Festival: Trek the Mountain

The old man stands at the bottom of the hill, leaning on an old gnarled branch. Staring up along the forest-covered hill that leads all the way up to a high up location. The Hunters Guild is willing to pay for this particular man's request, yet the man doesn't look like he's all that rich on his own. Wearing what looks like a white robe, and some slippers.

The old Lander looks at the group who's gathered around him this late in the evening, with the moon shining from high above. "It is up there. I know it. I once saw it. The Diamond in the old hot springs at the top of this hill. I need you to bring me up there."

He taps the old branch he's using as a cane. It's quite sturdy at that. "I'll need one of you to carry me. But I warn you... there are traps that lead up. The other side of the cliff cannot be climbed. And we cannot use the main road to get a view of the Diamond." He seems incredibly intense about this particular topic.

"Can I count on you all to put your lives at risk for this? Trust me... the reward at the top is worth all of this, just on its own."

Rylen isn't really concerned with matters of treasure, or once in a life time opportunities. Instead, it's more about the challenge. The Pooka has his arms folded across his chest, seeming amused by the whole thing.

"We'll get you there." He offers by way of reassurance. With a glance around at the others, he inclines his head, "I can probably handle carrying you. Unless someone else volunteers for the job."

He is pretty well built, so he can probably manage. Maybe.

    "Why does this all seem to be familiar?" Merek asks, while he takes the time to put on his dark attire, with the dark leather strap to his front in a diagonal pattern with the equipment for chemist work on it. The man pulls the scarf along his face while he nods a bit to the party, and will take the time to adjust the gloves which he wears, "Alright, well let's see what we can find, I'm sure this will not be easy," he notes.

All work is good work to Lin. Be it raiding a goblin-infested hole, defeating the undead, or dragging literally the least helpful Lander through a dark cave, his answer is always an enthusiastic 'Yes!' In this case, a Hunters' Guild escort quest comes with mentions of fabulous jewels, making it even more difficult to turn down. How hard can climbing a mountain really be? He'll find out while it happens. He's learned his lesson from the last couple of times a job for the guild had him climb a mountain, and this time he's making sure he's got some warm clothing in his inventory.

Lin bobs on his toes as the old Lander speaks. Enthusiasm painted on his face falls to quick dismay. Carry him? Really? The Pooka looks down at his body, which follows the classic shape of many casters. Who needs Strength? The people who carry people up mountains need Strength. Lin grits his teeth and looks about at the other adventurers for volunteers. "We'll sort it out. One way or another, we'll all get up there."

Miho has arrived and been here fo ra bit she looks to the old lander for a moment her tail wishing in a lazy fashion as she waits. "Humm..." She looks over who is here and thinks for a moment. "Amalthea think you could handle it?"

She looks to Rylen for a moment "Though tying up the best tank here could be an issue so you might be best to do it."

She already got her bow out rather than her Katana. She seems ready to head out. "Want me to scout ahead?"

Goldenblade has assembled for the quest, and listens as the man explains his task. "Lives at risk?" she asks warily. And then, "Carry you up the hill? What's up there?" She looks around to the others, guesses, "I can probably carry you." That might make her Blazing Dodge very exciting. But she's gotten used to, by now, unfortunately vague warnings and dire threats that don't quite pan out. She's not jaded, because that'd require a bit more savvy than she has. She just doesn't trust Landers' judgement. And if they tell her the sky is blue, she double-checks.

She looks around at the group that have assembled for this task, nodding to a few familiar faces.

The last time a mysterious old man wanted to be escorted to a mysterious hilltop to observe a miraculous object of suspicious providence, Prophylaxis accidentally learned far more about the history of the world than he had ever intended.

And then SOMEONE broke the relic.

"No using mysterious powers on the thing at the top of the mountain this time," Prophylaxis says sternly, casting a particularly sharp look in Merek's general direction. He doesn't make any moves to help hoist the old man onto his shoulders, in spite of being a STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, because he is still a wizard and thus made of squish.

(Albeit less so than most wizards, with his single dot in Physical.)

He does however give the old geezer a once-over before they begin. It's mostly out of a simple overabundance of Doctorly caution, but also to figure out what they should call him other than 'geezer,' 'old man,' and 'decrepit husk.'

    Setsuna had heard of this request from the hunter's guild and had made the decision to leave his companions at home. This sounded like something that one must do on their own, so surround by other alliance mebers, friends, and acquaintences he nods his head at the old man. " I am sure whatever is up the mountain we can handle. " Taking a moment he gives the old man a hard look before looking at the others before looking back at the old man, " So what does the diamond look lke?"

    "I am ready for a hot springs trip."
    That would be Amalthea, who could sorely use a vacation. Right now though she's in her armor, because this is an official Hunter's Guild job, sword slung over her shoulders and shield lashed to her left arm.
    "But for now we can get you up there, old timer."
    Discounting the fact that she's an old timer herself, anyway. Being an Adventurer sure does have it's perks- like at least feeling young again.
    "I think between good Rylen's offer and Goldenblade helping, he'll make it up just fine." She says mildly to Miho. "In a pinch though I can add to that." She does offer amid inspecting the old man.
    >>>SHINJI KAZAMA, [CASTLE ICON] [I]
    He seems like a regular enough Lander.
    "Alright, shall we get going, Shinji? Or do you prefer Mr. Kazama?"

"Ah, thank you young man. Once upon a time, it took three of us to get up there. Many laid their lives on the line that day. But I am certain that you Adventurers are more than up to the task." He then waits for Rylen to lift him, and then point up along the path leading up. It looks like it's just a regular forest. The idea that it's laden with traps seems... a bit silly?

Yet here they are. Ready to move up the mountain. "The moment we start moving, you'll want to run and not look back. Those who fall behind... just remain on the ground." The man's eyes glint then, as Setsuna asks him what the Diamond up in the mountain looks like. "It will look precious beyond belief!" He answers Setsuna.

And as the team begins the climb, one of the Adventurers with them finds the first trap. A sudden magical trap activating, a crossbow bolt firing on them, which detonates the area on impact! Then, further up ahead, multiple of those Enchanted Crossbows pop up out of the ground.

"RUN!" The man simply demands!

    Merek notices one of the traps coming his way, then rolls away from the crossbow bolt, while he nods to the party, taking the time to stand up while he takes a look about, "Well, that's... Nice, I'd ask why this was put here, you know... I don't think anyone is going to answer that likely," he will admit.

    Pause.
    Wait a moment.
    Did the old man say there were traps?
    Why are there traps on a path up a mountain?
    A crossbow snaps up.
    Amalthea quickly jukes aside. She's ready for the next though, shield raised.
    "Watch your footing!" She calls out. "They only fire in a straight line the second you step in their line of sight." She warns the others, proceeding while carefully avoiding the crossbows she can see that are still armed. "Looks like they've only got one good shot in them though before they're dry."

Tenko is, as always, present when she needs to be. The Hunters Guild sent out a missive, and she responded in kind. A diamond does sound intriguing. Perhaps she will get a drawing of it once they make it.

As the group sets off, however, they are soon to find traps.

"Move quickly and with purpose!" She calls to the group, aiming to use her katana to parry as many of the magical bolts to one side or another as she can while they advance.

The way that Rylen hefts up the old man shows that this isn't his first time having to carry someone long distances. He's braced in such a way that the weight is distributed as well as possible. "I can't promise it won't be a bumpy ride..."

At the very least, he manages to look confident, following the others up along the mountain and allowing them time to spot traps before he has to deal with them. In this case, the trap is fairly obvious, meanining that he doesn't need much pointed out.

Glancing over his shoulder, he nods to Goldenblade, "We'll switch off halfway through, if you want. Share the burden." With the intel from Amalthea, Rylen braces himself, and then does his best to follow behind the others, making sure to step only where there have already been arrows fired, using the measure of safety it offers.

    "I look forward to seeing such a beauty," Setsuna sas as he falls in line up the mountain. That first crossbow bolt explosions misses him only just and lets out a slow whistle. " I mean that was impressive but only one crossbow, not really to much to worry about. " Then they turn a cornr and see multiple of them popping up out of the ground and the necromancer can only reply, "Oh." With that said he listens to his elder and begins to run, doing his best to not be caught in an explosion.

Is it literally a diamond? Are they racing up a mountain to find an enormous gem that they won't actually be able to take home? There's got to be something more about this than just a matter of an old man's nostalgic hike up the mountainside, though. Otherwise why would he risk his life-- and the lives of all these adventurers-- just to get there again?

A vital question comes to mind as arrows begin raining down upon the adventuring party. A bolt slams into the doctor's torso, only to cause him to... dissolve into red light!? INSTANT DEATH ARROWS!!??

No, just a mirror image of the real doctor, who is perfectly safe just out of the way. "...Who came up this way and reset all of these traps?"

Goldenblade hrms as the fellow describes how this was done in the old days. "If we look back, do we turn into a pillar of salt?" she wonders. "That's traditional for looking back." She will run, though, up the mountain, when the old fellow says to run, trailing behind Rylen, so she can back him up if needed. He's not sure how he'd do it? But she's there for them. It limits her pace to his, though she says, "Maybe we should have rigged a litter?" she asks belatedly. Don't the good ideas always come two minutes too late?

She nods to Rylen about switching off halfway through, for now concentrating on avoiding the hidden crossbow bolts and flying arrows, managing to stay a step ahead of them for the moment.

Lin stands off to the side as the party prepares to move. He listens quietly to the story of the last time the mountain were climbed. "So we're trying to sprint our way up the mountain. And we can't stop." The Pooka takes a deep breath and eyes the path, then warily considers how the main way up can't be used at all. Maybe this is going to be even worse that the aggressively unhelpful escort quest? Impossible.

Lin sets off with the party, spirits high with the thrill of potential adventure. It's not every day you get promised visions of something beyond imagination. Well, here they're a little more common. But it's still not every day. When the first crossbow pops up the real gravity of this sets in. He hears the 'Run!' and reflexively grabs his spellbook. Running's not what he's best at. Not even a little. A quick page flip and a quickly recited spell give him an edge - a glimpse into future and somehow past. He narrows his eyes and begins running through the field of danger, panting and complaining all the way. "Who does this!? What kind of person looks at a mountain and says, 'I'm going to cover this in crossbows. This will help people and improve lives.' Nobody. Nobody says that."

Well thing are not going bad but they are not going as wel as she'd hope they got trouble coming. Then again there was a reason they were hired after all. Thing do not go well for Miho as she's trying to evade the arrows. There's no chance ot parry them and she's caught with several bolts. Miho cries out and then tries to rip them free of her body, as who knows if the things are posioned...

The team starts trekking up the hill at top speed! Merek rolls below one of the crossbow bolts, which explodes behind him! Amalthea finds a pattern and informs the rest, aiding them in their ascend. "A cruel man who wished to deny the Diamond to the world placed these here! A man I once called my friend." The old man dramatically answers Merek and Lin as he's carried by Rylen, as Rylen jumps over one of the crossbow bolts!

It isn't long before the hillside lights up, while the canopy grows tighter and tighter! "No, we will not turn into salt. But this is time sensitive. If we look behind and return, we will miss this shot. The time, when the moon is at its highest point, and illuminates the Diamond for all of its true beauty!" Mister Kazuma answers.

Tenko protects the party by cutting one of the crossbow bolts in half, causing it to detonate behind her in a dramatic moment! The Doctor almost looks like he is detonated by one of the arrows, only to reveal it was a mirror image! WHAT A TWIST! The team continues to handily avoid the crossbow shots, but there are some close calls!

The closest of which is Miho's attempt to follow behind her allies! A detonation of significant impact detonating against her body and slowing her down. But that's not the only trap that awaits them. There are more of those crossbows along the way! But another one of the leaders steps... and suddenly, there is a detonation! Some kind of magically activated landmine triggers, detonating and literally /launching/ them by means of an exploding boulder back towards the start... with significant speed! They may survive!

    Merek lifts up a hand even while the detonation begins, "REPELLING SHIELD!" It forms a magical ward which seems to be powerful, managing to take in almost all of the assault while he begins to do his best to maneuver forward, "Alright, well I definitely don't like this guy," he mentions to the old man, in answer to the man that would keep the people away from the Diamond.

"Sounds like we need to hurry, then." Rylen isn't all that concerned about seeing the Diamond, but if this is as rare a sight as the old man suggests, he may not live to have another chance at it.

As bits of earth are scattered against his face from the nearby detonation, he offers a warning. "Look for signs of churned earth, anything that might suggest that there's been something hidden." Then, to the old man, he offers, "Hang on. I think I can find us a way by the traps."

After a bit, he does offer out a bit of his own insight, "Whomever put these here had to be some kind of expert trapper. They're not just on the direct path, but most of the ways people might have tried to go around, too."

When they reach the end of the line of traps, though, he leans down, motioning to Goldenblade. "Swap?" It's hard to tell if they've exactly reached halfway, but they've at least dealt with a couple of traps.

Lin can protest the existence of the crossbows, but he knows deep down that at least one person did that. The evidence is clear. He just can't process the absurdity of them. The old man confirms everything, but it doesn't help. Not one bit - there's little consolation you can give to someone when explosives are being fired at them. "To what end!?" He asks the man. "Nobody does this without purpose. If this is so beautiful, how could denying it to the world be good?" Not even being out of breath can stop Lin from asking questions. He pauses to bend over and pant before continuing.

Landmines DO have a chance at stopping Lin's questions. One flies down the mountainside and he throws himself away from it. "What?!" Oh. There's always a question.

    Once again Amalthea proves her eyes to be keen, as the party progresses. The crossbows are one thing, but the sudden detonation up front makes her hold up a fist for the group to briefly pay attention.
    "Watch your footing!" She's eyeing the ground for a hot minute before scowling.
    "These are really well hidden... But they're mostly on the main path. BUT it looks like there are a few outliers put in places where you'd think to avoid the main batch."
    "Hell..." She mutters under her breath. "They've been here so long everything's grown over them. I'm surprised they didn't go off before this..." She grumbles while verey carefully watching her footing.

Goldenblade acks as the arrow traps give way to land mines. "Wouldn't it have made more sense to remove the traps?" she wonders. "That sounds like it's be easier than running this gauntlet?" She swats a bouncing betty out of the air with a flick of her sword, and it explodes at a safe distance from her. She remains with Rylen and the old man, Kazama, and when Rylen suggests switching off, she nods, sheathing her blades and taking up a position to carry the old man piggy-back. "You're about my son's age anyhow," she observes to Kazama with wry amusement as she takes the weight. She's in much better shape here than she was in the real world, of course, in fact she's probably in better overall shape than she ever was, though she led a pretty physical life.

Whoever set all this up has a real twisted sense of fair play. What the heck could be so dangerous about a 'diamond' that, apparently, they're only there to take a look at and then...

What, just saunter down the mountainside like nothing? The only thing keeping Prophylaxis going here is the promise of Great Knowledge waiting for him at the top of this hill--

And, as the damage to the party mounts, the prospect of having one of these fine people assist him with his current... project.

But he'll need to survive, first. A blast of earth rips up towards the unfortunate doctor, carving into his HP bar a moment before he can raise a bulwark of stone to intercept the explosion. With a click of his teeth, the doctor presses on. "You know," he says meaningfully, "I have to wonder, why would this friend of yours go out of his way to lay /so many/ traps just to keep you from reaching this diamond? It seems like a whole lot of effort."

    Setsuna looks over at Lin, " I think you are asking the wrong question, what type of person would put magical crossbows. Normal crossbows don't explode. " As if he must pay for his semantics though when those land-mines go off he instinitively reacts with a wall of wind but it doesn't stand up to the attack from the earth. Fortunately with the rotating air around him it simply tosses him to the side and he doesn't go rolling down to the bottom of the mountain. It still hurt though, and is that a crack forming in his bone leg, that can't be good.

The good news is Miho has surived the first trap, however she's got jagged red wireframes where the arrows had struck her. It's still alien to her that she really doesn't bleed anymore, she can't think about that and is thankful for the pain dampeners too. She'd be in no shape to keep going otherwise. Yet in the back of her mind? She wonders just what is she now? She's a smith and that might be the only thing she's certain of at this point in her life. What is strange when she thinks of it? She's okay with this.

She then Miho has an idea she'll plan her feet and trigger Anchor howl in an attempt to one protect herself and two keep her from going flying.

"ANCHOR HOWELLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

Now it seems Tenko is doing what she can to help keep the crossbows out of hurting folks, but in doing so she mistimes her way on one of the mines.

The explosion engulfs her and knocks her backwards, but she manages to catch back up to the tail end of the group. This is a lot harder than she anticipated for sure, "How many of these traps did he place!?" She calls out to the old man

Merek halts one of the detonations, halting the stone pillar that comes to blast him back by using his shield! Rylen runs past him, avoidin the traps expertly, and lets down the old man after a little bit, who holds out a hand at Goldenblade, waiting to be lifted.

To Lin, as she manages to meet them at that halfway point, the old man declares; "That man wished to keep all of its beauty to himself. That is why. It was greed that drove my former friend, I am sure of it." His gaze slips to Amalthea as she points out that some of them have not gone off yet.

"He must have used some kind of enchantment that would only trigger around people." The old man answers the tank, as he's picked up by Goldenblade. "Your son must be very old them. I've been alive for more than seventy years." The white haired old one remarks.

"Quick, before the clouds hide the moon!" He then notes, pointing up along the hill, where more mines and crossbows await. Luckily, some folk have managed to figure out some of the patterns, which is making the continued climb easier. But no doubt more trouble awaits them!

"Too many!" The old man answers Tenko, as she reaches up along with the rest after the cruel 'land'mine explosions, and they continue up further. The foilage beginning to part a bit in favor of a rocky hill that starts lifting in slope. There's enough overhanging trees that it is still difficult to see the target, but they're almost there! They start needing to jump from tree to tree on the side of the mountain to get there!

But some of the trees are fake. And when jumped, they... well, they don't explode. They're just fake trees, and landing on them causes the fake wood to snap so easily, people would plummet down towards the sharp rocks below! It's a difficult climb, but not impossible!

    Merek looks to the tree when it snaps, then he's falling along, until he takes an explosive potion and will throw that, using the blast from the weapon to give him the needed assistance to roll back onto the tree to climb while it blasts along into a rock along the path. "You all alright?" the man asks.

With the burden lifted off of his shoulders, Rylen seems to move a bit more easily up the mountain, avoiding the more obvious traps. He is, afterall, an acrobat, so this seems like a normal day at the 'office' for him. Even when it comes to climbing trees and avoiding handholds and branches that would otherwise not support weight.

He moves with agile form, dangling at times from one arm as he tosses summoned rocks towards the various nearby branches, using the impact to guage which ones are safe and which are not. "Seems like your friend went through an aweful lot of effort."

With a grunt, he hefts himself further up, making sure to take some measure of time with the climb, just incase anyone else might need a hand.

    Setsuna looks forward and well it seems simple enough , just hop from tree top to tree top. So Setsuna does so, rather slowly, not being one for physical activity this was a little tough before he remembers he can use magical earth pillars to help fill the gaps. Step and step , easy going, as Setsuna reaches the last tree he smiles. "Ha and I made ..." Setsuna never gets to finish as their is no longer a tree under him, the tree was a fake and fell apart. So now Setsuna is falling to the sharp rocks below.

"I mean. That part seems clear. A military genius." Lin seems very certain as he responds to Setsuna. When a mine catches the other man and sends him flying, Lin feels a brief surge of admiration - no doubt, someone talented and dedicated set themself to this - then panic. He rushes to Setsuna's side and starts to help him up. "You okay?"

The trek continues up the mountain and he hears the old man's response. Lin seems to disagree. His face goes through a sequence of emotions. Confusion. Doubt. Then certainty. "What makes you so sure it was greed? What did he gain from seeing it?"

The party treks onwards and Lin stares doubtfully at the trees. "This is amazing. True skill at work..." The Pooka eyeballs every tree before leaping, but even staring carefully for signs of the construction isn't enough. SNAP. "Waaaaugh!"

Goldenblade ahhhs to the old man, "I didn't realize you were so old." She explains, "My son's fifty one now," which seems pretty unlikely since she looks about twenty five. She takes the man with a bit of juggling and once she's got him, she takes off at a run, her eyes peeled for ... "Fake trees, watch out for them," she calls out a warning, avoiding them as much as she can, herself, while carrying the old man on her back.

She jinks left, then dodges right, sprinting up the mountain at the best case she can manage. Boots turn up the turf as she runs, breathing hard now, but it's not like she's never carried a load of bricks up a building. This is actually a bit easier, since the man can hold on, himself, where bricks are prone to sliding away without warning.

    Time is of the essence, but the team is getting a good hustle on at least. Until the problem of fake trees arise.
    "Huh." So they have to go from tree to tree now to continue upwards. She hops on to one that looks- and is thankfully sturdy enough.
    Before Setsuna picks a WRONG tree and begins to fall.
    Amalthea's hand snaps out, fast as lightning, catching him by the wrist and hoisting him back up.
    "Careful now, Setsuna. Looks like some of these are fa-"
    That's when one of the crossbows snaps up.
    Up comes Amalthea's shield to deflect the bolt, but it impacts squarely and detonates subsequently after, nearly bowling the old Odysseia Knight over as she drops to a knee, smoldering, HP having soaked most of the blast.
    "Well that was a cheap shot. Has anyone ever told you that your friend has issues?" The old Paladin grouses to Shinji.

Ah now this is the kind of thing that Tenko is trained for. As the group approaches the tress, she kitsune leaps upwards to the first one, and begins to swiftly move between them. It seems that she can be incredibly light footed when she wants to be, as she's able to move between the trees, stopping to help anyone who needs it as they move up, "Be careful!" She calls back. She realizes she should have marked the safe trees on her way up, that would have made things easier for the others.

"Greed...? If that's the case, then he must be waiting at the top of this climb, right? If he's already all the way up there..." But wait. This old man... IS AN OLD MAN! What is his fellow old-person doing making this dangerous trek up the mountainside all on his lonesome? Unless there's just a hidden path that they're not using for... some reason? Prophylaxis's eyes narrow thoughtfully as he begins the ascent.

...But not without help. The doctor clutches a small, pressed flower, secured in a pendant around his neck. His eyes begin to glow verdant shades of green as he hops from real tree to real tree, stopping only to look to one of the fakes with a thoughtful stare. "...You know, that's some pretty incredible workmanship. Almost impossible to tell that they were even fakes. Whoever made these traps must be some kind of expert craftsman..."

...Maybe he should hire them to help build some stuff in the tower? Hm...

Things are not over Miho has endured all the madness and she's going to keep moving along with everyone else she heeds what the old man has said. Miho grins a bit at the man. "Reminds me a bit of my Grandfather he's a bit older but not even his wife can get him to stop working his forge."

She notes and then there's no more time for small talk. Miho will do a bit of ninja antics she's not Akatsuki but she's not too bad as she bounds along and mangees to not end up ... picking a bad tree... could be due ot the burst of flame she sends ahead which while only siging a living tree would just light up the fakes...

"He went through a great deal of trouble. Ever since meeting that woman..." The old man answers Rylen. He doesn't answers Lin's doubts of the matter, as he is brought up further and further by Goldenblade. The man's eyes quickly flicking from tree to tree. And the moment one snaps under someone, he declares; "That's new! When did he even have time to do all of this!? Does that man have no sense of normalcy!?" Shinji demands to the world at large.

"Adventurers are strange." The old man then declares to Goldenblade when they point out their son is fifty. How old is that Adventurer!? Who knows! "And yes, my old friend has a lot of issues. Some kind of military nut who thought they were a Salamander or something with they way they behaved."

"Still, we are almost there!" As another detonation rockets behind them, as Amalthea takes a crossbow bolt to the body in order to save Setsuna! The foilage is indeed slimming, and they can see the moon shining down on a wooden structure. They can just see the sides of it.

"We just need to make it over that wall! And we're there!" He huffs, steam practically coming from his old nostrils. "The last stretch! For the diamond! For a lifelong friendship shared!" The old man calls out to the group!

Time to fly over the fence!

"I've found that few people have any sense of 'normal' when it comes to old disputes." Which is what Rylen is assuming this is. However, he also isn't thinking too deeply about any of it. "Though, it's probably better that Adventurers run into this. Imagine if any of the Landers stumbled on these traps." It wouldn't be pretty.

The fence isn't much of a problem for him, but Rylen lingers back, just incase it gives anyone else trouble. In this case, he's there to make sure Amalthea doesn't land badly on the other side, offering her a gracious hand and one of his usual, charming smiles, "M'lady."

Because that's what a gentleman does.

Goldenblade smirks to the old man as he decides she's strange. She shrugs, bouncing him a little more than her flat-out run is already bouncing him. He may notice. As to a friend thinking he's a salamander, she admits, "I have a lot of salamander friends, that's not a bad thing..." And then there's the wall. She hunches forward, and the earth seems to shift under her feet as she dashes, finally forming into a ramp, then at the end, catapulting her up, allowing her, with a guy on her back, to jump over the fence. The landing on the other side is going to hurt, she thinks to herself.

Time to 'fly' the old man says. What's with that look on his face? Every moment this adventure continues, Prophylaxis grows more and more concerned. Still, they've come this far, it's time to see it through to the end. All they need to do is to get past this last fence...!

A corona of blazing flame surges to life around him, the doctor briefly becoming a tiny sun amidst the dwindling underbrush! Like an ember dancing out of a bonfire, he leaps across the distance, jets of flame erupting from his heels and sending him hurtling up and over the fence...!

He /could/ have just gone through like a maniac, but Prophylaxis is pretty sure that would have gone badly.

Like, possibly running face-first into concealed explosives 'badly.'

Tenko's movement through the trees is uninterrupted for the remaining part of it, until they eventually reach the wall.

The kitsune is quick to leap to the top of the wall, however to ensure that she won't be leaping into any further traps on the other side. Once safety is assured, she'll assist any others that need help with crossing the barrier, though it's unlikely any of the Adventurers will have much trouble. Then a quick hop down to the other side.

    Setsuna stands up slowly as he looks at the leg made of monster bone and frowns. Pour thing is really bout to give and if it hadn't been for Amalthea it is likely it wouldn't be the only broken bone. Looking towards Lin he smiles, " Yeah I'll be fine but we should get to the top before Amalthea needs to save me again. " Stepping up slowly he tests putting weight on the skeleton leg for a moment before sighing relief, "I should have brought Roki. He would have been helpful through all this. " Either way it is to late now, Setsuna must endevour to proceed on without.

     When they get to the wall Setsuna stares up at it with a sigh and is definately going to need a new leg, this damn diamond better be guarded by a skeleton. Oh wait skeletons. Without a second thought to figure out how bad of an idea this is Setsuna begins to summon forth skeleton minions and then gives them a single order. " Get me over that wall." One day the necromancer will learn to choose his words carefully, before he is thrown over the wall by his own skeleton minions, fortunately he does remember to tuck and roll for the landing.

There isd a wall, Miho is small it's in her way. She has an idea she'll ready to lower her shoulder as she moves right at the wall going full tilt she's going to go right though the darn fence. Miho does not give a darn she's going to go through it one way or another and leave a Miho shapred hole in it. Thankfully nothing like that one horor Manga she read a while back...before she ended up here.

    So up a wall it is then. Amalthea brushes dust and ash off her surcoat as she gets to climbing.
    It is not easy in heavy Tank armor.
    It's actually REALLY not easy, and she's more than grateful to take Rylen's hand on the way down on the other side.
    "Ah, thank you, Rylen dear." She says, avoiding landing on her face or throwing her back out and taking a crapton of stamina and morale damage thanks to the dashing pooka.

Lin wrinkles his nose. Climbing the rocks back up to meet the group has made his hands hurt, and he shakes them as the glow of injury fades. He narrows his eyes at Shinji. Something doesn't feel quite right with that man. "Going to a great deal of trouble. Building something over an extended period. Extreme dedication." Lin's sentence fragments are interrupted by the occasional twist and dive as he narrowly avoids projectiles. "Sounds like what you'd get if a military genius is struck by a Strange Mood."

Lin stares at the wall for a while. He opens his spellbook and begins preparing himself a way over the wall. Something fitting. Something that only a genius would do. He begins to chant magical syllables, performing a shielding Arte. Glowing motes of light dance around him as he begins another spell. This time embers form in his silver hair. Smoke gently rising from his jacket as an aura of fire forms around him. The fire gathers in one raised hand as he completes the spell, which he aims almost directly downwards. KABOOM. Lin is launched high into the air, his shield exploding into a thousand stars! He arcs lazily over the fence, trailing embers and smoke.

    Merek brings up a little bit of protection to assist with people, while he uses that to begin settling in atop the fence then along a little.

Closer they come. Closer and closer to the wall!

The team hops from branch to branch, trying to recognize the false one from real ones! A nearby adventurer goes down and falls, calling out; "Go on without me!" Another gets hit by a crossbow; "Don't let my sacrifice be in vain!"

The old man's tears are shed for the fallen - but not dead - comrades!

Riding upon Goldenblade's shoulders, they launch to the air! Over the fence along with the many others following them. Below them, glistening warm water! A seperator on one end, and a figure on their side! They come falling down. Splash, splash, splash! Goldenblade is the first over the fence! Amalthea, follows, thanks to Rylen's help, then Rylen. Jump after jump, they launch over that wooden barricade to see the diamond!

Moonlight glistens over the object in the two glimmering spots in the water, staring at them! A glisten of a person, drenched in water! After the splash, the old man tumbles through the water, the landing a bit awkward, and comes to a stop with his face slamming against the figure in the hotspring!

Which turns to look at him.

It's what looks like... a lizard? Or at least, the plush outline of a lizardman similar to Rizadoman.

"The hotspring closes after eight PM on Fridays." An old raspy voice comes from the one in the bath, staring at the old man that's face-flopped into his belly. The 'lizard' (or... plushie lizard? It looks almost like a mascot suit) then looks up at the Adventurers. "It looks like you did something unreasonable again."

Right before Miho crashes through the fence, bringing splinters into the hotspring.

The 'lizard' reaches his hand up to his head. "... okay, fine. He's paying for that." He grumbles. "I'm sorry you all got dragged into this madness." The 'lizard' remarks, looking between them all, before murmuring; "I suppose you can all use the hotsprings after you clean up the broken wall. I'll go get the wood and hammer. And... do me a favor and throw that old man out by the front entrance for me?"

With that, the plush lizard turns, and starts to step out of the water. What a weirdo. The plush 'tail' hanging down due to being drenched. It looks almost like an Event Item from an old quest. How'd a Lander get their hands on that?

Rylen is silent for a long moment before his head tips forward, his fingers lightly rubbing against the bridge of his nose. The Pooka's shoulders tremble slightly, but it's quickly obvious that he is containing laughter. "All of this... because you wanted to..."

He doesn't even finish the sentance and just flat out belly laughs. "Well, at least it's a story to tell, I suppose." He looks over at the old man, one brow raised, then shakes his head.

"It's an... interesting costume you have there, my friend. I assume our patron here was expecting someone very different." Rylen smirks.

    Merek looks to the springs when they will come upon it, then he nods a bit to the party, "Well, that's." The man sighs, then he takes a look along to everyone, "Alright, you know what. I'm waiting for it to open so I can relax," he notes.

    Setsuna lands and rolls and ends up in the warm water and sighs in relaxation for a moment. With a look of enjoyment on his face he watches what is going on. It all made sense and in the end Setsuna looks at the old man with a cheshire grin, " I suppose those large diamonds will have be chased after next year, earlier in the day. " Then the mention of them cleaning up the mess he sighs a little bit before standing. " Fine fine we will do what we must." So Setsuna begins to pick up pieces of fence.

Only pure genius could have concocted such a perfect wall traversal. Lin radiates self satisfaction, sparks, and smoke as he crosses the top of the fence to discover an ideal landing area. SPLASH. SSSSSssssss. Lin splashes squarely into the hot spring, steam billowing around him as the magic that sent him flying is quenched by the spring. He smiles brightly at the party through his cloud, wiping water from his face. "Well that was great!" His mood darkens when he sees the 'lizard.' Suspicions confirmed. It's never that fun or simple. Theories and knowledge tangle in his head, and he falls silent. Now he watches the Landers. It's not so great.

Tenko stands, in shock, at what is before them, "Fascinating.." She says, as she wonders aloud about the costume that the ladner is getting, "I suppose we should assist with the cleanup.." And then she supposes she may stay and enjoy the springs.

    And so it ends... Not with a diamond but with a plush lizard?
    Once she's down from the wall, so helpfully aided by Rylen, Amalthea... Pauses.
    Blue eyes flutter in a series blinks as now the group is saddled with fixing a broken wall and she is simply left all the more bewildered.
    "What." She says very flatly, at first.
    "You know what. I'm just. Going to soak now."
    Hey they're at the hot springs. May as well.

Miho pauses for a moment she looks at the person in the mascot suit she just looks totally mortifed as she'll just slink over to those who are trying tpo fix the fence and get to work. She doesn't say a hting but she's turne a very bright shade of red...

Goldenblade is up and over the fence first, and so she gets a first look at the other side. And, with a dumbfounded expression, she lands in the hot springs. Facefirst. She rises up out of the water, soaked to the skin, but the old man looks OK, at least. The lizardman looks ... odd, but what she says is confusing at first. "Er, you do know about all the deathtraps on the way here, yes?" she checks.

But cleaning up and rebuilding the broken wall comes first. Well, rebuilding should be easy enough, so she'll get right to it. Camelot's Interface will even help her fix the terrain the wall, and the wall itself isn't too complicated for an experienced builder like her. "See, we're helping," she says. Though helping fix the problem we'd caused, so it's not -that- special.

"He knows. I think he made them." Lin speaks to Goldenblade from the hot spring. It's pleasant to relax, but this revelation is troubling him. He steps out of the spring and flicks some of the water from his singed clothing. As the others start work on the wall, Lin focuses on the 'lizard' man. He tries to make eye contact and asks his question: "Hey. Hey, friend. Do you remember her name?"

...

This... All this for...

"I knew it," Prophylaxis sighs, flopping back into the steamy spring, the smoldering remnants of his incandescent buff boiling away into steam. "I knew something was up. Uggggh, what is wrong with people...?"

Ughhhhhh......!

"...Ugh, at least I might be able to make something out of this," the doctor lays back, floating on a buoyant cushion of overwhelming regret. "If I can bring that lizard onboard to help with a few things... That'd make this worth it... Wouldn't it?"

(No, absolutely not)