AUBREY'S PALACE

[moodwrecker]

♪ ♫ ♪

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CHURCH

[moodwrecker]

The characters find themselves stepping into a church, its interior simple yet somehow both peaceful and imposing. Shadowy figures sit scattered across the various pews, whispering derisively amongst each other. The object of their disdain is obvious...

In the center aisle is Aubrey - real and flesh and blood, her head bowed and her trusty nailbat at her side. The pressure is... immense. Though the shadowy figures have no eyes nor faces to see, somehow, you just know their gaze is on the girl standing all by her lonesome in the middle of it all.

”...t up.”

Her voice is so quiet, it can barely be heard under the voices from all sides. But then, she raises her head, picking up her bat and hefting it in earnest. Tears dot the edges of her eyes even as her expression twists into one of fury.

“Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!”

There’s a sound like breaking glass, and what stands before everyone isn’t just a girl anymore, but a Shadow. The Jade Rabbit’s form changed to something halfway between lagomorph and human, its face a featureless mask with eyes narrowed, frozen in rage. The pestle it once wielded as a bat now more resembles a hefty stone blade, the bowl now a proper shield. And yet, between the swaying ears, a familiar blue ribbon can still be seen...

BGM: It Means Everything ♪

AUBREY’S SHADOW stands in your way!

[privatedomicile]

Yo, Aubrey! Time for you to head on HOLY SHIT—-

[Jesse was not expecting that transformation to occur! He kinda hates it actually!

Getting hit by that stone blade’ll smart, so Jesse casts Tarunda on Shadow Aubrey to lower attack.]

[moonshaded]

[The vibes in this place are terrible. Not immune to the heavy, judgmental pressure, she's already antsy by the time Aubrey shatters into the Jade Rabbit right before them.]

What? She was a Shadow...?

[But that doesn't sound right, either, does it?

One might expect, at the start of a fight with a massively strong opponent, it might be a good idea to cast a helpful utility spell. Raise one's defenses. Play it safe. Try, at least, to get a better grip on the situation.







Anyway, Lunge (13) attack, while Kainé bird runs into the congregation to engage the giant Shadow, the daisy from the flower crown picture pinned beneath the other flower in her hair for safe(?)keeping(?).]

[strawsandals]

[ Oh, that's not good. That's not a normal-looking Aubrey. Also, juggling holding this beach ball with holding his weapon is kind of tricky.

Yoon will cast Marakukaja to raise the party's defense. ]

Aubrey...!

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika doesn't do churches — her world barely has churches, but the atmosphere here is a far cry from the open-air elegance of the temples of Ubasti, crowded with bustling cats. But the atmosphere here has her hackles up almost immediately. She whips her head around to eye the shadows all around them, trying to catch each of the whispers. ]

Anyone else feeling like we should be fighting those instead?

[ But despite her grumbling, when she lifts her arm and Anubis manifests behind her, their judgment is directly firmly at the Shadow with a Zionga (12). ]

Re: CHURCH

[beathollow]

( mafuyu follows, wearing the red ribbon tie, arrow at the ready. ... there's a lot of them here, so while she knows yoon cast it already, she casts marakukaja as well, hoping to cover the rest of them. )

[moodwrecker]

The shadowy figures continue to whisper among themselves, and those present may start to hear the conversations half-started around them:

“What’s happening? ...Basil? ...isn’t that the boy who... I’ve seen Aubrey and her friends bully... Now she’s stealing as well...”

Meanwhile, Shadow Aubrey casts Wage War - Inflict Rage status to all foes Jesse (14), Kaine (15), and Yoon (13) will find their thoughts consumed by rage. Their strength doubles, but they may only physically attack. Not only that, but attacks will hurt them for double, as well.

Fortunately, Maika and Mafuyu manage to keep their minds... for now.

[fullmoonmutt]

Cut it the fuck out, Aubrey! All of this is in your head!

[ Literally. Probably. Like, Mafuyu said this was created from... her heart? So, sort of? Regardless, Eli bursts in with an attempt to punch (Lunge - 17) the Shadow. ]

[ledbythewind]

[Richard's a bit slow to approach, still cradling his injured arm. By the time he arrives, it would seem the battle is already underway, which is honestly fine by him as he's hardly in the mood to try to continue any attempts at negotiation-- there's no diplomacy needed in leaping forward with a swing of his sword (2).

Unfortunately, the pain throws his aim off just enough that it's not going to be able to connect properly...]

[strawsandals]

[ Suddenly, Yoon feels angry. His mood has done a complete 180 in a matter of seconds. He's mad at Aubrey, but he's even more mad at the situation at hand - is she choosing to do this? Is this her dragging them into her problems on purpose? Who the hell would try to do something like that, huh? ]

Tch.

[ Without warning, Yoon suddenly runs up to Shadow Aubrey and swings his pin at her (15). ]

Wake up already, will you?!

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika doesn't know what's going on with that effect, but heavy thinking isn't part of her plan for dealing with this. She's just going to hit things until they stop, like she always does—

Or, that's the plan until she sees Richard wobble past with that still-injured arm. ]

Are you a fucking idiot?

[ Hello? The heal sandwiches?? He'll get a Dia thrown at his head sulkily, which can't miss even with her (3). ]

[moonshaded]

[As if this is the first time.

And, just like the first time, it creeps in like a choking black smoke and makes everything else vanish.

Kill it. Kill it. Killit killit killit kilitkillit.

Only able to attack the Shadow, Kainé takes a violent swing at it (14). The recoil damage visibly hurts her, but she just keeps going.]

[privatedomicile]

[He hears the whispers crawling into his ear, and sets off something in him. He remembers what it is to be treated like garbage by the people around him even when he’s trying to be better. Even the one guy who relies on him called him a worthless idiot. You’re a pathetic junkie, too stupid to follow rudimentary instructions, too stupid to—-]

Screw you!

[Jesse impulsively fires Pinkpyre at Shadow Aubrey (18), glaring her down as if she’s someone else.]

[beathollow]

( ... oh. hm. that sure is a spell that isn't doing damage. mafuyu calls forth snow white, and casts energy shower- no status effects for YOU, you angry-ass rabbit! )

... Stealing... The photo album?

( it had basil's name on it- the photos had been defaced. she'd been trying to fix it, hadn't it. )

[moodwrecker]

SHADOW AUBREY attempts to raise her shield against the attacks, but Eli, Yoon, Kaine, and Jesse all strike true - enough to draw an agonized scream from her as they hit. Around her, the whispers continue, however small and petty they are compared to the Shadow now before them.

“Did you see her clothing... It was completely inappropriate for church...”

With another scream, this one of fury, SHADOW AUBREY once again casts Wage War - this time hitting Eli (17), Maika (14), Kaine (20), and Jesse (16). They are now enraged! Richard, Yoon, and Mafuyu manage to keep their heads - for now.

She follows it up with a Mabufu, hitting Eli (11), Maika (14), Kaine (15), and Mafuyu (15) with light Ice Damage! All characters who are currently enraged each receive double the damage and find themselves Knocked Down!

A new status effect is in play and has been added to the Rules List:

Knocked Down: The character has taken a heavy hit and been knocked to the floor. They cannot take action until a standing character has spent their action to help them back to their feet. Despite this, enraged status will continue until it is cured.

Richard (6), Yoon (7), and Jesse (5) manage to dodge the ice! Good for them!

[strawsandals]

[ And just like that, his mood is...back to normal? His head is clear again? What was that.

There's no time to reflect, though, because several people are knocked down onto the floor. He looks over at the injured and- ]

Ah, Miss!!

[ He'll run over to Kaine and help her up. Good thing he and Mafuyu both cast a defense spell, eh? ]

Are you okay?!

threats of graphic violence itp

[moonshaded]

[The rage ebbs.

The rage comes back.

Then Kainé is on the floor, moderately wounded already from the rebound from her own attack and the double ice damage. When Yoon helps her up. she almost lunges the minute he has her back on her feet; it probably won't be hard to recognize that the rage is still there.]

Get the hell out of my way. I'm gonna grab this fuckass by the ears and rip its skull in half.

[She pushes past him to go attack... in a new comment for cleanliness.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Oop, there he goes, knocked flat on his ass... while... enraged? Well, at least that means he isn't going to go nuts just yet. ]

[beathollow]

( these gossips are just annoying her. all about image, isn't it? at least she showed up, didn't she? aubrey...

...

she nocks her arrow and aims. 13. )

[pointzeropercent]

Hey now, this isn't a fair fight like this.

[Here come Sou with the STEEL CHAIR energy shower! Kaine, Jesse, and Eli are now cured of their rage.]

There! That should even things up a bit.

[bloodandstars]

[ The rage rises up in her, clouding her vision... and before she can lunge forward, down she goes.

Great. Now she's doubly pissed. ]

[ledbythewind]

[Maika has encountered his issues with food made by strangers!! She should understand why he didn't touch the sandwiches!! Still, that does indeed make him a bit of an idiot, and that's why he doesn't protest nearly as vehemently to that heal as he would otherwise, instead giving a frazzled:]

... thank you.

[He does at least have manners, if nothing else. That's probably why he silently casts Energy Shower on Maika in an attempt to cure that Rage... it's just paying the favor back, that's all.]

[privatedomicile]

[Ok, yep, he’s still pissed. Probably because his new pals get attacked and he’s still thinking about Walter White.

He shoots at Aubrey, but not exactly well (8).]

Can somebody tell those whispery bitches to shut up?!

[moonshaded]

[Yoon gets her up, but she's still berserking and throws herself forward to attack again. How different that is from her normal colorful personality is still up in the air.

The multiple hits and the anger make her follow-up physical attack (4) swing wide and miss, sword just arcing uselessly in a dead end arc.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Arven helped Eli back up and he's immediately charging after the Shadow again. No abilities, since he's still enraged, but he is going to sock her with a good one-two punch (17). Raaaaah! ]