middleofsomewhere | Swirling Consequences Start

Swirling Consequences Start

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He hops off the stream of water without further ceremony, and catches the celebration between mate and higgle pal. Roland has very little else to say apart from eating his own words, which he's happy to do if he can be convinced his hesitations were for naught.

"Well now, call me ye of little faith, then. You should be careful, pro. I might ask you to give me a ride to places more often." Roland jokes easily, patting him once on the back before moving to Gibbs who deserves just as much praise.

Except when Roland bends his knees to give the high higgledy its own just reward, his mind suddenly catches up to the adrenaline. Sorry for leaving you hanging like that, Gibbs! But he notices it fast; how things have changed all around them, and it feels dizzying that has nothing to do with their ride. He attempts to spot their location on the map, alert and on edge.

Roland frowns. "Damn. I didn't notice if we went north or east. Where do you suppose we are?"

The forest was a less visible on the skyline from where they stood, but they could be anywhere between the open plains or the far stretch of the yawning farmlands where they needed to alert the people of their plans.

How could you do this to a higglepal.

But Gibbs is as aware as Roland comes to be, sooner than Tidus himself. Who frowns at the question, thinking, looking around for the sight of the inn that they come from, but nothing immediately sticking out.

"Uhhh..." Uhhh. "What about the map?"

By map, Tidus means the SCA one by how he brings it up and clicks onto the map icon, bringing up one similar to that of the Albany-provided physical copy. Albany's with more details, but the SCA showing a dot of where they were.

Only themselves, of course. Can't have a dot indicating where a teammate is, even if they're right beside you.

But he shows it to Roland, while holding out the parchment map for Roland to take.

"Here. This help?"

He has to triangulate their location for a bit here, eyes narrowed in deep thought, roving over points and lines that seem familiar, and some that look completely new. At some point, he has to make an educated guess based on both resources, and when he's confident he can figure it out, he rolls up the map and nods to Tidus.

"Can't be too sure, but it looks like we're nearer to the lowlands now. See there? If we walk further ahead, we'd be where most of the farms are. Or, were."

Debris and disaster was an understatement. While the plain itself stretched over, empty and vast, the damage of void storms had already made their mark. Bigger farm houses spread across the horizon, felled by falling trees. The ground is broken the more he peers over the spanning land mass, and tiny dots crawl and move in sluggish paces.

Those are either people or monsters, and they did not have the luxury to flip a coin on it.

"Come on, then. We're on the right path, thankfully. First guy to look for should be past that wreckage. Nice work, Tidus."

Tidus is watching, trying to peer into Roland's mind by the actions he takes - looks, gestures, whatever - while he plays the part of observer to his mapping. He's only half-paying attention between the two, Roland's map not as clear to him from the angle.

It doesn't matter. The man doesn't take long, motioning to and from the two as he speaks up, then leading their gaze to a world larger than any paper or device. Tidus sees the moving dots, and the mess of the landscape before them that brings an urgency to get involved. He knocks Roland lightly with a hand to his arm, suggests, "One more ride" as a means of getting there quicker, and only a small second allowed for Roland to decline.

Otherwise, Gibbs will be of similar mind, and their quick travel can be brought back again. One more time won't hurt, though they'll want to take a break from it after. But Tidus isn't concerned; between the three (or four) of them, whatever they meet, they'll be ready for.

He doesn't complain this time, hopping aboard, eyes focused on the dots that slowly grow in size until he can make them out as clear as day-

-people. There was no doubt about that. Roland nudges Tidus's closest arm with a careful elbow. They are maneuvered to the ground with relative ease, and he knows they're already both running to meet the group of farmers and civilians who seemed to be escaping from the worst thing possible.

"That's a void blob? Gah."

It's a gross affront to the senses; unnatural and unbelievably speedy for what its gelatinous pastiche of parts and limbs are worth. They can split the task here - one to herd the people to safety, while the other plays around with the creature until they're in the all clear. Regardless, his arms band glows to life, sword in hand.

'If that thing is here, does that mean there's a tear nearby? So close to Albany's guys...'

Hibber-Gibber is following as best he can behind their feet as they come to ground once again, Tidus keeping in pace with Roland, and bringing out a weapon in sync with him too without a second thought at the ghastly sight. He would have some remark to make on the weird creature (weird, but familiar ... a little) under usual circumstances, but Tidus waves a hand out, jogging in direction of the people.

"Keep running, we'll deal with this! We're here to help!"

A few more higgledies of blue form where Hibber-Gibber is, tiny cries ready to lend aid, once they can get in position. For the time being, Tidus makes a quick switch from blade to his Spiran pistol, aiming it.

"Roland! Distract!"

It's a signal, and a clear plan, as Tidus starts to rapid shoot at the gelatinous form to get its attention. Small bubbles can be seen making contact, some signs of penetration, but the creature doesn't appear immediately concerned.

The people don't need to be told twice to stay as far away from this altercation as possible. They run the opposite way as Roland takes the directive, darting fast with his sword at the ready. It looks sturdier up close, though it doesn't take too long for its full attention to focus on Roland when he practically zips into its periphery with remarkable speed.

He didn't just pay a courtesy visit to Evermore, after all. With or without the knowledge of his train life in mind, he was bound to rediscover some techniques left behind in that world, and then some.

"Got you-!"

His sword glows violently bright as it makes contact with the blob, its misshapen globe of a body wiggling and jerking in place. Roland manages to slash it in quick succession, but the nature of this beast was as chaotic as the void it came from. A long, slithering tentacle - or was it a claw? - shoots out from its immediate side, lunging for Roland's body without bothering to brush off the damage. He dodges it with a roll and slashes its offending limb before another arm grabs his sword's blade, forcing him to be on guard.

"Are they far enough?" He shouts to Tidus, his mind honed on one thing and one thing alone: getting those people to safety.

Thanks to Roland's clash with the monster, the civilians have made distance, or mostly. One's stopped with Tidus, giving a warning about how 'that thing won't stop 'til it's dead!'

He has a pitchfork in hand, but Tidus nods and jerks his head. "Alright, we've got it. Keep going, alright? Protect the other people!"

It's a distraction that lasts just a few seconds before Tidus can look back and see where Roland is, how he's doing. Still in the midst of fighting, rolling to get out of the way of an attack and another following. Tidus breaks into a sprint to get closer, just as the call comes.

"They're fine!" He's pulling up the weapon, and starts taking potshots for the outstretched limb grasping at Roland's blade; lacking the precision of it was a blitzball, not having Roland's same skill with a gun, but the near-infinite amount of bullets gave enough to tear into the limb, ripping into it.

Too bad that the monster didn't really care about pulling back - but maybe if Roland did, he'll be able to get back his sword - and a claw, too.

"Not a chance...!"

He grits his teeth and digs his heels into the ground. The bullets that fly from Tidus's pistol carry weight, tearing into the offending limb until he can stretch his sword far enough that it comes off completely. The momentum is like a rubber band stretched too far, as Roland stumbles to get some balance. As expected, not even that staggers the mass of hulking creature before them.

He clicks his teeth against his tongue.

"Did anyone in the inn talk about how to defeat these things?"

He's willing to do trial and error, but there were civilians in need of their aid, so the faster this ends, the better for everyone.

"Nothing! Just hack and slash it!"

Which is what Tidus is going for - what Tidus knows he and Roland can do perfectly. He doesn't delay to dart right in with that objective, pistol swapped swiftly out for his brotherhood, the aqua colouration glowing with the first swipe he takes to inflict a delay into the chaotic substance of a being. The limbs stiffen for a moment, and Tidus takes the opportunity to plunge in the blade into the soft, gooey body of the blob; one, two three--

Claws start to swing and the gelatinous body squirms, and Tidus jumps back as legs facing the wrong way lunge at him like arms. There's some slight speed reduction from the remaining delay infliction, but it doesn't flinch as one of those legs meet with Tidus's blade, pushing instead forward into it than away.

Brute force versus brute force might end up in a war of attrition, but Roland and Tidus were stubborn enough to keep at it till the blob was reduced to nothing. So he follows Tidus's lead on the onset, his sword aglow with pent-up energy from trying to charge into a better attack. When Tidus starts getting pulled into the void blob's range of motion, he leaps high into the air with gathered momentum and stabs the offending limb straight into the ground.

It's enough downward force to cut it in half, and he uses the same position to pivot towards its bottom half, slicing straight into monstrous flesh. It does roar in some semblance of pain - or discomfort, he can't really tell - and retaliates by showing even more of its mutated arms and claws. Two spurt from where Roland cuts and it shifts its weight like a globe of jelly walking and rolling to gain speed.

Why is it so surprisingly agile for what it looks like? Roland frowns, determination set on his brow.

"Slow it down as much as you can! Give it your all! I'll try and blast it away in one go!"

His pistol appears in his hand and he takes a solid step back, aiming straight at the lumbering beast ready to charge at them with increasing strength. If Roland can charge up long enough, he might be able to disperse its body into smaller chunks for them to deal with.

Sliced as it is, its wounded state apparently doesn't give consideration to the monstrosity to stop, to give in. However, Roland's distraction does give Tidus the opportunity to bounce away - though 'distraction' doesn't seem to be a lot for a mindless being.

But, slowing down? Slowing down is something Tidus can do, hearing the command and taking in what amounts of their foe, and dashing in. From not too far from the pair, Gibbers has formed a gang of little friends with him, throwing their tiny spears of water and attacks at the voidblob to show that they're helping, blue needles sticking into the gelatinous form - ineffective, by the way the blob doesn't react.

Tidus comes in with a spell, a clenched fist and a hurried cast that takes effect as Tidus throws it as his foe. Silver rings show clock hands dragging backwards, a haze that surrounds and keeps with the creature. It slows it, if not much else, but Tidus is there with his blade again with a stab into the gooey substance of its body. It's thick, hard to pull out of, but Tidus tries for digging it after feeling the initial resistance, and then yanks out his sword for real as the creature seems to turn on him.

The slow is doing some work, but it doesn't stop everything. It doesn't kill the creature's bizarre ability to bring out more limbs - even that of a head, more jaw and teeth than anything else that a creature should have. They lunge, jaw open and grabbing at Tidus's lower leg into a hold that gets a small yell out of Tidus. He pulls back against it, not with all his skin, and for it Tidus gives the damned head a hard kick with his other foot before he makes safer distance.

And there's more legs and limbs reforming, a leg acting as an arm to try and swing at Tidus, but not in a good position to get him.

"You're mine!"

It's a sluggishness that does the trick, the spell giving Roland enough time to charge a massive beam of light that he aims with frightening precision. He clicks his tongue against his teeth as his periphery catches sight of Tidus suffering some collateral damage, but the only way to stop the void blob's onslaught was to kill it - just as the civilians had said.

His trigger finger lifts over the pressure, and out of the barrel spews forth a torrent of magic, charged with intention, whizzing past the blob. In Roland's charged attack, he leaves a wake of bits and pieces of their opponent flying upon impact, a massive hole running straight through its midsection. He keeps one eye on Tidus and another still on the blob, hoping to the void that it wasn't the type to regenerate like a worm cut in half.

"Gibbs, protect him!"

As if the high higgledy needed Roland's instruction, the blue army of higgledies circle Tidus in an effort to provide aid while their head honcho recovers.

The higgledies are already on the move, capable of more than just protection. They waddle themselves over to Tidus to bring up a ring of healing for him to step into, squeaking for his attention, and Tidus hears and moves to them. Fortunately, their voidblob foe isn't one for regenerating, but there is a wiggling still in some of its bits - some last curdles of life that seem impossible, and yet.

But shots ring out, blasts coming from Tidus - and his Spiran pistol back out, putting out a pittance next to the onslaught that Roland just provided. Perhaps unnecessary, perhaps the movements being twitches, the last of an imminent death, but why take the risk. There's a glowing, a healing taking place along his lower leg, the higgledies having come in front of Tidus to act as a shield for him, their little weapons in hand.

Thanks can come later. Even with this one voidblob down, Tidus calls over to Roland, not yet settled:

"We should look where it came from, see if there's any more!"

He sheaths his weapons, returns them back into the fold of the arms band, and ignores the suggestion outright. Jogging over to Tidus, Roland is immediately on a crouch, the higgledies giving him room to move.

"Hold on."

The wound partially closing itself up thanks to higgledy magic remains Roland's immediate focus regardless of what's already been done. The familiar glow of a hammerspace activated glimmers in his hold, and one of many salves made of soreaway appear in the instant. Gloves would do no good, so he bites it off, peeling it from hand with a pull of teeth. It's all a rather quick motion, though it also brings something back for Roland that tugs a quirk of a smile.

"Kind of brings you back, huh?"

There had been a similar instance back in the day, where Roland opted to ignore his own wounds in favor of prioritizing others. Such growth they've both had, since.

But Rolaaand, it's not time to hang aaroound.

At least, Tidus wouldn't like them to, but he's not going to pounce away when the higgledies are helping his leg, and when Roland initially tells him to hold. But then he wants to say that Roland could be going ahead, trusts the guy to have the sense to keep his wits about him that he wouldn't get in trouble.

But that's not happening, and the comment brings a small huff out of Tidus.

"I'm not as bad as you," he points out, at least having a better excuse here than Roland did in the past. But it's the comparison - one that takes Tidus a second to get - that makes him hold still. Even with the twitchiness in him born from his youthful impatience that makes him want to go.

"These blobs aren't as bad as Terra's ones."

You know. Silvery hovering orbs that couldn't be damaged that turned into demons when it got dark.

"Doesn't mean they'll pose any less of a threat, when they're cornered. Besides. These things look way uglier than the ones in Terra."

Which apparently, makes their ferocity of worthwhile note, just by aesthetics alone. He'd explain more, but he's just about done wrapping up Tidus's leg, the wound almost fully healed thanks to the patchwork of drying up salve and magic to do the rest. In no time at all, he stands and offers a hand to pull Tidus up with him.

"Let's not risk giving them a weak spot, just in case." Roland crosses his arms, a slight sense of affection rubbing off on him. "You'd probably tell me I was being stubborn if I was in your shoes right now. So look who's talking."

Sassing you right back, pro.

Tidus will take the hand, lifting back up onto his feet easier with the magical healing seeping into his skin and muscle, stitching it back together. There's a tingling and warmth before any itchy pain, and he even gives the front of his foot a kick against the ground to test it.

But nope, good as new.

"I let you heal me, didn't I?" Tidus retorts. "You could have gone first without me, but you just love to fuss. Listen to you now!"

It's a fondly returned sassing, and in Tidus's opinion, true and correct. Roland was being typical Roland here with his assessments, and he gestures out to the way he'd suggested before.

"Now can we run into danger?"

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