Jordi's Palace

[pharology]

You didn't think the palaces were over, did you?

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SIGN UPS

[pharology]

This is a free-for-all so you may come and go whenever you want! Sign-ups are primarily for me (and everyone else) to see who is interested, who wants to join from the start and who wants to join in but later. As this is a boss battle-centric palace, I'll have to keep the exploration phase short, I'm gomen.

ICly, this will be happening on Sept. 5th. OOCly, threading will begin on the 4th, noon EST.

Character:
Timezone & Availability:
Element & Level:
Role: (Fighter or Utility)
Spells: (no descriptions needed except for the unique spell given by the mods at app acceptance)
Serious injury perms: (the upper limits of what you're okay with. I'm not looking to kill someone, just bully characters.)

<b>Character:</b> <b>Timezone & Availability:</b> <b>Element & Level:</b> <b>Role:</b> <b>Spells:</b> <b>Serious injury perms:</b>

In case you need to tap out, please ping me on the server and I will have the boss teleport your character to the ground floor. You may rejoin later if/when you feel like it.

In case I need to sleep, we can all take a break for a bit. People can still come and get their own rolls in during this time.

[finalmix]

Character: joshua
Timezone & Availability: gmt+8, generally around at night/mornings!
Element & Level: bless, level 10 (if he levels up I will let u know)
Role: fighter
Spells: dia, lunge, makouha, media, zephyr's elegy (summons jesusbeam of bless energy, single target)
Serious injury perms: no permanent maiming or eye gore but otherwise, feel free to injure him all you like!

[vogelfrei]

Character: McGillis Fareed
Timezone & Availability: GMT+1, available from about 11am to 5pm EST today and Thursday, available until around 8pm EST after
Element & Level: Wind, Lvl 20
Role: Fighter
Spells:
Dia: Heals light damage for a single target.
Lunge: Deals light physical damage to a single target.
Golden Strike: Calling upon Fenrir's power, McGillis can create bullets of pure wind that rip through his opponent's defenses. Deals light Wind damage to a single target.
Magaru: Deals light wind damage to all enemies.
Media: Heals light damage for your entire party.
Garula: Deals medium wind damage to a single enemy.
Rakukaja: Raises Defense for a single target
Serious injury perms: Fuck him up, just don't kill him

[emptyself]

Character: Shizuki Soujuurou
Timezone & Availability: CST, usually available after 4pm, but can phone tag
Element & Level: Electric, lvl 20
Role: Fighter
Spells: Dia, Lunge, Electric Slide, Zionga, Rakukaja
Serious injury perms: please fuck up my son but don’t kill him or make him lose his limbs

[cleansewithfire]

Character:Still Sunrise
Timezone & Availability: GMT+8, generally around late night and afternoon.
Element & Level: Wind, 20
Role: Fighter
Spells: Dia, Lunge, Magaru, Media, Garula, Rakukaja, Here Comes the Sun (Fire a wind-infused bullet from gun, burns brightly when it explodes)
Serious injury perms: No permanent injuries or death but otherwise fuck her up

[supherb]

Character: Arven (+ Mabosstiff)
Timezone & Availability: CST. I am generally Around between 11am - 2am EST.
Element & Level: Fire, level 20
Role: Utility
Spells: Diarama, Media, Me Patra, Energy Shower, Matarukaja, Rakunda,
Turn Up the Heat: Arven can use his pan to instant cook a little fireball. Launching it at an opponent will deal light Fire damage.
Serious injury perms: No permanent injuries like lost limbs, etc. but anything else is fine.

[beautifulknight]

Character: Argenti
Timezone & Availability: 2:30 to 8 PM EST today, with sporadic tags later
Element & Level: Psy & 20
Role: Fighter
Spells: Dia, Lunge, Every Rose Has Its Thorns (he captures his enemy in a cage of psionic roses, thorns piercing into them afterwards before the remains of those are scattering beautifully into the wind~), Mapsi, Media, Psio, Rakukaja
Serious injury perms: No killing, no limb loss. Other serious injuries are fine~

[strawsandals]

Character: Yoon
Timezone & Availability: GMT-10, here consistently after 5pm my time but can tag throughout the day
Element & Level: Nuclear, Level 10
Role: Utility
Spells:
Media
Me Patra
Dragon's Claw: Nuclear energy surrounds Yoon's rolling pin, and temporarily transforms it into a giant, scaly claw that attaches itself to Yoon's arm. Yoon lifts up his arm and slashes at an enemy for light Nuclear damage.
Energy Shower
Marakukaja
Serious injury perms: No permanent injuries but he can get roughed up as a treat!

[cirquedesang]

Character: Celeste
Timezone & Availability: GMT-5, around... pretty much whenever, tbh
Element & Level: Curse, LV20
Role: Fighter
Spells: Lunge, Maeiha, Eiga, Dia, Media, Rakukaja, Admit One (Style on a bitch for single-target light curse)
Serious injury perms: Nothing super permanent, but otherwise fuck him up

[bloodweapon]

Character: Fray Myste
Timezone & Availability: EST, generally around later in the day, hi I'm late to the party!
Element & Level: Electric, 20
Role: Utility
Spells: Dia, Me Patra, Thunderous Rage (Fray uses his giant sword to deal electric damage to a single target), Mazio, Media, Zionga, Rakukaja
Serious injury perms: Nothing permanent but otherwise go wild!

[destage]

Character: Sayaka Maizono.
Timezone & Availability: EST; my availability is going to be a lil shaky given that I'm doing laundry and have a bunch of stuff I gotta do tonight but I shall at least try to be here!
Element & Level: Fire, Lv. 20.
Role: Fighter.
Spells: Agi, Dia, Maragi, Media, Agilao, Rakukaja.
(unique skill; Sound of Music: Sayaka can choose a target and sing a melody that will alert the enemy. This is not a pleasant tune for them, however, since it by deals light Fire damage to them.)
Serious injury perms: Broken arms/legs are fine, anything else I'd prefer not!

[townmusician]

Character: Haruka Isumi
Timezone & Availability: CDT, only god can stop me
Element & Level: Fire, 10 (might level up during this depending on how speedy things are, stay tuned to find out)
Role: Utility
Spells: •Media Heals light damage for the whole party.

•Me Patra Cures Dizzy/Forget/Sleep/Hunger for the whole party.

•Imperial Chain Haruka extends his arm and commands fiery chains to appear, wrap around an enemy, and light them ablaze. The enemy takes light Fire damage.

•Marakukaja Raises defense for the whole party.

•Energy Shower Cures Confuse/Fear/Despair/Rage/Brainwash for the whole party.
Serious injury perms: hell yeah let's fucking go, fuck him up

[imperiosity]

Character: Aaron Wei
Timezone & Availability: EST, usually 8 PM and later! I can be around earlier (~6 PM) theoretically but sometimes I just conk out when I come back from work oops
Element & Level: Wind, Level 20
Role: Fighter
Spells: Dia, Lunge, Air Cutter (do you know whats better than stabbing someone with a sword, stabbing someone with a sword with wind around it), Magaru, Media, Garula, Rakukaja
Serious injury perms: No permanent injuries but otherwise go ahead and smack this bitch around

[ledbythewind]

Character: Richard
Timezone & Availability: EST, generally evenings but I can also phone tag!
Element & Level: Electric, Lvl 20
Role: Utility
Spells: Media, Me Patra, Marakukaja, Energy Shower, Diarama, Tarunda, Tiger's Prowl (summons electricity to infuse his rapier and then attacks physically with an electrically-charged attack)
Serious injury perms: Nothing major or permanent, but otherwise go nuts!

EXPLORATION MASTER THREAD

[pharology]

EXPLORATION MECHANICS (do not respond)

[pharology]

Characters must traverse a dark lighthouse in order to reach the control room at the top. From the start, there are only the spiral staircase leading up, and the central pillar that the stairs are mounted on and holds everything together. There is one light source, coming from way above, at the very top of the stairs. Characters will feel like it's calling to them.

There are no other lights. Characters need to use their phone flashlight or just yolo it. Or scrounge for something.

No other floors, but there are some landings for characters to catch their breath-- on the ground floor and all of the landings, there are some tents, and various items scattered around.

A few spots on the walls have glowing algae. Characters may touch the algae, but it will instantly inflict Hunger and the status effect will remain until physical contact ends. No rolls necessary.

You may roll for perception to survey the surroundings, or to scavenge the belongings-- only one opportunity per character. Remember to bold the rolls.

Algae reference can be found here.

Rolling for perception: Roll a d20.
Rolling to scavenge: Roll a d20. If you roll 18-20, flip a coin.

EXPLORATION, START!

[pharology]

[Your eyes might struggle to adjust to the dark in this place, a massive structure devoid of any source of light that stretches all the way up, and the outside won't do you any good either, when the doors have swung shut and while there are tall windows on the walls, the clouds are dark. All you have ahead of you is a spiral staircase, some scattered belongings around tents, and a bright light far above your head, beckoning you to find it. Like a compulsion, or a siren song.

However, to get to it, you must climb the long, long spiral staircase, and sift through some debris along the way. And there seems to be something glowing attached to the walls that smells of brine and dead fish. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be silvery-blue algae, slimy and mildly sticky to the touch, but does not leave any residue on the skin. However, if you do touch it, you'll feel lethargic, tired, hungry even though you may have eaten just before this palace for some energy-- a feeling that persists for as long as you're touching the algae. Fortunately, the algae only sticks to the walls, and not the floor, leaving you free to climb as long as you don't reach out of the confines of the stairway again. Still, it doesn't bode well for the future, does it?

Not to mention, as you begin to climb, it starts to rain outside, no matter what the weather was like before you arrived. It doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon, and the higher you ascend, the stronger the rain will become.

Are you strong enough to see this through to the end?]

EXPLORATION ROUND 2

[pharology]

[It seems there's not much to scavenge down here... Or perhaps you're not looking in the right places? Soujuurou manages to find a gold-plated bangle with an odd alphabet stamped into the inside, andFray gains a gold-plated ring with an unknown clear gemstone set flush into its band. Celeste gets his hands on a gold-plated earring with a little clamshell charm-- which might look familiar to him, actually. Where did he see that before? On who?

Some fare better in their search, though. They found good spots! Arven on the other hand finds a lantern that was once attached to a satchel, with a half-used candle waiting to be lit. That's much luckier, right? Oddly, in Sunrise's hand, there is a quick sketch of what seems to be a basic streetlamp sitting atop a pile of notebooks, with quick little notes about a potential source for electricity that's not something called "Originium". As for Yoon, there is a bronze spyglass, glinting thanks to the light from his phone. It looks old and well-used, but in relatively good condition, down to the lens. It's his now.

As Joshua checks their surroundings, he'll find a few more debris up the steps and a few landings, but nothing truly of note... to the eye. Instead, he'll hear something, a voice singing from up above, from the same place as the light that beckons them, though he won't be sure if the singer is male or female, or what language they're using.

However, there's still more to be examined when it comes to the algae, Sunrise's little attempt notwithstanding. Argenti will look into it better, closer. longer. He'll find that it's spreading several inches at a time, in whatever direction it can. A surface untouched by anything, the algae will take over it, slowly but surely-- but he will also notice that the algae doesn't spread onto a part of the wall that has a hole in it, regardless of how shallow or small it is. (1) Odd, isn't it?

Outside, the rain begins. If they wanted to leave, it might be too late.]

EXPLORATION ROUND 3

[pharology]

[Through his efforts, Haruka will be able to vouch for what Joshua is saying, because his ears now pick up on the odd singing. Who is singing? What language is this? Who knows? Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Celeste, he merely sees scorch marks along the floor and some parts of the walls. "Merely".

The rest of the scavengers manage to get somewhat lucky, even in this area that's mostly picked clean of anything useful. It's not much, but Aaron finds an old-fashioned flashlight, still useable in a way-- it may flicker a little, but nothing some percussive maintenance won't fix. Sayaka finds another spyglass on the steps, and it's made of bronze, just like Yoon's-- hold on a moment, it's the exact same one! The same faded spots, the same scratches on the body. Congratulations on the duplicate...?

Up above, the light dims a little. The compulsion grows stronger, and whoever hears the singing notes how it grows just a little louder. Whatever this is, it's tied to the strength of that guiding light. Besides, with such weak sources in your hands, can you really afford to lose that one?]

END...?

[pharology]

[The weather continues to rage as the adventurers continue to climb, and they can all see that oh-so clearly with the large windows that begin halfway up the lighthouse. Lightning flashes too close to the lighthouse for comfort one too many times, illuminating everything for a moment-- and things that aren't immediately obvious to the human eye. Yoon and Soujuurou both see figures during these flashes, corpses of monsters hanging from various support beams and even the railings of the stairs everyone has been running on. How did anyone miss all of that carnage?

And how did everyone manage to avoid that umbrella sticking out of some of the debris? Nevermind, Haruka has it now, but while it's clearly a modern, full-sized umbrella in dark blue, nice and functional, it's oddly heavy by the standards of a normal human adult. McGillis may recognize it, however. Joshua gets his wish though, scrounging a lantern from a semi-collapsed tent, and upon closer inspection, it hasn't been used yet, the candle hasn't melted one bit.

The scorch marks that Celeste has been seeing start to taper off halfway up the staircase, and Argenti will be able to take note of them. Arven on the other hand may just see that the algae is getting more luminescent the further up the group goes, and Aaron will note some grimy footprints on the stairs, several pairs of them, belonging to different people. Many have managed to come here, apparently. Maybe?

But here's something that will not escape anyone's attention: Everyone will now be able to hear that odd singing.

At the top of the staircase, characters will find the the door to the control room, closed but not locked. The singing ends. The supernatural light that defied physics darkens until only a sliver of it is visible underneath the large steel door that seems to be more suited to a bunker than a lighthouse. Fray notes that the door has a faded label in the same script as the bangle in Soujuurou's hand, but who can read Latin nowadays?

Get ready. Step inside. You worked hard to get here.]

[ ooc: end of exploration! congrats!!!! digest all this info, no need to roll. ]

COMBAT MASTER THREAD

[pharology]

BOSS BATTLE MECHANICS (do not respond)

[pharology]

Everyone rolls a d20 to act, one roll per person per round. Please bold the action and roll your character makes for the round.

Here is a rough diagram of the arena, it will be updated in real time to keep track of the spread.

General

The lantern will dim the longer the algae is on/around its enclosure. If the lantern is extinguished, the boss gets stronger. Beware!

No need to roll for buffs, just assume they take effect immediately, and they will not take up the action for the round.

Debuffs and status ailments from any source cannot be evaded nor mitigated. This also applies to any debuff or ailment the boss sustains.

The algae will keep spreading along the ground for as long as there's an untouched spot. It will advance one tile per round.

Characters standing on the algae will be inflicted with Hunger and light damage after a time. If your character is inflicted with Hunger while taking an action, divide your roll result by 2 for your action for the round. If you get a .5, round up.

Characters may attempt to stall the algae’s progress by damaging the floor, but there is a chance for the boss to summon an add to spawn algae elsewhere on the arena.

The algae is immune to everything except Me Patra.

Fighter-specific

11-20 is a successful hit. 18-20 will make that character the boss' priority target for the next round, priority to the highest roll. 20 is a crit.

The boss has high resistance to magic, debuffs and ailments, but low defense. Doesn’t matter what element the attack is, as long as it’s physical.

The boss enjoys using debuffs and immediately heals any damage he takes.

Utility-specific

If you're rolling to attack, Fighter guidelines apply.

No need to roll for healing HP, it's always a success, and it will not take up the action for the round.

Using Me Patra on the algae or a character with algae-induced Hunger is not a free action. Utility characters must choose between cleansing the algae on a single tile, or cleansing Hunger. Roll a d20 in case of a crit.

20 to cleanse will cleanse both the ground and the character standing on it. The ground remains free of algae for a round.

This section will be expanded when characters discover more of the hidden mechanics. Please look forward to it!

BOSS INTRO

[pharology]

[The control room awaits.

There are many platforms inside this massive, layered room, but all of them are empty save for the one at the top, which houses the enclosure where the lighthouse lens sits. It normally turns around, as a signal for passing ships, but tonight, it's stationary, and the lens is missing. It's been replaced by a lantern that some people may have seen on Jordi's person at some point or another-- and it's the source of the light that everyone has been chasing all this time.

Speaking of Jordi... There is a figure that looks awfully like him on this platform facing the enclosure and its captured lantern, wrapped up in a white cloak. When characters approach, he'll turn around to look at the newcomers. Looks like Jordi all right, but the scales are all wrong, large and electric blue rather than the small iridescent spots that barely seem like they're present on his skin. They're also more numerous, visible on whatever patch of skin he shows-- face, neck, hands. His eyes take the time to study the motley crew gathered at the other end of the platform, but if he recognizes any of them, he doesn't give any indication.

He merely gives a deep bow from the waist, a smooth gesture from his normally clumsy, awkward self.]

Welcome to the lighthouse of my forebears.

[Whoever decides to ignore Jordi(?) for now will note that the algae is now on the ground-- in fact, there's one patch right in front of the stairs to the platform. And more on the opposite end of the lantern and its enclosure. One doesn't need perception to realize that the algae is creeping towards it.]

[ ooc: this is a grace period! get your reactions in, no need for rolls right now as the fight hasn't started yet. ]

COMBAT, ROUND 1!

[pharology]

[The man's next words come out like the crack of a whip. It's much raspier than anything anyone is used to out of Jordi.]

I am not Jordi. [He's clearly not pleased with the way Argenti just blurted out a name, and now everyone is parroting it.] Names are not for the Many, but if you must insist on a name, you may use Lumen.

[Then he inhales, exhales. Adjusts his hood.]

If you must know, my grandfather built this lighthouse. [Actually, they don't need to know! But he is telling them anyway! What are boss fights for but exposition, amirite] My parents attempted to restore it, but unfortunately, nothing ever came of their work-- now that it's fallen into my hands, I have other ideas on how it must be kept.

[He shakes one hand under the cloak, and a creature resembling one of the smaller creatures outside drops out from the sleeve with a nasty squelch, blue-tinged blood splattering across his shoes-- he genuinely looks mournful that it's dead, but that doesn't mean he's not going to make use of one of the coral horns from its head. Then he begins to twirl it in his fingers, the same way Jordi would its baton.]

Those ideas do not involve those that aren't of the Many, however, I need to ask you to leave. [His fingers stop, and he points the makeshift wand at Soujuurou, Haruka, and Celeste, firing off three debuffs in quick succession. Soujuurou gets a nasty bout of Confuse, and the latter two can only feel Rage.

And, underneath their feet, the algae advances one tile.]

AFTERMATH; 1/???

[linkupmods]

[ the winds howl, the sea roars, and the lighthouse sinks down into the ocean, layer by layer. by the time everyone gets out of the lighthouse and makes their way down to the ground floor of the lighthouse, where the scattered relics are, there's water up to their ankles.

the door is just there, the exit just within reach--

and lightning strikes the lighthouse.

it's enough to trigger a total collapse of the second floor and the stairs, one that everyone will have to book it to make it to the exit if they don't want to be crushed by falling debris.

passing through the exit causes everyone to be momentarily blinded by a bright light.

when they recover, all characters will realise that they are all back in the real world, in the courtyard of Braphine's Temple. ]

2/2

[pharology]

[Frankly, even attempting to breathe is painful, so Jordi barely does it. But he also knows he shouldn't be alive right now, so perhaps there's some lingering unknown magic in his system that's keeping him somewhat functioning.

"Somewhat". If only those at Rhodes Island could be here... well, he doubts even Miss Shining could do anything for him.

At least he's himself right now, his scales back to normal and his blood red-- even if most of it is outside of his body right now. The wounds his Shadow sustained remain however, the slashes from Fray and Aaron, the blotchy mess on his chest from Soujuurou, the long, red weals from Celeste, even the shredded skin from his hands from fighting so much with unfamiliar weapons, and more. With the final addition from the God of Conflict, he is not a pretty picture. The only reprieve he gets is that his wounds are closed. Visible, but closed.

The look he gives Celeste is not one pleading for his life though. Rather, remorse. He feels terrible for what happened inside the lighthouse, what he said and did.]