Player Plot: Sewer Quest Part II

[forcegalactic]

Who: Barkeep and anyone else who signs up on the OOC post.
What: Exploring the Aqures Ixen Sewers in search of a hidden room
Where: Aqures Ixen Sewers
When: May 12th-15th
Warnings: n/a

[It’s that time again. The morning of the 12th, the Barkeep collects the Heroes that volunteered to explore the sewers of Aqures Ixen one last time and reviews their supplies at the entrance. Last time was a blind scouting mission, but this time, they’ll surely find something. He can feel it in his bones.
Candles, potions, ethers, whistles, dry food – these things the Barkeep has brought. He has a bag of his own things and leaves some of those supplies for the others to take.
The sun is shines bright as the group prepares to enter the filthy streams that run underground.]

Comments

[shinra_dog]

You had ta' taunt 'em, Yuffie?

[Reno grit his teeth. He was worried about Rukia... but the best way to help her now was to get rid of these disgusting turtles. Lightning had seemed to work well enough last time, so using Ninjutsu himself, he cast Thundara on all four of them.]

[forcegalactic]

Don't know, and it ain't important at the present moment!

[The Thunder spell strikes the orange turtle at the same time the arrows strike the purple one. Without a second to spare, Reno's Thundara spell hits all four of them, giving the group the upper hand.

Then the first, blue turtle swipes at Rukia.]

Sweet, Leonardo was always my favorite.

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia only has the one sword, unfortunately. She grasps it firmly with both hands, shifting her stance to push upward against the katanas that swing down at her. It's a back-and-forth contest of strength, and her arms are starting to shake with the exertion before she finally drops to the side and kicks at the back of the bipedal turtle's legs.]

I've never seen their like in the bestiary...

[She's panting slightly, and leaps back to put more distance between her and the turtle. Her clone races toward her, angling to do a little surrounding of her own. Whichever of them is at the turtle's back isn't able to do as much good with that big shell serving as an organic shield, but they can make hamstring strikes at its legs.]

[thegreatninja]

I'm guess this isn't a usual tourist spot.

[Yuffie takes a step closer to Rukia trying her best to back up her friend. She gathers her Ninjutsu before throwing a bolt of lighting at the weird deformed turtle. Why are they turtles anyway?]

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks can't refrain from sarcastic comments between firing arrows.]

Congratulations, Barkeep. Ya discovered a new species of homicidal mutant turtles. I'm sure the city'll line up to thank ya.

[As he finishes up the barrage, he stops attacking for a moment to toss a Choco Cure at Rukia. It wasn't much, but she was looking rough.]

[forcegalactic]

Good. Maybe we'll all get a reward for out contributions to science, or we'll be heroes for fightin' off a mutant turtle sneak attack.

[The giant turtles are faster and quieter than any other turtles he's ever seen. The red turtle, currently righting Ramza, jumps back, bends its legs and leaps over his head in order to strike him in the back.]

Behind you!

[There's too many injuries for him to heal all at one. Instead of focusing on one person at a time, he decides to use a new spell he learned.]

Regen!. There, that should help a bit.

[zodiac_brave]

[Barkeep's spell helps take a way a little of the sting from the turtle's strike on his back. Luckily, Ramza's armor prevented the brunt of the damage from the blow. He spins to face his enemy.]

A turtle is not meant to be so spry. 'tis not natural.

[Rather than going for the heavily armored shell area, he swipes his blade at the red turtle's feet, hoping a well-placed attack would slow the ungodly fast turtle mutant down.]

[shinra_dog]

They can thank us when these things are dead!

[That Regen was good. Between that and Yuffie assisting Rukia, Reno felt a little more confident in their chances. Daggers in hand, he used Shunshin before charging the purple turtle. The range on that staff was going to be a pain in the ass if they didn't deal with it soon.]

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie ducks low for her next strike, attempting to knock the turtle attacking Rukia off balance. She's keeping tabs on the others as well though it would appear that the turtles are out numbered.]

[red_planet_blues]

[It's times like this Sparks misses being a Paladin. It's not much, but Barkeep gets a quick Choco Recharge to give him some energy back.]

Keep them spells comin', Barkeep.

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia flashes a smile of thanks at Sparks. Her illness isn't improving under these circumstances, but the Recharge seems to have refreshed her. Hopefully the Regen spell will keep her healthy enough to stay on her feet until the battle is won.]

Kashikoiko!

[The velociraptor appears at Rukia's side, and immediately moves to Shield Bash the blue-striped turtle in an attempt to get her some space. With Yuffie there, she should be able to cast her Ninjutsu undisturbed.]

Yuffie, keep its attention for just a few seconds!

[Her fingers trace at the air, hands forming different signs before she thrusts her palm forward, unleashing the Lightning Ninjutsu on all four turtles. Ninjutsu is useful against one opponent, but it's real strength comes from being able to strike all enemies at once.]

[forcegalactic]

[As it had just landed, the red turtle was not fast enough to immediately jump again to avoid Ramza's strike. His rapier struck its left leg, drawing blood. It retaliated with an aggressive stabbing attack.

The purple turtle held its staff with both hands, facing Reno head-on and ready to deflect any thrown daggers. It knew the advantage of standing its ground until the enemy got closer.

With multiple enemies assaulting it, the blue turtle didn't have time to think through it's attacked. While the velociraptor charged at it, it had to deal with Yuffie's attacks. He swiped at the two several times until the Lightening Ninjustu struck it.

While those three turtles all got hurt by the lighting spell the orange one hid in his shell just in time to block the attack before spinning across the sewers floor, aiming for Sparks and the Barkeep.]

Wait, what? [He jumps at the sight of a spinning green oval of death.] Sh-shell! Shell, shell!

[Too late. He didn't cast a protective shield around him in time, and the orange turtle hits the Barkeep right in the gut, sending him flying down the walkway.]

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie isn't able to look at those around her. She does as Rukia asks and swipes at the blue turtle giving the other girl time to work. It's only after Rukia strikes that her head turns.]

Oh no...

[She doesn't stare at the spinning shell for long and instead begins to aim for the legs of her and Rukia's turtle. If they can get rid of one of them then at least they'll have a better chance.]

[zodiac_brave]

[It is not the most sportsmanlike move, but Ramza dodges the red turtle's strikes as best he can, bearing the injuries he cannot avoid with stoicism, and retaliates with a kick at the turtle's wounded leg.]

If you have any sense, stay down! [He turns toward where Barkeep is, leaving the wounded turtle and turning his attention to the one attacking his roommate.]

[shinra_dog]

[Shit. That didn't sound good. Reno narrowed his eyes, trying to listen to the rest of the battle to assess the threat. But that purple turtle was in his sight.]

[He wasn't about to lose any daggers throwing them away, though. One hand free, he created his own ninja clone. It would have a harder time blocking both of him. Closing in, he feinted an attack and watched the staff.]

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia spots double Renjis...wait, no...double Renos. She can only assume he's got access to Ninjutsu as well, and she knows fully well that Yuffie can cast. With the three of them, along with three clones, they have the potential to do some major damage.]

[She gestures sharply at the blue turtle with her hand, and Kashikoiko hunkers low before leaping at it, feet first, aiming to land on its back so it can start biting at the soft, muscled flesh of its head and neck.]

Yuffie! Reno! On the count of three, attack with your Lightning Ninjutsu. Clones too!

[She backs up further to make sure she can see the full length of the narrow battlefield. She'd rather not waste the attack if any of the turtles are pulled into their shells. She also wants to make sure Ramza and Barkeep aren't caught in the crossfire. ...Crosslightning.]

One, two, three!

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie doesn't question Rukia but instead places her fingers together and begins the spell like ability that will allow her and her clone to cast lighting. At the sound of three she releases the spell and it goes crashing through the small area.]

[shinra_dog]

But won't that warn -- ?

[Three. Oh well, whatever. In a flash, thanks to his Shunshin, he and his clone were able to catch up and add their own lightning Ninjutsu to the growing attack.]

[forcegalactic]

[The blue turtle continues to lash out at the ones attacking it, getting a few hits in, but Kashikoiko and Yuffie are overwhelming him. When the multi-ninjutsu Lighting attack strikes it, the blue turtle falls to the floor, dropping its weapons.

The purple turtle jumps to the side when Reno feigned an attack adding distance between the two. That means it isn't far enough to jump out of Reno's lightning Ninjustsu, but it is close and angry enough to leap at him with a long-range sweep of its staff.

The red turtle is also stunned by lightning, but the orange one decided that doing a victory shell spin after hitting the Barkeep was a fantastic idea, keeping itself safe during the lightning attacks. Seeing its blue brother on the ground gets him to lead onto a floating piece of wood on the sewage stream, ride it down the channel towards the velociraptor, then jump off to perform an attack on Rukia.

The Barkeep, in the meantime, rolls onto his stomach and pushes himself up.] Great...great timin', there...

[He slowly and carefully holds his staff to his forehead and works on a healing spell.]

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia kicked the swords away, not into the sewer but further down the tunnel. "Remain where you are," she told the blue turtle in a crisp and commanding tone, pointing her katana at it. "We have no wish to take your lives." She was starting to suspect that these might be intelligent creatures, and not just brainless monsters. Their differing fighting styles and coordination suggest as much.

As did the need to avenge a fallen comrade, as Rukia soon discovers, when the nunchucks smacked her upside the back of the head and sent her sprawling onto the ground.

Head spinning, she struggled to pick herself back up. Her head was already starting to throb, now the intensity had quadrupled.

Kashikoiko was less diplomatic than her master, and she hunkered down before charging the orange turtle with a sprinting shield bash.

[forcegalactic]

[The orange turtle spins his nunchucks, then tosses them to the opposite hand for dramatic flair before leaping at Rukia once more only to be interrupted by Kashikoiko. It lets out a groan of frustration before flipping over.

It hunches down, side-stepping and slowly circling around the velociraptor while swinging its nunchucks. Kashikoiko is a formidable enemy, one whose speed can match a ninja's. After a minute, it bets bored and leaps at the monster.]

[thegreatninja]

Rukia!

[Yuffie slips between Rukia, her pet and the orange turtle, her blades flashing as she meets his weapons. She kicks at his legs before flicking a blade towards an exposed arm.]

Chill out!

[She got her ninjutsu ready but instead of lighting she cast blizzard.]

[forcegalactic]

[She cuts the orange turtle badly, causing him to lose focus on the velociraptor, but turning his attention to the ninja. He strikes at her with his nunchucks, but the blizzard spell freezes his feet to the floor.

Bummer.]

[damn_juicebox]

[By now Rukia has managed to regain her footing. A well-timed Smoke Bomb just after Yuffie's attack places her just behind the orange turtle, and she slams the pommel of her katana against the base of his head in an attempt to knock him unconscious.]

[And then Yuffie gets a crisp and professional high five, because that's some damn good teamwork right there.]

[thegreatninja]

[The turtles hit makes her head swim and her shoulder ache but she ignores it. She returns Rukia's high five before turning to the last to, Reno and the others still fighting.

They outnumbered the turtles standing so maybe they would stop????]