[center][h3]Esaka’s Middle Tier[/h3]
Lvl 15 Ms Fortune (157/150) Level 11 Big Band (57/110)
Amaterasu’s [@DracoLunaris] Roland’s [@Archmage MC] Zenkichi’s [@MULTI_MEDIA_MAN] Pit’s [@Yankee] Sakura & Juri’s [@Zoey Boey] Captain Falcon’s [@Double] Harry and Kim’s [@Eviledd1984] Terry’s [@Terry Bogard] Yayama’s [@Chevaleresse]
[b]Word Count:[/b] 790 / 873[/center]

Now that she’d gotten some of her buried stress off her chest, Nadia looked forward to taking the rest of the night easy. She’d need all her energy to dive headfirst into Pools tomorrow, and begin her long, dangerous climb to the top of Esaka’s deadliest tournament series. To that end she happily let Primrose lead her further around the Mid Tier and to a particular cantina, with more security than one might expect given the humble appearance of its exterior. When the ladies approached, Nadia’s first instinct was to start looking for alternate methods of ingress. The storied cat burglar scanned for windows, balconies, possible back doors, even sewer grates, any means of circumventing the guard.

Of course, Primrose had other plans. She simply waltzed right up with an irresistible smile on and a swing in her hips. Nadia just followed along dumbly, smiling like an idiot, and gave the bouncer a confident wink when he complimented her. And just like that, the two were admitted inside. “Crazy,” Nadia muttered with a laugh, shaking her head in astonishment. “To me, that kinda stuff might as well be black magic. Good thing you were here to help meowt!”

The two sauntered inside as if they belonged there, followed by their canine friend. Remembering that fancy ladies sometimes carried tiny pups in their purses, Nadia scooped the little guy up to be her lapdog, which naturally meant lavish attention and first dibs on hors d'oeuvres. She wasn’t quite sure what sort of establishment this place really was until the two reached the main room and she could take everything in. One glimpse at the potent combination of bars, smoky backrooms, and battle arenas convinced her that she was in for a good time. “Oh, man. I love this place already~”

Together the three found themselves a table in a secluded corner that gave them a good view of the dance floor, as it was. Unlike in Fengjian Teahouse, Nadia had no intentions of taking center stage herself. Whether she was in for music or mayhem, she wanted nothing more than to watch. She almost requested a cheap cerveza before remembering that she was loaded now, at which point she promptly placed an order for the biggest, fanciest mixed drink on the menu. Drunk with power, Nadia ordered Clams Diablo (with spicy romano tomato sauce plus chorizo) and Portabella España (seafood stuffed mushrooms) also. Naturally, she offered to pay for whatever Primrose wanted, as well. 

To Nadia’s knowledge, Primrose was planning to perform or something, but life in Esaka was nothing if not predictable. Only a few minutes after the Seekers’ arrival, guests began to pour into the place, quickly filling up every seat in the house. Nadia got the impression that something interesting was about to happen, and the cantina did not disappoint. 

The flamenco dancers moved to the back of the stage to admit a [url=https://i.imgur.com/QkAfg66.png]peppy young woman[/url] in green, orange, and white, who held a microphone in her hand. “Olá, senhoras e senhores! Welcome one and all to the exhibition match you’ve all been waiting for! A best-of-ten tag-team slobberknocker between some of the fiercest fighters to ever grace this stage. Without further ado, please give a warm welcome to the challengers, representing Mexico, Pepe Rodriguez and the King. Of. Dinosaurs!”

A storm of claps and cheers heralded the arrival of an [url=https://i.imgur.com/rO9ZGyq.png]enormous reptilian luchador[/url] and a [url=https://i.imgur.com/et1W05b.png]somehow even more shirtless dude[/url] in flowing white pants, the former with much more braggadocious aplomb and the latter with natural confidence.

“And representing España, our home team: Franco Gerelt and Miguel Caballero Roja!”

On the other side of the arena, two well-dressed men emerged: one a [url=https://i.imgur.com/kXyscFe.png]mustached, rapier-wielding man in red[/url] and the other a [url=https://i.imgur.com/HJOC4HG.png]roguish, frizzy-haired ruffian[/url], one the pinnacle of elegant machismo and the other full of devil-may-care swagger. ”Oh, this is good,” Nadia said with a grin. As the two teams approached one another, a waitress appeared to drop off Nadia’s drink: an entire hollowed-out watermelon filled with a deep red mix of watermelon pulp and wine to form an extravagant sangria. The catgirl stared at it in stunned silence, then gave Primrose a pleading look. “You’re gonna have to help me with this.”

The next second, a huge cage dropped down out of the ceiling and trapped all four fighters in the arena, to uproarious applause. Nadia couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, THIS is GOOD!” One way or another, it was going to be a wild night.

[hr]

After their training session came to an end, the two detectives set out together with no particular destination in mind, just a vague idea of wanting to grab dinner somewhere. It was quarter past seven, with sunset on the way, and in the wake of the furious but brief rainstorm the populace of Esaka reemerged to reclaim their evening. Having been consigned to drenched takeout from whatever bistro might be nearest to Banishing Flats on account of rain, Band had a mind to wander and see as much more of the city as the fading daylight would allow. In the spirit of trying something new he suggested to Zenkichi that they head up to the one tier they hadn’t visited so far, the High Tier, and get a little taste of life in the fast lane. Of course, Band was well aware that his leftover performance earnings wouldn’t land him a spot in any sit-down restaurant up there, but any city of that caliber was bound to have street food, and in Band’s book, that’s where the best stuff was.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Lx77ID5.png[/img][/center]

About half an hour later, the two reached one of the more densely urban sections of High Tier, which for all intents and purposes resembled a normal city street. Band could see upscale clothing, shoe, and hat stores called Button Check, Flash Kicks, and Universal Overheads respectively. He spotted Tap Dust, a brewery, as well as Smith Coffee, Polar Star Coffee, and Ortiz Coffee–this place seemed to be a caffeine addict’s paradise. Energetic music blared out from clubs like Deadly Rave, and giant screens hanging from buildings displayed fighter ads amidst updates from Directional Influence, the news station based here in High Tier.

Band tried to keep his focus on the street and away from all the visual stimuli, but he did pause to watch one fighter ad when he realized it was for a prominent Tekken competitor. It showcased a burly [url=https://i.imgur.com/X8cDKgp.png]biker[/url] with a very distinctive tall, blonde flattop, and he seemed to pack one hell of a punch. One highlight played from a recent Tekken semifinal match of him absolutely demolishing his opponent with the Death Fist, a full-body right straight punch. There wasn’t a high probability of Band running into this Paul Phoenix in tournament, but he committed the move to memory anyway.

By eight o’clock, the detectives joined the short line for Meaties, a food truck that seemed to serve as a mobile delicatessen, offering all sorts of savory chicken, pork, and beef. Band went for a classic hot dog with the basic condiments of ketchup, mustard, and relish, even though the truck offered all kinds of topics from onions to chili to cheese. Even so, the size of the frankfurter alone made it a decent meal, just the kind that Band would often get on the job back when he was a detective. As he and Zenkichi walked along with their food, they alternated chewing and talking, mostly about work. This was the point where Band, unfortunately, had to disabuse his new acquaintance of an idea he himself had installed.

“Well…truth is, while I call myself a detective and still look the part, I ain’t technically a detective anymore.” He took a big bite out of his hot dog, dabbled at his lips with a napkin held by mechanical pincers, then shrugged as he swallowed. “Y’see, me and the boys didn’t always see eye to eye. Most of ‘em were just in it for the money, and not just the pennies we got paid, if you catch my drift.” His expression darkened as he pursed his lips ruefully. “No, those boys were on the take. Why rake in pennies for doin’ your job when you could make big bucks not doin’ it? Me, though? I still clung to silly ideas like ‘truth’ and ‘justice’--y’know, old-fashioned crap like that. One day, after I caught wind of some nasty double-dealin’ and dropped a couple hints to the boss, the boys found out and gave me an early retirement.”

He deployed an arm and patted his huge, bell-shaped chassis. The brass reflected the last rays of the sun as they sank below the horizon. “Iron lung. My broken body woulda spent the rest of its days rottin’ away in a hospital bed if ASG didn’t get a hold of me. They built me into the man I am today. Ever since then, I been somethin’ between a vigilante and a monster hunter. Workin’ against the Skullgirl was my day job; fightin’ crime ended up bein’ more of a hobby.” After finishing his hot dog, Band let out a sign of resignation. “Guess I got a hard time lettin’ go. Those weren’t my glory days by any means, but that stuff’s what I’m meant to do.”

He chuckled. Around him, the street lamps, screens, and other lights meant that it was still almost as bright as day even now that night had fallen. “And now here we are. Fixin’ to go and fight like gladiators in order to save the world.” Band raised an eyebrow at Zenkichi. “So, how’d you wind up here, slick?”

[center][h3]The Midnight Walk - 2.4[/h3]
Lvl 9 Sandalphon (32/90) Level 5 Heismay (85/50)
Edward’s [@DracoLunaris] Blazermate & Sectonia’s [@Archmage MC] Geralt’s [@MULTI_MEDIA_MAN] Ace Cadet’s [@Yankee] Roxas & Ganondorf’s [@Double], Ramattra and Tenna’s [@XoXKieroBombXoX] Mokou’s [@Goggy]
[b]Word Count:[/b] 1547

[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/p76VSWM.png]Nameless Stagecoach[/url][/b]
𖥞: 7/8 | 🛡️: 7/8 | [b]Equipment:[/b] Stewpot/Windchime/Lamps/Vegetubes/Lightning Rod/(None) | [b]Companion[/b]: Ratshaker Rat[/center]

Although Gründachdorf turned out to have a surprising amount of hidden depth, with a lot more going on than its quaint, medieval appearance might suggest, it wasn’t long before the Seekers had to hit the road. They had a lot more ground to cover before they reached their real destination of Moon Mountain, after all, and with no need for rest or new supplies just yet they couldn’t afford to spend any more time in a place like this than absolutely necessary.

Plus, a new landmark had revealed itself from the Highlands’ dark fog that invariably drew the travellers’ gaze: the space elevator of Spire 04, a technological pillar that connected earth and sky, a feat of engineering so marvelous that looped right back around to being fantastical. It sat in the middle of a sprawling complex whose true size was difficult to estimate even for Sandalphon, but she judged it at least as big as Krat Zoo, if not larger. When the Midnight Walk began to veer in that direction, her suspicions about the team’s next destination were confirmed.

Of course, the Seekers could probably find a way around, but going off-road in the Frozen Highlands would be treacherous, if not downright dangerous. Their brief departure from the Midnight Walk on the road to the village had proven as much when the detour -which had lasted only a couple minutes tops- claimed one of the wagon’s eight wheels. While such a loss would have stopped the average carriage cold, the Seekers’ still-unnamed stagecoach had been able to keep rolling thanks to its eight-wheeled structure. It could only take so much, though, and how much depended on which wheels went next. At best, their ride could stand to lose three more wheels before it could no longer move; at worst, it would only take one unlucky loss before it became inoperable. Part of Sandalphon had wanted to insist on immediate repairs back at Gründachdorf, but she tried to temper her compulsive behavior, reasoning that it would have been an overreaction. Still, she couldn’t help but worry as the stagecoach rattled ceaselessly onward, the music of its windchime and the yells of the ratshaker rat all but drowned out by the howling winter wind.

It was relatively comfortable inside the vehicle, at least, and Sandalphon didn’t want for company. The two new passengers who’d agreed to accompany them to Spire 04 from Gründachdorf intrigued her for a couple reasons, so rather than bury herself in Markiona’s research material again, the archangel took the chance to ask one of the questions on her mind. “Adam and Eve,” she said aloud, getting the pair’s attention. “Curious names that often seem to be paired together. Some time ago, two brothers with those names attacked a city called Midgar. They were machines that styled themselves after men, and chose those names for themselves. Perhaps you know their significance?”

Eve gave Adam a bemused look, while the latter only shrugged. She then turned back toward Sandalphon with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’m afraid I have no idea of the names’ meaning or significance. Strange that they would seem to come as a pair. Adam and I met only a short time ago. We are little more than strangers.”

“After I saved you from the Alpha Naytiba? Oh, that’s cold,” Adam joked, his rather flat voice making his feigned indignity rather unconvincing.

In short order Sandalphon realized that Eve actually knew very little about the world itself, and while Adam seemed more worldly, he seemed less forthcoming and more inclined to deflect. Not wanting to try and dig deeper, Sandalphon thanked the two for their time and settled in for the ride, her attention turned back toward her research.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tUNNlhP.png[/img][/center]

As the stagecoach progressed into a new area, it quickly became apparent to Heismay -perched atop the roof near the driver as usual- that this would be the toughest stretch of the journey so far. The Midnight Walk took the Seekers around the edge of a large lake that Heismay thought must be saltwater to explain why it wasn’t frozen, he couldn’t see any body of water that might connect it to the ocean through the fog. He could see, though, that the route ahead led through a strange sort of subarctic swamp. It featured large stretches of shallow, icy water, only about a foot deep, carved up by tall, sheer plateaus of rock like islands in the sea, some crowned by frost-wreathed willows or wind-scoured shipwrecks. Farther away from the lakeshore, the knee-deep pools gave way to patches of snow, though these were similarly fenced in by miniature mountain ranges.

Though not quite cramped or confined enough to be a labyrinth, this gelid marsh promised to be difficult to navigate for the stagecoach. As it followed the Midnight Walk toward the water’s edge, Heismay shook the snow off his parka and limbered himself up for action. “I’ll scout ahead,” he declared. “This place may very well harbor all manner of hidden hazards.” Of course, he wouldn’t be wading through the water. Even if he wasn’t much shorter than the average Seeker, that water would ruin his winter clothes and afflict him with hypothermia within moments. For those who couldn’t fly, or ride atop the stagecoach, it would be necessary to take shelter inside it. At least the Reindrix didn’t seem to mind the cold at all.

After gathering his strength, the eugief jumped from the roof of the moving vehicle and landed in the snow next to the Midnight Walk, light enough on his feet that he didn’t even need to roll. He made for the nearest rock spire and scaled it with a series of jumps, attaining enough altitude that he could then jump off and glide over a stretch of swamp to the nearest rocky outcrop. It took only a few seconds to scale it with a series of deft jumps, at which point he paused for a moment to get his bearings. Then he made for the next island, a larger one with a shipwreck on it. It still had enough rigging that climbing across it was both easy and fun; the buildings of Gründachdorf had been a good warm-up for this. Once Heismay reached the crowsnest, he stood atop it like a daredevil buccaneer and surveyed the landscape to see what it had in store for the stagecoach now forging through the icy water.

Thanks to his sharp eyes, Heismay quickly realized just how treacherous this place actually was. The area’s naturally-occurring walls meant that there were several routes available that the stagecoach could take, but one looked just about as bad as the next; Edward and the others would need to make some difficult decisions, and fast.

First up, there were three routes to choose from. The leftmost one led up out of the water and through a confined snowfield, but Heismay could see a horned, [url=https://i.imgur.com/wY8hl51.png]shaggy behemoth[/url] digging into the half-dissolved corpse of a [url=https://i.imgur.com/90IL8E0.png]purple theropod[/url] it had slain, while the dinosaur’s pack of [url=https://i.imgur.com/6G2yk8D.png]raptors[/url] yapped at the killer from a safe distance. From that snowy clearing, one could veer northwest into a rocky area with what looked like veins of ore, or descend into the yawning maw of a [url=https://i.redd.it/3oe0srk1via61.jpg]dark cave[/url]. Even Heismay couldn’t peer down there, so there was no telling what might await the Seekers if they went that way–or if there was even another way out.

In the middle route, he could see the unusual shipwreck of a yellow boat, very dissimilar in appearance from the other, more normal-looking wooden ones scattered around. To the left, nearest the lake, he couldn’t find any visible threats but the water churned in a way that he did not like. Both it and the shipwreck route led to a more lush seaside area where two strange, yellow and purple [url=https://i.imgur.com/IfLrq5k.png]fish monsters[/url] lay in wait for prey. He did see one narrow side-path that seemed to suggest that one could maneuver from the shipwreck toward the ore veins, but the ways both toward the former and away from the latter were marked by strips of otherworldly black-and-blue flame beneath the water, which smoldered in a most detestable, unwholesome fashion.

Farther in, he could see the glint of fish scales in an unusually large open area of the swamp, and just to the west stood a grove of dead-looking trees that somehow bore plump orange fruits. A bigger, thicker copse of pine trees stood in the snowfield directly north, but a glimpse at a [url=https://i.imgur.com/sHP3DiH.png]hulking, horned herbivore[/url] gave Heismay pause. The other route toward the end of the swamp, which looped around toward the east, looked relatively clear. Its proximity to the lake, though, conjured images in Heismay’s mind of massive sea monsters emerging from the depths to try and drag the stagecoach to a watery grave. With a heavy sigh, the eugief hurried back toward the others to report his findings.