11700/JLD Training Session: Arqa Block

JLD Training Session: Arqa Block
Date of Scene:	01 July 2022
Location:	The Velvet Room - Training Room
Synopsis:	The JLD climb further floors of the Tartarus Training Program in the Velvet Room, culminating in a battle with mobile tables and a statue. And then somehow Elizabeth knows about Rien's problem with mirrors...
Cast of Characters:	Jonathan Sims, Cael Becker, Daniel Ketch, Chas Chandler, Robbie Reyes, Rien D'Arqueness

---

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    A few days after the JLD went through the High Priestess door, Elizabeth--the blonde haired, golden-eyed woman dressed in the uniform of an elevator attendant--appears to a few people in the Velvet Room to inform them that the next block of the Tartarus training program has been unlocked. So it is that a group of them--some alerted by others--troop into the Velvet Room on a Friday to train together and climb further up the tower.

    "So I've been talking to Elizabeth," Jon says as they all enter, "which is... an interesting experience, if anyone wants to try sometime." He gestures toward the door set in the clock face partway up the set of stairs in the middle of the circular room that is Tartarus' "lobby." "Evidently the door there will take you back to the highest level reached, so all you need do is head on up the stairs and you'll be back on the 15th floor. I'll stay down here like I did last time."

    They don't summon up circlet and wings this time, just a set of screens in front of them to keep an eye on the group while they're traversing the floors of this strange tower. "Good luck," they add.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "So. I'm supposed to work //with// the team and not recklessly put myself in danger this time - right?" Cael remarks in a dry, somewhat sheepish tone. "Axe, please. And two pistols, and an assault rifle." As the items appear, she begins arming herself - hanging the axe at her waist, slinging the assault rifle over her shoulders, and holstering the pistol at her hips. She's dressed in her usual lightly armored combat fatigues as she waits for the rest of the team to prepare themselves.
    Nodding to Rien, she adds, "You taking the lead, again?"

Daniel Ketch has posed:
Daniel only wanted a drink, really. Well, and maybe ask some questions about Phoebe. But since he arrived in time for a 'training session', he signed up like a trooper (or maybe like a fool).

He blinks slowly as Cael arms herself. "Really? What are we going to be fighting?" He looks up, "you know, I don't think the other guy has trained a day in his life. If he shows up, he will probably just walk, grumbling about vengeance this or that."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    "They're called Shadows..." Chas replies, watching Cael arm herself to the teeth. "Normally they look like mobile pools of darkness wearing masks. But they can transform into... pretty much anything you can think of." He is dressed as usual: jeans, boots, v-neck tee (in forest green this time). He looks stronger today than most. Bolstered by something, perhaps the sunny days have been kind to him. It wouldn't be too hard to conceive given his angelic body. Though it could be a trick of the light in this entry hall.

    He raises his hand to call the sword of holy flame to his grasp and pauses. Cael. Robbie. Daniel. He scowls and sighs with a shake of his head. He takes a few steps from the gathered crew and looks up at the ceiling of the vaulted room before asking, "And chance I can get a greatsword?" The oversized weapon appears and he instinctively wraps his hand around the hilt. It shouldn't be lifted with one hand but he does so with undeniable ease and gives it a few experimental swings. Seeming content with the balance, he focuses and a dim blue light surrounds the sword itself. A measure of his increased ability, to imbue the weapon with his own angelic power.

    "I know each of you Riders are a different breed, but this is an exercise in teamwork..." he says to Daniel. "If Robbie over there can work with the team while Ghosted up, I'd expect you to do the sa--" He pauses as if the nature of his words are dawning on him. He glances to Rien and sighs. "Sorry. Sometimes it just rolls off the tongue." He inclines his head to the Frenchwoman, ceding leadership abilities (of the team and the group) to her.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Training time wasn't at the top of Robbie's list of Things I Want To Do Today. But with Rien saddling up and heading over, what was he going to do? Stay home and watch the ball game?

She's treated, instead, to him grumbling about *missing* the ball game, on their way over. The young man is in his usual shredded jeans, dark hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, and scuffed combat boots. And enough ink and piercings to do a metal band proud. "You better watch yourself," he tells Daniel when he spots the other Ghost Rider. Then immediately shuts up when Chas begins to speak about teamwork. No additional weapons for him; his body is weapon enough. Literally, considering he can create hellfire chains from it.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien simply ignores the grumbling, because this is CLEARLY better than some slow, boring, grueling game that lasts an inexplicable THREE HOURS.

So while Robbie grumbles, Rien simply nods to Cael, then looks to Chas with an amused smile, "You know. We -are- still looking for a third leader, Chas..." Then she's chuckling and looking towards Robbie and Daniel, "But he's right. Grumble, bitch, whine all you want. When it's go time, we work together or I'll send you out of the training room myself." Yep. She just threatened two fully grown men with a Time Out. Turning back to Cael, she smiles, "Glad to see you back. If anything starts getting rough, say something. I'd rather pull back and give you a breather than push things too far."

Then she's turning to Jon with a nod, "Sounds like a plan. Do we have any information on what we can expect to see, or do we just have to go in blind?" Not that that's going to stop this group. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, Rien lets the foot long claws extend out from her hands, that light blue glow lining them. Stepping up to Cael, she reaches out to touch the assault rifle, giving it a faint blue glow as well, like her claws, "I don't want anyone going in without something magical or otherworldly as a backup. The enchantment will fade when we're done."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon smirks at Chas briefly, then raises a brow at Rien, thoughtfully. Hmm. Questions of leadership are for later, though. Glancing to Robbie and Daniel, he adds briefly, "Lest you think she can't do it, I'll back her. Play nice."

    Then he looks to the screens, on which there's a flickering picture of purplish walls and floors. "It looks like there's more floors until a barrier this time, and more difficult enemies. I'm fairly certain the way it all looks has changed. Otherwise... I'll have a clearer picture once you're up there."

    They gesture toward the door, which bears a large '15.' "If you need an exit, just let me know."

Cael Becker has posed:
    As Rien approaches, there's just a touch of wariness to her exprssion and posture - though it fades as she puts the blessing on her gun. She offers a nod, then moves towards Jon, giving them a brief kiss. "See you in a bit." She flashes him a smile as she adds, "I'll try to play nice."
    This message delivered, she waits no time starting for the way up to the door - Though she pauses once she reaches it to remark, "I should be in the mdidle again, I take it?"

Daniel Ketch has posed:
"I am all for teamwork," replies Daniel with a sigh. "I'd like a shotgun too," and there it is one for him, out of the air. He narrows his eyes. But the bar produces whiskey, so he can't complain and say he 'hates magic' or the usual lines. Shotgun it is.

"But even Blade thinks the Rider is a shitty partner," he adds. And if anyone knows Blade, well, that is a rather low bar. Robbie at least has some control over Eli. But Noble is a completely different person and he doesn't really chat with Daniel. "Lets do this..." he walks through the door, no problem being first.

Anything that doesn't kill him will make him stronger, right, and potentially summon a Spirit of Vengeance and everyone will be sorry. In fact, anything that kills him might do exactly the same.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas gives Rien and Jon both a look at the prospect of him being placed in a leadership role. He doesn't want it. Not really. But part of him feels a responsibility for these people that is greater than anything he -wants-. It's a discussion for a later date though. He steps up the stairs after Daniel. "With that rifle... probably best, Becker" he says as he shoulders the massively oversized sword.

    "Just try not to catch anyone in the crossfire with the street sweeper" he says to the Rider he knows the least. "And if you turn... I'll be there to stop you long enough for them to get you out." His tone is flat and confident. It's probably not posturing either. The angelic energies flowing in his body are likely one of the few powers that can stand up to the Ghost Riders. The ancient struggle of Heaven and Hell cancel each other out nicely. He follows the man on through into the tower proper and whatever trials await them with the second block.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"Cael, stay near me so I can throw a shield on you if need be. Watch my back. Robbie, Daniel, you guys are going to be our heavies. Go in first, draw fire, take down everything you can. Chas, you're with the Hell Twins. Tank anything that gets past them and yeah, if one of them goes off the rails, keep it contained until Jon and I can get them out." Rien is already moving towards the door as she speaks. She glances to Cael and smiles, "You don't have to be close-close, just stay within 6 feet so we can keep each other covered."

Then she's ushering everyone through the doors and back int othe 15th floor. Chas gets an aside, "I'm going to take more of a support role in this one until I'm needed. Keep people healed and kite the baddies so they don't flank us, that sort of thing. If things start getting too intense, then I'll teleport everyone out and we can regroup and reassess. I need you to keep an eye on the Riders. I think we can trust Daniel and Robbie, but their others not so much."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie's all too aware of the threat Chas poses to him. And, no doubt, to Danny as well. He might be an impetuous, overconfident ass at times, but calling an angel's bluff isn't something he's itching to do.

"I've got vanguard," he announces, striding through the door just behind Rien and fanning out to take point. "Ain't met him," he tells Danny conversationally, in regards to Blade. "But he's probably got the right idea." He eyes the other Rider's gun, then refocuses on keeping his eyes forward as they head up.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    The group first arrives on the floor where they'd fought the final fight last time. There's no evidence of enemies there, nor on the next level up, which is a flat space with a gate between them and the stairs up. As they approach the gate rises, allowing them to mount the stairs to the next floor.

    The 17th floor, the beginning of Arqa Block, is... different. The walls and floors are now purple and black, in a pattern something like fancy wallpaper, embellished with faces. Indeed, faces large and small stare at the group from the walls, identical and expressionless, mouths a hard line. The larger ones protrude from the walls a bit. There are tiny windows that let in purplish light, and in some places what look to be black cords run along the floors.

    The musical theme that had played in the background throughout Thebel block begins to play again as they arrive, more filled out now, with piano backing and a more definite beat behind the electronic melody. Shadows roam the corridors, and the team will find them both more varied and more powerful. There are birds and floating tiaras and floor-blobs with masks, still, but also crosses bearing scales, chained lions, /tables/ that sprout arms and attack. There are creatures that appear as a pair of dancers without heads, a heart floating in the air between them, the "male" carrying a rapier. They attack as one. Dark beings with cloaks and lanterns strike at the party with magic, mobile hands with masks slap people, and from time to time they run into what look to be large burly blonde men in black bodysuits who prove incredibly tough to everything but lightning and holy energy.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael is silent as they make their way up - seeking their foes, sticking close to Rien and with her assault rifle in a ready position, but aimed downwards given the temporary lack of foes. But as the shadows, and dancers and- //tables//?! close in on them, she brings the weapon to bear, firing off controlled bursts with a determined mask on her features.
    "Why does this shit just keep getting weirder and weirder?" she asks.
    She sees relaxed and confident - until one of the blonde men starts closing on her, shrugging off her bullets like they were hail. "Shit. This one doesn't seem at all vulnerable to weapon's fire. Who's got another idea?" she asks. Sh backs away from it, turning her weapon on a 'sentient' table instead - ready to drop it and draw her axe if the thing continues to close on her.

Daniel Ketch has posed:
"Is that... elevator music?" Because, seriously, that makes perfect sense for the weirdness of the situation. "Yeah... this is messed up," Daniel agrees with Cael. They are attacked by furniture, birds and head ornaments? He shoots down a couple tiaras with murderous intentions, then misses a vulture-like bird, which slashes at his face before he can smash it with the butt of the weapon.

That gets him a nasty cut at the cheek and an angry Spirit of Vengeance that wants out. The big blonde demands his attention, though. And Daniel goes for a shoot to the knee, because maybe he is real and he has some aversion to killing.

It barely has any effect, though. "Crap..." Ok, shoot to the face, it is. Maybe it will work!

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas is efficient in his continued assault of the fiends that hound him. He cuts a swath through them, shoving some aside and making others dodge his onslaught so that the slew of weaponry behind him can cut them down. But in the heat of battle formations get strained. He finds himself separated as he smashes through a table with a kick that could shatter concrete to powder and notes that the large hulk of a man is advancing on Cael and Daniel.

    Blue fire, like that of hypersized stars, erupts in his eyes as he charges and the roar of the Dominion is triumphant and commands attention. As the brute turns to engage him he runs the blade through it, taking a beating from the massive arms that rock him and bruise his features. Still he holds fast, pouring more and more Holy flame into the creature. "Just... die... already..." he grits out. A kick sends him flying back, but the deed is done and the flame consumes the monster is a conflagration of blue and white, letting his sword clatter to the ground amidst black motes of energy that disperse and vanish.

    He rises and collects his blade before nodding to Cael and Daniel. "We keep on. Let's go..." he moves to engage more that come. There is always more.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Doing his best to tune out the music, Robbie peels left as they reach the black and purple of Arqa block, a black-clad shadow amongst many. He snatches one of the birds right out of the air, crushing it to pieces. A cloaked and lanterned creature is hurled into the wall with enough force to banish it, and the vulture-thing that's taking another swoop at Daniel is caught and torn in half with a growl of, "Watch your back, man."

He turns sharply to spot the big, naked guy in the underwear advancing on Cael. Danny puts a couple of shots into its leg, to little effect; but then Chas swoops in with that damnable blade of his to make short work of it, causing the young man shy to away reflexively from his Light.

It causes him to get slapped by what looks like -- and is -- a disembodied hand. "Fuck you," he grouses at the bruise that blooms, and instantly begins to fade. "That fuckin' hurt." The hand is slapped back. Hard enough to send it winging into the opposite wall and exploding.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien is staying back to help bolsster up everyone while they work on dismantling the constructs in the hall. She throws a hand out and a light shimmer appears in the air before Cael, a shield that seems to rotate around her to wherever it's needed most, when the large... Heel Camp Reject starts lumbering towards her. "Keep it up guys, we got this!"

None of the guns seem particularly effective, so she starts assessing the creature for weak points, calling back to Jon, "Jon! Information on the big metal wrestler? Weaknesses, vulnerabilities?" It's hard to say if its the holy or the fire of Chas' attack that does it... or just straight up brutal force. In either case, she darts forward, touching Daniel's shotgun, then Cael's assault rifle. Flames begin to flicker out the barrels of both guns and she calls out, "Try those, if we need to switch it up, we'll reasses."

Robbie, she calls up a long chain with what looks like a kama on the end and winks at him, "Light it up, babe. Just remember, no friendly fire." And she moves forward to slice through a few more of the animate objects and masked shadow-blobs as they hunt for the door. "Everyone, keep eyes for the door!"

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "Looks like... electricity and holy magic?" Jon relays. He relays other weaknesses as well, as he can find them.

    As the group climbs the floors and navigates the maze of corridors, the flow of enemies is not exactly constant. It's more than they see a pool of shadow on the floor and attack--although once or twice the shadows get the jump on them. There are even a couple of floors that seem to be devoid of enemies. This does not come across as a good thing, though; Jon's voice comes through to them all with a worried tone on those floors. "No enemies, but I have a bad feeling... you'd better find the stairs quickly." They do, fortunately, even if they can hear chains rattling in the distance the second time. Whatever was coming for them, Jon seems relieved they don't run into it.

    This is the way things are for a while. They arrive on a floor, navigate twists and turns that are sometimes confusing and make no sense, a maze that turns in on itself. They fight enemies, with musical backing. Eventually they find a staircase and head up to the next floor. The expanse for which they do this is longer than it was in Thebel block--they're at the 30th floor before Jon says, "I'm starting to sense a larger presence above you... probably a final fight before the next barrier, like last time. I think it's on the... 36th? So maybe pause and look everyone over once you find the stairs on Floor 35."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael's in better shape this time - though there's a few times she drops her rifle to draw her axe, and bring the fight to some of the creatures in a more close and personal way, for the most part she holds back and relies on her ranged weapons, and allows Rien to cover her. It could be she's simply trying to make up for her behavior the last time - or maybe it's just the genuine good sense of the tactic.
    Despite her change of heart, a few of the ranged attackers in the Arqa Block managed to tag her - one of them scoring a nasty blast at her left leg that leaves her limping, while one of the dancing pairs manages to twirl around a corner at her, slashing with the sword, and scoring an injury on her back before she turns abruptly to fire off several flaming bursts with her rifle.
    "Well. I think we're almost there," she remarks entouragingly, though she does sound a little out of breath.

Daniel Ketch has posed:
Daniel shotgun is now doing considerable more damage, so he is firing at anything that moves, the sounds of his shoots drowning the 'elevator music'. Birds, weird dancing headless people, and even a lion! The last one almost lands on him after somehow sneaking through a bunch of running tables.

The shotgun shouldn't be that good against kicking tables, but thanks to Rien's spells, it actually does a decent work. Watch out the splinters. "Almost there? Almost where? This place is crazy," protests the young man.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas focuses on engaging as many foes at once as he can. Being a man of significant height and weight, that's not hard. Having the physiology of the Heavenly Hosts is just extra icing on the proverbial cake. He's doing his job as "tank" admirably though. Redirecting and positioning foes, despite injurries suffered in order to allow the handiwork of Daniel, Cael, and Robbie to make quick work of them with Rien's enchantments.

    "Each of these blocks comes with a barrier after a significant time" he explains to Daniel. "It stops our progress and stays that way until we tranverse the next phase of the Journey of the Fool. The three stained glass windows you saw in the main hallway." A pair of dancers is sheared in twain by an effort of brute force. "Empress should be next but no telling when that one will show up. Everything here is procedural but the schedule is unlike anything I've ever seen."

    He corals a lion before him and bashes it over the head witht he pommel of his sword before dropping to a knee to let one of the four behind him turn it into motes of darkness. Turning a concer he finds another set of stairs. "Onward and upwards" he says taking the sloping stairs two at a time with heavy, determined strides.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The kama-tipped chain gets a quizzical look from Robbie, then a nod. It'll do for now, though the weight's not quite what he's used to. Rien's treated to his pierced tongue stuck out at her, when she reminds him about the friendly fire-- then he's whipping around to continue the fight. Quick, sleek, and utterly savage in contrast with Chas's chained brutality, it's one of his knives that wings through the space the angel's head just occupied, slicing the lion's head right off in a shower of darkness.

Owing to his incredible endurance, the lean young man looks to have plenty of energy in reserve by the time they reach the 30th floor. He's got Rien's chain wrapped around one forearm, pulled taut around his wrist and knuckles to create a studded 'glove' of sorts.

Noting Cael's injuries, he pulls in closer to her, noting in a low voice, "I'm gonna try to keep 'em off you, okay?" He tries to catch Rien's eyes as he speaks, to indicate that Cael needs her healing.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien nods to Jon's information and infuses the weapons once again, adding an electrical effect in addition to the fire. Even Robie's chain will crackle with it, allowing any of them the ability to help take down the bigger 'bads'. Rien herself sticks to throwing up shields or pulling/pushing an enemy away from one of the group so they can deal with whatever threat is in front of them. She throws a blast of energy at a duo of tiaras that whirl towards Cael, then smile at the woman when Cael's AR takes down a table that was coming for her.

She notes the injuries Cael takes, and nods to Robbie when they reach the 30th floor. A wave of her hand, a brief glow of that blue energy, and the wounds vanish, knit back together with the warmth of magic. Rien looks over the others, trying to assess for any injuries they might have sustained, then offers, "Last push. We need to get past the boss. It's going to be harder than the first one, so be on your toes." Looking to Daniel, Rien offers, "Be ready for something that's going to push you to release your Rider. Let him take over if you need to, we can keep him from hurting anyone else."

She looks to Chas and grins, "Lead on, MacDuff! And keep your eyes peeled. Whatever's coming is NOT going to be fun." She may already be starting to low-key channel energy that can be put into an attack once they reach the Big Bad.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    The 36th floor is much simpler than those before it, just like the 15th floor had been. An empty space, with a portal back down to the lobby that activates as soon as anyone comes nearby. A hallway that leads to the stairway, with four creatures waiting. As soon as they're engaged, they'll move out into the main area to fight the party.

    "I'll try to get a read on them, weaknesses and strengths and such," Jon says. "Good luck."

    There are only two kinds of enemies this time. Three of the four creatures are mobile tables, draped with black-and-red checked cloths that each bear a blue mask with 'I' on the forehead. Items spin in the air above each table: a staff, a sword, a cup, and a coin above each. The suits of the Minor Arcana. All of these are red, and the cups seem to be spilling fire rather than water. A potential clue to their nature, perhaps.

    The final enemy, surrounded by the three tables, is a white marble statue with gold gilding. A crowned woman seated on a throne, with fans of light rays behind her. She holds a golden apple in her left hand, and a baby sits in the crook of her right arm, reaching toward the apple. The mask on her face bears a 'III.' And somehow, it moves around by rocking back and forth. Well, then.

Cael Becker has posed:
    There's a momentarily defensive look in Cael's gaze as Robbie offers to protect her - her knee-jerk reaction being to declare that she can damned well take care of herself - but she reminds herself that that was probably not the context with which the message was relayed. "Sure," she remarks. "We'll take them together. She then gives Rien a nod of acknowledgement and thanks - no sign, for the moment, of the reluctance and defensiveness she often shows around magic - particularly magic that doesn't come from Jon. She takes a few deep breaths before they climb the stairs to the next level, and she stares at the statue, in particular, for a long moment. "What the fuck," she opines. This is followed by, "Take the lady and the baby, angel-boy. They're all yours."
    //Angel boy//? She'll probably pay for that later - one way or annother.
    She pulls up her assault rifle one more time, taking a moment while no one is ahead of her to switch to fully automatic - and just //spray// the tables with a generous amount of fiery and electric based bullets, while advancing slowly - ready to drop the thing and go for her axe. She wants to reduce one of these to kindling.

Daniel Ketch has posed:
"And the final monster is a woman with a baby?" Daniel pauses a second to consider how surreal this 'training room' has been. And then the walking tables attack. Because, of course they do.

He is reluctant to shoot at the woman, but uppity furniture gets no mercy. His shotgun makes splinters out of the table to the left. "Man, I am going to have flashbacks every time I sit down to have coffee, I just know it."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas takes a moment to size up the tall sitting figure. Rien's orders are clear though and he moves in, shouldering one of the tables to the side as he appoaches. The sword above the table bites into his back as it rotates in retaliation but he continues without stopping. He swings the blade and connects... but something is wrong. The blade digs into the creature but the damage is -much- less than he was anticipating.

    "Something's wrong" he calls just before a blast of wind sends him skidding over the tiles of the floor, the shear and force cutting across his bearded face. "Jon... what's the deal? They shielded from what I do or what?" he asks over the communication system of their crew. As another blast comes for him, he manages to brace himself this time and is only shoved back a few feet on his heels, leaving skids over the tile.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Assuming that the table-creature-things are fire-based, it stands to reason they'll be immune -- or at least resistant -- to the Ghost Rider's demonic flames as well. And without further information from Jon, he's not sure if he should chance it. The gilded statue with the baby is weird as fuck, but he'll let Chas take first crack at it while he keeps his promise to protect Cael.

Which means that when the table Chas shoved out of the way lunges for her, he lashes out savagely and knocks it away with a crack of his chain.

"You want me to give it a try?" he calls across to Chas, watching the strange statue as he approaches it steadily, and from one side. The chain around his left hand is loosened to allow the blade to swing freely with a *clank, clank* of metal.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
This isn't going to be a fight that Rien can sit back on and just provide support. These final bosses are always nasty and tricksy. She takes a moment to assess, then calls out to Jon, "Sitrep! We need weaknesses, resistances, everything you can give us, and we need it now!" Side-stepping just as Chas would have bowled her over from the buffeting the seated mother figure sends at him. She leaps back to her feet and towards one of the tables, that channeled energy taking form as she slashes at the construct with icy claws, the other hand coming up to parry the sword.

She glances around the room again, taking stock of where everyone is and what they're doing. Cael is given another layer of protection, this one a more golden sheen, like a soap bubble that fits close to her skin, "That should keep the fire off you, Cael. I would suggest using the axe now! And watch out for the swords!"

To Chas, she offers a quick, "Still okay?" before looking to Robbie, "Time to let it out, Robbie. See what you can do to that statue!" Then back to Chas, "Think you can help Cael with that table?"

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "I'm on it! It's like I can't actually get a read on these things until you engage with them. It's... annoying." Jon sighs. "Okay, looks like we have... three 'Crying Tables' and a 'Change Relic.' The tables are impervious to blunt force, and stronger against both piercing damage like a dagger and slashing like an axe. Fire will heal them, and holy or 'dark' magic won't hurt them. They are, however, weak to ice--Rien, you might enchant people's weapons for that. The Change Relic... can't be hit by wind magic, nor holy or dark, but everything else should work."

    A beat, and then Jon adds, "I'd watch out for fire from the tables and... yes, wind gusts from the statue. And... I think they can both poison people."

    The enemies start out strong. The tables hit the group with gouts of fire, and the statue follows with gusts of wind that would whip up an inferno were it not all magic and faded shortly after coming into being. Still, people will have to duck or dodge out of the way to avoid getting burned or knocked back. At the moment none of the enemies are focused on anyone in particular just yet. For the moment.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "I'd love to switch to my axe but it seems like the best thing I can do at the moment..." Cael shifts the attention of her fully automagic assault rifle (yes - automagic) onto the statue of the woman. After all, her weapon is not wing, holy, or dark. She bumps bullet after bullet into it - aiming first for the baby, then for the apple, then for the woman's face.
    "SHIT!" she adds - as the 'woman' seems to retaliate by turning her wind on Cael, starting to propel her backwards, as she struggles to dig in her feet. She has to take her finger off the trigger for the moment - fearful of being buffeted in the wrong direction, and spraying allies with friendly fire.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas turns as Rien and Robbie move to engage, happy to swap places with the duo to turn his attention where it can be of use. He jumps aside from one of the gouts of flame, bats another aside with his sword and -kicks- one of the tables aside just as it was about to level a gout at Cael. It flips and rights itself but the gout goes wide.

    "On it!" he says. He's content to move around Cael allowing her to take single shots and bursts at the main statue while he contends in a slow stalemate with the tables. He can't hurt them yet, not until he gets a bit of help from Rien, but he can keep them at bay and take the shots for Cael and Daniel's sakes.

    After a particularly nasty burst of fire singles away the protective field around his torso and another gout sears of one of the sleeves of his shirt, his wings flare to life. The semi-transparent silver feathered wings add extra coverage to his protective range as, despite their nature, they do seem more than capable of redirecting and enduring the fireblasts that come for the pair of gunmen. Between the wings, his sword, and his body the shotgun and rifle are able to focus fire on the large statue.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie's still not fully in control of the demon who holds his soul in abeyance. 'Letting it out' is a little more like relaxing his iron willpower for a moment, and allowing Eli to.. do what he will.

Which results in a veritable shudder of power as the demon obligingly asserts itself. Flesh and muscle and tendon ripped and burned away, and that dreadful scream that's half pain, half bloodlust. After being knocked flat into the wall by a blast of wind, he attempts to dash forward in a blur of speed, effectively tanking the fireblasts from the tables as he goes, and leap onto the statue's back. Maybe it'll slow it down, keep it under control so Chas and Rien can take it apart.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien frowns at the information Jon gets and relays, "Ugh. Of course. Okay! I think I know what to do!" She kicks back the table nearest her and clenches both fists, channelling her power, forcing it faster through sheer will, teeth gritting as she draws on the cosmic power that fuels her magic. Letting out a short, sharp cry, she throws her hands out, sending out a shockwave that touches Chas, Cael, and Robbie all at once. Each of their weapons shifts, changes, becomes something better... at least all the better against these particular enemies.

Cael's assault rifle takes on the appearnce of an ice sculture with crackling lightly and bubbling poison mingling and twisting all down the barrel.

Robbie's chain turns to pure electricity in his hands, wild and snapping, waving about, purple poison spikes and wrathes of chill air visible just barely through the brightness.

Chas' greatsword gains an icy hilt, the long blade a dark, poisonous eggplant on one side and the bright, blue-white shine of pure lightning on the other.

"Take down the statue! I'll keep the tables busy!" She runs in, grabbing one table by a leg and swinging it around physically before slamming it into another. Letting out a scream of pure, animalistic rage, she leaps towards them, claws first to start making kindling of them. In this state, there is no attempt to dodge or avoid the attacks from the tables. Rien simply... facetanks them. Each stab, each cut, each gout of flame... all of it healing within moments, but that pain drives that berserk rage, fuels her to into tearing them apart a piece at a time.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    If the masks on the tableclothes were capable of looking shocked, they surely would at the ferocity of Rien's attack. The first table she lunges at retailiates, cup pouring fire on her and sword slashing, but her healing factor is just too fast for it to keep up with. One down, two to go, and she's not likely to have much trouble with the other two.

    The statue seems to focus on Cael as the worst foe at first, sending a gout of fire at her that goes wide, but then it's being mobbed, and gashes and cracks start to appear on the marble. It stands up straight and the back of the throne opens. A purplish mist fans out--but the weapons Rien gave them might just absorb the poison, if they can react in time. Certainly it'll keep the poison from being debilitating.

    Then it does the most /annoying/ thing an enemy can possibly do. The woman raises the apple, and the gashes and cracks /heal/. That won't last long if they press, but still. Annoying!

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Mother fucking apple!" Cael exclaims. Apparently she has //opinions// about this sort of thing. She tries to concentrate firee on the apple itself. If she can destroy that - will it limit the statue's ability to heal?
    With more members of the team closing in on the statue, though, she switches over from automatic fire to controlled bursts, as she backs slowly away from the impending cloud of gas.
    "Can any of //us// blow that stuff away? Rien? Chas - think those wings of yours might actually serve a pupose?"

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas switches up again, rotating around to allow Rien to take the fight the tables. "You're just full of one liners tonight aren't you Becker" he says as he braces the purple side of his modified blade toward the oncoming cloud. "But you're right about one thing... I can do what you ask.." With a final swipe of the blade to disperse the oncoming cloud, he jumps and with powerful flaps, the wings keep him elevated.

    Semi-transparent they may be but the wind they produce is very real, and very strong. "Hold on tight, Rider!" he calls as the wind continues to billow the dire mist back at his foe and the -literal- Rider on its back. Hopefully, Eli's transofrmation comes with toxin resistance. As he contines to beat back the gas, he moves forward. A slow, but inexorable advance with his sword readied to deliver what he hopes might be the final blow against this terrible foe.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien growls as the other two tables close in on her, eyes narrowing. The first one to try and swing on or fire on her will become the focus of her rage. She reaches out, grabbing up the table by two of its legs, letting out another snarl of anger as she starts to beat the remaining table with the one she's picked up. Two tons of strength being brought to bear, again and again. Muscles tearing and healing only to tear and heal again. Over and over, she beats on the sentient table with the other sentient table until it lies cracked in two on the ground.

Then she throws the other table against the wall, running after it so she can attack again! Putting the trust into the others to take down the statue while she keeps them covered from the others.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    The tables shatter, legs turning to kindling, tableclothes ripping, the implements that floated above them scattering before the masks crack and break. Rien has won. The tables are broken, and disappear into motes of light.

    As for the statue, it ignores the gusts of wind, but the beating of the angel's wings is enough to disperse the mist of poison--though not before most of it blows over Robbie, who has to cling to the back of the statue for dear life.

    "You've got an opening!" Jon calls. "Focus your fire, take it out!"

    The statue doesn't look frightened in any way. Instead, it focuses its gusts of wind on Chas, who's become the greatest threat that it can actually get at. Robbie, on its back, it can't do much about. Maybe it thinks that it can just ignore him or shake him off. Or maybe it's following some kind of pre-set program. Maybe it /can't/ target Robbie.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Great!" Cael says towards Chas - as his wings succeed in dispersing the poison. She did not want to have to deal with that. With the threat of the poison dealt with, she could close in - but why bother, when she's got the assault rifle to use? She continues to use small, concentrated bursts of fire, changing her aim periodically, if any of her allies threatens to enter her field of fire. She shifts to her right, to provide herself with a much clearer line of fire as she does so, her expression one of concentration and determination.
    "When we're done with this thing - Jon's buying the drinks. Right, Jon?"
    Right. In the //free bar.//

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas continues to pit his own angelic might against the bursts from the statue. He could continue to advance but instead he seems content to let it keep it's focus on him and beat wind versus wind. He eyes the sword for a moment and calls, "Eli, Robbie, which ever one of you is in control.... catch!" He flips the sword in his hand, catching it by the blade, heedless of the cut that it tears across his palm.

    Then he tosses the poison and lightning infused weapon to the Rider on the creature's back. "Go for the mask! Tear its bloody face off!" he adds with a grin that is equal parts determination and malice. The silver hued wings beat more ferociously now, motes of light filling the wind burst he's sending out, like specks of holy pollen. He's looked better, bruised, battered, and cut but the angelic being still holds his ground as Cael and Daniel pour rounds of magical gunfire into it and the Ghost Rider waits poised to make a final blow to finish this fight.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The Ghost Rider's not looking too hot himself, all things including puns considered. The poison's melted one of his hands away entirely, and eats a path along his torso, throat, and one side of his armoured skull plate with a putrid, black liquid smoke that he seems to be struggling to heal.

The shout from Chas makes his head whip about, and those hollowed out pits for eyes focus in on the angel. The angel that Eli *very* much wants to end. To say nothing of Ketch over there, a stone's throw away.

But instead the sword whipped toward him is caught out of the air and immediately driven under the lip of the statue's mask, imbued with hellfire and the Rider's ferocious strength.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Teamwork, in this case, seems to make the dream work. The hail of bullets from Cael focuses the statue's attention, and the aspect of Chas actually throwing his sword to Robbie--or rather, Eli--is /not/ a move the statue was expecting. The mask gets pried off, and the statue falls over--leaving enough time for the Ghost Rider to jump clear--before disappearing in motes of light.

    "Looks like they're gone, and I'm not seeing anything above you," Jon calls. "Everyone alright?"

    Elizabeth appears over in the hallway, smiling broadly at the group. "You /do/ fight differently than other guests of the Velvet Room have before. Swapping weapons, that's a tactic I'd have never thought of! I'm quite impressed." She claps, twice, and all wounds disappear as if they'd never been. "Your way is free to the next barrier. As always, you can re-visit these levels if you wish, but for now, the next section of Arqa Block will open after you have met the challenge of both Empress and Emperor."

    She doesn't just up and disappear this time. There's a chance to ask her questions if people want.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael lowers her weapon as the foe disappears - and she siddles away from the Ghost Rider, watching Eli with a dubious expression. She didn't think she had much to fear - but you never really could be certain when someone wasn't in their right mind. Her weapons, she begins peeling off - dropping them, and letting them vanish - though she holds onto the rifle until Eli has been dealt with.
    "Is there any particular reason we have to go through that... weird Fool's journey to gain access to the training program?" she asks bluntly.
    "Also: just out of curiosity. Could you, say, make a //cat// for the velvet lounge? Asking for a friend." Well. Boyfriend.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas drops to the ground as his wounds are healed. His wings slowly fade from view completely and he eyes Eli. "Rien... see if you can get your boyfriend back in control..." he says as he keeps his eyes on the Rider.... just in case. He gives Cael a glance for a half moment. "You want to give Jon a cat from -here-?" he asks. "Have you ever heard of Cait Sith?" he asks with a shake of his head.

    He doesn't take his eyes off of Robbie but still addresses Elizabeth. "How many of you are here? We've met you, and the tall Nose guy... any more that are lurking and can you tell us their purpose?" he asks the strange blue-clad young woman. "I mean, obviously you run this place. He... I don't know what he does, besides occasionally bartends. And I can't think of what anyone else would -need- to do in here."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
As the statue begins to come apart, its Rider -- both in name, and current positioning -- leaps off and hits the floor. He tumbles a few times before climbing to his feet with that same liquid, savage grace that imbues every movement. The blade's held low in one hand, Elizabeth patently ignored; even as she dispels the injuries he took from the acid.

Even Ketch is forgotten about at the moment; it's Chas he's honed in on, flames still pouring from the vents in his mask, head cocked in that funny, alien way as he advances slowly on the man. Pauses briefly like he's being held back-- then presses forward again.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien is still standing near the splinters of the tables, breathing heavily. It takes a moment for the words to sink in, but she does turn towards the Ghost Rider and throws a hand out, making the sword disappear entirely. Stalking towards him even as she looks to Chas, "You and Cael should head out, we'll be down in a minute. If I remember correctly, Elizabeth can follow you to answer any further questions."

Claws still extended, prowling towards the RIder, she quirks a grin, "Not him Eli... me. You and me are gonna have it out right now." Because the best way to run Eli off is to wear him down with bloodshed and then let Robbie take over! Or something. Anyways! Maybe Rien still needs to let out a little aggression before she's ready for drinks in the lounge.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "The guests of the Velvet Room that first battled through Tartarus--my guest, and his feminine counterpart--unlocked the levels of Tartarus after certain battles. You are not /battling/ the Arcana in the same fashion, but it seemed best to operate in the same order, for that is what is in the consciousness of humanity that fuels this place." Elizabeth hesitates a moment, then adds, "We have a cat. He is... rather unique, but if you would like to meet him that can be arranged."

    Elizabeth turns a smile on Chas. "As for how many of us there are? Well, let me think. Igor, and myself, and Theodore. Margaret, Lavenza, Morgana counts I suppose. So... 6 of us? Yes, six of us, since Nameless and Belladonna left and the Master left and Lavenza is now one instead of two. Igor, and the five of us that he created to aid the Fools." The smile grows mysterious. "Igor does far more than you may think. Never mistake absence of evidence for evidence of absence. He was the first, after all. He has met and greeted every guest of the Velvet Room, until the former Master left. We are all still adapting to this... new scenario."

    Elizabeth puts out a hand as if to stop Robbie from going after Chas, then hesitates as Rien steps forward. Nods once, and says, "I am happy to talk, if you have further questions. Or not. I am not going anywhere, as they say."

    But those golden eyes are fixed on Rien, like she's seeing the mutant for the first time. "So /you/ are the gateway... tell me, have you removed all the mirrors from your house yet?"

    Before Rien can answer, Elizabeth shakes her head. "Where are my manners... that's hardly an appropriate question to ask a guest. I really must be going, though." What happened to answering questions? "I'll see that Morgana comes to see see you sometime soon. Goodbye!"

    And then she disappears as suddenly as she appeared.

    Jon's voice is wry. "Well that's... annoying. Come on back down, Chas and Cael, and... drinks on me, yes, I suppose."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Despite the shit Cael has been giving Chas, as Robbie - or more correctly, Eli - starts to advance on the man, she steps inbetween them, seemingly without any sort of hesitation, a determined frown on her features. She certainly doesn't protest to Rien intervening, however. "Probably a good idea," she agrees. She starts to move towards the door without turning her back on Eli, still staying between him and Chas.
    "I already got Jon a cat of his own - Nimue. He hasn't shown you the pictures yet?" That surprises her. "But it's easier for me to bring Bear here, than for him to bring Nimue. Probably. So, I just thought..." Why not have a cat around here, as well? "Can you really have too many cats?"
    Well. Yes, clearly, but two is hardly too many.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas doesn't look intimidated by Eli's approach, but as Rien and Cael step between the pair of them he nods. "We'll have our time eventually friend." He steps twice back and inclines his head. "Try not to break the tower" he says before turning around and letting the two settle whatever dispute or steam burning they need to handle.

    He looks up at the ceiling as he approaches the transport pad. "Jon... the bar is free... you all know this... right?" he asks as he steps on it and vanishes in a flash of neon green light.