[META] The Vicious Indignation of the Empress (Minty Fresh)

[tenaciousgadabout]

Quote:

HP: 18/20
Training In Discipline

"Buffel finds 3 zygotes!"

Buffel again took a headcount of the zombies. This was becomnig like clockwork to him now, counting the shambling corpses and quickly dispatching them, pushing ahead, and repeating. He wished it still felt horrifying, but in truth it was getting a bit mundane.

”Only three. Not much of a threat.”

He turned to Nictor, remembering the fellow yellowblood's squeamishness.

”Hey, why don't you take a crack at these ones? It's a small manageable amount, safe environment to get into the swing o' things. If ya catch my drift.”

He motioned lazily to Nictor's staff, not even raising his arm. The gunslinger still had plenty of energy left in him physically, but mentally the boy was tired.  

[Taki-di]

Nictor Sabbat
HP: 17/20
Damage: 2+1=3
In Training: Endurance 1/1
Trinkets/Artifacts/Items: Military Grade Weapon (2d6 + 1)
Adept Artifact Defense A (style A -3 damage taken, 4x per battle) 4/4
Novice Support Trinket, Style A (Heals another troll by half their maximum hp, 1x per battle) 1/1

Advancements: 3
Minibosses Defeated: 0

Quote:

Zombies: 3-3=0

After the past couple ships, Nictor wasn’t putting his staff away anymore. The sense of awkwardness and reluctance to wield the thing had’t diminished per say, but was superseded by the fleeting sense of protection it offered.

Nictor was eyeing some open an sparking panels when the sound of more crew members approaching reached him. Automatically his muscles went rigid, but considering he was mid step that just ended in him stumbling, making a small noise as he nearly fell again. How was it that he’d done so much better about this on the other ships? Was he not tense and frantic enough to ward off the clumsiness? Was it just bad luck? He could swear he hadn’t been this unstable on most of the ships.

Except he’s dropped his staff that one time. And fell on his but after knocking in a door another. And had a zombie stumble into his face and he dropped in a pile of limbs. Okay so. Yeah this still normal.

Still, the scuttle to get his feet back under him put him, rather uncomfortably, a pace in front of the group. He could already feel his nerves starting to fizzle at the figures swaying into view, the stark dancing shadows that waved ominously. Before he could start backpedaling, however, Buffle spoke up and Nictor jerked his head to look at him, but only for a second, before his eyes tore back to the approaching crew.

Then back again, big and frantic, then back to the zombies.

What? Him? Why, why was he being asked to take care of this? Why was tis being encouraged? He knew logically why they were killing the zombies, he did not agree with it, could never agree with it, but he didn’t want to die either and that was a dilemma for another time. The current issue is that he specifically was being asked to do it.

Buffel had done that earlier on the ship too, offered words that, that sounded like they were nice but what he was asking Nictor to do made him was to squirm and hide. Hide away somewhere he could never be found and never have to leave. Buffel wanted Nictor to get used to this? To accept and embrace it, it sounded like and no, no Nictor couldn’t so that, didn’t want to at all, but, but Buffel was clearly more capable than he. Clearly better equipped for this, as were the others on the party. What if, what if not doing this would get nictor left behind, cut off and left out as food for the creatures? And, and the way he was speaking wasn’t mean so he probably meant well but, but, but-

Nictor shakily did as he was told, or, well, tried. He stepped forward, once twice, thri- no wait. He stopped. And now he was trying to step back but too late the zombies were there, right there, an arm was reaching out and they apparently got too close because Nictor’s internal conflict got shelved in favor of instincts clamoring to get the death monsters away before they ripped him to bits.

That took care of that at least. Nictor didn’t look like he was exactly okay with this development but what can you do.
 

[Micillia]

Punkie Vielli
HP: 18;
Attack: 1D6+1;
YTMA training Academics, Novice Agility, Novice Endurance

Punkie liked scouting, it let her get away with yet more skipping, and then yet more rhymes. Life was great. "Oh skippedy do! Shippedy dont!" She started out with. "Zill a zombie, cuz more is a don't." She drifted off, stopping. Well, she had scouted, she should probably go back and report back to her wonderful redblood captain.

Advance 4
Scouting

 

[DraconicFeline]

Cpl. Psykgi Mentha

Well, that hadn't taken long!

"Good work, everyone!" Psykgi said - she hadn't even had to take a proper swing. Which was a shame on the one hand, but also... Well, that was what leaders did. They had to stay back to take a broader view, right? That was just as important as hitting things.

"Gosh, I can see that I've got a great crew tonight!" she looked at each of them. "All righty. Vielli, you take point. Obulle... Obille?" was that his name? "You keep an eye at our backs - we'll probably need your range later. You should probably reload now, while we're walking, if you can!"

She gestured to Nictor with her free hand. "You stay in the middle with me - I'll give you your orders from there... So it's kind of a diamond formation, you see?" she gave them a moment to make sure they 'got it'.

"Allrighty~ lets keep moving!"

Quote:

17/20 hp

Damage Taken:
Damage Dealt: +1 to damage

Military Weapon: +1 to damage

Military Standard Medical Kit (Adept Artifact Support A) (2/2 Uses, heal one troll 1/2 hp)

Zap Grenade/Drones (Adept Trinket Offense B)(Uses: 2/2 Charges: 2/3, 2d6 Deal double damage on this attack, 1 ongoing damage for all turns after. The ongoing damage from these stack.)

In training: Troll Relations

4/10 advancing
0/2 minibosses

Iiiiiits another hallway woooo!

 

[tenaciousgadabout]

Quote:

HP: 17/20
Training In Discipline

"Buffel comes across some shuffling bodies!"

Ugh. More of these darned miscreants. Sakes alive, this was getting to be a real slog through. Readying his gun arm just in case, he alerted the close-range weapon users to the "threat," if he could even call it that by now.

”We got more daywalkers inbound. Too far to get a headcount just yet.”  

[Taki-di]

Nictor Sabbat
HP: 17/20
Damage:
In Training: Endurance 1/1
Trinkets/Artifacts/Items: Military Grade Weapon (2d6 + 1)
Adept Artifact Defense A (style A -3 damage taken, 4x per battle) 4/4
Novice Support Trinket, Style A (Heals another troll by half their maximum hp, 1x per battle) 1/1

Advancements: 4
Minibosses Defeated: 0

Quote:

3x3=9 Zombies!

"Ah, uh, o-o-okay," Nictor, mumbled, moving into formation as instructed, glancing nervously at Psykgi afterwards. He wasn't sure he should be this close to the leader, he'd probably freak out and accidentally brain her or something. It would be so much easier to see how nervous he was here, up close.

Why was he in the middle, ahhhh, this was so uncomfortable. And such a mundane worry compared to everything else. It was, absurd really. Almost like, he felt more awkward and strange than anxious over dealing with Psykgi. Except that was only because every last shred of anxiety inside him was focused on the dangers lurking in the ship.

The distraction of social situations and expectations could only last so long as Nictor tensed, swiveling his head around when a low groan reached his ears. That noise set his nerves tingling, he knew what that noise meant. And then a string of other growls and breaths reached him, the tell tale footsteps of the ship crew layers on top of each other. That was not going to just be three of them.

Nictor gave a soft hum of distress as he peered around his teammates towards the source of the noise. He’d really rather not have to kill any more things if he could help it. He's also rather there not be killing at all. His brain stuttered a tthe thought and quickly pushed it as far to the back of his brain as possible.
 

[Micillia]

Punkie Vielli
HP: 17;
Attack: 1D6+1;
YTMA training Academics, Novice Agility, Novice Endurance

Punkie pulled the glittery, pink, shiny daggers from some unknown space and twirled them in the air. With quick, decisive stabbs she managed to take out one of the shambeling things. Another flash of glitter and the next zombie flopped to the ground. "Whoop..." Punkie started, slowly raising her voice, "WHOOP ******** class="postcontent-align-center" style="text-align: center">Advance 4
7 Zombies Killed
2 Zombies left

[DraconicFeline]

Cpl. Psykgi Mentha
Being a leader was being a leader, and though she wanted to go and smash some zombies, Psy just couldn't find an opening...

Until a few of them broke through her front line. She wound up to hit them and...

They moved fast. So fast, grappling onto her limbs. She couldn't raise the axe to strike, and they pulled her down before being taken out by a few shots from the yellowblood's gun. She stayed there for a moment, pumpbiscuit pounding, feeling horribly terribly enclosed in her suit.

Was it terror she felt? Or a thrill at the fight?

Quote:

16/20 hp

Damage Taken: 1
Damage Dealt: 0

2/9 Roombas

Military Weapon: +1 to damage

Military Standard Medical Kit (Adept Artifact Support A) (2/2 Uses, heal one troll 1/2 hp)

Zap Grenade/Drones (Adept Trinket Offense B)(Uses: 2/2 Charges: 2/3, 2d6 Deal double damage on this attack, 1 ongoing damage for all turns after. The ongoing damage from these stack.)

In training: Troll Relations

4/10 advancing
0/2 minibosses

 

[tenaciousgadabout]

Quote:

HP: 17/20
Training In Discipline

"Buffel rolls to hit Zimbabwes!"

Buffel, roused from his malaise by his leader's folly, quickly pulled his finger-gun and fired upon the remaining horde before they could do any harm. A quick one, two headshots. His aim was coming back to him it seemed.

He felt a little guilty for not taking all of this seriously. Routine or not, these were still very dangerous situations they were finding themselves in.

”Is everyone alright? Sir, you doin' okay?” He looked to Psykgi, concerned.  

[Taki-di]

Nictor Sabbat
HP: 16/20
Damage:
In Training: Endurance 1/1
Trinkets/Artifacts/Items: Military Grade Weapon (2d6 + 1)
Adept Artifact Defense A (style A -3 damage taken, 4x per battle) 4/4
Novice Support Trinket, Style A (Heals another troll by half their maximum hp, 1x per battle) 1/1

Advancements: 5
Minibosses Defeated: 0

Quote:

2 - You find a closed door.

He was a little busy trying to keep his distance, trying to keep his eyes on all of them, that when Psykgi went down he wasn't expecting it at all. Nictor had moved out of formation, was too far away. He sucked a breath in, all too familiar with the terror of these things managing to set themselves onto you. He nearly swayed on his heel, a pull to move forward, but then it was shot dead again and that was the last of them.

Nictor breathed out shakily, vaguely relieved to have had the zombies taken care of without his help, but that thought just seemed to conjure up more of the empty space in his brain, a sign of something should be here but he cannot deal with it right now. He spent a good few moments staring the crumpled bodies, that floating, not quite there feeling tugging at his heels, but he shook it off when the others started to move away, not wanting to get left behind.

As they moved on, Nictor’s eyes caught on something down a short side hallway as he glanced around.

“H-h-h----ey,” He said, trying to get their attention and immediately questioning himself because so far doors had led to nothing but trouble why did he ever mention this. He knew that they were looking for the control room and it could be quite, uh, not good if someone found out they passed the door and he didn’t mention it but still. Dang it. “Th---ere’s, uh, a d-door. O-ov---er there.”  

[Micillia]

Punkie Vielli
HP: 17;
Attack: 1D6+1;
YTMA training Academics, Novice Agility, Novice Endurance

"Good ******** find Nicky!" Punkie bellowed as she slapped the yellowblooded boy on the back. "You have some damn fine peepers on that shitsack o a head, yeah?" She pushed the boy to the side, and got her own peepers out to look at the thing. She hummed and hawed, looking at from a distance, from up close, from the right and from the left. "The bitching thing is trapped!" She hollered. She grabbed the handle, and felt resistance. "And ******** locked!"

Advance 5
Door trapped and locked

 

[Micillia]

Punkie Vielli
HP: 17;
Attack: 1D6+1;
YTMA training Academics, Novice Agility, Novice Endurance

This was a lock. A wall in the way of the Messiahs chosen path. Punkie sat in front of the door, and got out seven orange candles, seven white ones, and one black one. A nice ol 15 candles. She sat down in the circle of the flickering flames, and was silent. The juggalo waited a good 15 minutes. Exactly 15 minutes. When the last second was over she jumped up, yelled, and took the door handle in her hand. With an effort she turned the handle, and was met.... with failure.

Advance 5
Unlocking door?
No

 

[Micillia]

Punkie Vielli
HP: 17;
Attack: 1D6+1;
YTMA training Academics, Novice Agility, Novice Endurance

The juggalo was stunned. Her.. her prayer didnt work! She didnt know what to do, and she was left emotionally hallow. She had to fight the tears, but they came anyway. "Ive been ******** ABANDONED" Punkie wailed, grabbing the nearest troll and bawling into their shoulder.

Advance 5
Untrapping door?
No

 

[DraconicFeline]

Cpl. Psykgi Mentha


"... sure." she said, smiling, as she got back up, "Thanks for the clear shooting - you're one hell of a sharpshooter!"

That was the thing about Alternia - you had to get back on your feet and keep going. Psy had been doing it her whole life. It was just how she lived -- with a smile. And maybe a little bit of vulnerability to her moirail later because, gog, that had been... uncomfortably bad.

"Lets move on..." and get this mission behind them so she could decompress and analyze...

Oh, hey. A door. "So it is. Anyone here know much about traps?" she asked, "If so, please step on forward..."

It turned out that Vielli did - the orangeblood was proving to be a very capable troll... good. She could be useful. Though, all the things to happen on a space mission, having a troll cry into her shoulder was not something psy expected. "Er." she managed, switching from 'slight terror and I-need-to-complete-this-mission' to 'Doctor Psykgi' with what felt like an abrupt stripping of mental gears.

"Aww, cheer up - I bet that isn't it at all! You know what I bet? I bet its just a test! Of your faith! We'll get through the door." she said, giving the orangeblood a pat on the back. She'd liked the candles, too.

"You!" she turned to the other yellowblood cheerily, "... go ahead and break down this door." He seemed strong enough, and she sure wasn't doing it.

The only way to get a person like that into a character-building situation was to push them into it. So, when he hesitated at the door, she did so. Literally. Maybe a little harder than intended.

It got results.  

[Taki-di]

Nictor Sabbat
HP: 11/20
Damage:
In Training: Endurance 1/1
Trinkets/Artifacts/Items: Military Grade Weapon (2d6 + 1)
Adept Artifact Defense A (style A -3 damage taken, 4x per battle) 4/4
Novice Support Trinket, Style A (Heals another troll by half their maximum hp, 1x per battle) 1/1

Advancements: 5
Minibosses Defeated: 0

Quote:

punch the door and hurt yourself weenie

He was not expecting to have Punkie's exuberance turned on him as a result. Wide eyed, he noticed her approach, sucked in a breath and braced when he saw a hand raise. What did he do what did he do!?

The slap to the shoulder was not what he was expecting. Right why did he assume it was gonna be the face. He jerked at the hearty clap to the shoulder, coughing slightly as bruises flared up viciously in response and Punkie's voice rang loudly in his ears. Wide wild eyes looked over at her as she passed.

Uh, Nicky? Were, uh, were those insults or was that just a thing she did? Nictor knew practically nothing about juggalos except they seemed rather, mmm, a bit much for him to deal with. Someone this high energy on a trip like this too, he could feel himself getting keyed up just being near her.

Nictor shifted, awkwardly hanging in the back, occasionally jerking his head around to be sure nothing was sneaking up on them. Maybe he shouldn’t hang in the back, he didn’t want to get caught from behind again. The notion had a shiver running down his spine as he checked behind him again.

Between catering to his paranoia that wanted him checking for flesh eating undead trolls at all times, he watched Punkie, uh, work, pressing his lips into a line, even if his teeth cut into the inside of his mouth from it. He really, really wanted her to get it open and untrapped, but the longer it took, the more the anticipation built as he started fidgeting and scooting away from the open hall behind them.

And then came the sinking feeling when the verdict came. No luck. A sinking feeling and a startling jump when he saw her latch onto Psykgi. Was that normal for her? Was that candle thing normal, was that the juggalo faith at work? what even was that supposed to do?

Confusion aside, he technically didn’t need to step up and volunteer to ram the door down as he’d done with Static. His body was like a big unhappy bruise after the amount of battering he’d been doing and it’s be nice to not have to anymore?

He startled slightly and cringed away when Psykgi pipe up though. He gave her a muted frantic look as his shoulder dropped, but it was already done.

Nictor fiddled around getting his bo staff collapsed and stored and apparently was a little slow for someone’s tastes because as he was eyeing the door like a snake waiting to strike, something shoved him from behind.

Why did he keep getting pushed.

Either way, the unexpected contact fairly well made him jump out of his skin, choking on a screech and tumbling forwards, driven by the shove and his own desire to get away.

It didn’t result in the most graceful of impacts, head thunking into the steel just after his head, horn managed to smack of slightly and that smarted something awful. He tasted blood as the metal groaned and gave way under his weight, so he must have bitten down on something.

Nictor went stumbling after the metal and half tripped on it as it fell inwards.

At least the door was taken care of, right?