[center][img]https://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/b/b2/Koopa_Troop_artwork.png/658px-Koopa_Troop_artwork.png[/img] [b][color=SpringGreen]wordcount:[/color][/b] 2644 (+3) [b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 6 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (111/60) [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 6 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]//////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////// (46/70) [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Location:[/color][/b] Edge of the Blue – Seaward Bay [/center] The party was generally in agreement with Kamek and Jr’s suggestion of investigating the airship dock was the way to go. That said, Peach echoed Kamek’s concerns that recruiting a ship to their cause might be tricky. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I hope that there might be a crew or ship heroic enough that a little heart to heart might, ah, convince them join our side”[/color] Kamek paused, and then added [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I’m winking behind these spectacles when I said convince”[/color] There was little more to be said on the topic till they actually scoped out the ships, so while they traveled there the two koopa’s offered their own thoughts on the abyssal fleet. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”It would be useful to know if these ships are leaving spirits behind when they die. I can create entities without spirits, none of my illusionary clones or toadies are doing so when defeated, so a powerful spell caster could be the source of these ships if they too are spiritless. Simply recreating the old designs is also much easier than making something new each time, which would also explain why the same ships keep showing up over and over.”[/color] Kamek suggested [color=SpringGreen]”Maybe they just have lots of one ups and respawn real far away? Or there's lots that look the same, like toads or goombas, and they live really far away. So this is like. 1-1 and Papa’s castle is all the way out in the deep Ocean. Or all the way round the top of the continent”[/color] Jr suggested, his input suggesting an unintentionally bleak option, predominantly due to the distances that would be involved in getting to and shutting down the abyssal fleet if he was anywhere close to the truth. Both options were highly colored by the koopa’s experiences, either by Kamek’s own capabilities or by their fight against the unbeatable unstoppable force that was Mario, but perhaps there was something of use in them. Kamek’s suggested method of getting a ride ended up looking both unnecessary and unattainable when they arrived in the docks. The ships were more civilian in nature seemingly, mostly fitted for hauling cargo for the purposes of making a profit. There were no hardy gangs of sky pirates or aerial explorers to be found here, or so it seemed. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Where are they shipping things too or from that it can be so profitable I wonder”[/color] Kamek said when they were told that the ships were hauling freight for merchants. It seemed unlikely they would be able to convince them to join their adventure or outbid the merchants right up until the point that Peach remembered she was loaded, having taken possession of most of Mario’s earnings from his heroics. [color=SpringGreen]”Wait. He just gives you all his treasure?”[/color] Jr asked, bemused by the notion [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I suppose that explains why he and his brother live in such a small house together despite both of their treasure filled adventures”[/color] Kamek noted, mentally kicking himself for not thinking about the treasury sooner. He knew it was there, he’d even noted as such when he helped fill in Vandham on the places they’d been, but the idea that they could just use the princess’s treasure to help them buy whatever they needed had never crossed his mind. As for how they’d get it, well, while Peach was at a loss for ideas Geralt was keeping a good track of his allies abilities and suggested Jr use his magic paint portals to make a way to pop back and forth from the town to peach's castle so they could get the money they need. [color=SpringGreen]”What? Yeah I was just about to say that you don't need to suggest it!”[/color] Jr complained, having actually been thinking about the fact that the koopa troop apparently knew where Mario lived and yet had never done anything with that fact. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I suggest you put it out by the docks young master. Rather empty and it will likely be where you will reappear when you return? I imagine we’d rather we not run into trouble by bypassing the customs office on the way out”[/color] Kamek recommended before Jr could even think about where he’d put the portal [color=SpringGreen]”oh. Uh. Yeah ok.”[/color] Jr said, a bit ticked off [color=DeepSkyBlue]”and be careful coming back through the market, people might try to steal from you if you're carrying a large amount of gold up with you”[/color] Kamek added. He was fairly sure Jr would be safe so long as the prince didn’t start anything, but he still worried so he added one final thing, turning to the others and asking, [color=DeepSkyBlue]” If one or two of you would like to escort the young master when he goes it would be most helpful”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Alright alright I get it jeez,”[/color] Jr said, before glancing over the others to see who was coming, and then heading back down, through the market and to the docks to do a bit of graffitiing [color=DeepSkyBlue]”wait i didn’t mean- oh never mind”[/color] Kamek said after them, but jr was in enough of a hurry and a huff that he didn’t hear. Kamke sighed and then turned back to the princess, [color=DeepSkyBlue]”So, now that we’ll have wealth a plenty, let’s take a look at what might be on offer shall we? Maybe we can upgrade one if nothing suits our needs if nothing fits the bill?”[/color] Kamek said, before glancing upwards at the sounds coming from the Sky's Hatchery and also suggested [color=DeepSkyBlue]”and perhaps we should take a look up there while we are at it?”[/color] The mage didn’t entertain Peach’s unintended suggestion of boat murder for long. As a last resort perhaps. As a plan it seemed like an excellent way to get swarmed by the red eyed towns people with a rather low chance of success. Best cross the other options off the list first before going down that road, particularly because it would be the heroes, not the already flight capable Kamek and Jr, who would be the ones taking on those spirits and they would likely react rather strongly to the prospect. [hr] Far away from Limsa Lominscuttle Town the little party of molecules that was Jr appeared above the drawbridge and then collapsed into the form of the prince and his car. He landed on the bridge, wheels of the car deployed, and came face to face with the wreckage of the robot attack, the interior of the castle littered with the scars of battle being tidied up by various toads as best they could [color=SpringGreen]”Wow. What happened here?”[/color] Jr asked, only to have someone yell “Friend or foe! Show me your eyes!” from behind him Jr whirled around and came face to face with a host of short green creatures, most of them female. Most of them were pointing either [url=https://i.imgur.com/vqrz7o7.png]shotguns[/url] or crossbows at him, while the one who’d shouted at him had a fully drawn back bow pointed at him. Behind them the stones of the archway the engineer had used as a firing platform had been rearranged into a short wall. As Jr took this in a small team of of toads, holding small fold-able [url=https://i.imgur.com/JZcb4D1.png]shovles[/url] and dusted in the dirt they’d been digging to make a moat on the other side of the wall poked their heads around the wall to see what was going on. “You’re free,” the bow wielding goblin noted as she looked the ambushed koopa in the eyes, “but who are you?” she asked, not lowering her weapon just in case. [color=SpringGreen]”What! How can’t you know who I am!”[/color] Jr growled back, affronted that these people didn't know who he was. Before he could get real mad and make a mess of things however, there was a shout from the castle entrance “Oh hey, it’s Bowser’s kid! Don’t worry about him Holly, he’s not a threat,” Princes Daisy called as she came out from the castle, once again donning her signature bright orange dress, strolled up the bridge to meet them. “aren't you kid,” she said as she stopped next to him ruffled his hair [color=SpringGreen]”Hey, I am so too a threat! I’m strong and mean and dangerous!”[/color] Jr argued childishly, only to be interrupted by Tyrant who appeared in the air above him, having insisted on being next to come through, and landed atop his owners head “Aww, who’s your new friend” Daisy asked, before petting the pig-like behemoth, who was much more happy than jr to receive the affectionate gesture. [color=SpringGreen]”Get down from there”[/color] Jr told the pig, picking it off his head only for Mimi to appear and take his place. Jr sighed, and then noticed another collection of particles forming, one much larger than the two pets that had bopped him on the head. The rest of the party coming with him arrived on the bridge one by one after that, forcing Daisy and Jr to move back and make space for them. “Hiii I’m Daisy. Who are you?” the princess introduced herself and then asked once they were all here, always eager to meet new people. [color=SpringGreen]”Wait wait wait. When did you get here? Who are the green people? Why is there a wall there now? What happened to the castle!”[/color] Jr insisted after introductions had been made but before Daisy could start chatting and direct them away from the questions he wanted to ask. “Oh right. This is Warchief Hollythorn and her rangers” Daisy introduced the goblins, most of whom had either resume guard duty or working with the toads to keep digging their fortifications at this point, “they helped me get here out of the spooky woods to the west of here” “As for the other two questions, both answers to that are hostile constructs, or robots as the humans call them” Hollythorn explained while keeping an eagle eye out for any more of the mechanical menaces. The team then got a quick recap of Zelda and co’s mercenary mission and the battle that had ensued from the princess and goblin’s perspectives and were then told what had happened in the aftermath. After Vandham showed up via warp graffiti it had become incredibly obvious that having the arrival point being out in the open like that was a terrible idea, so they’d started trying to fortify the position so people wouldn't arrive in the middle of a robot hoard. Hollythorn had volunteered herself and her troops immediately to the task. After the losses they’d taken, none of them wanted to be caught flat footed by such an attack again. Hollythorn complained bitterly about how Peach’s home did not deserve to be called a castle, which Jr agreed with. There was a distinct lack of lava and traps and lava traps. The rest of the new recruits were still inside, where Vandham was in the midst of signing them up with details of what they could and would do, as well as taking inventory of the castle’s assets. “So. What brings you all back?” Daisy asked once they’d finished telling their story [color=SpringGreen]”Peach wants some of her treasure so we can buy a cool airship”[/color] Jr told her “Neat. Oh. You oughta know, there was this big spat about the treasury involving Wario and Waluigi I think? You know how they are. They proooobably won't take to well to you hauling it off now” Daisy warned him [color=SpringGreen]”They’re just gonna have to deal with it”[/color] Jr declared, [color=SpringGreen]”and we’ve wasted enough time here, there gonna wonder why we’re taking so long and I can’t be bothered with Kamek fussing about that”[/color] Daisy quietly laughed about this backwards way of saying he didn’t want Kamek to worry then accompanied the party back down the drawbridge and into the castle. “Well if it isn’t the little prince,” Vandham said as they came inside and into the view of the staircase where the mercenary captain was speaking with the new recruits, who were sitting on its various stairs. There wasn't a lot of furniture left in the castle after they’d used it to keep the robots at bay. “Don’t suppose you can make these portal things not drop people off outside of defensible locations. Ain’t exactly convenient when there’s hordes of robots outside” [color=SpringGreen]”No,”[/color] jr replied simply, both unwilling and unable to explain the science or logic behind Professor E. Gadd’s magic brush before asking [color=SpringGreen]”Why don’t you just go out and break em”[/color] “Because we don’t know where they are based exactly, and we need someone to authorize a mission and form a four person squad to go find out” Vandham explained [color=SpringGreen]”... I can do that right?”[/color] Jr said after a few moments of thought “I guess, but I don't think a kid-” the mans started to say, only to be cut of by Jr [color=SpringGreen]”Daisy, Wario, Waluwigi aaaaand Luigi. Go out there and scout. Find those robot’s base so we can smash em to pieces”[/color] Jr said, pointing at each one in turn and then commanding them to start the mission “Whaaat, why us?” both Wario and Waluigi, who had been sitting on the stairs looking bored and uninterested said, while Luigi's response was “Oh uh uh uh, you sure you don't want someone else?” [color=SpringGreen]”No. I’ve said it so go. I know what you guys can do, can’t be bothered finding out what these other bozos can do or if they’d be any good, so go!”[/color] Jr said, reveling in the ability to command people about like this, “Aw yeah, finally some action! Come on Waluigi, we never get any action or adventures, now’s our chance!” Daisy cheered, the only person who looked genuinely enthusiastic about this “Bah” the lanky scoundrel replied as he hauled himself off the stairs, but you could tell from the look in his eyes he was at least a little excited about it for the same reason as Daisy. Wario was indifferent to the concept of going on a quest itself, he’d been on plenty, but seemed to pick up on his partner in crime’s hidden interest and followed him to join the impromptu party, leaving only Luigi. “Luigi, here” Dr Mario said as he pressed a hodgepodge [url=https://i.imgur.com/tPhERM0.png]med gun[/url] and accompanying [url=https://i.imgur.com/gMsEBnl.png]backpack[/url] that he had been wearing into the plumber’s hands. “Wernt-a you gonna use this?” the green plumber asked “We’ve’a got’a spares” the doctor told him, giving him an encouraging pat on the shoulder “Keep them’a safe, ok?” “I... Sure bro, doc, doc bro, I will!” Luigi said, donning the backpack. It was considerably cruder looking than the Poltergust he sometimes wore, but after a quick bit of instruction he was ready to assist his team from the rear. [color=SpringGreen]”Right. You good? Now go!”[/color] Jr told them. Then, after Wario and Waluigi were out of the way, he turned and said to Vandham [color=SpringGreen]”So, about the treasury. Peach needs to take out some money and we’re here to get it for her”[/color] “Hey, wait a minute!” [hr] After the other half of the former treasury dispute had been forced to sit down, shut up and stop waving the grenade and sticky launchers around the team found themselves in the treasury. Gold coins, bars, jewels and more from the plumber’s adventures lay piled on high in the large secure chamber, along with a particular [url=https://i.imgur.com/kEQYUT9.png]crown[/url] and a [url=https://i.imgur.com/IDSXmtg.png]emerald[/url] filled with immense power topping the collection. “All right, here we are” Vandham told them “quite the haul isn’t it? Royalty. They sure are something else. So. How much do you need?” [color=SpringGreen]”Enough for an airship!”[/color] Jr declared confidently “And that’s how much?” [color=SpringGreen]”Uhhh… a lot?”[/color] Vandham sighed [color=SpringGreen]”Just... Grab what you can?”[/color] Jr suggested to the others, before rapidly finding out that just hauling the stuff in their arms wasn't going to cut it if they didnt want to spill gold all over the market. They where gonna have to figure something out.