KAIJU FIGHT #5

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #5

CONTENT WARNINGS: cult-like symbols and implications, brainwashing.

▶ 001. LORD OF THE FOREST.

Throughout the days leading up until October 15th, the captives will be forced down to the dungeons for their “punishments” to be doled out. All of the punishments seem to be completed methodically, almost as if the followers of the Lord of the Forest had centuries of experience. While no explanation is given, it becomes clear that the sacrificial ritual has begun. While the Outsiders may not be privy to what this entails, there is one rule that will be have made clear to them: once the ritual begins, it can no longer be stopped. However, there is still a sliver of hope. On the morning of the 15th, a small message will have been pushed out by LILITH. While they haven't completely reestablished their connection to the network, they are able to get something out.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME:
HEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
CLASS: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.
ABILITIES: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃Y REǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃S, GK̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̆̃
EXTRA NOTES:

It is an incredibly sparse message. It seems to be working with any information the ocular implants were able to detect in that second, and the information gets fed back in the form of a distorted debrief sheet. However, it does act as a sign that LILITH is still actively working on gaining access to their communication lines once more, and are tirelessly working to send help. With this sudden jolt of a message, they will feel an extremely heavy disturbance composed entirely of rift energy—it appears that whatever kaiju is dwelling here is able to effectively work with the rift in order to negate abilities. But perhaps the clues all strung together have already painted a similar picture as to what is to come, and to what to continue to expect.

Now that the sacrifices have all but been made, it is time for the Lord of the Forest to be summoned.

All captives who have been forcefully dragged, or psychologically drawn to the dungeons, will find themselves face-to-face with the Lord of the Forest, also known by their title of PRICOLICI. The creature is a bit difficult to make out due to its ability to shape-shift: at times mimicking a human wearing some sort mask in the form of a wolf’s skull, and at others, taking on a form of a monstrous wolf-like creature that awaits all Outsiders— those presently within the dungeon, and those that exist outside of it, ready to be lured in.

Or that should be the case, but The Lord of the Forest appears to be a kaiju unlike all others. While it is summoned for a brief period in which the Outsiders bear witness to its true form, it seems to disperse back into the rift soon afterwards, much like savoring each of its sacrifices in a temporary state of hibernation.

(Note: Details of the specific events that happened leading up until this point can be accessed on the kidnapped log. Please be advised that there are heavy trigger warnings for these topics.)

▶ 002. FIND THE CAPTIVES.

Due to their brief communication and joint efforts following the network post, it becomes clear that all signs point to Bran Castle as the place where the captives are being held. This becomes ever more apparent as the fog gradually begins to lift, and the outline of the castle can finally be seen from the distance of the forest’s perimeter.

If there were still any doubts surrounding Bran Castle as a place of interest, many of the villagers will instantly form large groups in order to stop Outsiders from heading towards the castle. They will spare no effort to achieve this. What initially starts off as peaceful dissuasion and psychological tactics, such as using the children to cling to the Outsiders leg and crocodile tears… quickly escalates to outright fighting with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons from the farm. Additionally, Outsiders who have purchased the poison dagger from LILITH will find that the “safety” on it is released, and they can be utilized on the locals with no need for additional clearance. It looks like the network wasn't the only thing affected by the spotty connection.

In this skirmish, the Outsiders trying to make their way to the castle will find that a handful of these villagers aren’t your run-of-the-mill farmers. They’re stronger, faster, and the Outsiders will discover that they have incredibly sharp teeth. They are vampires! Or, an entity that seems close enough to the ones of legends. They will not only be attempting to fight Outsiders off, but will also resort to biting them. If an Outsider is bitten, their bodies will feel almost feverish, as if an incredibly slow-acting poison has entered their bloodstream. But, being bitten by a villager does not guarantee one to be turned. While it is possible, it is a much lower chance.

Once Outsiders do make it to the castle, they will find that there will be several more attendants from the castle waiting for them at the gates, all prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent their entry. It’s clear the objective becomes to break past them and find the dungeons below the castle!

▶ 003. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN.

Following the pathways of the castle to the dungeons below will not be easy. All the attendants present seem to have been waiting for them behind every nook and cranny of the castle. Outsiders will be met with their fervent attempts to stop them. It is a matter of life or death for the attendants and like the villagers, they seem to have no issue with throwing their own necks out in order to preserve the sanctity of their ritual.

Outsiders will also find various areas in which wolfsbane will be in bloom. Unlike typical wolfsbane these seem particular potent and will make the air taste bitter, and cause tingles, nausea, and hypotension if exposed to for too long. It appears even the attendants avoid them to a degree.

For those who make it to the dungeons, they will find that it is a lot bigger than it appears on the surface. A lot of its structure seems to lead deep underground, suggesting that it may even extend further out from the perimeter of the castle itself. There is a certain smell to the place that cannot be masked, years of sacrifices evident in every inch of its walls. There are over hundreds of cells, some still holding skeletal remains, alongside other ancient looking items: an old book, a worn out doll, a bloodied servant’s apron—they all appear to be pieces from a past that was long forgotten.

The Outsiders will not get to explore easily, however. As soon as they make their way past the threshold where the cells are all lined out, they will feel a chill up their spine. It's almost as if eyes are watching them in the dark, and they are. If they look up, they will realize there are hundreds of bats with glistening teeth that are all lining the ceiling, all lying in wait. They are minions of the Lord of the Forest, and their supersonic screams can stun and cause momentary deafness.

To make matters worse, it is not just their sharp teeth that hurt on impact, but they have a keen thirst for blood similar to the villagers. Being bitten by one will cause the Outsider to potentially begin to lose control of themselves and will have an insatiable thirst for blood, even at the expense of their fellow teammates. Additionally, those who are bitten will find themselves moderately more susceptible to psychic brain washing, and may cause them to momentarily join the enemies side.

▶ 004. THE FINAL RESCUE.

While the battle has already started within the village and the castle, suddenly the familiar ping of their oculars will alert them to the following message from Yamakawa—

"Angels of LILITH, we have connection. Rescue your team mates no matter the cost!"

With the connection reestablished, the main objective of the mission becomes one thing: RESCUE. For Outsiders who may have still been left at the village, or engaged within their own horrors, they are all advised to head to the dungeons as soon as possible. The coordinates for the deepest cells are sent alongside directions, with a constant warning to avoid direct contact with the kaiju there. The kaiju has long been absorbing rift energy and LILITH strongly advises against any attempts to engage with it until more information is known.

After half an hour, LILITH gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission. Villagers, cult members, anyone. This includes Outsiders who may have temporarily been brainwashed, with the caveat of bringing back their bodies as they may be able to save them.

As they get further into the dungeons, they will find themselves susceptible to the side effects of rift poisoning. It is far more potent with each step, and will take laser focus to make one's way all the way to the last holding cells. There they will find the several of the castle’s most devout followers desperately calling out for The Lord of the Forest, as if summoning its presence.

…


…

…

… and The Lord of the Forest answers the cries of its followers. The initial part of this battle is difficult as the kaiju's abilities paired with the abnormalities of the rift result in weakening the powers of all living organisms around him, including the powers of the Outsiders. However, due to the phases of the moon, its abilities to nerf powers seem to have diminished slightly - they are able to use their abilities at a lower output, or at times they will find their abilities can cut in and out. After five to ten minutes of the Outsiders actually engaging the creature, they will find LILITH has effectively sealed the rift below the dungeons. It is far from perfectly done, but will allow the Outsiders the window of opportunity to use their all in their battle with the Lord of the Forest before backup arrives.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: PRICOLICI
HEIGHT: VARIES
WEIGHT: VARIES
CLASS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA
ABILITIES: SHAPESHIFTING, IMMORTALITY, NIGHT VISION, SUPER STRENGTH
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLY RELICS, GARLIC, WOLFSBANE
EXTRA NOTES: This kaiju has a malicious intent to all humans besides those who praise it. It's said it will bless all of its followers abundantly on this Earth and grant them immortal life.

The battle against the PRICOLICI will not be made easy, especially as its weaknesses are not as straightforward to tap in as most elements. However, LILITH will provide utmost support for the Outsiders who want to try their hand at defeating it. While it was once believed to be immortal, perhaps due to the disconnection of the rift and the moon, it does seem weaker the longer the Outsiders engage with it. There are also pockets in which wolfsbane bloom in secret in the dungeon, and the PRICOLICI will evade these specific areas, as well as any places containing holy relics.

▶ 005. AFTERMATH.

The remaining villagers do their utmost in attempting to ground the LILITH medical cruiser, using cannons and other primitive weapons against it. Fortunately, they do not succeed. With the LILITH medical crew all present, they begin their work promptly. Outsiders can not only use the medical cruiser as a temporary base and resting point, but those with severe injuries are ushered in for emergency surgeries and other necessary procedures. Those who can heal are encouraged to take care of the ones with less major injuries in order to lighten the load on LILITH’s medical robots... and Dr. Spim, of course.

When the final battle finally winds down, several more mission objectives crop up. While no formal decision is pushed on the Outsiders this time, they are given several choices.

Although LILITH has permitted Outsiders to take their own stance in whether they want to kill those involved in the ritual, including the villagers, they do state the final request to spare the children, which they plan to bring back to Neo Tokyo. Those who do not wish to engage in the taking of lives will be encouraged to continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders. Finally, all Outsiders are tasked to take with them any goods that LILITH could benefit from, including any sources of food.

Once this has all been completed, they will all be encouraged to leave Transylvania behind.

Back at base, they are presently working on the cure for those who were bitten and turned. While the brainwashing element has been resolved through persuasion tech, it wasn't possible for them to fully reverse the other side effects. LILITH staff are requesting those affected to remain indoors until they figure out what they need in order to completely rid them of this ailment.

(Note: The above mission objectives in this section are all optional! Please remember that you only need to engage in the plots and ideas you are comfortable with. If you would prefer your character to leave early to take the others back to recover at base, that is completely fine. We want this to be flexible and for people to play with what inspires them. You are also free to come up with other ways your character can help during this time, as long as it does not break any game rules.)

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to fifth kaiju log!

Thanks to the Outsiders' efforts, they were able to engage with the kaiju in this fight. Due to them piecing the clues of the skulls helping to destroy the fog, they were able to gain access to Bran Castle. As they have also kept their suspicions of the villagers, some even including to sacrifice them, they were able to unearth them being associated with the cult, and able to uncover their involvement. Outsiders were also able to add wolfsbane as a weakness to the kaiju due to the messages exchanged between the kidnapped and non-kidnapped - and so this detail was also added into the log. We appreciate everyone’s engagement in this and hope you have fun with this outcome!

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the minions. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below! Additionally, we did clarify some questions in regards to vampires/general weaknesses here, as well!

For the vampire prompts, feel free to work with the setting in how you want your character to experience being turned, and potentially turning others. It was made vague to allow flexibility, so if you'd like to have your character just feed off of people without turning them, that works. If they want to turn all their friends, that is also 100% okay. Those who have been turned are welcome to play with that as they see fit. As mentioned, LILITH will be actively working on the cure, and this will be something revisited in the TDM, or on our quest board, so be on the lookout for that!

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards October AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. LORD OF THE FOREST: On the days leading up to the 15th, kidnapped characters are brought to the dungeons to receive their punishments. The punishments are administered in a way that suggests that the followers have many years of experience, and that they are all part of a sacrificial ritual to summon the Lord of the Forest; once the ritual begins, it can't be stopped. On the morning of the 15th, LILITH is able to send out a distorted monster debrief sheet that the captives will be able to briefly see before experiencing a heavy disturbance of rift energy. Captives in the dungeons will also be able to see the Lord of the Forest, but it will disperse back into the rift after being summoned.

2. FIND THE CAPTIVES: The Outsiders figure out that the captives are held in Bran Castle; the fog gradually lifts and the outline of the castle will be visible. The villagers will do everything they can to prevent the Outsiders from reaching the castle, from using the children to persuade them to stay to more violent means. Outsiders who have a poison dagger from LILITH are able to use it on the villagers without prior clearance due to the spotty connection. Vampires are among the villagers attacking the Outsiders; if they are bitten, their bodies will feel feverish. Once Outsiders reach the castle gates, they will have to break through the castle attendants to reach the dungeons.

3. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN: Outsiders must fight through more attendants inside the castle as they make their way down to the dungeons. The layout of the dungeons is much bigger than it may seem on the surface—with over hundreds of cells, some of which still contain the remains and personal effects of previous villagers who have been sacrificed. Bats, minions of the Lord of the Forest, will attack the Outsiders and those who are bitten may begin to lose control of themselves with a thirst for blood. Bitten Outsiders may attack their teammates as a result, and may also be more susceptible to psychic brainwashing.

4. THE FINAL RESCUE: LILITH confirms the main mission objective of rescuing all the captives and gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission, which includes any Outsiders who may have been temporarily brainwashed. The bodies of any fallen Outsiders must be brought back as LILITH may be able to restore them. Going deeper into the dungeons will cause side effects of rift poisoning to manifest. The Lord of the Forest appears to engage the Outsiders; its ability to weaken abilities is diminished slightly due to the phases of the moon. Five to ten minutes into the battle, LILITH seals off the rift below the dungeons, allowing Outsiders an opportunity to go all in on attacking the Lord of the Forest.

5. AFTERMATH: LILITH's medical crew arrives to begin treating injured Outsiders. Those who are able to heal or have medical experience are encouraged to treat Outsiders with minor injuries to lighten the load on LILITH's medical staff. Once the battle winds down, Outsiders are given several options on what to do next: kill the followers and the villagers, but sparing the children (who will be brought to Neo Tokyo); continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders to safety; taking any goods from the village that will benefit LILITH, including food sources. Once completed, Outsiders will leave Transylvania to embark on the journey back to Neo Tokyo.

code

Comments

I. rescue

[blastedass]

[Regardless of his attitude, ego, and personality, Bakugo refuses to lie or break promises. Even ones made in the heat of an argument or battle. He looked for Elan's gundam once the castle came into view and the Outsiders mobilized, but it never showed up. Shit, too much to hope for that the repairs had been finished already. If Elan was even bothering to get it repaired. They can have that discussion later. But it meant the pilot was going into battle without his mobile suit.

Bakugo follows through with what he promised. Actively shadowing Elan through the village and forest battle to protect him from harm (no, he doesn't baby him). The hero keeps at Elan's back to avoid getting caught in the pilot's gunfire, and to prevent the guy from dealing with his explosions. Taking down the castle gate had been a furious vaporize from one of Bakugo's Ultimate Moves (yes, he shouted the name out like some shonen protag) and storming the castle followed up. With the stone walls around their descent, he can't fire off his attacks as powerfully like before.

As Elan stops by the wolfsbane, Bakugo drops from a higher vantage point and lands on his feet beside him, the full power of his hero costume momentarily going on the fritz again thanks to another "EMP" pulse from the unseen rift. He clicks his tongue in annoyance before pulling one of the disposable grenades from his belt. Bats in the next room.]

Aa. Close your eyes. I'll rip them off their damn perches. Get ready to fire.

[Fire in the hole~ ... KA-BOOM!!]

sorry for the delay! eyyy let's go

[gundemn]

[ Elan quickly ejects the spent shells and loads another round of bullets. He doesn't have unlimited ammo unlike someone who can inexplicably create explosions from their palms! If he knew how fucked this mission would get, he might have seen to repairing Pharact. Right now he's certainly wishing he had an inch of steel between him and the snapping bats and enough power to bust down walls so the captives don't have to spend another second in the cult's grasp.

The result of being without his gundam though means he gets to see the hero keep his word. Bakugou had covered him without making a big deal of it as they battled their way in. It annoys him in an illogical way and in other circumstances he might have scorned protection to preserve his worldview, but this isn't the time to let his pride or hangups get in the way of the rescue. More important things are at stake.

Elan turns away from the blast but he can feel it ripple through the room. The bats not caught by the explosion start flapping around disturbed, which makes it easy for him to begin picking off with well-placed shots. ]

These mobs don't end. Kill one and there's another two!

s'all good - rl happens.

[blastedass]

[Hindsight's 20/20, right? Chalk it up to the severity of the mission and his own fury over their allies being kidnapped by this shitty murder cult and their dumbass "god" behind it, that he doesn't taunt Elan for his decision. Also, he's the one that challenged the man to deal with a battle without his Gundam, to prove a point. It'd be countering his own demands. Doesn't mean he's grumbling about the shitty bats being a pain in the ass and the length of time it's taking to reach the others.

Smoke and scorched bodies sail across the room in a streaming burst, leaving the rest caught up in the confusion to get chunked through by Elan's gun. At least the pilot's a good shot outside his suit. Bakugo ducks to the side to avoid another bat, then slings his hands around and spews several rounds of explosive "bullets" from his palms like a Gatling gun.]

Then kill two and keep moving!

[gundemn]

If it's like before, there's a big one somewhere calling the shots! Better we find it and put a bullet through its head!

[ He's saving a special round for when they meet the Lord of the damn Forest. Elan's never been overly enthused about kaiju fighting but this one has pissed him off unlike any other. You won't see him losing his head about it or rampaging though, his each kill deliberate and made with cold determination.

Between the time they're losing and the mass of bats, he agrees they can't waste long on the small fry and begins barreling ahead where the swarm is less thick in number, taking advantage of the opening created by Bakugou's explosion to get to the next chamber. Bats that swoop too close are met with a shot or his fist swinging out, though close-combat is clearly not his forte. ]

[blastedass]

It's probably in the lowest chamber with the rest of the captives and cultists.

[These people seem to be gathering shit for a ritual, if all the tropes are lining up. Calling it the "Lord of the Forest" only furthers that idea, and with how they've been talking the whole damn day. Bakugo keeps next to Elan, moving around in the general vicinity to keep a burning dearth between him and the bats. It leaves plenty of opportunities for the other man to fire.

Getting to the doorway, he slings a flurry of explosions through the hallway, leaving the walls and floors smoking in its wake. Elan can go in afterwards, two of the traps burning and sprung as a pair of cultists pick themselves off the floor. Bakugo stays back for a moment to detonate a massive flash-bang like explosion, blinding the room and sending the remaining bats in a flurry out the opposite entrance.]

[gundemn]

[ Elan enters the next room with his gun trained on the first attendant to recover and reach for their knife. ]

I wouldn't pick that up if I were you! I don't suppose you'll stand down and take us to the prisoners?

[ His expression is eerily calm. Any sane person would still have registered a gun being pointed at them as a threat, but the brainwashed cultists start ranting nonsense about serving their Lord as they grasp their weapons and stagger to their feet. If he had his gundam he could knock them unconscious with a blow. Killing is grisly and turns his stomach - he had avoided the mob earlier only because Bakugou had blasted an opening - but he knows who he's here to save and these people aren't it. He doesn't make his decision lightly but once it's made there's no hesitation, only the compartmentalization of his emotions.

Unless Bakugou objects, Elan's leveling his gun at the first attendant's heart with a stone-cold look in his eye and pulling the trigger. ]

[blastedass]

[Bakugou heads into the room after Elan, eyes flicking to the charred wood as the trap sags against the wall. A falling axe. Fucking cliche. Elan's handling the bastard going or his knife on the floor. What a moron, still trying to fight back when the odds are obviously stacked against him.]

Knock him out. He's not gonna help us. [Hearing a few ranting words out of his mouth is enough to tell Bakugou the cultist has no intention of assisting them interrupt the coming of their shitty "god". Walking towards Elan, he intends to do that very thing if the fighter isn't going to.

Meaning he's right there when Elan levels his gun. There's no hesitation on either of their parts; the pilot fires and Bakugou knocks his hand to the side. Not hard enough to hurt his hand or remove the gun from it, but deft enough to make the bullet embed itself into the wall on the cultist's left. In the same motion, Bakugou swings his leg in a harsh kick, thudding his shin into the back of the man's head and dropping his unconscious ass face-first into the ground.]

Move! Stop wasting your time with this shit!

[Whether Elan wants or not, he catches the pilot by shoulder and hauls him forward, away from the downed man and further into the dungeon labyrinth. Yeah, he's not gonna let Elan murder someone on his watch.]

[gundemn]

[ Elan clicks his tongue when his shot goes astray. He looks annoyed for someone who just got relieved of the burden of murder. Yanking free of Bakugou's grasp, he goes with him but looks cooly over at the hero interfering. ]

I'm saving us time. You know we'll have to come back this way.

[ He can respect a commitment to not murder but don't tell him eliminating threats here and now isn't the most efficient use of their time. With a kaiju lord on their heels and teammates who may or may not need to be carried out, they don't need stab-happy cultists getting up and in the way of their escape. Personally, he wouldn't leave things to chance. Playing hero is such a chore. ]

[blastedass]

[If Elan wants to get away with murder, how about trying to do that away from a hero? Seems logical enough. Bakugo doesn't resist the jerk out of his grip, only making sure Elan doesn't about face and return for his intended victim.]

If he's still up, you can pistol whip him when we come back!

[If course eliminating threats is an easy thing to do! Killing criminals and villains would prevent them from ever doing crime again. But how does that make a hero any better than the person they kill? It's a cliche argument, but morals exist whether people like them or not. Once they kill that shitty kaiju, hopefully the cultists will lose the urge to fight.]

Save your bullets for the kaiju. Unless you wanna try punching it.

[gundemn]

I prefer to keep my distance! Everything in this damn place wants to take a bite out of us, even the attendants!

[ Beating someone unconscious can be more grisly than putting a bullet into their heart, you know, but maybe that's a skill issue. He would have to get up close and personal to pistol whip someone, and considering some of these cultists are fucking vampires what the hell, he really doesn't want to let them within a 5-feet radius of him. Speaking of, they turn a corner to face more enemies. Elan goes for the bats, leaving any cultists for the hero to take care of to his own satisfaction. ]

[blastedass]

You were gonna shoot him point blank!

[That's not keeping your distance, dammit! Bakugo sweeps his hand forward, throwing a wave of explosions across the hallway with a cacophony of noise. Stone walls scorch, cultists shout in surprise and pain, scant furniture and bodies hit the ground and walls with thuds before dropping in a smoking mess. Bakugo leaves the bats for Elan to take out, trusting his marksmanship to get him through, though he glances to him every now and then. He promised to watch over the pilot and he won't break that promise.]

The next hall's clear! Move it!

[gundemn]

I was giving him a chance to back down! Isn't that what you heroes want?

[ He was being merciful! He was also fully prepared to shoot the attendant and use him as an example to threaten the other one into cooperating, which isn't exactly heroic thinking, but if he's to become a villain, he would commit all the way.

The bats that come too close are gunned down and Bakugo's crowd-control keeps the rest of the threats at bay he makes it to the next hall unscathed. Elan takes the window of opportunity to quickly reload again, popping out an empty magazine and replacing it with another. ]

[blastedass]

If they don't accept their chance, knock them out!

[Elan did do what a hero would want. He gave the man the chance to surrender and the bastard didn't take it. But equating it to death next isn't what Bakugo wants! Okay, he wants to kill them, but he doesn't allow himself. Does he have to give Elan lessons on knockout strikes? Maybe later...

He doesn't want to see Elan, or anyone, become a villain.

Bakugo glares behind them into the chamber they cleared. This feels never-ending and their allies are waiting on them in the depths below. Dammit, why can't he blast a hole straight down to them?! Right, the castle will crumble.]

How many more magazines do you have?

[gundemn]

[ It would help if he was better at knockout strikes, but alas his skill set is long ranged fighting. ]

Sure, but if they go for my throat, I'm not taking chances.

[ Which is to say, no promises! If it comes to kill or be killed, he would choose to protect himself, nothing personal. It's not out of anger or desire for vengeance. He doesn't even really care about punishing or getting back at the cultists so long as he gets Kaede back safe. It's survival instinct, and he's never felt it more keenly than in this dungeon that gives him the creeps. He readies his gun. ]

I've enough to keep going, but just in case, the next cultist we see I'm swiping their pitchfork!

[ He can fend off the bats by swinging at them and save some bullets. ]

[blastedass]

[Oh good. Someone else he'll get to throw around on the gym mats. Get your running shoes on, Elan, or else he's dragging your ass in there with him to learn moves.]

All right.

[Bakugo has to give him that, unable to tell the guy to not defend himself if someone's that close to killing him. He makes a mental note to try and teach Elan some non-fatal techniques for dealing with close combat fights. But right now, with the vampires and who the fuck knows if they're still human, Bakugo has to compromise. Though he'll likely be sniping people off Elan if they get too close rather than let the guy put a bullet through their faces.]

These shitty bastards. We don't have time to keep fucking around with them! [Stalking forward, he moves in front of Elan, stopping a foot from him.] Get on. Put your arms around my neck and don't fucking choke me.

[Time to blast his way through the halls. He'll avoid burning Elan's legs, though it's gonna be a little (really) awkward. Get on the living missile, Elan.]

[gundemn]

[ Elan doesn't want to dally, every second they waste is another minute they leave their allies in the hands of the cult, but he hesitates to throw his arms around Bakugo. Not because he doesn't get what he's trying to do, but - ]

Hold on a minute. Have you done this before?

[ Is it like. Safe? He's seen the explosions Bakugo can make and if Bakugo is thinking what he's thinking, it's going to be a frankly explosive ride. On second thought, can we revisit the pitchfork idea? ]

[blastedass]

Of course I've done this before, idiot!! [ROARING over his shoulder!] You think I don't practice my moves?!

[Does Elan want to delay longer, dicking around with a bunch of shitty bats and hidden cultists mucking up their run through the halls? Bakugo could have blasted ahead much earlier, but stuck with Elan due to that promise. Doesn't mean his patience lasts forever. (A miracle it's lasted this long.)

Another gesture to do what he said.]

Don't be such a damn scaredycat. Get on.

[They can pitchfork steal later.]

[gundemn]

There's a difference between turning yourself into a cannon and turning yourself into a ride! You expect me to believe you try this stunt regularly?

[ He prefers the term skeptic over scaredycat. Unlike the superhumans among the Outsiders, he could easily get a broken bone or neck if they crashed. Some people aren't built to be human cannons! The annoying thing is that it really is the quickest method and he can see the sense in it. They don't have time to mess around. So even though Elan continues to bitch, he comes up to Bakugo and grabs onto him. Loosely at first before he awkwardly adjusts his arms to wrap around him securely. ]

[blastedass]

I EXPECT YOU TO SHUT UP AND GET ON!! [No, Bakugo doesn't regularly carry people around in battle and tends to favor combat far over evacuations or rescues. But he has done all of that in the past and trained on the latter two. He's got legs, and a mouth, so if push comes to shove, that's another way to drag someone out of a hostile area. Piggyback, however, is the least embarrassing way.

As soon as Elan's got his arms around his collar, Bakugo stands up, bucks his hips backwards abruptly to knock the pilot's legs around his waist, then promptly detonates two large explosions behind them. At best, Elan's going to feel a flare of warmth up his back, and the punch of the recoil. Nothing compared to the sudden rush of the wind past his face. A human cannonball is not a bad comparison...]

[gundemn]

Woah—

[ Whatever retort Elan has is lost as they kick off. He almost lets go in shock at the acceleration, but self-preservation instinct kicks in and he grabs on for dear life, nevermind how awkward it is. He's gone at faster speeds but always within the confines of a mobile suit or spacecraft! He's not enjoying a moment of this wild ride! Next time he'll get in his damn robot without complaining, let this be over.... ]

[blastedass]

[Don't you dare let go, dammit! He gave you plenty of warning! Bakugo angles his hands, blowing another path of explosive carnage behind him as he blitzes through the halls. Traps go up in flames, barely able to trigger before they're ripped apart by a detonation crammed into their hearts. Mooks waiting to jump them end up pounding on a ball of flame well-behind the pair, leaving walls and floors scorched in his wake. Far faster than their pace before, which was "plodding" compared to this speed. Horizontal becomes downward as Bakugo tears a descent through the stairs, pulling one hand in front to slam another explosion into two guards. It bounces them over without losing speed, only to zip under the doorway, stone walls blurring behind the smoke as they careen close to the ceiling. Not until they're at the bottom-most floor does he finally crash his hand to the ground, blasting them upward a short ways to get his feet under him, and drops. A final "boom!" -- short and sweet -- pops them out of their descent with a small bounce so he can land on his legs smartly.]

You better not have pissed yourself back there. [To Elan's credit, he didn't choke Bakugo through the run.]

i think this thread we can tie up!

[gundemn]

[ Elan can feel the heat from the explosions on his skin and each heart-thumping boom reverberate in his chest. He cracks one eye open and is met with a blur of scenery and enemies swiftly dealt with before he can even call out a warning. With little to do but to cling on, he can only trust Bakugo to navigate them to the heart of the dungeon safely. After what feels like an eternity but could have only been minutes, their turbulent ride comes to an end. The moment his feet find solid ground he staggers apart from Bakugo, exhaling. ]

Your piloting could use work but thanks for not killing me.

[ He checks that all of his guns are still in their holsters. No luggage was lost in transit, he was safely and swiftly delivered, it wasn't as bad of a ride as he's making it out to be. ]

Let's keep going.

works for me! thanks for sticking with me through it!

[blastedass]

My "piloting" is fucking perfect! I'm not surrounded in armor.

[Meaning he can't blaze through at a steady level clip. He has to dodge and take things at hard angles or evade whatever the fuck these bastards had prepared for them. Traps, arrows, blades, people jumping. All accounting for that wild ride. Bakugo lets Elan stumble off (go kiss the ground if you're that unnerved) and get his bearings. He keeps an eye out on the area around them, making sure no further threats are ready to impeded them.]

The others should be approaching from other tunnels as well. Take out the enemy first, then rescue the rest.

[Bakugo moves forward with Elan, opting to prioritize removing the dangers before they go after their kidnapped companions. Doing it in reverse only puts those already weakened and injured at more risk. Still, Elan's proven himself well enough in the explosive hero's opinion, so he sticks with him as they advance, trusting him to keep his sights and trigger ready for the challenges coming up ahead. Time to fuck up a cult and a kaiju.]