The harp and pouch of good potion-orbs were dropped in favor of running- er- swimming- as fast as he could as far away as he could. Though the crowd and the chaos he'd try to keep track of Dragon, trying to stay as close behind as possible- but right now being anywhere AWAY from the giant-scary-kraken-squid was good.

Crocodillian, paddle-like tail and webbed-claws were useful in this pursuit as he clawed wildly through the water. Dad? Skein? Dad? He called, both intentionally and accidentally- through the thought-link. Not that it'd help much in locating them, but Brandle was just too scared to think straight. Frankly, when confronted by a fifty foot disease-infested squid, that's more than understandable.

Someone called for the use of pouches of the nastier potions. Brandle piped up- though his thought-voice was still saturated with fear. I have some of the bad potions! I reallydon'twannagetclosetothebigscarystinkysquidthough-


(Brandle is trying to not to get hit by a giant deathsquid-)

THE BLACK CITY

BOSS ENCOUNTER: THE KRAKEN

[THE INFESTED, USURPER OF THRONES]

394 / 500 HP    79%

▼ DISEASED ▼ POISONED




The Kraken had appeared like a truck with its headlights off: a massive shape bursting from the dark and into their shared, lurid lights, a festering monster crashing into them. Those struck would feel the pain of serious bruising, of broken bones, as the beast crashed into them. Tentacles flailed among them, grabbing, tossing, and then it broke free and the initial attack was over: but not without damage done on both sides.

Lightning strikes from Fahl, Hunter and Khavur left their marks, with claws and spear plunging home into festering flesh, leaving a cloud of inky blood billowing behind the Kraken as it turned away. V-Labradorite-One tore at one tentacle as it fled, the creature spinning and jolting violently free with a further spray of black. Hestia's claws of ice left as spikes in a trap tore it further as it spun away, and magic, too, took its toll. Electrum's bolt briefly lit the dark in a shiver of light, arcing and searing over the Kraken's body. The effects of Blight's disease were not yet apparent.

For an instant, the Kraken vanished: Esther's void taking it, banishing it into nothingness. It was here that Kaimana's voice echoed along the shared link: "The Kraken's eyes might be a good place to aim? Or--it might lash out harder if blinded. It has bad sores all over; attacking those might be safer." The Gembounds were granted just a moment of preparation or reaction, if they wished it.

Then the creature was back, flailing with a trail of bubbles, limp for a moment in the black. It was at this point that those who had entered the room second might notice that they were feeling distinctly sick: perhaps the creature's rocket to the entrance had not been only an attack, but a defense. Those who had been struck were already sickened, but those who'd entered an instant later would find that they'd passed through a cloud of festering bacteria the Kraken had blasted like ink into the doorway. Still, as it reemerged from the Void, they had a chance to strike.

Patrick was nowhere to be seen.

HAVEN 20/20	KHAVUR 20/20	KAIMANA 20/20
MADHUKAR 20/20	ELECTRUM 20/20	ESTHER 20/20
CERILAINE 20/20	BEDLAM 20/20	HUNTER 20/20
HESTIA ▼ DISEASED 12/20	GARNET-EPSILON ▼ DISEASED 12/20	TERROR ▼ DISEASED 12/20
DRAGON 20/20	DEEP DARK 20/20	CARJA ▼ BLEEDING ▼ DISEASED 15/20
FAHL ▼ DISEASED 16/20	ASCENT ▼ DISEASED 16/20	TELESTO ▼ DISEASED 16/20
ASTERI 18/20	ATTIKIAS ▼ DISEASED 14/20	WHALE ▼ DISEASED 1/20
BRANDLE 20/20	V-LABRADORITE-ONE ▼ DISEASED 16/20

[ ACTION LOG ]

> GEMBOUNDS WHO ENTERED AFTER THE ROOM AFTER THE KRAKEN ATTACK will become DISEASED next round, inflicting them with 9 DAMAGE unless cleansed. They may roll for any action!
> GEMBOUNDS WHO ENTERED PRIOR TO THE KRAKEN ATTACK are safe from this attack and may roll for any action!
> ALL DISEASE, POISONS, AND BLEEDS will also inflict ONE DAMAGE per round.
> WHALE has blocked 1 DAMAGE from each Gembound struck, taking on this additional 10 DAMAGE herself.


> HESTIA takes 9 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN and is now DISEASED.
> GARNET-EPSILON takes 9 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN and is now DISEASED.
> TERROR takes 9 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN and is now DISEASED.
> DRAGON dodges THE KRAKEN.
> DEEP DARK dodges THE KRAKEN.
> BRANDLE dodges THE KRAKEN.
> CARJA takes 5 DAMAGE (reduced by armor) from THE KRAKEN + 1 BLEEDING DOT via her BACKFIRED ARMOR and is now DISEASED.
> ASCENT takes 5 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN (reduced by AWARENESS ROLL) and is now DISEASED. ASCENT frees CARJA from her armor.
> FAHL takes 5 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN (reduced by AWARENESS ROLL) and is now DISEASED.
> TELESTO takes 5 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN (reduced by AWARENESS ROLL) and is now DISEASED.
> ASTERI takes 3 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN (reduced by AWARENESS ROLL and ATTIKIAS'S PROTECTION).
> BLIGHT takes 5 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN (reduced by WHITE SENSE AWARENESS ROLL) and is now DISEASED.
> V-LABRADORITE-ONE takes 5 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN (reduced by PHYSICAL DEFENSE PREPARATION ROLL) and is now DISEASED.
> ATTIKIAS takes 5 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN (reduced by ARMOR) plus an additional 2 DAMAGE protecting ASTERI and is now DISEASED. He has also prevented ASTERI from becoming DISEASED.

> WHALE blocks 1 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN on ALL GEMBOUND STRUCK, reducing all listed damage by 1.
>WHALE takes an additional 10 DAMAGE blocked from others in addition to the 9 DAMAGE from THE KRAKEN and is now DISEASED.

> FAHL inflicts 13 DAMAGE + 1 POISON DOT to THE KRAKEN with PHYSICAL COMBAT.
> BLIGHT inflicts 15 DAMAGE + 1 DISEASE DOT to THE KRAKEN with MICRO CLOUD.
> ELECTRUM inflicts 18 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with BOLT.
> ESTHER inflicts 8 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with ENERGY OF THE VOID.
> HUNTER inflicts 12 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with PHYSICAL COMBAT.
> HESTIA inflicts 11 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with GLACIATE.
> KHAVUR inflicts 11 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with ATTACK FLURRY.
> V-LABRADORITE-ONE inflicts 16 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with CRIPPLE.

> THE KRAKEN casts FESTERING MIASMA, poisoning the entrance to the room with deadly bacteria!

This quest is closed to new entrants. As a reminder, characters will need a minimum of three posts in this thread to claim rewards. Kaimana's warning given after consultation with her player!

Code:

<SPAN STYLE="text-shadow: 0px 0px 8px #ef78ff;color:#deb8ff;"><b>accidental thoughts font code</b></SPAN>

@Forgraves @Electrum (Garnet-Episilon) @Attikias (Cerilaine, Deep Dark) @Hunter (The Orarian) @Khavur (Madhukar, Kaimana) @Bedlam (Ascent, Pelt) @Haven (Carja) @Indigo @Hestia @Fahl @Whale @Galleon (Skein) @Beast (Friend) @Telesto (Brandle, V-Labradorite-One) @Esther @Dragon (Blight) @Terror (Astéri)

A brief moment's hesitation, and it followed them inside.

It saw the Kraken through the dim glow of baubles and the searing flash of lightning. The bolt illuminated, if briefly, the the vicious ice and the inky blood, a stunned and severely injured Whale. The image was seared into its retinas, and it knew: this cavern was a death trap. Its lungs seemed to seize with dread—actually, maybe that was the miasma the Kraken had brought with it as it popped back into existence, lashing its festering tentacles.

Now would be a really good time for some reality-bending magic. It lashed out desperately, focusing all its hatred for the Kraken into its magic. It wanted it to HURT. To SUFFER, to bloat and flatten and liquify and altogether die in the most horrifying way possible. That would be its repayment for hurting Blight.

The spell sparked, but not in the way it'd intended. Magic bloomed all around it, turning the water surrounding it into a jello-y gloop-like consistency. The catwhale flailed in comically slow motion, its muscles burning as it tried to overcome the sudden resistance. Not to mention, breathing had suddenly become a lot harder.

"GHFHSHSHFGURRRBLE," it gurgled, paddling away from the Kraken one centimeter at a time. At least there were no body parts involved in the failure this time, though it was feeling a bit dizzy. Like putting on a strong prescription of glasses, if those glasses allowed you to see into all seven of the first four dimensions. Exertion? Warp-related? Or did it poison me like those darn moths? it realized, face twisting with the unpleasant revelation.

Battle Report
Attempt: Warp the Kraken (failed)
Defense: thick water?? more undefense than actual defense though-
Injuries: Now diseased

They seemed to be making progress, chasing it away, causing it agony-- until it suddenly vanished. Khavur was more confused than panicked -- how had it...? In the brief moment of absence, a suggestion made it through Patrick's link: they could attack the sores all over its body, and probably not attack any eyes. So they should take aim for when it returns... if it returns...

POOF! There it was!

Seemingly weakened, just as Khavur wanted it to be. The perfect opportunity to strike.

Khavur would swim over as fast as it could, find a suitable sore, and, with killing claws at the ready...

At this point, despite being suitably Charmed by the squishy little catwhale, Khavur had no idea where it was. It was far too focused on the task at hand; you know, beating a Kraken so none of them died.

Strangely enough, Khavur was feeling fine in this moment... great, actually. As if pummeling Krakens were what it was design for (when really that couldn't be further from the truth). Wonder what that could be about...

Khavur is trying to attack a sore with its killing claws.

Khavur said nothing via the Pattylink.

Another response came through Patrick's link, presumably directed towards her inquiry: "Hunter's over here! Uh, wait-- Here, let me open and close my flashlight-- look for the blinking light!" Hunter? Was that Elf Guy's daughter? Pretty on-the-nose names. Well, Madhukar was, uh... she had swam away from Elf Guy and whoever else was with them, so ummm... would she be able to see the blinking light? Did she want to?

You know what, she ought to just check. If she could, great, if not, who cared, Hunter was on their own. So she'd take a glance and -- oh, yup, there it was! Hunter spotted. Then Hunter disappeared. Madhukar would try to keep an eye on them, peeking her head through the doors to check the Kraken fight and-- woah. WOAH. Madhukar was really too small to have a decent sense of scale of anything titan-sized, but she was pretty sure that was way, WAY bigger than the monster she'd tried to kill(?) that one time. And bigger than Draconua. And bigger than anything that would fit on the land-side of the caves really.

Good grief.

They'd probably definitely need help, but if they didn't tell her where to be than she couldn't go and be of any actual use, so for now she would just wait... Right? That was the choice here, right? Guess she ought to remind them: "If anybody needs medical attention, signal where you are." Medical attention. As if Madhukar could give that-- no, she could pipe some magic down someone's throat and probably take a nap in the process. Better than nothing though.

Madhukar is waiting to be called on for help.

Madhukar said via the Pattylink: "Hunter spotted," and later, "If anybody needs medical attention, signal where you are."

When the kraken struck him, Attikias was flung back to the outer wall, smashing into it with the sharp pang of armor meeting rock. Pain flourished about his torso, and when he twisted to move, his vision went nearly dark.

Ouh, that would've hurt. At least- (he winced)- Asteri was okay, and he shoved up towards the top of the chamber without moving as much as he could.

Flashes of magic lashed out around him, and the kraken was taking damage. Someone had pointed out a weak spot, and that was good, but- Attikias? No longer was he a fighter, and he gripped his spear with both hands tightly. He'd join the fray, but first-

'Stick together! This is the last obstacle between us and Artio, and it's a big one- so give it everything you've got!' His spear swung to face the kraken, accusingly, judging where to strike next in the back of his mind. 'Use your best attacks, your best spells- we WILL retrieve Artio today! This beast doesn't stand a chance!'

To an outsider, he hoped it didn't look like he was sitting there doing nothing- he was looking for the perfect place to strike, and he was trying to inspire them. Wasn't that an important part of battle?

BATTLE REPORT

70%

ATTEMPT: Inspire the others to defeat this thing
DEFENSE: Armor (banged up)
INJURIES: Bruised or broken ribs, diseased

With a valiant roar, Haven swims into the room, her jaw jutting out of her mouth and exposing rows upon rows of terrifying, sharp teeth. Her fangs were still full of the venom she'd prepared before, meaning that the next bite she took would be even more harmful.

As she passed through the cloud of illness she very nearly gagged, the sickness quickly making her stomach roll. Hopefully she didn't lose her lunch, but if all else failed she had her backup spells.

Haven, with Attikias' encouragement, shot forward, her teeth bared and a shriek leaving her throat as she aimed for one of the bleeding sores to try and inflict more damage to the thing. She flapped her wings wildly as she got a hold of it, shaking her head like a terrier in an effort to inject more venom and to tear off more flesh. If she was successful, maybe she'd even get it to bleed.

"It is dazed! STIKE IT WHILE IT IS STILL DAZED!"

Her venom, a paralytic, might do something to at least slow this thing down and open up more attacks of opportunity from the others.

BATTLE REPORT

100%

ATTEMPT: Bite the Kraken. Still has lingering Emphemevenom from a previous barely successful roll, which is a paralytic.
DEFENSE: N/A
INJURIES: Diseased

With the aid of a stranger and her daughter, she was freed from her backfire, the armor on her belly, head, and legs falling off. She stopped them before they removed anything else, still needing some protection, and shoot both Cerilaine and Ascent looks of relief and thanks.

Carja swam into the fray as well, pushing through the horrible cloud of sickness in order to get eyes on the Kraken. She saw the others attack and breathed in once, twice, and then called upon her magic, begging it to come to her aid, to strike down this horrible creature.

Attikias' voice echoed in her mind, her breathing slowing from its frantic pant, her panic subsiding for just a moment. That's right, she was a dragon, she was mighty, she was powerful!

With a savage roar she swept her wings and arms upward, ice rising up from the gloom in terrible spikes, shooting upwards like massive bullets to embed themselves into the giant creature's hide. It was a big enough target that missing was a challenge, but she was still thankful that she didn't.

The spikes rose from the substrate, sprouting like trees and adhering to the surface. The terrain would be altered, the spikes large enough for most gembound to get through, but for larger gembound and the Kraken, a hazard would be formed. But just swim above and you'd be fine, or find refuge in the spikes if you were small, creating a nice defense.

"Hide within the spikes if you can!", she called out, "They will protect you from its body, but I cannot be sure of its tentacles."

There are now ice spikes jutting out from the substrate, creating an obstacle. Smaller gembound can hide within but larger gembound need to avoid them.

BATTLE REPORT

75%

ATTEMPT: Stab it with ice spikes!
DEFENSE: Still has some ice armor on her back, neck, and chest.
INJURIES: Diseased, bleeding

Yes! This was good! The beast was being injured, and the valkhound slavered from its toothy grin, its gills rattling with adrenaline. As it curled around, the others were setting an all-out assault, the kraken's blood tainting the water, and the creature that had led them in felt alive.

There wasn't much warning as it opened its maw, black electricity sparking over its glowing marks and wings, a hiss rising through the water. 'BETTER MOVE!' it projected without filter before a powerful arc aimed right for the kraken's mantle. How was THAT for an attack?!

Oh, how good this beast felt, how it had seeked this retribution for so long! Finally, it could end this fued, feast on its flesh, carve it and create a trophy out of it! 'YOU DIE NOW!'

So, it may have gone a little mad in that time, too. At least it made a good gun.

BATTLE REPORT

100%

ATTEMPT: Eletrocute that fish!
DEFENSE: Internal voltage set to maximum
INJURIES: N/A

Cerilaine glanced up with blue eyes and nodded to Carja, backing off when they were done. She'd followed along, too, and take in the cloud, the shock of illness hitting her. 'Shit-' and she wiped at her eyes, already hunking up underwater. No- not now!

Shoving herself away from the dragon, Cerilaine's growl reverberated through the water around her, and she shot for the spikes the dragon'd made as she stabbed the kraken. Blue eyes flicked upwards, to the empty space above it. Yes, she could do that. Curling in under one of the spikes below the kraken, Cerilaine's focus coalesced above the thing as she attempted to stab the thing from above and capture it in place.

This thing was going down- it would not run from this fight!

BATTLE REPORT

ATTEMPT: Stab the kraken from the other side
DEFENSE: One, single little wisp
INJURIES: Diseased (passing through the entrance)