Starring:
Arika, Nanashi (as Miyako), Sousa, Jiro
Date: May 5, 2015
Summary:
A strange laboratory/factory has been discovered in the Land of Wind, and a group of shinobi have been sent to take it down.
Poster's note: foul language filtered in obvious places.
"Poison Control - Sand Lab"
Land of Wind
Dead Sands - Northern Desert [Land of Wind]
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Dead Sands is a section of the Land of Wind that was once a fertile farm-land. It was devastated by the Clan Wars, with many great conflicts between ninja Clans ruining all potential for life for over a hundred square miles. In the present, it is a region full of dust and dirt, intermixed with the sands of the neighboring areas of the desert. The remains of over one-million people, primarily helpless civilians, have been interred into the wastes by the constant, driving wind storms that gave the Land of Wind its name. It is, in essence, a permanent 'dustbowl' crossed with a sandstorm.
So many dead have been left here that even being covered by the earth, there are enough bones and dessicated corpses to form small mountains. The bleached bones are covered and exposed, over and over, giving no rest to the dead. It is no surprise, then, that there are countless and frequent stories of ghost sightings in the Dead Sands by those who have to trek through here to reach the Land of Stones. However, this is the single most inhospitable locale in the entire country, and thus the Desert of Knives, with all its banditry and long, winding caravan trails, is usually preferred over the Dead Sands despite being a shorter trip.
The Desert of Knives lies to the east. The border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Stones lies to the north, and to the south is the inhospitable Northern Desert, and the travel routes that lead towards the capital of the Wind Country.
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Now … Why on earth was the former Kage getting sent out on a pathetic mission like taking out some bandit encampment..? Well, it was likely due to both team and the fact that the compound was supposed to be a big one. In fact, it shouldn't even be called a compound… It should be called a factory. Sunagakure only knew a little about the large plant: it was underground, it had more than eighty men inside, though their fighting skills were unknown, and it was working on creating 'the ultimate poison' (or something like that).
Sousa, perhaps due to his sciencey nature, was selected to lead, and the rest of his team for their regenerative abilities as well as the various attachments they had to each other were (*cough…* ankle biters). Arika is flopped on her back at Sunagakure's gates, simply waiting for the ex-Kage to make his appearance. She isn't sure who else besides herself and Jiro are coming, so the fact that Sousa is going to be leading might surprise her… A lot.
Speaking of destroying things underground… While Miyako is usually told to keep to her Taijutsu skills, having an opportunity to flex her skills in a scenario where having no survivors is desirable helps once in a while. Dropping down from a nearby rooftop, Miyako lands a few feet from Arika and smiles down at her. "Heya, Ari-chan." Peering around, she wonders who might be leading this mission, as there's not anyone above Genin level around that she's spotted yet, but she's sure someone will be around soon.
Ah, wholesale slaughter. What an appropriate mission to send a former monk, industrious researcher, and retired Kazekage on. e.e Although actually, pitched combat does afford some unique experimentation opportunities, and it has been quite some time since Sousa has been able to participate in large-scale battles that are not of the facing-nigh-invincible-foes-with-continued-existence-at-stake variety. It's just so difficult to follow proper scientific procedure or take useful notes in those situations.
At any rate, Sousa arrives at the gates and gives a mild nod to those gathered. "Good morning. I trust you are well-rested, sufficiently fed, and in an able state of body and mind to participate in extensive criminal execution?"
Jiro is always around if Arika is, though he might not always be /immediately/ visible. He tends to hide out. Still he's been nearby though now that it looks like everyone is there the kid steps out of the shadows, hands plopped lazily on top of his head. "'m ready." He replies simply once Sousa asks his question, giving the ex-Kage a toothy grin. He may not be extremely experienced but he's good and ready to hone his skills.
"Yeah! Let's go! I'm all set," Arika grins and scrambles onto Miyako's back, if allowed, taking perch there for as long as she can before she's forced to walk/run alongside the team. But unless that happens… She'll stay perfectly happy atop Miyako's back. The girl waits for them to get to their destination, eyes peeled for anything that might happen /before/ they reach their target. No one but Sousa would really know where they were going, which was to the deserts in the far north and slightly west of the Village.
The trip itself is… extremely boring, and it doesn't take much more than an hour for the team to reach their destination. What they see, though, isn't all that impressive on first sight. A simple blank sandy expanse that held no remarkable features … Hmmm
RPCOMBAT: Miyako defends against with a SAND-SENSING…44
"Always ready," Miyako says with a nod to Sousa, showing a bit of respect to the former Kazekage. She smiles back at Arika as she climbs on her back, chuckling a bit. "Your endurance is going to be toxin if you always ride people's back to missions." Still, she wouldn't force the girl off her back by any means.
Once they reach the place, she blinks then squints her eyes slightly. "Hang on," she says, closing her eyes completely for a moment as she uses her ability with sand to try and feel out the area below the surface of the ground. "There are a lot of people down there… Some kinda cavern. I could probably make a way in, but I'm not sure where the entrance is or if trying to blast into it would make it collapse and let the rest escape."
Hmmm indeed. Well, they were expecting the factory to be underground, although apparently Suna intelligence wasn't able to find out exactly where the entrances/exits were. "A cave-in would likely be a quite efficient start to our primary objective, actually," Sousa muses. "However, it would also be rather hazardous, not only inherently, but due to the likelihood of volatile chemicals being mixed. On top of that, it would be rather fortuitous if we could procure some of their materials and equipment in an unharmed state, to discern what exactly they've been attempting to synthesize." Sousa starts walking across the expanse. "I suggest we spend a minimal amount of time searching for a mundane access to the cavern, then if nothing turns up, make our own entrance. At the very least, we may discern an optimal point for making such a portal through studying the cavern from several angles."
RPCOMBAT: Sousa defends against with a PERCEPTION…34
Jiro follows along with the rest, keeping an eye on things as they travel along. Once they stop and Miyako gives the report the boy looks up to Sousa to see what they're doing. And then Sousa starts flinging out all these big complicated words and sentences and Jiro just looks downright confused. "Uh…wha' was tha'?" He asks finally, looking to Arika to see if she understood any of what was just said.
RPCOMBAT: Jiro defends against with a PERCEPTION…16
RPCOMBAT: Arika defends against with a AIR-CURRENTS…43
Well, it seems to Arika like they're looking for a way in! "We can do that! … I think… Jiro-kun, help me look for an entrance!" she says with a grin, hopping off Miyako's back and focusing chakra so that she can sense along the air if anything… interesting is happening.
Sousa would notice a few markings in the sand; spots that dip downwards and didn't seem to host animals (no tracks surrounding it). Jiro, being a bit closer to the ground, could spot various things like… Sand! Aannnnd … More Sand! He might also, if he looks carefully, be able to see a small flickering at the edge of the area… And perhaps see that something isn't quite aligning correctly…
"I think there're vents around the area, but none of them are that big," Arika reports, pointing towards the ground, but not at anything in particular. "We probably can't use 'em to get inside…" She pouts just a bit. "Unless we were able to turn into something super teeny or something."
RPCOMBAT: Miyako defends against with a SAND-SENSING…36
COMBAT: Miyako attacks target 1 with SAND-BODY with a roll of: 51
While the others investigate in their own ways, Miyako peers around. At Arika's works, she looks down at the direction the girl's pointing and grins slightly. "Easy enough… I'll get in and open up an entrance. You're gonna have to hurry, though, since they'll probably start running once they realize the door's been opened and none of their guys did it." With that her body literally crumbles apart into what looks like a cloud of sand that flies down into one of the vents. A few moments later, a door hidden by sand would open up with a hand forming out of the sand by it to wave the rest of the team over.
Sousa smirks lightly at Arika's comment about turning super teeny. "True compaction would not be totally necessary, cross-sectional reduction would do. As Miyako-san is currently demonstrating." ;) Sousa moves over to the opened door and begins descending. "I shall lead the assault with an attempt to overpower the minds of those within reach," Sousa announces. "It should significantly reduce our risk and the resistance you encounter. Take advantage of it, but be careful to avoid going too deep into enemy ranks. It is unlikely that a group working in a factory has many skilled combatants amongst them, but there may be a few present as guards."
With that, Sousa moves quickly into the passage and follows it until it opens into the factory. Without preamble, he projects his chakra outward, ensnaring the feeble-minded with a jolt of simulated neuro-drugs. Always interesting to observe the effects that has. >)
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 1 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 50
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 2 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 64
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 3 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 51
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 4 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 46
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 5 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 62
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 6 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 64
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 7 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 58
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 8 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 43
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 9 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 62
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 10 with PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG-ILLUSION with a roll of: 54
[NPC System]: Workers roll(s) Genjutsu Resistance from 35 to 70 and get(s) a 47. - Rolled by: Arika
Jiro follows Arika, peering at the oddities in the sand. Oh wait no that's just more sand. "Oh look!" He crouches, digging in the sand and coming up with…some trash. "Er…" He drops it again and wipes his hands on his pants as he stands. Gross. Once their entrance is identified Jiro gives his cloth sash a light tug, the breakaway knot coming loose, before he puts the cloth up behind his neck and over his shoulders. He holds onto it as the entrance opens, the boy grinning as he prepares to go in. When Sousa leads the way in he goes right along behind, waiting for the man with the confusing speech patterns to use his genjutsu before charging in. The cloth comes off and he begins slashing at folks as he passes, aiming to take them down quickly.
COMBAT: Jiro attacks target 1 with STEEL-CLOTH-FANG with a roll of: 23
COMBAT: Jiro attacks target 1 with STEEL-CLOTH-FANG with a roll of: 40
COMBAT: Jiro attacks target 1 with STEEL-CLOTH-FANG with a roll of: 22
Whatever it is that Sousa did to these guys, the sight isn't very pretty. His Genjutsu hits a lot of them, forcing them out of any combat that might arise as a few clutch their heads and others just start walking in circles. A few even start screaming, their visions terrible illusions that … people really shouldn't experience … The group had entered through a door that Miyako opened from the ground, so they would have all hopped inside a few foot drop (2-3) before they'd be able to see harsh lights displaying many containers of spiders, scorpions, snakes, and plants.
Jiro's cloth would bite into the workers that were supposed to guard the entrance, taking them out easily if they weren't going down earlier, and Arika simply adds to the body count with some well-placed kunai to a few throats. "Umm… So now what?" she asks the former Kage, her head turning so her gaze can flick to Sousa before she ends up having to focus on more on the fact that people are retaliating with gas bombs!
COMBAT: Arika attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 19
COMBAT: Arika attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 18
[NPC System]: Workers roll(s) Poison Gas Bomb vs All from 30 to 50 and get(s) a 35. - Rolled by: Arika
RPCOMBAT: Arika defends against with a WIND-DASH…29
RPCOMBAT: Arika took 600 damage.
RPCOMBAT: Miyako defends against with a SAND-REFORMATION…52
COMBAT: Miyako attacks target 1 with DRAINING-SAND-BARRAGE with a roll of: 59
Forming back into her human form, Miyako follows the rest down the hallway. When the gas comes, she splits again to let it pass through her body before reforming and bringing her hands into seals as she causes extra sound from the surrounding area to fire off at their attackers in the form of orbs intent on breaking bones and stealing chakra.
Sousa quirks an eyebrow. "Now what? Further mass extermination, naturally." And in the interest of wrapping up so folks can go to bed, Sousa simply contributes to that end in his most ruthless method. Pulling out a kunai with a looooooong wire wrapped partially around the handle, he casts the wire loop out over the crowd of foes. Tiny sparks come from the wire as electromagnetic pulses guide it into circles around the enemies, then suddenly draws the snares tight around them. The kunai levitates between Sousa's palms and spins rapidly, pulling the electrified wire along the ensnared bodies.
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 1 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 53
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 2 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 57
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 3 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 57
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 4 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 84
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 5 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 84
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 6 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 90
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 7 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 71
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 8 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 72
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 9 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 77
COMBAT: Sousa attacks target 10 with BUZZ-WIRE with a roll of: 64
RPCOMBAT: Jiro defends against with a BREVITY…25
RPCOMBAT: Jiro took 600 damage.
Jiro continues to move through people before he sees the bomb coming. He tries to move but isn't fast enough and gets gassed. He finally makes it out and coughs a bit, grumbling before he charges right back in to strike at some more people, not at all happy.
COMBAT: Jiro attacks target 1 with STEEL-CLOTH-FANG with a roll of: 29
COMBAT: Jiro attacks target 1 with STEEL-CLOTH-FANG with a roll of: 36
COMBAT: Jiro attacks target 1 with STEEL-CLOTH-FANG with a roll of: 35
Destruction is imminent with two shinobi who are Kage-level and two who are pretty strong despite appearances (even if they did both get gassed just now). Arika tried to avoid the poison, but she had no good defense and ended up breathing the toxic fumes, causing her to cough a number of times. Her chakra works to purge the poison while she simply stands there for the time being, allowing Sousa and gang to take care of the workers. They seem to be the only ones in the 'factory', should the group do a sweep of the compound… Which implies the leaders were still out there. But with all the workers taken out by sand, steel cloth, and kunai+wire, there wasn't much left to do except either explore or take the whole place down…
With the workers taken down, Miyako stops and peers around. After a moment of quiet thought as she tries to feel out where anyone else might be around, she looks to Sousa, asking, "What should we do? Destroy the place now or keep looking to be sure this operation isn't bigger than we think?"
RPCOMBAT: Miyako defends against with a SAND-SENSING…60
Sousa flips a mental coin. It comes up on the side that says BOOM TIME. "I believe I can discern what we need regarding this group's goals and methods with this," Sousa says, picking up a jar of the stuff they'd been working on. "Proceed to the facility destruction phase of the mission."
Destruction phase? Well Jiro doesn't have much to add to that really. He'll leave that to the one that can bring the place down. He looks to Arika to make sure that she's okay before he starts heading back out the way they came to clear the area. He doesn't want to get buried here after all.
Nodding to Sousa, Miyako steps ahead and grins slightly. It's not very often she's /told/ to flex her real powers. Better enjoy this one. Bringing her hands into a seal, she focus a massive amount of chakra before slamming her hands onto the ground. What follows is a huge wave of destruction as the sand above comes down in a tidal wave in front of the shinobi meant to crash down into the factory and annihilate anything and anyone that's not the Suna shinobi themselves.
COMBAT: Miyako attacks target 1 with SAND-WATERFALL-IMPERIAL-FUNERAL with a roll of: 57
Arika darts out of the compound with Jiro and Sousa before Miyako brings the whole thing crashing down on their heads. From above, the view is just as impressive since a giant sinkhole forms. Fortunately, everyone manages to escape the sinking sand, and Miyako just took down the whole compound in one shot ._. Arika gives an impressed whistle before peeking at the others. "So we're going back home, right?" An affirmative comes from the former Kage, and they take off back to Suna. Mission: Sorta complete!
