"Hmmm ♪" Maruh mumbled, gazing at the ship "Better weapons needed perhaps, under the surface and cover of the night we could sneak-in to seize the ship...♫" her thoughts blurted out softly, that halo spinning as she thought "High risks, but bounty should this coup we accomplish...♪"

Again she though of the boat, looking up to the sun's position, her mismatched gaze then drifting in the direction of the Estate "Silent canoes we could row along the shoreline, underwater finishing the trek to our target..♪ Sleep should the crew claim, most of them, less resistance we might encounter then, until ringed the alarm might be.♫" She paused looking to the other, interrogation marks twirling along her halo.

"What might your words be ? Simply destroy or claim should our path be for that ship ♫ ?" A rhetorical question, but one she felt she had to delve into her sisters opinions. She had sounded hesitant at the plan, obviously knowing the risk, but far from showing the desire to back out.

Kyra hummed in thought, hands crossed behind her head. "I like how this plan is coming along. But we should probably return to base if we're to move ahead with anything out here. Anyone that wants to remain for additional intel may if need be." She tapped her lip. "...Knowing what we even have to work with at home would go a long way toward finalizing our plans too..."

So with all that.. she ventured back to the vehicles. Now that they knew the next obstacle in their path, the way was more clear. "Think you'll love it over there Sabine! You probably could use a rest under a good roof as well."

They had figured out enough of the plan that Nino was confident they weren't about to spring into action right away. Following Kyra's lead, she hopped back aboard her own Landstrider and made ready to depart back to the Estate. Her mind was abuzz with various scenarios she envisioned as possibilities, and what they could possibly need to prepare themselves with. So many choices ironically made it hard to decide, and for a moment she considered just going for it right then and there! She figured the others would never forgive her for that, assuming she even survived long enough to be forgiven. She did her best work during times of crisis, the worst thing to give Nino (besides volatile substances) was time.

"The meals are hot and the beds are warm!" she tacked on to Kyra's tidbit about the Estate to Sabine. Not that Nino would be spending much time in bed herself, unless a workbench counted as a bed! Not even a horde of invaders would keep her from the cafeteria though...

(Ready to head back briefly! I don't plan to spend too much time going over estate stuff myself, Nino intends to drop in, eat, build, sleep/nap, and then get back to the shores by the cargo ship. )

"I agree with Kyra," V'Sena said.  Even the greatest of hunters carefully prepared.  "We should properly plan and see if we can get help.  I would like to think our sisters would want these invaders gone as much as we do."

She moved behind Maruhka, enough to whisper with hope, "And I wish to clowder with you..."

The wolfie would let V'Sena snug her once more on the Viper, falling in lead of the Landstriders, about just a mile ahead in scouting mode once more. Nothing much was said from the black-clad biker, pensive about their next move and the impact of the news brought by Sabine's arrival. Walura had been such a pristine destination for diving and thriving nightlife, its loss as a knife stab top her heart. So many souls lost, so much of their islands broken. It almost felt as if it served the invasion all too well...

A small smile would at least curve her lips as they got nearer the Estate, looking forward to some meditation in mulling things over. The whole situation had been escalating rather quickly for the peaceful lone wolf, way too fast...She had been happy being a priestess devoted to celebrating life, nature, the spiritual bond between amazons and spirits. To say that battle befitted her awkwardly was an understatement. Though she would do what she had to for the protection of the islands and the ones she came to care about.

Yeah...some comforting tea and peaceful meditation...she had answers to seek with the spirits of the land...and within herself.

"I think that's wise," Sabine nodded, deferring to Kyra's decision to return to base as the discussion drew to a close. No matter how you looked at it, this would be a dangerous and risky job. She thought it smart to postpone it until they had a better idea of their resources and capabilities, though the lancer would have done her best to lend a hand to whatever course of action they took.

"Looking forward to it," she smiled at their remarks about Rua. "Would be nice to have something other than dried rations and bushmeat for a change..." Visiting their base at Rua would also give her a better picture of the state of the Amazonian defenses in this fragment of the island, for when she eventually made her report back to her unit and Southern Command...

Their course charted, she gathered her things and hopped back into Kyra's Landstrider for the long ride to base...

(ooc: To Rua Headquarters?)

Kyra smirked, echoing Nino's sentiment of it being a good place with a wink and a thumbs up. "Bluey could give you the complete tour and expert's guide on the kitchens." She tilted her head. "Though I hope the supply situation is stable still.. it's been under some strain." Kyra shrugged, and then got packed up for the road back to base, occasionally eyeing the weathered statues and lanterns along the way wondering if one day the roads can be restored and linked again..

(ooc: yes!)

V'Sena goes wherever she's supposed to on land...

The day of the big plan wasn't too dissimilar from the first day they were on the road. As before a big vehicle laden with supplies and packs of equipment was stopped somewhere in the outskirts at a bit of brush for cover. She was still in her casual outfit, not quite yet having figured out how to go about the upcoming bout of slaying.. but that could wait until she figured out what the whole approach was going to end up.

Kyra surveyed the spot a bit before taking attendance of who had come along to part of the land team.

"Alright now.. we're to create enough trouble that the aquatic team shouldn't expect enemies boarding that ship they're infiltrating. I propose we scour the forests and try to eliminate every robot the Outsider outpost deployed out here. With their eyes in the woods gone, they're bound to be investigating. Using the trees and brush to our advantage we'll fight as many as we can. That should commit all their focus on us and they'll forget all about that barge." Kyra smiled, seeming pleased with that train of thought.. but quirked a brow. "Unless.. any of you have a different idea?"

Having taken a nap during the day in order to prepare to work her enchanting under the moonlight at night Nalita mostly skied out on the activities other than eating that the others engage in.  Throughout the day she collected both her ritual components and the base items in need of upgrading, so far Greaves to be given Celestial Protection, and one Spear to be made into a Starblade, and one Great Blade to be made into a Starblade as well.

When the night falls and the moonlight becomes visible she begins by engaging in the Moon Goddess Ritual which makes the moonlight shine more brightly for anyone who is close enough to see the beginning of the Sa'Ruan Road, the open area at the edge of the compound being where Nalita picked for her impromptu staging ground.

Only after that is done dose Nalita begin the even more complicated process of applying permanent enchantments to the weapons in question.  Each item is set up on its own small table for her to easily move between them with the item and all its required parts prepared in advance.  The physical steps to enchanting are deceptively simple but the use of her magic draws part of the moonlight into the item through herself, causing all her own enchantments to glow sympathetically throughout the process.

Although not fast each enchantment doesn't take any longer than the initial ritual, when the third enchantment is complete the moonlight dims back to its normal level as if the extra power had been drawn away from it and into the now inscribed items where it still glows like iron cooling when drawn from a fire, although not hot to the touch it looks like it could be.

With her tasks done Nalita settles back into a simple deck chair set back away from the tables where she watches her work, and or gestures for those who arrive with the rising sun to take the items and test them out.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Tue 10 Dec.

V'Sena shook her head at Kyra.  "I defer to you in strategy.  Eliminating the invaders' ability to see us with their machines seems a wise approach though."


--

OOC: Before that, I guess?  Nalita's post seems to imply it happens before people meet up on the road.

Not wanting to interrupt, V'Sena had waited until Nalita had finished her work to approach.  Eyeing the items, she knew they were magical, but not how.  "What do these do, Nalita, is it?  I don't know if we made proper introductions.  I'm V'Sena from the Panthera to the north."

Magnesia drives up in a Landstrider, towing vehicles with foliage-camouflaged tarps. Turning off the engine, she hops out nude but for a pair of large goggles over a lion-headed torc, and her red hair is up in a simple ponytail. In a moment, she puts on a heavy dark blue apron with a small pack that fits between her shoulders. She buckled on her gunblade belt with their grips facing forward, ties the dagger sheath to her thigh, and slips on her wrist-bow. Magnesia then takes out of the Landstrider a weapon in the similitude of a rather long fish whose tail end sits on her right shoulder. She takes out a boxy satchel and approaches her sisters-in-arms.

"V'Sena, your battle dress uniform is my favorite. This mechanical device is called the Barracuda, and it shoots far, and it hits hard. Hopefully it hits the intended target with these small rockets."

"Glad to hear we're on one mind with that. Any volunteers for preliminary scouting? To fight the bots, we'll first need to find the bots.." Kyra chuckled lowly at herself.

Approaching Nalita she took a look at the table with various items. "Looks like you've been busy. Feeling alright to fight today?" She tossed a reassuring wink. "I doubt whatever enemies we throw down with will be too worrisome as long as we stick to tree cover and keep our wits about us."

Sure enough it appeared Magnesia showed up too.. with an odd looking weapon. "Shoots far and hits hard huh. Well, seems like the perfect day to test it out." Kyra had to admit she was curious how potent her mechanical know-how was.

Thew sun was but a forlorn patch of slightly-less dark horizon as the diving team was assembled by the seawolfie, having politely warned Sabine and Nino that they would need to get going whilst darkness still lingered, to make their snorkel-depth ride almost unseen, the Undertow needing to follow the shallows of the coast until they would get in sight of the ships position lights, saving battery power by surface travel. Once there, she explained to her co-divers, they could hide behind shoreline rocks until the sun dawn, bathing them in its blessed light for the battle, as well as removing the need for underwater lights which could betray their underwater approach.

Clad head to toe in her tight neoprene suit and hood, the now ear-less angelwolf gave the Undertow a last checkup for gear and the zipline she would be holding onto through out the journey, whilst her sisters squirmed into their own tight suits, Maruh having already double-checked the diving rigs, being the most experienced diver of the team. Then came her weapons check, hers being a rather simple load of a diving knife and her diving & biking dagger; though attached to her diving rig was the grenade Nino had built on the night of the mining camp raid, with a small foam padding wrapped around to avoid the rick of it clinking too hard...clearly not trusting Nino's instrument of destruction. Also notable were the various watch-like devices strapped to her wrists, the gazes they draw bringing a small smile "Watch, compass, sundial ♪" she explained, and though the first two's uses were obvious, the sundial's presence was more than dubious in regards to their mission "A plan backup, in dire need be used.♪ One preferred I'd usew not, but for the lived of yours I shall..♪" the pacifist wolf sighed cutely "Before beliefs come Sisters lives..♪" she added, a small timorous but reassuring smile upon her lips.

"Kyra another watch carries, time our attacks they will help. Upon the given time, from hiding along the shore's hideout under the water we dive,the inception within the hour we have, hell loose they unleash upon the base if seized the ship we have not.♪ Or if seized we have still cut loose the land team will our stealing the ship will cover.♫"

Time however wasn't eternal, and once prepped she slipped inte her scuba rig and tank, grabbing her mask, snorkel and fins, waiting for Sabine and Nino to gear up...Nino probably guzzling on the coffee she had brought. She chuckled nervously...Battle was not her forte, and definitely not her way of life. The spirits however had blessed them with the vision, and a key to its success. She could feel her heart hammering within her neoprene-compressed breast...She would entrust herself to the wisdom of the Island's spirits...and to the trust and capable hands of her Sisters.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:10, Tue 10 Dec.

"I'll scout ahead," V'Sena said to Kyra, confident in her abilities for stealth and observation.  She was about to say more when Magnesia pulled up and grinned when the woman hopped out nude.  "My uniform is ideal for stealth.  More might provide more protection, but it would also encumber me and make it harder to be quiet.  I have to ask the purpose of you wearing the apron, though."

She then eyed the 'Barracuda' for a moment.  "I'm not very good with such. Bows and spears and knives, I know but not these devices."

By the time the morning dawns Nalita has already distributed the greaves and spear to the underwater team that needed to depart early.   This leaves the land team to pick between the great blade and longbow, the choice fairly obvious.

”I will not be figting at all, that I will leave to you.  When there is need for magical support I can and will do that, and some of my magic may be able to help discover hidden or lost threats, but most of it is a good bit less useful until we need a bigger distraction than that.”

From that table she turns the Great Blade over to Kyra, the weight of just picking it up obviously quite difficult for her, even leaving the point of the sheathed blade on the table holding up the cross guard in both hands is all she can manage.

”If bows suit your style take this one, it is enchanted more for trick or precision shooting than for range or penetrating power, in those ways it should function like any normal bow.”

Along with her comment Nalita hands V'Sena the same bow she had on the beach the other day, clearly magical but at the moment at least it isn't glowing.

If scouting and locating the Recon Constructs is the current decision, here are the rules:

The area around the enemy outpost consist of four patches of forest where the constructs could be at, so that will be four total Perception rolls you have to succeed at a Difficulty of 16.

For each attempt you can try to roll Athletics 16 to utilize high ground and deftly travel the area, if it succeeds your scout perception roll goes up by 3. But if it fails you lose 1 HP from falling or getting banged up in some way.

For each attempt you can also try to roll Nature 16 to effectively navigate and use the jungle around you, if it succeeds your scout perception roll goes up by 3. But if it fails you lose 1 HP from taking cuts on foliage or some other hazard.

There is also the element of not getting caught. For each attempt roll Stealth 20 to ensure your cover wasn't blown. There are multiple recon construct tracks on the ground. If the stealth attempt failed you can choose to use the 3 boost from an athletics and nature roll for the stealth roll instead of the perception roll. If you failed you will encounter a Recon Construct, where you can choose to flee the area or fight (fighting will create noise).

Rather than go with the scouts Nalita performs a ritual of the third sight and shares with them what the visions show her.  While well known to be enigmatic there is a trend for such visions to be at least a little bit more helpful than confusing.

Nalita would need to venture out to use the altered sight as the ritual didn't extend one's vision outward from the body. But if time was taken to go wander around she would notice a few things.
Since machines didn't leave behind any kind of spiritual signature that ironically was a tell when the surroundings lush with forests and animal was bright and vivid with spiritual energy. Where the constructs went, animals big and small tended to avoid the area completely and even the lifeforce of some plants had the perception of shrinking away from the machines, so some areas had trails of tattered rifts in spiritual sight.

Passing by the advice, some might find it helpful to prioritize observing the natural life to find the mechanical targets than using conventional scouting rhetoric.

Instead of needing Perception 16 four times to find the machines, optionally you can now use Nature 14 four times instead.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:44, Tue 10 Dec.

"Best of luck."Kyra nodded her thanks to V'sena, and she suspected she wouldn't need much luck at all given that places like this used to be her backyard supposedly. "Mark what you find on a chart and we'll take a look when you return."

With Nalita stating she preffered to be on standby Kyra nodded. "If you feel that's best." She then blinked widely noticing the glowiness along the metal of the sword she'd been offered. "Wow! Check out the edge on this." Kyra took it in her hands, turning it over every which way and admiring the sharp gleam, particularly when angled against sunlight. "Could cause serious damage with this, thanks! Those machines oughta fold over like rainsoaked logs once we get the jump."

Looking less excited than Kyra, though no less impressed, Sabine stepped forward, hesitating slightly before reaching out and lifting her newly enchanted spear from the table along with the greaves. The glowing haft of the spear was cool to the touch but seemed to hum with a faint energy against her skin. She rotated it, the steel spearpoint glinting malevolently as it caught the silvery moonlight with which it was now infused - a weapon of vengeful Artemis; primal, cold and unyielding.

If only the blood of Outsiders could bring back the Great Reef, and all our dead girls…she thought sadly.

“Thank you, Sister - I will use it well,” Sabine offered a grateful bow to the enchantress before turning to the others. “Knock ‘em dead, ladies,” she said, mustering a smile for the land team before heading off with Marukha and Nino.

* * *
Later that morning…

Sabine crouched among the seaweed-draped boulders at their hiding place along the rocky shoreline, performing her own final checks of her diving rig and weapon slings as she idly listened to Wolfie go over their plan again…

“This is probably a stupid question, but why did you need both a sundial and a watch?” she asked, frowning a little in discomfort as she stuffed her sun-bleached blonde braid into the dark hood of her wetsuit. “Just for backup?”

She understood the main thrust of the plan pretty well – or at least, she thought she did, they’d gone over it so many times...At this point, she was mostly just making conversation...

Nino felt ready. Maybe it was the days of planning, could be the myriad of fancy new gadgets she carried with her, or perhaps it was the anticipation of what goodies they might find aboard the cargo ship. The reason didn't matter she supposed, with a mental shrug as she patted herself down one last time to make sure her toys were all there. She had only a vague idea of what to expect once on board, but that didn't worry her in the slightest. It probably should have, but she had a way of finding opportunity in chaos.

"To make sure we don't miss Elevenses!" Nino suggested facetiously to Sabines query about Maruhka's various time keepers. The thought made her wonder though, what kind of provisions would the Outsides have in the galley of the ship? She made a mental note to find out later, maybe around eleven.

With her own preparations complete, she pulled on her small scuba (except the mouthpiece) and mounted the Undertow. She admired the Undertow's newly added fins, courtesy of Mags, and they were even blue to match Nino! She hoped they wouldn't have to use them, but at the same time, she felt an itching in her palms as her hands took hold of the Undertow's handlebars. Looking back at Maruhka and Sabine, she simply nodded and waited for zero hour.

Earlier...

As the others spoke amongst themselves and checked their new gear, Magnesia walked over to V'Sena, reaching for her sleek dark hands with a toothy smile. "Good morning, V'Sena. It is an honor to join you on this mission. I-Oh! Haha!" She laughed her husky laugh rubbing cheeks in V'Sena's way. Then Magnesia released her hands for letting her thumbs rub the fine black fur of the powerful Panthera's hands.

"Ahem. Thank you for not slaying me. Your hair is incredibly nice to the touch. Ah, aye, my aprons! They're heavy enough leather to function as adequate armor for me, and they have pockets for any shinies I come across. Also, I think they're pretty on me as a half-dress. That... That's a joke. Anyway, gimmie a moment to brief the mermaids on my part of this mission." Magnesia excuses herself, tapping on the small maintenance kit secured to her upper back.

The redhead skips over to the twin-tailed Nino, tapping on her shoulder. "Good morning, Nino! I hope you slept well. So, I calibrated the Ice Fin mechanisms like you wanted. You can easily throttle and swing down the fins horizontally, and they'll lock in place no problem. Just remember that the Elements will trigger on then, so treat the leading edges like the large glowing magically dangerous things they are. You give those Outsider trash the dance of death with the Blade Swerve moves! Rawr, yes."

Magnesia holds a finger up towards Sabine and Maruhka to get their attention for a moment. Her husky voice goes up an octave as she speaks in an authoritative Sovereign cadence.
"So, we'll drive south and all the way around the known Outsider encampment and I'll back up Nino's Undertow into the water. If you come back with it, I can hook and winch it, and we drive back here. Now, I rigged up a simple board with fins and handholds for easy towing, even underwater. You will dive and surface together. Be cognizant of any debris the Ice Fins leave in their wake; there's only two small windshields I canned from broken Riptides to protect your sweet faces. Understood? Overstand.

Lastly, the Barracuda is waterproof, but not so easy to handle one-handed. Should you choose to take this stylish weapon to the barge, you will carry this pack containing only six missiles. Each missile is made to explode, so keep 'em locked or loaded! Use the strap to keep the Barracuda close as you load it. This is how it's loaded, behold!"

Magnesia holds her left arm straight out to her side and just uses her right hand, slipping the small metal casing holding the explosive ammunition over her head, so it hangs like a heavy necklace. She pantomimes the second strap that would go around the carrier's torso. She slings the barracuda-styled bazooka over, and the strap and stylized fins seem to help keep it in place. Magnesia flips the metal lid open and clutches a small, pointed oval shaped missile out by its ringed end. Magnesia slips it into the tail end of the Barracuda where it audibly clicks in. She points and lurches forward to show the rectangular piece that can be swung to the side and release the missile, which she easily retrieves and places back into the box. Her left arm is still held straight out to her side.

"Our ancestors caried the Sun Fire on foot and horseback over mountains and sent our enemies into an afterlife of flames! These are self-contained and require adequate impact to explode. The Undertow shielding will suffice. This is not a rifle, so it will be fired with the tail end past your shoulder. The cute fins on each side of the Barracuda flip open and they are effective crosshairs. However, bouncing on ocean waves might make it moot. Load, aim, pull the simple trigger, and Goddess willing, you will hit your intended target. That is, if you take the Barracuda with you to the barge. Hail Furiosa."

Soon, after deploying the Undertow and covering up their Landstrider with another large tarp decked out in the Ruan foliage...

Magnesia joins Kyra and V'Sena on their jaunt off the beaten and daylit path. Just before they scout in different directions, Magnesia slaps a mosquito off her thigh and says, "I know we haven't had much time to really get to know each other. The Sundering has kept me away from meaningful relationships with all the fix-it works Rua needs done. Anyway, years ago, I went to the holy temple and took a solemn vow of violence. So, when things get noisy for me, and they might, you two make damn sure our Amazons get back on land, barge or no barge. You leave my fate to the gods. If I am compromised, it is their blessed names I will call out to."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Wed 11 Dec.

Waist-high in water behind the rocks that provided cover for the dive team and the half-sunken Undertow, Maruh's ear-less hooded figure kept her gaze out to the rising sun, hands going through a motion in her morning prayer, humbly asking for the Spirits of Light to bless them through the day's endeavor, the questions asked left hanging for a minute of silence. Only once her focus returned from her pious prayer did she smile to both diving partners "Time with Kyra's eatch mine be, our inception and attack times thus coordinated...♪" her voice slightly timorous watching the numbers climb towards the moment they would commit to the inception.

The sundial clipped to her wrist was brought closer for her sisters to see its intricately-carved detail, the whole looking much ancient and ceremonial rather than a novelty curio "A foci, call it you may. Under Sun's blessing striding today we all are.♪ And trouble too big should ever find us, wrath and salvation from the Sun invoke I shall, safety yours defend I shall. ♫"A pause, glancing towards the dawn-light lined ship, checking the buckles of her rig, as opposed to her sisters she had favored the use of a full tank rather than Nino's ingenious small ones; something she had explained earlier was a safety in case unexpected longer underwater times dared to happen.

"Crucial help from both I will need...♪" once more forcing herself to speak slower, with a hint of guilt in her voice "As closer we'll get to the ship, very alert we must remain to spot both the mechanical guardians that will linger near the ship.♪ Once spotted, I need us to stop, and look about for any large sea life that might be around...namely, sharks.♫" she dropped the bomb in a way-too-calm voice. A finger raised to halt any replies, holding their agape gazes within her own. "If some haunt the waters, a ritual I shall perform, calling upon them to infest the waters guarded by the mechanical devices; catching much of their attention as to let us slip through to the ship, unmolested by our enemies's sentries.♫ Or have them attack the robots if needed.♪". She sighed, the guilt of having kept this detail of the plan out palpable. "You may admonish me later for not warning sooner...but I felt none would come had they known..♪" She glanced a bit sideways, then at the watch.

"Should sharks none be found, stealth direct attempt to the ship go on we will...And for no fighting hope.♪" nervousness bringing back her normal speech pattern "And fight if needed we shall.♪" A shiver of slight shame, halo peppered with sweatdrops "No upset felt will be if from this stepping back you do...♪ Nigh the time is to go...An hour for our inception we have, a havoc by Kyra's team launched upon hour's passing. ♪"

She stood ready, sighing after the confession, Magne's weapon tucked in the Undertow as she herself had declared earlier her lack of skill for firearms of any genre. It was the decisive moment, hoping she would not end up going alone after having kept the shark part out of her plan.

((OOC: Though none of her knives are enchanted, she'll be using that wetsuit she had perma-enchanted with +4hp days ago for this mission. And Nino's grenade of course. Aside her ritual kit and diving gear, that is all she brings ))
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Wed 11 Dec.

"A vow of violence huh.." Kyra replied with a look of musing to what Magnesia spoke of. "Sounds pretty serious. Well.. perhaps it'd be best if I kept you tucked away for any scouting phases. Once we get some targets we'll set you loose. Sound good?" She had to smile some at the whole idea of it. That redhead sure was full of surprises.. "And don't you worry, I think we've planned this whole out well enough that no one should be in any serious danger. Weeks from now a thing like this be routine clockwork."

With that she took a cursory glance at the timekeeper Maruhka gave her. The conditions for when they were to take action seemed a little too oddly specific for her but she shrugged.. perhaps the floof ear had her good reasons.