WHO: Juliet, Wren, Kaveh, and a soggy sand crab WHEN: November 10, 9:00pm WHERE: On the beach SUMMARY: While walking home, these three sense a call and stumble onto an unusual scene. One of the Chosen comes into her power.
Late in the evening, Wren and Juliet feel a faint humming—like something is calling them. Kaveh, too, feels something: a faint chill, like an instinct he hadn't used in a long time warning him about something. Juliet perks up and follows without second thought. Wren, too, though more cautious (and with her camera) sets out, as does Kaveh who sticks close to the rocks he loves.
At the beach, there's someone near the sand, carrying a large scythe and dressed in dark, deep crimson. They wear a large hat and mask that conceals their identity. The figure stands in the center of a magic circle, and as they stab the blunt end of the scythe into the circle, they fail to notice Kaveh's quiet approach. Wren and Juliet arrive just in time for the humming to intensify, the magic circle pulsating with energy. Immediately, Wren and Kaveh try to catch it on camera. Juliet stays back, but she does mutter (softly), "Yo..."
With a quick but intense flash, the circle materializes, the sand at the figure's feet rumbling. They jump back, causing Wren and Kaveh's attempts to catch nothing more than a blurry shadow.
"Good try," the figure says in a dry and masculine voice, perched from on top of a statue. They disappear in a blur, and before anyone can think to chase after them, the rumbling and damp sand solidify into the shape of something resembling a crab—a pincer and multiple legs coming out of a shell. The creatures isn't very happy. It looks ready to attack the three. Kaveh immediately hides, still trying to video the scene. Juliet, however, runs straight at it, trying to jump on its back. The creature attacks Wren, failing to notice Kaveh and allowing him to hide. Similarly, Juliet meets with no opposition and makes her way to the top of the soggy crab. This annoys the crab, who begins attacking her with its large pincer. Juliet hangs on for dear life, ducking and climbing towards its head. Wren searches for a weapon to assist Juliet.
The soggy crab makes a few passes at Jules. The crab is solely focused on her, to the point it forgets the other two. Despite this unwanted attention, Jules manages to achieve her goal and get closer to the head. Wren finds many rocks and sticks and is spoilt for choice. Kaveh is not interrupted, but he's yet to find anything of value despite his evaluation of the scene. Juliet attempts to jab it in its wet eye holes, as Wren comes closer, throwing rocks at the monster. Realizing that Kaveh is not gonna get anything more from his position, he attempts to distract the crab, to lure it between two large rocks and trap it.
The wet holes are plugged, but the creature doesn't see like a normal animal, so this achieves little other than making Juliet's hands wet and sandy. Wren hits the crab, creating holes in its shell. In distress, and something resembling anger, the crab follows after Kaveh and is momentarily becomes stuck. Juliet, attempting to avoid being hit by a rock, tries to barrel roll over the crab, but fails, falling. Luckily, Kaveh's reflexes are on point, and he catches her. Wren's attack disrupts the monster's energy flow, so it momentarily stops moving.
--- Kaveh shouts for them to put her sticks in its joints. He and Wren attack. Juliet hops out of Kaveh's arms to help, looking for her own weapon to attack with. The strategically placed hit by Wren and Kaveh makes the crab lose its pincer, hitting the weak spot, and the large appendage almost falls on them before dissolving into wet sand. Unfortunately for Juliet, she only manages to find a bucket, a toy shovel and a 25 cents coin. Juliet runs at the monster and tries to use the bucket to scoop its body.
Our valiant heroes attempt the same bold strategy; the crab, however, is smarter than it seems, so it swings the other limb to send Wren and Kaveh flying before they can hit the spot! Jules grabs a scoopful of wet sand before she's struck by the writhing crab. The crab frees itself from the rocks.
From the skies, a definitely not nocturnal bird can be seen sweeping into scene, carrying another smaller animal that jumps off and glides directly towards Jules.
Kaveh gingerly struggles to get to a standing position and squeezes out, "Lead to the ocean. It is sand. Sand is rock. Water erodes sand!" Always a moment for a geology lesson.
The falcon comes to rest on Wren's shoulder. Wren, remembering what happened las time, takes this in stride.
Meanwhile, though, a voice resonates in the back of Juliet's head: 'Thora! Remember-- do not forget--' The voice fades out, but a shiver-like jolt spreads from the stone that was now in her hand. Just like Eli, memories and skills come flowing back. Her new friend scurries away out of danger as a deep blue light surrounds Juliet and the air begins to crackle. Her hair flashes out around her looking white hot. Her ripped jeans transform into a pair of faded leather breeches and boots, laced tight to the knee, her t-shirt vanishes, a moment later replaced by a long, flapping coat with a fur collar. Her hair, lacing itself into an arrangement of fraying braids, falls in wild belts across her eyes. Strapped to her back: a metal shield that looks like it might once have been an oversized hubcap, and the massive blade, gleaming blue and flashing silver in the heat.
She swings the behemoth weapon from her shoulder, metal cutting a bright line through the air, and takes a shot at the crab. The boom resonates across the beach. The crab recoils and then explodes into sand and sparkles that fade away after a few seconds, leaving nothing behind.
Kaveh at first wonders if he played too many video games and his his head. He looks around and then quips, "And no loot." He winces as he tries to move. "Do you want to get ice cream? My treat."
Juliet replies, "Hell yeah, ice cream!"—adrenaline running high. The little squirrel is back at Jules when it's safe and he's staying with her.
Wren adds, "I mean, hell yeah. But do you need to go to a doctor or something first?"
"I just need to walk it off..." Kaveh says as he attempts to take a few steps. "Maybe... maybe rain check on that ice cream cone."
They have defeated the sand crab! And Juliet has unlocked her Gunblader Chosen job...but who WAS that mysterious figure in red...?