middleofsomewhere | Onward: Purple

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Onward: Purple

Rescue Efforts

Progress has been good, with many of the trapped citizens now rescued and parts of the city put to rights. There are only a couple of pockets of trapped people remaining, where it is proving difficult structurally to clear the tunnels. Even so, spirits are high; it’s believed they’ll be able to do so with the Voidtreckers’ assistance.

Work is still done in shifts and continues through the night. Voidtreckers are encouraged to rest after their shifts, and stagger themselves. It’s likely that there’s a mix of people awake and asleep as the sun rises on the third day.

Dawn Attack

Not long after dawn many of the Terran phones begin ringing with notifications and alarms, and there is a general wave of panic that spreads through the adult Terran. Followed by a rush of activity, as those asleep are quickly shaken awake to get ready.

It won’t take long, they’re told. There has been an attack. Not here, but in another segment of the city. Unknown forces, monstrosities of some kind coming down the service tunnels. Forces are holding them off but they need backup. Transport is quickly arranged and any Voidtreckers who wish to go and help can do so.

Transport is a train, one that is sourced incredibly quickly and filled with combat-ready Terran civilians. Not all go, since people are still needed to finish the rescue efforts and prepare for any attack in this sector.

Those that do go will find a battle raging between Terran and monsters. It may be that shortly after the Voidtreckers and their Terran friends turn up they will be joined by some more adventurous members of Orange Team who followed the monsters down the tunnels.

Days of Fighting

Throughout the next few days (G7-G11), fights spring up around the city. Though the first fight was against monsters from the lab, it seems others have found ways of getting into the tunnel system. The Terran are practical and quickly set up systems of transport for quick response. They don’t have much in the way of lights; their own decorative lights are soft, which will drive the creatures back from illuminated areas but be unable to destroy them.

They will happily accept as much help as the Voidtreckers can give. The fighting is lessened as the day goes on, as no new monsters enter the tunnels, but sunset brings fresh recruits.

For those who cannot or do not wish to fight there is plenty that needs doing. Centres are set up for the injured. Fighters need food and water. There are still collapsed tunnels that need repaired and cleaned up. The final trapped citizens need to be brought to safety. Children need to be watched and kept out of danger.

A Rumour

Talking of children, as the days go by the Terran teenagers get more and more agitated. A few times they can be seen trying to approach exhausted and stressed adults, mobile phones in their hands as they try and explain something.

They are quickly dismissed. If asked about it the teenagers will tell literally anyone who listens that they think the monsters are going after The Dweller. They will distractedly explain that it is some lifeform within the planet that ‘those Gry’ worship as a god.

‘Those Gry’ are their primary source of information, in fact, and most of their evidence seems to be coming from dream interpretation forums. Probably why they aren’t getting taken seriously by their stressed parents.

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Rescue Efforts

Glorfindel is very happy to get the report that they have freed almost all the trapped people. Though he doesn't need much rest himself, he has been careful to take breaks to recharge and stay hydrated.

If anyone asks, he shares the lembas bread he brought. He is conscientious and dims his light when near where others are resting, but he tries to make sure that he spends time with each of his team, especially if they indicate to him that they need a break from the unceasing dark.

He does ask their contact Buij about the monsters the Red Team had encountered, "Have you heard of such creatures before, or only since the orbs started appearing?" he asked.

Dawn Attack

Glorfindel is right there when the calls start coming in, and he'll wake any who were sleeping in his area. "The Caverns are under attack! I'm going to go see how I can help there, who is coming with me and who is staying to continue the rescue?"

He hops on the transport train, holding onto the handrail and warning the Terrans nearest him that they should expect a very bright light if these turn out to be the same enemies as what Red Team was facing.

Upon arrival, and discovering quickly that they are, Glorfindel lights the place up like it was Daylight.

Days of Fighting

Glorfindel is more than willing to be a portable Sun and goes wherever he is needed to fight and destroy the monsters coming in. He checks to see if the Terrans need any help sealing off the holes that the Monsters are coming in through, though he likely does so through Roland or one of the others as he would probably hurt the Terran's eyes if he gets too close.

He will gratefully accept food and water, and he'll even take a few cat naps while transporting from sector to sector, as it is more effective to kill the monsters if they don't see him coming and run away, but other than that, he is relying on his elven stamina to keep him going.

A Rumor

[Anyone want to come tell him about the rumor?]

I. Avoidance

II. Days

III. Wildcard

[[Hit me with an idea and see if it leads to anything!]]

"Hassa-frass-wha...?" Della is suddenly woken up, confused and dazed. She shakes her head, trying to re-hear what was just said. "What's going on?"

Rescue Efforts

[ Della's been working herself to the bone, which is nice for the Terrans and... not as nice for herself. She might have skipped sleep a few times. Which explains why you might find her passed out along a group of rocks, only for her to jolt upright as soon as you approach. ]

I DIDN'T DO IT! ... Oh. I'm up, I'm up.

Dawn Attack

[ Finally! Some real action! Della had nearly celebrated over this development, but seeing the frightened Terrans thankfully shut her beak. But she bolts for the train regardless, eager to throw down with some monsters.

Once it's time to d-d-duel, those around her will discover she's more of a melee fighter. Punch, bite, kick, throw, she'll launch herself at anything that's monstrous, and has fun doing it.]

YEAH! COME ON, WHO WANTS ROUND TWO?!

Days Of Fighting

[ Even someone as gung-ho as Della needs a break. After taking some time out to catch her breath, she'd been ready to leap back into the fray... until she spotted the scared, worried Terran children. You just can't do that to a mom! ]

Hey, hey, it's okay! We've got this. You guys just have to stay here, all right?

[ Better distract the little guys! She glances around, then claps her hands together. ]

Who wants to play a game?

A Rumor

[ So. A god that appears in dreams but only to a chosen few? That is SO up Della's alley. She keeps trying to gather more information, definitely interested. ]

"Could be your standard 'evil' god who sees mortals as pawns, a 'good' god who is struggling to get a message across, or your ever-annoying 'neutral' god who is just AOK watching things go down. Those are the worst."

Wildcard
Make your own prompt!

Edited 2020-07-13 19:14 (UTC)

"The monsters that Red have been fighting are attacking the caverns. I'm heading out now to help. Seems they are harmed by bright lights," Glorfindel said dryly, being a bright light. "Want to come along and play mop up of any that duck and cover, or want to sleep a little more and continue helping the rescue operation?" he offered with a grin.

Rescue Efforts

[ Kitty sighs as she wipes her forehead with the back of her hand. With alternating between finding those who were injured, helping to treat those injured parties, and finding areas that needed structural support or finding where paths could be cleared, Kitty had been working herself pretty hard. She'd taken plenty of breaks and rests, especially since she was using her phasing ability quite often and knew she had to recharge. But as the days go on, someone might want to suggest her taking a break more often. ]

Dawn Attack

[ She awakes with a start, hearing the chimes and alarms of phones followed by worried and panicked voices of the Terrans. Quickly getting up, she heads out of the house she's staying in to find many of the Terrans and Purple team members rushing towards the train. ]

What's happening?

Days of Fighting

[ Just as she'd been doing for the past few days, Kitty spends her time alternating between different tasks. Sometimes she goes out to help fight some of the monsters that appear in the tunnels, and would sometimes trade places with the other fighters when she came with food and water.

Other times she would remain behind, helping at the centers for the injured and finding the last of the trapped citizens, as well as looking out for some of the Terran children.

With even more to do, she'll need a bit more convincing to rest for a while. ]

A Rumor

[ One of Kitty's greatest strengths was being able to connect to people, and during their time underground, she had befriended many of the younger Terrans. Because of that, she had heard the rumor that they were sharing about The Dweller, and had seen the forums they were on about how the monsters might be going after the being that the Gry considered a god.

The older Terrans didn't seem to be listening, though, and Kitty didn't think they would listen to them any easier either. So instead, she goes to another Purple member. ]

Hey. There's something we might wanna look into.

It was a fluke, Jessie had tripped on some rocks while scouting. In the process she is sent crashing into total darkness.

Not good given her phobia.

So she is thrashing in an attempt tp escape what feels like a return to the coffin.

Yup she'll be in medical after this from a bruised back but the phobia is at its worst level now.

Edited 2020-07-14 02:16 (UTC)

[rescue efforts]
Itsuki continues to work hard when not otherwise engaged; her (slightly) above average strength and her smaller size are still making her useful throughout the collapsed warrens, and she's also in good spirits a large portion of the time. She does catch herself when she starts to flag and lets people know she's going off shift; her sleep schedule is going to have gone completely to hell after all this, but it's fulfilling work, so she's really not complaining too much. As she moves through the warrens, greeting the Terrans she's becoming increasingly familiar with, she keeps an eye out for any of her fellow travelers that might need a hand - or just someone to talk to.

[attack]
She's on shift the morning of the third day of the mission, as the whole community seems to be called to action at once; the reason why almost makes her want to groan, but she restricts herself to a heavy sigh. "Not even across dimensions... well, let's see what we're dealing with." Resigning herself but quickly putting her game face on, Itsuki stuffs everything except her Perfume into her rucksack, leaves it in the Terran home she's been staying in, and hops aboard the train. Once it's underway, she slips into a small room - looks like a maintenance closet? - and pulls her Perfume out as she slides the door shut behind her. There's not much room, but it's enough for her to do what needs to be done. Anyone happening to be standing next to the door will hear a faintly murmured, "Precure! Open my heart-!" and see a yellow flash under the door that fades quickly-

-and a rather different girl steps out. Long, golden twintails, a short top and skirt, heavy boots, all in white with orange accents, an orange ribbon tied around her neck as a choker, SCA on her wrist, and a sharp gaze; even if you'd seen it, it's hard to believe this is Itsuki. In some ways, it isn't: this is the flower blooming in sunlight, Cure Sunshine, not that she announced herself to an empty room. She rejoins the gathered Terrans and occasional Voidtreckers, and when they arrive, she hops off the train to find a melee in progress - but one she can handle much more readily. Once she's got an open line and recognizes what she's fighting against, Sunshine darts into the fray and begins attacking in melee, unwilling to open with her stronger abilities until she's established a baseline for what works. Still, she's not going to take it easy, and she's keeping an eye out for anyone that's getting overwhelmed. Not having her teammates on hand is going to make this a little tighter than she'd like, but that's never stopped her before.

[fighting]
Itsuki's role shifts a little bit once they've returned from the initial attack that third morning. She continues to help move rubble, but as new monster attacks break out, she breaks away quickly to go help. Sometimes she's able to shift to Sunshine on her way; sometimes she isn't and she fights as herself, invariably doing worse but holding her own. Her fighting style isn't necessarily good at incorporating her SCA's light, but she manages, and Sunshine's power gives her a lot more room to work. If she has to, she'll just focus on good old-fashioned beatdowns and let someone else handle the finishing blow, but she tries not to need someone else to clean up her mess. This does mean she's increasingly more tired over the course of the passing days, though... She might need someone to remind her to stop and take a little more care of herself. Thankfully, she is careful not to change back to her civilian form where anyone can see her. That'd be a whole separate problem she's not ready to deal with quite yet.

((Itsuki is breaking out her transformation finally; Cure Sunshine is a magical warrior with powerful melee attacks, high speed and durability, and strong shields. Her strongest abilities all have sunflower motifs, including her signature, a big shield that looks like a sunflower, Sunshine Aegis. She's defense-minded but will happily take out all comers, but other than maybe her finisher she doesn't really have any light magic? So she'll be great for giving other people opportunities to finish monsters off, or bailing others out of trouble. Sunshine is not recognizable as Itsuki, and she's being careful (this time) not to get caught changing in and out of form; someone might notice that Itsuki took off for combat and didn't arrive, though.))

Late in the day, during a lull between attacks, a familiar figure approaches, looking...well, like she's been in a fight to the death and come out on top. She raises a hand to her forehead as she gets close and gives a loose, casual salute. Glorfindel isn't exactly Army, but she respects him as a good officer.

"Mind if I discuss a little intel with you?"

"By all means," Glorfindel said with a firm nod. He was resting up against a rock wall just then. He held up a piece of Lembas. "Care for a bite?" he asked.

< 1 - Dawn Attack >
[ Right into the fray he goes, with only forty winks and one ingested Potion to keep him going. Roland does a little touch base with the rest of the Teams, and begins to relay relevant information to the front lines, Terran and Voidtrecker passenger alike. ]

Prioritize the city's defense! Don't let them breach tunnels leading further down!

[ Roland expertly wields an intimidating looking gun in his right hand, ready to fire. He aims for a monster before it can stand up on all fours, flashing his SCA into its hideous visage twice in rapid succession. As soon as it recoils from the brightness, Roland fires three shots into its gem-like eyes, defeating the monster at last. He smirks in triumph, though there were more of them than he would like starting to swarm. ]

Use the light to immobilize them, then go straight for their eyes! Anywhere else seems useless!

[ He makes a stand next to a couple of Terrans who were armed without light, and assists them with his SCA's torch. His breathing grows heavy, and for once, he might be biting off more than he can chew... ]

< 2 - Days of Fighting >
Black Squad Shenanigans + Mass Healing + And Others!

[ The first wave was the worst. They were all caught unawares and plenty of adjustments had to be made to ensure defensive measures did its job to keep the monsters as far away from the wreckage site as possible. But it wasn't enough, and whatever the first wave brought was only amplified in the coming days ahead, as the monsters discovered a path into the deeper city through other tunnels. Skirmishes erupted in small pockets. It was going to be a fight of strategy and stamina.

Tactically, they were at a minor disadvantage. Enclosed spaces meant limited mobility for offense. Compromised structures meant manpower had to be cognizant of where they were fighting, and how destructive they were becoming. Civilian rescue ops were still ongoing, which was a whole other can of worms but the worst of it was fatigue. Roland doubted a single person on Purple was able to get more than a few hours of sleep, and that compromised performance on the field. It also meant rotations of who would defend, who would rest, and who would continue with the extraction of trapped Terrans. ]

Please group together by buddy system for those falling back! Spread the word, we're getting some backup from another team above-ground! Can I get a count of tired and injured?

[ He falls naturally into a state of trying to get things together, attempting to organize what he could. He was more than grateful for Reno's offer to drop by to heal them while the fighting was dying down in the early afternoon, but they didn't have much time to dally. When the night comes, the fighting will crescendo again. For now, he will take whatever rest he can get, though it doesn't really mean much. Roland was still on his feet, talking to teammates, to Terrans, and setting up camps and defenses while they had a break... ]

Gah.

[ He touches part of his rib cage subtly. It's tender and bruised from the inside. A particularly quick foe almost got him, until he swung his sword out last second so he could get a clean shot into its face. Knowing his body could take more anyway, he ignores the growing, dull pain and proceeds like there was nothing wrong. More people needed the healing, he had one more Potion and an Elixir. He'll just have to walk it off. ]

"I saw that, yo," the redhead said from not far behind Roland. The signs of teleportation quickly faded from sight and it was Reno and the spider that stood there behind Roland, his black band the target for the spider's spell.

Reno turned to the spider and in quieter tones relayed his intentions one last time to her. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to head back out and join another team, okay? See ya later, Stinger." As Reno stepped away from the spider and towards Roland, runes of teleportation surrounded the spider and she disappeared once more.

"Here," Reno said as green motes of light temporarily surrounded him as his own magic activated, and a Cure spell fell over Roland. "No use in coming here to heal if I don't start with the guy leading the way."

I. Healing Time - Daylight Hours

[[He can run up to your character and ask if they need some healing, or your character can come up to him and ask for healing! Either way. Or bring up Terrans for him to heal. Or bother him with something else! He probably won't be sticking around so catch-up with him while ya can.]]

He was in the middle of delegating some small supplies to a couple of Terran youths who were volunteering to shuffle around in the relative peace when he hears Reno and the Spider Seamstress drop down behind him. He nods to the Terrans as they run off, quietly marveling at the teleportation magic.

"Stinger, huh? She lets you call her that? I guess it does sound kind of cool. Has a ring to it." If you think Roland is masterfully trying to evade what Reno saw, then you're right. And it really almost doesn't show, like a fleeting moment of weakness that dissipated as soon as someone noticed it. He smiles warmly at Reno as he approaches in quick strides, genuinely glad to see a friendly for back-up. Before he could dissuade him from healing him, the Cure spell already does its job, a comfortable warmth healing his own fatigue. The affected rib finally halts its ceaseless throbbing.

He shoots Reno a look, though its not one without honest gratitude.

"...Thanks." He rests his hand against his hip. "But you should have healed them first, I could have been last. My injury wasn't debilitating." He silently gestures to the line of Terran fighters and rescued folk with a tilt of his head, each nursing a wound of their own. A couple of Purple team members also lingered in the periphery, awaiting a turn. Every single one of them looked a little bit worse for wear than when they disembarked.

"Not that I doubt your abilities, but magic has its limits too right? If you run out of steam, at least prioritize the civilians first. Anyway, more than anything, we really appreciate you coming down here to give support. I realized too late we didn't have active healers in the spades."

Edited 2020-07-14 11:04 (UTC)

Within seconds, Della's grogginess was gone. "MONSTER FIGHTING, AW YEAH!"

She scrambled to her feet, her blood pumping. "What am I doing, sleeping, when there's adventure to be had!"

"Hell yeah, I'm starving."

Cassie is able to refrain from just straight-up yoinking the bread out of his hand, instead accepting it as it's handed to her. She takes a quick bite before continuing.

"There's been word going around the attacks. Started online, I think. But apparently some people think these monsters are after something in particular. Some sort of god that lives underground."

Be careful...

[ Whisper strains to be heard at all with any distance from Della, but she can, at least, keep her allies safe with her actions.

In this case, her actions involve precisely aimed cyan lasers, not quite pure light enough to be ideal but plenty bright enough that every flash seems to stun them. ]

Whisper doesn't know everyone on the Voidtrecker, surely. Whisper doesn't even know everyone on her own team. And while these tunnels are, after all, tunnels, there's still plenty of room to lose track of people in.

But Whisper trusts her senses and her memory and her ability to keep track of what's going on in a hectic combat zone. Itsuki seemed to be joining the fight, but Whisper hadn't been able to spot her out there - she'd been planning to keep track of anyone without special powers or equipment like her.

So she nudges Itsuki when the two of them are back away from the fighting. "...staying safe?" she asks in her usual quiet voice.

She hasn't put together that the shining magical warrior whose shields helped her out not that long ago might have something to do with this.

[ Della is already on board, and sticks out a hand to yoink Kitty in when she gets close. ]

We've got monsters on the prowl, heard it straight from the Red Team! We're off to kick some tail!

[ Grabbing Della's hand, she easily hops aboard with her help. ]

They're attacking? Where at?

Curufin follows the monsters through the service tunnel that leads from the lowest level of the one lab that is still standing, Orange Team's territory, that is. Getting down the shaft is not so difficult as he brought climbing gear and after all, he is a mountaineer. Finding his way through the passages at the bottom is exceedingly tricky, as he doesn't have a map, but he does have a very good sense of direction. It is also tricky because the monsters are ahead of him, and he doesn't want to alert them to his presence before he reaches wherever it is they are going. But he does it. He isn't called Curufin the Crafty for nothing.

After hours of slipping through the tunnel with its twists and turns, and its branches, he suddenly sees a very bright illumination up ahead. The monsters he was following shriek in consternation and start back in Curufin's direction, trying not to get hit with the blaze. He hears the skittering of their feet, hides behind the corner of a bend in the tunnel, and jumps out at them as they get close enough to kill. He charges into them, and with sword, fists, and feet, he stabs and slashes, kicks them in the guts, or punches them in the face. If they attack him all at once, they get all of the above. The fray is so noisy that Glorfindel can probably hear it from wherever he is in the caverns or maybe in this same tunnel.

Edited 2020-07-15 01:52 (UTC)

As Della tried to get the kids to play a game to distract them, Ichigo appeared nearby like he'd blinked into existence. Really, he'd just been using shunpo. Zangetsu couldn't do a damn thing to the monsters, but that didn't make him useless. Hearing his roommate's voice, Ichigo darted over to Della's side. "Della-san! Are you hurt?" He looked at the kids as well, unable to tell if they were injured in the poor lighting. "Looks like you need an evac."

Dawn Attack

Ichigo hopped off the train as soon as it slowed down, drawing both halves of Zangetsu to start attacking. He charged the monsters instantly, doing his best to back up the Terrans. But...he wasn't doing much. Sure, he could cut them, but the monsters didn't stop. They didn't even slow down. He growled in irritation and fought harder.

Wildcard
Pick your own.

Glorfindel shows up to the Healing Party, not because he needs any healing, but the monsters actively avoid his light, so he's there as defense, lighting up the cavern like it was noon.

"I saw that too. Good thing Reno healed you, we'd be up a creek without you coordinating all of this," Glorfindel said seriously, giving Roland his best Look.

He himself was just fine. Elves don't actually need that much sleep, so the hour or two he gets in the middle of the day when things are at a lull was more than enough to keep him going. And he usually spent it meditating while shining his light in the cavern with the wounded. Not as good as Reno's Carbuncle, but every bit of healing helps, right?

He pulls out of the maps he'd been given by the Terrans to help him make his way around the various caverns. "We've gotten most of them cleared, but they were coming in here, here, here, and here, today," he said, pointing out the hotspots. "If they run true to form, I suggest we wait for them tonight here, here,....here, and maybe here? What do you think?"

He hadn't known her long, but Glorfindel was pretty sure that would be her response, which was why he'd come by. "If nothing else, if you see one, peg it directly in the eyes with your light. It's the only thing that can destroy them," he told her.

He handed her a bit of the Lembas as he headed for the Terran's express train.

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Page 1 of 16

Onward: Purple

Did Someone Ask for Daylight? - OTA

Garrett | Thief | OTA | CW: arachne (scorpion and spider descriptions)

Dawn Attack

Della Duck | OTA

Re: Dawn Attack

no subject

A Bigger Problem-OTA but paging Webmind and Crowley (CW Severe Claustophobia)

Itsuki Myoudouin | OTA

A Rumor

Re: A Rumor

Roland Crane | OTA + Reno

no subject

One Round of Healing Incoming! OTA

no subject

no subject

no subject

Dawn

fighting

dawn attack

no subject

Dawn attack -- have one of those adventurous members of Orange Team!

Days of fighting

no subject

Days of Fighting

no subject