Viva La DWRP

It’s an overnight trip on whatever small ship the Corsairs were able to spare in order to get to the part of Hesaeth where Emery claims a monster is awaiting them. Most of that trip is best spent resting up for the battle ahead.

Still, that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to do. If you’re here to act as chauffeur instead of combatant then you’ll be up and about keeping the ship on track. And there’s a little time to talk among yourselves, to make last minute preparations and plans for the battle ahead.

From:

Emery himself is available to talk to, although he’s being uncharacteristically quiet, standing on the deck, gazing into the distance and idly stroking the frame of his lyre.

From:

The assault on Python takes place in the early morning, when the sun is still only a sliver of light at the horizon. The relative lack of light makes Emery a bit antsy but it’s enough to see by considering the extremely sparse foliage of the desert. And the earliness of the hour means that the desert is relatively cool, which is important for a few members of the team.

Emery has lead the group up a rocky slope, following along the path of an old, rusty cart track. The sparse foliage is even sparser up here, and what few shrubs remain are withered and discolored, clearly either already dead or on the verge of it. The air is unpleasantly dry.

After a fair bit of trekking Emery comes to a stop and says “Ah. There it is.”

He points to the mine’s opening near the top of the slope, dug out of the dirt and rock and supported by withered old beams. It’s not that impressive, but the inside of the mineshaft is black as pitch and it’s impossible to tell from the outside how far down it all goes.

Emery turns to the group.

“I’ll go in a short way and start playing to lure Python out. The rest of you find good positions around the entrance and prepare to attack it as soon as we come out.”

Drily, he adds “And try not to hit me instead of Python.”

From:

Natalia is helping to run the Humboldt while the Grand Penguin is in for repairs after a heck of a fight against, of all things, a dragon.

There's a storm threatening to blow in. Natalia watches it with a wary eye.

She'll also be assisting in combat operations-- the Humboldt is not a completely single-person vessel-- but she wishes this wasn't yet another time she's riding to battle.

Still, there's something about sailing...

From:

Link has come to this particular battle prepared. He's dressed in his Hylian amour - although he had to swap out the fingerless gloves for ones that would completely cover his skin - and has brought a number of bottles filled with a deep-red liquid.

Because Link doesn't actually know any recipes for elixirs that defend against poison - Hyrule doesn't really have much in the way of poisonous wildlife - he's made made the next best thing from the lizards Ilphyll has been breeding for him.

"Hearty Elixir," he says, as he insistently holds one the bottles out for the others to take. These potions won't just restore health - they'll give extra vitality.

From:

The kodama had more or less insisted on going once the matter had been brought to his attention. Perhaps it's unusual for someone who's more familiar as a healer to be so eager to commit violence, but at the same time, perhaps not, given his track record. But then it's not particularly his eagerness to do such things that has him here.

The news of some toxic creature engineered by the Imperials is one thing, but it being an active threat to the land and everything attached to it is a genuine concern. Not that Tau enjoys the prospect of having to ferret the thing out of the mines, he already dislikes being in the Vault any longer than he has to. Which is probably why he's out on the deck as well, enjoying what fresh air there is as they make way.

He looks over at Emery, walking over towards him. Tau doesn't know a whole lot about him, but then that goes for so many of the Corsairs, and it's not like he shares a whole lot about himself.

"Anything more we need to be aware of before we get there?"

From:

Link gives a short, sharp nod, before quietly moving into position.

He climbs up the slope, choosing a small outcrop to perch on and draw his bow. He'll likely move in closer as the battle progresses - but to start, it's always good to have a little range.

From:

Tau observes the dying shrubbery with a strange solemness, which puts him towards the back of the group, but he always catches up rather quickly, even if he happens to stop. Whenever he does, it's to kneel beside the plants, checking whether they still have fight. The arid atmosphere isn't really great for them, but if they've managed to come up at all, then perhaps they can hold out a bit more, and for those, they always seem to have perked up a touch in Tau's wake.

His expression sours when they finally come upon their destination. The beams do not look at all very sturdy, the potential to be trapped inside by a sudden cave-in not at all appealing. But at least it seems they won't be doing any mine roaming after all, for which Tau sighs quietly in relief.

"Try not to stand in the way," he says just as dryly. After watching Link scrabble up for a higher position, Tau steps off to the side of the mine's entrance. He slides, of all things, a twig from a pocket of his belt pouch, channeling some energy into it as he twirls it between his fingers, and within its circuit it grows, extending into a full-length staff.

From:

Emery glances over at the sound of Tau's approach.

"I think I've shared all the information I have," he says. "About the conditions and our opponent. Did you have any specific questions?"

From:

"Is there the potential that this creature can be restored to whatever it was?" Tau asks, seeming almost hesitant before he continues. "Or it too far gone? I don't know what the Imperials do with their experiments but I know they don't hold back on atrocities if it churns out an edge for them in some way."

From:

Emery looks at Tau for a moment, then shakes his head. "No, I don't think so. I couldn't find out much about its creation, but I don't think it was a straightforward transformation anyway."

From:

Tau's expression is neutral as he soaks that information in. He nods.

"So it's better to put it out of its misery." It's upsetting, but if killing the creature is a mercy, he won't hesitate. He knows the real party responsible.

"...do you know if there are others?"

From:

"Oh there are plenty of beings used for Imperial ether experiments," Emery says. "The Python's situation is special in that it got dumped in the below lands and by the amount of damage it can do if left alone."

Internally, Emery reflects that there are Imperial weapons that can annihilate people very easily, but Python's more of a potential long-term environmental concern.

From:

"Tch."

It's not exactly a great answer to hear, but still largely unsurprising.

"Imperials are idiots," the kodama snorts, scrubbing a hand through his hair. They think that just because they live on their floating islands, they won't have to concern themselves with the world below.

From:

Emery huffs a laugh, the sound rueful. "To the point, aren't you?"

He's quiet for a bit longer, staring out at the water. Thinking about the Imperials he knows, and wondering if he still counts as one.

"-They don't expect to clean up their own messes," he says. "Most of the time, they don't have to. They see it as... There's them, and everyone else just exists to be used."

From:

"Always," Tau replies, but then he's always been one to speak his mind.

His nose wrinkles as he steps over to the railing, leaning against it as he looks out at the skies. It's probably easy to overlook what isn't within their eyesight.

"Of course. Everything is a resource to them. Even people. If it didn't cost so much for everyone else, the clearest way to make them see how badly they're screwing themselves over would be to let them ruin themselves."

From:

frost_and_shinies

Kaitlyn, while she may have helped with a few things, is not particularly useful on the sails except for a borderline party trick or two with freezing something for a few moments to make it move.

She's instead moved to a corner of wherever Natalia is, and tried to set up a bit. Blanket, idly toying with something from her bag... Trying not to think about the storm.

Trying not to think too hard about why she agreed to this particular mission.

From:

She leans towards port, feeling even her muscles stress as the front picks up and the Humboldt threatens to list starboard. "We outrun the wind."

The fact is, though, she's started to be able to do this without thinking.

Which leaves her a lot of time to think, or at least, attempt to clear her mind.

Though whether they outrun the storm is a good question. "... I will admit. Strange monsters from places stranger... is a professional interest."

From:

She's a little wary of what goes in her body. And yet... "thank you, friend. To your health, then."

From:

"Thanks~"

Sarcasms duly exchanged, there's no reason to hesitate further. Emery silently summons up a few small orbs of light to hover around him, then ventures into the dark.

For several long minutes, there isn't much to observe from the surface. The glow of the magical lights soon goes out of sight from the entrance, and all is quiet.

Inside, the air has a pungent metallic smell that worsens the further away from the entrance he gets. Emery observes the wooden support beams are particularly worn and corroded low to the ground, where the Python may have brushed against them as it went in and out of the mine. Maybe a more sensible plan would have been to collapse the mine while Python is inside... But it'd be harder to confirm if they killed it, let alone to start purifying its resting place.

The path has a subtle downward slope and curve to it, up until Emery finally reaches a fork in the path. Not wanting to risk getting lost, he decides this will do. Emery raises his lyre, and begins to play.

Come to me, Python. I'm calling to you.

The music is very faint from outside the mine, but those with sharp ears will be able to hear it. It's a brisk, energetic tune and Emery plays tirelessly for quite a while.

Eventually, the music stops.

A few moments later there is the sound of footsteps rapidly drawing closer. And a heavy rhythmic drumming noise.

And then Emery dashes out of the mine like a bat out of hell, lyre clutched in a death grip and feet skittering over the dry soil as he abruptly finds himself half-running, half-falling down the hill. He's so busy trying not to faceplant that he almost doesn't have time to be afraid of the eighteen-foot long lizard that bursts out of the mine behind him.

Its hide is black and glistens like an oil slick, clawed feet tear up the ground as it dashes down the slope, and it oozes a translucent fluid from its body that drips and shines on the ground like a snail trail. Emery's stopped playing, but Python still makes a beeline directly for him.

From:

Waiting is always a tiresome thing, but Tau remains vigilant, propping a foot on top of the boulder he stands behind. He has his staff tucked under his arm while he grips it, easy to bring to a ready position when called for.

He tilts his head when he thinks he catches the faintest strains of song, eyes narrowing as he glances towards the entrance to the mine. It's when the music stops that he straightens, tensing ever slightly. ...and then there's a new sound.

"Head's up!" he shouts to the others, but it's soon enough that the sounds from the mine can be heard by all.

As much as he might have anticipated Emery's rushed exit, Tau's almost surprised by how fast the other rushes out, unable to grab him in time before he has to jerk back as the larger creature bursts out nearly right at Emery's heels. The sheer toxicity of the creature is enough to make the kodama recoil.

What a nasty thing! Tau gathers himself up, darting from his position. His own steps are fleet and light, almost like he flies across the ground, devouring the distance that had made for the headstart the Python had in seconds. And then he leaps to cover the rest, sleeves billowing as he brings up his arms and spins his staff above his head, swinging it to drive an end downwards against the back of the thing's neck.

From:

spacetogrow

Ilphyl had declined to participate in the fight, as they hadn't known if they would be uncursed. But they could offer to both crew the ship -- managing a houseboat for months has improved their ability with watercraft -- and be on hand for healing afterward. One can find them during the night, as few can beat a dark elf for sight in near darkness. They are happy to chat as they guide the ship.

As dawn breaks (and they plan to rest as other crew come on deck), Ilphyl does take the time to prepare their spells. Traditionally, they should be doing so at moonrise, but they were still at the tiller then, and the crescent moon is still in the sky. The preparation is much a prayer and a song as an exercise in memory, and not in a language any of the other Corsairs speak (but someone from Ilphyl's world might recognize it as the Drow dialect of Elven, likely Ilphyl's native tongue).

From:

"I see it!" Natalia says, whipping out-- those goddamned meteor hammers again. What is her obsession with weapons on ropes?

It's really all down to this-- was her training and skill with the weapon enough to do what she hoped it would the entire time she'd been working on dance as a method to channel her power?

It snaps forth like a stinging cobra, stopping just short of Python's mouth, before releasing an explosion of ice and whipping back to her hand. It's a play to keep its attention off the others. "I am prepared to assist in whatever manner needed."

From:

Maybe Link shouldn't mention that this particular drink was made out of lizards and monster parts, then.

"Your health," Link insists - not being familiar enough with the phrase, 'to your health', to realise that it's a standard toast. "Had mine already."

From: