Scene #1836:

Owner	Pose
Yunomi Stadler	THE CAVERN OF LIFE. Izzet Base Camp. Goblins are scurrying about, looking suspiciously up at the cavern's surroundings as they set up equipment, cautious of where they're stepping. A few might have been involved in the suspicious happenings back at Nivix in the Overgrown Lab, and this has the same weird... green feeling. Their superviser, however, is far more comfortable in the environment. Her goggles are perched on her head as she emerges from the tent, clad in the brilliant reds and blues of her league... and a pith helmet.
Shadumbra	Shadumbra comes slinking onto the scene in the form of a large purple-black panther. The low bend of her legs has her belly skirting the ground, and the way her ears are bent back against her head suggests she's wary. Shadumbra's wide, moonlit eyes look bigger than usual, and she sniffs often as she emerges from hiding. The nearest piece of lab equipment is treated to the scent-marking rub from Shadumbra's furry cheek. This is mine. Satisfied, she straightens up, relaxes, and finishes her prowl into camp. In the middle of the bustle, she sits back on her haunches, and lets out a wide yawn.
Toph Beifong	Okay, this is the first time she's here... but why not? It's not like she has anything else to do tonight. So the greatest earthbender of all time has decided to help out, hurrying off to Izzet Base Camp. Stepping foot through the portal she surveys the area. Oh great, are those goblins...? That makes her frown a bit, thinking back upon the incident that she was solved to handle along with Frederica and Kirito. But she walks over to where Yunomi is, raising a hand in greeting. "Heya there, you found out what kind of sound that was?" she inquires, placing her hands on her hips where she stands, ready to pick up anything that happens in the area. Just what is going on around here?
Ysabel Thibault	The strangely-colored panther is soon followed by a vaguely more normal individual as Ysabel trails into the camp, covered by her silvery Kushala X armor with her full-face helmet tucked under her right arm. The sword tucked on her back and the shield on her right forearm seem to be made of the same material, but neither is out for immediate use at the moment. Pale blonde hair falls freely behind her, and sea green eyes are narrowed in frowning analysis of the goblins and bizarre equipment. All this sciency stuff is way out of her purview, but there's probably something she can manage here without worrying about that, right? She's still not fond of those goblins, though. Yunomi's given a brief nod once Ysabel comes to a halt nearby. "Hey. Ysabel Thibault. I...do I know you?" She pauses, frowning in thought for a minute as she tries to remember until, with a shake of her head, she gives up. "Anyway," the huntress continues, jerking a thumb over to Shadumbra, "I was just following the cat, don't mind me. What's going on here?" A glance is given to Toph when the earthbender arrives, the expression on Ysabel's face one of vague confusion at such a young and apparently unarmed girl showing up here. But...then again, Multiverse, she reminds herself, before she blurts out something that might offend someone.
Shadumbra	Shadumbra flicks an upturned ear toward Ysabel, and lets out a chuff that sounds suspiciously like a laugh. If panthers could laugh.
Bruce Banner	Riding in from one of the far portals along whatever road structures there are, Doctor Bruce Banner arrive on his Stark-built motorcycle. Having spent quite some time in the medical bays after an unexpected tussle with a Sayian, the good doctor has decided to do more medical work and support. While the med center has been his place of work for a time, Bruce feels he'd be useful in the field with his talents. And, when certainly necessary, the talents of the "Other Guy" as well. "Greetings all. I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to have medical support on this expedition. Hopefully, we'll need minimal patching up though." He smiles politely before assessing medical supplies and prepping things.
Yunomi Stadler	"HEY!" Squeaks a goblin, reaching over and considering trying to shoo the large, purple-black panther, but settles for standing ten feet away and trying to wave it away, a greasy rag in his green, wrinkly hands. "SHOO! SHOO! Cats an' equipment don't get along! What do you think we are? Big-cat-lovers anonymous? ... he trails off, and lowers his own goggles over his long, hooked nose, and shrilly screeches "HEY! OILS! There's oils on here now! /THIS MIGHT THROW OFF THE CAAAAAAALIBRATION!/" he cries out, exasperated, and begins to frantically wipe away at the equipment. "The boss was /very very strict/! Nothing from the machines hits the ground and we leave this /pristine/!" Yunomi had blinked a moment, shaking of her hands a moment as they crackle with energy or a moment, and then she gives a jump at Toph's arrival. "oH! Sorry about that -- accidentally set off a ..." she begins, and gives a laugh. "Don't worry about it." she replies. And when the big cat and the hunter arrive, Yunomi's own ears prick up. "I don't beleive so, hello! Yunomi Stadler, Izzet League, the pleasure is mine, Thibault." she gives a smile. "We're doing a little investigation into the mana here; I'm running an experiment and need a high-mana environment." she explains. And she motions to her equipment. "Everything here /should/ be cleaned up by this time tomorrow..." And Yunomi pauses when Banner walks in. And her eyebrows rise up. "Doctor Banner?" she inquires, and then gives a rub of her neck. "Jeez... I wasn't... I mean... I /was/ joking about the doctor." she explains.
Shadumbra	Shadumbra lifts her head to take a few deep sniffs, eyes narrowed; as she lowers her head again, she makes a sound of rumbling satisfaction, and stretches out her large paw to drag it through the soft, peaty earth. "Life's currents are sometimes no more than unseen trickles, but here, the rivers flow strong and swift and wide. I have traveled far, and rarely have I ever encountered a haven so flush as this outside Moonglade or Mount Hyjal. How blessed you are to work in such a place." The panther -- crescent moons painted on her shoulders, jewelry dangling from her neck and ears -- moves from her seat to wind around Ysabel's legs. Of course, Shadumbra's tall enough to come up to Ysabel's waist, but that doesn't stop her from acting like a much smaller animal. "Where shall we begin?" Though her jaws don't move, the voice emits from her anyway, low and feminine.
Toph Beifong	Is that... a panther? Ysabel earns a nod of the head, though Toph doesn't turn towards her. Though of course when Banner himself shows up Toph blinks... and her face brightens up in a sincere smile. "Heya! And hey, we will kick ass and not need medical help. You should take it easy anyway, right? Leave it to me," she says, reaching out to punch Banner in the shoulder. Hard. The goblin earns a huff however, and the blind earthbender turns her head just slightly. "So... investigation, huh? What are you going to use the mana for anyway?"
Ysabel Thibault	Ysabel turns back at the sound of the motorcycle, a blaring cacophony that's enough to get her attention quickly. Green eyes give Banner a once-over before she offers a nod of greeting. "Medical's pretty much always a good idea in situations like this, so. Welcome to the party, I guess?" A glance at the motorcyle. "...the hell's that thing, anyway?" Her attention turns back to Yunomi next. She never seems to smile, but at least her grumbly tone is friendly enough. "Stadler, nice to meet you," Ysabel replies, nodding briefly. "I'm...gonna guess mana is some kind of magic thing, right? I don't know the first thing about how to work with that, but if you need heavy lifting, I'll help out. Or heavy hitting. Working out in the wilderness is basically like holding up a 'come fuck up my shit' sign for monsters." Then Shadumbra's curling around her legs, and while Ysabel makes a face that could be best described as the visual equivalent of 'mneeeeh,' she doesn't do much more to get away than lifting her arms a little. "So you can feel the nature magic power too, huh? I guess that means it's pretty legit."
Yunomi Stadler	"AAAH! IT TALKS!" screeches the Goblin, who immediately abandons his wiping and ducks behind some of the equipment. "That is some Selesnyan bullshit right there, Supervisor!" Yunomi was about to reply when the panther speaks. Her eyebrows rise up again, and she purses her lips. She raises one hand. Then she lowers it. "No, no I don't think so, Dix." she replies to the goblin, and then turns back to her new companions. "Yes, mana is... magical energy, though where I'm studying, it comes in five diferent flavors. Here would be very 'green' mana, having to do with life... and man, this place, it makes me feel incredibly invigorated!" Yunomi states, and turns, spreads her arms, and stretches her fingers as wide as they'll go. "Mana-rich environment. A huge chunk of the multiverse where I feel totally alive and at peace... so of course, I've got to study it." she states. And she turns to the assemblage. "I work in mana conservation and generation, I'm trying to make mana way more accessable to everywhere..." she begins, and then she rubs the back of her head.
Shadumbra	"So, you would like to siphon the mana, and collect it into your technology for later delivery." Shadumbra sits again. "The technology you seek to create can become destructive, if not controlled. Life gives, but can only give so much before it fails. Have you considered how to strike a desirable balance?" Trust a druid to start talking about all that 'balance' nonsense. At least she's not purring up on Ysabel anymore.
Bruce Banner	Banner gets punched in the arm...hard. "Heya Toph. Quite true. Though no reason not to at least be careful, right?" Bruce takes note of what Yunomi says and pays attention to his surroundings. Quite attentive, the good doctor also feels slightly out of place. Strange new worlds, as they say. Each world and universe he gets exposed to, however, gives him that much more insight, and that much more curiosity.
Ysabel Thibault	Ysabel gives the goblin a brief look of confusion before she lifts her free hand. "She's not a Selesnyan...whatever, don't worry. I mean...aside from the nyan, since she's a cat, and they apparently like saying that stupid stuff. But I haven't heard her say that yet, so you're safe." Shadumbra's suddenly given a faintly wary glance, as if Ysabel were briefly afraid she might be a different sort of talking cat in disguise. Then she realizes that stealth is nowhere in the purview of Felynes and allows herself a quiet sigh of relief. Her attention shifts back to Yunomi again. The tanuki's explanation just makes Ysabel look even /more/ confused for a minute, scratching her head as she tries to piece things together. "So...you want to make more green mana so you can throw hoopty life bullshit around at things, like crops and stuff? I guess that's pretty helpful. I'd worry about some kind of plant apocalypse if it goes too far, but considering where I'm from, that's not too absurd."
Toph Beifong	"Oooh, right. Different kinds of mana, I recall you mentioning that," Toph nods at Yunomi. Green mana sounds decent, anything having to do with earth is good. For now Toph listens to Yunomi's explanation. Though she has to roll her eyes at Sadumbra. "Yeah yeah, doomsay progress..." The others babble on about stuff Toph doesn't really know much about. Though she does have to wonder since when Ysabel got a talking cat. Though suddenly Toph halts, her eyes widening. Without warning she drops down to one knee and places a hand on the ground, narrowing her eyes. "I hate to disturb you guys, but something large is moving..." she states before she raises her head slightly to adress Yunomi. "Anything of yours? Or should we be worried?"
Shadumbra	In response to Toph's alerted state, Shadumbra slinks back into the shadows and undergrowth, all but vanishing from sight as she prepares to ambush...whatever is lurking below ground.
Yunomi Stadler	"Only a relatively small amount, for comparitive purposes. Balance is actually one of my functions. Ravnica is a huge city, sprawling over the world, once blocking out the sun from its oceans. I want to make the place more... mmmn... harm--mo..." she pauses, and she turns to Toph. "... no. No, I think all of my team are here..." And the ground begins to rumble. It shakes below them, and Yunomi corrects her stance a moment, her arms going out and fingers splaying. Lightning begins to crackle between her fingertips. "Everyone -- defensive measures! Protect the managenerators! Dix--" Dix, the shrieky goblin, holds up a canvas sack, marked with the insignia of the Izzet League -- and a yellow warning exclimation mark. "I HAVE MY BAG!" he shrieks, and cackles maniacally.
Shadumbra	Shadumbra settles into a readied crouch. An intense, focused glare takes over her curious expression. Ears swiveling like radar dishes, she watches the ground from her hidden place among the greenery, waiting to strike at whatever should appear... ...well, if it's /hostile/, anyway.
Bruce Banner	A slight beep is heard from the watch around Banner's wrist. Closing his eyes, Bruce takes a few deep breath and the watch silences. Taking a few steps back he finds a more defensible position and readies himself should there be need for a stronger defense. "Any indications as to what is might be? Sounds....large...whatever it might be."
Toph Beifong	The earthbender quickly gets to her feet, a serious look on her face as she assumes a stance... and throws her arms out. It's as if she fights against a heavy weight as she grunts, focusing on the earth to stabilize it as well as she can so the others can move. "It's freaking huge!" she warns the others. "Forget about the cruddin' bag!" The beep from Banner's watch does make her worry a bit, and she shakes her head. "I don't know what it is, but we better handle it!"
Ysabel Thibault	Toph mentions 'something large' and Shadumbra slinks into the shadows, and Ysabel just rolls her eyes with a weary groan. "/Knew/ it," she grumbles, hoisting her helmet up and tucking it onto her head. It almost entirely obscures her face, save for her bright eyes shining through the holes in the helmet's mask. Daora's Razor is drawn from behind her, the broadsword given a quick twirl in her left hand before she grips it firmly in her hand. A glance is given to Yunomi. "Know anything about the wildlife around here? Weakness to loud noises, maybe, considering it's burrowing?" Her eyes shift briefly to Dix again, narrowing behind her silver helmet. "...and what the fuck's up with him? Does he need a tranquilizer or something?" And then Toph gets Ysabel's attention. 'Freaking huge' is a somewhat vague term, especially where she comes from, but she's not about to question the straining blind girl for specifics when it seems like a pretty dire situation. "Tch. Sounds like you'd better move anything important out of the way if it's going to burst up here," she shoots over to Yunomi.
Yunomi Stadler	"HEY!" Dix yells, "You have no idea what's even /in/ my bag!" the goblin shouts. "The equipment's too large to move quickly, but don't worry. If it's after one of us, we're mobile." Yunomi replies to Ysabel, and then at Banner... "ah..." she prepares a spell, her fingers crackling with energy... and she turns to the hunter and the place where the Panther was. "No... but... you might want to give him some room." And that's when the ground errupts. The tent and a few goblins go flying, giving cries of alarm. Don't worry, they'll be fine. Arriving out of the ground is a massive creature, its body constructed of vines, its talons massive, scratching thorns. Colored in greens and browns, save for its head. A large, bright pink frill protects its neck, with flaps to either side. Its face has beady, bright amathyst eyes and its mouth is forked, flicking out as it gives a garbled groan. Passing back between each of them in turn, as if considering which it should attack first. It stretches fifteen meters, from front to back.
Toph Beifong	"Here it comes!" Toph warns them, then braces herself as the thing bursts out of the ground. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to be something she's familiar with, not even like any of the Pokemon. But rather than wait to see if it's friendly Toph throws her hands forward, not once but three times, and several earthen spikes shoot out diagonally of the ground towards the creature to push it back and away from the others. "I doubt it's friendly!" Toph calls, then frowns. Earth against plantlike things isn't the best thing in her experience, not after her relatively recent fight against Biteblade... but she has to try. If not there's bound to be metal around, isn't there?
Shadumbra	As the immense beast emerges, Shadumbra hunkers lower to the ground, a fearful shudder causing her hackles and tail to fluff out into bristles. Then, an immense bear comes crashing through the undergrowth, bellowing a roar loud and powerful enough to challenge the vine-beast's own hideous noises. Shadumbra, transformed from her cat shape, charges forward in a rush to try and absorb the vine-beast's attention, foreclaws swiping, rage in her eyes.
Bruce Banner	"Well. This seems unexpected. I'm guessing he's the welcoming committee?" There's a touch of the good doctor's typical dry wit and sarcasm attached to his tone as he calmly steps back and places his medical bag off to the side. "Well, he's not the only one that can do green." Bruce closes his eyes as he finishes his statement. A moment later, his eyes spring open and this eyes are glowing green and irridecant. Bruce bends forward, his shirt beginning to swell, tearing his shirt apart as his form increases in size and green pigmentation. His muscular structure increases and strengthen until The HUlk stands in the place where the scientist once stood. Throwing his arms back and his chest out, Hulk let's out a deafening roar!
Ysabel Thibault	The earth suddenly bursts open, and Ysabel takes a few staggering steps back before bracing herself and lifting her shield in front of her. Her narrowed eyes peer up at the creature, and a silent curse hisses between her teeth. Judging by the look of things, she /really/ should've brought a fire weapon instead of ice. Oh well. This should still do it, right? As Toph shoots up earth spikes and Shadumbra prepares to tank for the team, Ysabel sprints forward and leaps up to the giant creature's side. She probably can't jump high enough to climb on its back, but her sword drives down to stab into its side vines with a burst of frigid ice on impact. Sure, it's going to damage it, but that's not her main focus: she's trying to get a good hold on the creature so that she can start scaling it, alternating between digging her shield between vines and stabbing her sword into them.
Yunomi Stadler	The creature gives a roar again, its gnashing thorny claws digging into the ground, upsetting the soil and ripping the underbrush. It gives a low, threatening hiss, before Ysabel and Toph act. It rears upwards, vines snapping to the sides to try and grasp at the spikes. When the ice blade strikes, the creature gives a loud cry of pain, twisting around itself impossibnly, trying to catch the pain in the neck with its teeth. Yunomi takes to the air, her hands crackling with electricity as lightning crashes down towards the tail end o the beast! Dix, on the other hand, grapples with the bag, and then he unleashes a massive blast, a fireball launched from the canvas, haphazardly and through the group! Goblins... pretty much the same everywhere.
Yunomi Stadler	The creature considers the bear to be airly delicious, and cuddly. Perhaps best friends, under different circumstances.
Shadumbra	The bear, Shadumbra, lets out a rather confused 'awroo?' kind of sound in response to the vine-beast's total lack of hostility. Again, Shadumbra swipes, roars, and does whatever she can to keep the focus where it belongs, but...the...complete lack of reaction makes her think that maybe some other response might be appropriate. Shadumbra rears back and shifts again, becoming as elven as can be. The Night Elf stretches out her hands, and tries to commune with the creature, and to incite a sense of peace and quiet -- to /soothe/ its rattled nerves. "Calm yourself, beast. Be at rest, for we bring no harm to you or your lands. By the grace of Elune, be calm..."
Toph Beifong	"Big boy, stick close!" Toph calls to the Hulk. It's always better to stick close she imagines. Even if she isn't sure how clear his head is right now. Though her eyes widen when the cat changes into... a platypus bear? Wait, no... a bear. Is she a shapeshifter? As Yunomi, Ysabel and Dix too begins assaulting the creature Toph takes a quick moment to breathe before she steps forward and begins working on a bigger move. When Shadumbra changes into a more humanoid form Toph blinks. "You really think it will listen to that?!" she asks, then she stomps her foot down into the ground... and a large boulder shoots up from the ground, and Toph punches out, sending it straught towards the thing's head!
Bruce Banner	Hulk moves in closer to Toph in a more protective stance. He steps forward and growls out "HULK SMASH!!" as he leaps up at the creature and bears both fists down toward the ground hard and fast, with the creature's head between the ground and his fists, as if trying to drive completely through the ground. Hulk will then continue to pound into the creature to keep it busy or stop it, whichever comes fist.
Ysabel Thibault	"Oh fu-" Ysabel only manages a brief curse as the creature's head snaps around at her, teeth gnashing and clutching at armor of metallic dragon plates. It's not a great situation: the huntress is promptly yanked off like a troublesome flea, taking her sword and shield with her. Fortunately it doesn't make terribly deep wounds, but being in this thing's mouth isn't a great idea. It's for this reason that Ysabel just starts viciously /stabbing/ at the beast's jaw, thrusting her razor-sharp blade of ice into vines again and again. She just manages to overhear Shadumbra and Toph, which inspires her to shout at the top of her lungs as she's gnashed between teeth, "SHE HAS MAGICAL CALMING MYSTIC BULLSHIT FOR FOREST ANIMALS, JUST MAKE THIS THING FUCK OFF BEFORE IT EATS ME!"
Yunomi Stadler	The creature paaauses in its assault. It tilts back, and gives a loud "Hrrruuuuuuuuuuuugh?" sound, questioning. Its amathyst eyes turn, and focus on the druid. For a few brief seconds, there is only the creature and the druid, and peace could possibly reign. Like tacos. AND THEN THE HULK SMASHES IT. Flecks of fluid and droplets of juice go everywhere, and the creature gives grunts and creaking, pained sounds before it flials around, and then downs itself, trying to bury itself in the ground, weeping sap from so many places along its vines!
Shadumbra	Oh, goodness. With an idle flick of Shadumbra's fingers, a swirling green light shaped like falling leaves settles around Ysabel. It brings with it some rejuvenating power. It's not much, as Shadumbra's no dedicated healer, but it might help at least keep the nastiest wounds in check. Druids -- the ultimate multi-taskers.
Shadumbra	As the creature lumbers away, Shadumbra cries out. "Wait! Let it go -- there's no need to pursue it! There is an intelligence to the creature; my spirit and its came to a brief understanding. Perhaps it will learn something from the encounter today..."
Ysabel Thibault	Ysabel's next shout is her falling from the creature's mouth, which is, in turn, immediately cut off by a 'hurk' and the clattering of metal plates as she lands face-down on the ground. It's a few brief moments before she groans and stirs, steadily pushing herself to her feet and then rising to an unsteady stand. Once she's found her footing, she takes a minute to watch the plant beast burrow away, then sheaths her sword and puts her free hand on the side of her head. With a brief wince, her neck is given a quick crack, then her back arches to follow with its own series of pops before she turns to Yunomi. "See? I talk about fucking plant apocalypses and look what happens. I hope you don't cause something like /that/ by accident." A pause before she adds, "...or on purpose, for that matter."
Toph Beifong	When the Hulk actually steps in front of her Toph arches an eyebrow, though she doesn't actually stay still. Instead she keeps on launching earthen spikes towards it. When it tries to burrow however, she frowns... then spreads her arms out in front of her, yanking her hands down as she works stabilizing the ground a bit more for the others. "Yeah, might as well let it run off if it has learned a lesson," Toph snorts. Then she sighs, turrning back towards Yunomi. "You know /why/ that thing showed up?"
Bruce Banner	Falling away and leaping back, covered in goo, Hulk looks at the creature, and then to Shadumbra. He gives a bit of a Hulk-scowl, but let's the creature go since it's no longer a threat. Once the threat is gone, Hulk finds a place to relax for a few minutes to calm down.
Yunomi Stadler	"... oh my god. I want to try and summon that. Think it will get along with my Dragonsnaps?" Yunomi asks Dix. Dix acepalms. Yunomi turns, and takes a deep breath. "... well. Plant apocalypses not withstanding... I'm going to beef up security... take a note." Yunomi gives a grin. "... that was pretty cool."