[OPEN] Mission 155

[soul_mods]

Characters: Open to those who signed up here.
Location: An unmarked cavern system outside Death City.
Rating: Various.
Time: March 18th, sunrise.
Description: Shibusen agents brave underwater caverns to take out the first of three Madness emitters.

Missiongoers pile out of the mirrors early in the morning, just as the first hints of sun start to color the walls of the sandstone canyon red and purple; it'll be the last bits of real light they'll see for at least a few hours. The atmosphere is electric -- there're quite a few new (and old) arrivals who're eager to see some action, but just as many people who're feeling rather more apprehensive… And for good reason.

The only way to their destination is blocked by a few hundred yards of sunken tunnels. Luckily they've been provided with mouthpieces, breathing apparatuses with enough oxygen to last about ten minutes: more than enough time, provided that the guests don't lose their way in the dimly-lit, twisted caverns. It's as easy as following the person in front of them, right?

Upon emerging safely from the pool onto mostly-dry land, they'll find themselves in an immense cavern, illuminated by countless, blue fungi clinging to the walls and ceiling, looking like stars dotting a night sky. Already the first signs of the way Madness has been corrupting the wildlife are evident: the mushrooms exude strange spores that make some people's head pound the same way the increasingly noticeable Madness wavelength does.

As they travel further into the watery caves and explore its many branches, they'll begin to encounter creatures twisted by Madness: moles, snakes, beetles, centipedes, all grown to monstrous proportions, some with a venomous bite that quickly turns their victim feverish and delirious. The more daring fighters can easily dispatch those and delve even deeper, and it's near the source of the Madness, in the chamber housing the emitter itself, that they'll encounter the kishin eggs.

There're dozens of them-- eyeless, white, vaguely human-shaped things, but despite their blindness they have no problem finding their quarry, fighting with claws and exuding their own Madness wavelength. If the missiongoers can stand strong against the kishin eggs and the ever-present wavelength given off by the Madness emitter, Shibusen's specialists will have enough time to shut the machine down for good.


OOC NOTES.
- The event summary post containing all relevant links is located here.
- Make your own threads, but please indicate in your subject line [CHARACTER(S) | LOCATION | OPEN/CLOSED] and, if applicable, if you need a kishin egg NPC!
- The locations are the sunken tunnels, the medics area, the cave system, and the emitter chamber, but only the medics will have their designated sub-thread.
- If you have any further questions, the mod thread on the coordination post is here!

Comments

[ritsu_kouyou]

Early March is considered the very end of winter. Regardless, it sounds like a bear to me and its eyes are glowing.

Akiha took a more proper hold on the staff. Shall we go find out if we're right?

[computations]

Bears do not have glowing eyes. They simply reflect the ambient light.

She just had to throw that out there. But it could be important. Either way, she did send Akiha agreeable emotions to confirm her question.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Do they reflect that light RED?

Akiha drew closer, being careful at where she was placing her feet but never quite taking her eyes off the glowing pair down at the other end of the tunnel. It growled louder seeing her approach, but so far it was holding its position. She was pretty sure whatever this was, bear or not, it had become warped by the Madness Wavelength.

Maybe it wasn't too far gone yet...

[computations]

Depending on the angle, yes. But I doubt that is the current situation.

In Sion's terms, a bear might be easy to beat...if she had powers. But now she was suddenly realizing how unaware she was of her own damage potential. If Akiha could not hit the animal hard enough, they could be in deep trouble.

[ritsu_kouyou]

They could be, and Akiha was aware of it. But she was confident that they would accomplish what they set out to do. There was really no other acceptable option. She wouldn't accept this place as her new home. No, she wanted her mansion. She wanted her maids. She wanted Shiki.

So, they would defeat this... bear.

...I don't recall there being any special of bears with saber teeth.

Because that was what was snarling at her now that she was close enough to see details. It was hard to tell exactly how big it was, but it was, as far as Akiha could tell, a bear. With giant fangs, glowing red eyes, mangy fur and what she could only guess was bone protruding from its back.

[computations]

I....do not either.

Sion was once again running thoughts through her mind. It could be a Saber Toothe Tiger. They were known to have the physique of a bear but...well, it didn't quite look like that at all.

Be wary. The teeth are not for biting but for slashing. Much like a hippopotamus. They will be as sharp as razors.

how did 'species' become 'special' in my last tag?

[ritsu_kouyou]

Yes, because I know exactly how to fight a hippopotamus.

Akiha's sarcasm was felt keenly through the link, but then cut off as she had to bring the staff up to block those very teeth she'd been warned about as the bear... thing lunged at her. She hoped Sion was durable in her weapon form and didn't feel the impact much as the strength of it was enough to make Akiha stumble a few steps backwards.

[computations]

There was a gasp from Sion right before she took the blow. She didn't feel any pain but somehow, she figured she was going to end up with bruises later. If not on her body, on her soul. Or something. As long as it kept Akiha safe, she supposed she would deal with it.

Aim for the eyes. If you put them out, this will go much quicker.

Sion did have a beak on the end of the falcon head that could work great for that, if used properly.

[ritsu_kouyou]

I know that; I'm not an idiot.

For someone who's normal powers relied on line of sight, Akiha was well aware of how effective blinding tactics were. Regaining her feet, Akiha darted forward to strike at it's head but had to jump to the side and off the stone wall to avoid a very large paw with claws that looked slimy.

The cavern in this tunnel was too narrow to properly maneuver in. Akiha was going to have to figure out some way to get close since it looked like she wasn't going to be able to flank it

[computations]

Sion could feel what Akiha actually wanted through their connection. Unfortunately, nearly every way to get close would be dangerous. Far too dangerous. Up to and including finding a way to jump on the creature's back. Which could also end in disaster.

You have two options. You can slowly retreat or force the animal to do something drastic. The later is more risky.

[ritsu_kouyou]

But more effective.

Troublesome things eventually went away on their own but it took time. The way to make them end quickly was to act. That, of course, didn't mean it would lead to a solution, but it would end the situation. So, Akiha shifted her grip to her right hand only, just a few inches past center toward the falcon head to offset the balance issue Sion had in her weapon form. She had just enough room in the tunnel to start to twirl the staff, letting the forked end whip over and over before her.

Gritting her teeth, she steadily advanced on the bear. She needed it to feel threatened. Akiha might not have access to her demon blood here thanks to that damned machine, but that didn't stop her from being what she was. Underneath it all, she was a predator. She needed this bear to realize that fact.

Akiha wasn't sure if it was working or not, so she feinted a lunge once she got close enough, the staff still twirling in her single-handed grip, and that was enough. The bear reared up, bone protruding from its back up over its shoulders scraping part of the rock walls. It towered several feet over Akiha, but it gave her room to work.

Immediately stopping the staff and bracing it under her arm, ready to parry with, Akiha drove her left hand right into the bear's abdomen, now exposed to her, under its ribs as if it was a person she was hitting. Clearly, anyone watching would think her insane as such a strike wouldn't be able to do anything to a bear, but Akiha wasn't striking to inflict pain. She struck to absorb using her Meister ability.

The bear let out a wounded sound that, had Akiha been the type of girl to care, would've pained the heart and energy surged through the Meister. Akiha vaguely wondered if Sion would feel any of the whole process through their link as she's never actually used her ability with Sion in hand.

The bear lurched to the side as it recovered, leaving just enough room for someone as fast as Akiha to get through. Now she was behind the bear and the narrow tunnel would work in their favor, making it hard for the bear to turn around.

[computations]

Sion hopelessly wished that Akiha would at least mentally consult her with her plans. It wasn't as if it would take anymore than an instant. Still, she felt a rush from the danger of the situation. As Akiha went through her moves, she could feel her own brain speeding up, fed by the chemicals created by it due to the fight-or-flight experience.

But she was confused when Akiha used her ability. The feeling was odd enough since she hadn't experienced it before. No, she doubted she would ever get used to it. It felt very....vampiric.

But that thought was instantly shut out as it would interfere with the current issue.

I am impressed. Good job.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Brace yourself.

Converting that stolen energy into her strike, she brought the falcon head of the staff down powerfully on the bear's spine where it looked vulnerable. Now they'd find out if their damage capacity was high enough.

[computations]

She used that moment to do exactly what Akiha said. And then she was in a front row position to hear the loud crack that came during the impact. If it wasn't broken, it was surely severely injured, from the way it had sounded.

Good...

[ritsu_kouyou]

I like the way that sounded.

And felt. Akiha gave a small pleased smile as she followed up with a pivot and second strike, trying to hit the exact same spot again. From the way the bear's weight was after the first one, she believed a second strike would put it flat on the ground before them.

[computations]

This time, there was less of a crack and more of a thunk. Whatever happened, if that bear wasn't dead yet, it had certainly lost usage of the lower half of it's body, rendered it a non-threat. Well, not completely. If the thing had access to any sort of supernatural ability, it might circumvent the injury so Sion wasn't going to jump to any conclusions.

It may be finished.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha kept the staff at the ready and poked the bear as it laid on the floor with the forked end. It twitched, one slimy claw scrabbling at the cave floor, and Akiha half jumped back a little startled. She then swung the staff down again, this time hitting it in the head and breaking some piece of the protruding bone off, out of reflex.

"..."

Now she felt stupid, having let her nerves get the better of her. That had been an unnecessary strike.

She was just going to poke it again with Sion to make sure it was dead...

[computations]

Yes, that was a wave of disbelief coming from Sion.

Do your own dirty work, Akiha.

Sion clearly did not like being used as a prodding stick. Weapon, she was okay with. Walking stick, she might deal. A stick, no never.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha stopped and gave an internal grumble, stepping forward to poke the bear with her foot. It didn't move.

I think it's dead.

[computations]

Both sarcasm, relief, and congratulations flowed off of Sion through their connection. Hopefully, Akiha can handle those mixed feelings.

Can I transform back into what I should properly be now?

[ritsu_kouyou]

The mixed emotions were handled well as Akiha only paid attention to half of them. She held the staff out the side, away from the bear, so Sion had room to return to her human form.

"That went faster than I was expecting."

[computations]

Sion felt a distinct sense of relief as she transformed back into being...normal. She gave her hands a few shakes just to make sure everything was okay.

"It was either skill or beginner's luck."

[ritsu_kouyou]

"I'm not sure I believe in beginner's luck."

Akiha picked her way over the bear to get in front of it again. She knelt down to get a better look at its head now that it's not snarling and trying to eat her face.

"Do you think it'll revert back into a normal-looking bear now that it's dead or just stay like this? I don't know how these Madness mutations are supposed to work."

[computations]

Sion walked with her, curious to get a good look herself. Indeed, it was better to see these things not from a position of danger.

"I do not wish to speculate on matters I have little knowledge on so I will leave that to you."

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha shot a glare up at Sion from where she was crouched before looking back at the bear. Her gaze shifted to its claws.

"I'm glad those didn't get me. They look poisonous with whatever that secretion is."