Sakura Visits a Scenic River Vista:
Ah, scenic Amora! Sakura takes in the lay of the land. Picturesque snow, a lovely but certainly too goddamn steep mountain in the distance, and a river! Really, this would be a lovely place to live! Were it not in the middle of bumgorilla nowhere, anyway. Still, maybe a bit of isolation, peace, and quiet would be good for the soul...

If only she wasn't being supervised by Chi. Sakura prided herself on being an expert negotiator, survivalist, and fighter. Never before had she been mauled by her own citizens, starved to death, or been downed in combat! Chi had absolutely no reason to worry about her. Still, at least Acerola was travelling alongside Chi. Acerola was cool. The coolest person within a kilometer, excluding herself.

Maybe Acerola knew how to cross this river. It would be a crime against Helix if Sakura got her feet wet. Or if the ice cracked, she fell in, and got swept beneath a solid sheet of ice. Yeah. It's a shame she didn't have a terraforming spell or something.

SAKURA: Hey, Acerola.
SAKURA: You live here, right? Or uh, lived here.
SAKURA: There a bridge or something nearby? Like hell if I'm going to cross the river. We don't know how thick that ice is, or if Keane will trip, bash her thick skull on it, and cause all of us to DROWN.

Ah, there's a standardbearer on the other side. Maybe they know how to get across. Then Chi introduces herself, Acerola identifies said standardbearer as Alani, and then the river shatters as a group of Iti make themselves known.

SAKURA: Ah. Of course.
SAKURA: gorillain' convenient that the Iti arrive the moment we do.
SAKURA: At least we can make ourselves look good by saving them.

---

The Frozen River:
- Sakura spawns on (I15), and appoint Acerola as her loyal servant once more.
- Sakura advances to (F12).
- Sakura casts Formulaic Spellcasting: Electric on the Siren. This will deal (22-22) Electric Damage for 8 MP, with 41 HIT and 3 Buff Levels. Remember to factor in bonus damage from the water!

Doc appears at the frozen river. He spawns at K16, moves to K8 through the portal at K12, and throws a Toxic Concoction at H4. He then retreats back through the portal to L13.

The Fae Left...

Debbie watches as the Fae fly off. She quietly contemplates whether she's done the right thing... or, heck, if she's doing the right thing at all.

Also quite baffling was their seeming unwillingness to talk through these issues. Future infractions similar to that of the party's will not go resolved, potentially resulting in undesired casualties on either end. She would think prevention would be the best remedy here, and yet- "eh?-"

She's interrupted by Keane throwing a strange mask right into her torso. Debbie clumsily catches it before it hits the snow. "...Huh," she remarks as she brings the front of the mask to eye level. It seems quite... old. Old... like a relic.. a relic from an ancient civilization! Or, perhaps, a cult of some sort? And didn't Keane say something happened in the caves when she put the mask on? "I... need to investigate this."

Just as she was about to leave, though, a combat starts further down the mountain. Debbie sighs, about to head down to check it out- "zzt" -the distinct sound of an electric zap emits from under her right glove near the wrist, followed by a small, half-second jingle as she lifts it to her face. "W-well, that's... convenient? Hm," Debbie mumbles to herself. What could've happened...?

Whatever it is, it's apparent it took much of the pressure off of her as she returns up the mountain, back to the caves.

Empty Cave

Debbie eventually finds herself in the cave again, this time past the Shoal Cave and to the empty cave that Keane mentioned. "It's... certainly a cave," Debbie remarks, turning her gaze to every corner of the cavern. She fidgets with the mask a little, before looking it in the eyes. "S-she said to put it on... right?"

At that, Debbie cautiously puts the mask on, finding the black lantern at the center of the cavern. "I-woah. Fascinating, truly fascinating... what is this place, really?" She walks around the lantern, examining it, prodding at it, scribbling down stuff in her clipboard. "Though, why a lantern? Aren't the folk of this planet flammable? What use - or more likely, ritual - could they possibly have?"

Debbie muses over the lantern's purpose... but is there a way to light it? *Should* she try lighting it? Maybe grabbing R8 for assistance with it, if needed... for now, though, she just examines the lantern thoroughly.

The Frozen River

SUSSUI TRAVELER: Ice

Debbie dashes in on (J16). "More iti," she notes. "Of course."

She moves to (E12) and aims a Greatspire at (D4). The earth rumbles under the Bloodhound And Friends' feet. She does not retreat, nor does she spawn Fluidsand. "Remain calm. Be ready for an escape route."

Battle - The Frozen River

Sensing a battle to partake in, Blacklight emerges onto the scene via being-a-swirling-mass-of-shadow.

"Hmm. Quite the mess here, it would seem. Fortunately, we should be equipped to handle this."

Blacklight spawns on M16 and shoots the Siren, which by now should be at N12.

Des stops being Des in real life and starts being Des in Children of the Thyme again.

KP Assignment: -3KP from top slot's Manafuelled, +6KP SPC.
Affects: Trait Intellect is now +6 and MP Discount is now 35%, Roll Me Freeze Me active. Special Cost is now -15% to 59/spell (I think? Base cost isn't listed, but I think it's 70), King of Swords (Reversed) active. CAV now 32.

FROZEN RIVER:
8: Eagle Eye
56: Whirling Blades
36: Portal
38: Nature Power
• Forest (Range 1-2 Cone)
• Blank (Range 1-2 Cone)
• Shallow Water (Range 3-5 Splash 1)

DES:

>Spawn J16.
>Move H13.
>Eagle Eye [GDG: Discount] on Debbie and self.
• Focused8 and Direct Hit for 3rds (4 on self).
• -16 MP. +32 SP.
>Retreat I13.

Pardon pardons themselves as they fill up the cap for the battle. Who knows, maybe healing is required.

He spawns at L16 and steps forward to L15, where he blows his Strange Flute whose song creates discordance within the Siren for some damage and heal/harm any incidentally nearby friends/foes.

He than retreats to L16

Keane Dons a Disguise

...A young Chairian woman walks out of the trees. She's a bit tall for a Chairian, actually, with rough, dark grey bark and shiny, bright yellow foliage- which fades to a shiny dark green, clearly dyed somehow. If you weren't paying very, very close attention, you might not notice the subtle glint off her bark in the sun or the fact that her eyes sparkle like precious gems.

Noticing the brewing tussle, the woman charges into battle, pulling the guitar on her back around to her front.

KEANE: Yo! Keteleeria Fortunei here. Call me Ket! Let's send those freaks packing!

---

Battle

Keane (using the Skaige statblock) spawns on J16, moves to J13, and shoots the Siren with a basic attack.

---

payjej

Paige walks down to where the action is happening, but hangs back in the trees, so far content to watch.

<ROUND 32>
Eroa does some respeccing.

It is done. Acerola and R-8 also Obtain Stats.

---

Sakura inquires about the river. Surely, there’s a better way to cross than over an unstable ice sheet – this situation seems like a drowning waiting to happen. Acerola nods.

ACEROLA: Yeah.
ACEROLA: It’s dumb.
ACEROLA: There have been, like. Tabletopians in the area recently.
ACEROLA: There’s always a few. But not usually soldiers. That’s weird.
ACEROLA: Not like the Reach is strategicanotlly valuable.
ACEROLA: But, Poplar got scared. So the bridge is taken down for now.
ACEROLA: The theory is, if the Tabletopians and their war machines try to roll into Amora, they fall into the river and drown.
ACEROLA: In case they try to flank us from the mountain?
ACEROLA: Like I said, it’s stupid. Especially with Iti in the river, apparently. Which is also new.

So many strange things afoot at once... it’s probably a coincidence.

---

Debbie further investigates the lantern. Why would Chairians create such a thing?

Examining it, she notes the sinuous, flowing nature of its construction, but apart from the darkened coals at the bottom, no obvious way to light it.

BASS: oh hey what’s up your majesty
BASS: i see you’re admiring the sinuous flowing nature of the lantern’s construction
BASS: as you do
BASS: well i can’t see gorilla right now because of the whole invisible thing but i know the feeling

Oh, hey, it’s Bass. Carrying a torch alight with a vibrant scarlet flame. That appears distinctly unlit when Debbie removes the mask.

There may be an obvious way to light it.

---

<BATTLES: THE FROZEN RIVER, ROUND 2>

Of course, it couldn’t be that easy. Some new, sharklike Iti have appeared to carry your new friends off into the waters. Was it a little cheap of them to hide under the ice and attack immediately from hiding? Maybe. Try complaining to their manager.

Pardon grumbles as the Ranger is Downed, and moves when Debbie tells him to move, that is, after Blacklight to K15 than onward to K13, rushing past the Brute and Archer with much apologies and casting Resurrect onto the Ranger, applying Life Powder onto the Archer in the process. He eats the Magic Pouch for himself for (Energised7,4) and retreats to K14

The Frozen River

Debbie winces at being bitten and hooked by a Bonefin. And yet, she's still standing her ground. She's experienced worse. Of course, the Ranger going down to another Bonefin put things into perspective for her. The average person really couldn't survive bites like these.

The party needed to coordinate, immediately. "I-I'll be fine. Focus on the Iti ahead of us."



ACTION

CHI: Move to (M15), Attack North to clear Seekers, Retreat to (N15)

...

Debbie takes a look at the Boneifn. As the name suggests, it's skeletal. And a perfect candidate for her new trick.

Debbie applies a Chi's Salve to herself. Then, she SImulacrums a Bonefin onto (D11). As the new Bonefin erupts from the water covered in Fluidsand and lack of Thyme, doubtless it would cause a shock to the Chairians. And Debbie knew this. "Please do not panic," she firmly states. "This new one is made not of thyme, but of earth and air. It is under my control."

Debbie seems substantially weaker after that, but the battle must go on. "Acerola, would you kindly give our new friend a little extra juice? Please and thank you."

ACEROLA: Move to (G13). If Allied Bonefin is able to be Null Somnum'd, Null Somnum it. If not, Ebb And Flow between Debbie and Bonefin3.

BONEFIN: If Somnum'd, bite Bonefin3. If not, remain bone.

------

bass jumpscare

Debbie's a bit surprised that Bass was in here. She slips the mask off her face for a moment, seeming a bit annoyed at being called "Your Majesty", and opts to communicate as such. "...P-please don't call me that... I'm nothing special. Really!" She takes a breath to calm down. "Just 'Debbie' is fine."

She slips the mask back on and continues, chuckling at the remark. "Fascinating, isn't it? The origins of such a lantern are entirely lost on me, however-" She notices Bass carrying a torch, alight with a scarlet blaze. Ah, perfect. "Oh, that torch," she points out and points towards. "We might be able to light the lantern with that. Could you... hand it to me? I-I think it'd be safer if I lit it..."

She stares at the lantern for a moment, whether she receives the torch or not. A morbid curiosity of what will happen if she lights the thing? Or maybe, knowing that she probably should...

If she has the torch, Debbie lights the lantern.

Whoa, is that a FISH? A delicious treat, to be sure! Were it not lacking most (if not all) of its flesh, and if it weren't an Iti hellbent on killing everyone. In fact, one of them almost ate Debbie.

SAKURA: Look, I shouldn't need to tell you guys this, but EVERYONE AWAY FROM THE WATER.
SAKURA: Still, they're just fish. Nothing I can't handle.
SAKURA: As if our party would fall to some disgusting, rotted, rejected sushi filler.
SAKURA: Mmm, sushi...

...When would Paige be back with the snack she promised? Giving away that Ration was feeling like a larger and larger mistake by the second.

Also, much to Sakura's curiosity, Keane has arrived on the battlefield.

SAKURA: ...How the hell are you here?
SAKURA: Didn't your arm explode in that dank cave when you tried to help me?
SAKURA: Well, not that I care about the reason you can be here. Having my most loyal servant by my side is always a cause for at least a modicum of celebration.
SAKURA: Say, two claps and a cheer.

Such praise!

---

The Frozen River:
- Grab Chi's Salve, and smear it violently across Debbie's face.
- Fall back to (H15), and appoint Keane as a Servant. (also in Sakura's character sheets, give servant appointment a range of 1-2)
- Cast Decaying Sigil onto (F10), applying a lot of Armorbreak. This will hit Hound 2, Hound 4, Carrion 2, the Bloodhound, Carrion 3, and Bonefin 3. A standard (9-11) damage for 13 MP, and it will apply (Armorbreak5, 4) due to Wilting Blossom.

Doc steps through the portal to L9. He sighs.

Doc: I remember promising myself I'd never use this.
Doc: But that was a long time ago, before I'd done my other experiments.
Doc: The threats we're facing now call for a different sort of vial.

Doc, rather than going to his belt, presses on the beak of his plague doctor mask. With a hiss of steam and a bit of clockwork, the beak opens, revealing a series of glass bottles and tubes, along with three vials, which he removes, replacing them with three empty ones.

Doc: All of my efforts to cure myself of miasma have failed.
Doc: But one of my experiments, with a tonic I made by accident, was as close as I ever got.
Doc: Half my body was purged of the miasma, but the remaining miasma adapted to it before it could be purged.
Doc: The experiment was a failure - but it produced something both amazing and frightening.
Doc: The Ultimate Plague. A bio-weapon created from the plague that exists within my own body.
Doc: Takes the form of an inert liquid until activated with blunt force, then awakens in a less infectious form with just as much severity.
Doc: That's how it was in its original form. I took the sample and cultivated it, for my own experiments.
Doc: I hoped to use it to synthesize an anti-miasma. At least thus far, I have failed to do so.
Doc: But I have refined the serum. It is just as powerful, but it has a built in timer.
Doc: The entire miasma will dissipate after about five minutes following exposure to open air.

Doc brandishes the vials, before throwing one each at the Corpsetaker and both Bonefins.

Doc: More than enough time to serve its purpose.

The vials, on impact, explode into large clouds of thick, black gas. The gas seems to be slightly heavier than air, slowly sinking to the ground after rippling through the air for some time. Nearby enemies are also afflicted, with some of the gas blowing back into Doc's face as the beak of his mask closes.

(The plague spreads from Bonefin2 to Doc and from the Corpsetaker to the Cinder.)

Eroa dashes in to assist at The Frozen River. Surely, her powers shall be useful in the hazardous terrain.

EROA: Allure Hound3 to (G11), move to (C12), Allure Bloodhound to (E10), Allure Carrion1 into water for a swifter kill, Suffocating Hatred (D10) (Fear), Retreat to (D13)

Battle - The Frozen River

"Fish skeletons. Fascinating. Were the circumstances different, I would consider adopting a few... Or perhaps I should make my own distinct similar entities, that would be safer."

Pet thoughts aside, Blacklight has a battle to fight.

Blacklight moves to N14, then casts a Pinning Shot at the Corpsetaker.

"Stay over there, where we do not have to deal with you."

23: Pow Hammer
29: Ebb and Flow
74: Cherry Energy
57: Heartpiercer

• Use Pow Hammer [GDG: Buff Levels] on Bonefins 1 and 2. (8-8) Crushing before defenses, Aching3 3rds, Stunned 1rd. -26 MP, +52 SP.

Offtopic takes his turn before Chi and after Keane.

Actions are:
-Move to H10
-Basic Attack Bonefin3

<ROUND 33>

Debbie gets jumpscared. Taking Bass’s torch, she stares at the lantern. What will happen if she lights it? Is this really a good idea?

Well, only one way to find out. Debbie applies the torch to the coals. They ignite, sending a jet of scarlet fire bursting through the lantern’s slim frame up over the flame-shaped top.

As she does so, music suddenly rings out in her ears. An old-timey (for Earth B standards) fragment of song, as if played on an accordion Debbie cannot see, with hints of whimsy and gothic dread... all in twelve notes.

The music stops. The lantern continues to burn.

Bass, who remains unable to see the fire without the mask, turns to Debbie.

BASS: uh
BASS: so what was the point of that

...Meanwhile, back at camp, the resting Alicia and Auth hear a rustling to the south, followed by the rushing of air... and then the sound of someone playing accordion.

A new area is now accessible.

---

<BATTLES: THE FROZEN RIVER, ROUND 3>

Five of the six Chairians are imminently saved, but this poor Ranger keeps getting tossed around like a ragdoll... not to mention the devastating betrayal that has occurred. Debbie is also down. Find a way to save both.

This post is for the previous round.

---

Battle

Keane acts after Sakura, moves to H14, and nanostorms F10.

---

payjej

...

Pardon winces as the Ranger gets chomped on again and eyes Debbie for help, only for her to also get downed.

He sighs and gathers his wits as he tries to see what needs to be done...

Pardon: Alright, I got this. Acerola, get Debbie up again.
Pardon: I'll continue to prevent the Ranger from leaving this world

He moves to I12 and casts Resurrect once more on the Ranger, applying LifePowder once more in an earnest hope and throws a Magic Pouch at H13 for somebody else to pick up. He than retreats to J13, crossing his fingers at the ice cracks under his weight.

Doc moves to M8 while healing himself with Chi's Salve. He casts Living Plague on the Betrayer, throwing one of his bottled newts a long distance to the target.

The plague spreads from the Cinder and the Corpsetaker to the Spout and the Purifire1. Bonefin1 and Bonefin2 spread their respective plagues to each other.