Megamaki Madness

[menaceunleashed]

Who: Everybody who signed up.
Status: Closed
Where: A small island near the current position of Eltrut.
What:The Desert Wind has been found. A number of brave folks strike out to rescue the prisoners rumored to be subjected parasitic horrors...
Warnings: Violence, Bugsnax body horror. Any additional ones will be tagged in their respective threads.

---

The night is still and quiet but for the movement of the waves, and the slow bobbing of the ship docked at the island's quiet shores. The dock is small, but stretches out into the dark waters as if trying to distance the land as far from the ship as possible; almost as though it recognizes it as danger.

Anathema.

The ship itself is slim and sleek; meant to cut through waves like a blade as opposed to smash through like a club. Strong designs are painted along to the side, and a foreign script declares its name in its Captain's birth tongue-

Desert Wind.

Rumors have led that said Captain has been utilizing prisoners as the means to grow an army- whether or not they're true? Has yet to be determined. Intelligence has revealed that the Captain more or less keeps to himself and his ship, ignoring most bounties and the like to instead focus on his own private matters. While he's been seen in ports conducting business and the like, for the most part, it's been surprisingly mundane- aside from some black market dealings. And though it has been confirmed he commands a Megamaki - a great sushidragon that follows his ship like a loyal hunting hound - it is nowhere in sight on this dark night, not a ripple in the water to betray its presence.

And yet.

There is a tension in the air, so thick one could choke on it. The silence is, at best, oppressive. And the stillness?

It is the calm before the storm.

[OOC; Headers will be posted for each section. Any questions can go on the original post.]

Comments

GANONDORF FIGHT

[menaceunleashed]

If one manages to not only avoid the frontal assault but manage to find a way belowdecks they'll find what, at first, appears to be a relatively normal ship. While most of the crew seems to be off on their own business, leaving behind only a handful, there is nothing to keep them from moving through the cramped space towards the lone source of light and the soft groans of what is, presumably, the prisoners.

Groans which are cut off by a sharp voice;

"Enough."

There is shadow. There is movement. There is a standing form, which seems impossibly huge in this small space, turning to face the intruders.

"We have guests."

Can change to prose if that's preferred

[catsgothistongue]

[Rumors here have proven too great to brush off as mere conjecture or silly talk between the men of this world. Between the missing people and talks of an army being made of those people, Ranma couldn't ignore it. With a tagalong on his shoulder and stealing borrowing a docked rowboat, the martial artist set off to where this Desert Wind was currently drifting the murky waters only illuminated by the moonlight above.

The middle of the night was an advantage to those who sneak in the shadows. Under normal circumstances, Ranma would've faced off whatever cronies and toadies the ship captain's employed. The gravity of the situation, however, made him rivet his full attention on the big prize: the head honcho.

That is how he's found himself, clinging to the ceiling of the space, doing his damnedest to make himself scarce without getting spotted. For a second there, he thought the bastard was addressing him, up until he'd notice the other interlopers who've stormed onboard. Good.

Silent as a mouse, using his free hand, he pulled out his shellphone and typed in a simple message: get the prisoners out while i get the drop on him, showing it to his stowaway.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda has been ill at ease in the week that has passed since her run-in with Ganondorf. She was suspicious the first time she saw the anonymous posting on the MANTA Board regarding the captain of the Desert Wind, but after meeting him and seeing his ship docked on Eltrut, she's all but certain it's about him. Worrisome rumors have been circulating as well, rumors of cruel acts that sound like the exact sort of things Ganondorf would do.

She can't sit by and let this happen.

Zelda at least has the sense not to try to sneak aboard Ganondorf's ship all on her own. Together with Darin, they sail to the small island where the Desert Wind is rumored to make port that night. A small part of Zelda is hoping she's read this all wrong and it's just some other horrible corsair captain. But as soon as the ship comes into view, with its distinctive Gerudo designs painted along the hull, she knows.

An outright fight with Ganondorf would be a recipe for certain death, so the plan is thus: sneak aboard, rescue the prisoners, and sneak everyone out. It's certainly not without significant risk, but it's the best she's got.

Sadly, as tends to be tradition for Zelda, her best is not good enough.

She and Darin try to keep to the shadows as they search below the decks for the prisoners, but unfortunately, it seems they've been spotted. Zelda's face goes white with terror as she hears the unmistakable voice of her enemy. Her mind races with frantic ideas of what to do-- run, hide, stand and fight-- wasting precious seconds with inaction. But she knows it's already too late to flee. He's found them. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[When Zelda came to him about the MANTA board posting; about investigating this ship, Darin couldn't refuse. The only time he'd ever seen her so jarred is when this mysterious Demon King had been brought up. Whoever he was, he put a fear in Zelda the likes of which Darin had only ever seen on a few people.]

[A fear that he hated. It sat in the pit of his stomach like a particularly jagged stone.]

[Of course he was going to accompany her. How could he do anything less for her?]

[Darin does his level best to be quiet but sadly, given his frame, he's not the stealthiest. Darin has no idea who they're going to find but when he hears that voice...it somehow rings familiar. He spares a glance to Zelda and places a steadying hand on her shoulder. They both know that the prisoners come first. Maybe he can buy them time.]

[He gives her a look that, in her terrified state, he hopes she understands. "Prisoners first. Trust me."]

[With that, he steps out. He has no way of knowing that there's someone else here investigating these same disappearances. But Darin's going to do what he does best.]

[Be incredibly annoying.]

Sorry, sorry. You know, I was out doing some late night fishing...and I got to thinking "What's this ship doing all the way out here? Seems kinda suspicious if you ask me. Almost like it doesn't wanna be seen!" Well, I tell ya, I've seen enough pirate ships squirreled away in coves to know when something's up and I just had to check it out for myself. I'm just the curious sort, I guess~!

[Darin rests his hands on his hips as he lays eyes on Ganondorf.]

[And then it strikes him.]

[The man in the tattoo parlor months ago.]

[This is Zelda's Demon King??]

[menaceunleashed]

[If Ganondorf notices the pest on the ceiling - which honestly wouldn't be hard, even with the adjustments that have been made to the ship, his head nearly reaches it - he shows no sign. His eyes are for Zelda - and they are full of nothing but contempt.

He warned you, Princess. And yet. Here you are. He really shouldn't be surprised, though he does...raise an eyebrow as the other figure steps forwards.

Ganondorf recognizes them, of course. Not with any true interest, just, ah. Yes. This is the man he met those months ago. Sporting a weapon, no less. His eyes move from Darin's face to the dao on his back, then back to Zelda, looking completely unimpressed.]

You have found yourself another swordsman, I see.

[And before she can parse the implications of that-]

Leave, both of you.

I will not ask again.

[I will not give you another chance, he means. Already his hand rests on the hilt of his sheathed sword, making a slight movement with his thumb - freeing the blade just enough for it to be easily drawn]

[catsgothistongue]

[Might've severely underestimated how big below the deck would've been. That, or the captain's a big guy. Probably both. Ranma remained clung to the ceiling, doing whatever he could to keep the man, who from this distance he's beginning to recognize from a couple months ago, from getting a glance at him. Luckily for him, two more brazen people is keeping the bearded captain preoccupied.

Two people Ranma immediately identified as Darin and Zelda respectively. They wouldn't have been his first guess for coming out to take care of this guy, but he's not about to be choosy. Darin, he knows can fight from first-hand experience. And Zelda's got magic so who knows what she could pull out. The three of them could take him on easily!

... He's just going to remain on the ceiling for the time being. Keep his element of surprise and the advantage of a distracted foe. Ranma skittered across the ceiling, clinging onto the support beam as he moved forward closer and closer to the Demon King.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda more or less understands what Darin is trying to wordlessly signal her to do-- free the prisoners while he handles Ganondorf-- but it doesn't make a difference. Ganondorf's attention goes straight to her.

Zelda's eyes narrow. "Another swordsman," he says, as though Link is so easily replaced. As though he is but a tool in the princess's arsenal.

But wait a moment... how does he know about Link? Zelda has never spoken of Link in Ganondorf's presence (like she would ever allow that monster a glimpse into her heart) and she trusts Sonia and Rauru not to do so either. The shriveled husk of the Demon King that she and Link found below Hyrule Castle in their era also recognized Link (and Zelda, but she has already figured out the reason for that).

But this is not the time to puzzle over that-- something Ganondorf knows as much as Zelda.

"Leave," he commands.

The princess shakes her head, taking a step out of the shadows to stand in defiance of him. ]

Release your prisoners and we will be on our way.

[ Zelda knows he won't, but she can't simply turn around and walk away. Not when innocent lives are on the line. Those pained groans she's been hearing... what in the world is he doing to these poor people? Goddess, she doesn't want this to come to blows, but what other choice does she have? ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin's eyes shoot to Ganondorf's hand and, in particular, the sword at his hips. The smith knows weapons. And he can tell a particularly dangerous sword when he sees it. Not to mention the ease of which Ganondorf moves to unsheathe it.]

[The hair on the back of his neck stands on end.]

[He makes a show of his movements— turning and moving towards Zelda to put him between a drawing, horizontal slash where he can get them out of the way as he speaks. But at no point does he move to draw his own weapon. With the way Ganondorf is scrutinizing them, he's positive he's noticed what he's doing.]

You heard the lady. Whatever it is you're trying to do, it stops now.

Honestly, do yourself a favor and make this easier on yourself. I'm not really the type of person who likes fighting.

1/3

[menaceunleashed]

[Ganondorf notices quite a lot. Other than, apparently, the spidramna on the ceiling. So as his gaze moves from Zelda to Darin, his lip curling, his eyes narrow not from annoyance - but from recognition.]

I see. That explains much about our conversation, Master Altway. Unfortunately for you...

[A press of thumb, and a reach for the blade. He pulls it out in a single fluid motion, the metal all but singing as it scrapes against the sheathe. The man drops his posture slightly, squaring his feet as he gives a measured look from foe to foe.]

...if you want them, you will have to come take them from me.

[soulofgood]

[Nowadays Agatha has plenty of experience in the art of clinging on with those little mogrified feet of hers. She's tucked herself away somewhere amidst the folds of Ranma's shirt on his shoulder and only pops back out once the coast looks mildly clear.

As Ranma types she skitters down his arm, pauses at the message and then gives her antenna a wiggle.

Okay, here goes nothing.

After that she drops as quietly as a cockroach can drop to the nearby wall and begins her trek down it's surface. This is far easier than sludging through the tunnel between the schools back home so she's already got an advantage there.

Sticking to the shadows the space is definitely cramped but easily passable. She does pause a moment against the groans and the sounds of talking from everyone else who had come aboard. She's not about to head straight towards that light but sticks to the shadows following the groans.

... How many captives did he have exactly?]

cw; explicit body horror in this thread specifically

[menaceunleashed]

[Well, Agatha, let's count!

There's one over there, with their legs in the process of turning into, well. Sushi! All rice and roe and avacodo, and where they meet the hips is almost gangrenous. Flaky. Almost reminiscent - of all things - of sesame seeds...

They're collapsed in a sitting position, hands chained above them. The tips of whose fingers are also starting to turn black.

There's another next to them, but this one is chained more tightly. Hands behind their back, garbed in loose canvas - but oh, what's below that canvas! White and flaky, rice and roe beading up from it like some sort of rash of boils. They seem unconscious, but also seem to be the one emitting the groans, for the most part. Pained even in what relief they can find.

And then the third- the third is, arguably, the worst, in more ways than one. They're leaning against the bars of the brig the three of them have been forced to share- but their entire head shows signs of the parasite. With tempura batter coming out of their very ears, a 'crown' of rice and roe atop their head, half-closed eyes that may as well be nothing more than roe as they blearily gaze out at the deck...

Are they drooling, too? Is that more tempura? Their shoulders are black and green, too, slowly shifting to the texture of those avocodo slices. Slowly melding down their limbs as if the skin itself was flayed...

But, thankfully. It seems to be just those three.]

[soulofgood]

[Naturally it's the groaning one she ends up by first. She's moved towards they're sounds of pain after all. It doesn't stop her from seeing the rest of them though, brushing past the third with his head against the bars. Something oozes out of him and she can't help but track through it. The scent of it is ... well, not what she expects. She expects something a lot worse, this smells more like food than the somewhat familiar scent of rot and pus.

Still it's not until she can scurry her way close to the one with his hands bound behind him, the one doing most of the groaning with his hands behind him, that she bothers to shake off the mogrification. This isn't an ideal place to be nude but Agatha had knew going in this would happen. Tucked into the shadows as much as she can she can be she reaches for the cuffs as her stomach twists.

She can see a whole lot more know after all. The canvas shifts as the prisoner groans and she catches sight of all the white and flaky bits, what looks like boils at first sending a jolt through her when she realizes it's rice. Sophie might have kept away from grains unless it was whole and unprocessed but the School for Good sure loved it's quinoa and whole grain rice and so on. This was a lot white than what she was used to but it looked way too similar not to be the same thing.

Her eyes jump up to the figure next to them, the one pressed against the bars. More rice, more of whatever the little reddish things were -- she almost says out loud what's running through her mind but she bites down on her tongue instead.

Food. He's turning them into food? What ... what the actual hell?

Her fingers begin to shake. No, no, steady now -- focus, Agatha. She doesn't have any lock picking spells unfortunately but she knows how to turn weapons into flowers. Why couldn't she do the same to the cuffs?

Steadying herself she reaches out her hands towards the groaning prisoner's cuffs. She doesn't need to touch them, only needs to hover her hands near them and try her damndest to whisper out this spell. And maybe hide away her telltale golden fingerglow. She'd never hated it until this moment, remembering Professor Dovey's words about what an embarrassment it would be if eventually those fingerglows weren't locked away once training was over.]

[menaceunleashed]

[Haven't you heard, Agatha?

♪ Feed somebody and you'll see
We are whatever we eat! ♪

Of course, if she's not familiar with Bugsnax, she could be forgiven. After all, it does look like food, doesn't it? Though how appetizing it is - or isn't - remains to be seen.

Her magic seems to do nothing at first- and then, of all things? The cuffs start to hiss like smoke. Except- it's a black-red smoke, not dissimilar from Ganondorf's power should she be looking in that direction as the fight over there commences. Something that actively resists her attempt to twist, to shift it-]

Minimaki?

[Don't startle too badly, Agatha, but there's something else in here with you. It's about the size of a dog - perhaps a larger one - but it's...oddly narrow, to so speak. And it's moving out from behind the prisoner in question, staring at you with a single wide eye.

You know how the others were slowly turning into food?...this one is food. A walking - apparently talking! - mass of rice and avocado slice, along with who knows what else.]

[soulofgood]

[Unfortunately Agatha wasn't around for any Bugsnaks shenanigans. To her all she sees are people reduced to food the same way Sophie had been reduced to a wart-covered hag when her magic began to take her over. It's not appetizing in the least but it's also not blood and gore. Or well, it is gore in it's own way but --

She shakes her head, trying to keep her focus on those cuffs. They start to hiss and the plume of black-red smoke near hits her in the face before she leans off to one side. For a moment she simply stares at it wide-eyed and for a moment her mind skips back to Rafal and the shape of his own dark magic.

Instead of stopping Agatha plunges forward. If it's hissing, smoking and resisting then that means there's a chance it can be broken. She just has to overpower it and in so many battles of magic overpowering is all about overwhelming.

Naturally this is when the -- uh. Huh. Agatha's brow furrows. She really shouldn't be surprised by a lump of moving food with an eye considering the state of the prisoners but she still can't help but murmur lowly to herself:]

It's a sushi roll.

[Not that she's got a whole lot of experience with sushi. The fact it's looking at her doesn't faze her -- Mom likes to make frog stew a lot and that looked at her too. With multiple eyes even!

Wait, no, focus. Is it dark magic then? She glances over to the fight in progress just in time to watch Ranma go sailing off through the ship. Well, that sure is a thing that just happened -- along with a hole that just happened.

Okay so I've got to do this before we sink at least? Ugh, why does everything end up so complicated?!

Maybe her light magic would do something? Gathering up a little ball of it she tries touching that to the cuffs, just as an experiment.]

[menaceunleashed]

[It really is, Agatha. And it really does look like there's the case there! (We mean that non-ominously.) Bit by bit, the dark magic will yield to her focused efforts; it's akin to sawing through metal with a razor wire, but it should work, given time and concentrated strength.

And an audience, apparently.]

Minimaki!

[It wobbles closer to peer at what she's doing, blinking its large eye once, twice. Then, as she switches to straight-up light magic?

It closes its eye and emits a yelp of surprise as there's a bright flash! When the light fades, that ball is gone, but so too is a sizable chunk of those chains- about the same size of the orb that she had summoned.

Looks like you found the ticket there, Agatha! Your Light and Ganondorf's Dark seem to cancel each other out, more or less. Let's just hope it doesn't gather Ganondorf's attention?]

[soulofgood]

[Oh she's hoping, that's for sure! All she needs is a glance over the way of the fight itself to know the last thing she needs is his attention. The Schoolmaster had been intimidating but Ganondorf is on a whole other level she has no interest in messing with if she can avoid it. If she can't, well ...

She near yelps herself as the Minimaki yelps. Then she blinks more than a few times at the chunk missing from the chains. A brief smile brightens up her own face at the realization that she has some sort of chance here. Sure she might get noticed easier thanks to the flashing but if the group can keep Ganondorf's attention then she might have a shot!

Her voice is pitched to a whisper as she speaks to the Minimaki, reaching out to pet it on it's ... um ... avocado? Or whatever is on top?]

It'll be okay. Stick by me though ... and maybe keep your eye closed for a bit.

[She'd already planned to try to take off with the Minimaki if she could -- it deserved rescue as much as any of the prisoners in her mind. With it in tow though she couldn't mogrify again ... unless it would let her ride it and she could direct? Details!

Agatha manages to scrounge up some canvas, shake whatever rice and roe and avocado she can off of it, and then tug it over her body for at least some kind of cover now. Once that's done she starts off with another bigger ball of light in her hand, trying to guard it and shield the light away from notice until she can begin working on the other chains.]

Reaper Encounter - Deck of the Desert Wind

[gr1m]

There was no missing the commotion happening at the dock, watching for just a moment before Reaper rolled his shoulders; shadows pulled and gathered around his feet, moving almost as if it was viscous liquid rather than a lack of light casting them. Lifting up to create a thick and eerie black 'fog' that hung throughout the entire size of the deck.

A trick to play, make an obstacle for those that made it onto the ship so they would have to wander and find a way to get down below. Every now and then, for those braving the 'fog' there could be a sound of someone -or something- moving with heavy footfalls.

"Are you sure you can find your way?"

That growled and painful sounding voice coming from a different direction that the steps.

"Might walk yourself overboard."

[ramuhs]

Cid managed to make it onto the ship, though not with some difficulty. And now as he traverse through the flog, his levin helping to light some of the way, he senses something and someone is near...but where? An answer that is soon answered by a voice that sounds strange, but something it and everything feels...familiar. Unable to pinpoint it just yet, he stops then, a low, wry chuckle escaping him.

"I trust I'd be better than that." A confident answer before he half turns towards the direction of the voice. "Come now, why bother to hide in the shadows? Might as well have a chat, eh?"

[gr1m]

"Point of it after all- who may need to be better than that," if someone walked right off the edge of the ship themselves? Less trouble for him, still doing his job. No point in letting someone slip by if they couldn't do a damn thing. "Ain't a pretty sight down there.

"Captain's also down below, of course."

The voice managed to come from one side, and then another. Reaper really pushing a line with what he had managed to learn with the mixture of that dark magic and what came naturally with the genetic fuckery cocktail of nanites mixed within as if it was all one.

Still, wasn't that hard for a bit of that 'fog' to part as Reaper held up one of the ship's lanterns, the fire starting to glow an eerie red. Better to see in that darkness-

"What got you roped in, Cid?"

[ramuhs]

Ah, so that's why it felt familiar.

"I could ask the same to you, Reaper." Still remaining relaxed, Cid looked towards the parting where Reaper stood. "You didn't strike me as the type to be involved in something like this."

[gr1m]

"I know the heroic type, and I know his type." A little dryly spoken, but it was true. He worked with both for the majority of his life, an he knew which ended could do with someone that didn't mind getting their hands dirty from the shadows.

There was a glowing glint of red within the otherwise empty sockets of that mask Reaper tended to wear, setting the light down on a bit of cargo he had been leaning against. Easiest place to watch when he could 'see' through the dark fog, after all.

"Better to run a bunch of kids through a maze than send them into waiting jaws, and I know well how to play the bad guy."

[ramuhs]

There was a slight look of surprise and realization that.

"...You're deliberately misdirecting them so they don't get hurt."

It did make sense. Despite the fog, he didn't really feel much threat to his life, no hidden guards or traps that could have ambushed him. And to walk off the side of the ship, well. The water isn't so deep that someone couldn't swim or be pulled ashore by those still there. In that sense, he could appreciate Reaper's efforts, however...

"But that still leaves the one behind all this."

[gr1m]

There was a laugh, rather than an obvious sort of confirmation- but not the sort than sent chills. Something a little tired, as if this was not his first time around. Always had to be careful given he knew where the Captain was-

"There'll be those who will get to him, don't worry about that." Even if he was watching- "Can't have eyes everywhere if I'm doing my 'job' up here after all." Sounds around and below, and Reaper was keeping track as well as he could. The hired hands and a certain cat all tucked away out of danger once he had figured out what was going on.

Had enough time to prepare once the notice had gone up- "Might want to worry about the people being force-fed parts of a parasite, though."

[ramuhs]

It didn't take much for Cid to get the meaning, and he just glances roughly to where the door to below decks would be.

"And should one have such concern, I wonder where you'd try to prevent me from going."

If there were others already making their way to ringleader of all this, then Cid was more than willing to deal with the other part of this mission—rescuing the victims before it was too late.

PUPPETMASTER(SIDESTEP) - DOCKS, FRONTAL ASSAULT

[telepathicignorance]

They're there, waiting. You probably won't see them at first, just a slightly darker shadow in the shadow of the boat, crouching, hidden under their cloak.

This is it, their plans coming to fruition.

They stand, so much taller than their uncostumed self, and address those approaching.

"So I see someone has leaked our little plot."

Their face is a mirror, their voice unrecognizable beneath the distorters.