[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] 1,380 (+3)
[b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 9 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (158/90) 
[b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (91/80) 
[b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (88/80) 
[b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] Bottomless Sea – the Maw - the Restaurant
Feat: Rika
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[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Remember that he won’t recognize us till we clear his head of Galeem’s… ah”[/color] Kamek replied to Mirage’s suggestion that king K rool might recognize them before pausing for two reasons. The first was of course that Mirage was still under Galeem’s influence (something they had somehow failed to rectify till now despite the opportunities to do so, mostly because there was so much else going on that it had slipped the net) and so wouldn't actually know what he meant. The second was that he had to stop talking in-order to double check that fact via glance at the man’s eyes because of his new condition. 

[hider=for Kamek]
The host is taller and more muscular. His scales are more the color of fry coating and have a more uneven texture. His shell has adopted the colors and patterns of the rice bowl, and his eyes are red. This spirit confers the Power Tempura, which allows Kamek to fire projectiles of fry batter. They have initial force but will arc due to their weight and don't home in on targets. On hit they will change the target into a tempura for 10 seconds. The tempura has unchanged defense but is otherwise helpless, barely able to move. Eating the tempura will make the change permanent. The spell's cooldown is 5 seconds, and it only begins after neither batter or tempura are in play. This spirit also confers the Weakness Sense Swap. The host cannot have both his mouth and eyes open at the same time, and opening one will close the other
[/hider]

Not being able to have his eyes open while talking was incredibly disconcerting, especially in a place like this where you 100% wanted to have your eyes open and alert at all times for spooky stuff. Given time he might be able to develop a sort of rapid fire blinking synced up with his beak movements to reduce the blindness he had to suffer to speak, but for now if he wanted to be heard he wouldn’t be able to see. 

On the plus side, Kamek was now taller and more muscular, which wasn’t a benefit he had expected but it was certainly welcome and was going to make moving about a bit easier for the little koopa troopa. That, however, wasn't the main benefit of his transformation. Though he hadn’t tested it, the new magic he could feel within him’s capabilities were quite obvious and would most certainly come in handy. Even more so should his king regain his former size and vacuum breath ability. That would be a savory combination of skills, that was for certain.

For now, however, they were all still titchy and looking for a way to solve that without falling prey to the big guys or the lady of the house. Everyone was pretty much in agreement that it would be bad news to tangle with the overweight guests, but there was some confidence that they could take their hostess. 

What played out next as they lollygagged and debated on what to do might put a dampener on that idea.

In front of them, and in view of the large guests, there were the many mannequins made in her image littered an otherwise empty stage which presumably existed to provide some kind of entertainment. What kind they found out all too soon. As they watched the lost child they had met earlier and then lost track of appeared suddenly, and proceeded to sprint across the stage towards a set of double doors that, based on how they were labeled, led to the ‘helm’ of the ship. A powerful room indeed, of that there was no doubt, but some had to wonder if it qualified the risk of being in the open like that.

[color=FD0000]”Come on little guy, you can make it!”[/color] Bowser murmured quiet encouragement as he tensed up, only able to watch as the boy ran. And then was caught. The lady suddenly and dramatically revealed herself to be among her imitations and all at once she lashed out from her hiding space and ripped something vital from the boy, transforming into a faceless being of some kind, and then pointed straight at them, brazenly confirming she knew exactly where they were, and in the process taunting them into revealing themselves. 

[color=FD0000]”I’ll kill her! I’ll kill her! I’ll kill her!”[/color] Bowser roared, having to be held back by the rest of the troop to prevent him from simply charging onto the stage to enact vengeance, or more likely, befall the same fate as the child, just as the witch desired.

[color=SpringGreen]”Maybe, maybe when we beat her he’ll turn back? That’s how these things work right? right?”[/color] Jr suggested with childish optimism. Kamek wasn't so sure, but it was an angle to try and calm his king, so he echoed [color=DeepSkyBlue]”That might be the case, and if it is, we’ll want to make sure we have the greatest chance of victory”[/color] 

On that front, Mirage certainly had the right idea. Going out on stage was foolishness in its extreme, as it was a battlefield specifically crafted to her advantage, one that she was clearly trying to bait them into. Better to take the legend’s strategy and draw her into a battlefield of their own choosing.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”I can’t imagine she’d like us being in her room”[/color] Kamek agreed simply, as he held onto his gradually calming king.

[color=SpringGreen]”Yeah! We could trash the place, wouldn't that feel good dad?”[/color] Jr suggested, from where he had grabbed his dad’s other arm to save him from his suicide charge.

[color=FD0000]”Eugh. Yeah. I guess that would be cather… Cafar… would feel good”[/color] Bowser admitted

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”and it would be preferable to tangling with her down there, on her chosen battlefield”[/color] Kamek added, trying to bring them back to the point of going in there that Mirage had made.

“Wouldn't her room also be a place she was used to more than us?” Rika suggested. It was, in her logic, like her main base “so surely she’d be prepared in there too?”

[color=FD0000]”But if she has a weakness it’ll be in there, yeah? Or locked up in a vault somewhere.”[/color] Bowser added, matter of factly expecting the woman to be holding onto something that could defeat her because that was just how you did things. Admittedly, by that logic, there should be something down on stage to beat her too, but at the moment he wasn't seeing it.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Perhaps?”[/color] Kamek rubbed the underside of his beak thoughtfully [color=DeepSkyBlue]”But maybe it would be wise to first check out… storage? Yes, storage, in case there are more things like Geralt’s nail in there. Any advantage we can get, yes? or...”[/color] he quieted as looked up at the other two rooms, the smoking lodge and the washroom respectively [color=DeepSkyBlue]”hmmm, no, I’m not sure what good those other two rooms would provide”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”Maybe we can somehow get king what’s his croc to go and wash his hands somehow?”[/color] jr schemed [color=SpringGreen]”and then right when he’s about to come back we pounce the guy while he’s on his own and get him on side!”[/color] 

[color=FD0000]”Pretty sure a washroom’s just a fancy-shmancy name for a toilet, right? Not just a palace that’s just for washing your hands?”[/color] Bowser pointed out/asked, and got a nod from Kamek to indicate he was correct. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Oh. Well. uh. Get him to drink loads of water or something? I dunno?”[/color] Jr said with a shrug and then scratched his head wondering if they could even approach him safely or where they’d get that amount of drink.

“That sounds a bit.. What’s the word. Con something?” Rika asked

[color=FD0000]”Complex?”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Complicated? Nah it’s just like, two steps max”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Convoluted?”[/color] “yes, that’s the one”

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”It does a bit...”[/color] Kameka agreed, before spotting Jr’s dejected look when he opened his eyes again and course correcting [color=DeepSkyBlue]”But maybe we can think about it!. But I propose we check out the store room first and foremost? If there are useful things around, they’ll be in there”[/color] 

[color=FD0000]”Hmmmm. Yeah useful stuff is always useful,[/color] Bowser hummed thoughtfully, as if this was the height of wisdom, before nodding to himself and commanding: [color=FD0000]”Alright Troop, to the store room!”[/color] before stomping off with his family and minions in tow.