conversation with Ludovic..though it probably comes off as more of a quip.
So...we'd only break through the illusions by basically playing needle in a haystack until we find the best way of doing so.
edited 12th Apr '18 1:52:48 PM by Team42Larson
June 27th(Oh, right. I have this.) I draw the stick I just remembered having and walk up next to Mila. "It's fine, Mom. We got this." I'm not actually optimistic, I'm just saying this for her sake. Fortunately, my voice doesn't drop any hints at that.
If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away.Hideout?
"Makes sense. And shame on the Illusions. Suppose we'll have to see what does it. So, Marlon's suggestion sounds kinda true."
Dieter pings something to their group and Marlon. ~Maybe once you know it's an illusion that breaks it? I dunno if that's consistent with what we've seen...~
"Anyway, if we are splitting up, Ludovic, you gonna pick one of the groups to stick with?"
edited 12th Apr '18 1:59:42 PM by CorvusAtrox
"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also EveryFoxfell, En Route
"Yea," [I say to PJ,] "we just picked up Draz..." {...and really, she's a bit of a conun—} [Whoa, okay, okay, we are not on the path, we are not on the path. I look around...okay, it's not far...admittedly, it's pretty tame for an Illusion, considering we've had two before where people were attacking each other...oh, god, I didn't want to remember Finley tearing into her father...Autumn...oh, whatever...]
"I think we'll need to split, yea..." [I send a ping into the channel:] {One of our groups may have to stay here in the fields...we're not too far from the path, maybe a few paces...but this seems like a good enough exit point. We'll need to keep up a thread with Ludovic to know where we're going...but still we agreed on groups, and we should stick with that plan.} [I look back at our group.] "PJ, Jack, Lucy, Draz...we may need t'stay here in the field...go around that forest that's comin' up, I dunno..."
Main group
(As we approach the woods, I think about this talk about illusions.) Maybe we attack something that looks like it might be an illusion or something? That was how Dieter was turned back to normal after June turned them into Salty, wasn't it?
Gonna point out that Goobert knew he was in an illusion the whole time he was Darnell yesterday, but he stayed that way 'til June got 'im outta it. (Benji pings to Dieter.) But then again, I bet anythin' that June and Anastasia's illusions probably work completely different, just sayin'.
Okay, Eliot... (Lucy nods. She looks back at Benji and the rest of us for a moment before walking over to her group.)
(Delilah turns to Marlon, Wrench, and I.) So...how are we going to split up? You guys'll go one way, and Marsha and I go another, or...?
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."Jack puts his paw/hand on his chin, his brows and eyes narrows as he thinks about his options. No clear emotion can be detected in his face or voice, though he's actually hiding them just so he can think clearly.
Jack: Meadow or woods....hmmm....
...I see both options as equally good and bad. It's easier to see our surroundings in the meadow which makes it a good location for a hideout, but there's nowhere to hide for either us or an enemy. The woods would also be a good location for a hideout due to the shade, but there's plenty of hiding spots for either us or an enemy as well.
The League of Heroes

Main Group > road to ??
Okay so...nobody really understood my reference. Maybe it actually is because PJ definitely is no Michael Corleone. At least, not in this form of his. Small, admittedly pretty cute Helioptile...only link is being through some pretty tough shit.
Anyway, since the mountains have come into view I've thought of something. See, I'm admittedly a pretty big history buff...at least back home I was. Ask me any question about history, and I can probably answer it with some degree of confidence. See, our enemy is perched on top of a goddamn mountain. In many a war, the side that can claim a hill-hell, any form of evelation, can have a significant advantage. In this case, she could use the terrain for anything...including sending illusions down from the top to us. I turn to the Group whole, but most of all our guide.
She's on a mountain, and we're coming up to her through elevation...any way we would be able to confuse her this way?
edited 11th Apr '18 5:35:43 PM by Team42Larson
June 27th