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Lugubrious male Member

The player on the other side

STATUS: Forgotten footfalls, engraved in ash 2 mos ago
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Recent Statuses

2 mos ago
Current Forgotten footfalls, engraved in ash
3 mos ago
Stalling falling blossoms in bloom
3 mos ago
Even if our words seem meaningless
1 like
3 mos ago
Time turning on us always
4 mos ago
Fusing into the unknown

Bio

Current GM of World of Light. When it comes to writing, there's nothing I love more than imagination, engagement, and commitment. I'm always open to talk, suggestion, criticism, and collaboration. While I try to be as obliging, helpful, and courteous as possible, I have very little sympathy for ghosts, and anyone who'd like to string me along. Straightforwardness is all I ask for.

Looking for more personal details? I'm just some dude from the American south; software development is my job but games, writing, and trying to help others enjoy life are my passions. Been RPing for over a decade, starting waaaay back with humble beginnings on the Spore forum, so I know a thing or two, though I won't pretend to be an expert. If you're down for some fun, let's make something spectacular together.

Most Recent Posts

In World of Light → 3 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Carnival Town - Ballyhoo's Big Top

Level 13 Ms Fortune (130/130) Level 8 Goldlewis (66/80) Level 7 Sandalphon (25/70)
Roland, Sectonia, and the Robot Girls’ @Archmage MC, Midna and the Koopa Troop’s @DracoLunaris, Geralt and Zenkichi’s @Multi_Media_Man, Pit and the Octopath Travelers’ @Yankee, Roxas and Ganondorf’s @Double, Osvald’s @Dark Cloud
Word Count: 3057


After linking up with a bevy of allies, confirming the elimination of a sixth Guardian, and getting the good news about a new mobile base in the form of the Avenger, Nadia was riding high. Leading the pack to Ballyhoo’s Big Top through Carnival Town, she practically skipped through the streets, her smile indelible. She and the others who’d slogged through the depths of the Under had already been planning to reward themselves for their hard work, but a lucky break like this went beyond anything she could hope for. Even though the road here had been hard, paved with painstaking effort and more than a couple sacrifices, the feral felt completely confident that the Seekers really could do this. And with literal fun and games next on the itinerary, things were only going to get better from here. What a homecoming this was turning out to be–insofar as Carnival Town could be called her home.

By the time Ballyhoo concluded his introduction and explanation of the Big Top’s workings, Nadia was pumped to get started, but the heroes didn’t charge after the cartoonish carnie straight away. Someone new showed up to say hello, a larger-than-life hotshot with a braggadocious attitude, and for good reason. Even with just half an hour under her belt in Carnival Town, Nadia had seen her fair share of that distinctive blue racing suit, red helmet, and lantern jaw. As it turned out, he wasn’t just some highfalutin local celebrity, either. According to Ganondorf and Bowser this man had a history with the Seekers, or at least the few who challenged Galeem ‘in the beginning’. That turn of phrase left her intensely curious, since she’d never heard anyone mention anything like that, nor considered whatever preceded the worlds’ destruction. It seemed important. That aside, though, she understood the importance of this Captain Falcon, and that the Seekers should save him from Galeem’s grip. If he planned to join them for games, they’d probably get an opportunity to do so.

With that in mind, Nadia treated the Captain to a smile. “Sure! I’m game if you are. Just don’t expect us to take it easy on you!”

Given how much ground they’d covered, and how much they had yet to cover with one another, it made sense for the Seekers to take a quick break to get ready before plunging into a minigame bonanza. Some heeded Ballyhoo’s pleas and went to the snack bar to chat over some food, but the pita pockets Nadia bought in Al Mamoon had satisfied her, so she looked elsewhere. With a huge cast of twenty compatriots to interact with, the catty chatterbox found herself spoiled for choice when it came to conversation, but at the same time, she didn’t feel compelled to go after people just yet. After all, they’d have plenty of time to get friendly in the days to come, especially aboard this ship of theirs. Right now, though, something else occupied her. When Ballyhoo mentioned token rewards for doing well in the upcoming minigames, he ignited her competitive spirit. “Five tokens for first place, huh? Well, you guys better watch out then,” she declared, looking around at her friends with an air of mischief. “‘Cause if there’s money on the line, I’m all in!” With that in mind, the cunning catgirl set off to make some new friends: any bystanders who’d already played these games and could tell her a thing or two about how they worked.

Of course, Sandalphon meant to do some data collection of her own. With no need for food after the tasty pumpkin soup noodles she enjoyed back in Everdream Valley, she went the other way to see what she could find among the aisles of apparel in the Big Top reward center. If her efforts would be rewarded, it made sense to learn what she stood to gain. Most of these items offered no tangible benefit, but like Therion she took interest in what Ballyhoo referred to as an Orb Machine, and moved in for a closer look. She quickly confirmed that it contained real spirits, which cast this whole affair in an entirely new light–not in terms of macabre implications, but of value proposition. The random nature of distribution, paired with the fact that nobody could see what any of the spirits were capable of beforehand, would make efficient use of them tricky. She couldn’t fully believe what Ballyhoo said about customers getting ones they wanted either, since how could that possibly be quantified? On the other hand, if the players would receive one rift token per game for the mere act of participation, that meant only three games to attain the ‘guarantee’ he mentioned, and a whopping five guarantees for winning just three games. They were practically handing out spirits like candy.

Sandalphon quickly concluded that the people in charge here must not have the slightest clue about how valuable spirits could be. Of course, the average customer here probably didn’t know either. If they saw spirits as nothing more than sparkly but useless collectibles that faded after a time, it made sense that they’d spend their rift tokens elsewhere. That very ignorance, though, left an enormous potential bounty for the Seekers to claim, and they could not pass up this opportunity. If nothing else, they could trade the spirits they received amongst themselves, and maybe Roland’s ability to transmute spirits into more informative books would be of use. Pit had alluded to one other way that even the most undesirable spirits might come in handy, as well. “If all else fails, we can offer these spirits to the individual Pit mentioned, Vulgrim.” Something about that name and his alleged trait of eating spirits rubbed her the wrong way, but for now Sandalphon reserved her judgment. “That way we can transact unwanted possibilities for more certain gains, be they material or informational.”

Meanwhile, Goldlewis browsed the cosmetic rewards, wondering what sorts of incentives the team could redeem their tokens for. He found a wide assortment of outfits, mostly stereotypical getups associated with various professions like policeman, doctor, firefighter, biker, and so forth rather than anything he’d consider fashion. It reminded him of a Halloween costume shop more than anything else. It did feature an abundance of different hats, from what he’d consider fairly ordinary to stuff that looked downright wacky. “What in tarnation,” he muttered, shaking his head at a ridiculous propeller cap. Even if its propellers could actually be used to hover like the label claimed, he wouldn’t be caught dead in that thing. He did inspect the different kinds of combat fatigues, but overall Goldlewis wasn’t all that impressed. Where were the spurs? The horseshoes? The metal skulls and extra belts? He had a very particular sense of style that he couldn’t just toss out for ordinary garb like this. His fusions had already watered down his iconic look a little, and subsequent fusions would make it worse. At least if fusion messed with his hairdo, it looked like he could count on Karlie to fix it up. After watching her in action with a customer, he could only describe her as a miracle worker. How else could she not just cut, but also lengthen somebody’s hair to style it like that?

After a couple minutes Goldlewis headed back toward the curtains, where he found Nadia with a handful of strangers she’d accosted. Evidently the cat burglar had cornered them just a few moments after they pushed through the curtains, a round of minigames freshly concluded. Though she planned to pester them with questions, Nadia changed her mind when she saw the man bringing up the rear, a dour farmer with a huge nose, no chin, and a haunted, distant expression. “Whoa, you okay?” she asked, her genuine concern overriding her plan to get ahead. She raised an eyebrow at the curtains. “Was there something wrong with the games? Is this place actually some kind of carn-evil?”

The farmer shook his head, a little bemused by the pun. “Nah, it ain’t like that. Took some gettin’ used to, but it ended up bein’ pretty dang fun. I didn’t want to come, y’see, but my farmin’ buds here dragged me out.” He motioned to his companions, who’d made sure his new acquaintance seemed friendly before heading toward the snack bar. They were an odd bunch, consisting of a bipedal sheepdog, a mustached agave farmer, and a biomechanical warlock with black metallic flesh shaped into a hood over an inhuman face. Given his current company, though, Goldlewis knew he wasn’t one to talk. “I had a good time, though, honest. It’s just hard to get my mind off what happened, is all.”

Nadia knit her brows together. “Aw. What happened?”

Putting his hands in his pockets, the farmer took a deep breath. “Well, a li’l while back, a tornado came outta nowhere an’ tore up my whole doggone farm. My equipment, my crops, my animals, years of effort, all that money…all gone.” He gritted his teeth, his hands tightening into fists. “I ain’t never been angrier ‘bout anythin’ in my whole life. For a while I just about lost myself, ragin’ against the storm.” He sighed, shaking his head. “But it wasn’t any use. After things calmed down, my friends helped me get back on my feet. Reckon that’s why they brought me here, to get my mind off what happened.” He chuckled, a defeated look on his face. “But here I am bein’ a stick in the mud, like always.”

“Don’t say that!” Nadia interjected. Perhaps sensing he was needed, Chucho floated over to the former to be petted. Though surprised at first, the man obliged, and some of the misery drained from his face. “I mean, it’s totally understandable. You had your whole livelihood ripped away. But you still have people who care about you, and you’re still moving forward. I know I’m just some girl you just met, but to me, it looks like you’re doing alright. So…I hope things get better soon!”

Despite everything, the farmer managed a smile. “Thanks, miss.” He sighed again, much faster this time. “Guess I oughta catch up with the guys. See ya ‘round.”

“See ya!” Nadia waved as the farmer took his leave.

By that time, all the Seekers who’d dispersed throughout the Big Top’s parlor were gathering up again. With everyone refreshed, satiated, motivated, and somewhat informed about what minigames were, the team seemed ready to start the party. Nadia grinned as she looked over the gathered heroes, trying to imagine the likes of Therion and Ganondorf catching fruit or herding penguins. “Alright, team!” she sang. “Let’s have some fun!” With that, the twenty pushed through the curtains and tumbled weightlessly through a tunnel of kaleidoscopic color. After a moment spent stunned by the sheer sensory overload, Nadia and the others plopped down onto a solid surface, cold, hard, and shiny as a golden coin.

“Oof,” the feral grunted, more than a little dizzy. With some help from Chucho she got to her feet and looked as the discombobulation wore off. She and the others appeared to be atop a large golden disc, with red and black stripes radiating outward from its edges. Each one sported a rut separated from the next by small dividing walls, as well as a number. Beyond the outer rim lay a sloped ring of wood with perimeter walls, and above them Nadia could see only a strange expanse, less like a sky and more like a static texture boxing everyone in. Her immediate surroundings intrigued her more, though. “Is this…a roulette table?” Even if she’d never been rich or welcome enough to see one in person, she recognized the imagery from TV. That said, all this felt uncomfortably like getting trapped in a dream last night, so who could say. “Well, can’t roulette out, I guess.”

Goldlewis rubbed his head. “Y’know, for some reason I didn’t think it’d get this weird. We’re sure in for it now.”

After studying her surroundings for a moment, Sandalphon glanced at Nadia. “I was under the impression you’d done this before?”

The feral gave a nervous laugh. “Uh, heheh. I mean, I wanted to, but I never got the chance. It's no big deal though! We’ll just…y’know.” She shrugged. “Roll with it?”

Just then, Ballyhoo and Balan poofed into existence in a double blast of confetti, accompanied by a chorus of goofy party horns. “Welcome to your very own private lobby!” Ballyhoo declared to the Seekers. “The minigame roulette is about to begin! To find out what’s next, we’ll just have to SPIN!” Lifting his hand, the gamemaster conjured a white ball with a ghostly face on it and hurled it down into the table’s outside ring. It began to hurtle around the perimeter at high speed, and at the same time, Balan floated down to give the roulette wheel itself a push. Much to Nadia’s relief the plate beneath the Seekers didn’t actually spin, but the red and black grooves around them whirled for a moment before slowing to a standstill, and after another few seconds the roulette ball came to rest in one of the many pockets, number twenty-three. That number held no significance for the Seekers, but both Balan and Ballyhoo seemed to light up, smiling with arms spread wide.

“Connected Climbing Chaos!” Ballyhoo exclaimed. “For this minigame, everyone will be divided into teams of two!” He held up three fingers. “It’s a race to reach the top of a snowy mountain! Sounds like a breeze, but boy is there a catch! Each of you will be given climbing gloves and physically tethered to a random teammate. You’ll have to work together to make the climb, leveraging your weight to swing and fling around! All damage is disabled, but so are special movement abilities! Ready, Balan?”

His companion bowed silently, his toothy smile even wider.

Ballyhoo took this as affirmation. “Then away we GO!”

Before anyone could object, their surroundings dissolved in a wash of color, quickly giving way to a brand-new wonderworld of peaceful purple skies and gentle snowfall.

Much to Sandalphon’s relief, her feelings of queasiness and disorientation faded much faster this time, allowing her pupils to switch from spirals back to power symbols before anyone noticed. From the beginning she'd wondered how exactly the Big Top functioned from a practical standpoint, but after seeing Balan work his magic firsthand, she supposed that it all boiled down to dimensional trickery, with custom pocket dimensions serving as these ‘wonderworlds’ to host a variety of games. She didn't like the idea of being at this enigmatic entity’s mercy, but as long as it abided by the rules Ballyhoo laid out, the archangel reasoned that she could endeavor to be less suspicious for once. Plus, now that the Seekers had arrived, the competition was about to begin.

Sandalphon looked around. True to Ballyhoo’s explanation, Balan had deposited them at the foot of a small mountain, a couple hundred feet in height. Around them stood a smattering of tents, and plenty of friendly-looking penguins milled around the area. Soft, powdery snow covered the whole area in carpets and drifts, creating a winter wonderland where the flightless birds fished, threw snowballs, and made snow angels. Large rock formations surrounded the penguin village on both sides, reaching upward alongside the mountain to form an intricate vertical labyrinth of ledges, tunnels, wooden platforms, icy slopes, and death-defying jumps. It looked like a good challenge, especially if she couldn't rely on movement abilities like Vault or Heavensent like Ballyhoo said. Though that disappointed her somewhat, she knew that an even playing field was the basis of any true competition. Otherwise people like Blazermate could just fly right to the finish line.

After taking stock of her surroundings, Sandalphon noticed the more subtle changes on her person. She’d been given gloves with a very grippy material on their palms, but she'd also received a nice white scarf and a beanie, and a glance at the others confirmed that every Seeker had received a slight costume change. Nadia’s even had holes for her ears, while Goldlewis got one in red, white, and blue. He also spotted a rope tied around his middle, and when Sandalphon’s eyes followed it, she found that it connected to the rope wound around her waist.

She blinked. “Oh.” The archangel stared at Goldlewis. “This must be the tether.” She looked around with a slight frown on her face, wondering who happened to be tethered to Zenkichi.

Goldlewis took her expression to indicate disappointment with her teammate. “I’ll try not to let you down, ma’am,” he told her. “Even if they ain't gonna let me airdash, I reckon I'm a bit more spry than I look.”

“I know,” Sandalphon replied, shutting out distractions as she locked onto her teammate. “My only fear is not pulling my own weight. Let’s do the best we can and win this together.”

The veteran grinned. He's been pretty dubious of this whole affair since arriving, but after seeing that the first challenge was just a little rock climbing, he was getting fired up. “Hell yeah!”

Meanwhile, Nadia has been so distracted by the adorable penguins and not thinking about the implications of none of them being real that she didn't even notice that she’d been tethered to someone until she felt a tug on her midriff. “Huh? Oh, I'm with you?” The feral smiled, jumped to her feet, and looked up at the mountain as she fearlessly pumped her fist. “Alright, it's snow problem! Whenever you're ready, cl-I’m good to go!”
In From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting) → 5 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Lewa


As bad as things looked for Lewa's fellow otherworlders from an outside perspective, the mercenary leader seemed to take things in stride. Apparently he subscribed to the notion that anyone whose pride outstripped their ability could stand to be taken down a few pegs, be that the Gensokyoites or his own crew. And with how definitively the otherworlders had humbled his subordinates, they'd more than proven themselves, and it fell to him to squash the smoldering resentment of the defeated and make sure they learned their lesson. He even went as far as to approve the request to travel together, in the process admitting that nobody on his side could reasonably have much say in the matter. Realistically speaking Lewa's side couldn't have asked for a better outcome, but the whole resolution did leave the toa a little incredulous. Though he did have only a few days' experience with 'humans' under his belt, were people typically that gracious to admit defeat, or obliging to the victors? For his part, he couldn't tell of Remilia meant to be genuinely encouraging or insultingly smug about the mercenaries' ability. Then again, this Syldon Hest could simply be trying to salvage the situation as best he could, giving up on any pretense of dignity as he attempted to appease the monstrously powerful fighters who'd effortlessly thrashed his crew. So far, it looked lost most of the other otherworlders were so mighty that this world seemed to bend around them. No wonder nobody else felt like a fish out of water like Lewa did--they possessed confidence borne of terrifying strength.

Regardless, with the 'sparring' concluded, Lewa couldn't very well wander away again now. He joined the others, his manner more guarded and wary. Forget soldiers, centipedes, and strangers; these people might be the greatest risk to his chances of getting home again if he ran afoul of them in his ignorance of human behavior. This went double for Sanae, who'd revealed that she possessed unseen guardians ready to appear from nowhere and, oblivious of the context, kill on her behalf if she couldn't stop them in time. Her explanation didn't ease his concerns any, as most of the lingo went right over his head. Few things frustrated him more than the fact that he seldom understood what anyone else said, and he found it difficult to maintain his typically carefree, friendly demeanor like this. The fact that the others could contact their home world certainly didn't lift his mood. Rayne tried to look on the bright side when it came to world-spanning connections, but her words didn't offer Lewa much consolation. Did anything from his home fit the bill? Mata Nui might be the source and sustainer of his world, but for all the veneration offered him, the Great Spirit never stirred from his slumber. Lewa was alone and in the dark.

As Anne brought up village defense with Sanae, the toa of air took a deep breath. The situation might be dire, but despair would only make things worse. As long as his heartlight still shone, he could keep moving, searching, and eventually return home. There had to be a way, and if anyone could find it, it would be this unbeatable band. If the Gensokyoites planned to run roughshod over this land until they discovered a method, he just needed to follow them, and their much greater power meant less risk for him if he let them take the lead. For once, Lewa reasoned, he could hang back and be smart about this rather than rushing blindly forward like usual. As long as he stayed on their good side, the others were his best shot at returning home. Until then he'd need to just...not worry...about what might be happening in his absence.

It's fine, he told himself. The Le-matoran have Turaga Matau to lead them, a far wiser and more capable hero than I. They can take shelter, or if worst comes to worst, consolidate their strength in Ko-koro or Ta-koro. After another deep breath, he stepped forward with a smile. "Very cool-strong, everyone. I do not know what a capital is, but if it has puzzle-answers, I am eager to make the journey."
In World of Light → 6 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
No objections here! Looks like the Lost Numbers have their pilot.
In World of Light → 8 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
I see, that does make more sense.
In World of Light → 8 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Definitely a neat twist on the idea, and that would make for a good pilot considering there isn't any dedicated cockpit on the Avenger I'm aware of. The only qualms I'd have would be about giving a previous iteration of the rebel force a whole fleet that logically must have been dismantled by a stronger Moebius fleet, and if our enemies have that lying around we'd probably be screwed. Maybe finding a way to downsize the previous operation would be a good move. I'm curious about what parts of Hope relate back to the four component AIs that combined elements of their source code to make Hope.
In World of Light → 8 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
I'm back with another pair of sheets, these ones for the siblings Dawn and Cirrus who are NPCs aboard the Avenger who'll help you guys out in a support role (please excuse the one placeholder...)



In World of Light → 11 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Sandswept Sky - Carnival Town

Level 13 Ms Fortune (126/130) Level 8 Goldlewis (62/80) Level 7 Sandalphon (21/70)
Roland, Sectonia, and the Robot Girls’ @Archmage MC, Midna and the Koopa Troop’s @DracoLunaris, Geralt and Zenkichi’s @Multi_Media_Man, Pit and the Octopath Travelers’ @Yankee, Roxas and Ganondorf’s @Double, Osvald’s @Dark Cloud
Word Count: 2667


From her vantage point high atop the Gold Saucer, Sandalphon kept a careful eye on the encounter below as the situation developed. While the confrontation between Midna and Ganondorf did not end in a way that satisfied either of them, much less the archangel herself, it looked like they’d managed to put their feud on hold for now. Still, she made a mental note to keep more of an eye on them, and keep them separate however she could. As their squabble subsided, she turned her watchful gaze elsewhere, peering through her scope to check on the others. It looked like everyone had escaped their hellpods unscathed. Goldlewis seemed to be the last one out, having gotten stuck as he tried to pull himself out of his pod. The fact that he’d managed to squeeze in there in the first place still beggared belief, but it looked like Dawn had been right about them being magical.

Soon enough the two groups on a collision course came together at last, their inevitable meeting catalyzed by the chance encounter of a playful Yamper and spirited Polterpup. Though the two sides would be well within their rights to be on guard, they exhibited no hostilities, and when one of the other team’s frontrunners theatrically announced herself as a Seeker, Roxas realized that this must be the campaign’s other contingent. A reunion like that seemed like such an impossibly lucky turn of events that Sandalphon herself had trouble believing it until multiple people on each side started recognizing one another, leading to a round of handshakes and hugs. Pit even confirmed that this group represented a huge chunk of the Seekers’ missing members. Hearing this, Sandalphon relaxed, stood up, and stowed her sniper rifle, more than a little amazed. Not even an hour ago the Seekers’ situation had been truly dire, but with that violent storm over, the blue skies were more beautiful than ever. After a moment spent staring off into the heavens, Sandalphon jumped from the edge of her building and floated down toward the others. “Mistakes into miracles, as they say.”

Down below, the Seekers’ confusion quickly gave way to excited conversation as they greeted one another, introduced themselves, and began to fill in the blanks. Goldlewis arrived at the grand reunion a little late, having tried to salvage as much dignity as he could from the sticky situation that greeted him upon landing, and found quite the colorful cast of characters assembled before him. So these were his new comrade’s friends? At this point he pretty much expected an ambush, so a welcome party was a welcome surprise indeed. He’d never seen those turtles before, nor the surly, homeless-looking sorcerer, but he actually recognized that elegant brunette and that bejeweled wasp from the Sandswept Sky. Though their time together in Al Mamoon had been brief, he remembered fighting alongside Primrose and Sectonia as they strove to quell the desert city’s turmoil. They both looked a little different, and he figured he knew why, but both still seemed true to themselves. Thinking about it from their perspective, Goldlewis imagined that the same went for him. Their last few companions seemed to be a scraggly little rogue, a dark knight of some stripe, and a young woman with feline features. He waved a hand and extended the other team his own tried-and-true greeting. “Howdy, y’all.”

Goldlewis caught the tail end of the reply Roxas gave about missing teammates. Luckily for that kitty lady, most of them just happened to be somewhere else. What happened to Peach was still a sore spot, but considering what the city team had been up against, just one casualty was pretty incredible, even if it had been the Seekers’ leader. Looking around, he wondered who that role fell to now. Both he and Sandalphon had both skill and experience in leading, but they’d both joined late, and the veteran at least neither wanted nor deserved that responsibility.

Before anyone could set Ms. Fortune straight about Geralt, the conversation turned again. With this many people in one place, all bursting with curiosity, it was bound to happen. Roland introduced himself, and Sectonia gave her name -plus title- in return. When she mentioned expecting good things, he raised an eyebrow at her. These ‘newcomers’ would have to fill her in on everything they’d already achieved. After that Geralt filled Ms. Fortune in, and though initially surprised the feral understood soon enough. The Witcher’s remark about her still being unmistakable even after many fusions made her very pleased. “Ohh, ok. Thanks!” With the revelation in mind, she looked at Geralt in a whole new light. After remembering that he’d fused with that enormous Harbor Demon back in the Deep Blue Seaside, she could definitely see the ramifications. “So that can happen, huh…? Welcome to the club, I guess? Well, if it’s any consolation, I think you look great!”

Even with so many distractions around, Nadia was able to notice another unidentified flying object inbound. After spotting something in the corner of her eye, Nadia looked up to see another woman heading towards the Seekers, gliding with the aid of what looked like her own halo. When she directed her new allies’ attention toward the newcomer though, they saw nothing amiss, and a moment later Sandalphon touched down. Though this professionally-dressed, blank-faced businesswoman lacked wings, she did look rather angelic, and Nadia found her strange eyes fascinating. Amongst other things. “Wow. I’d ask how’s the weather up there, but I can see it’s clear…” She looked around at Bowser, Ganondorf, Geralt, Sectonia, Goldlewis, and now Sandalphon, all of whom really inflated the heroes’ average height. “...That I just drew a short straw.”

Sandalphon stared at her, humorless, with pupils like question marks. “I’m afraid I don’t exactly parse your meaning, but if you’re an ally, it’s my pleasure to meet you.” She bowed politely to the Seekers from the Under. “I am Sandalphon, former leader of the Apostles, cleric of the Lateran Church, and DespoRHado communications officer. Please let me know if I can be of service.”

While Nadia wasn’t sure if she could ever really be friends with someone who hated puns, Sandalphon’s genuine demeanor made her feel bad for being impolite. “Er, thanks, haha. Likewise.” With Geralt having just given out her first name, she didn’t feel pressured to re-introduce herself, though. Instead, given what that Zenkichi guy said, she felt more than a little worried. Had the other team really destroyed a whole city!? Even if they’d taken down a Guardian (which was awesome) that was a hefty price to pay.

Seeing Ms Fortune in a somewhat awkward-looking situation, Goldlewis distracted her with a nod of approval. “I like your jacket, li’l missie. You got a mighty fine style.” Anyone who could rock a flashy leather jacket like that couldn’t be all bad.

The feral grinned at him as if he’d just validated something very important to her. “Thanks, mister! I like your whole formal cowboy getup. Guess that’s what they call yee-haute? Ooh, ‘specially those metal braincases. They’ve got a certain skullure!” Faced with compliments and jokes like those, it was hard for Goldlewis to suppress a smile of his own, and the two shared a chuckle together.

Once the introductions concluded, the explanations began. Midna clarified the scope of the destruction Zenkichi alluded to, then essentially reiterated everything that Roxas said about Sakura, Karin, and Susie, though she went into a little more detail about Peach. To that part at least, Nadia listened with an uncharacteristically solemn expression. After everything the feral and the princess faced together in the Deep Blue Seaside, it was hard to believe that she’d suffered such an awful fate. That poor woman didn’t deserve it–she’d just been doing her best, in over her head but determined to help, since well before Nadia herself got involved. By this point, Nadia had also become painfully aware of one other glaring omission. Ace, the person she probably wanted to see the most, was not here, and nobody had stepped forward to assuage her concerns, either. Did they not know where he was, either..?

Nadia took a deep breath. “Well, it looks like we have some loose ends to tie up. And friends to track down.”

Slightly concerned, Sandalphon spoke up. “Our partners at Bridges are working on Chiral Network integration for the Avenger as we speak. Once the communication systems are updated, we should be able to track down and recover lost personnel with a high degree of efficiency” She paused for a moment, considering the other team’s perspective. “I should elaborate that the Avenger I mentioned is the name of a large airship operated by an organization called the Lost Numbers, offered for our use. Our current plan is to use it as a mobile base in the weeks and months to come.”

“Oh!” Nadia perked up, turning an inquisitive look to the sky much like Therion had. “I was wondering how you guys got here too, actually. It must be autumn already, ‘cause that sure was an unexpected fall.” She snickered, then sighed. “I dunno much about…all that, but if we’ve got a solution in the works, I guess there’s no use worrying.” The feral looked around at everyone. “In fact, we should have some fun! You guys said you sent a Guardian to the boss-uary too, right? What’s that then, four down? Five? Well, you know what that means, right?” She bounced around with a grin on her face, trying to hype everyone up. “We’re actually doing the im-paw-sible right meow! We oughta celebrate!”

Releasing her pent-up blood pressure, she rocketed into the air, then flipped over everyone’s heads to land at the edge of the crowd. Then she swiveled her head around and beckoned them to follow her. “C’mon! I saw an ad in the train station for a place called Ballyhoo’s Big Top that does minigame parties. Said it’s got food and drinks, a hundred minigames, fabulous purr-izes, the works! After everything we’ve been through, we deserve a good time or two.” She put her hands on her hips. “How about it?”

“Minigames, huh?” Goldlewis stroked his whisker, eyes thoughtful. “Eh, what the hell. I guess I could stand to enjoy myself for a change. Somethin’ nice an’ lighthearted might be just what the doctor ordered.” He glanced at Sandalphon, curious. “Whaddya think?”

The archangel nodded. “I think it would be wise for everyone to participate in activities that can boost morale and deepen bonds.”

“I reckon that goes for you too, ma’am,” Goldlewis replied. “You ain’t sittin’ this out, are ya?”

Sandalphon shifted her weight from one leg to the other as she looked out into the middle distance, considering. “I cannot imagine that participation would confer the same benefits to someone like me. With my lack of experience, it is probable that I am ill-suited at these ‘minigames’, regardless.”

Sighing, Goldlewis shook his head. “Dunno how you’d be any worse off than an ol’ fart like me.” He crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. “How ‘bout this, then. It’d ‘benefit’ me -and all of us, I reckon- to have you join us. Dunno ‘bout the others, but just havin’ you around sure boosts my morale, and seein’ you enjoy yourself would be even better. No matter how ‘improbable’” He chuckled as he looked over at Zenkichi. “Ain’t that right, Detective?”

After another moment, and a glance at Zenkichi, Sandalphon nodded. “Very well. If it would benefit the team, I could not -in good conscience- decline.”

“Great!” Nadia beckoned everyone again. “Then what’re we waiting for? C’mon!”





On one edge of Carnival Town, away from the coast and just out of the Gold Saucer’s shadow, lay the Seeker’s destination: Ballyhoo’s Big Top. Though the only actual circus tent in the whole city, it made up for that fact with its scale, towering above the nearby buildings even if the Gold Saucer -and of course Split Mountain behind it- outdid it in terms of sheer size. Around the enormous tent stood giant flag poles with flapping banners big enough to wrap the Enderdragon in and equally large umbrellas, all connected with cables that flew hundreds if not thousands of colorful pennant flags. Judging by the amount of townsfolk around, this was a popular spot. Sandalphon hoped that the Seekers wouldn’t have a hard time getting in. After reaching the Big Top, they wasted no time in heading inside.

Just inside the Big Top’s stretched-wide tent flaps lay a wide room with a black and white checkered floor. On the far side hung a het of heavy stage curtains, and after a moment a short cartoon character flew out from between then, backlit by kaleidoscopic colors. He sported a huge mouth, stubby limbs, a red bowtie, and tiny eyes shadowed beneath an animate blue top hat with a goofy expression. “HAW HAW HAW!” he guffawed, holding his mic so close to his bright orange lips that the sound just about blew Sandalphon away. “Welcome to the star of Carnival Town! I am Ballyhoo, and if you’re here in this Big Top of mine, that must mean you’re ready for some amazing minigames!”

“Yeah!” Nadia piped up. “How do we play?”

“SIMPLE!” Ballyhood practically bellowed. “When you’re ready, just have your whole party step through these curtains, and you’ll end up in your very own lobby! After that, my partner Balan here will spin the minigame roulette!” He pointed behind the Seekers, drawing their attention to a much taller, more dapper carnie with a wide smile. He waved, and Ballyhoo continued. “Whatever you roll, he’ll whisk you away to your very own miniature wonderworld to play it out! Some games will force you to WORK as a TEAM! Then you’ll return to the lobby with Rift Tokens depending on how you do! Five for first, four for second, three for third, and one for just playing! Isn’t that GREAT?”

His hat opened its mouth and stuck out its tongue to reveal a starred coin on the end of it, evidently one of the Rift Tokens everyone would be playing for. It flipped the token into the air with a ping and Ballyhoo caught it. “You can call it quits whenever you want, and once you’re done, you can take your tokens to the gift shop!” He pointed to the right side of the parlor, where there were a lot of displays of various articles of clothing, knickknacks, and baubles. “Our cosmetic shop is updated daily with items from all over the world! We’ve also got a menu of all the hairstyles we can think of, made possible by our very own Karlie!” That seemed to be the stylist lady who was currently reading next to a barber’s chair at one end of the shop. “And if that’s not enough, we’ve even got an Orb Machine where you can roll for random collectible Character Orbs™ for one token apiece! What you’ll get is random, but our pity system’s the best in the business! On your third roll, you’re guaranteed to get one you want! SOMEHOW!”

Ballyhood then flew the other way, pointing out the snack bar on the parlor’s left side. “And, if you’re feeling peckish, we’ve got all kinds of stuff to eat and drink if you pay REAL MONEY! And PLEASE do, because like movie theaters, that’s where we get our PROFITS!” After spinning in place, he stopped suddenly and extended his limbs in dramatic fashion. “And that’s that! Are you ready for some unforgettable FUN???” He turned around and zoomed through the gap in the curtains. “Then follow MEEEEEeeeeeeeeeee....!”
In From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting) → 12 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Lewa


As an imminent fight turned from a possibility to an inevitability, Lewa stood by, uncomfortable and confused. Though by now he'd been stuck in this bizarre world for a few days, he still found himself having a tough time wrapping his head around the notion of people fighting one another. Of course the matoran of his world disagreed with one another, and even his toa brethren didn't always see eye to eye, but their conflicts never devolved into combat with one another. At the end of the day, his people always found unity in the philosophy of 'us against the world', and it went without saying that infighting worsened the situation for everyone. But as he'd learned with the Raven Heralds, and even right now with both his teammates and these mercenaries, different 'factions' were more than happy to fight with and even destroy one another, all for seemingly petty reasons. What good could come of this...?

Having another bystander around did not lift his mood much. While he could appreciate the fact that Anne wanted to look on the bright side, Lewa didn't know what he could really do to intercede if things did escalate out of control. Despite their small size, most of these organics outclassed him completely in terms of power. Several had shown off a lethal mastery of bladed weapons that made him look slow and clumsy in comparison, and the one called Sanae wielded stronger wind powers as just one of her myriad abilities. He had a sneaking suspicion these mercenaries were about to learn, much like he had, that appearances could be deceiving. Hopefully the organics wouldn't thrash them too badly, but by looking down on them the mercenaries had given them something to prove. And that had Lewa worried. With that in mind, he couldn't very well wander off, and joined Anne to watch the proceedings.

When the fighting began, things went about as he suspected, at least for the most part. Mokou made a mockery of her opponent, humiliating him with a slow burn defeat while demonstrating that she couldn't be so much as touched. In terms of showboating, though, Fran did her one better, inviting her bearded adversary to learn for himself just how futile his hard-earned strength and skill was before demolishing him. Lewa watched her strut off with a smile on her face. How could anyone take pleasure in something like that? Not even a friendly competition, but a one-sided beatdown? Joker needed to put a little more effort, clashing blades with his opponent repeatedly, but if he got so much as scratched Lewa missed it. After a couple hits and a single spell, which looked uncomfortably like darkness to one who followed the light, the lady rogue got defeated, too. As with the dwarf, she got punished for her pride with the destruction of her weapon. Lewa knew that if he lost his axe, just like that, he'd probably be ruined. His 'teammates' sure weren't here to make friends.

In contrast, Youmu's duel was rather unceremonious. Maybe noticing what had happened to his allies, his foe had given it everything he had in a desperate effort to not be defeated so pitifully, but he too failed to land a single hit, then went down in two smacks. What followed, though, really took the cake. For a few moments, the fight between Sanae and the mercenary mage looked almost fair as they traded flashy spells. Her opponent's efforts culminated in an impressive array of pursuing thunderbolts, and it astonished Lewa to see such an elusive and destructive element wielded so effortlessly. For a moment, it even looked like the mercenary's magic actually scored a hit! While Lewa knew he should probably be cheering for the otherworlders, he was secretly rooting for the underdog, happy that one person at least would be able to preserve some dignity.

When the smoke cleared, however, Lewa quickly realized how wrong he was. If the sight of floating boulders baffled him, the sight of yet another small organic that Sanae somehow knew baffled him even more. The reunion took a dark turn, however, as the new arrival turned her attention on the mage with lethal intent. As she called upon a maelstrom of diabolical magic, giving rise to horrific serpents, Lewa -usually the first to leap into danger for the sake of another- found himself paralyzed by a mixture of fear and indecision. Why was this interloper trying to kill that poor mage? Could he even reach her in time? If he tried, would he be destroyed alongside her? Luckily, his fellow bystander was able to act more decisively, not to mention speedily, fast enough to rend the earth beneath her feet in fact. While Anne moved to save Suwako's target, Sanae tried to stop the assailant herself. Luckily, the priestess managed to defuse the situation, and with some words of admonishment the newcomer vanished again. Her disappearance offered just one more life through Lewa's heart--if she'd somehow gone back where she came from, why couldn't he be sent away like that!?

Without the words to describe how he felt, Lewa just shook his head, mouth ajar.
In World of Light → 13 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
It did take a bit to retrofit everything, but without further ado here is Nadia's sheet redone and organized to fit the new format. Hopefully it proves helpful and instructive. I definitely went into a lot of detail on things, even going as far as to spell out her rapport, but you can decide how deep you want to go for yourselves. Take not of both the 'interplay' abilities and the usage of the various jobs for clarity purposes. Switching formats is your chance to rework, consolidate, and trim down things as well, so feel free.

Name: Ms Fortune (Nadia)
Origin: Skullgirls
Appearance:
Originally a Feral latina, with catlike ears and tail, Nadia has undergone some changes due to fusion, but remains relatively true to the core of who she is. She stands at 5’7”, with tan skin, a little on the lanky side but with a full figure. Her fluffy, voluminous white hair is cut short in a bob cut that frames her face and hangs over one eye. Her catlike eyes are sapphire blue that turn bright orange toward the bottom of the irises. She has two tails, white with black stripes like her cat ears, which are narrow with metal USB tips. There are symmetric scarred separation points all over her body with a serrated black pattern, located on her neck, biceps, wrists, midriff, thighs, calves, and feet.
Her current outfit is tailor-made by Yuria of Gerudo Town. It consists of a dark blue bolero-style leather jacket, short and with sleeves rolled up, and a bright blue interior lining, worn over an unbuttoned black undershirt. She wears shorts similar in style to the jacket, a collar with a silver cat bell, and stylized black Mantread boots. Slung over the jacket is a somewhat hefty metal case, which is the storage form of her shipgirl rigging blended with her Kagari Rokushikisouken blade case
Personality: A sunny-spirited extrovert who likes making puns almost as much as making friends, Nadia is a kind-hearted but not afraid to stand up for herself or what she believes in, nor to take those who misuse their privilege or power down a peg. Though a dedicated jokester, she's also brutally creative fighter, able to come up with ideas as harebrained as they are cunning, even if she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. Good food, sports, and small dogs headline as some of her favorite things, and she can be as generous as she is greedy, but more than anything she wants people to like her. To that end she doesn’t mind being a caricature of herself, making herself the never-say-die life of the party if it means lifting the spirits of others
Background:

In the Now:


Job: Bloody Hellion
Specialty: Nadia is a highly sustainable, agile dexterity fighter with a focus on single-target rushdown, able to split into pieces and launch high-speed attacks to overwhelm her opponents, then destroy them with combos–be those combos long chains of attacks, or elemental reactions


Lv: 13
EXP: 123/130



Spirits:
  • Rhodeia of Loch - Fusion, gave the Oceanid job
  • Massachusetts - Fusion, gave the Battleship job
  • Kronya - Fusion, gave the Agarthan Assassin job
  • Cat-5 - Fusion, gave the Lightning Beast job
  • Kanna - Fusion, gave the Super Anthromorph job



If I remember any more rapport conversations I will be sure to add them!
In World of Light → 17 days ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Northeastern Skies

Level 8 Goldlewis (59/80) Level 7 Sandalphon (19/70)
Blazermate, Susie, and Roland’s @Archmage MC, Midna’s @DracoLunaris, Geralt and Zenkichi’s @Multi_Media_Man, Pit’s @Yankee, Roxas’ @Double
Word Count: 1377


Making an effort to be discreet, Goldlewis watched as Dawn led Sandalphon away from the rest of the Lost Numbers’ newest recruits and into the bowels of the Avenger, bound for a private conversation in an undisclosed part of the ship. He could only assume that the archangel wanted to get to the bottom of the newest mysteries to confront the Seekers on their journey. Nobody liked feeling left out, and he himself was curious about some of the none-too-subtle allusions made by Dawn and Cirrus during their initial meeting, but it didn’t surprise him to see that Sandalphon in particular needed to know. He couldn’t deny that something about the situation had him on edge. He didn’t expect foul play from their hosts at this point, and even if he did Sandalphon could definitely handle herself, but he still felt uneasy. These people had drawn a distinction between themselves and the Seekers, indicating some sort of system that they existed outside of, and could therefore observe.

He’d assumed, like the others, that only Galeem’s influence stood between people and the truth of this reality. But just what did Goldlewis still not see? Not remember? This subtle dread that gnawed at him told him there was something more to this reality that he did not want to see. Like he was just now beginning to realize that he’d been ignoring something important for so long he’d forgotten about it all together. Maybe that was why Sandalphon chose to confront the truth alone, should Dawn be able and willing to share it–to see if anyone else needed to know.

While Goldlewis brooded, his teammates began to disperse. Some had plotted a course for whatever room piqued their interest on the Avenger’s interior map, like Blazermate, Midna, Roxas, and Geralt. It seemed like Roland disappeared straightaway, pragmatically choosing to follow Cirrus to reach the bar rather than rely on trial, and error. As nice as a drink sounded right about now, Goldlewis could wait. The meal he shared with the Fixer in the Pelican Inn had demonstrated that Roland wasn’t much of a conversationalist, and right now the last thing on the veteran’s mind was peace and quiet. Pit, unshackled by the burden of literacy, had wandered off to see what he could find, and wherever Zenkichi and Akane had gone, they didn’t need Goldlewis hovering nearby. Even the Lost Numbers who’d gathered to welcome -and watch- the newcomers were going their separate ways. Maybe Dawn, or whoever happened to be in command here, had instructed the crew to not make a big scene. No doubt there would be plenty of time for introductions and small talk in the weeks to come.

After another moment, Goldlewis turned and looked over the map one last time. Laboratory, Armory, Defense Matrix, Comm Center…it seemed like the Lost Numbers came fully equipped. This really was a mobile military base, not too unlike a naval aircraft carrier other than the fact that it rode currents of air rather than water. It was pretty incredible, though it had nothing on Tír na nÓg. One room, though, seemed more like something that belonged on a pirate vessel; ‘isolation ward’, in the absence of any psychiatry, was just a fancy way of saying ‘prison cell’. He wondered who -or what- a group like the Lost Numbers might be keeping locked up in there.

Just before he turned to go, Goldlewis heard small footsteps and looked over his shoulder to see Tora waddling up to him, with Poppi trailing behind. “Howdy, partner,” he greeted the nopon with a smile. With a height difference of over four feet between Tora and himself, he wanted to make sure he came across as friendly and approachable, especially after what the poor guy went through. “You two stickin’ round here?” He glanced around Engineering. “Looks like a good spot for a mechanic.”

“Hello big friend!” Tora scratched his chin. “That true, but Tora only mechanic when need be. Real passion is inventing, meh! So while equipment get made here in Engineering, experiments and prototypes happen in Proving Ground, so that where Tora want to be!”

Poppi gave him a wry smile. “What Tora not say is that main engineer here so cute that he never get any work done with her around.”

The nopon laughed nervously. “Meeeh, meeeh! Poppi teasing sure to give friend Lew-lew wrong impression!”

That nickname prompted a raised eyebrow from Goldlewis. “...Lew-lew?”

“Doublename signify respect!” Tora quickly explained. “Big honor among nopon! Aaanyway, Tora still getting set up in Proving Ground, but once it all to Tora’s liking, everypon will see just how big Tora skills have grown!”

Deciding to accept the dubious honor of being referred to as Lew-lew for now, Goldlewis gave a nod of approval. “Sounds like a plan. Y’all might wanna hustle over there quick, though. I think Susie was fixin’ to head that direction.”

“Susie? Mehmeh! Tora’s tools!” Tora turned and bounced down the nearby stairs as fast as his little legs could carry him. “Come quick, Poppi! Must defend workplace from capitalist exploitation!” His alarm sent his partner into overdrive, and after scooping Tora up in her arms Poppi sprinted out of view.

Shaking his head, Goldlewis set off himself. He planned to visit the Isolation Ward, but after a minute or so he glimpsed someone tailing him through the Avenger’s interior. His pursuer didn’t seem to be trying to hide, but happened to be so small that it took a while for him to notice. When he turned for a better look, he found a white-furred critter even smaller than Tora that looked like a cross between a dog and a rabbit, with big, dangling ears and black round eyes. This thing not only walked upright but also wore a black apron and a frying pan slung across her back like a guitar, so Goldlewis assumed that this was no ordinary animal. “Well hey there, li’l one,” he greeted gently, kneeling down somewhat ponderously. “Oof. Er, you a Lost Number, too?”

“Yep!” With a high, squeaky voice, the critter sounded female. She put her paws on her hips proudly as she looked up at Goldlewis, unfazed by his massive size. “Second generation, in fact! My name’s Bracket. Bracket Brace! I’m a Mimiga, and I’m also the head chef around here!”

Goldlewis nodded, making sure the little gal knew just how impressed he was. “No kiddin’? Sounds like you know your stuff.

Bracket beamed. “Mhm! My mama and papa were two of the Colons rescued by Grannie Curly, and she raised me, too! She’s gone now, but she taught me all she knew, so if you mess with my friends, your goose is cooked!” She pulled out her frying pan and swung it around to demonstrate her seriousness.

“Whoa now, I’m just about quakin’ in my boots! I won’t make any trouble, promise!” Goldlewis held up his hands in surrender, and with a smug grin Bracket stowed her pan. “Gotta say, though, you’re mighty forthcomin’ with your story. I figured most o’ you Lost Numbers wouldn’t be so quick to spill the beans.”

The Mimiga gave a quizzical expression as she crossed her arms. “Why wouldn’t I be? I mean, I know why the others feel that way. We’ve all lost people we care about. But that just means I gotta carry on their legacy! I’m proud of my mama and papa, and Grannie most of all! She cared about everyone a whole lot, and fought so hard to keep everyone safe. So I wanna make them proud, too! And I don’t want anyone forgetting about ‘em! That way, it’s like they’re still here!”

Hearing that, Goldlewis couldn’t help but be impressed. That was a lot of maturity, and a lot of passion, in a pint-sized package. “You’re a good kid, Bracket. Seein’ you now, I’d bet my britches your folks’d be proud indeed.”

“Aww! You’re nice, mister!” Bracket hopped past him, then turned and motioned for him to follow, full of energy. “C’mon, lemme show you the kitchen! You can tell me how great I am after you’ve tasted my cooking!”

After exhaling, Goldlewis rose to his feet with a chuckle. The Isolation Ward could wait. “Lead the way, li’l missie.”


Word Count: 732


Zenkichi found Sandalphon standing over the sophisticated holographic geoscape located in the bridge, scoping out the world map while Dawn looked out. Unlike its counterpart in Alcamoth’s Garfont Center, which featured a lot of guesswork when it came to the topography of unexplored regions, this map both spanned the whole continent and featured enough intricate detail to suggest that the Lost Numbers had navigated almost all of the world’s length and breadth themselves. It displayed forests, islands and inlets, rivers and ranges, population centers, and more, from the massive pit in the continent’s center all the way to its furthest reaches. It even displayed landmasses beyond the oceans that bordered the continent. Clearly there was a whole lot more to the World of Light than anyone realized. Sandalphon had been standing here observing the geoscape for a while, and it would probably be a while longer before she committed it all to memory. If Zenkichi watched closely, he might notice her eyes lingering on the southeastern lake, surrounded by mountains, where the label ‘Alcamoth’ rested with a line that struck it through. Her gaze returned more than once to the Dystopiascape as well, as if trying to wrap her head around just how small her world had been before now.

The two weren’t alone here, either. A handful of Lost Numbers were stationed around the Bridge, as well as someone who wasn’t, unbeknownst to either Zenkichi or Sandalphon. A man huge enough to give Goldlewis a run for his money stood by the titan, a scarred titan of bulging muscles clad in military green, his rough but kindly face adorned with colorful scales and crowned by an outrageous pompadour-mullet combo. Both he and Dawn looked Zenkichi’s way. “Hello again,” the demolitionist said with a smile. “We were just going over the world map here. There’s a lot of ground to cover, but thanks to the Seekers we can cross almost half the continent off the list.” She nodded at the big man. “And thanks to Vandham, we’ve managed to salvage some valuable intel from Alcamoth that would’ve otherwise been lost.”

Vandham nodded as he sized Zenkichi up. “Aye. We got hit hard, that’s for sure, but what matters is what happens next. And I dunno ‘bout you lot, but I’m ready for a little payback.”

Sandalphon had yet to take her unblinking gaze off the geoscape. “With a little time, I should be able to figure out the origin of the ships that attacked Alcamoth, especially if I’m able to secure testimony from Dante.” She paused for a moment, thinking. “May I ask who among the Alcamoth survivors are here on this ship? I would like to put together a complete roster of our forces.”

Crossing his arms, Vandham tilted his head as he cast his mind back. “Hmm, lessee now. You saw Dante, Nero, and Cerberus. That Dedede fella, and the dragon lady were too injured to come, so they stayed with the civvies in Markath for treatment, while others stuck around to keep the place safe. Sora, Yennefer, Luigi, Ashley, and Euden. We’re pretty sure Bella, Hat Kid, Jones, Sol, and Jack-O made it out, but we ain’t heard a word from ‘em since, so I assume they all buggered off. An’ we dropped off Howard when we picked up Tora and Poppi in Midgar. So aside from me, we got Leon, Guile, Ness, Caesar, Mona, and Shania. Oh, and ‘him’, I s’pose.” He smiled thinly at Dawn. “Sage, I think his name was?”

The woman sighed. “Yeah, right.”

“Thank you,” Sandalphon replied, averting her gaze from the geoscape at last. She picked up an almost-empty coffee cup and actually closed her eyes as she drained the last few drops. “Despite the circumstances that led us here, we are blessed to stand united with the Lost Numbers at last.”

Dawn smiled. “Nothing to it.” She looked around. “On a lighter note, we’re nearing our destination. I think it’s about time you guys got ready to disembark.” After stepping over to an intercom, she activated it to project her voice through the whole ship. “Hello, hello! Attention all Seekers of Light! Dawn here. We’re coming up on Carnival Town, so get your butts down to the bottom floor. Just follow the signs for ‘deployment’, and get ready for the time of your lives!”


Word Count: 986


Down at the Deployment Bay at the very bottom of the Avenger, with only the hull wall separating the Seekers from the sky below, the turbulence and shaking of the ship could be felt a lot more keenly. Dawn, of course, appeared to be unfazed, and once everyone arrived she proceeded to show off an intricate mechanical system built into the bottom floor with obvious relish.

“So!” she began, her voice ranged over the prominent ambient noise down here. “As you might expect, the safety of the Avenger and its crew is priority number one. We never land near inhabited areas, or do much of anything to make ourselves a target. Always moving, always hidden. So how are we gonna get you down to Carnival Town, you ask?” Grinning, she patted the console next to her. “With this, of course! The Hell Launcher!”

Behind to either side of the main control console, there were two rows of capsules arranged alongside the walls of this Deployment Bay, four on each side, accessible via elevated walkways. On both sides the mechanism seemed to be fed by belts laden with large, bullet-shaped pods. When Dawn pressed the ‘load’ button on the console, the belt moved four pods into place inside the mechanisms, and once locked in their covers opened. “Just climb into one of these hellpods, and we’ll fire you down to the planet’s surface! I know how it sounds, but your safety is guaranteed from the moment you step in to the moment you pop out. You’re basically invincible! And when it’s time to pick you up, getting back is even easier.” She popped open a chest next to the control console and pulled out a drab nylon pack. “The Fulton Surface-to-air Recovery System! We just call it Fulton though, whether as a noun or verb. Everyone gets two of these bad boys per drop. Just attach it to whatever you want picked up, yourself included, and zoop! Sure, you might black out from the g-force, but by the time you come to you’ll be right back here, safe and sound.”

For a moment, Sandalphon just staired. “...Objectively speaking, this is likely the most unsafe thing I’ve ever witnessed, which is no easy feat for a high-ranking DespoRHado employee.”

“Are you people insane?” Goldlewis fumed, getting to the point a little quicker. He’d climbed up onto one of the walkways to get a closer look at a hellpod. “This thing’s a goddamn deathtrap! And even if it wasn’t, I can’t even fit inside!”

Dawn crossed her arms, brows furrowed as she smiled. “Oh, don’t be a baby. It’s fun! I’ve done it loads of times. Cirrus, too. In fact, Bracket and I use it for our shopping trips when the mess hall needs ingredients. You’d be surprised how fast you get used to it.” She held up a finger. “Oh, and get this. Through a little tech wizardry and a little actual witchcraft, our guys figured out that last problem. These pods are essentially enchanted storage spaces. You’d be surprised what we can fit inside ‘em!”

Though she still looked dubious, Sandalphon took a deep breath and stepped up. Her pupils looked like stress marks. “Allow me to go first. If something goes awry, I can teleport back, and if it works -Illia willing- I can contact you all to let you know.” After an eager nod from Dawn, which did not make the archangel feel any better about this, she stepped on top of a hellpod. Its top descended, becoming a floor beneath her as she descended, and once Sandalphon was fully inside the machine sealed her in with a lid. “Testing, testing,” she said, reaching the Seekers through their miracle glyphs. “I believe I’m ready.”

“Okay, we’re nearing Carnival Town!” Dawn got ready, her eyes on the console’s display. “Three, two, one. Now!” She pulled a lever, and Goldlewis watched in astonishment as the launcher actually fired the pod straight downward. He watched the projection on the console as it plummeted toward the ground, holding his breath in dreadful anticipation.

“It is very turbulent,” Sandalphon reported. If this wasn’t a life-or-death situation, Goldlewis might have snickered at the way all the jostling distorted her otherwise deadpan voice. “I’m okay so far.”

A moment later, the four retro rockets on the pod extended and flared to life, burning at full blast to slow the archangel’s descent. Everyone heard loud, surprised, and rather undignified grunt. “...There was a strong jolt. The pod seems to be slowing down,” Sandalphon reported after a moment, as if nothing had happened.

After another couple seconds, the projected pod hit the ground, and a loud slam echoed through the glyphs. There came a pressurized pop, a sliding noise, and then silence. Goldlewis couldn’t stand waiting for long. “Sandalphon!? D’ya read me!?”

It took another moment for the archangel to respond. “...I have arrived in Carnival Town without apparent injury.” Festive music could be heard in the background as she spoke, and Goldlewis breathed a sigh of relief. “I believe I landed in someone’s garden.”

The next second, a flash of holy light signaled Sandalphon’s sudden return to the Deployment Bay. She looked a little frazzled, her hair and outfit askew, but none the worse for wear. Goldlewis blinked at her, surprised. “Huh? I thought you said you made it just fine?”

“I wish to do it again,” she announced, her pupils turning from spirals to exclamation points. When she noticed the others’ astonishment, she went ahead and explained. “Since it is currently peacetime, it would be prudent to acclimatize to the experience for more efficient deployment in the future.”

Dawn grinned. “I knew you’d see things my way.” She held up two fultons. “We’re coming back around for another drop. So, who’s next?”

Sandswept Sky - Carnival Town

Level 13 Ms Fortune (123/130)
The Koopa Troop’s @DracoLunaris, Primrose and Therion’s @Yankee, Sectonia’s @Archmage MC, Ganondorf’s @Double, Osvald’s @Dark Cloud
Word Count: 1214


Once the racers zoomed by, the Seekers got busy heading out of Super Bell Subway. Nadia waved to the giant orange cat hitched to the train they came in on, which meowed as it pulled away, then skipped off with Chucho at her heels. Even here, inside the relatively insulated train station, she could hear lively music and cheerful crowds, and excitement pumped through her veins. While she knew by now that Carnival Town had been nothing more than the starting point imprinted on her when Galeem brought her into the World of Light, which itself might have been a sort of profiling now that she thought about it, returning here still felt like coming home. It was good to know that even as she ranged far and wide, risking life and limb in zombie-infested hellscapes, creepy caverns, and spurious seasides, the party here had never stopped.

As it turned out, she wasn’t the only one this town offered a taste of familiarity too, either. When she exited the train station alongside the others, she found the streets just as she remembered them: crowded with creatures and people of all shapes and sizes, and lined by colorful buildings that themselves seemed to twist and bop to the music. There didn’t seem to be a lot of high tech around, but there were electronic billboards interspersed throughout the town that helped keep the populace updated on the leaderboards, and when the Koopa Troop saw one they recognized a few familiar faces. “Wow, really?” Nadia remarked, impressed. “Champion racers are pretty much celebrities around here, so knowing him’s a big deal. Lucky us!” She wasn’t sure if the Koopalings Junior mentioned were family or just friends, but finding them was icing on the cake for sure.

Some of the others seemed a little overwhelmed. Primrose and Therion clearly weren’t in their element, but Nadia figured they’d warm up to Carnival Town soon enough. The dancer and thief probably wouldn’t find a lot of peace and quiet anywhere within city limits, but this place offered just about everything else, all wrapped up in a nice, wholesome package. It did occur to her that Therion would probably have a field day pickpocketing if he felt so inclined, but Nadia herself felt happy -and rich- enough that petty crimes were off the menu. Of course, if anyone could be counted on to cast a pall over the festive atmosphere, it was gloomy Ganondorf, groaning about all the excessive joy in his vicinity. Even Sectonia found herself without anything to say. It looked to Nadia like she needed to take charge and play tour guide. “Yeah, we’ll keep an out for Falcon and your buddies. But for now, follow me! Let's have ourselves some fun!”

Nadia set off at a brisk pace, expertly navigating the crowd. In a city full of spiky cacti, noisy rabbids, burly luchadors, and clattering skeletons, it paid to be self-aware, and the feral didn’t allow herself to get too far ahead of her friends. She bounced along stripy umbrellas and storefront overhangs that all seemed to function like trampolines, making something of a spectacle of herself both to ensure that the others didn’t lose her and to show off her new clothes. There were no shortages of distractions around, after all; even without wandering around they found plenty of curiosities. They passed by a small market where four dog painters, including a collie, bulldog, dalmatian, and Saint Bernard, all wore color-coordinated sombreros and ponchos as they showed off their latest artworks. They found a giant statue of a brawny luchador, which Nadia climbed without hesitation. After seating herself cheekily on one of his biceps with her legs crossed, she gave the masked wrestler a fistbump, then flexed her own much more meager muscles as bystanders looked on. And though races were held throughout Carnival Town regularly, they were infrequent enough that all sorts of other activities filled the streets in the meantime, including parades. One of the biggest appeared to be a massive Day of the Dead procession, with plenty of Tostarenans marching along but other skeletons in attendance. Its centerpiece was a Melquiades the Exhumed Archbishop a skeleton of enormous proportions in ceremonial attire who rode not on a parade float, but on an endless series of hands that rose from the ground itself to pass the archbishop along. After everything Nadia had seen so far, that particular parade looked like a boss battle waiting to happen. “Jeez, that guy must weigh a skele-ton,” she told the others. “I certainly got no bones to pick with ‘em, so why don’t we check ‘em out next March.”

Soon after Nadia led the team to the heart of the city, a plaza covered in painted patterns. Overhead hung one of Carnival Town’s most unique features, a blazing ring of many colors that floated in the sky directly above this spot. “Check this out! It’s really sun-thing special!” When they entered this plaza, the corona overhead distorted the sunlight, seemingly casting the sky -and the city itself- in dusky purple. This localized atmospheric phenomenon also caused the bright colors drawn all over the plaza to glow, creating a place as eerie as it was beautiful. When Nadia looked up at the anomaly, however, she noticed something else that took her aback. In the eye of the corona she could see a dreadfully familiar dial, about one-third full of precious purple flames. “Huh,” she muttered, baffled. “How does that work…?” Regardless of how the Flame Clock stayed up there, its existence was a somber reminder that not even the happiest places in the World of Light were exempt from Galeem’s control.

Before she could turn and ask the others if they’d seen anything they wanted to do, her sharp eyes spotted something. A dark shape hurtling down though the sky, wreathed by jets of flame. Was it some kind of meteorite? It looked too slow, somehow, but it was still too fast to make out clearly. “Wait, what?” The feral took off running, climbing one of the buildings around the plaza in order to get a better view. Moving out of the corona’s shadow reduced the darkening effect, but even still she couldn’t get a bead on whatever it was before it dropped into the city a couple blocks away and disappeared from view. Nadia blinked, unsure of what she’d seen. She turned back around, puzzled, and shrugged as she called down, “You guys see that?”

A moment later, however, her curiosity paid off. The Seekers spotted more shapes, eight of them in fact, hurtling down toward Carnival Town. No matter how hard she squinted or craned her neck, Nadia couldn’t spot any source for this bizarre precipitation in the skies above. “More of ‘em!” This didn’t seem like an attack, but just what could this be? Eyes twinkling, she waved at the others. “They’re coming down that way! Let’s check ‘em out!” Chucho barked in agreement, and with the polterpup right behind her Nadia took off running.
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