Ridai

"Akimbold, da hooman say many weird words dat sound good! Are they good words!" Sdroodl yells down at the Cap'n, pushing his Crown-Hat back into place with his kitchen scepter. "Yes, Your Munchness, he says you are very cool," Akimbold answers through gritted teeth. "Good! Am very cool! Superduper sdroodl also very cool! Haxyspargly no looky at kobolds, but think kobolds very cool if gift Superduper sdroodl, make minions! Everyone bully kobolds, kick around kobolds, chase kobolds out of home! Hoomans call kobolds trash, send childs with pointy sticks to poke kobolds! No more everyone bully kobolds when dragyn think we very cool!" Sdroodl accusingly pokes his yellow rolling pin at the party for good measure. "But then the dragon will bully us! We-" "But no hoomans kids!" "...we can be strong, I am training our-" "You stronk 'cause you weird! When kobolds do snacky time, you swing spoon and put on hat and learn beeg words!" Akimbold seems to vibrate at increasing frequencies.

I got my dreadful porridge ready, time to roll some Resistance checks. Resisted all three.

"That... that was my understanding as well, yes," Lapis adds to Pyrrha's words, audible unsure what is going on. His hands do not skip a beat, however, judging by how they keep moving in a blur. But there is little time for Semblance Discussion, as their destination is already actively on fire and under attack. Seeing what is happening on approach, this really is not the first time he is seeing a brutal bandit raid. Well. Normally they aren't out to just murder everyone primarily and loot a distant second. Still, it's been two very long years. There was much to learn from, and prepare for. "I'll do something about the fires," he says to his team just before he leaps from the airship. Spreading his arms, Air Dust needles jet out across Berdsrun, trailed by an ever-expanding net of Dust threads. Air Dust encasing Ice Dust, with a smidge of Fire Dust. So the bandits see flashes across the sky, followed by the Air Dust triggering into large clouds. Another flash as the Fire Dust and Ice Dust are activated, the threefold mixture creating downpours across the village to combat the fires. Descending, crackling thread forms around Lapis in a vortex, contracting into a storm cloud, before exploding outwards into a great many lines shooting towards the bandits further inside village. Lines seeking to pin the bandits in place and preoccupy them with shock therapy rather than slaughtering innocents. Or engaging the figure that lands in the center of the crossing. Thread rises from Lapis' hands. Cover would be preferable. But he would rather stand in the open if it means they are coming at him than the people of Berdsrun. "Two years in the wilds, two thousand bandits shattered against Mistralian tree and rock. Clutch your little flames all you want, you are not the first, nor will you be the last!" Lapis shouts, channeling Mettle, the storm of crackling lines whipping against the ground, causing thunderclaps and burst of lightning. Declarations like these really are not Lapis' style. He would also prefer to not have dozens upon dozens of bandits descend upon him (not again). But one has to present oneself as a preferable target or, failing that, something annoying enough to want to kill first. What a life one Lapis Centaurea, formerly merely a young craftsman, is living now... Actions Spending a Hero Point to Edit Scene for a Dust-fueled cloudburst over the town. Gains 5 Limit due to Always Prepared. New Lapis Centaurea FACT: Thunder God Lapis Centaurea's wrath makes the sky weep for all who oppose him! (Lapis deployed a Dust thread web upon arriving at Berdsrun to douse fires laid by raiders with an artificial cloudburst.) Land in square Y43 Artificer Extras: Multiattack [Affliction], Variable Descriptor 2 (Dust) [Damage, Affliction] Free Reconfigure to Proverbial Haystack (Range), Spin A Yarn, Bundled Up, Joining Skeins, Thread Sling, Quality Control Standard Attack Garud Elite 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 with Affliction (Impaired+Vulnerable+Immobilized -> Disabled+Defenseless+Stunned; Shapeable Area, Multiattack, Extra Condition; Limited Degree), Enhanced Range 9. Multiattack (Multi-Target) -4 Natural 20s vs 12 and 18!

With the ice broken, Lapis actually managed to get some proper training with his team in since the impromptu rescue mission! Adjusting to the RACL spirit will continue to take time, but at least the foundations are getting there. A fair bit of time was eaten up by making sure Solstice was alright after her experience of being mind-controlled. And, of course, hanging out with Tabby. ...Which also led to more FACTS manifesting. Those seem to appear with increasing frequency, which is building dread. During the flight, Lapis prepares additional Dust thread, given they may be fighting over a wide area. "Teams appear reluctant to take Seek and Destroy missions. Perhaps they are deemed too dangerous at the moment?" Team SCCS sure didn't shy away from that type of mission, that's for sure. Lapis only started being ready-ish for those later on. Robin chiming in about incoming danger is nothing new at this point. It sounds fairly serious, however, given the description and Rhys' explanation. Elegance is feeling somewhat offended by the team leader's art. "Then we should keep an eye out for any Knights taking part in the raid. If they are part of command, taking them out may disrupt the-" And Robin chimes in with... Did... did Robin just prophesize possible futures? Is that something his Semblance can do? ELEGANCE - I am more willing to blame his fondness of cheap prose for this. METTLE - Do not underestimate the leader of Team RACL and his... unorthodox ways. OOC Using the time to use Artificer to prepare Multiattack for Affliction. If possible, also Variable Descriptor 2 for Damage and Affliction (and maybe Weaken and Strength, but those are tertiary).

Tourna's inquisitive noise has the Cap'n look at the party for clarification, but when none is forthcoming, he says "You mean... the smell? We could smell it over a long distance, always just a little bit. It was very sweet and would stick in your nose all day. Now, they only smell from close-by, and they smell... fresher? Very strange. Some humans also wandered around in the forest some weeks ago. That happens sometimes. They beat up some kobolds strolling about, but didn't come to the Ramena Bowl, otherwise I would have let them have a taste of my Spoony Arts. They did go to the Super Tasty Apple Tree. That's pretty normal, though, humans sometimes go there. They seem to take some apples home, but never come back for seconds, so I guess humans just don't appreciate a Super Tasty Apple." There is some snickering from the Krew, and the party gets the distinct feeling it's along the lines of "oh those silly humans and their trash taste in apples". "W-well met," Akimbold says in response to Vesper's introduction, unsure how to respond. Given the party wishes to see the Munchking, the spoonsbold sighs and rises. "Very well. I doubt the Munchking would like to see you in His court, but you fought with honor and wish to negotiate. Follow me." Akimbold leads the party towards the palace, the Krew waddling along nearby. On the way, Akimbold fills the time, gesturing to the royal building. "Munchking Sdroodl is the greatest of our cooks and is very discerning in His choice of utensils. I carved a new stove and oven just recently to His precise specifications, as only a properly-built Cabooseculus would facilitate *sigh* Royal Bakey Time. His Munchness is also our greatest builder." Given how averse to right angles every single building in this tree house village appears to be, this may not be the highest imaginable form of praise. Then again, for something this haphazard-looking to hold together and also manage networks of bridges and an elevator (if not for the faint of heart), there has to be some kind of talent. Or secret inherent kobold magic keeping everything from collapsing through not knowing this isn't how physics are supposed to work. They enter the palace, immediately standing in a big hall built against the trunk of a massive tree and on top of its equally sizeable branches. It has everything a throne room should have: Royal guards? Check! (The two kobolds wearing buckets for helmets and wielding rolling pins for weapons make way as Cap'n Akimbold leads the party inside.) Royal art? Check! (There are at least four depictions of Munchking Sdroodl, all of which are competing in how off-model they can get and how big they can make the Royal Crown-Hat. The paintings have been created with the enthusiasm of a toddler in the throes of sugar rush and armed with endless crayons, while the statues were carved with precision while meeting increasingly outrageous demands from the client. Akimbold shields his eyes from the latter.) Royal red carpet? Check! (The kobolds have painted a wide strip of floor red, and if you squint, it is even kind of straight!) Royal throne? Check! (There is a hilariously big wooden throne on a raised level, its backrest many meters tall and looming over everything in front of it, partially because it is constantly leaning forward. It is so large that a smaller throne has been installed on it, which looks more like the kobold variant of a couch with snack trays.) Royal kitchen? Check! (I mean, what self-respecting throne room doesn't have a massive stove stacked on top of an even bigger bulbous oven, with mechanical arms operated by kobold crews to roll and stretch huge sheets of dough? The whole thing is at least two storeys tall, with winding stairs and ladders and ropes leading up and down, all of which are used by kobold assistant cooks.) Royal giant pile of the best green apples the party has ever seen? Check! (They have seen the depiction in Anise's book before, but even if they had not, there is absolutely no doubt in their minds that these are Emeraldia, Apples of [Former] Blight. They also feel their mouths watering.) Akimbold leads the party along the red painted carpeted floor, to the foot of the stairs leading up to the throne level. The oven's arms are currently being operated to carefully stretch a hilariously big sheet of dough to be as thin as the chef desires it to be. Kobolds are rushing back and forth, transporting ingredients, fetching utensils, or just generally running around because everyone is busy and all the running has to be good for something! "My Munchking Sdroodl, I bring a delegation of the humans seeking an audi-" Akimbold begins to call up to the top of the vertical kitchen. Fire light shines out of the round opening in the wide-bellied oven, and the heat appears to be channeled upwards to the stove as well. The party can see a big wok-like pan getting shaken vigorously by multiple kobolds in unison (one even jumping up and down on the handle), browning breadcrumbs (judging by what keeps getting tossed high up in the air every now and then). A red tablecloth cape wearing kobold appears at the railing next to the stove. Or rather, a giant wizard hat with a kobold beneath. The hat is bright red, easily taller than the kobold itself, its floppy brim wider than the wearer is, and a very chunkily woodcarved and garishly painted crown has been put around the bottom of the central part. Between the crown and the drooping tip of the Crown-Hat, the party can just barely see glittering letters having been sown in a winding pattern going around from top to bottom, spelling "MONHSKEENG". "What, hoomans?! Why you bring hoomans?! Told to biff hoomans! On heads! Biffs on head makes hoomans go away and no stomp in Royal Bakey Time with pokeysticks!" Munchking Sdroodl yells down, fist raised up and shaking as he leans over the railing, once pushing the Royal Crown-Hat back up when it is threatening to slip from all the Royal Indignation of Interrupted Royal Bakey Time. "Ah, um, yes, I did, ah, distribute biffings to protect the *sigh* Royal Bakey Time, Your Munchness. However, they merely wish to negotiate for some of the Super Tasty Apples-" Akimbold tries to explain. Munchking Sdroodl now also begins to jump in place with increasing Royal Peevedness. "No negoshate for Super Tasty Apples! Super Tasty Apples for bakey sdroodl! No boring sdroodl! Best sdroodl! Superduper beegly sdroodl! Need all to make beeg for feelgood and Haxyspargly gift!" The louder yelling makes the kobolds working the pan jump, leading to them scrambling to catch the breadcrumbs catapulted upwards in the pan again. "Yes, Your Munchness, I am aware that you require it to-" Akimbold stops mid-sentence as something begins to process. "Wait, what gift? Haxenspargilis?! But that is the dragon!" Munchking Sdroodl hits the railing with his royal scepter (read: a rolling pin painted bright yellow, the color of royalty) in impatience. "Yeah, dragyn! You get biffed on head? Too beeg Superduper sdroodl for just Sdroodl!" The Munchking looks to the party. "Now go away, no nabby Super Tasty Apples to gift to Haxyspargly. Me gift first! As Superduper sdroodl!" Akimbold seems at a loss for words. He also appears to be vibrating in place over his Munchking having kept him in the dark about the true purpose of Royal Bakey Time (whether or not the quantity of the Superduper sdroodl should have tipped him off). Whatever the party is planning, it appears they have their work cut out for them.

"Enduring hardship in service of one's Munchking is part of the way of the Spoonsman," Akimbold says at first (the Krew briefly stop what they are doing and appear to rethink their career choices, but only for a moment), but as Santokumaru continues, he says "...Well, I'm not sure why His Munchness needs... only the Super Tasty Apples, even after they stopped smelling like they did some weeks ago. And why He needs all of them. That is a lot of Royal Sdroodl." The dazed Ramenooze floats randomly around the Ramena Bowl (is that a goo towel that formed on its head?), and does at one point come close enough for Tourna to toss the marshmallows into the slime's mouth. It weakly munches the treat, and while it isn't bouncing back in condition and mood, it does seem to feel a little better, looking less teary-eyed and a bit more naturally-red. Looking up, it wiggles as it munches, and after it swallows, its big gooey tongue slaps against the little Stewbot's entire frontside in a haphazard appreciative lick. Which actually makes Tourna feel better in return! The Krew is pointedly looking away and munching their own snacks. Though one of them peeks at Tourna and its marshmallows out of the corner of a barely opened eye. OOC The Ramenooze uses Itadakidance on Tourna, healing it to full.

"Kobold Munchking Sdroodl is Munchking of all kobolds. Of Burokori Forest. You only have a king, probably with a normal crown, so I'm not surprised you don't know, but the Munchking has the Munchking Crown-Hat. Making them the Munchking. According to Munchking Sdroodl, it's kobold tradition, since He's the first Munchking." There is an awkward pause. The Krew nod in unison. Akimbold has the look of partial stoicism, as the other part is sounding less than enthused about said tradition. "So we protect the Munchking, especially since He decreed *sigh* Royal Bakey Time. So Munchking Sdroodl sent us out to gather all the Super Tasty Apples for the Royal Sdroodl, for which He is preparing the dough at present. His Munchness said it will give Him the courage to navigate the currents of our uncertain future." The Krew nod again. And sneaking in more snacks under the distraction of nodding. Our party of heroes is quite sure that the last sentence was not so much a direct quote as rather Akimbold's more... sophisticated interpretation.

Lapis, as he has been nearly every single day of the past four or so months, remains eternally grateful for Solstice being a bastion of sanity, so he is quite happy to start devising what soul comfort cake he will be serving in the near future. On the topic of what to do with the vampire spawn, he is already gathering the lot up with thread, collecting them in a bunch, and starting to prepare them for shipping. "Oh, if it isn't too much of an inconvenience, I think we should deliver them directly to the police to make sure they aren't freed or able to escape," Lapis says as the hoodlums' hands are being tied behind their backs and their bodies rapidly encased in a tight (and, incidentally, artistically pleasing) net of Gravity Dust thread. Ben thanking them draws a happy "Oh, please don't mentio-" (METTLE - It's merely a true Swordman's duty-) before Jack swears loudly, causing the tailor to jump. One of the vampire spawns is now in possession of a Gravity Dust wizard hat. Lapis stares at it for a moment, displeased by the haphazard make (read: Expertise 15 quality), and starts to unravel it as quickly as it appeared. He freezes, however, at what Jack says. This sort of scorekeeping feels both shocking and deeply concerning (MIRTH - What? That's RACL/FLNS energy for you.), and the mention of Quora adds a rush of fear (ELEGANCE - Cease this nonsense at once, this is unbecoming of you.). Quora did not seem too enthused about him taking Lin Bane's place on Team RACL at first, but she is a terrifying social force. And he is ever dreading her powers in regards to the *sigh* "FACTS". Sorena is also not helping in that regard, acting as a power multiplier. But Tabby is now also part of RQNT. Lapis hopes she is getting along well with her team, but if she ends up cooperating with Quora about the RACL reputation and his own in particular... Lapis completes the web-net with hollow eyes and expression as he feels his real self in the public eye slip further and further away. "i'll transport them to the police myself and meet you at the academy please scroll me your cake wishes see you there..." He picks up the bundle of fifteen or so vampire spawn, padded and packaged for transport, and begins his transport to the police, Scrolling them ahead of time about the delivery and context, using the usual RACL channels. MIRTH - Oh crap, we're losing him. METTLE - Fight! Cut through the falsehoods like the keenest of swords! They will know you as a true Swordsman yet- ELEGANCE - *sigh*

Changelog: Removed All-out Attack Advantage Removed Vehicles Proficiency Spent 1pp to add five Expertise Proficiencies + spending freed Proficiency (see above): Criminal, Politics, Semblance Lore, Vehicles (Air), Vehicles (Land), Vehicles (Water) Removed Self-Tightening Coils under Thread Added to Thread: Finishing Touches: Affliction gains Cumulative Battening: Strength gains Shapeable Area Post-Episode 19 Downtimes (4 actions + 1 from HP): 1x Reputation Building (Lapis Centaurea FACTS) using Expertise (Tailor) vs DC 20, routining for 31, adding 3 successes (+1 bonus from adding two FACTS via HP during the episode). 2x Relationship Building (Solstice East) using Expertise (Culinary [Cooking?] and Medicine [via Treatment]) vs DC 20, routining for 31, adding 6 successes. 1x Understanding Tabby using Expertise (Semblance Lore) vs DC ?, routining for 31, adding ? successes. 1x Team-Building (RACL) using Power Level vs DC 10, routining for 21, adding 3 successes.

So... Lapis watches the proceedings. Solstice dodging talking about herself. His suggestion drawing a snide comment, followed by Jack running into a wall because of wanting to run ahead by himself again. Rhys dodging the question by leaving immediately on his own. Anya looking like something might be weighing on her, somehow? Then Robin returning, but also dodging the question of who kidnapped him. A moment or two pass, taking all this in. He also thinks back to various other members of Spring Class, beginning to think that bottling up is an essential part of Spring Class of 1202. Deep breath through his nose. I have... so much work ahead of me. Lapis claps his gloved hands once. "It's good you are safe now. It's been a hectic evening, so perhaps we should head back to the Academy and report what happened? Afterwards, we can sit down with cake and hot chocolate to wind things down for the day." And hopefully, once everyone has calmed down, people be more willing to talk. ...Feeding Robin sugar this late is a risky play, but it is how it is.

Before Akimbold can answer, he is engulfed in fire. This is far too much for his spoon and his remaining two hit points, one for each leg, and the party sees a small kobold shape entirely wreathed in fire fly backwards with an echoing "OOOUUUAAAH!" and land back on the backwards-wasabi-propelled Ramenooze. When the fires sizzle out in the waters, Akimbold lies on the slime, thoroughly blackened, crispy, smoke rising from him. Eyes spinning, hands and legs raised in the air and twitching. Both spoon and fedora have been claimed by the flames. At just about the same time, the Kobold Krew yells "No bully Cap'n!" and with newfound power, one of them fan-slaps Vesper right on the head, officially making these kobolds the most effective fan fighting force known to koboldkind. They cheer again, looking to Akimbold: "Cap'n, Cap'n! You see we- NOOO, CAP'N!" The shocked kobolds watch smoky, twitchy Akimbold get raced around the Ramena Bowl by Ramenooze Voyages. They quickly get shocked out of their, uh, shock by way of spoon applied with extreme prejudice. Using his newfound insights, Vesper channels the power inherent in his ancient, venerable profession to activate his Butling Spirit. Smudges are removed, glasses cleaned, clothes and gloves righted, leaving Vesper in nearly peak condition. Such are the realities of the adventuring life, where a butler staying immaculate is hard work indeed. However, having unlocked the secret of channeling his butlery energies has awakened a deeper understanding of his craft. Thus, as Vesper adjusts his gloves, any and all dirt simply evaporates off them, and they shine in the purest white, never to be tarnished, never to leave unsightly smudges. Eleanora offers shiny apple rock candy to the Ramenooze, which is still in the process of involuntary dragon impersonation. Now simply handing it to the slime is difficult, giving its highly exothermal condition, but that's nothing that can't be solved with a good ol' toss! Lobbing the Blightrock Apple into the Ramenooze's mouth with a sure hand (any real Priestess of Life has a good throwing arm for medicine coupled with a decent hit rate for allies' faces, after all!) does briefly make the slime fire cease. The slime noms on it for a while with teary eyes, looking like it is finally getting some relief from triple wasabi hell. However, the next moment, it is looking rather shocked, followed by its face taking a more yellow color and "cheeks" puffing out a lot. It is looking increasingly ill and quivering, before (with a particularly weak and wobbly "pwih...") it exhales one last puff of flame, followed by a green cloud with an awful smell that stings mightily in the nostrils. The Blightrock Apple lands back in the boat, covered in slime. As for the Ramenooze itself, it is now drifting aimlessly in the Ramena waters, no longer wanting to do anything on account of feeling rather under the weather now. With that, the battle is won, as the Kobold Krew can do little more than scramble up the ropes and hopefully out of reach of the angry Stewbot and its spoon. PLATES CLEANED! Chefs of the Round Win! The Ramena Bowl has filled up entirely, any excess flowing through holes in the edges back into the underground. The trees close their mouths again, ceasing the boiling outpour, the water finally becoming still. The bowl-boat floats over to the wooden platforms, the party finally having more solid ground beneath their feet (ignore the add creaking). The kobold village has grown mostly quiet, lanterns have been lit now that the sun has set, the moons starting to rise above. A few of them are still roasting snacks on the few leftover burning ropes, but they are transitioning into getting hot water out of the Ramena Bowl and into their cauldrons. In the distance, you can see kobold porters carrying some more boxes and barrels into the askew palace. Transition to a somewhat less sooty, but more soggy Akimbold formally kneeling in front of the party in a way pretty familiar to Santokumaru, hands in lap, back upright, and looking as dignified as a very burned-looking kobold can. His Kobold Krew tried to clean some of the smudges earlier (including dumping water on him), with limited success, before they were told to sit down by their Cap'n. They followed the order and now are sitting some distance behind him, on their bums. The dazed Ramenooze is floating in the water in the background. The village is now nice and warm, with a fresh breeze from the forest. "You spared my Krew and the Ramenooze," Akimbold says, each word accompanied by a small black puff from his snout. He glances at the floating slime, which is looking somewhat deflated ("pwih..."). "...mostly. You said you are not Haxenspargilis' servants, and you have proven your honor and skill in combat." The Cap'n is speaking especially to Santokumaru, but includes the whole party. The Ramenooze burps a small green cloud. The Krew glares at the snack-stealing Tourna as honor is mentioned. "...mostly." "Thus, I shall answer your questions. But know that I am sworn to the Munchking." The Krew is sneaking in snacks. They make sure Tourna doesn't get any. Serving 5 resolution Santokumaru uses the Inventory action to use a Fire Elemental Shard on Cap'n Akimbold, hitting his Fire weakness for 20 fire damage, defeating him! The Kobold Krew attacks Vesper with Fan Slap!, melee, targeting Def, hitting for 12 physical damage, putting Vesper into Crisis! Vesper casts Essence Du Maître on himself, recovering 30 HP! Vesper is no longer in Crisis! Eleanora attacks the Ramenooze using the Blightrock Apple, hitting its Poison weakness for 28 poison damage, defeating it! Tourna attacks the Kobold Krew using its spoon, hitting for 15 physical damage, putting it into Crisis! The fight ends! OOC Vesper's White Gloves have been awakened by his Butling Spirit! They have become: Pristine White Gloves (2h Brawling, melee, [DEX+INS]+2, HR+7 light. +2 Def, counts as shield. Never dirty.) (You still have your regular White Gloves as well, as I assume Vesper has spares.)

Ingredients tumble out of the falling and pinballing Stewbot, cluttering the bowl-boat, accompanied by scared then frustrated Stewbot noises. The Ramenooze was watching the spectacle, but now is more focused on something potentially tasty-looking floating towards it! Very exciting news! And thus, the slime happily slurps up the little treat, with additional munching to boot. The next moment, Ramenooze somehow manages to turn even more red than it normally is, there is the sound of a boiling kettle, its eyes grow big and watery, and with a resounding PWIIIIIIIIH! it breathes fire into the air, which also sends it racing through the waters. Quick slurps of water to try and wash out what it just ate, but that only makes it worse as it PWIIIIIIIIH!s another cone of flame. But no no, surely it must get better this time! And the cycle repeats. While dodging what wasabi fire is coming towards them (the kobolds up above are getting bigger marshmallows because of the big gouts of fire), the wasted snacks must be avenged! And little galvanizes kobolds like someone wasting snacks! So one of the Krew is grabbed by a Komrade and passed over to another, who does the same, until each one has done so, the weaponized kobold having picked up speed. Speed it now puts into an echoing SLAP! of the oversized paper fan on Tourna's noggin. This definitely damages the fan more than the Stewbot, but it sure stings! The kobold seem the most surprised that the attack actually worked, and begin to cheer as if they just won a race against all odds. Unfortunately for them, even more fire comes their way as they first (with big eyes) watch Vesper create another bird, and sending it flying. They watch in awe for a moment, before they remember that the last birdy set the Cap'n on fire! A lot of panicky scrambling follows as they try to swing and air-swim out of the way, occasionally crashing into one another. Through sheer dumb luck, two of the Krew bump into each other, sending them bouncing away in opposite directions, and just so managing to evade the bird, which explodes into fireworks behind them. They did it again! Everything is coming up Kobold Krew! The Ramenooze still tries to douse its wasabi'd tongue, lapping at water. Unfortunately, Vesper ends up being too close, and thus getting slapped by the currently very much spicy and on fire tongue, leaving a trail of ooze on his face and glasses, in addition to scalding the elf and worst of all leaving an awful burn in his eyes as if he for some reason had touched his eyes after handling Salamaprika. Santokumaru and Akimbold clash whenever the Ramenooze rockets close to the boat, but the kobold is clearly losing the fight. Covered in sooty spots, his spoon's head now more hanging off fibers than actually being stable, the kobold captain is panting heavily, only by some miracle of sheer force remaining upright. His fedora is now more some black lump hanging off one of his stubby little horns. Santokumaru suggesting he and the kobold may not so different (in their goals), Akimbold fidgets, glancing away. "P-perhaps, b-but I swore to protect the Munchking..." Much like his less than decisive words, Akimbold's spoonwork is starting to falter, no longer targeting the Knivesman, instead trying to hit Eleanora. However, his weapon is by now so wobbly that the business end simply bends out of the way from the air pressure of the attack, making it more a spoon whip at this point. Eleanora, meanwhile, is busy trying to help Tourna gather its ingredients, picking up a familiar shiny. But the boat has not gotten any more steady, and tripping sure does not help. The party watches Eleanora go overboard! But the Ramenooze, still getting catapulted backwards by spicy fire, just happens to intercept her path. The priestess' back lands on the warm ooze, which harmlessly bounces her right back into the bowl-boat, shiny apple still in hand, before the slime rockets away again. With growing frustration and desperation, Akimbold tries to throw his spoon at Vesper's head again, but the heavily damaged weapon simply slips from his hand, leaving him scrambling to catch it. Thus, the attack is aborted in favor of finally catching the spoon before it can drop into the steaming, swirling waters (though not without accidentally bouncing it back into the air a good half dozen times). The Kobold Krew and the kobolds above start cheering for their Cap'n for moral support. Perhaps that is what is keeping the Cap'n on his legs, powered by all of two hit points. Serving 5 Initiative: 1st Chef Kobold Krew 2nd Chef Cap'n Akimbold 3rd Chef Cap'n Akimbold 4th Chef Ramenooze First enemy turn: The Kobold Krew has a run, and they will heroically defend their Cap'n! They can't actually guard him, what with hanging off of ropes, but they can still try to melee attack Vesper! This time, it'll work! Fourth time's the charm! Second enemy turn: Having to do his duty and try to save face, Akimbold tries to take a swing at Tourna, given his Krew already managed to hit the Stewbot. Third enemy turn: And Akimbold tries to once again range-bonk Vesper on the head! Fourth enemy turn: The Ramenooze is still PWIIIIIIIIH!ing fire uncontrollably, and it looks like Tourna is becoming the target of this impromptu, uh, spellcasting. Yes. Clocks: Goal Clock: Rope Budget Cuts ✅✅✅✅✅✅ Serving 4 resolution Tourna uses Alchemy on the Ramenooze, inherent weakness and gained resistance through Guard to Poison canceling each other, inflicting 30 poison damage, putting it into Crisis! The Kobold Krew attacks Tourna with Fan Slap!, melee, targeting Def, and hits for 10 physical damage! Vesper casts Brume de Espelette at the Kobold Krew, but misses. The Ramenooze attacks Vesper with Noodlick, melee, targeting Def, and hits for 20 fire damage! The attack normally inflicts physical damage, however it is currently very spicy indeed. Santokumaru attacks Cap'n Akimbold, and hits his Fire weakness for 24 fire damage! Cap'n Akimbold attacks Eleanora with Swinging Spoon, melee, targeting Def, but misses. Eleanora attacks the Ramenooze with the Blightrock Apple, but misses. Cap'n Akimbold attacks Vesper with Spoonerang, ranged, targeting Def, but misses.

Anya's remark towards him catches Lapis off-guard. Mirth cackles as Mettle muses on the merits of a properly tailored suit. "Wh-what, but it was just an off-chance offer-" he tries to clarify, but his teammate is already shaking her head, the moment has passed, and Lapis gets the sinking feeling that this will be the story going forward once again.

Oh, things took a pleasant turn. Vlad's excitement gave Lapis the opportunity to rather than wrench the vampire's hand open, the leader of JNBS is slipped out of Vlad's grasp painlessly (for grasper and graspee). As Jack is pulled through the air to be safely deposited on Rhys' back, Vlad's Scroll chimes with a message from @CentaureanCreations to @KillerCountChocula, thanking him for his interest in acquiring a Centaurea suit and that a full quotation will be sent to him within the hour. In the meantime, a few choice examples of Lapis' earlier work are included, for "the distinguished, aristocratic gentleman", as proof of Lapis' claim. At the same time, Orchid receives a message with full context about Vlad, his handle, a link to the message sent from the business account, and asking her to please send a full quotation as soon as possible. It would mean an interesting new client for Orchid (whatever she may wish to do with that, could be a simple one-off order, or a diversification of her network of influence), and it would keep a communication channel to Vlad open for Lapis. Elegance is clearly pleased with the turn of events, smile hidden behind her fan. ELEGANCE - Ah, much better. The moment of Lapis' hand moving in a blur ceases before already making his Scroll disappear in his outfit again (when did he even retrieve that?). "I can assure you that you will not regret it, sir." His voice is as reassuring as ever, and with a slight polite bow, Rhys zips all of them away into the distance. Back with JNBS, clean-up as well as treating Jack occur. Jack's remark about calling RACL has Lapis quirk an eyebrow. "Mean?" That's a new one, for him at least. Solstice dodging the question did lead to a look with the unspoken offer to talk later, especially because of the mind control that was involved. There is putting on a brave face for the team and not worrying others. But someone needs to look out for the healers, too. "Robin has to be somewhere deeper inside the mountain. Let's search the building, and if necessary, we can always dig along the ventilation." Even with everyone around him confident about Robin being okay, and his performance at the tournament, Lapis prefers to search for him with at least some sense of urgency. Knowing his team leader is fine is better than simply assuming so.

Sparks and the odd wood chip fly as Gyuuto hits spoon, further battering Cap'n Akimbold's already weakened defenses, but as a testament to his focus, commitment, and sheer will, he remains standing (if breathing heavily and somewhat scorched). Backlit by the rain of glimmering particles before they sizzle and go out in the rising waters, Akimbold hops back onto the Ramenooze, his landing no longer as steady as before. The action briefly stops as Santokumaru asks how the kobolds knew. It's a long stare from several directions. The Ramenooze goes to check why the little kobold on it is being so wobbly. "...There... there is a giant swirl of clouds over the human castle. And Haxenspargilis yelled for the humans to get the Stew of Tiamat. We heard it from here." The surrounding kobolds nod twice in unison as Akimbold narrows his eyes in inquisitive suspicion. He wants to continue, but Vesper files a complaint and seeks to deliver it with proper fisticuffs. And it would have hit, were it nod for the accidentally meddling Ramenooze, which blobbed some of its mass (and face) upwards to quizzically look at Akimbold ("Pwih?"). This just so happened to intercept Vesper's rain of punches with the back of the ooze's... momentary head-equivalent (?), as it also happened to lean to the sides just in time to happen to be in the way of the elven butler seeking to slip around the accidental guardian. The ooze wobbles a lot, but seems to have taken little note of the punches, the nature of the creature dissipating much of the blunt attacks' force. On the upside, the hanging kobold near Vesper tried to do better this time around, once again winding up to fan slap the butler, only to hit nothing but air as Vesper jumps to assault Akimbold. The little scaled creature ends up spinning around its own axis multiple times uncontrollably, switching rotation direction multiple times before it more or less stops again, dizzy swirls in its eyes. Tourna uses the opportunity to climb up one of the ropes the Krew is hanging from, the Krew either too dazed or too busy snacking to care. Up above, the non-Krew audience observes the spectacle, and Tourna does score some nuts and marshmallows, the bunch just munching for a while. Until the Stewbot just starts spinning with a spoon and extreme prejudice! Snacks fly, startled yips are heard, a few kobolds getting bonked on the noggin before one of them kicks Tourna back off the bridge. The little golem collides with the head of one of the hanging Kobold Krewmen, bounces off, hits another hanging kobold with its spoon on the snoot, before finally crash-landing back in the bowl-boat. Up above, a kobold has to be held back as it reaches for its marshmallows that fell down into the swirling waters far below, wide streams of tears gushing from its eyes. But it is too late, the snacks are lost due to the actions of the dastardly stewbot. The kobold will never recover from this tragedy. Until its buddies share some of their snacks. What was the kobold upset about again? Amidst the distracting shenanigans, Akimbold starts again. "Ahem. So the dragon wants the Stew of Tiamat, and then you show up! Coincidence?!" Akimbold holds his stubby thumb and index fingers in the rough shape of a checkmark beneath its snout, once again critically examining the group of opponents from the shade of his crumpled fedora. He takes another swingy swing at Santokumaru, but the Steak Knife Swordman's defenses seem more and more insurmountable by the tarnished and charred spoon, almost falling into the hot waters too because of how wobbly the Krew's ropes are. Eleanora chimes up and Akimbold points the crooked, blackened spoon at her. "AHA! You admit it! You are Haxenspargilis' servants out to attack us! HAVE AT YOU!" And he throws his spoon at the priestess. Sadly, the increasingly less aerodynamic form of the mangled spoon makes its flight path very, very wobbly, sailing past Eleanora. One of the Krew actually sees it coming towards it, quickly stuffing all of its snacks in its mouth before hastily catching the spoon. A muffled "phew", wiping sweat off its brow (it's also awfully hot hanging over steadily rising Ramena water), it throws the spoon back to the Cap'n, who catches it with something approaching panache. The Krewmember earns a thumbs up and feels incredibly proud of itself. Anoter Krewmember starts swinging and doing aerial swimming motions in hopes of moving faster, until it has enough speed to pat the Krewmember of the minute on the back. Serving 4 Initiative: Chefs of the Round Kobold Krew Chefs of the Round Ramenooze Chefs of the Round Cap'n Akimbold Chefs of the Round Cap'n Akimbold First enemy turn: Spurred on by earning a merit from the Cap'n, the Krew redoubles its efforts (for realsies this time), aiming to melee attack Tourna, the Destroyer of Snacks! Second enemy turn: Since the party seems to want to play (that appears to be its interpretation of what Vesper just did), it excitedly floats over to Vesper, winding up an accidental melee attack! Third enemy turn: The enemies have revealed their true colors! Akimbold shall smite them, starting with a melee attack against Eleanora! Fourth enemy turn: And he has not forgotten the assault by the elven butler, who shall get the taste of another ranged attack aimed at the head! This has nothing to do with ignoring the defenses of the Swordsman! Not at all! Lies and slander! Clocks: Goal Clock: Rope Budget Cuts ✅✅✅✅✅✅ Serving 3 resolution Santokumaru attacks Cap'n Akimbold, and hits his Fire weakness for 32 fire damage! The Ramenooze uses the Guard action and covers Cap'n Akimbold. Vesper can't melee attack Cap'n Akimbold due to being covered, so the attack is aimed at the Ramenooze instead. Vesper hits for 7 physical damage due to the Ramenooze Guarding (but it also has a Physical resistance anyway)! Vesper regains the ability to use the Spell action. The Kobold Krew attacks Vesper with Fan Slap!, melee, targeting Def, but misses. Tourna attacks the Kobold Krew with a critical hit for 12 physical damage! The Opportunity is used for Scanning the Ramenooze, revealing a Poison vulnerability! Cap'n Akimbold attacks Santokumaru with Swinging Spoon, melee, targeting Def, but misses. Eleanora uses the Inventory action to use 3 IP for an Elixir, restoring 50 MP! Cap'n Akimbold attacks Eleanora with Spoonerang, ranged, targeting Def, but misses.