Event: Core [Day 61]

[bastionmods]

For more details, or if you have any questions, please see the OOC post.

For this event, Player characters will be split into two groups: Group A and Group B. Group A consists of any characters who arrived in the Bastion before Day 61. Group B consists of any characters who arrived in the Bastion on Day 61. Please keep your posts to the threads that have the heading that corresponds to your respective group.

There are two goals that need to be met:

1: Group A must locate Group B and safely bring them to the Bastion.
2: Someone must bring the Core back to the Bastion.

The second goal is time sensitive. If the Core is not found in time, it will disappear from the Skyway.

This event will consist of free-form tagging. There is no set tagging order, so feel free to have your characters respond to occurrences as you see fit.

All important threads are listed below:

Group A starting thread
Group B starting thread
Group A: at The Melting Pot
Group A: searching the stalls
Groups A and B meet up
Boss battle

Comments

Groups A and B: Meetup!

[bastionpc]

[In one of the crossroads within the Melting Pot, two groups meet.

On one side there is the search party, who had been trying to find the core. On the other is a pair of strangers, newly awakened, standing near the core.

There's also about ten minutes before trouble arrives. As time passes, the sound of cawwing can be heard in the distance.

WHAT DO?]

Re: Groups A and B: Meetup!

[buildingthefuture]

[For the record, this part of Team B, by this point, has improvised a sling for a neat little clock that he's found, and he's examining the core with avid interest. Including, among other things, holographic readouts displaying from his wrist-mounted computer. He's frowning at the thing, too- he still doesn't like that much energy, and he's still not sure what to make of it.

Obviously, he won't notice the newcomers until they make themselves known.]

[notduchess]

... And the birds on the other side?

[ Duke gives the big glowing crystal a look, but doesn't have anything that's effected by it. Passing the survivors now, because if there's a bunch of little ones and a big one... Whelp. ]

Glad we found the people before they showed up, then.

[ The knight will just warily keep an eye down that way. Birds showing up will hopefully be easy to spot. ]

[hellpyre]

[Rin followed up behind Duke, peeking around the taller woman once she stopped.]

Wow... newbies found the Core, that's awesome! I just hope we can get it and them outta here!

[buildingthefuture]

...excuse me? [The hologram goes away in an instant, and Osahar eyes the newcomers with an... understandable amount of suspicion. Suddenly people, talking as though they know what's going on and moving as a team? Not a good sign for him.

So he rests his left hand on the hilt of his energy pistol, and eyes all of the newcomers.] Someone mind explaining what's happening, before I go anywhere?

[notduchess]

There's a safeplace back the way we came from, and it needs this crystal so we don't turn to boots and these funny looking birds for food.

[ Huh, that funny light vanished. Oh well- ]

There are... not many people left, as you might see by the statues. More than that can wait until birds are not trying to knock us off the paths.

[kyotoprincess]

[Just as this guy is regarding their group with suspicion, Bon is regarding the two of them with suspicion as well. They don't look nearly as lost, confused, and half-dead as most people are when they show up on the Skyway, and he's not sure how well his group could handle a fight against two guys if they were working well with each other. This search party is kind of disorganized.]

Just like he said, there's trouble heading this way and we need that Core. So you can come with us if you want, or high-tail it out of here before anything big shows up to eat you.

[hellpyre]

[Rin pulled a face at his response. She knew not everyone would be happy for a rescue right off the bat, but this guy seemed overly jumpy, what with his hand going to a weapon like that. Her instinct was, of course, to get defensive and demand they hand over the Core, but Bon stepped in before she could stay anything.

Not that his response was any less kind than hers would have been.]

We can explain once we get outta here, okay?

[spotofsunlight]

Wait!

[ Rin and D- uhh, Duck?—oh gosh, what was her name?—and B- Bbbbbbob? no, that wasn't it... whatever. Rin and some other people Shiro is fairly certain are friends appear to be engaging an unknown person! He dives out into the open, newly acquired bling hairpins akimbo. ]

Are you friend or foe? My grampa—and when I say 'grampa', I mean the man who found me and raised me—told me to protect my friends and kill my foes, and I need to know which one you are!

[ And there's the speech. ]

[superdrowningskills]

[Until now, Alucard has been quietly scrutinizing the group, hand lightly resting on the pommel of his sword. The search party looks more like they had been assembled out of what few people had any sort of experience in a fight than a trained group of warriors. Some certainly had the look of experienced soldiers or mercenaries about them, but the majority seem to be younger than even he appears to be. And the one who had spoken a moment? The scent of the girl's blood is not unlike his own: half human, half something that God rejected long ago.

His mind drifts back to the faces he saw upon arrival; some of those faces he knew all too well.]

...If the situation is truly so desperate, I will ally myself with you for the time being.

[goodlifechoices]

Oh, don't make that kind of impression...!

[ KIDS, PLEASE.

Marie scrambles to get in front of Shiro, hands empty and her posture entirely nonthreatening as she makes mollifying hand gestures. ]

It really is a tough situation for the children, so thank you for excusing us.

[ And if they hit any hiccups, she was putting herself forward for a reason. ]

[buildingthefuture]

[His eyes dart from one person to another, starting to feel... equal parts intimidated and confused. Most of the people look young. Way, way too young to be on a raiding mission like this. If there are dangerous creatures out here, and it's really as bad as they're saying, then why are children doing this?

Either they're lying... or things really are desperate. Sending out their future for the sake of the present... that really is desperation. The silver-haired one offers another explanation, too. Food shortages? That'd explain the need for this crystal- the energy output is more than enough to power tech that can turn organic material into edible food. It's tech that's beyond the realm of this marketplace, but so what else is new?

It also explains why the kids are acting the way they are. Normally he'd be a bit more defensive, a bit more pressing for answers. But... they're defensive, and probably for good reason. He lowers his hand-

-until someone else dives onto the scene. Instantly Osahar's defensive again, until the speech happens. Then he goes from defensive to... baffled. Completely baffled. He's seen a lot of things in his life, and he can safely say that all of this is completely outside his realm of experience. If anything, now's when he looks the most normal, his confusion genuine and his guard down. He glances around at the others, hoping for some help here.

Thankfully, Alucard makes it easier for him. So, he shrugs.] I can tell that there's a lot here that I don't know about. So... all right. I can't say I'm your 'friend,' but I'm definitely not a 'foe.'

So, no killing me, all right? [Forgive him, he judges by outward appearance here, and killing kids is not what he does. Have a smile instead! Especially you, newcomer who actually seems to be acting rationally!] Don't worry about it, I've been through worse. Anyway, you all probably don't need me to tell you this, but be careful with that crystal. Its energy might be unstable.

[spotofsunlight]

[ No matter how often it's happened lately, Shiro is still completely unprepared for responses that don't somehow confirm friend- or foe-status. So, you guys think you're confused? Imagine being Shiro.

Unsure of basically everything ever, he asks: ]

What's a situation? Can I eat an ally?

[ Then he spots the Core! It's shiny! Like his hairpins! ]

How about that? Friend or foe?

[ Leave him to his own devices for too long and he'll start waving his arms to get the Core's attention or something. ]

[kyotoprincess]

No, allies are friends.

[This is said gently. Shiro forgets things all the damn time, so he might need a few reminders.

Bon will also be dragging Shiro back from the core.]

It's not alive, it's a tool. Kinda like a sword, or an oven.

[unflattering]

--Miss Marie, it's okay.

[GOD WHY IS EVERYONE SO TENSE well except Shiro he's so cute it's embarrassing really.]

We're here to rescue you. I sensed your presence over here, though our mission was originally to get that Core, ah--I guess it's lucky then that you happened to have it. Rin--[referring to the girl with the tail]--and I have been on a Core retrieval mission before, so you don't have to worry about how we handle it, sir.

[A nervous shift as he moves his scythe from one shoulder to the other.]

If we can't manage to make some distance back to Bastion before the Peckers get here, we'll have to fight them.

[superdrowningskills]

.............

[The child is strange. It is also somewhat concerning that he cannot identify the boy's species. And given the fact that he asked if allies are edible... Well, hopefully that's just something that children sometimes ask, and nothing more. With his complete lack of experience with children, it's rather difficult to tell.]

...Shall we collect the crystal and move on? I would rather avoid conflict with the "Peckers."

[Not exactly a creative name, but it was likely an accurate description of their attack pattern.]

[hellpyre]

[At her name, Rin waved to the two of them, her tail twitching behind her. It had been moving faster when she was annoyed earlier, but further conversation and at least a little show of cooperation had calmed the movements to something closer to a content sway.]

The sooner the better. We can talk more later, 'cause now we gotta get you and the Core back to the Bastion.

[Okay no she was still annoyed. Rescuing survivors was not in their plan.]

[notduchess]

I'll give a shout if they're getting visible. If we're not close enough to the Bastion then, take a dive for a nice space for dealing with birds.

[ Here didn't seem like too bad of a spot, but having to deal with the creatures would be something the knight would like to avoid. ]

... Neither of you can heal, can you?

[ A little hopefully. Duke would love to be able to feel okay with going on the offensive. ]

[blackblooded]

[Crona, hanging back as usual, is thinking maybe it would have been best not to even come. There are too many people and too much noise and too many decisions. So Crona was hanging back by Maka, but then Maka moves forward to speak to the strangers and Crona's left shifting awkwardly, holding a cookbook found earlier.

Ragnarok is out and active, stubby arms crossed on Crona's head, munching on rock candy out of a bag (again, found during their scavenging). He decides to contribute to this conversation.]

Make up your minds, idiots! We don't have all day!

[... yes Ragnarok that was a good and useful contribution.]

[buildingthefuture]

[Rin's annoyance baffles Osahar, and to be honest, aggravates him a bit. After seeing the full group now, he can say with a reasonable amount of confidence that he and Alucard are not going to be a burden here. Still, he lets it go. No point in taking any of this personally when they're all clearly... off.

Granted, Ragnarok and the other kid- by the Singularity, he hopes that he hasn't just landed in a colony of cannibals!- make that a little difficult, but he breathes out and lets it go. Important things first. Kid with the scythe- why all of these old-time weapons, too?- is first.] I'll ask later about how you 'sensed' us, but for now... I'll leave the Core to you or Rin.

[If they know how to handle it, then he'll not get in their way. Knight next. Sheepish grin.] Ah hah... I can do some basic first aid, but I'm an engineer, not a doctor. That being said... let me walk with you. I'm a pretty decent shot, and this pistol's got some range, so I can cover the ki-

[Wait. No. That could be bad. Cough cough you didn't hear that.] ...others. Lead the way, and I'll follow.

[superdrowningskills]

[Alucard holds back from contributing any more to the conversation. Although his face betrays nothing, his stance betrays small hints of agitation. Enemies are approaching, and yet here they are, still standing around and talking despite the clearly expressed urgency of their mission. Perhaps he would have been slightly more patient with the group were they not just that: a sizable group. Mostly human too, as far as he can tell. This group seems to be a rather accepting one, given the presence of their not-entirely human members, but given his previous experiences... Large groups of people make him rather nervous.

If he didn't feel out of place when he first arrived, he certainly does now.]

[hellpyre]

[Rin is actually kind of siding with Alucard on this. They're noisy, the birds are noisy and getting closer, and they're not exactly moving at a decent pace here. ... so she agrees with Ragnarok too, crude wording and all.

Hearing Osahar start to say 'kids' and stop earns him a look, but it's not nearly as annoyed as her previous one. No, it's okay, she knows she's a kid. Demon or not she is only fifteen.

But it's a moot point for the time being and they can deal with proper introductions, back stories and whatever else when they were back to the safety of the Bastion.]

Let Maka take it.

[She motioned a thumb at the boy who had spoken her name earlier, and slipped Kurikara out of it's case on her back, holding the sheathed blade until there was an absolute need to take it out.

Which given the position of the Peckers and the ruckus they were causing was going to be soon. But at the very least if she kept to the front she might have a chance at using her flames to clear out whatever was going to come at them.]

[notduchess]

... Gotcha, I'll keep ready for any healing needed.

[ Which means that tornadoes and fireballs aren't going to happen. So maybe the knight sounds a little disappointed, but now its time to shoo people toward.. well, a larger area. Duke would really rather not be on a narrow section of the skyway when the birds reached them. ]

BOSS BATTLE

[bastionpc]

[There is a square up ahead, with a fountain and open spaces and lots of room for fighting big birds. Which is exactly what the party needs, Because this bird is huuuuuge. We're talking 'size of a large horse' huge. And as the party arrives in the square, it lands right on top of the fountain, breaking the angelic statue that had once spewed out water.

The smaller Peckers are staying to the side, watching as the big one caws loudly at the group. Think fast, this thing is hungry.]

Re: BOSS BATTLE

[spotofsunlight]

Hey! [ points ] Look, that one's really big! [ He starts running over because maybe it won't hear him if he's too far away. ]

Hey, hi! Are you friend or foe? See, my grampa—and when—

[ Please interrupt him. ]