Day 2: Monster Arrival

[wizardseason]

Afternoon: 12:00noon - Evening

[ IRL Timeframe: April 1st - April 14th, 2019 ]

Unfortunately for the heroes, only one of them has an easy time when the monsters arrive. In the history of the wizard fights, it was rare but not unheard of for multiple monsters to arrive. Years 12, 22, and 30 had featured three of a monster but only one was real. Year 9 had featured the tenth monster as ten individuals that all came together into one. And, most strangely, years 4, 13, 26, and 37 had featured a monster that had an active and an inactive body.

This year, the second monster appears in two places.

The first arrives in Craydon, its massive body just a ball of metallic spikes with two bright orange eyes in the middle. It looks like a massive urchin, its body easily close to ten feet across where it's sitting on the train tracks ahead of the train arriving. Its spikes stick out easily another ten feet in every direction, making it a gigantic terrifying ball. The party train's arrival to its 12:25pm destination ends with the conductor locking up the brakes to bring the train to a stop. This sucks!

The second arrives in Bamborough, its massive body easily sixty feet up in the air suspended atop dozens of small, thin metallic spikes for legs. Its two orange eyes scan down at the world below, its spherical body covered in smaller spike nubs on all other sides. The eyes aren't fixed in place, either, and they're scanning the oceanfront as it moves around. It's definitely looking for something and it's visible for miles. Good luck, everyone!

Monster Fight Opportunity: Craydon: Luka, Gyre, Web, Olivia, Joanna.
Monster Fight Opportunity: Bamborough: Haizea, Seth, Garrot, Gail, Zafika, Terrence, Matilda.

---

The Weather

• Windy.
• 61°F / 16°C
• The trees are rustling, leaves flowing through the air.

---

Prompts:

• 12:25pm Train Arrival: The party train comes to its final destination in Craydon at 12:25pm. The reason that it's a final destination is due to the monster on the tracks. Oh god, it's right there? Oh god, oh GOD??? When the train comes to a screeching halt, all the non-heroes quickly scamper out of the train to flee for safety. Good luck, heroes!


• 12:30pm, Ramen, Far Haven: Social Media is abuzz that the Wizard has left the power plant and has gone to one of the chain ramen restaurants in Far Haven. The restaurant is known for its decent ramen, but everyone knows it can't compare to the local shops around the island. This is the "I just want to eat" ramen restaurant. But more importantly, this one has some sports bar qualities and has TVs up on the walls to watch. The Wizard is here, seated close to one of the TVs, and she's watching the events unfolding in Craydon and Bamborough. How is she doing that? Who's recording?


• 12:30pm, The Bamborough Monster: Out on the waterfront boardwalk, the monster is lumbering its way along the wooden walkways seemingly in search of something. The few shops that were open are closing up as quickly as possible, the last thing they need is their already minimal business ruined by a visit from this monster. Please, someone come help.


• ??:??pm: Unknown What happens next?

---

Procedure:

Reply to the appropriate toplevel comments for events below. Indicate if a post is a private conversation with "Private" in the subject otherwise all threads should be open to interaction with others. Plan OOCly how you'd like to toss everyone around.

Comments

12:25pm Train Arrival:

[wizardseason]

The party train comes to its final destination in Craydon at 12:25pm. The reason that it's a final destination is due to the monster on the tracks. Oh god, it's right there? Oh god, oh GOD??? When the train comes to a screeching halt, all the non-heroes quickly scamper out of the train to flee for safety. Good luck, heroes!

[eutychia]

As Luka and Gyre approach the clearing where villagers had gathered in meditation, Luka stops suddenly in his tracks. There's a certain change in the air, and he feels a familiar feeling overcoming him: that sense of urgency pulling him in ... two different directions.

"There's two monsters. They're here," he says.

[sustainer]

Gyre pauses a few steps in front of Luka, glancing back at him in confusion. Why are they--

"Oh." Oh. "Okay, uh," he murmurs, taking a quick, deep breath. They really aren't going to get a break for these two weeks, he's realizing. "Which direction? I'll get us there, if you'll guide me."

[disguiseself]

[Dong ding! The group chat got a new text!]

"spiky ball monster @ train near craydon. i'm alone with it afaik"

[spookyroomba]

[holyshitholyshitholyshit

So Web actually was near the meditation woods, nomming on the occasional leaf or blade of grass, when they get the text. Without so much as a by-your-leave, they practically one-goat-stampede out of there, past anyone else in the area, and aiming right for where they know the train station is.

Thankfully, Aq is in tow. Looking over at the rooster, they nod.] Once we get there, can I have a harpoon on a chain? Couple feet of chain should do well, I hope...if you think it's not enough, then I guess do what seems best!

[They will probably need to do some strength training in order to wield it properly, but for now, at least they have some idea on what weapon to use here. Besides, if they're careful...]

[disguiseself]

[Oh god, oh fuck.

Olivia helps the citizens flee the train safely, instructing them to be quiet, fast, and stay far, far away from the tracks. She doesn't look like usual when she does, of course, instead masking herself to appear as a silver haired, scarred veteran - someone who at least looks like she knows what she's doing, because she sure doesn't.

Once everyone is out of the way, she sends a text to the group chat the other Knights had set up the day before, carefully looking out of the window to watch the monster. She won't lie, it looks rad as fuck, but how is she supposed to fight it by herself?

She sighs, her voice coming out a little shaky as she calls out for her companion, glancing around the car.] Iv...?

[wizardseason]

[ It was always nice to get the chance to get out and stretch and this moment was no exception. The moment Iv is called upon, she arrives close behind Olivia with her arms folded. Benefits of being able to stand upright this year: Hands! ]

[ But something about this year felt different, because she felt compelled and came here automatically without even really thinking about it. Despite the slight confusion, she answers Olivia with confidence. ]

I'm here.

[disguiseself]

Oh, thank God.

[Olivia turns to face her, wringing her hands nervously as she speaks in a hushed tone.]

The monster is right outside! I don't think any of the other Knights are near - I'm not sure what to do...

12:30pm, Ramen, Far Haven:

[wizardseason]

Social Media is abuzz that the Wizard has left the power plant and has gone to one of the chain ramen restaurants in Far Haven. The restaurant is known for its decent ramen, but everyone knows it can't compare to the local shops around the island. This is the "I just want to eat" ramen restaurant. But more importantly, this one has some sports bar qualities and has TVs up on the walls to watch. The Wizard is here, seated close to one of the TVs, and she's watching the events unfolding in Craydon and Bamborough. How is she doing that? Who's recording?

[roaryrory]

Rory can't BELIEVE the Wizard would ditch her like that. The gall! And to invite her to ramen before teleporting away? Uuuuugh, now she has to figure out which restaurant she's in. She has to keep an eye on her before she does something bad!!

Out of the multiple ramen places in Far Haven, she manages to walk into two - and instantly walk out upon realizing her adversary isn't in them - before finally getting it right. She was this close to giving up, too. She's obviously huffy and annoyed when she walks in, and it's a miracle she doesn't break the glass on the door upon her arrival.

"I believe you owe me an apology!!!!!"

As her full attention is on the Wizard, she hasn't realized exactly what she's watching yet. God help her when she does.

[wizardseason]

Unfortunately for Rory, the Wizard doesn't even look up from where she's sitting. She stays in place, but her hand drifts to one of the menus. She picks it up and offers it to Rory without looking at her.

"I hope you're hungry for lunch, Tiger knight."

She doesn't even acknowledge the apology part. Sorry Rory, she's not sorry. Being the Wizard is just what she does, and teleporting is a part of of being the Wizard.

[roaryrory]

Hey! You can't just ignore what Rory is saying! True, she did the exact same thing with her previously, but that's because the Wizard was being nonsensical. Rory here is very sensical, on the other hand. She deserves that apology; you don't just invite someone for ramen and then disappear on them.

"I'm hungry for justice if anything!!" She raises her voice, and utilizes her earlier training to knock over chairs around the Wizard - not any that bystanders were occupying, of course.

12:30pm, The Bamborough Monster:

[wizardseason]

Out on the waterfront boardwalk, the monster is lumbering its way along the wooden walkways seemingly in search of something. The few shops that were open are closing up as quickly as possible, the last thing they need is their already minimal business ruined by a visit from this monster. Please, someone come help.

[fop_lop]

Terrence is lying down on a makeshift couch of three folding chairs shoved together when his phone buzzes with a text notification. One of his arms dangles limply to the ground as the other rests on his forehead in classic dramatic fainting position. For all of his theatrics, he really has been going at it hard this morning, surprising even himself. Since the rabbit is taking a break anyhow, he decides to give the message a read.

Fuck.

Shooting up to a sitting position immediately, Terrence waves one arm to flag down the others, "Everyone! The second monster has arrived!" Olivia is the only one to have messaged so far, so he's only aware of a single monster. While they've all moved to different parts of the gym, he's at least still in the same room as Haizea.

[scandeled]

Matilda's got similar theatrics going on in the next room, her goggles pushed up onto her forehead, shoving her bangs in dramatic directions. Her feet were propped up onto the table, and she had been tilting her chair back onto the hind legs, gazing at her phone with a dull, tired expression.

When Terrence shoots up and calls out, she very nearly falls out of her chair. In fact, the chair does clatter to the floor- she's just already teleported to behind Terrance. She leans over his shoulder, trying to snoop at what's on his phone. "Really? Where?"

[silentwords]

Seth on the other hand just buries his face in his hands and makes a silent groan. Hehad sat down in a corner to try and recover from a morning of pretty much nothing but training...he'd been serious about not wanting to be a burden.

And now the second monster was here. Fucking great.

With a sigh he quickly got his phone out to check the message in the group chat, as well as look through social media for possible extra information...

And very quickly finds the social media abuzz, not only from the monster that stopped the train...but from the monster waltzing through Bamborough.

Oh this was just fan-fucking-tastic!

"I got more bad news! It's not just one, there's a second one taking a stroll here in Bamborough at the waterfront!"

Team Reckless Endangerment (Garrot, Terrence, Gail)

[daddykong]

Garrot knew he was a big guy, it wasn't something he often forgot. But the fact that he's too big for Gail to safely carry him? That hurts. Mostly because it's an inconvenience. So he and his team have stopped in an alleyway leading to the boardwalk, so they can at least catch their breath before they're in danger.

"So what's the plan? I can distract it on my own if I have to," he waves with the poleax he's acquired when nobody was looking, holy shit, "but what do you two wanna do?" Really, he just wants to know those two won't charge in if he's waving around a long, bladed weapon.

"Unless we want to ride Gail together?" Garrot chuckles, because he may not take that suggestion seriously. And it may or may not have connotations. But hey, jokes are good for morale!

[fop_lop]

After noticing Garrot's weapon, Terrence readies his own shortsword. Even if Sucecq can conjure it at will, the knight has taken to keeping it on his person at all times. It makes him feel ever so slightly safer - he certainly seems less skittish at any rate.

"I... Don't believe there's room for you, big boy," Terrence teases, picking up on the innuendo and laying down some of his own. He gives Gail's side a light pat, "I'll just have to keep you for myself at the moment."

After seeing images of the monster, Terrence has had a bit of a think on the way over. Before they can even really react to his ribbing, the rabbit continues, "It's a rather immense target, and we've quite the space to maneuver... We'd only get one shot, but if Gail and myself can gain some distance thanks to your distraction, I could magnify his muscles as he builds up momentum and throws a javelin or somesuch at it."

"You'd be minus a weapon, but it seems a hard target to miss and surely would cause some maiming. Hopefully, by then Seth will have made progress on entangling it."

He's got an idea for what to do at that point as well, but that's... Probably best left for once they actually get that far.

[partyhorse]

Gail did feel very bad that he was unable to carry Garrot, but the other man was simply too big and heavy for him. He did pick up the innuendo though which made him blush slightly. God now was not the time!!

"Well I suppose I can run around it? I'm uh, pretty fast and can maybe probably dodge the legs? And I can ask for a javelin or something if you guys think it's worth a shot to throw something? It's body is very high up though..." Gail rambled on, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. At least he wasn't running around mindlessly this time but...

Team Livewire (Haizea, Seth)

[tropicalstorm]

Now that Haizea and Seth had been paired up for their monster assault, they had to figure out a way to get there. Haizea exits the gym, Seth in tow, and looks around before her gaze lands on an older model sedan parked on the street outside. Perfect. She heads over to it, gesturing for Seth to follow her. She tries the door handle, but it's locked. If she had more time, she could do this a bit more neatly, but it's an emergency, right?

"Cover your ears and eyes, this is gonna be loud and dangerous," she warns, before swinging a baseball bat she'd brought from inside the gym into the driver side window, shattering it into a million pieces.

Re: Team Livewire (Haizea, Seth)

[silentwords]

Seth blinks in confusion before doing as Haizea asked him, kind of wrapping his arms around his face, good that had to look weird, taking a couple of steps back actually to be safe.

...Annnd then there's the sounds of glass shattering into a million pieces.
Seth can't help but drop his arms slightly to peek over them, and just staring kind of wide eyed for a moment. Did she just...? She did. Wow.

He doesn't quite lower his arms yet though, since Haizea hadn't told him to.

[tropicalstorm]

Haizea reaches through the now glassless window and unlocks the door, then pulls out a switchblade from her boot to use as a screwdriver and removes a panel under the steering column. She pulls out the wires and uses the switchblade to strip the insulation off of a few of them, then twists two of them together. At this point, the radio flips on and starts blaring whatever the equivalent of country music is (she immediately switches it off), so she's finally ready to spark the engine. It takes a few tries, but finally the engine stutters to life and she revs it a few times to keep it going. Yep, she's done it! She's hotwired a car!

"You ready to head to the boardwalk?" She asks, leaning out of the car and grinning sheepishly at Seth. Here's hoping he's cool with this!

Team Sabotage (Zafika, Matilda)

[zafika]

Zafika has led Matilda a little bit closer to where the monster is, but they can't see it yet, and she can't hear it, while they can. Unfortunate downside to being a human, in their opinion at least. They hold their dagger close as they fix their hold on it, eyes glancing towards Matilda.

"Alright, are you ready? I'll try to do as much as I can, so when the monster notices us it shouldn't try to target you. If it does, do as Garrot told you to, and run. Survival is the most important bit, I can hold off on my own to let you escape, but I promise I'll follow as soon as I can." They pause, and take a deep breath, forcing down their own nervousness over being in charge of Matilda's safety as well. "We can do this. I trust you."

[scandeled]

Matilda’s face is pale as she adjusts her goggles, for once missing her bright flush. There’s something so much more nerve wracking this time- with their team split between two monsters. And now Zafika’s counting on her, which makes the entire thing a billion times worse- people depending on her doesn’t always turn out the greatest. Still, she can’t let Zafika down, so she nods at them.

“Right— I’m ready!” She nods again, more forcefully this time, ignoring the feeling of uncertanty that’s pooling in her stomach, especially when the trust word comes out. That brings the scarlet back to her cheeks at least. “I won’t let you down.” She sounds sure of herself about that at least, as she holds out a gloved hand for them to take.

[zafika]

Zafika pats Matilda's arm quickly, before they lead her to sneak closer to the monster, taking the back alley's and tight passages to have as many chances to hide as possible. If the thing is as tall as it seems, they can't just teleport next to it, they'll never reach it. And soon enough, they have visual on the Bamborough monster, and fucking hell, it is just as tall. They dig out their phone, to give Garrot a quick report.

'Its body is sixty feet up in the air, ten feet wide and covered in dense sea urchin-like spikes, they fan out the further they get from the body. It has six sturdy but thin legs, so either we go for ranged attacks, or we topple it over and immobilize it on the ground. The latter could work better.'

After sending the message they stowe their phone away, and watch the monster for a bit longer. "Matilda, can you get us on top of its body? I don't think we can do enough damage to its legs, we need to get up there to really cause any harm."