Battle - The Frozen River



After a flurry of attacks and a few retaliations, the queen has been overwhelmed at last. Though not dead yet, Debbie's blood stains the snow and ice a deep crimson, struggling to move through all the pain.

Better her than anyone else, she thinks to herself as her consciousness fades.

Fortunately, the party doesn't only have one medic.

ACEROLA: Move (E13), Rez Debbie

As her wounds heal and her pain subsiding, Debbie stands, and activates Tailwind on her Bonefin. She takes a glance back at Acerola, a small smile crossing her lips. "...Thank you," she exhales. "I'll, um, think of something later as repayment."

BONEFIN: Move (C12), Bite Lamia Twice. If first bite kills via crit, second bite hits Carrion1
TOAD: Tongue Latch Ranger to (J11), dealing no damage because ally
CHI: Move (M13), Toxin Coating Aching, Stab North, Retreat (L14).

---

Empty Cave

Debbie, shocked at the sudden sound of music, jolts her head around the cave trying to find it. Of course, she finds nothing. Of course.

When it stops, she just... stares at the flame for a second. She takes off the mask, unrevealing the lantern and flame, before returning the mask to Bass.

"Music... why was there a sudden song," Debbie aimlessly questions. "Surely something happened somewhere..." She gives it some thought, before deciding... "Perhaps a vantage point would help. Care to join at the top of the mountain?"

Regardless of Bass's answer, Debbie returns to the top of the mountain and keeps lookout for any changes in the scenery since last time.

/workin

---

The Frozen River:
- Patiently await Des's action.
- Tell Acerola she can stop being a servant for a little bit, so you can appoint Des as your new butler / maid / gender neutral servant term???
- Eat a stack of Favor to obtain (23) SP.
- Move to (J14), and obliterate Bonefin 2 with Formulaic Spellcasting: Electric. Assuming we hit, it should be a guaranteed kill. Costs 9 MP w/ 41 HIT, deals (22-22) damage with 3 Buff Levels, and is buffed by the Bonefin's electrical weakness as well as it being a fish in water.

EROA: Move (H13), Take Pouch, Manasurge for 13 MP, Aftershock (E9) to clear corpses

Battle - The Frozen River

"Hm. A Betrayer... What other surprises will be in store for us..."

Blacklight has begun musing on potential threats in the near future. He's not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of facing something more... potent. Good thing he has plenty of bullets left.

Blacklight proceeds to sink one of those bullets into the Corpsetaker. Between the +40% damage boost and the Tenepierce, that should prove quite the hit.

Offtopic takes his turn after Eroa and before Doc.
-Move to G10
-Basic Attack Bonefin1

KEANE: Move (H13), Nanostorm (N7), Retreat (H14).

63: Proximity Burst
30: Healer's Touch
48: Weatherling
12: Locus of Rage

Des is basically out of MP (ever punished), so they scan Bonefin2.

<ROUND 34>

Debbie returns to the top of the mountain. Getting a better vantage point (Bass accompanying her), she looks out at the scenery. Everything seems pretty normal, except... there does seem to be a crimson glow emanating from a gap in the canopy to the south.

BASS: hey
BASS: you see that too
BASS: ...weird

It’s probably nothing.

---

With the conclusion of the battle at the riverside, the Chairian guardsmen are hurried to safety in a nearby cave. Draped in blankets to warm up and seated by (though not too close to) a fire, the soldiers take a minute to recover.

CHI: Is everyone okay? If you need more medical attention, please don’t hesitate to ask.
ALANI: I think we’re all doing okay ma’am.
ALANI: Larch took a few nasty hits but she’s doing fine after your help.
LARCH: I am NOT fine! And I will not be fine until Cinnamon is found, or he is avenged!
ALANI: Look can we table the Cinnamon issue for now Larch? I know you’re grieving but we have a fridging potential crisis on our hands right now.
ACEROLA: So. You figured it out too.
ALANI: ...Yeah. The Iti were attacking us to stall you capital people and aliens.
ALANI: If something bad is about to happen in Amora y’all need to get there right now okay? Don’t waste time worrying about us.
ACEROLA: ...
ALANI: ‘Rola, that includes you. If you think these southerners and also aliens are trustworthy then using your rad magic skills to help is what you should be doing.
CHI: I appreciate the care you have for your people, but I’m not sure that’s wise.
CHI: You are wounded here and now. The threat to Amora is speculative. We can deal with that if and when it actually–

R-8 steps up to the campfire.

R-8733: Uh, boss?
R-8733: We got a blizzard coming in. It looks pretty nasty!

Chi pokes her head out of the cave entrance. Indeed, visibility is rapidly dropping as snow begins to blanket the air.

CHI: ...It’d be too easy for this to be a coincidence.
CHI: Everyone with me. We’ll leave one or two behind to protect the wounded.
CHI: We need to get to Amora. Any advice on crossing the ice?
ALANI: It’s pretty solid in most parts assuming the flubbing Iti haven’t cracked a flipping hole in it.
ALANI: They did seem to be retreating once we all escaped though so maybe they aren’t waiting for you there anymore?
CHI: We can only hope.
CHI: Stay safe, everyone. Let’s move out.

After the end of the battle, Pardon receives the Blessing of Lord Helix as his third Perk for 3 KP. And gets Quick Purification onto his Purify

After that, he makes sure the soldiers are alright as his jacket protects him from the worst of the cold.

Pardon: It seems the storm is picking up…
Pardon: Chi, you have my aid for what comes next, though I must confess a bit of doubt whether I can truly help.

Stats

-2 MHP, +Overhealing

-----

Frozen River

Debbie doesn't miss a beat, immediately heading further north. The incoming blizzard doesn't bode well. And if the Iti's tactics are equivalent to what Acerola and Alani were saying... even worse.

-----

Circus?

"T-that... wasn't there before," Debbie nervously remarks, studying the strange crimson glow. A pit in her stomach says not to go towards it, yet her curiosity takes hold once again. Along with it being potentially another thing to watch out for, of course. "...I'm going to have a look."

And so she does. With the blizzard fast approaching, Debbie heads down the mountain back to home base, and then proceeds further onward.

-----

The unfamiliar sight of a circus of crackling flames in the middle of nowhere bewildered Debbie. The simple act of lighting the lantern summoned this entire establishment out of nowhere? The tingling of uncertainty crawls across her skin, yet she presses onward to the largest tent, stopping in front of the guards. As calmly as a freshly anxious queen could be, she asks simply, "E-excuse me, what is this place?"

Doc gains one point in DEF.

Doc: No way forward but across the ice.
Doc: This shouldn't be any trouble.

Doc procures a pair of small metal blades. He affixes them to his boots, and then glides across the ice to the other side.

---

Battle Aftermath

QUOTE (Irecreeper @ Jan 7 2024, 11:41 PM)

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!

Keane-as-Keteleeria just sort of shrugs a bit.

"KETELEERIA": I'll be honest, I have no idea!
"KETELEERIA": Doesn't really matter in the long run, does it. Two claps and a cheer will suffice!

Ket claps twice and cheers.

"KETELEERIA": Self-provided, of course.
"KETELEERIA": Now, across the ice we go!

---

payjej

In the battle's aftermath, Paige, still present in the shadows, slips away back towards the old campsite.

The Iti, acting solely to delay the team? Yet another point of increasing concern for Sakura. First, Paige takes her ration without repaying her, then she almost gets killed by magic suspiciously similar to her own, and now this? Truly, there was nobody within 75 tiles that could relate to this pain at all.

But there's the issue of crossing the ice. There's still definitely something down there, and like hell if she's going to wrestle a fish. She'd win, but that'd be too much effort. Sakura bullies a nearby tree into walking itself towards the river. It makes itself fall over, extending itself into a long wooden plank as it does so. Though probably stable enough already, Sakura takes the time to arch the plank, waste another tree to add railings and "ropes", and also add extra supports in the water because there's this thing called "physics" that'd make the bridge snap and dunk her into fishland.

Besides, she's not playing Polybridge. She doesn't have a budget. She can add supports.

SAKURA: Behold, poor bridgeless peasants!~
SAKURA: Consider this a gift from your princess!
SAKURA: The Princess Sakura Royal Suspension Bridge!
SAKURA: Or... whatever sort of bridge this is.
SAKURA: However, "Suspension" sounds more grandiose, does it not?

Sakura crosses the bridge. Hopefully it doesn't drop her in the water and kill her.

SAKURA: Let's make haste.
SAKURA: I don't wish to freeze to death today.

Sakura makes her way east. Hopefully, comfort awaits!

---

/working

Offtopic meditates, assuming that it's possible to still perform battle actions outside of battle.

<ROUND 35>

Pardon acquires Helix’s blessing. With the mollusk god’s light shining upon him, he does a checkup on the Northern Guard soldiers before beginning to head out.

---

Debbie acquires overhealing capabilities. She also heads further north, across Sakura’s new makeshift bridge towards Amora. Hopefully they get there in time...

Elsewhere in time and space, Debbie heads to the circus. Nervously greeting the two individuals stationed at the large tent’s flaps, she inquires as to the nature of this place. The Tabletopian leers down at Debbie, and though their face is masked, she gets the vague impression of a smile. Words, half-whispered, half-sighed, slip out from behind the mask.

TABLETOPIAN: Ahhhh. You called us?
TABLETOPIAN: The novice failed to light the lantern... then.
TABLETOPIAN: Ohhhh. No matter. The time... has come regardless.
TABLETOPIAN: This land... the land my friend once called home. Ahhhh. On the edge of ruin. A knife’s edge. A fitful slumber.
TABLETOPIAN: Flush with the scarlet fire... that flame in dream. Ohhhh.

The Chairian, eerily silent, stares through black eye holes directly into Debbie’s own eyes as their companion talks. At last, some seconds after the Tabletopian stops speaking, the Chairian’s voice rings out, sing-song in tone.

CHAIRIAN: ‘cross darkened void, through vast expanse
CHAIRIAN: we mummers twirl our endless dance
CHAIRIAN: in nightmare’s wake, in shadowed palls
CHAIRIAN: we step to rhythms of kingdoms’ falls
CHAIRIAN: harvest the flame of fear and dread
CHAIRIAN: of beating heart, unquiet dead
CHAIRIAN: oh honored guest, we humbly stoop
CHAIRIAN: we feeble servants of grimm’s dread troupe

They bow reverently, as does the Tabletopian moments later.

TABLETOPIAN: Oohhhh. You may go... inside.
TABLETOPIAN: All questions... will be answered.
TABLETOPIAN: Speak to master. Ahhhh.

The flaps rustle open on their own.

---

Doc acquires DEF. He also ice-skates over the river. Moments before Sakura makes her bridge.

---

Paige sneaks back to camp. Meanwhile, Keteleeria is definitely still not Keane. No way.

---

Sakura plays Polybridge. Using woodmancy, she corrals some trees into forming a bridge across the river for her.

Heading east, she then... wait a minute. This isn’t east, it’s north. Curse you, unintuitive map design.

---

Offtopic meditates. You can, in fact, meditate out of battle.

It doesn’t do anything in particular. But you can do it.

---

Passing across the river, past some further copses of trees, and through the large wooden gates of Amora (with key assistance provided by Alani before departure), the party hears the sounds of fighting in the distance. The growing storm makes it hard to see any significant distance ahead of oneself, but the group is not to be deterred. As the party rushes forward, they find themselves in a long and wide, but low-profile town of wooden cabins in a traditional Chairian style, most of which have no lights flickering from their windows.

Chi peers through a nearby window.

CHI: Empty.
CHI: There’s no sign of a break-in, though. It’s likely the townspeople are taking shelter in a larger building.
ACEROLA: ...Probably the town hall.
ACEROLA: If Poplar’s not being an idiot. That’s where they’d go.
CHI: Then that’s where we go as w

In that instant, a Seeker lunges at Chi from behind the building, only to get splattered into thyme matter in an instant by the combined firepower of everyone’s weapons.

CHI -ell.
CHI: Hurry, everyone.

Sprinting down the streets, you see several bonfires burning in the middle of the town streets... and it’s suddenly easier to understand why. It’s cold here, several degrees colder than it was mere minutes earlier outside the town wall.

The town hall provides a landmark in the snowstorm, taller than anything else in town, lights burning in its windows signaling the presence of life and warmth. In the middle of the path to the town hall, Chairian-shaped silhouettes are visible against the snow, weapons held over wooden barricades, clashing against... something. It’s hard to tell, but Iti is a safe bet.

One soldier charges through the enemy ranks, hailing to you.

CHAIRIAN SOLDIER: HELP! HELP!
CHAIRIAN SOLDIER: IF YOU’RE FRIENDLIES, FOR HELIX’S SAKE, HELP!
CHAIRIAN SOLDIER: THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE–

A crack.

Like the sound of cracking ice beneath your feet.

A horrible scream.

And then, where the soldier once stood, is a block of ice in the shape of a Chairian. The eerie flickering of the bonfires in the storm illuminates their helpless expression.

???: Shhh~
???: No more screams, sweetheart.
???: It’s okay. You’re safe now.
???: Nothing can ever hurt you again.

A white, misty silhouette of a woman with no face, bearing long, wildly tangled hairs drifting out behind her, steps closer to you, over a spot of pooled Thyme matter on the path. She holds out a hand.

???: Have you come for my gift as well?
R-8733: Gift? Lady, you just froze that person to death!
??? ...No?
???: Some of you are outsiders... You must be the ones I was warned about.
???: Don’t worry. I know it looks scary, but I promise you it’s nearly painless. They only scream out of shock, really.
???: If you’d just give in, I could preserve you perfectly for all time, and this fighting wouldn’t have to happen.
???: I don’t like hurting people, you know. Especially not ones as unique and beautiful as you.
CHI: If you don’t want to fight us, and you really have the free will to do that...
CHI: I’d suggest ignoring whatever voice in your head is telling you to attack these innocent people, and leave.
CHI: Otherwise, we’ll have to make you. By any means necessary.

Chi’s voice carries through the air, with no sounds of fighting to interrupt it. The nearby Iti slink forward into the light, apparently interested in some way by the conversation, while the Chairian soldiers further back take a moment of respite. The speaking Iti sighs, drifting backwards.

???: You don’t understand. I want to make this perfect! A happy ending for everyone.
???: I am Elsa Maria, the witch who will bring an end to your anguish.
ELSA MARIA: You don’t have to struggle. It’s okay. I’m here.
ELSA MARIA: Do you really want to fight anymore?

Weapons are brandished.

ELSA MARIA: Don’t make me angry, please.
ELSA MARIA: I can make you feel so awful in your final moments when I’m angry.



You are accosted by...

ELSA MARIA
The White Death

> PLAY.



It is so very cold.

NPC KP

CHI: +Agonizer
BASS: +Helixical Blessing, +1 DEF
R8: +1 MHP
ACEROLA: +1 AGI

-----

Battle: White Death

Debbie, hot on the trail of the predicted attack, skids to a halt. Oh boy, another Eliti. Watching Elsa's unusual process of "saving people from pain by way of ice sculpture" (or so she says) made zero sense to her. The sculptures, reaching out in search of a reprieve from such a fate, is enough for Debbie to just... stare in silence, mouth agape.

DEBBIE: ...T-their last moments, frozen in panic...
DEBBIE: It's sick. Twisted, even.
DEBBIE: And you have the gall, the nerve, to assume their afterlife - or, lack thereof - is an improvement!?
DEBBIE: A cold stasis, within which no memories are created...
DEBBIE: A cruel, boring experience, in my opinion.

She floats forward. She looks straight at Elsa Maria, not breaking eye contact for just a small moment.

DEBBIE: You will not send another to their untimely deaths.
DEBBIE: Get out of our way.

CHI: Go First. Spawn and Move to (L18), Special, Toxin Coating Aching, Stab North.

Debbie takes the Thymium Key into battle. She sets her Sussui Traveler to Snow. She spawns and moves to (N15). She Dusty Slides West, kicking up an incredible amount of icy dirt and sharp rocks on the way, landing at (J15).

Debbie plops Fluidsand at (L15) and (K14), while Botch The World-ing away (L14)'s Thyme Matter. She then retreats to (G15).

-----

hollow knight but furniture

Sweat beads down from Debbie's forehead, betraying her attempts to remain collected. Why the heck is she even doing this? Potentially walking straight into the face of danger. But what did it matter?

She would respawn anyway.
Such is the way of this little adventure.

With a shaky sigh, she slowly strolls through the main entrance of the tent.

(Doc acts after Chi this turn.)

Doc removes the blades from his boots and approaches, spawning at L20.

Doc: To answer your question...

Doc moves to L17.

Doc: Yes, I want to keep fighting.
Doc: There are too many people I still need to save, and to do that I must first save myself.
Doc: And I shall. I refuse to lose now, to you, in this place.

Doc procures a small glass sphere with no visible opening. A dark yellow liquid swims inside. Without much of a second thought, he lobs it into the mess of Thyme Matter at L15. It breaks open, and immediately the liquid swells into a massive, boiling foam.

Doc: I should warn you, that foam is highly acidic.
Doc: If I were you, I would flee this place and never return.
Doc: If you stay, you consent to me studying and perhaps collecting your remains for future synthesis of medicines and curatives.

Why was it so helix-damned cold? Frost piles up on Sakura's ragged dress-armor, weighing down her every step in the frost-scarred streets. No flower could bloom in the weather, especially not the princess herself. But there, in the distance! The town hall, and signs of warmth! She had to get there.

A soldier's screams echo through the rippling snowstorm. There's something in the... something? She didn't quite catch that. She did however, catch the instantaneous crystallization of the soldier, morphing into an ice sculpture mere meters away from her.

SAKURA: OH gorilla.
SAKURA: W-What kind of... thing is t-that?

The manifestation of hypothermia herself, Elsa Maria, makes itself known. It muses about the preservation of Chairians. For all time.

SAKURA: W-Wow, yeah.
SAKURA: Perfectly preserved until s-summer rolls around!
SAKURA: Or until these crazy-gorilla winds rip them apart.
SAKURA: God, and I thought A-Aoki's aesthetic was freaky...

SAKURA: A-Anyway, would you mind stepping aside, or d-dying, or whatever? It doesn't really matter.
SAKURA: These people are u-under my jurisdiction! Or at least, t-they will be!
SAKURA: L-Like hell if I'm going to let you waste a perfectly good peasant on something as gorilla as a t-tacky block of ice!

...Sakura shivers violently, struggling to raise her weapon towards Elsa Maria. God, it really was cold. Or was it perhaps... fear?

---

White Death:
- Eat your Skillpoint to increase your HP.
- Spawn at (K20).
- Throw a Decaying Sigil: Armorbreak down upon (L15). 13 MP, (9-11) Dark Damage, applying (Armorbreak5, 4) with 27 HIT.
- Decree that Chi is your bias. Wait, no. That she has you as her bias. Yeah.

-2 KP from MP. Equip Protowell Seeker.

39: Suffocating Hatred
25: Transfusion
33: Flirt
48: Weatherling

Des spawns N20 and casts Weatherling [GDG: MP Discount]. A Sunscorch appears on N19. It has 29 MHP, (18-18) Basic Attack damage, (9-11) Cauterize damage. -15 MP/+36 SP.
Protowell Seeker during Regen.

Battle - White Death

Blacklight abruptly manifests in the battle.

"Some alleged gift this is. I don't see a single person here who wants anything to do with it. So quite frankly, if you really want to make ice-statue-shaped corpses like this? Start with one of yourself."

Lightning strikes in the background as Blacklight stares directly at Elsa Maria, eyes flashing monochrome for a moment. Yes, he has in fact just done a LowTierGod at them.


He also takes the time to spawn on L21 and shoot the Sentinel.