【fallen stars vs TREE】

[berriah]

Punch A Tree Log

SHRINES LORE DROP LOCATIONS FAQ NPC CONTACT MAY MINGLE MAID WEEK CLAIMS LIST

❤

A Twisted Rumor

It's the day after the Fallen Star Meeting regarding the recent rumor. As morning brightens the city's night, stories are making their way from the bottom level to the top.

"The cherry blossom tree isn't going to hurt us, is it? It looks so scary."

For those who have learned the truth about rumors, this may especially distressing to hear. There's no time to wait: If anything is going to be done to save the tree's spirit, it must be done now.

The current plan is to address the tree spirit's wish to be remembered and acknowledged by holding a picnic by the lonely cherry blossom tree. Fallen Stars hope to reenact the lively Reblooming parties that had been happening on the upper levels all month. This tree, though the origin of that tradition, exists at the bottom level of Starsand City: Where spirits and kami are still feared. The hope is that this party will soothe the raging spirit and bring it peace... and, ideally, bring back all of the people who have recently gone missing.

But the meeting also ended on a note of caution. If the spirit will not peacefully give up the missing people, then more drastic measures may need to be taken. And... Spoiler alert, but this log is titled tree FIGHT.

Timeline of Events

This log will operate a bit different from normal! It's also an experiment, so if it doesn't work then apologies in advanced! In order to maintain an easy-to-follow timeline of events, there will be a top-level for each stage of the encounter. As the encounter progresses, new top-levels will be added to reflect each stage of the Rumor.

Character top-levels are still welcome, but please try to use the top-levels for time sensitive threads. Threadjacking is welcomed & encouraged, though please be respectful of one another. And of course, make use of the feedback section!

Backtagging is also still welcome. Event stages will be staggered over the course of the next week & past threads still have time to make an impact. Please don't feel rushed!

!

Timeline of Toplevels

OOC Check-In - There will be IC consequences for participating!

Feedback - Yell at me

Questions - Ask questions, Get Answers

---

The Night Before - For preparation during the night.

The Morning Of - For preparations before heading out for the picnic.

Hanami on the First Level - The picnic that was planned at the meeting.

A Shift in Tone - Reacting to the battle start.

Battle Guidelines

• Battle A - VS Tree Spirit
  
• Battle B - VS Bread
  
• Battle C - VS ???
  
• Battles D - VS Lost Spirits
  

Aftermath - Victory Party!

code

Comments

[nightwild]

Oh no you don't!

[Fauna throws, from within her sleeves, several ofuda. Some of them become streaks of fire, and some of them become spears of ice, all aimed at the main body of the creature.]

[marshmallowpurgatory]

[Pidonus doesn't even hesitate - as she sees Fauna starting to throw some kind of magicked projectile, she simply raises her rapier to strike at the grasping arm even as she jumps back, continuing her song all the while.]

[bluemackerel]

[Well, this is interesting. Dazai's been mostly keeping to himself throughout this mess, but...]

Well. Never passed up a stupid death attempt before.

[That, and that song is really inspiring.

The best he can do for now is to slide in with a shotgun, however, shooting a few bullets at the goop beast. Let's see how invulnerable it is to that, try to sus out any weaknesses...]

...Pardon me, ladies. Hope you don't mind me cutting in.

[undermoonlight]

Dazai-san, please don't say such things!

[Like the loyal helper he is, Atsushi rushed in after Dazai. Just another melee fighter, though he's yet to transform his body into that of the weretiger. Instead, Atsushi is taking the next few seconds to assess the situation. He doesn't want to get in the way of two melee fighters and a shotgun.]

Is there a plan in place?

Slots filled! Thank you!

[ai_nnihilate]

[The creature's torso opens like a mouth and swallows the magic projectiles, then shoots them out of its 'mouth' at Pidonus. Even when Dazai shoots it, the strange creature seems unbothered. The holes fill over with more goo and it continues its attempts to reach the bard's neck.]

"If only we were real. ♪ If only we were real. ♪ Then maybe you could hurt us. ♪"

[It sings in a cruel tone, grin spreading unnaturally on its face.]

Re: Slots filled! Thank you!

[marshmallowpurgatory]

[As the projectiles get grabbed, Pidonus is already starting to step to one side, her singing continuing as she accelerates and launches into the air to evade the redirected strike from Fauna. That tone...

If it was being correct, then this was an 'unreal' creature. Ethereal, perhaps. Which meant-]

URK!

[And then the claw managed to get at her neck, cutting off the song and its magic. Immediately, however, she was moving to strike at its arm with her sword, to try and force it to release her.

If she could avoid using her plan 'B', that'd be ideal, but...]

[nightwild]

If only you were real, then maybe you'd have a chance against me.

[Fauna isn't happy that her projectiles are being redirected, though. But there was all that talk of purification... So, there's only one thing to do.

She reaches to her side and hits a button on her changer- "Fox Finisher!", the device announces- and points her arms forward. From her sleeves come countless ofuda, hanging in the air like a wall, before one at a time, rapid-fire, they start arcing towards the monster, cloaked in purifying light... and also, exploding into said light on contact.]

Myriad Flower Profusion!

[As each ofuda flies out from the wall, another flies from her sleeve to replace it, a concentrated bombing of destructive purifying power that continues for a good moment...

Of course, using your finisher at the start never works, but maybe it will this time?]

[bluemackerel]

You should be used to it by now, Atsushi...

[Hm. So his gun isn't doing much of anything to it, the girls are wrapped up in the battle, and...]

It appears there is no plan. Why don't we try fixing that? Atsushi, check it for weakpoints, make s--

[And then it gets the singing girl by the throat.]

That's...troublesome. [It doesn't help that he has no idea what this other girl's ability is, but it seems...interesting.] Keep on your guard.

[He begins giving covering fire to assist, aiming where the ofuda doesn't, but carefully so he doesn't hit the poor girl trapped inbetween.]

Yoo-hoo, Mister Abomination! Why don't you pick on someone equal to your horrific appearance on the inside?

[He's taking this seriously. Really.]

[undermoonlight]

[Atsushi opens his mouth to counter Dazai with dry sarcasm, but there's no time for it. One of the girls is grabbed by the throat and the others' attack is being redirected-- It doesn't look like Dazai's shots are having any effect either.]

Tch. It can't be invincible! [Something tells him that his physical fighting style won't do much right now. Instead, Atsushi decides to use his speed to help. His legs change into those of a tiger and his arms transform to match. He aims one punch at the creature's supposed face before trying to grab Pidonus.]

Sorry, but I'm not letting you get shot! [Ideally, he'd like to move her out of the firing range and let her recover her singing voice.]

[ai_nnihilate]

[Though Pidonus and Atsushi combined manage to cut its arm off, the creature only grows a new limb in its place. Fortunately, there is a brief gap in time when Fauna and Dazai distract it and allow for an escape. The creature's neck twists like a Shaft anime and it chuckles in amusement.]

"So confident... And you don't even know what I am."

[Between Dazai and Fauna, the rapid fire of ofuda and bullets once again put holes in the creature's gooey form. But again, like before, it begins to piece itself back together. This time, each separate pile from its ruined body forms a separate copy of the creature. Its sing-song becomes a chorus of giggling and song;]

"You don't know. ♪ You don't know. ♪ You listen to the kami and not your logic, don't you? You want glory and bloodshed, don't you?"

[nightwild]

I don't listen to gods. And I don't listen to weird monsters, either.

[Fauna's ofuda barrage peters out, and as if in exchange for that power, the disc pops out of her changer. She snags it out of the air with a grumble, before swapping it out with a golden-rimmed disc, slamming it into her changer once in its place.

"Thunderbolts and lions!" The changer calls, as Fauna's form blurs again, replacing her armor with a new form, wielding an electrified katana.]

And most importantly, want I want is to burn you away until there's nothing left!

[She swings the katana at the nearest goo monster, leaving an arc of lightning in the path of its swing.]

[marshmallowpurgatory]

[As the sliced arm falls off of Pidonus, Atsushi's grab startles her for a split-second - but if Atsushi looks, she seems to be quite fine. Like she recovered from the strike abnormally quickly, actually. Right, had she mentioned her demonic nature?]

The thing is regenerating somehow... It's the warped wish incarnate, right? So what if...

[She chuckles a bit, raising her rapier as soon as she's free to touch the ground again. Best not to say the plan in the creatures' collective earshot... But she's pretty sure that the solution lies elsewhere, and they're just a distraction.

Fine by her.]

For now, we keep going.

[And the song starts again. This time, though, Pidonus is trying to keep some distance from the creatures' split forms.]

[bluemackerel]

[Alright, Atsushi's got one of the ladies in recovery. While this happens, he reloads - and hearing those words, he snorts.]

It's a presumptuous little thing, isn't it?

[Of course, Dazai hears what the singing girl said. The warped wish incarnete...he's able to catch on quite easily, but the only thing that changes in his expression is a tightening of his lips.

Right. They're a distraction.]

Well, can't stop now.

[And out from his other pocket comes another gun. Might as well dual-wield on this annoyance. Show off a little.

If he's gonna distract, then he's going to REALLY distract.]

[undermoonlight]

[Attacking it physically doesn't seem to be working! Atsushi is at a loss, but he's also very bad at giving up. Maybe if they split it into a thousand pieces? But won't it just become a thousand more copies?

He stands close to Pidonus, glancing at her as she makes her theory.]

You mean like the Rumors we heard about? Maybe we just need to outsmart it.

[But how would they do that? They don't have time to change whatever Rumor is controlling this thing, do they? Magic is so hard to deal with when you don't understand it-- oh wait.]

Dazai-san! If I distract it-- Can you reach it?

[ai_nnihilate]

[Fauna's attacks succeed in slashing the thing in half, but it once again splits into copies of itself. The torso, left behind in front of Fauna, forms a body and then tries to grab Fauna's face to pull her to eyelevel.]

"Is that hatred in your eyes? Perfect. No wonder I'm so strong."

[And the other half of its body rushes forward to Pidonus and Atsushi. It doesn't take a human form, but more or less tries to drown them in goo. The bodies that Dazai was shooting begin an attempt to surround him, the playful voice becoming curious;]

"What were you asked to do~? ♪ "

[Amidst all of this, a young woman's voice echoes to these four fighters as well;]



Don't lose sight of your goal. Just a little more, okay?

[nightwild]

[Fauna grimaces. She's tired. She's angry. She hates this. But she can still hear the others.

A distraction.]

You guys need a distraction? Fine.

You get stronger from my hate, freaky goo monster? Better be careful. Better be sure you can handle all of it.

[She headbutts the goo, and without even separating, reaches down and hits the button on her device once more.

"Lion Finisher!", the device calls, as Fauna holds the katana high up, and despite the lack of clouds, lightning strikes it with a bright flash, causing the blade to glow gold.]

Thunder Advent!

[She swings her katana. All fury and no technical skill, if anyone watching her is very familiar with swordplay, but who can look at her? Her body seems to be made of lightning as she vanishes from one goo copy, cleaves it with a thunderbolt, and appears behind another in the next instant, leaving lightning in her wake.]

[marshmallowpurgatory]

[As she hears a certain voice, Pidonus pieces together the solution. And soon after her song has, hopefully, empowered Fauna's strike...]

Wouldn't you like to know~?

[And then, the goo tries to wash over her and Atsushi. Simple burial tactic. Unfortunately for it... She suddenly takes wing, pulling Atsushi into the sky with her. Sure, it might try to pile up, but it's going to take a lot longer to reach either of them. Hopefully, buying Atsushi enough time to pull something himself.]

[bluemackerel]

Maybe it's not best to say what we are out loud...

[Saying they're a distraction kind of defeats the point, doesn't it? Still, he looks down at the little creatures circling his feet. He pauses. And then he just reels back and kicks one like a football.]

I never do what I'm asked to do!

[You could ask Kunikida, were he here. He really doesn't.]

And even if I did. I'm above spilling my secrets to slime. Gross.

[undermoonlight]

[Though Atsushi is familiar with rage and fury tactics, he's not sure if Fauna will do much more than repeat the existing cycle. Every time they break the goo, it comes together again or decides to duplicate itself. They haven't managed to break that repetitive cycle by physically attacking it, but Atsushi isn't sure what other methods there are.

Gross thought, but would Akutagawa be able to 'eat' the slime with his stupid coat?

Before Atsushi can get mad that he thought about that asshole, Pidonus has thrown them both in the air. Well. As good a place as any to ask:]

Do you have any other abilities, miss?

[ai_nnihilate]

[And then everything turns pink. The air within the barrier seems rose-tinted and smells faintly of roses. Those sensitive to magic may realize that it is the Love kami's power, so thick that it can be physically perceived.

The black goo creatures all freeze in surprise--] "How?! You can't come here--"

[... And easily take damage. They turn into puddles that do not rise, staying down even as cherry blossom petals begin to fill the air. In the distance, the tree can be seen turning into white marble and then exploding into cherry blossom petals. They fall in such thick clumps that it can be difficult to see very far across the field. But one form is approaching this battle. She walks calmly, but the air becomes heavier as she approaches and it gets hard to move.]


Thank goodness. You all look to be okay...

[Satou walks into the center of the puddles. They've been slowly seeping together. With a powerful step, Satou stomps one foot on the puddle. It shoots up in its human form, much like a broom being stepped on. Her sincere expression snaps away just as fast. The pink aura that surrounded her begins to turn black and she grabs the goo form by its presumed throat.]


You thought you could play dead and I'd let you go? After all that you've done? Did you really think I'd let you play down here, just because they don't love me?"

"Kukuku... Your aura is showing. They'll all see what you are--"

Cut it. If you wanted to control me through my reputation, then maybe you shouldn't have taken my DAUGHTER. Don't you know what mother bears do when you fuck with their cubs?!

I love THEM and that's all that I need to manifest-- Anywhere that I want!

[The goo explodes in her hands. But unlike the rest of the spirit's remains-- the tree, its body, its roots,-- this goo remains as a puddle at Satou's feet. It begins to seep into the grass, chuckling with a nervous tinge.]

"What a shame... and here I wanted to see what your Fallen Stars could do. You've ruined my experiments, Kuroneko... At least they were interesting for the moment."

[And with that, the strange creature seems to have disappeared. As announced in the tired voice of the Love kami;]


... Is everyone here okay?

[nightwild]

[As Fauna's rampage ends- Her lightning and sword cutting down every goo monster around her, leaving them destroyed under Satou's powers- she finally calms down, breathing heavily. Her changer ejects the Disc, but she doesn't replace it, letting the special armor fade, showing underneath her armor, just how broken her transformed state is.

But she stops dead as she hears that conversation.

Her daughter.

This is Chron's mother.

And Chron's disappearance was her fault.

Fauna goes very still, like a prey animal seeing a predator. Should she run? No, she should present herself for Satou to take revenge. Or should she simply attack, and let herself be taken out that way...

She's still, unable to move, unable to even answer as the guilt weighs down on her.]

[marshmallowpurgatory]

Well, yeah, but we'd need a wh-

[And then she stops, as the very air turns pink - as a great power forms around Pidonus - even into her.

As Satou steps in, Pidonus watches, quietly, slowly moving down to the now-clear ground to let Atsushi stand. Soon after, she's standing down herself, and, as soon as the creature is fleeing, and Satou is asking if people are okay...]

Somehow. Seems I've more to learn.

[But then she notices Fauna freezing. Out of... Fear, maybe? Damn it, that mask concealed her expression, and Pidonus had intentionally gotten out of the habit of trying to read thoughts for a reason. Which left...]

[OOC: Moved to the Aftermath thread.]