eighth shot ⊗ open november log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various things
🕒 WHEN: throughout November
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except any potential violence against lettuce

⊗ a: task - flappy veg

[Guarding flying lettuce....is certainly something Eustace never would have found himself doing, yet here he was in one of the known locations where some have landed from their migration. Whether they're technically animals or not, Eustace couldn't understand them through animal magic regardless, but he's able to at least communicate that he's there to help and not harm. They seem a bit jittery with all the poaching around.

a. updrafts. The place they landed in is mostly a clearing, but there are a few "obstacles" scattered around in the form of tall rocks and small trees. While most of the Butterfly Lettuce remain on the ground vibing, some also choose to perch on the trees to prune their leaves. However, due to their physique and unreliable drafts at this time, they end up either flopping about or plummeting to the ground. Fortunately none are too bruised, but it's hard to just sit still when nothing much is happening.]

...Hold on, let me help.

[Either by picking them or using wind magic to create some wind to help the lettuce, Eustace can give them a boost up. It's still not perfect, but it works.

Some of the younger lettuce realize they have an on demand draft maker, and Eustace can also be found creating wind streams to help the smaller Butterfly Lettuce "flap" over a mini obstacle course as they play a game while also practicing their skills. It's good practice for him as well. For anyone who might there also guarding him, they can either assist or just watch out for any stray Butterfly Lettuce that flap in the wrong direction—or help catch any that might fall from their perches.

b. poachers. Of course not everything is peaceful. Eventually poachers will arrive. If Eustace is able to sense something amiss soon enough he could send out a warning shot before they enter into the area. If not, he's fully prepared to fight and bring on the thunder, er lightning. Help keep the lettuce out of the way or assisting Eustace in fighting the poachers!]

⊗ b: cure on cloud nine

[Having managed to avoid the basilisks and already wearing gloves, Eustace is prepared to help in retrieving the mysterious Nimbus flower deep within the Forest of the Felled. Having a lot of experience in infiltrating and dealing with traps, including those out in the wild, also helps. So while traversing through a particular are, his suddenly looks up and holds his arm to stop whoever he's with.]

Careful. The branches here have been cut and the ground looks it had once been cleared away. Better to go around.

[Although there are leaves and growth all over the ground, if one looks carefully there's a small patch that looks thinner compared to the rest, indicating that at some point it had been disturbed and recovered. Most likely a pit trap, but no need to try and find out.]

⊗ c: floor is lava

[Although he had (for some reason he still can't comprehend) been granted the both the knight and noble titles, he still hasn't accepted the new grant since it seems too much of a hassle and not really his thing. But he does go out to check on the new townships being built out of curiosity...and also because of the little prank that had occurred. This had to be the most ridiculous thing he's seen yet, though he feels he thinks that every month... After hearing about it and seeing it with his own eyes, Eustace just sighs as he first notes the affected buildings.]

...Rather than play this farce, wouldn't it be easier if I just transformed into a bird and fly directly to the circles to destroy them? Or shoot them down from a higher enough point.

[His hand is already on his holster. He just has to get up to a building and aim, and he has elemental magic on his side it should be easy right??? But will he be allowed is a different matter—

If anyone manages to convince him to do it properly, they better be prepared to join in and expect a riveting platform game where nothing is stable and teamwork is key!]

⊗ d: wildcard

[Although I only picked the cure part of the basilisk questline, I'm open to the other parts! If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[tantailizing]

[Zidane turns with an equally confused look as Eustace comes racing back, but turns his head at the screeching wheels. Huh, a cart - might help, but they didn't need it for what they gathered. Similarly, he has kinetic energy, but doesn't attempt to stop the cart because why?]

What's up? Why do you want the cart stopped?

[Yeah, there's something else in it, but was it important? Would it help them find the dragon, but destroy on impact if it crashed?]

[flamekthunder]

[WHY MUST HE FACE THE IMPENETRABLE PLOT ARMOR—]

It has explosives, do you need more than that!?

[He just clicks his tongue before he grabs the nearest empty cart.]

Ublnless you want to cause a collapse if that crashes and explodes into something, use your damn magic and get on!

[By now the runaway cart has picked up pace and disappeared into the darkness, so they need to catch up to it and fast.]

[luciing]

[ "--explosives--"

His expression immediately sets.


Yeah, no, he's already hopping in the cart. If Zidane also didn't do the same in that exact same moment, he's going to be magically manhandled by Somnus into the cart along with them, too.

Oh boy that's a steep plummet just a few meters away. ]

[tantailizing]

[... Explosives.]

Why didn't you start with that!?

[No need to handle him Somnus, he's all on board after him. And from the look for their ride ahead.]

Hold on--!

[flamekthunder]

[MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST STOPPED IT LIKE HE SHOUTED!!!!

And cue chase music as they rush down that steep incline, Eustace gripping the sides while positioning himself in the back to help keep this thing some sense of balance.

It's going to be a surprisingly crazy ride. They can hear and somewhat see the cart ahead of them, but the tracks ahead will split. The cart ahead had gone down one curve, but it managed to push the lever that switched the tracks.]

The lever!

[luciing]

[ With their combined weight helping to plummet their heir cart down the track, they're moving quickly, and if things go smoothly with this speed, they'll be able to catch up.

This will not go smoothly.

There's a small tch grunted under his breath, and Somnus reaches down towards the base of the cart they're in-- thankfully, not an explosive-- and tosses it towards the lever, hitting it once backwards with enough force to shift the tracks in the correct direction--

Which turns out to be a very sharp turn. They're going to have to counterbalance to not tumble off the cart. ]

[tantailizing]

[HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO KNOW IT HAS EXPLOSIVES!? Because what's dynamite and not a bomb?]

[Hurtling down the tracks, there's a brief scare when the lever path changes, but Somnus has it covered. However, the next problem is there's a sharp turn which meant they had to bank hard and counter the cart otherwise get flung out. Gritting his teeth, he's got this one, jumping to the opposing side of the turn and grabbing both Eustace and Somnus to join him.]

[flamekthunder]

[DOESN'T MATTER IF HE SHOUTS SOMETHING JUST LISTEN WITHOUT QUESTION???? IT'S EUSTACE?? HE DOESN'T SHOUT WITHOUT REASON??????

Eustace follows Zidane's cue and joins him in slamming his weight to help keep the cart from overturning as they take the turn. However, although it's mostly successfully the cart rocks and risks overcorrecting when the track straightens out. It's Eustace's turn as he summons a strong wind spell, using it to push against the other side of the cart to help balance it out. It's still rocky, but eventually the cart settles and they're back to racing away.]

[luciing]

[ The cart continues its descent upon the rails, sparking against each bump and zig-zag. Bats scatter in their wake, screeching along with the thunderous noise of the carts. Ahead of them, the cart containing the explosives continues to be out of magic's reach, and then it all be disappears past a curve into the shadowy void over a cliff. It's another plummet that curves into the depths of the quarry. Somnus holds onto the edge of the cart, casting out a flame into the open air to illuminate the cavern and the path ahead.

Except, there is no path.

This one leads to a break in the rails-- a jump-- from one end of the cavern to the other. ]

[tantailizing]

[Ah, never mind, elemental magic... but then who were the-- you know what? Not the time to think about that; not when the fire reveals there's a jump ahead. Now was there always a jump ahead or was it the tracks broke down over time? Not that the answer matters because Zidane grasps the side of the cart.]

Hold on tight!

[Because even using magic to make sure this cart gets across, the landing would be bumpy.]

[flamekthunder]

[There's not much he can do but hope for the best and prepare for the worst as he doesn't have any adequate alternative except as backup. However, Zidane pulls through and they cross the gap...!

But that landing is rough and as they bounce they risk derailing.]

[luciing]

[ The fall is jarring, but they make it with an uncomfortable lurch. Somnus grips the side of the car, and with some magical effort on his part, manages to stabilize it from tipping to far. ]

It flees. [ --the cart ahead of them, that is, and they'll have to pick up speed somehow in order to catch up with it.

Their other new problem?

A colony of bats, disturbed from the ruckus and adding a cacophony of screeching all around. ]

[tantailizing]

[With the cart stabilized, Zidane keeps his hold on the cart.]

Got it, keep an eye on the track...!

[Because he needs to duck down so the bats don't interfere while he concentrates on the cart and makes it speed up.]

[flamekthunder]

[All right, time to pull out the big guns.



Literally, Eustace is pulling out his gun.]

I'll take care of the bats, Somnus help Zidane and watch the track!

[However, he's going to try something different. Instead of his normal elemental shots, he can also channel his animal magic into it. Crazy, yes, but he's done a few tests and amplifying sounds through air blasts seem to work fairly effectively. So he's going to aim up at the bats and channel his magic so that it emits a sonic wave that will disrupt their flight and make them fly around them, like an auditory shield that effectively is yelling "STAY BACK."

Of course if some decide to get vicious, he's prepared to shoot them as well, but he'd rather not if it can be avoided.]

[luciing]

[ Both of their efforts seem to work. The carts zooms forward on Zidane's kinetic propulsion, and Eustace's augmented gunshot scatters the bats from their path.

Now the runaway dynamite-heavy minecart ahead of them is within their sights again. More importantly, it is within his magic's reach.


Somnus extends his hand outward, turning his arm and then making a fist, as if grasping at the end of the cart itself. Sparks sputter beneath its rusted wheels, showering them in a vicious amber light, but it's working, screeching and slowing further. Clenching his jaw, Somnus strengthens his focus upon the cart to hamper it further. ]

[tantailizing]

[While Eustace deals with the bats and Somnus finally gets a hold on the cart, Zidane will peek out and wait until the right moment to begin slowing down their own cart. He needs to make sure the other cart was within a range, but also begin slowing down so they didn't ram into it.]

[And considering how he boosted their speed, it meant only a few seconds before he had to reverse his magic to begin grinding their cart to yield. If they didn't get this just right, they better get the dynamite out of the cart instead then!]

[flamekthunder]

[At least the bats are now clear, so now all Eustace can do is just brace himself, not wanting to interfere with the other two's efforts.

It seems like eternity as, the screeching metal and sparks flying from both carts resounding through the tunnel. And they better get it done fast, he can see the end of the tracks ahead!]

[luciing]

[ The carts come to a halt with mere centimeters of track left to spare, and once they do, Somnus allows his arm to fall to his side, letting out a heavy breath in the process. ​]

What recklessness...

[ --Whoever left all of those explosives deserves their own unpleasant mine-cart-roller-coaster adventure. ]

[tantailizing]

[When the carts finally stop, Zidane sinks to the bottom of the cart a bit.]

Oof... I wouldn't mind another ride like that, but without the dynamite.

[Give him a moment to recover.]

[flamekthunder]

I'd rather avoid it altogether.

[Okay, sure it was rather thrilling, but definitely unnecessary recklessness.]

Keep the cart still, I'll handle the dynamite.

[He's become knowledgeable in handling explosives so he knows what to do.]

[luciing]

[ Somnus corrects the collar of his cloak, using some of his kinetic magic to keep the cart balanced upon the rails.

...Finding the dragon is one thing. But. ] We ought remove these explosives from the mountain.

[ It could spell disaster for anyone unsuspecting. ]

[tantailizing]

[Awe, come on Eustaaace...]

You got it, the cart ain't going anywhere.

[Zidane would leave the dynamite to Eustace, and the other cart to Somnus while making sure theirs was frozen in place.]

[flamekthunder]

[As Eustace jumps out of the cart and approaches the one carrying the dynamite, he considers their situation.]

Fortunately the dragon doesn't seem to be in this area, however it would be dangerous if anyone else were to stumble upon it or worse—it detonates during a fight.

[After studying the pack, he completely diffuses it, ensures that it can't detonate even if it were to be dropped.]

These won't be able to used, but the ones back at the top will need to be removed out of the mountain.