* As Kyoko runs away from the puppet corpses, they eventually hit the back wall of the room. Before them is another door. If they wanted to further abandon their allies, Kyoko was free to open the door, though this would mean proceeding further into the manor.* * Nanoha’s Axel Shooter does it’s job perhaps too well. The blasts pass through the corpses, tearing them apart. The tentacles inside them disconnect to save themselves from the carnage, leaving them vulnerable to future attack* Don't worry. I like spicy food. *The voice laughs as Faye tries to inflict fear on dead bodies. However, due to the fact they are both dead and also dismembered, it fails.* * Kali’s whip would successfully strike the farming tools from the Puppet Body Bs. The bodies make no effort to pick them back up, leaving them as Puppet Body As with straw hats.* * As Sophia casts Berserk, she would find none of the bodies affected. From above, the voice laughs.* Let me guess. Ya were trying to control one of the bodies that is both dead and already being controlled. Ya ain’t the first, but it always cracks me up. Man, human logic sure is ass backwards if they think that’ll work. --Player Phase-- Team A: Kyoko runs in a direction Nanoha’s attack wipes out Puppet Body A and Puppet Body B Faye creates a dark void Team B Kali Hits her targets Sophia’s targets are unaffected. Team A: Nanoha: 100% Faye: 100% Kyoko: 100% Tentacle (Both): 10% Team B: Kali: 100% Sophia: 100% Puppet Body A (Both): 15% Puppet Body A with hats (Both): 10% * On the first floor, the two bodies are completely decimated, that parts blown off and scattered around the room. All that remains of them is the two tentacles that had tried to control them.* * On the second floor, the four bodies are made to stifle advance. Three of the bodies pay attention to Kali, swinging their fists at the most apparent threat, while another slips past and charges at Sophia.* --Enemy Phase-- Team A: Puppet Body A: Disconnect (Transform into tentacle) Puppet Body B: Disconnect (Transform into tentacle) Team B Puppet Body A with hat: Swing (Target: Sophia) Puppet Body A: Swing (Target: Kali) Puppet Body A with hat: Swing (Target: Kali) Puppet Body A: Swing (Target: Kali)

* The outside of the manor seems calm enough. The trees blow in a slight breeze and birds can be heard chirping as sun begins to set, turning the sky orange. The way around the manor seems to be blocked off. Unkempt grass, weeds and roots block your passage around the sides of the manor, drawing you to the door. The windows seem to be tinted, preventing you looking in. The Manor itself seems to be just two stories and perhaps an attic. Even so, it was large enough to loom over you, filling the area with shadow. The only way to go was through the front door.*

*Nanoha's scan would find that the entire manor would be filled with strange, magical readings. A strange, large and weirdly distorted reading at the back end of the second floor.* *As Kali pushes at the door, she feels resistance, as if some force was pushing back. She still manages to open the door and allow everyone else to venture inside.* *As you enter the entryway of the manor, you would immediately notice how wrong everything was. From the second floor, darkness seemed to seep down to greet you. Everywhere you look, snaking down the banisters, covering the walls, even burrowing under the floor boards, were long, black, thorn covered vines. They seemed to be made not of actual plant life but of the shadows itself. The door slams shut after everyone is inside. Looking at the door, you can see the same vines are grown over them, explaining the resistance from before. The vines cover the back of the door in such away that it can be pushed open but cannot be opened from inside the manor due to the vines covering over the handles. Across the ground, you may notice bodies. Tens of them. They looked like villagers or farm hands. They looked as if the life had been sucked out of them, leaving them as withered, skeletal corpses. As you look around, a voice echoes around the room.* Man, the villagers love to send me more souls, don't they? Heh. Knew dis was a perfect place ta crash. I wonder how long yous'll last. High score is 2 days. *The voice laughs mockingly.*<div class='edited'>(edited by Briar_Rose)</div>

* Kali’s attack shred through all the Puppet Bodies in the area. Two of them fall apart, leaving only the tentacles controlling them. The ones without hats stay standing due to taking less damage earlier.* * Sophia’s heal fills the area with holy energy. The energy burns the collapsing body of one of the zombies with a hat though it stops short of hurting the two remaining corpses around Kali. If Sophia and Kali had taken damage, it would have healed them.* *Nanoha’s bind freezes the tentacles in place, leaving them helpless against Faye’s attack. As they are struck, the vanish into a dark mist that soon vanishes.* Not bad. Welp, guess I can be cordial now. Enjoy your safe zone. * The dark haze in the room lifts, floating towards the second floor, which it continues to cover. The lights in the room flicker to life, giving everyone in it a full view of everything. The tendrils that still blocked the front door looked as strong as ever, however the others attatched to the wall and wrapped around the pillars and banisters in the entry hall seemed to shrivel in the light. You could see three doors now. One on each wall, two small ones to the right and left with the largest being on the back wall as the door under the balcony above which clicks shut with Kiyoko passing through it. Sounds of fighting can be heard from up the stairs, though it’s up to you if you want to help your comrades who went up or keep pushing forwards to join with Kyoko.* That was just a warm up though. I do hope you don't think it's all gonna be so easy. Nyah ha ha. *Kyoko passes through the door at the back, being met with more darkness. From the middle of the new room, a growling can be heard. A large dog like beast can just barely be seen gnawing on the bones of one of a fallen warrior. It looks up as it hears the door click shut with red eyes. The bone falls from its mouth as it looks upon Kyoko like she was a new meal.*<div class='edited'>(edited by Briar_Rose)</div>

Uh. Um. Ah. Uh, Yeah. Um uh, hello? You’re… um… y-y-you’re really just… ya just gonna… Uh hey? Are… Are you… Are you even listenin to me? He-Hello? *The voice can do nothing but stammer as Kali and Sophia go upstairs and Nanoha begins firing at the vines around the room. Some of the vines retract but are quickly replaced by others.* Yeah. OK then. You do that. *As Kali and Sophia reach the top of the stairs, they come across another large door and a number of bodies before it. The area is short but looking over the stairs down in the room below shows how dark the area is. You can barely see you’re other allies below you, except from the random bursts of light from Nanoha’s attack lighting up the area. Fayes feeling would bring back strangely nothing. It was if the darkness didn't exist and yet you could see it plainly. As she talked, the voice would groan.* Well, at least someone willin to talk. Over the months I've been here, I've written a script of how things go, y'know? Questions and answers, you know? &quot;Who are you: You're gonna be dead soon, so I ain't sayin.&quot; &quot; What do ya want: Ya souls. Why do ya want em: Why do humans need food?&quot; Ya get me? Well, whatever. Guess It's time to test the new blood. *The voice chuckles. On the bottom floor, a crack can be heard as two of the corpses are pushed up into the air by some of the vines. They are lowered to the ground and stand, glaring at the party. One of them is nothing but a simple villager while the other brandishes a pitchfork. On the second floor, the same would happen as the four corpses rise from the ground, looking for a fight. Two of the bodies are unarmed but the other two carry farming equipment of some sort as makeshift weaponry.* Don't die too quick. It would ruin my mood. -Battle Begin. Player Phase- Team A Foes (Lower Floor: Nanoha, Faye, Kyoko) Puppet Body A Puppet Body B Team B Foes (Second Floor: Kali, Sophia) Puppet Body A X2 Puppet Body B X2 OOC: For my convenience, please add an action with move name, element of the move (Fire, Physical, Almighty, etc) and the severity of the move (Light, Medium, Heavy, etc) Also add number of times hit and any added effect the move may have. I'll keep track of HP values, so dn't worry about that. K. Thanks. Bye.

--Player Phase-- Team A: Nanoha Binds the Tentacles Faye strikes down the Tentacles Team B: Kali blows wooden spikes out of her armour Sophia heals Kyoko: Kyoko moves on and runs into another foe Team A: Nanoha: 100% Faye: 100% Kyoko: 100% Tentacle (Both): Defeated -- Team A Battle End-- Team B: Kali: 100% Sophia: 100% Puppet Body A (Both): 5% Tentacle (Both): 10% Kyoko: Kyoko: 100% Nightmare Beast: 50% * The two remaining corpses continue to mindlessly attack Kali, uncaring that it wouldn’t actually do anything. The two other bodies fall apart, revealing the tentacles within.* *The Nightmare Beast rises up from it's place on the ground and fills the room with an earsplitting howl, filling the air with a sense of dread.* --Enemy Phase-- Team B: Puppet Body A: Swing (Target: Kali) Puppet Body A: Swing (Target: Kali) Puppet Body A with hat: Disconnect (Turns into Tentacle) Puppet Body A with hat: Disconnect (Turns into Tentacle) Kyoko: Nightmare Beast: Feral Howl (Moderate chance to inflict Fear to all foes)<div class='edited'>(edited by Briar_Rose)</div>

* As Faye walked up the stairs and back into the dark haze above, she’d be able to see the fight going on from the slight sparks in the air as Kali shocks the puppets causing them to fall limp.* Aw whatzamatter mumbles? You ain’t scared of my powers already are ya? We ain’t even gotten into the real monsters yet. These are just the appetizers to the banquet. Speaking of a banquet, yous have powerful souls goin on. So full of life and resistance. Ah ha ha ha. I can’t wait ta chow down. * Meanwhile, Nanoha slips into the darkened main hall of the manor. In the darkness, if she squinted, she might be able to see movement as Kyoko summons her spear and plunges it into the beasts eye. The beast snarls in pain, backing away before glaring at Kyoko in rage.* I take it ya ain’t a dog person then. --Player Phase-- Team A Faye joined the party Sophia stands by Kali electrocutes two dead bodies Faye: 100% Sophia: 100% Kali: 100% Tentacles (All): 10% Team B Nanoha joined the party Kyoko stabs the Beasts eye Kyoko: 100% Nanoha: 100% Nightmare Beast: 35% * The last of the tentacles are disconnected from the respective corpses, leaving just 4 tentacles swinging in the air. The two that recently disconnected seem stunned from being suddenly thrust back into the open air. The other two however have gotten over the fatigue and swing wildly, whipping at the three opposing them.* * The Beast rears up onto its hind legs and howls before leaping into the air at Kyoko, it’s rage driving it’s assault. It’s claws radiate a strange dark energy before slashing at Kyoko and returning to the ground on all fours, it’s last remaining eye glowing in the darkened room.* --Enemy Phase-- Team A Puppet Body A: Disconnect (Turns into Tentacle) Puppet Body A: Disconnect (Turns into Tentacle) Tentacle: Whip (Light Physical Damage to all foes) Tentacle: Whip (Light Physical Damage to all foes) Team B Nightmare Beast: Nightmare Driver (Heavy Physical Damage to one foe. Severe if foe is afflicted with Fear. Target: Kyoko)<div class='edited'>(edited by Briar_Rose)</div>

* Kali electrocutes the tentacles, causing them to writhe around and vanish into shadows. The haze around the balcony dissipates as well, allowing you to see everything. You can peer over the balcony behind you to see the first floor. Before you lies a large ornate set of double doors that the tentacles seem to have been guarding. However, far to the right, once hidden by the darkness, is a smaller door. The voice seems to have gone silent as well. Perhaps it can’t access the brightened up rooms? Or is it just pretending that is the case? Either way, the only way to go is through one of the doors or back downstairs.* * The beast howls in pain as first almighty damage strikes it and then it’s side is struck by Kyoko’s spear. With a low growl, the wolf glares at it’s too opponents with it’s one eye. Even so, it’s shaking seems to suggest it’s not going to last much longer.* --Player Phase-- Team A Kali kills the remaining tentacles Sophia heals the party Faye stands by -Battle FInish- Team B Kyoko stabs the beast Nanoha knocks the beast back with almighty energy Team A Kali: 100% Sophia: 100% Faye: 95% Team B Kyoko: 85% Nanoha: 100% Nightmare Beast: 5% * Ushering the last of its strength, the beast raises up on its hind legs. It’s growls lowly before letting out a powerful howl. Kyoko and Nanoha would find themselves buffeted by a strong wind current caused by the howl.* --Enemy Phase-- Team B Nightmare Beast: Magarula (Medium Wind damage to all foes)

*As Kali and, assuming they follow, her comrades move on to the next room, passing through the smaller door off to the side, they hear the voice sigh.* Ya know. I think ya really underestimating how much I actually care, Red. But whatever. You, Mumbles and Bird Brain do whateva. I’ll be eatin ya souls by the days end anyway. * Team A enter to find the same dark haze obscuring their view. Around them seems to be a series of tall shelves stacked with tightly crammed books. Between the shelves is a series of slim metal walkways and hand rails wrapped in the dark tendrils. Most of these walkways ended with dead ends blocked by more shelves but a single one ending with a spiral staircase down to the floor below. Only one area has a solid floor, the balcony area the group arrives on, which leads across the length of the room to another door at the far end. Before you can even move, a growling can be heard. Red eyes glow in the darkness. Between you and the door on the far side of the room as a black mess of black fur and red stained teeth. Noticing the new prey it lets out a short bark. A screech echoes out in response and the sound of leathery wings can be heard. Emerging from the forest of shelves, a bat like silhouette can be seen. Both beasts look like they aren’t going to let you move on without a fight.* --Battle Begin: Team A-- Nightmare Beast Nightmare Gargoyle

* Meanwhile, as Kyoko and Nanoha finish of the Nightmare Beast, causing the monster to dissolve into dark mist similar to the tentacles from earlier, the mist in the room clears. The warped room clears as the beasts den returns to what it once looked like before the demon keeping you here. arrived. What remains is a corridor leading down a hall of mostly boarded up and otherwise sealed off rooms. At the far side of the room, up a set of stairs, is a door, beautifully gilded with figures of mystical animals and fancily dressed people singing and dancing under the light of the room. Just past the grand door is a much smaller, less conspicuous one. Gnarled wood and a low frame would make you have to duck to enter it. Only two doors in the corridor are free to open. Nanoha may notice the similar position of the rooms to the doors in the grand entry hall. Do you go further or do you return to your allies so you can all explore together.* * As both groups decide where they would move on too, a small whistling can be heard along with bad singing. It’s probably bad on purpose.* Que Sera Sera. Whateva will be will be. Da future's not ours ta see. Que Sera Sera. What will be will be. * The entity laughs mockingly.* Seems ya guys have already conquered three areas in my little abode. Just lettin ya know, five is the average. But, don’t let me distract ya with talks of the many, and I do mean MANY, adventurers who have come through here and failed to ever even… Ah. No. I’ll leave ya guessin. But yous gonna see it soon enough. I wanna watch your face drain of colour when you see it. It’s the best part. <spoiler>OOC: Just letting you know, for future fights, I’m cutting out the visible percentage HP values I’ve been using until at least the final boss. I’ll just keep track of them. Well, at least for the beasts of the manor. You can keep track of your own HP. Also, you guys don’t have to be as accurate with your descriptions. In other words, yes I am stealing from Liam now. If it doesn’t work, I’ll go back at the final boss as I said, but I want to give it a try. <b><span class="through">HAPPY NOW MONA!</span></b> </spoiler>