[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6W7bqko.png[/img]
[h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2]
[b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 1,514  (+3) 
[b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (136/120)
[b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]///////////////////////////[/color]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (26/120)
[b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]/////////////////////////[/color]/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (22/120)
[b][color=Aqua]Rika: Level 7 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aqua]////////[/color]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (8/70)
[b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] The Under - Ash Lake
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After they’d given teemo a run down of fusion, and Barnabee the same more or less by accident, they set out along the long long beach. Bowser tramped along though the sand while Kamek floated above with a few copies of himself on guard. The young ones meanwhile found ways to entertain themselves, with Jr go-carted along and occasionally stopping to examine an interesting bit of sea life or collect/swap out a small collection of colorful coral chunks, while Rika skimmed across the shallows of the underground sea, making a game of catching and releasing crabs with her grappling hook.

Just in time before those two got bored of their activities the landscape started to change, and they also got a better, closer, look at the big tree, witnessing its burnt out and severed state. A state  which would have made it a dead end if not for the fact that, as Kamek pointed out  [color=DeepSkyBlue]”We could always fly up the gap. It would be less of a trip than going to another tree”[/color] though there was the caveat that [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I’m not sure I would trust the structural integrity of the tree however, or at least the bits close to the, ah, missing section”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”Musta been one massive fire when that thing burned”[/color] Jr noted as they began to head up the ashy sand around the base of the tree, filling the mind’s eye with images of a blaze bright as the sun under ground. What was left however, was the ash and, oddly, some neat rows of flowers around the entrance.

Before any of the troop thought about the implications of that, they had stepped inside and found new sights to take in: an ashen mountain (possibly made up of the remains of the twisting branches they had climbed down in the last one, who’s absence would make Kamek’s ‘just fly up it’ plan a touch trickier) a series of alters and weapons, and finally, the answer to the question about who had been tending the flowers which the troop had not thought to ask.

The man/goat in question seemed to be a king of sorts, but a king of nothing, given his location and dejected appearance.

He was also, and this even Bowser managed to notice without being prompted so rare it was in this world of red glares, free from Glameem’s influence. 

[color=FD0000]”Howdy yourself”[/color] Bowser greeted the man, king to king, before getting right to it and pointing out, very simply, that: [color=FD0000]”You’re free from Galeem”[/color] before misjudging the situation and asking: [color=FD0000]”So that means you ran into some other seekers that did that then right?”[/color] and then finally demanding to know [color=FD0000]”Where’d they go?”[/color]

Asgore shook his head, sighing. His attempt at geniality turned to weariness, as if he'd really been hoping the pleasantries would go on a bit longer. "If you're talking about the trance, I was destoried a long way back. 'Fraid I don't know who you mean by 'other seekers'." When he spoke, it bore a very sight southern inflection. The old goat clasped his hands on either side of his watering can.

[color=FD0000]”Huh what? Well. Uh”[/color] Bowser scratched the back of his head as he tried to figure that one out, only for him to give up and just say [color=FD0000]”Well that’s a pain, though for sure we were on their trail for a moment there. Guess we’ve just got to keep looking”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”Hold on, are we not going to interrogate that any further?”[/color] Kamek tried to ask regarding the bombshell that had just been dropped, but Bowser had already moved on and started talking about something he was actually interested in. 

Boss room design

[color=FD0000]”Real nice set up you’ve got here by the way. Big massive ash hill, extra points because it's like if you made a skull pile back before the whole spirit thing was a thing, and then you’ve got these altars for weapon options I guess? Plus that big ominous timer thing. Not exactly clear what it's counting too but it looks great. Real nice stuff, and the flowers make a great contrast too”[/color] he commented, turning slowly to take it all in with the eye of a craftsman admiring another’s handy work

This kind of praise the king in exile did not at all expect, but even if this did err more toward conversation he'd prefer, he could hardly take pride in most the compliments. "Well..." he muttered, struggling to find words appropriate for such a situation as his. "I sure am happy you like the flowers, on account of all the care I take of 'em, but the ashes...aren't mine. Or the weapons, or the Flame Clock." Asgore spoke with his head lowered, his eyes on the dunes of ash.

[color=FD0000]”Oh. Well. Good job to wherever made it then, and same to you for keeping it, uh, nice”[/color] Bowser said, in an attempt to keep the mood up and not let his praise be entirely deflected from the man. Then he looked just a little bit perturbed that he had done so, which gave space for jr to ask [color=SpringGreen]”Wait did you say flame clock? Is this place gonna catch on fire again?”[/color] just a tad too excited about the prospect all things considered.

Asgore shook his head, his expression tinged by both bemusement and pity. "Oh no, definitely not. No danger of burning up. Not again at least." He rubbed his goatee, a little uneasy. "Guess you don't about 'em. Not that I blame you. It's a sad story." Lifting his eyes up to the giant gauge on the inside of the hollow, he stared past the turned throne and into its purple glow. "Tell you what, though. I'm mighty glad it's full enough for the time being. Good company's hard to come by." He glanced between the Koopas, putting on a hopeful smile. "Maybe you all'd like some tea? I've got a little stove around the side, wouldn't be a minute."

While jr made a little sound of disappointment that there would be no mega inferno to watch, Bowser shrugged in response to the tea question and said [color=FD0000]”Sure, why not. I could take a load off before we try and-”[/color] he glanced up [color=FD0000]”Uh, climb that?”[/color] 

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Perhaps. Or fly up it. Or try and figure something else out”[/color] Kamek said, considering their next move [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Either way, best ensure we have all our strength and mana before we attempt either going up there, or out over the sea to a more intact tree”[/color]

It was at that point that Rika finally poked her nose into the conversation in order to ask the most important question: [color=Aqua]”So what kind of tea is it?”[/color] 

"Ah, wonderful!" Still smiling, Asgore shuffled over toward an small opening in the hollow, hiddenly mostly from view by a large sheet of bark. He pushed it aside to reveal an extremely well-insulated alcove, and with a snap of his fingers he lit the stove there to start boiling a kettle of water. "I've got a couple kinds," he told Rika as he gingerly sifted through a decent collection. "Bough Rose, Lawngrass, Crumble Cheeseweed, Hive Honeysuckle. And naturally, my very own Ash Gorse tea, though I expect it might be poisonous to anyone else. I pick 'em up as I....travel 'round."

[color=Aqua]”Hmmm. Hmmm. Oh, could you make one of each and then I will taste test them for you all so I can try them all?”[/color] Rika asked, always eager to try all the new things she could, which got assent from the others in the troop.

As he selected and prepared the tea, he continued to speak. "I have to wonder though. What do you mean by going 'up'? There's no way I know of, even if you folks can fly. If you're going nowhere in particular, I reckon you'd be better off going down." Half-turning around, he pointed at the floor. "Beneath this lake's a city. Once upon a time I just called it 'Home', but nowadays it's called the Home of Tears 'cause of all the water leaking through the lakebed and falling like rain."

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Down? A city? Oh well now that sounds promising, doesn’t it sire?”[/color] Kamek said, before glancing at his king [color=DeepSkyBlue]”If they are to have gone anywhere, then a great big city would be a good bet, or so I suspect”[/color]

[color=FD0000]”Definitely. Easier too”[/color] Bowser agreed, having not been looking forward to attempting to climb all the way back up. Then he had another thought, snapped his fingers and said [color=FD0000]”Oh. Right. Names: Bowser, Bowser Junior, Rika and Kamek”[/color] while indicating to the troop members, while leaving it to their travel companions to introduce themselves.

Taking two mugs in each hand, all four with one of each flavor he named other than the gorse, the big goat returned to where the others waited. "Fine names. I'm Asgore. Pleased to meet you." He'd happily provide tea to any of the others if asked as well. Barnabee had been prepared to decline, but when offered Hive Honeysuckle he reconsidered his stance.

Rika meanwhile began an impromptu tea review, conveniently distracting the troop in the process as they settled down for a break, and leaving plenty of space for others to air their curiosities.