Chapter 1: The Shadow in the Dorm

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Apr 21, 2025 2:08 am
After recovering from being blasted away by the tornado, Luna stood up and saw the bird monster that was formerly Aika flying around with Hanami in her cluthes. As the others leaped into action to subdue, and preferably not slay, the monster, Luna pulled out a talisman and began to chant. "Oh spirits that dwell in the earth around us, lend me your strength to halt our foes."
OOC:

Earth spirit summoning - channeling earth spirits to make pillars (either from the ceiling or the floor) to impair Aika's evasion/ability to fly around.

Impairing (+10), area effect (+10), no damage (-20)

Rolls

Earth elemental spirit summoning - (5d6)

(44112) = 12

Apr 21, 2025 3:48 pm
Hibana: paralyzing 10
Hanami: Barrier 18
Ibuki: Attack (Paralyzing II, Stunning) 8
Symeryu: Attack (Stunning II, Open to Attack) 6, DX 8
Ling Jing: Attack 15, DX 6
Luna: Impairing, AE 8
OOC:
I'll presume that everyone attacking with damage would like to go off after the penalty attacks, like Lin Jing stated.
Luna calls for the earth spirits and pillars of rock descend from the ceiling. Aika can deftly dodge everyone one of them, in her hastened flight.

Keeping at that, a swift barrel roll (for Hanami's unluckiness!), and Aika evades the smokescreen from Hibana.

Then, Ibuki finally jumps from the column she climbed, falling on Aika's back, she almost can strike with her chop, but then, Aika rolls again and Ibuki falls out of her.

Then, Sumeryu finally reaches her with her and grabs her by the neck, bringing her down to the ground with a great thump, breaking the stone floor. It deals 36 Damage and leaves Aika Stunned!

On the meanwhile, the juiced Ling Jing strikes Aika with a series of telekinetic jabs, dealing 54 Damage!!
OOC:
Since she will go through another round of beating without being able to do anything about it, I'll abbreviate it and just give you guys the victory!
After the bird finally recovers from its stunning, she raises herself, but is unable to take flight. She didn't look she'd retreat though, and is prepared to fight to the death, it seems.
But then, a dark blur passes through the girls like a bullet, none able to catch it with their eyes, and when they see, a black-robbed figure was with Aika:

Father Ruohan Tsuji
The priest, with a serious and focused expression, had his two fingers touching her forehead and, upon some whispered incantations, a burst of blue energy explodes from them, making his robes, hair and her feathers swing violently.

Aika Fujimura
Then, the giant bird's figure starts retracting, and she goes back being Aika, it seems.

Her unconscious figure falls limp and he holds her by his side.
After the dust settles, he's suddenly aware of looking too cool and serious in front of the girls, Ruohan quickly pulling his usual silly face, "Oh my... Why was her mad like that? Did she skip lunch or something??"
Apr 21, 2025 4:32 pm
Hibana answers the mysterious male giant. "I don’t think it was her fault. Thank you for saving the bird-girl."

Hibana’s glow flickers. Her hair seems a dimmer red than before.
OOC:
24/40 HP, I believe.
She thinks of how water was the symbol in the ‘charade.’ If there really is water here…
OOC:
@Moyreau - I don’t think there’s water here, but since it triggers her healing, I should think Hibana would look for it in the interest of healing herself and others. And since she’s so small, I suppose she could ask if the priest has any water on him. Not sure if holy water is a thing he’d carry—or allow a fairy to plunge into. But given she has an obsession with tea-cup-baths, she would probably still ask.
Apr 21, 2025 4:48 pm
OOC:
"There wouldn't be any water in this room, no. Well, if the girls decide to stay there, Hibana could ask for some water, but they could also leave up with Aika or something. Up to you all."
Apr 21, 2025 5:01 pm
Ibuki is seriously impressed by the father's moves, she knew masters like that from her temple who liked to play the fool. She will give him a brief on what happened here

"... unfortunately we were not able to retrieve our target it seems whoever this mysterious man was selected her for a reason. On that note did miss Ruby send you here to check up on us? If so she might actually take her job(s) more seriously than I thought"
Apr 21, 2025 8:45 pm
OOC:
Tea cup baths? Okay, now I'm pretty sure Hibana -and her player- actively want to be kidnapped by Sumeryu.
Having subdued Aika with the help of her friends, the dragon lets go of the phoenix and stands up.

"There was a sorcerer, who has a habit of kidnapping girls. He fled through some kind of magic portal. Tsuji-san, how did you forcibly return Aika to her normal state? We should learn, since the sorcerer will surely do the same thing to others."

There are more questions, of course, but for now the most important has been asked. At this moment, the strange priest is an ally.

Sumeryu is mentally giving it 3:1 odds that Bentsuyon and Tsuji are the same person.
Apr 22, 2025 4:53 am
Hanami is utterly relieved that Aika is back to normal, or at least not actively raging anymore. Her eyes start to glisten slightly, but she wipes her tears on her sleeve before they can fall. "Yeah, how the hell did you do that? I thought you were just a useless old priest! Who would've guessed you were actually capable?" She snarks.

However, she lets some gratitude shine through. "But seriously... Thanks. I didn't know what was going to happen. The chicken nugget couldn't hear me at all." She holds out her hands to take the unconscious Aika, if Tsuji will hand her over.
Apr 22, 2025 5:41 am
Lín Jìng, still in her awakened form, stands in a corner, seething, and staring at the rest of the clique.

"Had I not beaten her up so soundly, surely that jester of a priest would not have approached."
Apr 22, 2025 2:53 pm
"Yes lin jing you have performed most admirably, very good job" Ibuki either not understanding the snark or choosing to ignore sill just pay lin a sincere compliment

Rolls

Charismatic - (3d6)

(541) = 10

Apr 22, 2025 3:08 pm
Hibana looks longingly in the general direction of where the portal was.

"So the bad guy got away with the other girl?" There is a look of defeat in her eyes. "I don’t know how to help her.

"Do you?"
The question is posed to anyone in the room, and from the hopelessness in her voice, she doesn’t seem to be expecting a ‘yes.’
Apr 23, 2025 12:07 am
The dragon looks Lin right in the eyes. It is a demonstration of respect between warriors, though in other context in Chinese or Japanese culture it would be rude.

"I think you're correct," is all she says on the matter.

She turns her attention to Hibana and smiles with warmth and poise. "I don't know how, but we have two experts on mystical matters here. If anyone can figure out how to track him down, Dr. Matsuyama and Jing-san can."

It's not a matter for questioning. The child of Heaven has supreme confidence in her compatriots' abilities.

Father Ruohan Tsuji

Moyreau

Apr 23, 2025 1:50 am
Father Ruohan Tsuji
His silly face is for an instant broken at Ibuki's question, but he quickly recomposes himself: "Oh, Ms. Ruby? Yes, right..."

And then, at Sumeryu, he says: "That? Oh, just an old trick my teacher taught me! Heheh, nothing that big... Though I'm afraid it couldn't be taught to you girls, heheh; you know, gotta go through some 7 years of seminary, have these anointed hands and all that, hahahah..." He laughs gawkily, both at her and Hanami, while he gently hands Aika to her. "She will be fine, just taking a little nap!"

"Indeed, you have been most awesome, Jing-Chan! Gee, I wonder what they give kids these days! I'd be scared out of my mind if I was in a brawl against any of you!"
His countenance turns more serious then, "About the sorcerer and the girl, don't worry. If he went through the trouble of keeping her, he clearly has usage for her, so she's safe for now, I would say."

"More importantly, this here is serious business..." He says, studying the chamber they're in, "I would say you girls shouldn't be down here, but I won't waste my breath..."

"Believe it or not, but the school's staff is pretty busy with important matters too!" He says, offering them a smile, "All I can suggest to help is: If this evil guy is after something in the depths of this place, it would be a good idea to try and get it before him, but act with caution, don't go in blindly. For now, I think we should bring little Aika-Chan to the infirmary, so she could get some rest."
Apr 23, 2025 2:23 am
Luna watched Father Tsuji fly out of nowhere and magically cure Aika. She was surprised it was apparently that easy to revert Aika, but also disappointed that the technique was actually too high of a level for them to learn.

"Thank you for your help, Father Tsuji. I'm glad the school staff can be reliable, but how did you know we were down here?" Luna agreed that taking care of Aika should be the priority for now, but she was also curious about the timing of his appearance.
Apr 23, 2025 2:38 am
Hibana sees the search for the missing girl must be postponed for the sake of the bird-girl.

"I can heal her. I need water to do that." Considering the priest’s words, she adds, "Please carry her to this infirmary. I will need a container of water. A cup or a bowl will suffice."
Apr 23, 2025 8:08 am
Lín Jìng folds her arms proudly upon hearing Sumeryu's laconic complement and nods.

"Ah, regarding occult matters, I do have a few hypotheses. One is that Aika's metamorphoses are not entirely over, and she may still bear the villain's influence, and through it, it might be possible to employ the law of sympathy to get a clue where he might be or even what he might be doing." She tries to speak in a grandiose manner, but instead her speech turns out stilted and even more heavily accented. She also conveniently omits the fact that her successes with practical occult matters are overwhelmingly a result of persistence, not smarts, and that she's actually rather unsure what to do next.

"Oh, we also might need to keep an eye on Aika, because she might go Ms. Hyde again, and not in a good way."
Last edited April 23, 2025 8:09 am
Apr 24, 2025 12:28 am
Contrasting Luna's thoughts on the subject, Sumeryu assumes that the technique Tsuji-san used was not somehow beyond any of them but rather was so specialized that a long education was simply required. Sort of like practicing law.

The dragon bends down to scoop up Aika in a princess carry, then she addresses Hanami. Those strong, beautiful arms are carrying the chicken nugget and not Hanami! What an affront to righteousness! Truly, the universe is cruel.

"What do you think, Dr. Matsuyama?" The title Sumeryu uses to refer to Hanami is still respectful. There is not, and never was, even the slightest hint of condescension. The gorgeous giant believes that Hanami deserves it. "Can you figure out where the sorcerer went? Or at least get some clues? Ah...perhaps spells leave some manner of residue?"
Apr 24, 2025 6:46 am
"He's after the Grimoire of Kabeela," she tells Father Tsuji. "The little revolutionary group he's in wants to use its contents to sow chaos. Some weird guy named Bentsuyon said so."

Hanami is a bit skeptical about Hibana's healing capabilities, but she's also curious. "Really? What will you do with just a cup of water?" Her question is straightforward, but not voiced unkindly.

Seeing as Aika is being carried by Sumeryu, Hanami is pretty jealous of the tengu girl right now, but she manages to stay focused. "I'll try. Spells do leave a sort of residue as a waste product, but as a mage's skill and efficiency grows, there's less to detect. The stained glass bastard seemed skilled, but any traces would be fresh and thus easier to notice. I could try using Athena to lock onto those traces, if there's any I can notice."

She draws a magical circle in the air with her wand, casting a spell to increase her perception. All her senses, magical included, seem to expand considerably. She begins to examine Aika for any traces of the stained glass sorcerer's magic or influence.
OOC:
Hanami's casting +2 Perceptive on herself for 10 Endurance.

Rolls

Examine Aika (Perceptive) - (4d6)

(3541) = 13

Apr 24, 2025 2:54 pm
Quote:
"What will you do with just a cup of water?"
"Heal," she replies, "when I make the water hot. My healing is not quick like yours.

"If we are chasing the bad guy, my healing is too slow. If we take the bird-girl to the infirmary, I can help her and anyone else who is hurt."

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