War of Dragons: Fort Ouph

There are not many who have entered the depths of Fort Ouph. And for good reason. It's rather dangerous to go wandering along some of the stray stairways and unfinished steps of Fort Ouph. There are after all no railings, and when not at the main surface of Fort Ouph, the winds are rather trecherous.

Maneuvering into the depths, the part is currently following a woman wearing dark blue colors. The pale Imp, known by the name of Mora Chester, is the Hero of the Imp race. She's not that talkative, and portrays this air of power as she leads the groun to the center regions of Fort Ouph, and begins her way down one of the unfinished stairways downwards along the edges of the city.

"Please be careful of your steps." She warns. "There are many dangerous places here." The woman proposes, as she steps up onto the rather rickety looking wooden deck at the bottom of some stairs, and touches a little dial that seems like it has four colors attached to it.

Slice-click!

The metal jumps into place, and after confirming the color is correct, she starts stepping through a wooden door into what looks to just be a regular old livingroom with a hearth and various seats within.

Yeowang smiles with muted satisfaction. This was one of the places she hadn't been able to go before in her search, and this is much better than an illegal entry, which she'd been considering. She does watch her footing, she's pretty surefooted, but caution is not wasted. Her hair is drawn up in a bun, which she normally does whe expecting a fight, but for now, when it could get in the way, is a good time to pin it up as well. She tries to watch as Mora Chester sets the dial to permit access, but she's not sure how much she's caught. For now, she follows obediently, and looks out for the dangerous places we've been warned about.

    Merek is wearing that white-black attire he often does with the beltcape. While the man walks along with the party, he nods a bit to Mora, "I admit that I like to explore new places, although I wish that it were better circumstance and all. Although, I admit it'll be nice to get a little bit of success with the war. Keeping the cities safe for the non-combatants is probably one of the most useful things."

With plans in place to put further efforts towards scouting around Shibuya, Mikage happened to be in the area of Fort Ouph as of late, using it as a 'home base' to plan from. So, when the need was expressed for people to search for this mysterious individual beneath the city, the Were Fang and her feline companion had signed up. How many opportunities were there for exploring areas normally off limits?

"Stay close to me, Rama. If it's as dangerous as she says, I don't want anything bad happening ot you." The Ranger ruffles the large, furred ears of her animal companion, then rises, keeping one hand on her sword. In such close confines, the bow wouldn't be as useful of a weapon, most likely.

Haru has been a busy Artificer these past few days. More involved in the coordination of the alliance efforts and ensuring that people have a means to get involved with one of the large scale initiatives. Like the ones in Fort Ouph. The awareness of these control points have put things into a spin.

The white haired human looks to Yeo first, who was heavily involved with the search effort. The blue eye goes to the Imp hero after. A little bounce on his feet to test his footing to be careful on where he steps. A time and a place to have fun. A time to be serious. Seems more on the right side of the dial today. "It is," he asides to Merek, "like a big capture the flag match. Getting points on the board will keep a lot more people safe." That is an oversimplification of the sort of malady that could befall a 'not safe' scenario. He looks around for the Fuka to go for a hand. To bravely go where no Adventurers have gone before! Probably.

    Standing in the back of the group is Rizadoman as he watches his alliance mates infront of him. Perhaps it is due to whatever guilt he has about all this or perhaps it is just the ever looming present of death that seems to have cropped up. At the simplification of the situation he turns to Haru, " Just remember, this is not a game. Especially not one we can afford to lose." Shouting towards the front he speaks up to their guide, and in his voice is a sort of reverence, "Lady Chester, does the guardian protection not work down here?"

Shiruba may have other obsessions on her mind as of late, but they're not enough to entirely block out that dealing with making the Root Towns safe from the Palace Landers taking claim of them... Though certain people did have to remind her when it was happening so she could be there. It was part of her duty as a Guild Leader to be present, after Ouph had been willing to take in and help much of the New World members that had been displaced from Shibuya, and that was enough to get her motivated. After someone had made sure she got some sleep and food first. Cleaning up, well, there hadn't been time for it. On the other hand, her usual scruffy 'wilderness' look doesn't really show a difference. Or hides it really well.

Still, she'd spent most of the time just proceeding with the group, while looking over some of her notes. Up until a gust of wind slapped the parchmet in her face. "... Oh.. we're down in the windier areas." Quickly she folds up her notes and tucks them back into a belt pouch so she doesn't lose them. Runs a hand through her hair. Come on girl, get with it. Work to be done. ".. That's actually a good idea, Rizado."

Erufu didn't have to be told twice to come help on this. The elf was keenly aware of what could happen if all the cities fell to the Palace Landers. Soi here she was mutting something about down down to goblin town? She will heed the Imp's warning as they make ready to head in.

"It's never been a game, no. Anyone who thinks so is delusional, my old friend."

The elf then gives Shiruba a nod.

"Ready?"

    Does a flying city even have depths? Fukaziroh even posed the question at one point, no doubt getting ignored. Not that she lets that stop her, as she perhaps makes up for Mora Chester's lack of talkativeness by keeping up a steady stream of commentary. "Do people actually go down here often?" "Oh hey footprints. Wait, they're your footprints." "Do the depths have a rat problem? I've never had rat duties send me here." "I can see my house from here!"

    Fortunately Fuka's easy to ignore, as she's not being terribly loud or terribly pushy. She doesn't expect replies, and is content to natter on regardless. She's careful of course. Sure she can use her wings if she falls off, and frankly skydiving sounds like a fun thing to do later, but she's here for a reason and it's not going to be well-served if she falls off!

    She's also willing to offer a hand to Haru. She can protect him from falling! By keeping him safely up here of course, not flying with him. And he can keep her from being flighty likewise, though so far all she is is chatter-happy. "Oh hey that's a neat button. And that's a neat room! Cozy! But ... uh... who'd live down HERE?" she asks, somewhat dubiously. Sure it's got a great view, but the commute is brutal.

"Sure keeping the cities safe is great." Kaydon says, as he does one last check of his weapons while following the group, "But I'm more interested in taking things away from the Palace Lands. And if doing.." He makes a motion with his hand, "All of this will help accomplish that, then so be it." He'd rather be working on his weapon, he's so close he can feel it. But Shiruba asked for his help specifically, so he's here.

When the door opens to the living room, he frowns faintly, "This ain't it, I hope." He keeps his left hand resting on his belt, thumb hooked just behind the belt buckle, as he looks around. The place doesn't look abandoned despite the path it took to get there.

"The Guardians can go in the Depths of Fort Ouph just fine, as far as we have discovered over the years." Mora Chester answers Rizadoman as they step into the livingroom like chambers. "Unlike places like Dun Loireag, which goes deep into the hills below, or Mac Anu, which has many levels of sewers, Fort Ouph is a place of Alven magic and technology that goes well beyond those places." The woman explains.

When the door closes behind them, sealing thm from the nasty winds, she takes a moment to count the lot of them, making sure nobody fell on the way in, and then steps towards the hearth. "As such, it has a lot more secret ways to get around the limited space that is available to this sky fortress." She motions towards the hearth itself, and then steps away.

"I believe this is something you Adventurers may be good at."

The stones of the hearth are arranged in unusual color combinations, each baring crystals of a particular color. "This is the only place we could not figure out within our decades within this city. And brute-forcing the solution takes too much time." The woman explains.

She then motions at the chamber. There's various objects, like candles, couches, things that have been locked with code combinations.

"I think the Alv that created this room enjoys puzzles too much."

    Merek looks around a bit, while he nods to Mora, "Well, I like puzzles as well. Which should make it a lot easier," he will admit. Then he takes the time to begin examining the puzzle. He works on arranging candles, that is where the focus of his will be for the time being. "Well, all I care about is succeeding in this quest, we can talk the philosophy of why we're doing it later."

Stepping inside the strange room, Rama is the first to start sniffing around the area, the feline taking in their surroundings as Mikage simply pans around with her eyes. The sound of the door closing behind them has her looking over her shoulder, though.

"I think whomever designed this place, liked team-building exercises a bit much." Mikage comments, noting some of the stranger objects in the room even before Mora draws their attention to it. "We did one of these once. Mihara messed up so Icchan made him drink matcha icecream through a straw."

With a motion of her hand, Miki seems to command Rama. "Let's see what we can find. There's got to be something in here to help us solve things." Sure enough, both she and her animal companion manage to find some crystals attached to a few objects in the room. "Found a few of these!" She calls out. "I'm putting them over here so they're all together."

Erufu finds what the imp ally has to faciantion as he listens ears twitching a few things.

"So there could be much to find down here or other things in the way of defences." Also it was good to have an idea of how deep the guardians went. She would look about nolw pauing to sense for the sign o ghidden passages as she looks about the chambers tying to see if she can find a way forward. "humm I wonder is this candle holder..."

    Once inside the area and once it's sealed, Fukaziroh stretches with a loud sigh. "Secrets are pretty great!" she agrees, looking around in fascination. "Oooooh I love puzzle games!" she exclaims. Which is probably funny to those who know her and have done duties with her, because she's extremely hit and miss with puzzles and tends to get frustrated if they don't spill their secrets in a predictable fashion.

    Still, she starts poking about the room, actually managing to be rather keen of eye and attentive to detail. Not solving the puzzles themselves, but finding things which apparently are meant to work with the puzzles. Crystals and crystal-adjacent items. They look important! She's more fascinated by the searching out of the special items than she is in actually putting them in appropriate places, so fortunately there are others around that are willing and able to take that role.

Haru takes a deep breath as he clenches his fist at the notion that this is 'just a game' from Riz. He has been deeply at work on a way to make it so the Crown's forces are disarmed from one of their key arsenals. It places a target on his head for eradication. He has been coordinating the efforts of the Alliance in the face of a lack of information sharing or direction. It pulls away from his new life to simply relive the broken puppetry non-existance of his last. He exhales. "This is not a game," he replies back and leaves it at that. The sooner the war ends, the sooner people can chase dreams, not flee nightmares. Unless the nightmare is Kau.

"It is windy," Haru says, taking one of the notes and handing it to Shiruba. Gives her a good look over to see where her fatigue levels are at before handing her jerky and an apple snack along with it. He is no physician and he would rather lean on the safe side of the Commander's health.

Thankfully Fuka's questions are making up for Haru's lack of commentary. Of the two, she is more likely to keep him from falling due to his lack of Phys and her affinity to Air. He keeps it all Grounded. "Someone who does not want to be found," the man observes. To Kaydon there is the notion, "that won't take long..." the last words draw out slowly as they end up in a living room. He didn't know what to expect, and in retrospect a living room makes sense, but he also didn't expect this. Something Adventurers are good at? Haru loses the good hand contact with Fuka with a nod to go searching. It isn't his strongest ability, but colors and symbols always remind him of Enchanting foundations. Of course the act of going through them sends him in a logical loop that is performed out of order. Book up, candle down, chair... rotated? No you rotate the chair first. "They do like their puzzles," he rumbles, seeing the third Immortal Object warning on the candle holder. It was the Alv in the Study with the Candleholder!

    Rizadoman moves in slowly as he listens to the Hero speak, and looks around the room slowly as he hears the suggestion that we adventurers may be good at puzzles. He steps in slowly and begins to look around for any form of clue. What he learns is that when he tries to move something, he gets an immediate 'NO' in the form of an IMMORTAL OBJECT message. This doesn't just happen once either, at one point he is so on edge about it and finally he tries to move something else and again he gets the message. "Cursed puzzle! Give me a book, a language, anything but a damn number game."

Yeowang arches a brow to Kaydon, and says, "Think of it this way: We're taking /opportunities/ away from the Palace Landers. It's a bit like strapping on your armor before a fight. It doesn't hurt the enemy, but it's important for you."

She listens carefully to Mora Chester as she explains about the Guardians, and about secret ways, filing away the information for general knowledge.

Inside the room, she hrms, and looks at the puzzle, and at the pieces. But ... is that all the pieces there are? She chuckles as Mikage mentions team building exercises. It's interesting what it tells you about a team, but also, sometimes good teams resent being tested. So it's sometimes hard to say based on a strict reading of the results.

Turns out she does find a few more pieces, placed in out of the way locations. Apparently it's important to consider -all- the pieces so any missing could throw this off. Fortunately, it looks like we've made a pretty good search of the area.

If there is one thing to help pull Shiruba's focus to the here and now, it's putting a puzzle in front of her. It tickles in just the right spot for, the moment, to get her to think past the evil gnoll problem and focus on this one. Fortunately, combination puzzles are one of the things she's good at, and she gets right to work on the matter of getting some of those locks decoded. While musing, "So what you're saying is that the Town makes use of space that is here, but not necessarily -here-, like it's bigger on the inside or something.." Sounds like usual magical shenanigans.

Kaydon is not exactly the best when it comes to puzzles. But he'd be the first to tell you that. Though that being said, he can recognize patterns. So he starts walking around, but he's looking up at the ceiling. He nods to Yeowang in passing about the comment, while he finally catches something, "Look, there's a pattern on the ceiling, it's leading to some numbers.."

He starts doing his best to direct traffic amongst the people working that portion of the puzzle, and then helps out where he can as an extra pair of hands when people need them to assist with the puzzle.

When Merek and Shiruba finally begin to enter the last code into the hearth itself, the crystals light up in unusual patterns. It's been at least an hour since they started, and Mora has quietly been watching them, observing them. There's this look in her eyes questioning just how familiar these Adventurers are with this. No doubt the Landers have tried this stuff before. In fact, they've found that some things had been moved, then put back into place. But when they started opening locked cabinets after considerign patterns in the ceiling, she was honestly just impressed.

Not that she gives this away too far. Her expression is only /somewhat/ readable.

When they are done, the hearth...

Fades.

It doesn't open. It doesn't holographically disappear. No, it's as if the hearth itself just fades away, as if the material was being brought 'elsewhere' beyond their kin. Behind it, a simple door.

"I will remain here." Mora Chester explains. "I feel like I should not go beyond that treshold." She expresses, while looking at that door itself with a wry look.

When they open the door and step through...

For many of them, it's like being on a class trip. Stepping out onto what is basically just a squared observation deck. Glass panes ahead of them. Beyond, they see a few birds flying. The subtle rumble of wind playing at the glass. And beyond it, they beautiful Tokyo skyline. There's yellow lights hanging above them, as well as large yellow balls, suggesting a New Years celebration.

There various lights in the houses ahead are lit, and the moment they step through that treshold, it's almost like they stepped into a new world. Their Chimlinks suddenly stop working as well.

Yeowang peers at the glass-paned observation deck. Luckily, vertigo is not a thing that happens to her. On the other hand, the skyline with the hanging lights and the new years-looking bits are all together quite pretty. But, of course pretty is not what we are here for. So she will look around: is there anyone else here on this observation deck? Does it lead anywhere? She will walk to the edge, being very careful not to go past, and see if it's walled off entirely, or if there's a break or walkway out there?

Erufu looks to Mora and nods. "Don't force yourself to go deeper then. We will handle it from here then Lady Chester." She smiles at the Imp before she take a way to the door. A moment lader the elf will strides through it. She takes a moment to behold the whole place.

"I did not expect anything like this."

She will check her menu, okay good that's still working.

"I'll scout ahead, Shiruba? Shall we?"

If no one stops her she'll start to head off to see what she can find.

"Reminds me of home," Haru informs Fuka as he walks across the threshold across the observation. It is a large party so there is no harm in hanging back a bit. Turning his head a little as the glint of festival light shines against his purple monocle. "We had a view down like this that would show all the other homes. Each light, a family," he turns to keep walking. "And how we play a role in if that light stays on. Or goes out." A turn of the head back to Fuka as he gives a little smile, "it reminds me of snow, too." A wink. Thats the extent of the nostalgia before the young human makes his way through the second threshold and into a new land. They came here for a reason, after all.

Shiruba takes a step back as the hearth... ceases to exist in any tangible sense. No open, no move, just no longer a thing that occupied that space or showed any sign of ever having done so. She tilts her head, ears curiously perked. "That is the most unusual door I have ever seen.. but apparently effective at doing it's job." Curiousity at what lies beyond gets the better of her and she proceeds, though wisely Erufu takes the lead for her in this case. She is quick to follow though.

Only to stop and stare at the windows at the view presented. "... No way..." As a Tokyo native she recognizes the skyline. But how is that possible? Is it some kind of projection? There's no way they could of actually stepped back out to the 'real' world... is there?

The strange experience of seeing the hearth just vanish before her eyes has Mikage's brows furrowing. Rama, however, steps back, giving a little growl at the unexpected turn of events. "Well, that's creepy..." She murmurs quietly.

Of course, what lies beyond is something even more, quite literally, other-worldly. "Is that..." Mikage had lived in Toyko, so the sight is all too familiar to her. She goes qiuet, looking out at the sight before them. She almost seems paralyzed by it, "Is this some kind of hologram or...?"

The questions don't quite fully form, but the feeling of homesickness settles in her chest briefly before a nudge from Rama brings her back around to reality. "So... we're trying to find a person, right? Seems like we need to keep looking." Her eyes keep going back to that skyline, though.

    Merek walks along and into that threshold, while he nods to Mora. Then, it's like entering a new world. What to make of that, he takes the time to draw up his menu, "I wonder... What made her realize that she shouldn't come in here?" he asks. Then he takes a look on his menu while he checks the Server, "We're no longer in Yamato. We are off the server guys. Unknown. Like that time with Helba."

    Rizadoman steps through the threshold and Rizadoman panics for a moment, it's like being back in that world. He checks himself first, and even goes so far to open his menu as if checking he was still where he was. Retrieving from his inventory a small mirror he looks at himself and relaxes a little before stepping forward. "This is still a part of Yamato," the Lizardman's voice is stern as if he is trying to convince himself just as much as others and if he states it is true it must be. Taking a deep breath he walks towards the window slowly to take in the skyline for a moment. Even for him there is still, something...sentimental about it all.

     Taking some step forward he then turns and looks towards the others "Mikage is right, we need to spread out and keep looking. For anything and anyone that ccan help us." Taking a moment more to stare at the skyline he would move to seek with others.

"Well that's new." Kaydon says, as he watches the hearth fade out, and this new...Well, familiar skyline fade in.

Apparently it's not new to some of them, but Kaydon sure as hell hasn't seen anything like this. When folks start checking menus, Kaydon does the same. He opts to stay in his were fang form, however, "If we're off the server, then where the hell are we?" He asks as he looks over at Merek, "Our menus still work so we're not out of the game.." Also he's still a gnoll, a pretty good sign he's still in game.

    Fuka doesn't even notice Mora's observations, or at least pays them no heed as she searches. This is, after all, a game. She's a gamer. This sort of activity defines her. She's not as good at it as some, naturally, but few will be more enthusiastic than her.

    The payoff as they complete the escape room sequence is impressive, to be sure. "Oooooh. It's like it's a portal to another world opening up!" she coos. She glances at Mora questioningly, then shrugs. Perhaps she'll share the outcome later. Perhaps this is one of those things the Imp Hero doesn't want to know. Fuka falls in line though. SHE wants to know.

    She stops to blink as she sees what awaits her. "Oooookay, it WAS a portal to another world." she says. "Are we like... is this Tokyo Tower? I haven't been up it since I was a kid! It is, isn't it?"

    Abruptly Fuka pauses, straining to look at herself. Checking out her hair, her wings, her boobs. "Oh. Yeah, still Fuka I guess!" she claims cheerily to Haru. She wouldn't have minded being Miyu again, but that would be way too easy wouldn't it?

    Some people learn of interesting things happening just in time to join in. Some people hear about them just /after/ that. Miyako heard about the planned trip just in time to grab a pack and run after the group that was heading down. After all, she was the one who lead the expeditions into Shibuya's catacombs. Being left out of doing the same in Fort Ouph is /unacceptable/. So she races down the corridors, pausing to express her annoyance with a couple of random monsters along the way, just in time to see the hearth-door opened up and the party head in. Well, dang.

    "Sorry, ma'am, scuse me!" she calls to the Hero as she barrels past, tipping a nonexistant hat and skidding to a halt just behind Fuka. "Wait, wha?" she says, staring out. "Did somebody switch servers on us while I was running after you lot?"

As the team begins to spread out, whilst others take a moment to take in the view, they'll quickly take note that this place isn't that large. It isn't so long before the find the person they are looking for.

There's a Gyaru woman with long multi-colored fingernails leaning over one of the railings, staring off at the distance as a plane slowly slides along the far skies, pushing herself up along the railing. Long blonde hair unable to hide the green Sylph glowing wings on her back, which peek through her gaudy black and gold clothes as if they were not even there.

She then turns and sits on the railing, regardless of the sign that says 'do not lean on the railing', and draws one leg over the other.

Gyaru (I)

She looks between the lot of them and scoffs; "They really will let just anyone into this place now don't they?" She asks. "Sorry, but I will protect this Remnant of the Old World if I must." The woman professes, before turning her hand and looking at her nails. "Just try not to like... get my face dirty." Before throwing her blonde hair back a bit and exposing all that green makeup along her eyes, and runs her fingers through her hair for a moment before rolling her eyes at the people who've arrived before her.

    Merek looks then to the woman that seems to be speaking to them, and nods a bit. "Are you the one that governs the city and its Guardians?" the man asks, while he walks along that way. There is something about this place, "Remnant? Is it true, does the Old World no longer exist, or... Why is this." The knight takes a look about the place, then he nods while he checks on his equipment, "I am Merek. Ah..." The man takes a look about the place for a moment, and... Well, he answers differently. "You can call me Lawrence, American."

"Full Narnia," Haru continues on to the whole new world. It does not include a musical number. He has been taking a very 'go with the flow' posture to the wonder that pulls at the hearts and eyes, but eventually the logic kicks in. It includes him going through the checks of menu and chim. As others have pointed out, not as operational as before. A manufactured smile to Fuka as he helps in checking out where her body landed on the scale between worlds. "I think it is the Tower," he goes on about it being Tokyo Tower, "or a similar view. And you will always be you, not that I wouldn't have minded seeing if you were teasing me or not about the killer form." Benefit of Fuka/Miyu? Two versions! Haru will always look like Haru though. That body scan human life.

Something Merek said picqued his interest. "This happened before with Helba? Before my time. Did she take you to an interdimensional corridor," Haru asks, sweeping a hand out. The clacking of his feet against the solid panes of the ground have an altogether immaterial sound given the space they are in. Clack Clack. He stops when he comes across the Gyaru. A finger rolls to his monocle to look at her and inspect rather naturally. He has a dozen questions but asks none of them yet. Since he imagines a fair deal of them are about to be shot out at her and she doesn't look like the patient type.

Shiruba tilts her head at the woman. "Remnant of the Old World?", she questions. The context for it doesn't really click. Is she talking about this Tokyo-like room, or the age of this Alve created location? Too many questions.

And then she remembers why they came down here. Quickly waves her hands. "No, no! We're not here to fight! We're here to make sure this place is safe from the invaders that -would- want to misuse it's potential importants." Pause. "And your face is very nice."

When they stumble on the person they just so happen to be looking for, it is Rama who seems cautious about approaching. Perhaps, like their Lander guide, there is some hesitance to anger one of these beings that simply runs in the blood of creatures of this world. The feline ducks behind Mikage's legs, ears tucked backwards.

Crouching down, Mikage puts an arm around her companion, trying to sooth him as some of the others speak up first. "What do you mean by... Remnant of the Old World?" She doesn't try to make guesses on what seeing a place like this could mean. There are many explinations so it is better ask rather than make assumptions.

"I... don't think any of us have any intention of fighting you." Her voice is quiet. While the Ranger can be outgoing in some circumstances, in large groups she seems to fall back to a shy nature. "We're just trying to stop what happened in Mac Anu from happening again." Though, she hesitates, seeming uncertain if this being would even /know/ what happened elsewhere. "Did you know that the Old Man of Mac Anu has fallen under Palace Lands control?"

    Rizadoman almost jumps when he hears the voice of Gyaru and turns to find the source. Rizadoman steps towards the lady and speaks, "We apologize for intruding upon your realm and we do not have any intention of fighting. As others have mentioned we are looking for the one who controls the ownership of Fort Ouph. Are you them, or a guardian of theirs? I am asking because we believe one of your compatriots was, well something happened to one of them. What I don't know, but they were in charge of Mac Anu." Taking a deep breath as other gets there word in before he adds, "We don't wish the same thing that happened there to happen here, wherever here is."

Yeowang looks at the Gyaru woman skeptically for a moment, then sighs at game developers. As for letting us in, she starts to say something, but then thinks better of it and remains quiet. Since the others have let her know about the threat, there's nothing for her to add in that regard, eithe, so she will just hang back and listen.

Erufu did not expect this place to look like a world she's written off to never see again so much she was heavily rejecting who she'd been there. She's hit like a slap to the face mentally over it but does not stay down for too long though Riza would notice it if anyone did. She would soon find herself before Gyaru for a moment and pauses.

"A Remnant of the old world..."

she trails off lost in thought.

"To say this world is the past of this world?"

Maybe SEA is chasing pipe dreams after all.

"I am Erufu, I have no reason to fight you. The Palace Landers have enslaved the Old Man of Mac Anu much as they have the majority of the Adventurers in the Palace Lands. We will not linger long and it is likely those who rule the palace lands would revel to destroy anything to do with the Adventures homeworld."

A slip more so than she's ever made in her life since she's arrived here.

Tokyo what was part of it doing here? What was this place?

    Miyako pauses, taking in the sight of the... gyaru. "Hello," she offers. "And I for one would rather just say hello and it's nice to meet you. Like they said, we're not here to wreck or plunder the place. I'd stab someone who tried, actually." She spreads her empty hands, no weapons in sight. "I have -so- many questions." Millions of them. "If there wasn't a war on I'd just get a few dozen notebooks and hang out for a week or two."

Kaydon might want to fight her. But then again it would be because he wanted to try it out. He has no designs on...Whatever this all is. It can't really be Tokyo. So whatever it is, it's not the real world. Seems everyone else has already started giving the exposition, so he decides to go a different direction.

"So you just live here on this replica of the Tokyo Tower observation tower?"

    Fuka grins playfully at Haru. "I'd show you! And I'd like to see your home too. Not sure I understand what you're saying about the lights, but ... I'm kind of confused right now so it's probably not your fault!" she claims, and then eeps as Miyako bursts in on their moment.

    She doesn't *quite* pull away from Haru at that point, but it's a near thing. Fuka has little if any shame, but she does have a sense of propriety. And Miyako's presence reminds her that they're not alone, and in fact are here for a serious purpose.

    Fuka looks curiously at Gyaru. A woman of this world, but one apparently influenced by the other world. Wait... does that mean their old world is literally this world's Old World? Is the world of Elder Tale actually somehow the future? Are they time travellers rather than isekai...ians?

    Yeah, Fuka's confused. She doesn't bother protesting innocence though. It should be clear they're not here to fight. Adding her voice in to the questions would just delay someone else getting an answer, if there's a chance of getting such things at this point anyways. She just continues to stare, wondering just what exactly is going on. And what to do next. They've found what they came for, but is there any way to stop the Palace Landers from coming here somehow?

"Hmmmm, yeh, I suppose I am." She touches a finger to her chin, looking up at the ceiling for a moment as if she has to consider this, and then laughs heartily and smiles at Merek. "Hmm! Yes, I am!" She nods her head, "I'm Gyaru! Nice to meetcha!" Very specifically seeming to be avoiding answering his - and others - questions about the real world and the meaning of this being a Remnant.

She then gets down. "Good. No fighting. I really don't like cleaning up this place. So like, that'll be better for me." She then gives Kaydon a look. "Don't go insulting my little home, alright? I don't 'just' live here. I do important work!" She remarks.

The Gyaru girl clicks her nails together on her right hand, rubbing them and making sure they're still looking good while putting her other hand to her side, now that she's no longer leaning on the railing. "So like, the Old Man was always such as stick in the mud. So whatever to him. Mac Anu is just a shitty Prototype anyway. Even Rosenheim was better than that place." She mutters with a roll of her eyes.

She stops staring at her nails and then steps towards Fukaziroh, planting her fingers against her face and considers her for a moment. Effortlessly moving her face while she gives her better looks. "Need more colors! Apply a bit more makeup. Be more extreme!" She demands from her. "Hmmm, if I only had my kit here right now." She murmurs.

Gyaru, the Gyaru (Pooka?) lets go of Fukaziroh and looks around. "Such sweeties. Here to protect me. So... what, are you all going to stick around here? I don't think that'd be a good idea. You lot should be out free and doing Hunter Guild quests or something. I think that's what they call them these days?" She asks. "Anyhow - you all confirmed I am safe. Now shoo-shoo. Should I be making sure a certain kind of people can't get near? How does this work, huh?"

    "Interesting you should mention Rosenheim, they are one of the people I'd recommend keeping out. " Rizadoman says before he eases a little as he has to agree with the lady, at this rate they did what they came to do but a littler more information never hurts. " The landers, the npc, of the palace land have created or managed to find some sort of relic that can force others including adventurers to obey them. They look like crowns and we think that one was put on the old man of Mac Anu." Taking another deep breath he adds, " The people behind it are the rulers of Kallamore, Rosenheim and Thor. " Another moment of consideration before he adds, "Could you tell us how we could get to the old man of Mac Anu, so we could help him?"

    Fuka's eyes go wide as the sylphen gyaru approaches her with those long, possibly vicious fingernails. But the much littler sylph is pretty easygoing and quick to engage in something social. "You think so? More makeup? Bolder colours? I certainly could use more colours. They don't work so well in my work clothes..." she says, slapping a palm against her opposite vambrace with a clank. She's often out in the wilderness after all, and bold colours really don't work. "A shame I didn't visit in casual wear! I'd have blown your socks off with the bold colours!" she boasts to Gyaru cheerfully.

    As to the question of what next, seems not even Gyaru knows. Fortunately, wiser heads than hers are present. Letting them speak up, Fuka retreats to Haru's side. "Well she seems nice." the little sylph murmurs to Haru. "What do you think? More makeup?" she quips with a grin.

    Merek will take the time to look to Gyaru, "I figured it would not be easy to answer," the man placing both hands of his to his pockets. "If we make them keep away all Palace Landers, do we make exception for the... Uncrowned?" he asks, then he nods a bit, "I feel like no one should have that power, I wonder if sealing this place would work." Watching the skyline from the observation deck he tries to see if the place would be dark enough to look at the stars. Something he wants, so much, to see. He holds up a hand to the sky, perhaps committing it likely.

'Rosenheim was better' sticks out to Shiruba. Mostly because she remembers the Queen telling them about the city before everything went to crap with the Palace Landers. So that this ancient guardian entity knows about it is less of a shock than one could expect it to be. "Funny you should mention Rosenheim." But others are quicker to explain on the matter. "But yes, they've overtaken Mac Anu in such a manner, and we are making sure they can't do the same to these other important Root Towns."

A person could possibly take offense to being flat out ignored by someone, but in this case... Mikage immediately finds herself thankful that she doesn't garner the attention of this very unusual looking woman. Instead, she rises and backs up a couple of steps, encouraging Rama to do the same.

"You couldn't pay me enough to stick around here." Mikage mutters. Oh sure, the view is almost heartbreaking for Mikage, and that shows on her features, but having to deal with Gyaru? No thank you.

So, she leaves the discussion of what to do in the hands of more socially minded people. She just backs as far as she can towards the entrance, watching the backs of her companions with her hand on her sword, even as her eyes continue to linger on the skyline.

Haru is mid sentence in responding to Fuka with a, "Its a family..." when the Gyaru approaches Fuka. He is in the background shaking his head about the whole color thing. Hard no. Hands cross wrist to wrist in an X. Gyaru Fuka is concern level 9000. There is a stop. He is imagining it again. Maybe? His head shakes again.

"Free isn't much of an option with a Crown on your head, if freedom is what you value," Haru notes, finally adding to the conversation. A hand gestures and says what is on his mind, "How is it you are responsible for what does or does not pass for Law in Fort Ouph?" He knows that looks can be deceiving and she clearly has a drive to protect this fragment of the Old World, but something doesn't add up yet.

    Miyako leans against the railing, looking out over 'Tokyo', before turning her back on it and her focus back to the Gyaru. "Frankly I'd rather the control center for all the 'Crowns', so we can just turn everything off at the source." She crosses her legs and then folder her arms across her chest. She hmms softly, pausing before what she was going to say next, as a thought comes to mind. "So, first of about a quazillion questions, if Mac Anu was a prototype, what's under Shibuya? I've been down there, it's like some sort of lab complex. I think. What'd I miss?"

Yeowang is quite pleased not to be called down on her fashion sense by a gyaru. Even one named Gyaru. Tacky. Of course she's not dressed for supper with her grandfather, that'd probably choke this ... whatever she is? Kunie? But the others have explained about the threat, so there's not much more that she can add. "I would recommend you kill anyone that comes here from the palace Lands. They do not mean you well," she says simply. "In fact, if anyone other than those here come by, you should probably consider them a threat." That way, the group here can come and talk if talk is needed, but anyone else entering is persona non grata.

Gyaru eyerolls as Shiruba mentions the people of Rosenheim and the relics being used. "Ugh, I bet that's that stupid Queen of Darkness' crowns. They were a stupid invention. I can't believe she made so many of them too. It's rediculous." She shakes her head. "And now you're saying they work on Kunie too? I guess that figures. Never could get enough of controlling people."

She then motions her hand at Fukaziroh, "Oh girl, don't you know it! If it wasn't for the fact that I am not supposed to have visitors, I would like, totally invite you. Maybe have a drink with you! But I can't really leave this place y'know? It's my like, job." She makes an exasperbated sound and touches her chest while winking at her.

The woman then motions to Haru; "I mean, like, it's what I was created to do by the Alv! Honestly, kind of awful people. But like, not the worst, y'know? Yeah, I bet you know." She motions her fingers out at Haru while remaining standing at position. She then just laughs with nothing much to laugh about. "All of us Kunie rule important places like these. Can't expect anyone else to do this job."

She then turns to Miyako; "Oh hunie, no such thing. But they /are/ registered to the Kingdom's rulers. So like, if you can flip the ownership, or get the owner to just take them off, it's all good. It's all mightily tedious, but like, no big deal or anything."

She doesn't comment on Shibuya, but it isn't a root town.

Kaydon does smirk a bit as he gets reprimanded, "My appologies. I suppose it does take a lot of effort to silently judge everyone in the city above and then give them the Sarah Connor treatment when they do something you don't like." He'll push back a little bit, but of course won't push too far.

    Rizadoman contemplates the uestioning going on and steps back from the group. His questioning is done for now but he woulds tay and listen until they are either thrown out or the others are done badgering the woman. Instead he simply moves to the edge of the observation platform and simply enjoys the skyline. It was nice to bask in the sentimental for a moment. No reason for everyone to throw questions at her, though he hopes someone does take a moment to ask her for her name. Gyaru seemed more like a class type then a name.

Yeowang arches a brow as the relics are mentioned in such a familiar way. "Yes, sadly, they seem to work on Kunie," she agrees, listening up on how they can just flip the ownership. "Of crowns?" She wasn't clear on that, it sounds way easier than what they /had/ been doing. Which was not much, to be honest. But if it were that easy....?

Looking out at the Tokyo sky, Mikage can't help but think that Cyrus would be far more engaged with this than she is. The prospect of a better understanding of the world they live in, even if this individual seems to be content with evading the real answers that matter. For her, though, it just settles loss in her chest in an uncomfortable way.

"You guys have this in hand. I'm heading back." Mikage comments, motioning Rama with her. "I'll go talk to Mora about seeing how we can keep this place from being found. It... might be as simple as taking a few of the puzzle pieces with us so the answer can't be found."

She leaves it at that, then rises and starts to depart. This time, Mikage doesn't look back.

"This is all very interesting." Shiruba, druging out of her thoughts, remembers her manners and makes a respectful bow briefly to Gyaru. "We won't stay here, no. But we will have people in the city should it be needed, watching for these interlopers the best we can. The Crowns can effect as such, and we'd really like to not see more of you and your cities brought to heel with them."

There's a fair deal of information here to unpack, and while Shiruba is absorbing it, most of it is getting filed away for later. The matter with the demonic gnoll cult is already trying to drag her attention away again in the back of her mind.

    Merek seems to be content to watch the stars, then he takes a piece of paper to begin drawing upon it. All he comes up with is a few constellations that are really nowhere near where they should be. Well, he might remember what the Dipper will look like if he keeps that with him. "Would anyone else like to take a look at the stars with me and. Get them drawn?" he asks, then he decides to ask Gyaru, "What's the date in this place, do you even actually have a date here and all?" he asks. "Stay? Can we... Look at the stars and travel the street?" he asks. "Alv, what were they like?" he asks.

There is a total Jon Snow moment with Haru. Knowing nothing but standing there and looking all fashionable like he knows something. He even winks back that could very well be a full on blink if not for the monocle. "Created," is the word he focuses on. "So you were designed with a function and placed here. Where even is 'here'," he asks. He wonders if Gyaru would even be created to know that sort of information. He looks to Yeo as he sees the gears turning, "Think Tolkien. One crown to control them all. You just take it for yourself or get the person to take it off. Or a command and control botnet." Assuming such terms exist, or get translated across.

It draws another question from the Artificer, "Why are you talking to us, anyway? Though, not being allowed to have visitors sounds very," and he looks to Fuka for one of her coined phrases to him, "boring." He turns his head to watch Mikage go, giving a little nod to the decision.

    Miyako hmms to herself, making a mental note of the name of 'Kunie', and the 'Queen of Darkness'. "Good to know it's that easy, at least." She wishes she had her notes, but they're not here. There was a name she remembered from Shibuya... Well, she'll just have to come back and ask later! "How do we flip the ownership?"

    She waits while others ask their questions and make their assertions before a thought comes to her mind. "Does the term 'Wave of Calamity' mean anything to you? Something to do with hourglasses counting down to a breach between this world and another?"

    Fuka nearly bursts out laughing at Haru's horror at the thought of her going Gyaru. To be fair it's not Fuka's style at all, but she does take note of how much this poor ... Kunie? This poor Kunie seems to enjoy the idea. She makes a note to herself: if she has reason to return, be sure to be fashionably bold while doing so. It's a good idea to appeal to your host when you want something, after all, and she figures at least Gwen would have a good time suiting Fuka up in something colourful!

    She pauses a moment at one bit of information. They're registered to the kingdom's rulers. The crowns, presumably. So that means what? That for the Palace Landers to crown a Yamatoan, they need a crown registered to Yamato? Or does it mean that if the ruler changes... the crowned loyalty of anyone from that nation changes? That sort of makes sense, and it would explain what happened in Mac Anu. Sort of. "Saaaay, the Guardians are also linked to who rules a given city, right? Or are they linked to the ... to the Kunie who is in a given city? Because they changed who the Guardians defended, so that's either because the ruler changed or because they took control of the Old Man or something?"

    She shakes her head at Haru's question, not because she dislikes the question but because she could imagine nothing more boring than not having any visitors. Oh, she could do it, but not without some kind of socialization. Being a shut-in gamer would be fine so long as you have internet gaming! Without that, well, she herself nearly went out of her skull!

Erufu has a lot to thinkover about all that's been revealed now she will look to the woman for a moment.

"I see, I will keep all of this in mind also thank you for a warm welcome and being willing to enterain our questions before we depart from this place."

"No, you don't get to stay." The Gyaru answers Merek, shaking her head. "As for the date..." Pause. She just kind of shrugs at him. "I don't really keep track of that. Not my job." It's a rather simplistic answer, but that's all she's got for him. "This is a Remnant of the Old World. That's what here is." She answers Haru. "And I am talking to you because... I felt like it? I mean, why are you talking to me, like, such a /lame/ question. Fuck off." She declares, putting her hands at her hips. "How pretentious."

"You just figure that out on your own." She then tells Miyako on the ownership flip. She motions her hand. "Go on. Off you go." She tells them. "I'll keep an eye out for like, those crowns or whatever. I'm going to get myself drunk or something."

She then looks to Fukaziroh. "It's a bit complicated. But I kinda like, decide who the ruler is. And like, it goes from there." She explains. "The Guardians have some temporary overrides I can put in place, but mess with the Cluster too long, and they get all uppity and complain about following the rules. Like, they're /so/ lame." She rolls her eyes. "Einweg this, and like, Befehler that."

She raises her hands to the air and starts motioning her hands more dramatically - showing the back of her hands to them. "Anyhow. Come on. Out - out! Out with the lot of you."

Yeowang seems to have remained below the Kunie's radar, but she will go when the others are shoo'd out. Though not before looking around for alternate exits. If this is Tokyo Tower Observation Deck, they should be there and there, right? She peers, but then is shoo'd out. She won't argue that with a Kunie, that's way out of her weight class.

"Yes, I think its time we take our leave." Shiruba turns to wander out. Mikage had the right idea, they should make sure this place can't be easily found or unlocked again, even if they have to 'sabotage' the puzzles back in the liminal space entrance.

Erufu bows once to their hos and will turn to leave. "Stay say and with how hard you work? You deserve a good drink!"

There is a smile on his face there as he gets a good reaction from the Gyaru. Thats what he was looking for beneath all of the interrogation. "Alright, alright. Don't get your Alv panties in a knot, Gyaru," the pretensious Artificer says with a circle of his fingers like a knot. The Kunie probably hasn't had someone to josh around with in ages. He turns to head back out the way he came like coming down here was as easy as actually going to the Tokyo Tower. "First dietic being I think we'd have fun going out to drinks with," he asides to Fuka as he goes, "I imagine she would burn down the tavern and we'd all wake up in the bottom of a dungeon working our way out of it starting at the boss room with a really bad hangover." Clack clack clack. "Sounds like an adventure."

    Merek looks then to Gyaru, and nods a bit. "Guardians, programmed machines?" the man ponders, while he walks along back to where they came. "Take care," he offers, then he's placing both hands to his pockets. The man would really like to see where the observation deck would go, but he's smart enough finally to not do all of that. He does turn to look back to Gyaru and asks one thing. "Is she alright? I know she did not survive in... Our world." He then motions a hand while he walks along to the exit, probably at this point expecting to get a weird look. "Let's go... Back to home, guys."

    Fuka has never been particularly gyaru in style or nature. In the other world she's a hardcore yet fashionable nerd, perhaps willing to wear bold colours but not to the excesses Gyaru would probably prefer. She isn't that much of a drinker either, though of course she enjoys a good treat. Still, she nods enthusiastically to Haru's comment. "That sounds like it'd be so much fun!" she agrees even as she knows she wouldn't seek out that kind of a good time. If it happened she'd run with it, but never seek it out.

    No, she takes her cue from the shooing, retreating. Considering whether or not she'd come back. If she does she'll bring high bold fashion and drinks, of course, but she isn't sure she'd be let in, even assuming she could figure out the entrance puzzle on her own. Well, she'd probably bring various LOONS along, and surely they'd be fine in a group, but she figures she should have a better reason than hanging out with a Kunie who hasn't had a good party in... well, probably millenia. It's still a possibility though!

    "Gotta ask where you get a drink around here. And what." Miyako smiles lightly. "No chance I can just grab my ipad from my apartment? I had -so- many books on there that I've been missing." It's probably not the real Tokyo out there... but if it was... well. She had to /try/.

    "You could drop a hint where to start looking, at least?" She sighs softly as she straightens. She considers for a moment, then adds, "I know someone who makes some killer ramen.... could bring a few bowls by."