daybreakacademy | battlefield: the enraged ones [open]

battlefield: the enraged ones [open]

Who: A. Anyone!; B. Mostly those who have shown interest in fighting the Dragon, but even if you haven't posted in the OOC interest check, feel free to jump right in anyway!

What: A. Let's talk about Heralds; B. It's time to fight a Dragon daemon!

When: Late June. A happens before B.

Where: A. The Iris Network; B. A small town found within the Mount Lebanon mountain range, Lebanon.

Warnings: There will be fighting, likely with blood and possible gore.

Note: Will match format!

A. UN: murakumo_emille | Subject: Heralds

A. Colleagues and Students,

I, Head of Research Emille, have been looking into the beings known as Heralds in order to prepare for our eventual showdown with Utultar. There are records of battles against a previous Herald, Xelvak, and we cannot forget that a baby Herald resides with us within the walls of the Academy.

Therefore, for anyone who has fought with Xelvak or Utultar, or have interacted with the baby Herald, I would like to hear your story. What was your experience like? What was the Herald like? How do you feel about the baby Herald that resides with us? Is it an abomination, or worth training to fight with us?

As for myself, I will admit that I am wary of the baby Herald. As long as it does not become a threat, it can remain with us, but the moment it becomes dangerous we will need to take action against it. Besides, I do not believe it likes me much. That is my opinion. What is yours?

--Emille

B. Codename: Sleepy Hollow

[One June afternoon, Emille receives a dire phone call from Murakumo HQ in Tokyo. They've detected signs of a butterfly-like Dragon daemon in Lebanon, and they're asking if she can mobilize a squad from Daybreak to nullify the threat. By the next morning, she and a select group of students are on a Murakumo-funded helicopter flight to the Middle East.

Upon touching down at the foot of a mountain range, they are taken in rugged ATVs to a small town within these mountains. The surrounding area is densely wooded, and snow-capped peaks can be seen off in the not-too-far distance. As for the town, it is a mess. It is obvious that something strange is going on, that a battle has been taking place. Burn marks can be seen on some of the buildings. Chunks of earth have been gouged out and strewn around. Small medical tents have been erected near the entrance to the town, with Murakumo doctors aiding wounded humans. And, of course, swaths of orange flowers have sprung up in various places, from the ground to the rooftops.

Emille and the group are greeted by a member of Murakumo as soon as they step out of the ATV. The uniformed, ventilation-masked man gives a quick debriefing: the Dragon daemon, codename Sleepy Hollow, has used some sort of ability like the shedding of its wing scales to turn the people of the town against each other, verbally and physically. Murakumo is currently working on providing an antidote to this problem, both for the victims and for those gearing up to fight the Dragon. Sleepy Hollow itself has been chased off for now, but it will be back anytime.

He then points to three stations: A larger tent set up next to the smaller medical tents where the antidote is being created, a small table with a nurse outside of the medical tents, and the biggest tent of all in the center of the town where the anti-Dragon briefing is about to begin.

Which station will you join? See the toplevels below for details!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Takeuchi's handshake is firm, but doesn't last too long. There are things for them to do, after all. He waits for Jonathan to pick the boy up, then leads him to the exit of the medical tent after winding around various doctors and nurses. He points towards a smaller tent a few tents down from where they're currently standing.] There's where we're heading.

[As they walk, Takeuchi has to follow up with what Jonathan told him a few moments ago.] You say you have a master, Jonathan? So your power is something you've been taught, like magic? We have a lot of magic-users in Murakumo -- even I know how to use basic healing magic -- but I've never heard of anything that's like a heat stroke but can also calm others down. It sounds like some kind of arcane magic that's only reserved for the most worthy pupils or something cool like that. [Takeuchi says this with a noticeable enthusiasm. He miiiight be a bit of a nerd.] Unless your master is just a professor at the Academy you attend, and all of you can use that power?

Ah- I did, yes. [Did is unfortunately the operative word. His expression softens a bit as he tries to avoid the upsetting parts of the matter.] I would not call it magic persay- while doing some research of my own, I came to find that 'hamon' is technically a use of radiance, made to fight off their natural opposites. The trouble is that my master unfortunately passed before I could learn much from him- and the art itself is quite old. I have yet to truly see anyone else who has used it.

[At least beyond anyone he's, well. Taught himself.]

Really, it's Radiance?! [Takeuchi's eyes light up again.] We don't have very many Candles in Murakumo. It has something to do with "creating warriors instead of waiting for them to be created"? But anyway, that's so neat! I hope you find others who can use Hamon some day. It would be a shame for it to not be passed on after you, especially since it's been around for a long time.

[Amidst all his gushing, they nearly walk past the tent they're meant to enter. Takeuchi has to make a hard stop and even walk back a pace or two.] Oh, we're here. [He peeks his head inside the tent for a moment.] Yeah, it looks good. Let's go on in.

[Upon entering the tent, the two men will see a good number of children ranging in age from babies to their teens all over the place. The babies are in their cribs, the younger ones are playing with each other on the floor, and the teens are mostly talking. One is reading in a corner, next to a seemingly out-of-place pile of ventilation masks. Everything seems relatively peaceful for the moment.]

If you want to put the boy onto a cot, I'm going to check in with the attendant over there. [He gestures towards a portly woman talking with a teenager.] You can join us once he's settled. Sound good?

Indeed! I haven't had the chance to teach many candles, but it seems to operate well enough...

[At least Jonathan seems happy to converse on the matter. Guided into the room, Jonathan will move the boy over to the cot with a nod. Hopefully when he wakes he'll be alright.] Of course, [he tells Takeuchi, before focusing on his task. At least everyone else in here is alright- he's not sure he'd be able to handle trying to knock out everyone.]

[The boy is still asleep and looks very peaceful once he's laid onto his cot. Meanwhile, Takeuchi explains about the boy to the attendant -- he has a wound on his head that needs healing -- and begins telling her about Jonathan. He's from the visiting Academy and has a really neat Flame ability that allows him to calm children down in a snap! The attendant can be seen glancing at Jonathan and looking him over.

When Jonathan makes his way over to them, the woman smiles at him.] Hello! I'm Mai. Takeuchi here has been telling me about what you can do. I'd love to have you stay and help out. Your ability will especially be useful momentarily -- we're about to have a Dragon drill. Those tend to rile the kids up. All you'll need to do for now is follow my lead. Let me know when you're ready. [She asks Takeuchi if he doesn't mind staying to help with the drill as well, and he shakes his head no.]

Oh, that's not quite...

[He's doomed. He's doomed! He's never getting the story straight! But with a weak nod, he'll stick to it as well.] Right. It's good to meet you as well then, Mai. Before we begin, may I ask what the 'Dragon Drill' is precisely..?

[Maybe he can just. Not. Give everyone heat strokes. That would be wonderful.]

[Poor Jonathan, but it's all that the Murakumo folks have seen him do so far. They're not used to Hamon, okay? ~~It only takes one heat stroke to get the point across...~~]

[Mai nods.] Right, the Dragon drill. When I blow my whistle, [she grabs onto a whistle laying against her chest, hanging from a lanyard around her neck] Fatimah over there [she points to the girl reading by the pile of masks] and some of the other older children will scramble to help put ventilation masks on all the children. You, Takeuchi, and I need to take as many babies from their cribs as we can -- the older kids will also help with this after their task -- and we need to gather in the center of the tent in a circle.

It's all to prepare for the Dragon's attack, since its method of attacking is suddenly flying over us and spreading some kind of magic that causes everyone to go crazy and attack each other, and then it flies off again before we can get it. [Mai huffs a bit in frustration, her round cheeks growing even rounder with her frown.] That Dragon is such a pain, making us hurt each other instead of facing us itself like it should!

[As soon as she says that and gets it off her chest, Mai deflates and goes back to smiling.] Are you okay with that, Mister Jonathan? When you're ready, we'll start the drill. Or do you have any other questions first?

[NO HE MUSTN'T,

Jonathan swallows, and nods- though before he agrees he does bring up a hand slightly for a question.] I do have one, though it isn't entirely related...When the true attack arrives with its magic, is it visible? You are using gas masks, so I'm wondering if I could perhaps simply create a protective barrier using Hamon.

[Hamon is weird, so he hopes he doesn't have to test that. But hey, it lets people walk on water and make leaf hanggliders somehow so...]

[Oh boy, Takeuchi gets all excited again. What can't Hamon do?] You can make barriers too?! [Mai looks questioningly at Takeuchi's outburst, causing him to clear his throat and regain his professional composure.] I mean, yes. The Dragon's ability seems to come from its butterfly wings. It's like it's shedding its scales. When it does, this fine pink dust floats through the air and makes anyone who inhales it directly go insane and start attacking indiscriminately. [He frowns. It's not a pretty sight when out of nowhere, people start brutally attacking each other.] Thankfully, anyone inside a tent wearing one of those enchanted ventilation masks should be relatively safe...

[Mai butts in.] Yeah, we've been able to make it through okay the past few times the Dragon has attacked. But that's why we do these drills, so we can have the best possible outcome during the real thing. Does that answer your question? [She might seem a little pushy, but she's noticed Takeuchi's excited vibrating and is trying to keep him from saying something stupid.]

Well, it's only a possibility...

[He coughs.] I thank you for answering- naturally I would not want to risk endangering the children with a test, so I apologize for the slight delay in this drill. I am ready now.

[Oh he hopes he doesn't have to use hamon for this.]

[Mai nods.] It's fine. There's always the chance for the Dragon's return, so I'll keep your barrier idea in mind. Remember, grab a child and bring them to the middle of the room. Jonathan, it would probably be easiest for you to take hold of the child you brought here, since he already knows you.

[Takeuchi reaches into the medic bag he's carrying over his shoulder and pulls out a ventilation mask that he holds out in offering.] Ah, Jonathan, one more thing. According to drill protocol, you'll need to put this on before doing anything else. You don't want to breathe in the dangerous Dragon dust and go crazy, either.

[Mai waits for silence to fall before continuing.] Is everyone ready? [Feeling comfortable that they are, she blows her whistle.] This is a Dragon drill! Grab a ventilation mask, put it on, and come to the center of the tent!

[Both Mai and Takeuchi head over to the cots and cribs to grab the youngest children, while Fatima and the older children begin handing out masks to the children able to put one on themselves. So far, the situation is in a state of hurried calm, with very little conversation. It seems that these children have the drill down very well.

The boy whom Jonathan brought in from the medical tent is sitting up in his cot, looking confused about where he is and what's going on, but is otherwise not reacting. The sudden, shrill whistle blow woke him up from his nap. His eyes light up once he sees Jonathan's familiar face.]

Right.

[And so the drill begins...alright then, there's the boy, and with a soft smile he reaches over to help them up and over.] It's alright- we just need to get over to the others, and put one of these masks on, [He explains as he moves, admittedly unfamiliar with the masks in question.] It'll be alright.

[The boy's dark brown eyes watch Jonathan's every move intently. He even reaches up to be carried by him when he goes to pick him up. He tries to remain calm, but the mask freaks him out a little. They're full-face masks with goggles and a respirator, but they just slip right over one's head with little trouble. At least, they're supposed to... The boy fusses a bit about it, shaking his head and putting a hand over the wound on top of his head. He starts to pout.] No, no, nooo!

[That's when something catches his eye and he stares at it long enough to stop squirming. This might be Jonathan's chance?]

[Oh right there was an injury...

Aha, an idea. While he certainly takes the distraction's chance to slip it over, he tries to channel some hamon through the fabric of the mask. It should encourage that injury to heal up a little faster, and at the very least feel a little more comforting than not.

He makes sure to get in sight once the mask is on though.] It's alright, see? I'm still here- and you are as well, you see?

[The boy has no time to react to the mask with Jonathan's swift movement. What he really responds to is a tingly feeling on his head, which he tries to touch but it's covered by part of the mask.

The mask slipped on and Jonathan reassuringly in sight, the boy's attention returns to what he had been looking at. He even extends his arm to point at it, right there in the entrance to the tent. A cluster of strange orange flowers has suddenly sprouted into full bloom very quickly, as they weren't there when the three of them came into the children's tent. There's no other explanation than they're created by the Dragon daemon.

Having noticed the flowers herself, Mai blows her whistle again.] Everyone! This is no longer a drill! I repeat! No longer a drill! Make one hundred percent sure that your masks are on correctly! [She comes over to Jonathan, a young child in her own arms.] Do you think you could get your barrier up quickly? The Dragon is likely on its way here!

[ah,

Jonathan hides his panic well, but he finds himself forcing hamon from his very mouth to make certain he doesn't necessarily breath in any of that pollen himself The flowers give him an idea however- with a nod, he moves to a part of the tent near to them.]

Are the flowers a danger? [He asks, focusing on the fibers of the tent. He can only hope this works- channeling as much hamon through it as possible, until it can feasibly repel what flows against it. But if the flowers are a worry...]

[As Mai tries to instruct the children in what to do now that they're facing a real threat, she's able to reply to Jonathan in between leading them around.] That's what we've been told. Their pollen causes people to fall ill. These masks are supposed to be able to withstand the pollen, but I don't want the children--

[She stops abruptly and rushes over to a curious young girl who is walking over to the flowers. Mai is able to grab her hand -- while still carrying a toddler -- and lead her to the middle of the tent.] No, you can't touch the flowers. Come over here with us. [Back to Jonathan.] Sorry about that. I don't want to expose the children to any more danger. They've already been through enough.

[The net is charged. If it doesn't repel the pollen, perhaps it'll simply gather it and stick it there, keeping it from coming within.

With a concerned look toward the flowers, he nods.] A flower is yet a living plant. It's something that carries life through itself, [he continues, hand crackling with hamon. It's a gamble, but if he can perhaps send an opposing charge of that 'life' through...

Perhaps he can make these flowers wither. It goes against everything he knows- to use Hamon to take life, rather than banish 'unlife'.

But if it works, it will also preserve it.] ...Is there perhaps a larger mask I could put on however? I fear it may not be wise even like this, to approach the flowers. [He doesn't say it, but 'like this' refers to his actual status as 'a bat in a human suit'; does it count as breathing the pollen if it's not technically his real lungs? He really doesn't want to test that.]

[Mai looks in wonder at the net, and then at the Hamon in Jonathan's fist. But she doesn't let it deter her from the situation at hand.] I think these plants are alive, but they're also linked to the Dragon's magic.

[She nods at his question.] Yeah, those who go out on the battlefield should have larger masks. [She turns around.] Hey, Takeuchi! Can you trade masks with Jonathan?

[He comes over, carrying a sleeping baby, and Mai helps him remove his mask. She hands it out to Jonathan, ready to give his back to Takeuchi. The man, on the other hand, is busy admiring Jonathan's handiwork.] I can't wait to see what else you can do!

[Goodness, he's never escaping this lot once this is all over is he-

Well. He nods, taking the mask happily for the swap.] It is at least worth a try- and if it does not work, then I can at the very least see about perhaps getting rid of these flowers using a more typical method...

[Ripping them out should be fine right? No? Hm.

Well for now once the mask is secure he approaches carefully. He doesn't want to stir up any pollen after all- once he can reach out to one, he carefully tries to fill it with hamon. To reach through it, and through the root network of the flowers connecting them- trying to overload them with the polarizing energy.]

[Takeuchi scrambles to get Jonathan's old mask back over his face -- he's seen first-hand what that pollen can do, and mixed with the Dragon's brainwashing wing scales, it's not a pretty sight that he'd like to avoid at all costs.

He and Mai, along with all the children, watch eagerly from behind their masks as Jonathan works his Hamon into the Bloom flowers. Their roots are in place only to keep them connected to the ground, not to sustain them, so they are easily filled with actual life force. The plant will begin to glow increasingly white as the energy flows through it, and will eventually burst into a cloud of petals and pollen.

However, signs of more Bloom flowers can be seen sticking through the bottom of the tent in spots, as well as dark spots indicating clusters growing on the sides and top of the tent can be seen from the inside. The others are only waiting to hear the daemon's tell-tale screech as it flies overhead, spreading its deadly magic over them...]

[Great! One patch is gone. Not so great....literally the rest of this.

Hm.

Looking seriously toward the others, he considers the options that they have.] ...If I were to go outside to defend the tent from there, would all of you feel safe?

[He still doesn't know if channeling hamon through the tent is doing squat, frankly. But at the very least being out there can give him a visual, something better to work with than 'there's another problem, time to fix it'. He hopes so, anyway.]

[Mai's eyes -- if they're visible from behind the mask's goggles, anyway -- grow huge at Jonathan's proposition.] You want to go outside, where that Dragon is about to rain its brainwashing magic down onto everyone?! I think not! [She chides him like she would one of the children in the tent: sternly, but not hatefully.

Takeuchi also shakes his head.] Yeah, I would also advise against it. It's too much of a risk, even with a mask on. If it flies directly over us, the amount of concentrated magic in the area will probably affect you. I've... seen it happen.

[He trails off, and Mai takes back over.] They may not look like it, but the tents are supposed to be enchanted with the same magic our masks are. So as long as we're in here, we have double the protection. Let's just wait until the Dragon flies over and the air clears out some. [She wants to apologize to Jonathan, but she has to be decisive, for the children's sake.]

[The boy whom Jonathan and Takeuchi have been helping tugs at Jonathan's pants leg.] Mister, there are flowers over there... [He points at a few pesky blossoms that have crept into a corner of the tent.]

[ah yes-

Well, he at least has the sense to flinch a bit at the reprimand.] ...Right. I do apologize for allowing such a key matter to slip my mind... [Admittedly he'd figured if he was going to be avoiding the pollen, that would do him fine enough...but there's a reason he asked for another mask after all.

...Even if those flowers are a concern.] I suppose I shall simply have to take these one at a time for now then- one moment...

[Well, time to overload this new patch!]

[Mai doesn't want anyone to play hero on her watch. Sorry, Jonathan.

As he turns to deal with the newest bunch of flowers, the children begin to murmur amongst themselves and some of them point up at the roof of the tent. A darkness is growing, definitely spreading quickly from one side to the other. Mai and Takeuchi look at each other, confident that they know what it is. Mai is the one to say it first:] It's the Dragon's shadow.

[But after a few moments, Takeuchi grows concerned.] That's unusual... It hasn't made any noise. It usually squawks as it flies over, right?

[Fatimah, the older girl who helped pass out the masks, gasps as realization hits her.] It's not the Dragon -- look! [She points to a glowing spot on the roof, where roots are trying to come into the tent. However, they seem unable to penetrate through something... Is it Jonathan's Hamon barrier?

By now, the roof is entirely covered, and the tent has grown considerably darker inside. Some of the younger children have begun to cry in anxious fear. If the little bunches of flowers give off a puff of pollen, imagine how much will spread through the air if all of these are overloaded at once?

All Mai and the others can do now is huddle together and wait it out. If Jonathan wanted to slip outside, now would be his chance.]

battlefield: the enraged ones [open]

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Fun With Hamon: The Thread

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welp

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wraps this up with....a gift...