Rather than rush on to the next mission, we decided to hang out in the castle dimension for a while, resting and getting the heat off our back from that silly battle against the Nohrian forces. It gave us plenty of time to play the lottery, try on silly clothes, and of course have a bunch of conversations. Jabber took the opportunity to hunt down one of his retainers...
<Jabber> Hey Jesi, 'sup?
<Jesi> Lord Jabber! *bows* How may I serve you, milord?
<Jabber> Dude, chill, I'm not here to make you run more missions or anything. I actually wanted to thank you.
<Jesi> o.o?
<Jabber> You and Vom have been pretty invaluable help in this war. I was actually hoping I could give you something as a gift to thank you.
<Jesi> A gift...? I... I'm honoured, but...
<Jabber> Maybe a new forged shuriken? Or a lottery hat?
<Jesi> Milord, I'm... I'm just doing my job. I don't think that requires any kind of special treatment or gifts.
<Jabber> Well, if you're going to be that way about it, fine. In that case, I order you to think of a gift that I can give you. :U
<Jesi> o_o;;;
<Jabber> Good luck thinking something up! *strolls off*
<Jesi> Well, now what am I going to do... >.>
<Vom> At least you get a present... :<
Jesi and Jabber attained support level C!
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the castle, someone went to share a snack...
<Skyleaf> TGK! I got some more mochi if you'd like to share with me. :3
<TGK> Sure, I guess.... *noms* OH MAN THAT IS SO DELICIOUS.
<Skyleaf> Heehee! I think you really do like sweet things. ^_^
<TGK> Pfft, of course not. Sweets are for kids, and I refuse to be treated like a child. >.<
<Skyleaf> You mean... you won't eat what you like just because you want people to treat you like an adult? o_o;
<TGK> Well, obvs. I need to be mature and grown-up.
<Skyleaf> Hmmm... well, why don't you just have sweet things with me? It'll be our secret.
<TGK> Oh, sure, I'd be cool with that.
<Skyleaf> Hurray! We're pasty pals! ^_^
<TGK> Shh, not so loud. >.<
Skyleaf and TGK attained support level C!
I took the opportunity to wander around the dimension and explore outside the bounds of the castle.
<Athena> Man, it's kind of cloudy today. I was hoping we'd get some nicer weather. Still, it kind of reminds me of back home in Nohr.
<PMJ> Yeah, Nohr always had pretty crap weather, didn't it.
<Athena> Yep! It was always fun to watch Brave practicing in the rain.
<PMJ> It's still strange to me that you could have so many good experiences in that place.
<Athena> Yeah... I bet a lot of Hoshidans feel that way, too. Nohr is a pretty crap place on the surface.
<PMJ> Well, we'll just have to work together to help bridge the gaps between our countries. ^_^
<Athena> We've got a good start at least! Thanks for all of your help.
<PMJ> Awww, you know I'm happy to be of service. <3 *strolls off*
Athena and PMJ attained support level A!
<Athena> Ohhey, looks like Robin is just sitting and chilling out... I wonder what he's up to? Robin? You asleep?
<Robin> Nope, just meditating.
<Athena> Meditating? What's that?
<Robin> Here, I'll show you. Sit down next to me and be silent for a few moments.
<Athena> ... ... ...
<Robin> ... ... ...
<Athena> ... ... ...
<Robin> ... ... ...
<Athena> ... ... ...
<Robin> ... ... ...
<Athena> ... ... ...
<Robin> And that's meditation!
<Athena> Oh, huh, that's pretty relaxing. I'm sorry if I disturbed you.
<Robin> Oh, it's okay, I expect that of the unenlightened.
<Athena> Pardon me?
<Robin> Oh, look at the time, sorry, I must be off! *flees*
<Athena> o_o;
Athena and Robin attained support level C!
<Athena> Hmmm... and now I feel like I'm being watched. Is that you, Vom? >_>
<Vom> Took you long enough to spot me. If I were an enemy, you'd be dead.
<Athena> It's a good thing we're not in enemy territory, then. Why are you spying on me, anyway?
<Vom> I don't trust you.
<Athena> Oh, yeah, that's right, I'm from Nohr. PMJ told me that you had some kind of problem with her, too. I guess you're devoting your free time to keeping an eye on both of us, then?
<Vom> ... ... ...
<Athena> *sigh* Anything I can do to help you trust me more?
<Vom> Be true to Hoshido, and prove yourself to me. In the meantime, just remember that I'm watching you always.
<Athena> Even when--
<Vom> ESPECIALLY then. *disappears*
<Athena> o_o;;
Athena and Vom attained support level C!
...
<Vom> Ohgeez, I can't believe I fell into that Caltrops trap escaping from Athena... -_-;;;
<Skyleaf> Vom, is that you? What are you doing out here?
<Vom> If you're an enemy, just come finish me off. I'm done for.
<Skyleaf> Um, no, it's just me, Skyleaf. I was going for a walk, and... are you hurt? Let me grab my rod...
<Vom> Just leave me here to die, I'm done for...
<Skyleaf> Oh, stop being so melodramatic, it's just a few cuts. *rod!*
<Vom> >_>;;;
Skyleaf and PMJ attained support level A!
With that all said and done, I called everyone together to we could pop back into the real world and start progressing through the
game war again properly. Back to Nohr!
<BB> I've finished my reconnaissance of the area, milady.
<Athena> Alright, how's the situation look?
<BB> Well, our retreat back to the castle realm seems to have confused the Nohrian troops, since they have no idea where we are...
<TGK> That's good!
<BB> ... so they've decided to pull back their troops and fortify the capital as much as possible, blocking all roads and routes.
<Aura> That's bad. :<
<Jabber> I'm pretty sure of a path that they wouldn't have blocked.
<Skyleaf> That's good!
<Jabber> It leads through Mount Garou, otherwise known as the Impassable Peak.
<Robin> That's bad. D:
<BB> Oh geez, Mount Garou? We'd be better off fighting the whole Nohrian army at once!
<Palutena> That's very bad. >.>
<Athena> It doesn't seem like we have much of a choice, though.
<BB> *sigh* Very well, I'll lead us there.
And then BB proceeded to lead us on a grueling march up the side of a mountain. Geez, no wonder the Nohrians left this path open; no one would want to climb this. >_<
<Athena> I think I preferred the eternal stairway. At least that had stairs.
<Wolfskin> Hey, that's my mountain you're talking smack about! *growl*
<Skyleaf> Eeek! *hides behind TGK*
<Xerneas> What are these beasts? o_o;
<Jabber> These would be Wolfskin, a tribe with shapeshifting abilities. They're the main reason this route is considered so deadly.
<Celever> Like me, but uglier!
<Keaton> Oi, what are you guys doing on our mountain? Are you here to steal our fur?
<Athena> No, of course not! We just want to pass through your territory, if that would be okay. Everyone, set down your weapons, and show we mean them no harm.
<Vom> I don't like this...
<Jesi> Come on, you've been following Athena's lead so far, let's trust her this time.
We all carefully put our weapons down and the Wolfskin seemed to be lowering their guard, but suddenly a purple explosion flared up, incinerating one of the wolfmen.
<Xerneas> That... that looked like the same kind of magic as the explosion from your sword.
<Athena> *groan* Don't tell me we were set up AGAIN?!
<Keaton> Traitors! You did this!
<Athena> No, please, this wasn't us, I swear, it was--
<Keaton> I KNEW I shouldn't have trusted humans! None of you will leave this place alive! Awooooo!!!
<Athena> *sigh* I guess we get another battle then. Everyone to arms!
I didn't really want to hurt the poor Wolfskin, but on the other hand, I knew that they would accept nothing less than total subjugation so we broke out our weapons and moved forward to attack them all. The twisting mountain path led towards their city centre in a snake, though the wolves themselves could easily climb the mountains to attack us from all sides.
Thankfully, they were neither particularly smart nor powerful, and it didn't take us all too long to bet them. Their leader Keaton even rushed at me in a range and I smacked him with my Naginata before Xerneas got the kill. In the end, we left their entire tribe wounded or KOed.
<Athena> I feel bad about it, but honestly, I dunno what else I could have done.
<BB> Hey, don't feel too bad, it wasn't your fault. Know that I'll always be by your side to support you.
Suddenly, the ground started shaking violently beneath our feet. Ohshi- earthquake!
<Jesi> It's an earthquake!
<Athena> I just said that!
<Vom> No, it's a landslide, the mountain is collapsing!
<Athena> Ohshi-
The ground gave way underneath my feet, but before I could plunge into the depths of the cavern beneath, BB dashed forward and grabbed my hand, holding me.
<Athena> BB, you're slipping! Let me go or we'll both die!
<BB> No, don't worry, I think I see a plot device over there! It's a crystal growing out of the rock or something. If I can just hit it with my... *shuriken!*
As soon as BB's weapon touched the crystal thing, it exploded! Instead of doing the sensible thing and killing us both as well as the rest of our party, the explosion simply blew me upwards, saving my life as well as BB's.
<Athena> What... What was that thing?
<BB> I'm pretty sure it's a plot device crystal. I had hoped it would save you and I was right.
<Athena> Oh, BB, I'm so glad we got that A Support so that we could have this nice tender moment together.
<BB> Yeah, srsly, I probably would have died or something otherwise.
<PMJ> Well, so long as everyone's safe.
<Jabber> And we've made it to the summit, too! Soon we be at the capital's doorsteps.
<Athena> Woohoo! Time for a castle break! \o/
