[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5r7OTIh.png[/img] [b][color=Aquamarine]wordcount:[/color][/b] 362 +1 (+ 9) [b][color=Aquamarine]Midna: level 5[/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aquamarine]/////////////////////////////[/color]////////////////////// (29/50) [b][color=Aquamarine]Location:[/color][/b] Sandswept Sky - Al Mamoon [/center] Minda led the way to the office and, after which the ever helpful lady there pointed them towards a local cafe. After scooting through the steamy interior of the store they found the man and, a little surprisingly, found him bear faced. Part of Midna had just assumed that the mask he’d worn was his face as part of his semi-mechanical nature, but it looked like that wasn't the case. He was in fact rather handsome under there, but that wasn't the most important thing at the moment. First thing they found out after taking a seat at his table was that they were being followed. Midna’s court intrigue honed senses stopped her looking before Band even suggested it, or so she told herself anyway. Either way she didn't immediately blow their cover. After that she sat quietly and listened to the train of events that had led to him preventing the bombing of the job office, though she couldn't and didn't stop herself from looking physically ill upon finding out that the rebels had used a child to place their explosives. [color=Aquamarine]”Goddesses, scratch the surface and you find this town is rotten to the core.”[/color] she muttered in disgust. Part of her wanted to just wash the hands of the whole place and move on. Once they dealt with Galeem none of this would matter anyway after all. But they were knee deep in the thick of it now and, though the two sides might be various kinds of trash, the locals themselves seemed fine. [color=Aquamarine]”The people deserve better than this… ”[/color] she waved her hand around generally to indicate to, well, everything wrong with the town’s politics and rotten underbelly [color=Aquamarine]”mess”[/color] After that Band said he’d be going out to act as, well, bait for the rebel’s scouting force. [color=Aquamarine]”I can hide in the shadows. Physically I mean, completely undetectable. Could ride yours or the slink around the surroundings if you want someone to watch your back without drawing more attention”[/color] Midna offered, though she was aware that her vanishing from their party’s numbers might also draw attention. She wasn't an expert at this kind of thing, whereas Big Band clearly was, so it was very much up to him. If not, she was broke, so no tea for her, but she could chat with the others about stuff till the big man’s trumpet called them to war. Like checking in with how their minion’s desert rescue mission was going with Sectonia. [hr] [center][img]https://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/b/b2/Koopa_Troop_artwork.png/658px-Koopa_Troop_artwork.png[/img] [h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2] [b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 752 (+2) (+10) [b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 9 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (110/90) [b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]////////////////////////////////////[/color]////////////////////////////////////////////// (36/80) [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]//////////////////////////////////[/color]////////////////////////////////////////////// (34/80) [b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] Bottomless Sea – the Maw - the Belly Feat: Rika [/center] [color=SpringGreen]”Or we could build a giant slingshot and-”[/color] the Koppa prince was saying only for Rika to yell “Jr! It’s time to go!” at him as she ran back to them from her firing position and then past him to hop onto Nadai’s fan before soaring upwards to the vent. She landed in the vent, wobbled a little, and then moved to the side to again, try and cover people as the last of the party rushed to the exit that Blazermate had drop-kicked open for them like the badass robot lady she was. Said dropkick had also inadvertently resulted in a crushing blow to cyclops chasing them, and a near death experience for Kamek, who was still pressed up against one wall of the vent where he’d narrowly avoided being run down by the deadly giant fan, his breathing slowly stabilizing from the panic and fear nearly being blended into a fine past had caused. Down below Jr finally pulled himself out of his elaborate planning spiral as his dad’s ship crested the shore and its people rapidly unloading and started also being fan launched up into the vent [color=FD0000]”Come on son, let's go”[/color] Bowser said, pushing him to go before him. [color=SpringGreen]”Shoot. Right. Going”[/color] the prince replied, grabbing both his minions and leaping into the jet-stream with them in tow, after which the king followed suit and the pair found themselves staring the long dark metal hallway of the vent In front of them some of the crew were already moving forward, while others were waiting to make sure the rest of them made it. Jr dropped Tyrant to the ground and then moved to collect Kamek and kept moving, while Bowser joined in with the rope team, helping bail Nadia out of trouble and giving the one eyed jerk a mini fireball for good measure before joining the others in legging it down the vent-way and into the depths of the ship. [hr] The dark vents felt like they went on forever, and only a scant few light sources, like a little wisp of fire-breath Bowser kept going as much as he could while running, lit the way and kept them together till, at last, they dropped down into a dark but rather normal looking room. There, unsurprisingly, everyone rapidly found somewhere to take a load off, the troop finding walls or boxes to lean or sit against while they all caught their breath. Then the hunger set in, which was a lovely added bonus to proceedings. Supernatural hunger perhaps some hypothesized. Kamek would not be surprised if that was the case. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”If I remember rightly, our oh so helpful adviser from the 13 that said this was the best way to go mentioned that the food in this place was bad somehow. Cursed probably. So as much as this is, frankly, the worst, I highly advise against eating anything.”[/color] Kamek recommended, not remembering he specifics if there had been any, but knowing that there was definitely something wrong with the food intended for the diners in this accursed ship [color=FD0000]”Uuurgh, for real!?”[/color] Bowser complained [color=FD0000]”Easy for you to say, freeloader, I’m starving here. And real thirsty too”[/color] Kamek shrugged, what was he supposed to do about his crummy little turtle legs after all, but he did suggest [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Well, we could see about getting water from wherever that sound is coming at least? That might not be dangerous. Might.”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Gimmy, like, five more minutes. Then maybe we'll take a look.”[/color] Jr insisted, which was more than fair. Things were looking rather bad but, as Mirage pointed out, they were at the very least still alive. It was something. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”We are indeed, each and every one of us. I’d say you’ve all quite thoroughly beaten the odds to make it this far, but then that is what heroes do, yes?”[/color] Kamek suggested, trying to add on a little encouragement to Mirage’s statement of fact, [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Quite an infuriating habit most of the time, but more than welcome given the circumstances.”[/color] [color=FD0000]”Tell me about it”[/color] Bowser grunted, but he was smiling a little [color=SpringGreen]”Bet that jerk lady thinks she’s already won and we’re done for. But we’re not and that means we’ve got the element of surprise for when we find her, kick her butt and then blow this popsicle stand!”[/color] Jr concluded, which got a little chorus of affirmations from the troop. The thought of vengeance was a poor substitute for food, but it would have to satiate them for now.