Aries Dungeon Crawl

[killerklowns]

WE'VE GOT FUN & GAMES

Who: The Visitors (Open Log)
Where: Scorpio, Cancer, Aquarius, and Taurus wards.
Summary: The Zodiac Monster Circus has arrived!
When: 19th of April, 11AC
Warnings: Evil clowns, body horror, terrifying circus-themed monstrosities.


It starts with four massive circus tents assembling in the four corners of the city. As strange clowns pour out of the tents, hooting and laughing with sadistic glee, a booming voice echoes out across Hinoto-Ri.

"LLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAADIES ANNNNNNND GGGGGGGGGENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO THE GRRRRRRRRREATEST SHOW ON EARTH! IN THE SCORPIO DISTRICT: THE ARIES CARNIVAL'S WORLD-FAMOUS ANIMAL ACT! IN THE CANCER DISTRICT: THE HHHHOUSE OF MIRRRRRORRRS! IN TAURUS, THE UNUSUAL AND DISTRACTING FREEEEEEAKSHOW! AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, IN AQUARIUS, A CALVACADE OF WHIMSY AND DARING WITH A DUAL-BOOKED SHOW OF CLOWNS AND OUR VERY OWN HIGH WIRE ACT!"

The circus has come to town! Jolly fun for everyone*!


Disclaimer: fun may not actually be jolly.




(OOC: No set tagging order; just pick a thread, jump in, and replies will be made as necessary. Feel free to specify how creepy you want or don't want it to be.)

Comments

[killerklowns]

As the water blade slices open the Kolossus' leg, it's not blood but grease paint that flows out of it, the face of a Klown appearing from within the wound and honking angrily. A pair of hands appear from inside the Kolossus' body and begin drawing the gash slowly closed, leaving the Kolossus teetering unsteadily.

[thirdarrow]

... what?

He expected the giant to have healing ability, but not one so... gruesome...

Takakage turned to the armoured lady. She seemed alright with taking suggestions from him, but by now most of his strategy relied on her firepower. He hoped that she would continue to comply.

"When I give the signal, strike it the hardest you can!"

He closed his eyes once more, focusing his awareness of the surrounding water to incredible acuity. He could sense the giant by virtue of its veins - presumably filled with some other fluid other than blood - and the four scythes which he had been carefully maintaining.

About the woman, though. She had much less water than a human should... but he could worry about that later.

The water constructs merged in pairs, producing two razor-sharp disks from four crescents. They hovered in midair for a few moments while Takakage funneled in as much willpower as he could -

- and fired.

With a barely audible whoosh the blades shot forward, circling the giant's ankles once before beginning their assault. They carved spirals upon its legs, racing upwards onto the giant's back before embedding themselves just beside its shoulder blades. While the grooves they scored weren't deep enough to cut bone, they did accomplish their job of slicing through quite a few muscles. The Achilles' Tendon was definitely gone, as well as the muscle enabling upper arm movement. As for the rest - he didn't have time to check.

At this point, the strategist was completely relying on his partner to keep his physical body safe. With the amount of concentration required, he had none left to spare for paying attention to his physical environment.

"Now!"

He hoped she could hear him.

In a bid to assist the armoured woman, he forced the discs deeper into the giant's body. It was met with significant resistance, as expected -

- as well as a faint but growing pressure just behind his eyes.

You're reaching your limit.

Takakage prayed that the woman would finish their opponent off quickly. He had greater mental fortitude than the average human, but even with that this battle was proving to be much more taxing. He would not be able to repeat the cycle again. Another arrow barrage, maybe, but nothing as fast and furious as these razors.

[whyshouldyoucare]

"Got it!" MiRa then came up with a brilliant (?) idea. This man was using water. She had a lightning skill on Talos. This would either be good or very very messy (or perhaps both, given the precedent the Klowns had set thus far).

Summoning Talos once more, she directed it to cast Mazio on the Kolossus. The robot shot several balls of lightning towards the beast out of cannons that came out of its back. She wasn't quite aware of the strain Takakage's magic was putting on him, but she felt that it would be imperative to put an end to the giant soon so that he could at least get his breath.

She also began to rapid-fire lasers from each of her blades, hoping for some added damage. She could have charged up one huge laser, but there wouldn't be time... what she wouldn't have given for her Zord (that is, her giant mech) right now.

[killerklowns]

As the electricity strikes the Kolossus, meaty chunks of flesh are blown off, screaming Klown faces inside. As the extra lasers hit home, slicing off more chunks, the Kolossus teeters and falls over, squeaky hammer flying into the air. As it strikes the ground, small, jagged rocks are sent flying at the pair of Visitors, the Kolossus kollapsing into a pile of meat and Klowns. One of the Klowns, its body torn to ragged shreds, produces a brace of cotton candy cones and starts eating, its wounds healing up as it does so.

It is then crushed beneath the squeaky hammer, landing at last. Grease paint puddles underneath the head of the weapon, all that remains of the Klown aside from its arms, each of them clutching a generous serving of cotton candy.

The street is silent.

Persona Skill: Diarama

[thirdarrow]

Takakage didn't expect the woman's Persona to use a lightning skill. Most of the resultant electricity discharged into the giant's body, but some sparks travelled backwards into the water he was controlling. He hadn't fully disengaged his mind from the water yet -

- and the shock hit him, searing through what little focus he had left. The water blades he had been maintaining lost their shape, spraying harmlessly upon the ground.

Having no strength left to steel himself against the rain of rubble that followed, the strategist collapsed onto his Persona - which fortunately had the foresight to take up a position next to him. The avian covered him with one wing, feathers glowing with a soft calming aura.

[whyshouldyoucare]

Cotton candy, huh? MiRa would have liked to try some... if she could eat, that is. She moved closer to Takakage, looking him over and trying to see if he had been wounded or was simply just exhausted. "Are you alright? I'm afraid I have no healing skills to support you with."

[thirdarrow]

Koppa Tengu hooted softly, covering Takakage with its other wing. The yellow glow from its feathers intensified, and he felt renewed strength surging into his limbs, enough for his headache to temporarily subside.

A few moments later the avian released him. The strategist shook his head to clear any remaining nausea. "I should be fine." His voice was still a little shaky.

"You have my gratitude for the assistance." Takakage offered the woman a smile, though it was still tinged with fatigue. "May I know your name, fair warrior?"

[whyshouldyoucare]

"If you say so," MiRa said, not entirely sure that he'd actually be fine so quickly, if only just judging from the shakiness of his voice. As for her name, MiRa gave her alias with no hesitation: "You may call me the Blood Red Rider." Fair warrior, huh? "Fair" was never a descriptor that had been applied to her before.

[thirdarrow]

The name sounded more similar to a title than an actual given moniker. But again, he could have been wrong. Cultures probably worked differently here.

"I am Takakage Kobayakawa, retainer of the Mouri clan." She most likely didn't know about his homeland, but it was worth a shot. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Now, onto the more pressing issues. His voice had steadied by now, returning to its usual calm. "Might you know anything about these creatures? They seem to have descended on the city en masse."

[whyshouldyoucare]

"Nice to meet you," MiRa said simply. The name sounded Japanese to her, so she was left wondering if perhaps the man was from Japan (technically, since the Justice Riders were based in Japan, she was from there too). Then again, even if he was, he probably wasn't from her Japan or any modern variation of it.

MiRa shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't know anything about what attacked us. It's certainly a problem, though, and we need to cull as many as possible."

[thirdarrow]

"As do I." Takakage nodded in affirmation. "The announcement made over the city seemed to indicate four sources of the invasion. I suggest we eliminate them to stem these demons."

A pause. He looked thoughtful for a moment. This was definitely not a localized event - demons were probably already spreading across the city. Perhaps someone else might know something about them?

"If you do not mind, I would like to contact an acquaintance who may be able to assist us."

He placed one hand upon Koppa Tengu's feathered head, willing the Persona to convey his thoughts through CommLink.

Hello, Jonathan? This is Takakage. Are you occupied at the moment?

[jonathandammit]

What a great time to contact him, Takakage. When he's trying to fend off a weird thin demon thing. But it does come as a bit of a relief.

Yes, I'm at the the Cancer Ward, he conveys telepathically- squawking to demons and angels who preferred to use mind-to-mind contact has made it a lot less jarring than it should be. Have you seen the strange demons around? I'm fighting a rather large one now, and-

WHOOPS going to avoid that slam now. Not going to die today, nope, sorry. There's a young boy with me, and I'm not sure if he can fight.

[thirdarrow]

Takakage frowned. So it was indeed a mass event.

I see. I suppose you're at one of the nexus points? I am with a woman who claims to be the Blood Red Rider. She has agreed to assist me in eradicating these demons.

We'll try to get there as fast as we can. Is that alright?

The strategist turned to speak with the woman.

"My acquaintance is currently within the Cancer Ward, and he is doing battle with the demons as well, within what seems to be a gathering point for them. I intend to rendezvous there.

His name is Jonathan - do you know him?"

[jonathandammit]

That's alright. Try to stay sa-

And then this happened.

Needless to say, the connection's been cut off for the moment. Have fun, Takakage.

[whyshouldyoucare]

MiRa had to be careful when she was asked who she knew and who she didn't. One slip-up and her secret identity would be outed. She ended up going with, "I know of him, yes." That seemed to be close enough. "So we'll be heading to the Cancer Ward to retrieve him and clear out some more demons, I take it?"

[thirdarrow]

"Yes, that would be the gist of it."

Jonathan's transmission had been cut off abruptly. It was definitely not a good sign.

The strategist frowned. "Something's happened to him. Let us make haste."

> REDIRECT TO CANCER TENT