TheTimePiece

[East Empire] Operation Snatch Gear

Neo looked to Marrion with a bit of a smile,

“That’s actually where we’re heading, after the next turn we’ll go down a set of stairs and There’ll a locked down storage area at the bottom with some military grade mythrils and Orichalcum as well as gear, and enchanted items. It’s part of the reason why they bother stationing guards around here even though this building isn’t currently fully functional or producing after the war…rumor has it they were made in surplus for some high command people who never ended up hitting the battlefield. Of course I’m not saying there are tons of them..but you don’t need tons of them to make a pretty profit, there will be enough for both of us, and of course plenty of mundane gear to sell for profit if need be too.”

Looking around the crates Marrion would find what looked like well stored containers of wine. Why they were in the hallway was anyone’s guess but some of them did look like they were on the more expensive side, the kind that would be brought out for a celebration or if one had important guests over.

Miyu was able to receive the East Empire military grade spear from Marrion’s pass.

Izzy would actually have some luck herself, on the older guard who had looked more experience, his armor even a bit more ornate than the other one she’d find more East Empire coins but also what looked like a keyring.

Neo clocked it pretty quickly. “Wasn’t sure they’d be lax enough to have a senior guard carry that kinda stuff..but that makes things easier for us..” He’d smile toward Izzy, seemingly knowing what was taken somehow. It seemed as if he didn’t bother looking himself since he was sure others would.

They younger guard had less gold on him but he did have what looked like a handmade east empire dagger, with a lions head on the end. It could be worth something.

“It is true that I’m conventionally blind, I haven’t been able to see anything normally for a very long time, since I was a very young child actually, but I have different ways of telling what’s going on around me.” He’d confirm.

Neo listened quietly to What Miyu had to say, as well as to what Aren was saying, before the group would get to the turn and the set of stairs he was talking about. It looked like there were about five flights of stone stairs going down Ool staying with the group above.

Neo then looked back, "Expect high security down here…be prepared for fighting and or avoiding.soldiers..and possibly tools of the empire’s military.”

He said softly, before he gestured for them to follow and began to head down the stairs swiftly but quietly, using his Stealth E + quiet movement feature as well as energized, at the last set of stairs they’d come out into a short stone tile hallway and at the end was a thick metal door with a classical looking sculpted bullhead in the facade, .but thankfully despite how sturdy the door looked, there was a key hole to open the door.

He’d gesture for Izzy to go ahead and use the keyring keys, looking like he was taking a ready for action stance shortly thereafter

There was a somewhat muffled sound behind the door perhaps in the distance that sort of sounded like metal grinding against stone…

Neo actions:
1. Move with Stealth E + Energized + quiet movement feature skill.
2. Get ready to rumble when door is opened if necessary.

((Narrator note: Neo has been using relatively low grade stealth and alternative ‘seeing’ mean abilities on energized passively even if hasn’t been spelled out explicitly, it’s been going on on the narrator end.)

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

While Marcelin and Samuel reacted to what the beastman warrior had to say, Clarisse stayed still other than occasionally fanning herself. Her expression looking more serious than before when she heard the crime that had been committed. She couldn’t tell off the bat what rank this warrior was in the guild, presumably newer, either a newb or perhaps the next rank up from that, granted she could

ld only presume he was from an adventurer guild in Kurdian, even if that was presumptuous. She did however continue to make use of healing F, since the wound was more serious then what F typically covered alone even with a team up, as it eventually closed with the prolonged healing period.

But it wasn’t much longer that she was in thought that suddenly the wolf warrior’s eyes dilated and he began to tense his muscles which looked more defined in his arms, as it looked like he rippled with some almost purplish aura.

“I..feel strong! Really strong! Either your magic is potent or that sake is really good! Thank you!” He grinned more confidently now after practically nearing death’s door earlier.

“Tch it wouldn’t surprise me if my magic made you feel so good.” Clarisse boasted some with a bit of a smug look, of course knowing full well that healing F wasn’t exactly impressive from her and fundamentals in healing was all she had learned so far. Looking to Marcelin with a pleased look at his praise, like a ‘it’s only natural’ look.

It looked like Clarisse was in thought again but then there was a large crashing sound behind the boss door, as well as what sounded like could have been some explosions that were muffled behind the door.

The wolfman then looked to Samuel after his question and spoke,

“Yes it was a melee fighter whose very agile. They used twin daggers, their slashes had energy behind them which could travel and they were able to hit multiple targets.
There was also a magic caster with from what I could tell fairly strong combat magic, to me they didn’t look like a Republic native, no I think they were from the West Empire with the style of casting they used..strong fire magic and arcane energy.”

Clarisse listened carefully, before nodding.

“Well while I suppose I'm open to hear other's thoughts my opinion is that I think we wait it out and let the commoners sort it out for us..then we can take care of them once they’re weakened from the fight with an ambush, with powers like that I imagine that they’ll finishing up soon anyway.” Clarisse simply stated.

“You’ll still get your inspiration for songs..once we put the criminals in the ground. I’d recommend we spare their lives if possible so we can bring them to the proper authorities.” She’d also add, sounding quite confident.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Kain made his way over to the statue quickly and used his enhanced strength to break the stone spear, to liberate the injured beastman.

“I hope this helps mortal!” Kain announced matter of fact. They quickly bled more after wincing, but Samuel helped to change the fate, as the wound didn’t look as deep as it had been.

Clarisse made her way over as well and announced, “[Lume Satem M!]” a healing light ball coming from her fan and washing over the injured man, combining with Samuel’s heal for a team up.

The wolf warrior looked to Marcelin during the healing and, reached his hand out to grip the bottle, and if Marelin let him have it, the wolf took a big swig of the alcohol.

“Thanks..” He spoke back in common, before offering what was left of the bottle back to him. Even after the healing he spit up some blood, his armor still broken but the flesh where he had been pierced at least looked like it was closing up if albeit slowly given it was healing F that had been used in both instances.

“We were..trying to get to the floor boss.. I heard you all fighting in the other room.But we got around it completely..there was a hidden passage that lets you move through some of the walls..” He gestured to a panel in the room that wasn’t that far away.

“The floor boss is behind that door..” He’d point to the big one where the wood had already been removed.

“Unfortunately I made the mistake of unknowingly signing up with two criminals to come here, they presented as more experienced adventurers said they could come here..help me get to a lower floor so that I could rank up faster in the guild..but the knew that this statue trap would stab me and likely kill me..they took all my beast yen…and my mythril tanto..my ring..left me here for dead..said they were gonna report back to the guild that I was killed in action..while they maintained their disguise and now they’re probably in their killing the boss..you better watch out, they’re pretty strong..if you’re a bunch of new guild members..you might be better getting on out of here actually..how could I have been so foolish..”

Kain and Clarisse listened carefully to what was said.

Clarisse actions:
1. Move near injured warrior
2. Team up Heal them using Lume Satem M! - Magic F (flux), Light Affinity F, Earth Affinity E, Magic Targets F, Accurate Affinity F Magic Range F, Energized F,
Clarisse casts a minor light of healing to help heal, up to five allies up to 30 ft away. -F grade ability ( cooldown 0, Energized)

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

When the dust had settled and nothing else was moving in the room, Clarisse’s eyes narrowed a bit while she stopped and listened. Before after waiting a while she stopped.

“Oh, it’s not that involved, we’re merely meant to clear the first floor boss, which in this case the area considered the ‘first floor’ are these areas that we’ve been clearing. We do not need to clear another three levels that would be quite a tall ask for people who are..brand new. Not to say you couldn’t come back and try it for another job.” She stated in a bit of a less judgmental phrased way.

“We should be getting pretty close to the boss if that number of enemies was to go by..which I’ll say usually if you run into a lot of monsters on early floors..usually means you’re getting close.”

She then gave Marcelin a smug look, “What do you think the light infused in my elemental magic has been for? It’s not just to look pretty, magic that causes harm through radiance tends to harm undead more then other kinds, it’s why the skeletons were sizzling earlier, of course ‘holy magic’ could potentially be even more potent.”

“Naturally, my magic coverage is pretty extensive, but that’s because, let’s face it I’m…much more talented than my peers back at the academy Ohohohoho.” She fanned herself a bit as she gave a haughty laugh.

While Macelin looked through the barricades, he’d find that there were some more small looking monster cores near the skeletons that were no longer moving. He could pretty easily collect some of them if he so decided too. There was also what looked sort of like a modest sized really old dark bottle of some sort of alcohol based on the smell, it was labeled in beastial.

“If we’re ready lets get a move on.”

Kain nodded in agreement and moved over confidently before he opened the door like before using his enhanced strength.

Upon opening the door, yet another hallway was revealed, one which had similar mat flooring, and had a few stone statues depicting soldiers lined on either side periodically.

It was similarly sized but flat and at the end was an even larger ornate wooden door, with bestial talisman written like warnings plastered all over it, it looked like the wooden bar had already been removed from it, thrown off to the side.

But the scene was quickly intense, there was a young adult man with wolf ears and a tail who looked like he was wearing simple dark lacquered scale armor, with leg guards, a sash, and a plain sack on his back that looked like a backpack. his hair was Shaggy and medium length, dark his eyes an amber, looking more human than beast. It looked like he had dropped a katana on the ground, and he was writhing in pain, the creaking was from his feet hitting the floor boards, which were very bloodied.

The immediate issue was apparent, one of the stone ashigaru statues had impaled him with it’s stone spear, blood trickled out of his mouth, as he looked over to the group. He gasped and winced in pain, not even looking like he could speak, the breathing heavy and ragged.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Marcelin used his magical sing song prose which bolstered his allies, Kain, Clarisse and Samuel all felt a bit stronger and like their mind was sharper suddenly once more.

He then fired more bolts of magical energy, which struck and singed the 2nd line of skeleton’s armor. Thankfully for him, Kain moved in assertively and bought the group some time as three out of five of the 2nd row of skeletons opened fire on him and struck the card barrier, which while looking heavily damaged on Kain now, was exactly what the group needed him to do so that they could try to take the skeletons out.

One of the remaining two skeletons fired on Clarisse and the other one fired on Marcelin but the hit didn’t do much against Samuel’s card barrier support, and was weakened by his second volley of magic bolts which broke the skeletons’ remaining old armor.

Samuel’s appraisal told him that they had [Skeleton] [Monster] and [Tangashima Kaichi] titles on them, but a higher grade of appraisal would likely be needed to reveal a lot more than that. But it was clear to Samuel from his insight that they seemed to be reacting more instinctually not unlike constructs, rather then having much thoughtful looking strategy. Even as the skeletons tried to take cover while they reloaded it wasn’t fast enough.

Clarisse made her way forward 20 ft as well before she cast “[Lux Terra Percutius!]” five sizable runic fists glowing with radiance energy runes went flying and struck all five skeletons after their armor had been weakened by Marcelin’s magical barrage. Bones cracking and breaking at the heavy hit, getting burned a bit again at the radiance damage, the skeletons likely weak to it.

There wasn’t any more immediate movement in the room afterwards as bones clattered to the ground some broken behind the small barricade lines that had been made, however an audible creaking sound could be heard and it sort of sounded like it was coming from near the door, not inherently behind it but it was a bit odd to say the least, like it was localized in that general area.

Clarisse actions:
1. Move 20 ft toward second line
2. Use Lux Terra Percutius! - Magic E, Light Affinity F, Earth Affinity E, Magic Targets F, Accurate Affinity F Magic Range F, Focus E Energized E,
Clarisse causes up to five fists conjured from earth and light to bash up to five foes for light and earth affinity damage, up to 30 ft away. -E grade ability ( cooldown 0, Energized)

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

At the gun fire the party countered it with two strategic moves. First was Marcelin’s fluxed mana bolts which struck the shots themselves with a midair clash, and it looked like the projectiles themselves had been made less small, burned off by the magic, so when they actually hit their targets they hit the hedge your bets protection barrier which Samuel had put up barely even seeming to damage them.

Where Marcelin got further use was the next volley of bolts hit the skeletons who while they were reloading and getting ready to fire suddenly looked like they were trying to fire their weapons but it was as if their hands would not complete the action, thanks to Samuel’s follow up disruption spell. This allowed Marcelin’s bolts to strike some of the skeletons in the first row visibly damaging their old armor, with magical sear marks the material weakening further.

Kain stayed toward the front with the additional protection on him, his barrier looking abit less sturdy thanks to the two shots that hit

With the cover he called down divine surge, hitting the closest skeleton to him with lightning, which was Tanegashima Skeleton #3, it’s bones became charred after the attack.

Afterward Clarisse decided that she’d help lay on the damage. She moved through the doorway near the crates and cast her spell.

“[Lum Adiuvare Froz!]” She’d call out in terran with her fan held out as she cast, and suddenly five modest sized icicles that were pale and covered in a radiant light went flying at all five skeletons in the front row, they appeared to impale them on impact and cause am immediate smoking caused from the radiance damage. Between the coordinated attacks, the first row of skeletons fell, after their inferior old armor being damaged and them taking multiple direct hits.

“Let’s move up and keep on the pressure!” Clarisse announced to the group after the fact. The second row of skeletons looked like they were starting to aim but were not firing.

Clarisse actions:

1. Move to front of crates

2. Cast
Lum Adiuvare Froz! - Magic E + Light Affinity F + Magic Targets F + Magic Range F + Magic Affinity Penetration F+ Selective E + Energized E
Clarisse creates up to five radiant icicles to strike up to 30 ft away to better illuminate a space or strike targets dealing radiance damage. Ignores one grade of target’s defensively used item.

Kain actions:
Cast Divine Surge(Flux): [Elemental] Affinity [Lightning] F, Magic F, Magic Augmentor F [Range]. (Grade F, Cooldown 0.) (Lighting strikes a single target within 30 feet of Kain for immediate damage.) On Tangashima Skeleton #3

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Clarisse stayed toward the back of the group still. She was best back there for the time being anyway with the magic that she could use at a range. Though she couldn’t help but sigh a tad when Kain moved through the hall like nothing could go wrong.

The first thing was obvious, stepping on the floorboards quickly made a strange sound under them like metal rubbing against metal almost in a pattern that was reminiscent of a bird’s call, plus the creaking boards.

“I do hope that doesn’t mean anything important..” She continued, but since nothing immediately happened it seemed safe enough. It did seem Kain was able to shift the block out of it’s place on the door, and without anything immediately bad happening, Clarisse followed behind the group as they moved.

Everyone felt a bit stronger, and more clear in mind when Marcelin used his bolstering abilities once again, it likely made moving the large door block even easier for Kain.

When the large doors opened, it was a good thing that Samuel had readied “hedge your bets" cards flying around everyone to help protect them.

As soon as Kain took his step into the doorway, the sound of five muskets being fired rang out throughout the space, and Tanegashima musket balls went flying at the group, two toward Kain one at everyone else.

There were more skeletons wearing light worn gunner armor from Kuridan, this time with conical flat topped jingasa hats , five in a front row behind what looked like a barricade made of miscellaneous wood debris, that was just the right height for them to fire over, in the hallway from the group. They were about 30 ft away from the door. The space the same width as the hallway the group just came from.

Immediately the skeletons began to reload after their first shots like clockwork, granted albeit slower than their living counterparts.

The hallway behind the door also began a gradual incline up, and it became apparent that there was another row of five skeletons behind another barricade, about 30 ft away from the first line, who looked like they were at the ready to fire but did not yet.

The light looked dimmer down the hall but it was clear that there was another door further down.

Besides that in the space, there were some primitive looking old wooden crates next to the door which they had just opened on the left , and what looked like a few barrels with beastial labels on them just off to the right of the door. Some of the labels looked bolder and like they were some sort of hazard warning.

Combat start summary:

There be two rows of five skeletons behind make shift wooden barricades, the first row is 30 ft away from the door and they opened fire immediately when it opened with sightlines. Kain has x2 musket attacks coming his way due to being in the front.

Everyone else has X1 musket attack. coming their way.

The hallway behind the door gradually inclines upward, providing the second row of skeletons the ability to fire over the first line and avoid friendly fire, but they are not firing yet, the reason not disclosed.

There are some old wooden boxes off to the left of the door the group just opened. As well as three barrels to the right that are just out of the line of fire where the skeletons are shooting. The barrels have labels written in Beastial but even a non reader could likely tell some of the text is warnings.

The barricades are just tall enough for the skeletons to stand up and fire, then crouch behind when they’re reloading.

[East Empire] Operation Snatch Gear

Neo held his position for the time being down the hallway seeing that others were willing to jump in. Normally he did a lot of this stuff himself with Ool so it was nice to have some more teammates were they could get some hitting in rather than just Neo having to sneak up behind people and knock them out all the time, though he was sure he’d probably have to do more of that even on this heist, but he really didn’t mind either way, he already gave them all a great deal of information he was the mind map for this assignment, contributing in that way already.

He “watched” what unfolded silently with a bit of a smile on his face. Though he did raise a bit of a brow as to why there was interest in the guard grade spear, sure they were quality enough but it’s not like they were rare or anything, perhaps they could be sold on the secondary market illegally to people who were trying to pretend to be an East Empire guard, those were some of the thoughts that did occur to Neo, but he didn’t actively voice them.

Aren made his way up next to the guard which he had decided to go after without fail he then tapped the guard, who in fact did turn around as was natural, just as they were about to react and start questioning Aren with their weapon pointed toward him, it wasn’t long before all they could get out was “HEY YOU ARE-”

and they got punched in the face with the surprise attack.

Thankfully Marrion’s bug like agility made navigating the hallway pretty easy as she moved in quickly.

While the other guard was getting ready to stab Aren with his spear, it was raised facing him and they were mid pivot, exclaiming "TAKE THI-" Marrion jumped off the wall and tackled them for a surprise attack while she yanked the spear out of their hands with superstrength and she got to work choking them.

It was at that point that Neo made his way over quickly and gave them a quick palm strike to the wind pipe while Marrion held them down, so that the guard lost consciousness faster on the off chance anyone else nearby might hear the sounds.

He then gave a nod to her and Aren, “Good work..let’s get a move on.” He said softly, moving down the hall, people did have a chance to try to grab stuff off the guards if they wanted too.

“There will be another left coming up..” Neo spoke softly gesturing for the others to follow him further down the hall, until they hit the left, and he looked around the corner with Ool before gesturing for the group that they were in the clear, there were some wooden doors in the hallway that appeared to be locked about 3 on each side spread out from each other, but Neo didn’t seem very interested in those, perhaps already knowing from his scouting that there wasn’t anything really worth stealing behind them at the moment.

Thankfully this time there weren’t more guards in the hallway but there appeared to be a sizable wooden crate which top had partially been broken off while it was on its’ side. It did look a bit out of place but not entirely with the context that it was a damaged facility that wasn’t in current optimized use and was largely just being guarded from intruders. One would need to spend time to look in the crate to see if there was anything of interest.

Farther down the hall beyond the crate the there was a t-section which must mean the right that Neo had been talking about would be coming up.

“This might get a bit more..dicey.” He forewarned the group softly, as Ool continued to fly and glide gradually above the group keeping pace.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Clarisee followed after the others as they began their way down the corridor. She gave Marcelin a bit of a smug smile when he praised her magical might, "I'm glad that at least some of you can recognize true magical quality." She fanned herself a bit passively after as she moved along.

Samuel didn’t immediately see anything particularly problematic with skill usage at a surface level as the group went down the stairs. Kain found his mind feeling a bit sharper and a stronger than usual from the bolster that Marcelin used on him as he headed down the corridor quickly.

As they went further down the hallway widened some, and the group would encounter a longer flat hallway made of the same dark stone, but there were some carvings in beastial script in pillars along the walls. Strangely enough though the floor looked like it was now made of cypress hardwood planks.

Periodically along the hallway looked like a few stone tori gates that had some tailsmen scattered around them again some of the talisman sort of looked erratic and written in a way that not even being able to read the language one could probably surmise that they were warnings.

At the very end of the hallway there appeared to be a large wooden door with a pretty good sized wooden beam across it, however the party would likely be able to slide the beam away from the door to open it if they so desired. The torches along the walls flickered some.

“Hm..as much as an expert I am..it what makes these dungeons harder to navigate is that they can change over time and rearrange themselves with new enemies and traps..it doesn’t always happen, infact when the change happens can actually be rather sporadic timing wise from my understanding..but when it dos it can create situations like the mimics earlier or..a hallway that looks safe but odd..”

“In short if you’re smart you’ll becareful moving through here.” She announced matter of fact ,even if nothing looked immediately dangerous.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

"You'll find that a lot of monsters have cores and stuff like that." Clarisse responded matter of fact almost a bit boredly, examining one of her finger nails a bit closer after she said it, as if to make sure it wasn't broken, before looking back around to everyone.

"But most peasants you meet won't be able to even handle one of those, so the core has some value to some people." Claisse asserted. Nodding at what Samuel had to say some. She then made her way over to the unoccupied button seeing that everyhone else was hitting one.

"Right then, You all ARE pretty safe with me here, just make sure you're careful what you touch. Might as well do a thorough job if we're going to go through the trouble of it all."

She said with a bit of a smug expression on her face, before she made her way over and elbowed the last button that wasn't being pressed by the group.

When each button was pressed they made a small click sound before suddenly the room began to shake briefly, causing Clarisse to look a bit more alert and ready her fan. But thankfully it did not seem like the group was in immediate danger, instead a wall began to slide open revealing another pathway which had been hidden, it was a dimly lit stone corrior which was only wide enough for about three of them to stand side by side, but it looked like some arrows had been written on the wall in a blue arcane color that glowe,d slightly, indicating to follow the path, perhaps it was left behind by other people who had ventured on the first floor before the floor had shifted around again as the floors tended to from time to time according to people who scouted and investigated the floors more regularly to give reports about their current status.

From what the group could see the new path revealed started to incline down gradually with some steps.

"it looks like we may have found a shortcut." Clarisse eventually said.

"Might as well check it out, they mainly care about you guys showing that you can beat the first floor boss to advance, course extra stuff isn't bad along the way but the sooner we beat that boss the sooner the job is successful."