[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6W7bqko.png[/img]
[h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2]
[b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 1473 (+3) (+11 for B&R, +5 for J&K)
[b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (163/120)
[b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (59/120)
[b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (42/120)
[b][color=Aqua]Rika: Level 7 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aqua]///////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]/////////////////////// (49/70)
[b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] The Under - Home of Tears
[hider=warp locations]
[s]
Central hub: Smash City Alcamoth
Accessible locations:
Peach’s castle
Limsa Lominscuttle Town
Lumbridge
Twilight Town
Kosm’s Beach
[/s]
[/hider]
[/center]

Worries about their assassinations (and one kidnapping) attracting the attention of the city’s fishy guards proved entirely unfounded as each and every team successfully regrouped just outside of the clocktower without a hint of what they had just done getting out. 

The troop’s first business was regrouping within the growing assembly of heroes, and once they were sure everyone was ok, started trading tales of their exploits. Bowser was just in the middle of telling the others about how he punched a giant golem in the face when Nadia poked her nose in and requested the use of the Snaktivator.

Kamek, naturally, obliged her request, and they all took a moment to admire her [color=SpringGreen]”Cool triple tail”[/color] as Jr put it. 

That promptly reminded Rika that she had gotten quite the plethora of spirits from her and Bowser’s adventure, the fetching of which from her pockets attracted the attention of Queen Sectonia, who conveniently preempted her request to borrow her item enhancing hat. 

[hider=items get]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/eyWi4t2.png]Knowledge Potion[/url][/b]
[i]Takes 3 seconds to drink fully, which adds 2 bonus uses/charges/stocks to all abilities with uses/charges/stocks[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/zk02sSb.png]Uncommon Stone Gauntlet[/url][/b]
[i]An item equippable by mages. It can cause an eruption of fast-moving earth along the ground, damaging all opponents it passes through. Damage falls off between 25 m - 40 m. Travels down slopes easier. Must be grounded to cast. Can also be used to magic into existence and throw a boulder, once every 13 seconds[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/PToxX5s.png]Featherfall Rune[/url][/b]
[i]Can be squeezed to launch high up into the air, then slowly descend down for a duration. Squeezing it during the descent cancels it[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/9j4Y6ZX.png]2-10x42 Rifle Scope[/url][/b]
[i]Made from extremely durable aircraft-grade aluminium alloy and features multi-coated optics for super sharp vision. Shock proof, fog proof and waterproof for those extreme hunting conditions where a good scope makes all the difference. Can be affixed to a precision weapon to provide 2x-10x magnification[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/Cc9M8ug.png]Berserker's Barrage[/url][/b]
[i]Equal parts instrument of punishment and implement of execution, this axe is wielded to mete out bloody justice amid the insanity of the battlefield. Thus, to grip its haft is to surrender oneself to the iron madness of blood lust. Only usable by axe masters. Its special attack, Savage Surge, can both deal heavy elemental damage and temporarily increase allies' attack by 40%[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/9NhwvRS.png]Agastya Alternate Costume[/url][/b]
[i]An Alternate Costume that can fit anyone who puts it on, encasing them in a fine suit of black armor with pale gold trim and a collar of burgundy feathers, leaving only the head exposed[/i]
[/hider]

Not all the spirits were crushed however, as Rika instead requested to be able to use a few of them for herself

[hider=spirit absorption]
Strikers gained:
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/pqyyVZh.png]War Cleric[/url][/b]
[i]An axe-wielding priestess with a medium cooldown, able to be summoned for up to two seconds at a time to perform a single action. The actions she can perform are a quick advancing chop, a slow overhead slam, and Heal, which restores 25% hp[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/CgHTGc2.png]Knight[/url][/b]
[i]An heavily armored knight with a claymore a medium cooldown, able to be summoned for up to two seconds at a time to perform a single action. The actions he can perform are an armored sword thrust, a slow overhead slam, an advancing shield bash, and block[/i]

Spirit absorbed:
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/42GDeqG.png]Rider and Beast[/url][/b]
[i]The host has gotten a little taller. Her upper half has become more human, while her lower half has become more reptilian, with patches of scales on her legs and saurian feet. Metal armor plates have appeared primarily on her arms, although she's also gained wyvern-wing earwear. 
Her personality is more quiet. This spirit confers the Strength [b]Lancefaire[/b], which imparts skill with polearms and a slight damage increase while using them. This spirit also confers the Weakness [b]Axebane[/b], increasing the amount of damage taken by axes by 50%[/i]
[/hider]

The result was first of all, the ship girl having to kick off her heeled shoes due to them becoming rather uncomfortable all of a sudden, and then being quite confused for a moment by her new lizard shaped feet. Then even more confused when she rolled down and removed a stocking and found she had scale patched legs and entirely scaly and spread toed feet, ones like those of a dragon or dinosaur.

[color=Aqua]”huh. Weird. I didn’t realize they were lizard people under all that armor”[/color] she said, mostly to herself, before raising a foot up and presenting it to the royal koopas and noting cheerfully that [color=Aqua]”Hey look, now we match. Kind of”[/color] which they found rather neat.

The actual benefit the spirit had brought failed to be immediately obvious to her, and it was only clarified later when she mounted up and felt the distinct urge to have a lance in hand. The downside however immediately presented itself when she accidentally cut herself while handling the ax they had received, which resulted in quite the unexpectedly nasty gash that had to be healed by Jr.

Fiddling around with the other items they had gotten let them discover a few things:

That the ax seemed to be intentionally making itself unwieldy to, well, wield,, as if Bowser, who tried to test swing it, was entirely unworthy of its use.

That though the stone glove proved to have quite the handy set of spells, it was rather useless for their flying mage, which resulted in Kamek asking [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Gandorf, Rubick,
 Primrose, would any of you be interested in this tremor causing magic gauntlet?”[/color], which would result in a small fee for the other king, and none at all for their spider battling and tree climbing comrades.

That, though the scope would attach to Rika’s rifle it was more or less impossible for her to line her eye up with it to use it properly.

That the rune’s ability to launch someone airborn was both incredibly funny when done unexpectedly, and that it synergised rather well with Rika’s existing antigravity, as well as her grappling hook and maneuvering thrusters, and finally with the fact that her hands could actually hold the run while still using her forearm affixed gauntlets. 

That they had no idea what ‘uses/charges/stocks’ meant on the label of the potions and that they had to ask about that (and would hand them off to whoever might find them useful). 

And, finally, that if Rika took off her helmet before donning the Agastya Alternate Costume, and then re-applied it afterwards, she could give a half decent impersonation of one who slithered in the dark, even if between the cat ears, wyvern wing ears and two mismatching horns sticking out of it said helmet was getting rather busy details wise.

That led to a little plan of her leading the way and trying to bluff them any extra time she could via impersonating one of the slitherer’s members here to deliver a message, or something along those lines. A bit more talk also got them an idea of how they were going to handle P, and so after that, the team split back up into the same duos they had just been in.

With the plan settled, the shorter duo of the troop approached Iguana Gallo Valetto to set about seeing it through. And filling him in on it.

[color=SpringGreen]”Hi. We’re going with you to do the sneaky ambush thing. This P kid won’t know what’s hit him”[/color] Jr declared as he rolled on up with Kamek in tow

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Indeed,”[/color] the mage agreed, before cutting to the chase and informing P’s traitorous minion that [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Though I should note that we very much intend to take the boy alive. I hope that won’t be a problem?”[/color]

Gallo sniffed, displeased by the idea. "If you think him a mere misguided youth, you are woefully naïve. That brat deserves to suffer, and not just for what he's done to me, as your allies will see once they reach his lair. If he's allowed any leeway, he will reach the Absolutely Safe Capsule in his hideout, and that's that. Mission failed. Our only chance is my Clock Lancet, and to finish him off whilst he remains under his spell." He waved his hand dismissively. "But what do I know, P's destruction being a mere lifelong obsession of mine."

[color=SpringGreen]”Eh, we caught one jerk already today, no sweatm so another should be a piece of cake”[/color] Jr insisted, while Kamek inquired [color=DeepSkyBlue]”And what, may I ask, is this Absolutely Safe Capsule? Could we not simply disable it and then have more leeway to handle the situation?”[/color]

Crossing his arms, Gallo replied, "I've tried, believe me, but its construction predates me. Despite its mind-boggling simplicity it is completely immune to all forms of attack, technology, and magic that I've seen, and therefore, utterly foolproof. That's why we must be there to stop him before he can get inside."

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Second time we’ve encountered something like that down here. How annoying”[/color] Kamek noted. Or rather third, though they had not even bothered trying to physically break into the black egg.

[color=SpringGreen]”Couldn't we just, I dunno, barricade it shut or something then? He just has to be slowed down enough that I can put him to sleep after all”[/color] Jr suggested [color=SpringGreen]”Close the door. Pile a bunch of furniture and minions in front of it, then when he tries to dig all of that up it's off to snooze land and we’re sorted”[/color] 

Gallo cleared his throat. "Forgive me, I must have neglected to tell you. Consuls can warp space to travel long distances in an instant. I expect that is how he will reach the hideout in the first place, but he will only secure himself in the Capsule once he realizes that his hideout is no longer safe. You understand the problem that insinuates in your scheme, I trust?" The mage pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated by the child's spitballing. "I understand your company possesses no small measure of power. I must urge you not to risk everything on cheap tricks, however. Even I must confess myself mystified by the exact nature of P's powers. I will leave his fate in your hands, just as I said I would, but please...do not allow all this to come to naught."

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Well that is worrying news, even if I am able to do the same in a sense”[/color] the teleport capable Kamek nodded, before partially conceding [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Perhaps it would be best we wait till we can have a look at this hideout in person, to see what kind of ambush we can set up and if live capture is viable or not”[/color] 

At the same time as their more private talk was occurring,  a much more public debate over how they were going to deal with kid Consul P started taking place. On one side, the newly joined Ichiban was rather concerned about the, well, ethics of that, and on the other side, the only slightly longer serving party king of all evil declaring that age mattered not at all when it came to your foes.

Into this stepped seeker veteran and one time child killer Bowser, to take a (minor) stand against repeated failed child killer Ganondorf’s position [color=FD0000]”Look, you and me, we might be bad guys, but we still got to have standards. Like maybe trying to not kill kids when you can avoid it. Beat him up if he’s able to put up a fight, sure. But let's not end him, alright?”[/color]

On the heels of that assertion, a now drake riding (it just felt right) Rika leaned in and asked [color=Aqua]”Are we going to capture and interrogate him then? Because knowing your enemy and their movements and stuff is important, so you should try and find out that kind of thing and report it to your superiors”[/color] seemingly quoting out of some order or doctrine she had been given while part of the abyssal fleet, before correcting herself with [color=Aqua]”Or wait no I mean use it for ourselves”[/color] 

[color=FD0000]”Hmmm.”[/color] Bowser furrowed his brows for a few moments, and then agreed [color=FD0000]”Yeah. That’s probably a thing Ka- I mean I could do stuff with that kinda information”[/color]