Nori's Party
All right then! Woods it is. (Benji nods.) Push comes tuh shove, I'll probably switch to a form that won't be at nearly as much of a disadvantage against her.
(Benji thinks for a minute about what form he should take to best counter Anastasia.) Hmm...can't be Marjorie, can't be Jay...my Krokorok and Crawdaunt forms are part dark so they won't work. Figure it comes down to either Blossom or my Feraligatr form, just sayin'!
edited 12th Apr '18 4:22:45 PM by kablammin45
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."Outskirts of Foxfell, Eliot's Group
(Oh, wait, we have a mental comm. channel open? Shit, these make me nervous...)
PJ: "I don't really mind which environment I'm in, honestly. Field's fine by me."
*In keeping with what could loosely be called a tradition at this point, I climb up onto Eliot's head and take a quick look at our surroundings. It's so serene, the verdant scenery around us. I'm gonna miss the peacefulness here once we're fighting Anastasia.*
Are you ready? Go live!(I look to my group at the split path. The forest would no doubt have plenty of camoflauge for me, but I am not sure about the others. I think a few of them would work better in the meadow, but it's their choice on which way to go. I spoke out to them.) I'll take the forest. Who's coming with me?
"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, MythraForest edge
By this point the group has reached the edge of the forest, the ground underneath their feet starting to slope upwards towards the mountain. From this point it's clear that the peak is nearly 1500 feet above their current position, and that reaching the very top would be a multiple-hour trek through the woods. The side currently nearest the group doesn't seem to have any break in forest cover, though near the top it does grow more sparse as the incline is greater and the climate less conducive to growth. Seeing the group preparing to split up, Ludovic makes one last statement while they're still together.
I would add that all evidence points to her lair being somewhat higher up on the mountain, though if you believe it would be valuable feel free to search the fields in the surrounding area. Remember that our goal is to find her, wherever she is, and hers is to not be found. Any combat will likely be spurred on by her illusions rather than her herself. As for myself, I suppose I shall join the smallest current group with the Swampert and Dragonite. We appear to be ready to go our separate ways for now, so good luck.
After his spiel, Ludovic moves to join Marsha and Delilah and awaits their lead. Mila, meanwhile, tries her best to believe what Niles is telling her. At the least, she can hope that in having everyone so spread out there'll be less focusing on her in particular, though that isn't much consolation.
"All right, I'll trust you. Just... if you see something dangerous, let me know right away, alright?"
I need to update these things more oftenSnaptooth looks at the meadow and the forest, squinting as he does so. He grumbles in annoyance as he turns to Grigori.
Snaptooth: The forest is more my element too. More interesting things to look at than a boring old meadow, plus I prefer the darkness over the dang blinding sun. And if we lost, just knock a tree down or something to use it as a landmark.
The League of HeroesGirls' Group
Heh, welcome aboard, soldier! (Marsha says to Ludovic as he walks over.)
Well...I guess we'll go...um...this way? (Delilah says, pointing directly behind her.)
I don't have any other big ideas. We're right behind yas, Del! (Marsha says.)
(Marsha and Delilah start heading westward along the bottom edge of the mountain away from the rest of us.)
Nori's Group
Good point! (Benji says.) Well, I'll do what I can to make sure she doesn't get me. Let's go! Stay safe, Lucy!
(Benji stays in Marlonganger form for now and heads into the woods with Nori and Zebediet. Lucy waves good-bye to Benji.)
Marlon Group
(I wave good-bye to Marsha, Delilah, and Benji as they leave with Ludovic.) Be careful, guys!
(I take a deep breath.) As ready as I'll ever be, pal... (I head toward the woods.)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."Foxfell, Forest Edge
[Stopping at the forest's lip, I look off to the left around the wall of foliage. I wonder if there's possibly another path somewhere else that some ne'er-do-wells cut into, or maybe the forest itself stops altogether or opens up to show the mountain proper. Plus, if she's already using illusions to divert us, couldn't she just muddle their way through the forest—anyway...]
{We're gonna head around...if you got anything about any paths or if the forest ends, Ludo, now would be a good time.} [I get a little chuckle out of Snaptooth saying "the forest is more his element, too," the edgy fuck...]
Mila Group - woods, edge
"I guess we should get going into the forest then, huh? You can lead the way, Niles."
Mila feels oddly soothed by the forest in front of her. The trees almost allow her to feel like she's just hiking back home, if it weren't for the differences in biology that have changed her gait and perspective so significantly. Nevertheless, the occasional sunlight that creeps past the leaves gives enough illumination that it's easy to see where they're going to be searching, and the brush doesn't seem so dense that she has to fight her way through it to keep up.
Noriaki Group - woods, ridge
Noriaki, Dieter, and Benji would see a similar landscape to Mila and Niles', though with a bit more of an incline. Facing towards the mountain peak, if one looked carefully through the tree trunks they might be able to see a small but sheer ridge rising ahead of them, forcing those without flight to go to one side or another if they wanted to keep climbing. With the mountain to the north, a faint sound of water seems to be coming from the west.
Marsha Group - field, valley
Ludovic follows along quietly, though his dour expression and deliberate silence seems to hint at some concerns, or possibly even fears, about the result of this expedition. Nevertheless, the travel through the fields is faster than through the woods judging by how quickly the sounds of the other groups moving recedes. The fields themselves are mostly populated by long grasses and occasional tufts that better resist the breeze coming from the mountainside. Further up ahead, the ground seems to slope downwards for a time before rising up once more in another hill. Whatever is in the depression, however, is unable to be seen from their current position and angle.
Eliot Group - field, edge
As for paths, there are none maintained by Foxfell itself, though given how close it is to the main road I wouldn't the existence of footpaths from frequent exploration. The forest, however, is unlikely to leave. We don't call it "Mont Vert" for nothing.
Though the forest seems to lack any deliberate paths, as the road turns to avoid and skirt around the mountain, to the east it seems that the forest itself is less dense, and there is a more natural transition between the fields and the forest than the surprisingly sudden split where the group initially approached it.
Marlon Group - woods, fallen boulder
There doesn't appear to be any psychic signal nearby, whether from a lack of other creatures or a lack of those willing to be seen. Notably, the other groups seem to be moving further away at great speed, at least as far as psychic pings can locate others. As for the forest itself, a boulder seems to have rolled down from higher up on the mountain, and has been caught between two large trees growing close together. By now, the roots of those trees have grown around the interloper, and it is firmly fixed in its place.
Grigori Group - woods, edge
Seeing the others disperse, there remains a swath of the forest that remains "unclaimed," though it appears to be denser than the rest. The trees, while shorter there, grow closer together and the dirt underfoot is littered with shrubs and vines. While unappealing to search through, it seems like a perfect place to hide for someone who doesn't want to be found.
edited 13th Apr '18 12:17:20 PM by Cabe_Bedlam
I need to update these things more oftenMarlon Group, Boulder
Post 1/2, maybe 3 (?)for me to describe this section.
I start on leading the group through the forest. Ahh, the forest. After spending a good deal of my life as a city kid, I actually adjusted well to the peace and quiet that life provides in the types of areas like this when my family moved into a town in the mountains...Sadly, that was then, this is now.
From what I'm feeling, it seems that either we're moving too slow, or the others are getting away faster. One of the two. And I can't quite get a read on anything that isn't us in these woods either. AND-
A damn boulder. It's not just a boulder, it's a rock! Okay, brain, enough with the spongebob jokes. How did it even get here? I look to the group.
This boulder seems as though it was rolled down to block any continued progress.
I then in turn spot the roots.
Looks like we can cut these...but at what cost?
June 27thMarlon group
("Gosh, are we walking that fast?" I wonder as we walk in our direction and note how far everyone else seems already. Then I look up at the boulder.)
I feel like if we cut these roots, the boulder is going to end up falling down on someone. It's too risky if you ask me. (I give Marlon my thoughts. Then I consider something:) Hey, maybe the boulder's actually an illusion and it's not really there?
Marsha group
(Marsha and Delilah go along until they get to the dip in the ground.)
Huh...do we go through this or around it? (Marsha asks.)
I mean, I can just fly over it. (Delilah says, flapping her wings a bit.) You and Ludovic might have to go through it.
Whateva ya say, Del. (Marsha says.)
(The girls walk a bit closer to the dip and look over into it to see...)
Nori's group
Welp, Nori could get over this, and I could turn into somethin' to get over it, too. (Benji says, observing the ridge.) Not so sure about Zeb and Dieter, though. What do ya fellas think we should do? Try tuh climb it or find a way around it? Think I hear somethin' that way, just sayin'. (Benji points westward as he says this last thing.)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."Norigroup
"Mm... Any of you fellas think you could carry me up there? I could follow you there if so, but otherwise, let's pick a side and go there. Probably the one you hear something on. It's at least something."
"That said... just to be sure..."
Zeb goes over to touch the steep face in front of them, just to make sure it's not an illusion.
edited 13th Apr '18 7:53:02 AM by CorvusAtrox
"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also Every(This dense part of the woods almost seems too fitting for a hiding spot. Maybe it is too fitting and predictable. Either way, she must be around here somewhere near this mountain. As I look at the forest, a thought crossed my mind: this was almost like Predator and, to be honest, that sounds awesome. Granted, this is a life-or-death situation, but I just can't deny that this is cool.)
(Then, another thought came to mind. What if I try to out-Predator that dog? The forest looks dense enough to hide me and if ghosts can turn invisible, why can't I? I sent a ping towards my team.) Maybe I can use this forest to sneak up on the dog when she's hiding. What do you all think?
"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, MythraGrigori's group
Well, the contents of this ping seems like something of a good idea. If properly executed of course.
"Tactical Analysis: Plausible. That could be useful for either recon of the Target's position, or for launching a sneak attack on the Target."
I pause for a moment, then send a second ping over to Grigori. The calculations for my previous idea may have only just finished, and I may be inexperienced with it, but it may just work.
"Tentative Suggestion: I can attempt to acquire the Target's mental signature to aid in locating her. My range of detection will, however, be limited."
Messages sent, I take stock of the surroundings while waiting for the response. The density of the vegetation may prove both conductive and inhibiting to physical combat; while it will restrict how easily that Granbull can dodge, the same applies to us. Psychic may prove of great use here - if nothing else, the trees may prove a useful object to throw that Granbull into multiple times.
edited 13th Apr '18 9:54:29 AM by Clockwork_Heart
Those poor bastards won't know what hit 'em when the grey geese fly.#2
Marlon Group, Boulder
I could just as easily use one of my moves to see if it breaks..
I observe the boulder ahead. Deciding that I do not want to perhaps risk using physical-level moves to break the boulder lest I fall or worse, I raise my right arm and fire a medium-power Psychic at the boulder, which will....
June 27thSnaptooth nods at Grigori's idea, a small but slightly uneasy grin forming. He's still a tad weirded out by the fact that the Granbull can make illusions.
Snaptooth: I like the idea, though maybe to make hiding more effective perhaps we should try wearing some sort of camouflage, such as mud, leaves, and twigs? I mean, you have leaves, but as they're arranged in an organized pattern one could still make out your form. I can supply the water for the mud if necessary.
The League of HeroesMount Vert, Field Around Forest
{...I see...}
[That's not much to go on, but hey, we gotta expect the unexpected, right? Or this is really expected...the paths, I mean. Hmm.]
"Arright, guys, le's press on, guys..." [I start walking through the field, not hugging the forest, but keeping close.]
"As for your question, Draz...we...don't really know...it's just kinda what happens when people come here, I guess..." [I look up at PJ, tap on him a couple of times:] "How ya holdin' up, Peej?"
edited 13th Apr '18 1:23:22 PM by BlackMageAnolis

Main group
Sounds okay ta me. (Marsha says.) Del?
I guess so... (Delilah says, shrugging.) We should be careful, though. As Jack said, there aren't a whole lot of hiding places out here. At least we won't be the only ones out here, though, by the sound of things.
Well...okay. (I say. I turn to Marsha and Delilah.) Good luck guys. Don't get hurt, okay? A lot of us have a type weakness if Anastasia really is a Granbull.
Same to da three of yas. (Marsha says.)
Remember what we've learned at the dojo and the beach, okay, Goobert? You guys'll be fine. (Delilah says.)
(Marsha and Delilah step a little ways away from us and I move over to Marlon and Wrench.)
(Meanwhile, Benji turns to Zebediet and Noriaki.) Welp, where are we gonna go, fellas? (He asks them.)
edited 12th Apr '18 3:35:52 PM by kablammin45
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."