melodiesoflife | The Temple of Wind

[Traveling from the west end of the continent is risky with the Archfiend watching over Trano Golsaucia, and there is help in the form of natives when taking the eastern approach. They restock in the Village of Santa Claus, take a Chocobo-driven sleigh to the refugee camps in the middle of the continent, and travel on their own to the Temple of Wind.

The camps are populated only by adults brave enough to scavenge the machinery in Trano Golsaucia and sell it to the Village, but with a giant robot known as the "Snow Beast" guarding the way, it has become too dangerous for them. The residents all wish the Heroes best of luck and say they will be watching them from afar. They provide last-minute provisions such as food and potions...for a fee. They need to survive, after all.

The head engineer, Gelin, is at the westenmost camp. He's feeling less like crawling into a corner and covering himself in a mountain of blankets after hearing the good news that the Heroes of Light have returned, but he remains seated with a thick comforter wrapped around him.]

((ooc: pm this journal if you want to talk to Gelin. otherwise, this functions as a general mingle))

[A dark shape is seen in the distance: a fortress of machinery, surrounded by deadly sharp winds. The bright light of Trano Golsaucia shines from beyond the snowy hills, a warning signal that they are entering dangerous territory.

The Snow Beast is said to blend into the environment well, so going ahead blindly will surely result in a confrontation. There are various ways Heroes can approach this problem...]

[As everyone enters the new Temple of Wind from the secret passageway, the howling wind grows quieter and quieter until all that can be heard are the miles of machinery and piping. Judging by the steam pouring out of whistles at regular intervals, they are near the engine room. Or one of them, anyway. The place is so huge, one must assume that there are hundreds of crystal-powered machines holding it up.

At the bottom of the fortress, where they begin, the surrounding air is hot an muggy. The only passages are narrow and dangerous. If they aren't careful, they could get hit by boiling steam. Jumping from pipe to pipe is a viable option. The narrow crevices are good places to find treasure....

Once past that, they must have to get past the numerous robots that roam the hallways. Humanoid drones, monstrous ones - come resembling those used by the Heran empire - and some...that just sit there. Cleaning the floors. Perhaps the rooms have interesting supplies.

As they get reach upper levels, they may run into prototypes of new machines. Instead of crystals, however, they appear to be powered by small yellow glowing orbs inside glass tubes. Looking closer, they have small invisible wings...wait, are those arms? Are those faces?!

At the very top is the main office...]

((OOC: Please feel free to play out dungeon crawling! Healing items and standard equipment in treasure chests can be handwaved, but there are a total of 10 Experience Crystals to be distributed. Each one adds +1 month to equipped jobs.

If you are searching for something specific, please PM this account.))

Edited 2017-05-17 18:13 (UTC)

[The large wood doors to the office creak open, revealing the inside of the room. On the opposite end of the Heroes, a raised desk with a cushioned leather chair are framed by the wide window overlooking the plains. The walls are covered in blueprints, memos, and scribbled drawings of what appears to be Ales standing on top of an airship. The only lights come from the window and several circular lamps hanging from the walls.

The ceiling is dark, cross by multitudes of wires, and there are bits of metal protruding from smooth tubes.

Ales stands on top of his desk, typing on his laptop. He wears the same hat, but his jacket has been replaced by a deep black cloak longer than he is tall..] I'm busy right now, can't it wait?

[Which mecha had bothered to interrupt in him the middle of his work? Ales peeks over the top of the computer.]

Wha--?! You're already here?! [He jumps up, shoving the laptop onto the floor. Brushing his hands on his purple shirt, he then holds them up and takes a deep breath.] Whatever. I'll have to revamp the security when I'm finished with you.

Edited 2017-05-17 18:35 (UTC)

[Johnny had always been really fond of Trano Goldsaucia, and seeing it just as dilapidated as everything else was a real bummer. Just barely getting by in a dying world, surrounded by snow... It was like Exsilium all over again. It was like there was no way Johnny was able to escape this fate.

Now, they had to deal with the face that a Hero was out there ready to take them out. As if this whole situation wasn't tough enough.]

Um. I guess if there's any good news, it's that I have lots of snow survival training. Wilderness and stuff. So I don't mind takin' the lead while we're out there.

[Mary's own opinion of the city was middling. In theory it might have been a good place for the Assassins to do some work, but it was hard to get a foothold there. And in the end, after the time where Palitutu threatened to destroy the city rather than let her moogle go, Mary decided it was best to let the city be.

It pains her to see it as it is but she is happy to see the people alive. This isn't a life to cherish, but it's better than the city being left a smoking ruin.]

It seems my Brothers managed to keep my airship safe, but taking it to the Archfiend's stronghold would be a suicide run. We'd likely lose the ship and a fair few people if we tried it.

[It's a shame. She liked the idea of using it to attack the enemy but she doesn't want any more deaths on her hands than necessary. Especially those of allies.]

I can see what I can do with airbending to shield us, but a whole airship is a bit beyond my ability.

[Aang isn't used to being outclassed in his own element. Maybe before he got his master's tattoos, but the monks thought flaunting power was unseemly. And certainly he'd never fought an airbender in earnest.]

I'm not sure flying into a wind guy's place is really the best idea, anyway.

[ Mary might be upset that they can't just take the airship in, but Jaune is thanking whoever is listening that they can't; his stomach does not agree with flight. ]

Looks like we're doing this the old fashioned way. [ Walking will take longer for sure, but it'll get them there without certain death, which he counts as a win. ]

I don't suppose anyone actually has some sort of plan to deal with this guy, do they?

Well, machines generally have a weakness to thunder-based attacks so that's one obstacle down. Wind is often associated with speed so that's something we may have to consider too. After that, we need to consider who can provide us with healing and boosts during the battle.

[Saori bit her lip as she thought some more before speaking.]

Still, we'll have to deal with the Snow Beast because I doubt this Archfiend will let us waltz right in. If my theory is correct, I can help keep track of it with Eagle Vision.

Healing and boosts will not be an issue. [Jade sighs, shaking his a head a little.] I seem to have gotten stuck in that role. I may as well stick with it until the end.

[The way he says it makes it sound like he's making a deep personal sacrifice. How tragic.]

I'd like to avoid a confrontation with the Snow Beast if possible. Our strength is better saved for the real battle. How is everybody equipped, stealth-wise?

[Johnny's gone back to Pirate and Dragoon over Bard. He shakes his head.]

Not me. But that's fine, I can take the lead 'n act as bait if needed.

I... can hide in a bush? Beacon didn't really train us much for stealth. [And with Warrior and Dancer on, he's not getting and buffs to that, either.]

If the Snow Beast is as big as the people here say it is, I don't know that a confrontation is avoidable. And it's terrorizing them, so I don't think we should just ignore it, either.

You know me. Got a few Curas up my sleeve and a quick exit strategy, but my skills focus more on combat and speed.

[Considering his equipped Jobs haven't changed in the last five years, he was stuck with Red Mage and his custom Job. Not that it was a bad combo, but it did leave something to be desired for defense... He sighs.]

I agree with Blondie. That Beast has been nothing but trouble. If we can, I'd like to take it out as well.

[Not being able to use her airship, which had been kept safe so long, hurt her a bit as a pirate but her pride wasn't so stubborn that she'd put others at risk just for a flashy entrance. She'd already burned that luck crashing her job's ship into the Ultima WEAPON. This one would be much harder to replace.

Besides, she'd be going on this run as an Assassin anyway. For personal reasons.]

I'm in favor of going after the beast as well. It's causing problems if nothing else, but taking it out might show us a way to get to the fortress proper. The two may well be connected, and it's just as like that it's not what people think it is.

[Meanwhile, a moogle wearing a hood fluttered over to Jaune and patted him on the shoulder.] 'Don't worry, kupo. I can give you some stealth tips and some quick training if you want, kupo.' [Bonnie smiled gleefully in spite of the oversized eyepatch covering part of her face under the hood.]

[Jade gives a shrug and inclines his head, implying without words that he has no objections. While he'd rather prioritize the Archfiend, the others do have a point. In any case, it doesn't seem like they're equipped for sneaking around.]

An ambush, then? We have our bait [he nods to Johnny] and, if Saori is correct, Eagle Vision will help us keep track of the Beast's location. Getting some free hits in should be manageable.

[Reno was simply trying to stay warm as he listened to the others. While he wasn't a huge fan of Johnny being bait, he respected his partner's decision.]

I got yer back, partner. And electricity an' speed is right up my alley, yo.

[It was like this assignment was made for him. Except for the cold. Damn, damn cold. He shot a smirk toward Jade.]

Maybe Doctor Heavy-Sighs won't have to work so hard.

[He was talking out his ass, and he was sure everyone knew it. But it was Reno's way of boosting morale.]

I agree with Mary, though. An archfiend and a snow beast in the area? Seems too big to be a coincidence. I'm thinking it's a diversion.

Chances are it's meant to be a guard dog to intimate intruders. Though I highly doubt it's all just for show. I can use the clone skill to make sure we have enough eyes out on it while backing you guys up with long range attacks.

[Sure she's got those ninjutsu skills for magic damage, but she also still has Laguna's machine gun and spare throwing knives if push comes to shove.]

I have some healing items too but never hurts to grab more before we head out if you haven't already.

I don't know how much help I'll be. I'm good with air, but so the Archfiend.

[NAd he still has dancer as his other job]

( midna's eyes narrowed as the temple came into view. to think that these archfiends were once the same as them... people this world called heroes, it didn't sit right with her. never one to conform to society's norms herself it wasn't the titles that bothered her, but their motivations, well...

perhaps she just didn't want to believe that someone she had trusted would have turned on them so easily. no... she most definitely needed to see this with her own eyes. )

Be on your guard. ( none of this felt right. the snow beast... just another way to complicate things. )

Edited 2017-05-11 20:40 (UTC)

Right.

[Pyrrha nods to Midna, sword and shield at the ready and a steely gaze on her face. She'd been in the Sage's vision with Ales - he'd been a villain then as well, with a very similar arsenal, but she'd chosen to believe in him even after seeing what he was capable of. Part of her now regrets giving her trust so easily. It's not a mistake she'll make twice. If the Archfiend of Wind's primary specialty is in churning out monstrous metal men, then clearly it's time to put her magnetic semblance to good use.]

Keep your eyes peeled. There's no telling what sorts of spies he might have in the area.

[ He nodded to Bonnie with a small smile. ]I'd appreciate that, thanks. I could use all the help I can get.

[Geez what was with these people and their fancy abilities?]

It's okay, guys; I can dance and swing a sword. [ It's meant to be a joke, but damn if he doesn't feel inadequate right about now. ]

Yeah.

[ Jaune's eyes sweep the area as they advance, keeping a lookout for anything that might be out of the ordinary. He sticks close to Pyrrha, half out of habit and half because if the Snow Beast really is made of metal, she's probably their best bet on taking it down. And if the thing has friends, she's going to need some protection while she deals with the main threat. He tightens his grip on his sword and shield, ready as he can be for whatever happens. ]

Any sign of it yet?[ He's asking anyone with those special seeing or scouting abilities they were discussing earlier, but he'll take an answer from anyone, really. ]

Beast it is. Goin' after that will probably draw out the Archfiend. We'll probably make enough noise to draw attention to ourselves anyway.

[He gave Reno a nod. He didn't like the idea of being bait either, but he seemed like the most equipped of the group for it right now.]

How far away are we from it now?

[Johnny, meanwhile, marched out ahead of the group, on his own. He wondered if it made acting like bait a little too obvious, but he also didn't know how smart the beast was. It was worth a shot.

He traveled just far enough from the group for them to keep hidden, occasionally focusing on the beacon of Trano Goldsaucia in the distance. He carried his lance over his shoulder, ready to fight at a moment's notice.]

The Temple of Wind

Mingle at the Camp

Approaching the Temple

The Flying Fortress

Ales Mansay, the Archfiend of Wind

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