Hmm...well then, I know what I'm doing tonight...might want to bring some heavy artillery just in case things go wrong...maybe a tiny mech...oh, who am I kidding? Of course I'm bringing the tiny mech! *Star, who was watching TV in her shrine, saw what just happened and started preparing for a gauntlet of fights. She suddenly appeared at the front of the tower, inside a small mech suit* ...you know, I don't know why I made this thing. I mean, it's only a foot taller than me, and it's got no equipment on it...did I make it to look cool? Yup, that's probably it. And it does look cool, so...mission accomplished? Meh, screw it. Welp...might as well wait for some backup...

OOC: I'm going to sleep soon, but I simply did it to let everyone know that their character doesn't get to just be ludicrously durable surviving improbable things like total impalement, or in Zane's case an incredibly powerful neurotoxin. Its not like the warning is mandatory

OOC: Yeah it was more concern that if I didn't, it'd be taken as a guarantee of success which is by no means the intent of this thread. It may be a fairly straightforward boss, but that doesn't make it free. Also I'm just waiting around to see if anyone else shows up before deciding on continuing today or holding off.

Having seen it on TV, (She still doesn't trust those things) she begins to wander around, asking for help. After an hour of asking "Where the TV place is" and being led astray, she makes her way to the location I swear, if this is ANOTHER TV retailer, IMMA FLIP MY LID!

Izumi seemed to be following something. She was watching her watch, and changing direction down multiple streets, eventually emerging out of an alleyway by the tower. So, this is the place that's been setting my watch off. I guess I was right about it being too quiet lately, or maybe I brought this stuff with me...

...hmm... *Star gets her Nintendo Switch out and start playing Odyssey, waiting for more people to show up*

OOC: Hmm.... three folks? Well, more like one and two helpers. Eh, good enough. For the record this remains open for people to join more or less at any time, so long as you don't show up and just chop off something's head as you're opening post. The tower itself seemed... uneasy.... There was no great activity, and the giant screen outside simply showed advertisements. Same as it had ever since this went down. If anyone were to enter the tower, they'd find that everyone inside seemingly suffered the same fate. Slumped over, alive but seemingly lifeless. All electronics had stopped working as if the main power had been cut. Though conspicuously absent was the smoke that seemed to have been caught on camera.

Hmm...well, might as well go in. *Star walks into the tower* ...oh...oh boy...well...looks like I might have my work cut out for me...

Izumi looks first at Star and then at Kotori.... I've never seen you before... and you're the one with the strange fates. What brings you two here? Did.... did something already happen here?

Looks like it...and I'm Star, goddess of insanity and general chaos. It's not as bad as it sounds. So...who wants to bet the one that did this to everyone is on the top floor?

Kotori walks in by herself, looking around and investigating the people, trying to find out why they're passed out before commenting on the Ruined electronics Well, I can say that I agree with the perps opinion on technology.

The top floor, huh? I dunno about that, they could be anywhere if it's the kind of perp I think it is.... Gee, talk about being secretive there. Though she does look at the electronics after Kotori points it out. Hmm.... that's pretty thorough....

...well, whatever the case, we should start going up. See how bad it is on the upper floors. *And with that, Star starts moving for the staircase, going up to higher floors.*

OOC: Sorry for the delay folks, got a bit tied up in another conversation. Star starts ascending floors, but it doesn't take her more than a floor or two before a notable black smoke starts to filter in from above. Perhaps her guess of top floor was a bit over-tropey? Either way, if the other two do follow along with her (your call) they'd be encountering the same thing. A growing, foreboding, a bit oppressive, black smoke. Oh, and the feeling that something was watching them...

...Probably should have brought my vacuum...well, at least my hunch doesn't seem to be wrong...

Izumi watches Kotori inspect some of the victims. Checking her watch again. Hey... I get that those look pretty bad. But in my experience that's a symptom, not the problem...

*Star calls to everyone from the staircase* Hey guys! Evil fog up here! I'm gonna check it out! *Star moves up some more...*

Evil fog? She sighs, she's apparently not going to figure out why the people are unconscious, so she climbs the stairs

Well... that sounds like it, I guess. That or it's just smoke. She heads for the stairs as well.

The group now heads to the stairs and returns to the foggy floor. A door is somewhat ajar on one of them, and it looks to be the source of the mysterious fog. If the way it seems to be rolling to the floor through the doorway is any indication.

...oh yeah, that's bad. Welp, good thing I'm prepared...normally, I'd toss a bunch of grenades into the room, but not this time...mainly because there might be people in there. *Star walks through the door, careful to not get killed suddenly*

Izumi stays back from the door, grabbing something out of her bag. I'd be careful getting that close when you don't know what's in there...

Star is barely able to move the door before something blows it right off its hinges and into the wall behind the group. Something begins to emerge out of the smoke. It only partially emerges, but it was pretty clear it was some kind of... small dragon-creature? The head certainly was draconic, with glowing red accents. Harpy-like wing-arms coming off its body, which eventually tapers off into the same smoke that was flooding the floor. Its gaze rests on Star as it swings its wings, producing a powerful gust of wind to try and blow her backwards.

Oh shit! *Star almost gets blown into the wall behind her...but not any further, the mech suit being just heavy enough to let her move in the wind.* ...well, that was close. So, another dragon? Well then, time to do some slaying. *Star pulls out a gun and starts shooting at the dragon thing.*

What? Kotori draws her sword and enchants herself with flame before rushing the dragon and stabbing at its right eye

Izumi grabs a card out of her bag, the Empress. It glows, summoning a thorny crown-like ring of ice underneath the dragon-smoke monster. Well, at least this looks like the source. And a dragon, huh?

OOC: Honestly I think for now I'm gonna have to hit the pause (or reset) button on this. Feeling entirely overmatched right now...

OOC: ok, just ping me on discord when you reset. Am interested. Also, I'll DM you my feedback.