Onward: Blue

[voidtreckermods]

Flood of Monsters

After another night of strange and troubling dreams, the Gry coves are awoken by two of their number hurrying in to report that heavy rain overnight has caused a tunnel to collapse. 

Luckily, the Gry all seem to be accounted for. Unluckily, it seems that water is not the only thing that got into the tunnels. It’s not long after that a scrabbling sounds along the entries into the home caverns, and soon after those smaller tunnels are invaded by monsters.

Long-limbed and sharp of claw, the monsters try to fight their way into the main caverns of the Gry.

Draw

Through the next few days and nights the monsters continue to attack. Again, though the first entrance point was the flooded tunnel it seems that the monsters have found their way in via a number of routes, and attacks come from all directions. Unlike the monsters in the Terran tunnels these do not attack opportunistically. Instead, they all converge on the main cavern.

In some ways this makes things easier. One location is a lot easier to defend, after all. If the monsters cannot get through to the cavern they will try to besiege it, trying to dig through the walls. Any that do get into the room try and fight their way through to the back wall with single-minded viciousness.

A Calling

Days pass. The fighting is less intense in the daytime once monsters have been cleared out, and more intense at night when fresh waves enter the tunnels. The dreams don’t stop, if people manage to fall asleep. If anything, the feeling of fear increases for those who are feeling it. 

The younger Gry seem most affected, and as the days progress it is not unusual to see one grabbing their spear or sword and storming to the back of the cavern. They are always stopped and calmed by an adult. But their arguments ring clear. 

The Burrower is in danger, they cry. It needs them to fight. It is their duty to descend to the Burrower’s realm and become one of their defenders.

Comments

[callmegladio]

Flood of Monsters: Gladio had, for the most part, remained on guard duty for the greater portion of the nights. He did sleep of course, relinquishing his position to those he trusted to wake him should anything happen. It was while he slept that he experienced some of the strange dream imagery as he'd witnessed in others. He didn't like it... But had no explanations for it...

Luckily when all hell broke loose he was very much refreshed and wide awake.

He was right there when a small team went to investigate the tunnels collapse.

And right there when the first of the monsters were caught in the shadows thrown by the light of their SCA's.

Gladio cursed and in a flash he had his great sword appeared in his hand and with a quick step forward he slashed, sending the creature flying. But it was just one of many. He could hear them.

In his other hand appeared his shield and he took a step back to the others.

"Hold this position! We can't let them get to the others!" he called back, his entire focus on what was coming at them.


Draw: Gladio was exhausted. Filthy, tired, his jump suit cut in several places where he had gotten a little too close to one of the creatures...

They were pouring in from multiple places now. There was no way of blocking off just one point and funnelling them as he had hoped. All they could do was try and protect the main cavern.

The Gry had been rounded up and placed in an area they could easily defend, as well as those who could not fight, but could help with healing should anyone needed it. Those who could fight stood guard at points around that area, a defensive shield to protect the well lit area behind them.

But then they noticed the damn things were digging through the walls.

Gladio was livid.

Stood beside the one such wall he listened for the now unmistakable sound of the creatures... and with a grunt he forced his sword deep into the rock and dirt to hear a satisfying screech. He pulled his sword free. How many did that make now? He'd lost count.

"They just..." He slammed his sword into the wall again, slicing clean through before the creature could get out. "... coming!"


A Calling: 1: Gladio sat against a rock, eyes closed, head tilted back. He was resting for just a moment. He needed it. It felt like he hadn't stopped in days and his muscles trembled with fatigue. So he rested.

Should anyone approach, he would smile and engage them, reassure them that everything was going to be alright. Though he was too tired to put his usual vigour into his words.

2: He'd followed the young ones, listening to what they were saying about this Burrower. Noting the direction they were going... Noting where the creatures were trying to get to...

So he approached.

"This Burrower... It's what these things are trying to get to?" He'd ask, voice raised to be heard by the Gry. "... Then let me down there."

Flood

[shutupnail]

Piccolo spotted Gladio from a distance and headed towards him. "You hold, I'll prepare the attack that'll wipe them out." In other words, cover him.

It would be much easier for the Namekian to create a powerful attack if he had someone covering for him as he powered up. Especially since the tunnels made it impossible to really get somewhere safe from attack. Too tiny of space. It was almost as bad as the train. Maybe worse since at least the train was made for comfort.

While Gladio shielded him, Piccolo began to create a ball of pure energy in his hands. It glowed with its own light and as Piccolo shot it out over the area it repelled the monsters that it got close to. It didn't hit anything but it did eventually pick a spot and hover there continuously. The Namekian began to make another and another, two at a time now, and soon he was throwing out another orb of light every few seconds.

NPC - A Calling 2

[voidtreckernpcs]

The Gry he addressed looked up briefly, in the middle of talking to the latest teenager.

"No." His tone was level. He looked back at the teenager. "And no. You are letting your fears cloud your senses. Go and practise your forms, until you are calm."

Draw

[sizedoesntmatter]

The numbers of them were ridiculous, but he seemed to find a decent way to manage to distract them. Drawing a card he looked at it for a moment deciding if perhaps they would be drawn to this monster or not.

After a brief moment, he places the card onto the duel disk and summoned Apple Magician Girl to provide the distraction for the other to make some attacks without fear of getting hurt. It just meant the other might instead.

"Is this something Blue's deal with all the time, the never-ending amount of monsters or something?"

Draw

[only_one_wei]

Wei Wuxian had taken off and stashed his robes to keep them from suffering the same fate as Gladio's jumpsuit. Not that his was that much better. Rainwater, mud, muddy monsters, it took its toll.

"I thought they were supposed to avoid the light, but it's almost like they are frantic to get to us!" He wrapped his Golen Threads around another and tried to hold on long enough for someone to hit it with a bright light and destroy it.

[magicurls]

the flood

Mami is just about ready for sleep when it hits. A skittering, a scream, and she nods grimly at whoever she's with. There's no space to hide in these tiny tunnels, so she throws up her hand, the ring transforming into a yellow egg-shaped gem once more. This time she tosses the egg, creating a brilliant light that stuns any monsters that come too close. When it fades, she's swapped the purple jumpsuit for a white and yellow steampunk cowgirl-inspired garb.

Somehow she's leapt in the air to give herself a clear path above her companions, a ribbon shooting out of her hand and forming into a rifle, already blasting the nearest monster.

"I'll take this tunnel!"

She's careful with her shots to avoid the people she's protecting, but she can go a while longer.

draw

Until...she can't. By morning she's still helping the Gry repair, but her movements are much more sluggish. If anyone gets a close look at her ring, they'll see that the gemstone which was once bright yellow is a much murkier color. She knows she's near a limit.

"There has to be another way to fight them back...isn't there?"

The Flood

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi had been planning to not sleep after the last time, even though he knew full well his body probably needed it when everything started to happen.

So his reactions were slow to start with Duel Disk in front of him. as he drew a card and summoned the Celtic Guardian. he wasn't sure how this was going to go exactly, but it seemed to do the trick of what he was at least attempting.

Well it seemed to work as some of the monsters had started to make thier way towards the hologram while Yugi kept a short distance back just in case.

"That's right, don't focus on the other, only on this..."

[myblueskies]

"I don't know, miss! But there's so many!"

They could even break through his borderlines, even when he used all his strength! He was exhausted. But he couldn't stop. Not when there were still so many monsters and everyone was fighting so hard!

Draw

[only_one_wei]

"I wish I knew," Wei Wuxian said, sitting nearby one arm up to cover his eyes. "Red was right, only light straight to the eyes will destroy them. But they just keep coming. What are they after, do you think," he asked her, turning his head and moving his arm so he could see her..

[sobothersome]

Flood of Monsters: Maru heard them long before he saw them.

He backed up, moving a step closer to Madoka and as subtly as possible trying to move her and any of the younger ones who had followed out of the way.

"... Something's out there. We need to go."

But it was too late. The things were there and ahead he could see some of the others already starting to fight.


Draw: He'd long since given up caring what other people thought of him. He had to fight. He had to protect Madoka and the others.

The normally lazy teen had been replaced with narrowed, angry, glowing red eyes. A fanged smirk and hands that had been replaced by long, wickedly sharp black claws the glowed a malevolent blue.

His speed and strength was enhanced, his stamina seemed to know no end. And his claws sliced through the strange creatures like a warm knife through butter.

Maru seemingly bounced from one place to the next, taking them down one-by-one before finding his place knelt at Madoka's side again. Nothing got close to her... Though she was pretty damn handy with her bow, he'd had a few zipping past him to catch a creature that had been creeping up on him. Wasn't he supposed to be doing the protecting here?


A Calling: During the daylight hours, Maru was allowed to sleep. He didn't dream the same dreams as the others. His sleep was just darkness...

When he woke, it was to fight. Sleep and fight and fight some more. It was never-ending it seemed.

But the littler Gry seemed to have issues with something or other. Maru wasn't sure if he should be paying attention or not.

draw

[happyends]

It isn't too surprising that they would eventually get attacked. Madoka thinks she's only ever been on one mission where the blue team didn't get attacked - they pretty much had to deal with some kind of enemy every other time. But she still can't help but feel nervous now they're all here.. and especially in such great numbers.

Not to mention that they just keep coming. Madoka swears she's seen people cut down some of the monsters, only for them to slump on the ground, stay that way for a little while as if to regain strength, and then get up and move further towards them. It's definitely worrying, considering she knows it can't have anything to do with their strength. Their team has always been able to take monsters down before, so why...

"Maru!" She calls out, waiting to speak more until the other is next to her again. Still clutching her bow in her hands, she turns towards him with worry in her eyes. "Have you noticed..? It's.. It's like so many of them don't stay down for some reason..!"

Flood of Monsters

[only_one_wei]

"What?" Wei Wuxian exclaimed as the fist of the monsters came into view and attacked. "Are...are these what Red's been fighting?" he asked Maru, since he was the closest.

Piccolo | OTA

[shutupnail]

I. Flood of Monsters

Piccolo was on his way to help with the collapsed tunnel when it suddenly became apparent that the water wasn't the only problem in that area. Something else had come in with the rain. Monsters.

"Oh, goody." His favorite pastime was here. Fighting monsters to the death.

At least he was ready. His first foray was a bust though as he punched and kicked his way through the numbers, sending them flying back the way they came. However, they simply got back up and kept on coming. "Okay..."

New tactic. Remembering some of the overheard conversations on the SCAs Piccolo switched to another strategy. It worked beautifully.

The Namekian sent out a number of ki blasts--he didn't bother aiming, it wasn't his intention to hit anything yet. Instead, he filled the area with a load of bright miniature suns of energy that lit up the area all around. It took a lot of energy and concentration to maintain the ki control needed for something like this but it was worth it. He watched the monsters hiss and cringe away from his energy.

And eventually, he would be prepared for the next step of the plan but for now he kept sending out a bunch of brightly glowing orbs of energy.

II. A Calling

Piccolo hears about the younger Gry wanting to head further down into the earth at some point during the time spent fending off monsters and preparing for the next attacks. As the fear increases so does the Namekian's curiosity. It seems like the only other option to figuring things out down here unless they all just wanted to wait for one of the other teams to fix this mess.

He didn't like the idea of waiting. And what if, like so many of the missions so far, this was important to figuring things out, too.

The Namekian headed towards the area where the youths kept going and started asking around. "What exactly is down there?" or "Does anyone else want to see what can be done down there?" were his two most common questions.

Eventually, he'd probably end up heading that way with the rest that decided it was worth a look.

III. Wildcard.

[[Feel free to encounter him at any other time during the fighting/the next couple of days, too. Or during a downtime during the day time. Anything else basically!]]

Wildcard Daytime

[only_one_wei]

"Those blasts of yours are something else," Wei Wuxian said, slumping to the ground near him. After a moment, he slowly struggled into the lotus position so he could focus on healing his tired muscles. "You look like you could keep going night and day."

A-Qing | OTA

[spikelet]

Draw (G7 onwards, from 13/07)
A-Qing'd thought that they might be safe in the Gry coves, honestly, but now that it's turned into a fight, she's joined the small groups of teenagers running around, doing smaller tasks. They've found her a spear, at least, and shown her how to swing it. She joins in the morning drills, even!

Who is she kidding, she's worse than useless here. The only thing she can think to do is collect water and small meals, and dart around the cleared tunnels with a Gry friend to deliver them to the people actually making a difference. It's a good thing the SCA flashlights don't run out of power - she'd panicked a little when one of the Gry had asked about that, until she'd had them look at it and confirm that it didn't seem to need a 'battery' or a 'charger'. After that, she mans the comms obsessively, relaying messages for people too busy to access anything.

"I have water for you," she tends to announce, as she comes into a populated area. Her flashlight beam swings wildly ahead of her. "And, ah, some kind of baked yam."

It sucks. Not the yam, that's actually pretty good. Rich and buttery. The situation, though. That can go fuck itself.

Calling (G9 onwards, from 17/07)
The downside of trailing after a pack of teenage Gry is that you rather end up swept away by public opinion. You also end up kind of sick of running around watching other people get hurt. So by the third day of attacks, A-Qing approaches someone as they finish a different conversation, stance braced for confrontation.

"What's the plan?"

Draw

[only_one_wei]

"Water?" Wei Wuxian looked up from where he was resting for a moment. "And a yam? You spoil us, A-Qing." He smiled at her, but he didn't trust himself to raise his arms just then. He was pushing his weak core harder than it ever had to get him back up and running soon. Food and water would help a lot.

Draw - I don't deserve this tag but I want it!!

[shutupnail]

"Water is good," the large green man said as he turned towards the young girl offering it out to those in the area. He held a hand out for some. "You can keep the yam though. Someone else will need it more than I."

Food might have replenished his energy levels a little faster but he didn't feel like it would make much of a difference at the moment. Especially not just with a yam, no offense. But he wasn't a Saiyan with a large appetite and food didn't really do much for him on the daily side so he just tended to avoid it unless there was a reason otherwise.

Nita OTA

[unfavorableinstigation]

(Backdated) Miscellaneous Interactions

Before the monsters descend, one can find Nita learning as much as one wizard can about the Gry's culture; asking politely about the Burrower, the Gry's own history (and their new truce with the Terrans) and, perhaps most intriguingly, the plants.

A particularly curious onlooker can find her speaking with the plants, ascertaining that they are not being poisoned, lending her own strength as a wizard so future generations of plants will be stronger and hardier, if not necessarily better tasting.

Inasmuch as there's no ocean nearby, Nita is in her element.

Or rather, she was.

Flood of Monsters

When the rain comes, Nita volunteers to take the front lines; whispers of the Speech seed the flooded caverns with wizards' lights. Then she powers them up...

It's not going to be very dry, but Nita will do her best to make being underground very unfriendly for the monsters.

A Calling

"It's afraid of these monsters, then?" Nita theorizes, eyebrows narrowing. "Or whatever's sending them, maybe... How far down is this realm?"

It's easy enough to find her asking questions, once she's back from the front lines and focusing on healing again. But it looks like she has a plan brewing, and someone may want to stop her...

Or just volunteer to go along. That would be nice too.

A Calling

[only_one_wei]

"Only one way to find out," Wei Wuxian said, grinning at her. "When do we leave?"

[hotheadwarmheart]

Flood of Monsters

And here came the monsters. Because of course there were monsters. Well at least he knew exactly what to do here; keep themselves between these things and the Gry and drive the monsters back. Take them down if they could.

His Keyblade leaped into his hand with a flash of light, its glowing blade highly visible in the dim caves. Strangely though, the creatures despite their apparent resilience against damage, seemed to flinch a bit and shy away from his Keyblade. Definitely a point to note, but there was no time to investigate it further just then. He did take advantage of it though, staying on the lookout for anyone who was having an especially hard time of it and moving to lend a hand.

A Calling

Lea was exhausted. Not as badly as on the previous mission, but it was still pretty rough. He'd taken to catching naps in the daytime when he could; there were fewer monster then, and it wasn't any more difficult to fall asleep then given that they were underground. But half the time, those naps didn't last as long as he'd hoped, as he would be abruptly jolted awake by some vague but frightening dream.

This time was no exception, though apparently Lea wasn't alone. He knew that going down to where the 'Burrower' supposedly lived was probably a huge mistake. But that didn't mean he wasn't tempted to follow the example of the Gry kids, if for somewhat different reasons. "I don't know about being in danger, but if he wants defenders, maybe he should knock it off with the dreams," he griped, mostly to himself. "Because honor or not, they're sure not making defending things any easier."

Flood

[nobodys_puppet]

Xion fought along side him, using her own Keyblade and magic both. When he went to find others to help, she drifted along with him, lending her Keyblade wordlessly to the effort. She also would use healing spells whenever there was a need. His, hers, anyone else's.

[achickenformylove]

Flood of Monsters

Hearing that part of the tunnel had collapsed, WangJi headed with the Gry wanting to ensure that everyone was alright. Luckily, all seemed well.

Until not much later when the monsters began pouring in. Without even thinking WangJi grabbed his sword from his qiankun pouch, brandishing it at the ready to start fighting the creatures, deliberately placing himself near the front where he could try to protect those who were not so capable.

He would fight as long as he had to or until his body gave out.

[myblueskies]

"Behind you sir! Line!" Romeo threw a borderline attack a the monster rushing at Lan Wangji, a blue slash of energy that... didn't do much. The monster didn't even stop.

Nothing seemed to work! The monsters didn't seem to be hurt at all!

[pleple]

Flood

So on the one hand, just sitting back chillin' behind the front line fighters with a flashlight trying to stun, damage, or finish off the monsters with bright lights felt a little... lame? Ple Two could try to wade in with a sword or spear, sure, but it turned out that this was more productive, especially when she was one of the smaller people on her team.

That said, she was, probably, actually, more useful than a lot of other missions just by waving her SCA around.

"Just hold it... in place!"

Calling

Ple Two had had a few fitful naps in the interim. It was tiring, and the inability to make it through those dreams left her a twitchy mess when she was awake and trying to actually accomplish anything.

The kids get it.

"...let's just do what they say we should!" she finally snapped. "We need to end this all somehow!"

Flood

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita was still using the spare rainwater to good use - trapping the monsters in it, and making the water glow.

"Got it!"

Also giving Ple Two an opening to shoot for the eyes.

[myblueskies]

Draw

Romeo has been helping with the fighting, though he only had his SCA he was getting better at using it to make monsters go away. Sometimes he even managed to get them in the eyes so they would explode. That wasn't very often though!

He tried to help everyone as best he could and keep the bad monsters out.

Which was why right now he was stood slightly down one of the smaller tunnels, hand outstretched in front of him with pointed fingers. A shimmering borderline covered the tunnel in front of him.

The monsters seemed to be able to break through them easily though so it only held enough time for him to scramble backwards before it broke and he had to do it again.

"Line!" His SCA was on the same wrist he was using to throw the shields, which was a problem. The barrier broke, he swiped his arm again. "Line!"

His whole body is trembling in exhaustion.

Calling

He's a bit younger than the teenagers but he has gotten drawn into their plans anyways. "You just got to find a way to sneak! If the grown ups say no. Sometimes following rules is right but sometimes... Grown ups just don't think kids can do stuff, even when we just want to help!"

Draw

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita is not exactly pacing herself, as the days go by and the monsters keep on coming.

"I'll back you up," Nita called, summoning something a little more powerful than the regular wizards' lights she used; more like a flare's intensity as opposed to a candle's gentle glow.

"Just hold them, Romeo!"

She moved to stand alongside him, using herself as a literal prop if Romeo would allow it.

"We're not alone down here."

OTA, he's gonna do a stupidly suicidal thing (Please feel free to stop or help him)

[sendiintheclown]

Calling

Seeing the younger Gry continually being turned back had Trowa feeling extremely curious. He wanted to help as much as he could. And if that meant stemming the flow of monsters, so be it. He was confident he could come back from it. He'd heard that if you died on a mission, you just returned in the luggage car. He tried to find a gap in the security ring of the elder Gry.

Re: OTA, he's gonna do a stupidly suicidal thing (Please feel free to stop or help him)

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Trowa?"

Nita asked, wondering what the teen had in mind with no backup and (seemingly) no light on.

Running after him, she added, "What's up?"

[luckydragonsfoot]

[Flood of Monsters]

Heavy rain, while serious, is not the 'monster' that Katsuya has been frightfully expecting. Despite the nights of dreams, he's still managing to get proper nights of sleep- aside from the first night, he's held out through the nightmares until a decent hour to wake.

And then the attacks begin.

In the pitch, dark tunnel. With the scuttling of arms, legs, and-

"Awwww C'MON!" Katsuya snarls quite loudly, right before one of the beasts attacks from the unseen side. "F'r FUCK'SAKE!" he snaps, kicking at the thing's middle before it can properly get any teeth and claws into him. He manages another blow with his fist, catching it in the eye- It's a struggle, but it's enough time bought before a supportive whinny comes from the side. "KASERI!"

No further command needed, the beast is blasted back with Psychic...not that it does much. Katsuya doesn't seem to care however. He's too busy standing up and cursing up a storm.

"Stupid, freakin', OF COURSE IT WAS MONSTERS! Th' hell's th' point of seein' shit if it's gonna happen anyway, frickin-"

"Nihiii!" Kaseri, while her trainer continues cursing and chasing after the creature with fists, simply starts dancing around with Fairy Wind and Heal Pulse.

[DRAW A CALLING | CAN TAG AT ANY POINT OF PROMPT]

Well, the fighting is still happening. And sleeping, whenever these things aren't around. The tunnels seem to make it easier for the darn things to get around at all hours, which is not helpful. "Dammit..!"

But hey, they're all locked in one spot mostly so...that's great? "Man...these things jus' don' know when t' quit huh!" he grumbles, his ponyta focusing on laying a trail of Fairy Wind to help carry light around now that they know it helps. A solid blast of light to the eyes seems to be doing even better- easier said than done, but with one holding down while a flashlight is given aim, it's Something.

Throughout the mess of time, Katsuya can't help but notice what's going on with the Gry they're fighting, defending, and sheltering along with either- something doesn't seem right, and everyone's still having nightmares. Something is wrong, for that matter.

But what to do about it...the blond finds himself making some rounds with Kaseri during a quiet spell later in the week, frowning as the ponyta offers some more physical healing alongside the mental. "Th's Burrower..." He frowns. "...Startin' t' think maybe we oughta find a way t' sneak after it ourselves, w' the way things are goin."

Draw A Calling

[unfavorableinstigation]

"You sure we can spare the resources?"

Nita looks up from her own bout of healing, trying to make sure she's heard Katsuya right.

"Not that we shouldn't consider our options, but... as long as we don't go alone, and can get out of wherever 'there' is in a hurry..."

She's thinking it over; not dismissing, but not willing to bank everything on this just yet.

[only_one_wei]

Flood of Monsters: (OTA)

Wei Wuxian had put away his robes, and was just wearing the blue jumpsuit. It made him a little uncomfortable, though, so he hung out in the shadows, mostly. The darkness didn't bother him much, however. It felt comfortable, like an old friend.

Right up to when the tunnel collapsed and the monsters came in with the flood of water.

"Red says the only thing that slows them down or kills them is light to the eyes? How come we didn't get Shiny Guy on our team?" he said, turning on his SCA flashlight.


Draw: (OTA)

Once Wei Wuxian realized he could use his Golden Threads to bind or blind the monsters, life was a lot easier. Just exhausting, as the use of them relied on his weaker Golden Core. But at least he has one? He promised himself he would redouble his efforts to strengthen it when they returned to the train.


Rest: (closed to Lan Zhan)

Nothing stopped a nightmare about losing Lan Zhan faster than waking up to hear his husband's heart beating under his ear. He stayed still for a long moment, just listening, and letting his own heartbeat slow down again. He'd been happy when he found out that he wouldn't be teleported away from his husband during the mission, but the lack of privacy, and the nightmares, made it less than ideal.

After a moment, he lifted his head, "You awake?" he asked softly.