2017-04-14: Berried Echoes From the Past
- Log:Berried Echoes From the Past
- Cast: Corwynt (as GM), Gwen Whitlock, Vash the Stampede, Rudy Roughnight, Morgan Newkirk, Arleph Ardan
- Where: Berry Cave
- Date: 4/14/2017
- Summary: <Summarize!>
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
In the depths of the Berry Cave is a cavern, much like any other, except this one has an ancient terminal in one of the walls. Made by some organization called the "Seed Corporation," it indicates a relationship to something called "Botanical Laboratory BN-1303."
When last you left there, it was dark and unresponsive. With a power source, however, its secrets may be laid bare. The only remaining problem is that it's way down in the depths of the cave, and you're all the way up here. You should remember how to get there, though, so there shouldn't be any problem.
...probably?
======================<* CHALLENGE - Militia Checkpoint *>====================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- One of the local men from Surf Village is assigned to watch the entrance of the Berry Cave. He has been told to not let anyone pass -- especially those Drifters. But, he seems to be dozing off, and he is certainly bored. Maybe you can find a way past? =Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
There was an oddity they came across last time the party came down here. A thing that may, if they wanted to get any further, need a power source in order to properly investigate. Between the lack of knowledge concerning power sources, as well as the far more urgent need to deliver Heal Berries back to Adlehyde City, made the party set aside their discovery. It's been down there for thousands upon billions of years, Gwen had reasoned. What's a week or two? Maybe she could scare up an extra person to help figure out just what their discovery is.
Flash forward to.... now. Gwen has a plan. It is, unfortunately, not a very good one. They just need a power source, her Auntie Frea had surmised in their mutual messages over the Memory Cube. She then went on to say there was a possibility of Gwen using her own ARM to charge it, that she needed to make sure that she doesn't overextend her body, and, of course, to let Frea know all the details of what happens next.
Having summoned the original party, plus someone who answered the call for volunteers to brave the dangerous cave, Gwen sets to the cave with her horse Gulliver and their cart in tow, which she graciously offers to anyone wanting a lift. No deliveries leftover today, so there's room! .... Unless there's another hobo in there. Is there? She needs to check when she gets there. Maybe.
At least the entrance is guarded by someone who is human, this time, not a cucco. "... Y'think he'll be open to us going through?" She looks back to everyone. "Lemme see if I can sweet-talk the guy into letting us through."
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
Seed Corporation.
'SEED'
That day Vash saw that word in that simple, nondescript cave was like a rush of memories. Some of them beautiful. Some of them ugly. He had left them after declaring he had no idea what that machine is and had no intention of getting his soul stolen by it and used to power some enormous, apocalyptic seed cannon (his words). But that word was chewing away at the fringes of his thoughts ever since.
And perhaps that's he is again, arriving the second Gwen came calling --
the second she--
-- wait where is he.
"RUN! RUN!! CUCCOS!!"
Oh there he is, running and screaming and flailing his arms like they were pool noodles, his aqua blue eyes wide with horror, sweat pouring down his features, manly tears of TERROR streaming down his cheeks as if something more horrible than the imagination could conceive is beyond that horizon.
"THEY'RE BACK! AND THEY'VE GOT ARMS NOW!! GIANT METAL WINGS, AND LASER-SIGHT EYES!! RUN, SAVE YOURSELVES, AAAAAAHHHHHHH--"
And there Vash goes, with every intention of barreling right past the guard into the caves, shrieking a terrible death knell as he passes.
Probably as a bluff to get the man to run away.
Right?
... Right??
DG: Vash the Stampede has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Militia Checkpoint. DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Militia Checkpoint.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
A simple shrug has been the response for Rudy in so many things involving this job.
"You think that the plan will work, Rudy?"
"Rudy, you interested in joining us?"
"So, do you think that woman is a 10 or just a 9?"
So when it comes to the most recent question by Gwen, the answer seems as likely as one can imagine: Roughnight gives a simple shrug. The young man has clearly decided to support the woman and as usual, he's rather quiet. In letting Gwen do her thing, Rudy merely pulls out a small device, letting it send out a signal and bouncing it back, resulting in it letting him know objects that might be handy. Like things to hide behind while Whitlock (and perhaps others) do their thing, mostly since Rudy is very much on the DO NOT LET HIM BACK HERE list for Surf Town militia. And who knows, the radar might also show other objects of interest, which Rudy will point out toward other party members to use, regardless if they have any use or not.
Like a chicken without tendons, for example.
DG: Rudy Roughnight has used its Tool Portable Radar toward its party's challenge, Militia Checkpoint.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
That room at the back of Berry cave intrigued him more than most things he had found here. The Drifter had therefor come to the conclusion that he needed to go back. A few thoughts on how to power it came to him, but before he even could start to look for something appropriate Gwen had approached and suggested they all go back.
And Morgan does love company.
He peers at the guard, starting to nod towards Gwen in agreement about the birds when...
...well...
...Vash happens.
he blinks for a few seconds before he just shrugs. Runs with it. "OH NO WE CAN'T LET THAT PATIENT ESCAPE!" Because what else could Vash be but an escaped mental patient. I mean really. Come on. And off Morgan tears off after him.
...right past the hopefully flabbergasted guard.
Poor guy. What a day to come back to work on.
DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Militia Checkpoint.
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
Arleph, for the third time in a short time frame, is here again.
This time, however, he is here because of some notice that there was in the Adventurer's Guild, speaking of investigating something deep within the Berry Caves, something that was overlooked before! It's starting to look like they should, honestly, just have a way to deal with the local villagers to just... get in here, far faster, far easier.
The Doctor is joined by these people, which proves to be something of an... explosion of energy, unfamiliar to him. Vash in particular, is incredibly distracting.
Arleph coughs, sneaking up to the rest of the party, coughing into one of his gloved hand, pointing over to the sides of the cavern. "I, ah, be knowin' a secret passage we can just use while they're busy with yer fellow, there." He says, quietly.
DG: Arleph Ardan has used his Tool Optics toward his party's challenge, Militia Checkpoint. DG: The party led by Gwen Whitlock has passed this challenge! The party gained 12 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Morgan Newkirk has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* CHALLENGE - Poison Berries *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The curative berries that give this place its namesake are why many brave the depths of the Berry Cave. Some bright blue berries gleam, tantalizingly. They look like Potion Berries, the stronger of the two sorts of berries found here. But something about them is different... =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
It had been a long road to recovery for that guard. First, a strange young man had gone in to help someone at the village recover their child. The young man turned out to be the sort cursed with the power of ARMs, and thus told to leave, out of fear that his presence could ruin the quiet peace Surf Village desperately clung to.
Then, some time later, cuccos happened. He's not even really sure what happened there. Was it revenge? Did that young man have power over beasts? How much meat with a cucco that size have on it, anyway? Either way, the cucco chased him off. Then the cucco wasn't there anymore, which meant the cave was open for wayward children to fall into once more, so the man resumed his duties as guard.
Now it's... this. A strange man in red just runs by, yelling about metal cuccos with arms, while a beastman runs after him, yelling about... a patient? Is there a doctor nearby? The guard squints, distracted, completely overlooking the quiet blue-haired young man, who'd be strangely familiar to him in other circumstances. Gwen, finding the moment for sweet talk lost, just dourly looks to Arleph and nods. "... y-yeah, let's do that."
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
Past the discombobulated guard goes Morgan, the poor man just staring after. Unsure of just what to do. Finaly the Guard returns to his position. Right. So. That must have been a strange vision. Maybe he ate something bad for dinner last night. Its hard to say. The best thing to do though? Ignore it.
The Beastman slows though, a grin crossing his vulpine features as he pulls to a stop to glance around the cavern. One hand reaches out to rest against the wall, and that's when he notes the spread of berries sitting so delightfully right on the wall near him.
Tempting aren't they?
"Huh, look at this...if we were after berries we wouldn't have had to come far would we?" He asks over his shoulder as the other pop out of their secret passage. "...though. I didn't think the good ones grew in this part of the cave..."
DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Poison Berries.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
He's like a tornado of red and shrieking, he is, so blood-curdling one might honestly expect an army of cuccos to come barreling over that horizon. Of course, such commitment to the bit has its costs -- and so it is that Vash is rushing so quickly that he absolutely does not see the outcropping of rock until--
"THEY'RE SPITTING FIRE AND SHOOTING EGGS ALL OVER THE PLACE IT'S A LIVING HELL--"
- crack*
Until he rams headfirst into it.
There is a long, quiet moment where the suspiciously tall, suspiciously blonde, suspiciously red-coated man just stands there, in front of that rocky outcropping, head dug into the hard surface and staring at it with defiant eyes and flared nostrils. Tense, ugly moments. And then--
"It hurts -so muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch-!! It-- OH GOD CUCCO!"
And just as quickly as he wallows in pain, he is distracted from it, whipping around and holding his hands out in a fighting stance... right in front of Morgan. A second passes.
"Oh," he flatlines, squinting scrutinizingly. "... it's just you again." Just you. "I made that up. Right. ... Are you -sure- you're not a cucco though...?"
A dilemma for another time, though, considering there are some bright blue berries -right there-. Vash the Stampede blinks. His eyes widen. He starts visibly salivating. "Oh wow, those look delicious! I really wanna try some!"
And as he is declaring these woefully dangerous things, Vash, red-coated terror, is currently... eating.
... berry-frosted donuts.
... ... where on earth did those come from??
"Ah behd deesh whud guh rerree wehl whid deesh dughnuhdsh! Ehnywuhn wann shum??"
He's definitely talking with his mouth full. But man do those donuts look better than some suspiciously-looking berries...!
DG: Vash the Stampede has used his Tool SURPRISE DONUTS toward his party's challenge, Poison Berries.
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
Arleph, at least, is pretty glad of Rudy Roughnight's presence. He's proven himself to be very reliable during his excursion into another one such mine. Gwen, he's not too sure about right now. She seems a competent enough woman to deal with, especially if she truly found something of this magnitude in here.
Seed Corp seems like a very worthy thing to give and get a look into, especially if it is what he think it is.
And then the cacophony in human shape comes right into where they have been, the Simple Country Doctor jumping up as he comes up. "Gah! No! There's no cuccos here, pardner! No Cuccos here at all! Gods above!" He says, retaking him as he shakes his head, peering onward to the FAR too familiar sights of the berry bushes.
"Just ... look out for these. Don't touch them, don't pick them. And for the love of all dat be holy, DONT set them on fire, they just like to explode into poisonous, billious gas."
He looks back at Rudy, then Vash with his eyebrows raised... only to see the donut.
He stares, silently, at the donuts, frowning slowly.
"Damnit." He mutters, rubbing his eyes after removing his optics. "It's been months since last I had a donut."
DG: Arleph Ardan has used his Tool Optics toward his party's challenge, Poison Berries.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
Well, Rudy almost got away scot-free, but when he was fleeing, he leapt behind a rock outcropping and hit his head on a stalagmite. While his head is throbbing in pain, he was able to get past the area. As he moves forward, he sees that Arleph is present and not recommending that Rudy try the berries that look rather dangerous. Instead, the donuts are recommended and Rudy does move to take one. He gives a simple nod of thanks to Vash, clearly not too sure about this, but if someone else is eating, well, clearly it must be alright.
While eating the treat, Roughnight's time honored radar is pulled out again. This time, the blue haired lad is looking for a way around the possibly dangerous bushes. After all, sometimes the best way to handle a challenge is to avoid it altogether.
DG: Rudy Roughnight has used its Tool Portable Radar toward its party's challenge, Poison Berries.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"Oh hey," Gwen says, eying the berries. "Oho, these look good! Maybe we should pick some to eat some later. Though, uh, hold on, Morgan, I think I have a paper in my kit that talks about different berries." Taking out the slim case and slipping out a piece of paper, she's about to unfold it when there's a crack, followed by silence.
Then, Vash just begins yelling in pain. And being suspicious of Morgan's non-cucco state. Surely, if someone says they're not a cucco, that's because they *want* you to think that, right? That, or, he's showing signs of a concussion. This is becoming familiar territory for Gwen now. "Alright, alright, hold on. I got the kit out already, lemme take a look." Turning from the berries, Gwen looks to Arleph. "Aha, I knew you'd come in handy! I'll just steal one of these donuts instead. Mr. Arashmatash, you sure are prepared, looks like~" Grabbing a donut with one gloved hand and holding it in her mouth, Gwen checks Vash over, then looks over at Rudy. Taking the donut out of her mouth, a bite mark on the side, Gwen says, "Hey there, hold on. Need to check you too."
If Rudy allows for it, Gwen checks his head over as well, then presents a thumbs up. "Okay! Looks good for now." With that, she moves ahead, eating her donut. "... Man, these *are* good," she manages to get out, between bites.
DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Poison Berries. DG: The party led by Gwen Whitlock has passed this challenge! The party gained 16 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"We went over this last time Arashkabash," Morgan drawls as the man suspiciously glares and bleeds and wails in alternating cycles at him. Vash is a man of many names. "Not a cucco. No feathers. Just foxes." He adds with a cheerful grin. One clever hand snakes out to yoink a donut though. Because they are right there and if he is translating 'full mouth yelling' right then he's totally just offered everyone some.
If he didn't he's taking one anyway.
Besides. These are so much better than any berries! "Where did you get these? They are amazing..." He adds between bites as he strolls past the delectable looking but totally not donuts, berries on the wall.
DG: Rudy Roughnight has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* CHALLENGE - Frightening Screech *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- A terrifying, loud screech echoes through the walls! Something makes the ground shake and thunder! In the darkness, you see golden eyes burn hatefully! It approaches--but what is it, and is there truly any reason to panic? Time is short, before whatever this beast comes! =Dungeon Conditions: Wound====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
As the group makes their way past the toxic terrors, they soon find themselves in a long hallway. It seems to open up into something large, something grand. Bones of Wels, past drifters, and Cuccos, liter the area. Something horrifying is here. Something like... an Optional Boss Battle!!! A pointless struggle that may or may not offer additional loot is here and likely far too powerful for the party in their current state. At least that is the feeling that one might get in their bones as the monster gives a roar.
Last time, Rudy didn't have good luck with the brush with the beast, so he just pulls out the radar, finds some hiding spots and points them out. He doesn't really say anything to Gwen as she offers to treat him (as per his way), but he does something rare when she does so: the young boy actually gives a smile for her. That done, he leaps for one of the spots... Right into a patch of poisonous berries. Not only do they itch, but they also stain his white t-shirt with their dark blood. Why Rudy decides to wear white for digs and battle is beyond anyone's guess, but it's clear that is were a decent amount of his digging profits go.
DG: Rudy Roughnight has used its Tool Portable Radar toward its party's challenge, Frightening Screech.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
"Gwen Whitlock, you are once more my savior!!" Vash the Stampede declares, a bandage stamped proudly on his forehead and touched tears streaming down his face. It doesn't stop him, however, from leaning conspiratorially towards her and whispering, with a sidelong glance towards Morgan,
"Keep an eye on that one though. He's saying a lot of things a cucco spy might say...!!"
Truly, these are troubling times.
And so it is with the assistance of Arleph and Vash's mighty donuts, they navigate past those SUSPICIOUSLY TASTY berries. And Vash it seems, for once, is all too happy to share in his glorious bounty of donut-y goodness, laughing boisterously as he shoves a hand into his mammoth bag of pastries (seriously, where did that bag come from??) and starts to just toss them at everyone -- Arleph, Gwen, Morgan (even after he -swiped one-) -- even Rudy gets one tossed his way.
"GA HA HA HA! Yes! The first taste is always free! ... Wait, that sounds kinda insidious, doesn't it--? Well whatever! EAT UP, MY BOSOM CHUMS! A HA HA HA!"
So into this selfless spirit of giving Vash is, head tilted back and laughing riotously and flipping donuts in every direction at his companions, that he doesn't even seem to see those dangerously glowing eyes in the background, that terrifying, rumbling growl in the distance. No, he just marches along regardless, tossing donuts every which way--
--which probably means that the donut he flings with unerring precision towards that sound, and those eyes, in a way that the bright confection will land in distracting a way as possible, is likely total coincidence. Fluke. Chance. Right? Or maybe he really is that--
"Yes! YES! I hear your stomachs rumbling like the furious roar of powerful monstrosity! AHAHAHAHA!"
--no. No. He's probably just that stupid. There couldn't be any other explanation.
DG: Vash the Stampede has used his Tool SURPRISE DONUTS toward his party's challenge, Frightening Screech.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
Could totally be a cucco spy.
He totally could.
He isn't. But its always a possibility. Vash is good to be paranoid. The cuccos are insidious in their evil and violent ways. A terrible menace on society. Whether he is one or not though, Morgan Newkirk gives no outward sign one way or the other.
Instead he just chomps down on a donut.
"I love it when I meet friends with free food." He says to no one in particular. Just as the rumble echos down the chamber. "...yes. That is totally our stomachs. And not some mysterious creature sneaking up on us in the dark and waiting for the right moment to devour us down to our very bones." Morgan drawls as he slooowly glances over his shoulder. Quick eyes pick the scatter of pastries on the ground and the foxman who is definitely not from space makes a quick diving roll behind a particularly large bit of ribcage to find a hiding spot.
...somehow managing to come up from the roll with a donut. Snagged before it hit the ground.
Omnomnomnom.
DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Frightening Screech.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
There will come a time when the bandaids that are slapped on foreheads, stubbed toes, and raw knees are printed in an array of prints, from flowers and stripes to polka dots and rainbows. For now, the bandaid that is placed on Vash's head is a plain tan color. She even humors the poor man's concussion-fueled gossip, giving him a single nod and a slow thumbs up. "... I got this." This all could just be stemming from the log she threw at Vash's head when they first met. In fact, Gwen is *certain* of it.
Rudy, having his bandanna (and probably his pride), does not get a bandaid, but he's looked over, all the same. Upon seeing the rare smile from Rudy, Gwen finds herself already grinning back in response before she has a chance to appreciate how uncommon the action is for the younger Drifter. In the dark and uncertain cave, the quiet exchange may be overlooked, especially when a roar cuts it all too short.
Oh god, that thing is back! Looking to the others, she tries to point, using that glimpse of Rudy's radar as a reference. In order to buy some time, she gets out her tool kit, and, quickly attempting to pick out the tool she'd least miss (and probably was going to throw out anyway due to being close to broken), she flings it in one direction, away from the general area where she suspects everyone is hiding. Maybe away from the donuts, as well. Then, she scrambles, moving behind a pile of bones, momentarily feeling safe.
That is, until she realizes she's hiding behind a _pile of bones_. Gwen squeezes her thick gloved hands over her mouth to choke back her uncomfortable yelp. And then, swallowing her fear, she fumbles over to try to yank the foolhardy Vash over with her, if no one is able to get to him first.
DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool Tool Set toward her party's challenge, Frightening Screech.
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
The appreciation of Donuts is brought up. Arleph, as they move on, is surprised by Van's generosity. "Oh. Uhm. Damn." Ardan lets out, taking up the tasty, tasty donut with a firm look at the pastry, furrowing his brows. This brings up several other questions to his mind. Such as, where did they come from? Furthermore, how long have they been IN his pockets, like this, free like the wind? Furthermore, WHERE have they been baked?
"I'd kill for a nice glass of milk." Arleph says, munching on his bandana as they move on forward.
Then THAT THING IS BACK.
"Everyone behind cover!" Arleph lets out, hissing, covering the donut with his body as he rolls off, flicking up his optics from around angle to get a good look at it. Behind the opaque side of them, he lights them up, trying to get a good read. If everything's lucky, it's just the bunny with the really long-scrapping claws again.
DG: Arleph Ardan has used his Tool Optics toward his party's challenge, Frightening Screech. DG: The party led by Gwen Whitlock has passed this challenge! The party gained 12 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Vash the Stampede has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* CHALLENGE - Precarious Rope Bridge *>==================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Occasionally, there are terrific chasms visible, where underground rivers have cut through the limestone here. Long ago, prior visitors placed rope bridges to cross them. These have frayed and worn away. They may be sturdy enough to cross, but care -- or another means of moving over the chasm before you -- will be required. =Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
The donut is thrown and the group is able to flee. There is a long pause. History had it last time that the beast's mere close pass resulted in shake to their resolve and general well-being. However, the distraction seems to work and while there is some sort of snort to show an attempt at sniffing out the prey, the aroma of the donut over powers and the group is soon able to advance without too much of a problem.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
With the terrible secret monstrosity dealt with and Vash saved (?) by the sudden tugging salvation (?) of Gwen Whitlock, the way is clear to press further. And this time, it is VASH THE STAMPEDE (not the stampede (really)) leading the charge, immediately hopping free of that hiding space with eyes aflame...
"Huh? What? Where'd I go? What happened?"
... with confusion??
Dazedly at a loss of what just happened and apparently refusing to acknowledge the fact that he might have been eaten by a terrible abomination (?), the spikey-haired blonde man just kind of stumbles and staggers away as if trying to get his bearings. The others can certainly follow if they want -- and it might be wise because seriously it looks like he might just trip over and fall into some sort of convenient pit or something.
"Huh, that looks a lot like giant monster saliva--"
Following Vash, as is never a wise thing to do, -somehow- leads them all to the next area -- that yawning chasm, with only a rickety, swaying bridge between them and certain doom. Ropes fraying. Wooden boards waterlogged and -- rotting? oh that's not good -- it stands as a terrible testament to everything that could go bad, forever. They need to take their time. To think. To...
... is that Vash marching his way doggedly towards that bridge yes that's Vash marching his way doggedly towards that bridge--
--and he's looking to grab Gwen by the hand and -drag her along for the perilous ride- as he does.
"There's nothing to fear!! Say this chant with me: EYES CLOSED, HEAD FIRST, CAN'T LOSE!"
Wait, that doesn't sound right at all--
DG: Vash the Stampede has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Precarious Rope Bridge.
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
And then, there they go. The creature ended up to be something just as impossible as it could've have been. Arleph takes in a deep breath, following on along and then... approaches the dread of his existence.
Climbing.
"Bloody hell." The Doctor lets out, rubbing his face(with his non-donutted hand), looking up and along at the precarious rope bridge. That one was new. He takes a deep breath, moving on along the rope bride, being very, well, careful.
DG: Arleph Ardan has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Precarious Rope Bridge.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"That sound like an excellent chant! Keep it up! You'll make it!" Morgan shouts encouragement. Which not coming close to the damn bridge at all. In fact he's not even going to change the bridge. Instead he just raises his gauntlet and grins.
Blue white energy leaps from the fingers of the gauntlet to streak across the gap and slam into the far wall. With a manic grin the Fox just leaps for it. No hesitation. Just right over into empty space over the water. That energy seems to reel him towards the sticking point on the other side as he holds onto his hat.
"I LOVE THIS PART!" He cries as the wind whips at his ears and tail.
...he's a fox folks. He cheats.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Gwen eyes the chasm, then the rope bridge, then back to the chasm, giving each a long, dubious look. She looks behind her at the party. "Hey, uh, we should maybe go one at a time? I don't think this bridge'll take too many of us at one time."Her stomach? Even less.
Especially when Vash marches right by and takes her by the hand, *pulling her along*. "U-uh-uh..." Gwen nervously switches from confused acceptance, dazed weak resistance, and, when then they get to the rope bridge, *grim hold of death*. "Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod-" Blue-grey eyes just stare pleadingly at the Stampede, both hands clutching onto his hand for dear life.
She's going to die here, isn't she? This man, whose logical, sensible nature was konked straight out of his head with a log, is going to fall, and she, Gwen Whitlock, super courier, shall be pulled along with as punishment for her hubris.
Still, why is she still holding onto his hand for dear life if she doesn't trust him at all?
DG: Morgan Newkirk has used its Tool Force Lash toward its party's challenge, Precarious Rope Bridge. DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Precarious Rope Bridge.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
"I'm not sure about this."
Finally, Rudy speaks and perhaps in a way most fitting, it's to doubt Vash's judgement. Brown eyes take in the bridge, clearly not thrilled as a small frown forms. Instead, he takes a step to the side. What is he planning? He bends his knees. He can't be- He narrows his eyes as he looks toward his goal. Why would he- His hands touch the ground as he prepares himself for the sprint. Regardless of the logic or the motivation, he leaps.
While Morgan has his device, Rudy does not. He slams into the other wall of the opposing cliffside, just trying to grab anything he can with his gloves and slowly begin to pull himself up. It might be painful, but at least if he screws up and falls to his doom it won't hurt anyone else by himself, as opposed to what could happen if he messed up the bridge.
DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Precarious Rope Bridge. DG: The party led by Gwen Whitlock has passed this challenge! The party gained 22 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
"Oh, poor, young Judy," that is not Rudy's name, "you still have a lot to learn about being a Drifter. Don't worry! I, Vvvvvvvvery intelligent Mister Llamasmash, will take you under my wing -- h-hey watch out--"
And Judy Joughknight leaps. Vash watches with a perceptive eye as he does what rightly ought to be impossible for a normal young boy. His frown is so brief so as not to be seen.
"... wow, those donuts must've given that poor kid an incredible sugar high!" he declares, clearly dumbfounded.
Regardless -- the way Vash leads Gwen, and anyone else who chooses to follow him, is surprisingly exacting, missing all the weak points of the bridge as he drags them over to the other end. Harmless! Easy!
"OHMYGODITHOUGHTIWASGONNADIE"
...
"... I mean, I knew that was going to work! HA! HA! HA!!"
And so it goes.
DG: Gwen Whitlock has drawn a new Challenge.
==========================<* CHALLENGE - Giant Rats *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Giant rats are a common nuisance inside the cave, seeking the curative berries hidden within. They scurry in the dark, moving in packs and becoming quite hungry. Not only could they attack in their hunger, they can also knock one over -- or be tripped over, for an unlucky adventurer. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Once Vash leads Gwen across the bridge, Gwen just stares at him, dumb-founded, then collapses to her knees. "Oh god, I really was gonna die there..."
Wait. Vash was talking about something. Poor kid. Donuts. Sugar high. The thud she heard. Well, that wasn't Morgan, as Morgan seems to be fine, and he's not a kid. Gwen doesn't even bother to get up; she's scuttling over to the cliff edge, reaching down with her right hand when she sees Rudy doggedly climbing up the rock walls.
As the party gathers themselves and departs from the deep chasm and its attempt to obstruct them, a possible familiar path presents itself, which Gwen points out, helpfully. "I think this is where we were, last time," she says, hurrying on ahead. "It'll just be a hop, skip, and a jump awa-ACK!"
That is the sound a courier makes, nearly tripping over a rather large rat, then skipping over another trying to gnaw on her boot. "OH GOD they're everywhere! What in the world?! The rats don't get THIS big in the Badlands!!"
DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Giant Rats.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"Technically we are under the Badlands and not in the Badlands so...who knows what they were eating. Maybe some of Varshals super donuts got left here! They gave Rudy power, who knows what they could do!" Morgan gives his opnion as the swarms tumbles from the walls and over the little party.
His gauntlet hums again though and this time the energy surrounds him and then shoves out from the fox, rushing past others in the party to knock the rats away from feet and faces as he activates the power of his ARM.
...but not the guns on the ARM because that would just get problematic wouldn't it?
Too close for comfort really. And he wouldn't want that.
"Just keep pushing forward! Almost there!" He calls out encouragement as he moves.
DG: Morgan Newkirk has used its Tool Shield Gauntlet toward its party's challenge, Giant Rats.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
There is a bit of time that passes from the cliff. Some rocks fall, some slides are heard here and there, but finally, Rudy nears the top and unaware that he's being watched somewhat closely by Vash. He's slightly battered, but he seems to have survived and that is the important thing. As he gets close to the top, he looks toward the hand that is offered. There is a second of hesitation; as if afraid it will somehow bit him like a snake. Gwen gives him the final pull up and there he is, up on the other side. His eyes lock onto hers for a moment, giving a nod of affirmation in response. His silent praise offered yet again, he moves forward once more.
As the sounds of squeaks becomes known, Rudy pulls out his large bowie knife, perhaps not wishing to waste ammo on the creatures that soon present themselves. While they are not perhaps as dangerous as goblins or other possible threats, it's clear that unless deterred by others, Roughnight might just be willing to slaughter any rat he sees as he moves protectively in front of the party. But who knows, maybe even him looking like he's willing to engage in ratocide will be enough to cause them to back away.
DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Giant Rats.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
"Awack? ... huh. What's a jump awa--ACK!"
And this is obviously when Vash, blonde buffoon that he is, notices the very large rat that Gwen just tripped over. And, of course, hero that he is, he does what the truly courageous do:
He lets out a high-pitched squeal and just about faints dead away, flailing wildly as he goes.
"OH god, think of the diseases!!"
And as everyone else forges ahead, shooting and knocking rats away, Vash just sort of... rushes through. Screeching wildly in a very attention-grabbing way for hungry, angry rats looking for weak targets, the noodling fling of limbs somehow, miraculously, knocking raucous rodents aside from the others' path as he goes.
"Save your faithful disciple, o holy Crampus~~!"
He probably meant Granas.
... Probably.
DG: Vash the Stampede has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Giant Rats.
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
As predicted, Arleph have some problems with bits of flexible ropes, tall places and swaying bloody rope bridges. The Symbologist passes over the bridge, over the cliff, tightly coiled up and taking a very, very slow way through the entire structure. Once on the other side, he visibly lams on the safe, ol' firm ground, taking in a deep breath. "Gods. I need to build myself some hover spells." He mutters to himself, shaking his head, pulling himself up, looking up as he regathers himself.
Then. Giant Rats.
"You'd think that you would be taking care of the rodent population around here!" Arleph shouts, getting himself back to his (shaky) feet, snapping up his Symbological gloves and snapping them, unleashing large icicles of water to slam into the swarm of hungry, ravenous rats. "With all the adventurers that seems to sneak in here!"
DG: Arleph Ardan has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Giant Rats. DG: The party led by Gwen Whitlock has passed this challenge! The party gained 7 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Morgan Newkirk has drawn a new Challenge.
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Well-Stocked Goblins *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Drifters aren't the only ones to brave the Berry Cave. Goblins, semi-intelligent humanoids known to live in caves and other deep places, sometimes seek the same treasures. The ones that approach, however, aren't the half-starved creatures that one often finds. They carry battered gunsmoke ARMs -- and a supply of Heal Berries to tend to their wounds. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Indeed, with Gwen stuck in the middle of the pack of swarm of giant rats, bullets would be a bad idea. Arleph's icicles, with their better aim, provide an alternative as far as a possible means of long-range offense, while Rudy's bowie knife and Morgan's ARM provide the close range. Vash provides the final 'blow', if mostly as a means to distract the rats. while they're hammered away. The rest, sensing danger, run.
What danger? Them, or... what just might be coming up?
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
The Rats are gone, but as they flee from the might of the party it becomes obvious what they are fleeing from.
Goblins.
Who were after a meal.
...and now they have found a new meal in the form of Morgan and company. The gunfire and shouts coming their way echo off the cavern.
"These guys again!" The shield energy doesn't seem to fade as it deflects away round after round of the gunslinging goblins.
"Don't they ever learn?!"
DG: Morgan Newkirk has used its Tool Shield Gauntlet toward its party's challenge, Well-Stocked Goblins.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
And Vash... is still running. Still running, still running, is he screaming, yep he sure is screaming, that's not a great sound--
"SAVE MEE--blorf."
And this would be the sound of Vash sort of casually tripping his way past the Gobs, a disorienting tumble of red and blonde and blorfs, such that, as he falls within their ARM-wielding mob, and disappears within, people might just attribute the sounds of a gun going off to the Goblins themselves -- and the gigantic rock that comes tumbling down from some stray shot, rolling after those poor Goblins who just can't catch a break with natural formations trying to kill them?
Crazy coincidence.
DG: Vash the Stampede has used his Tool Machinegun Arm toward his party's challenge, Well-Stocked Goblins.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
As the group proceeds from the previous challenge of rats, Rudy moves his head just in time as a thunderous crack tears through the cave as a goblin has almost shot his head off. Most children his age would flinch, question how close they were to death, or something all too natural. But as Vash may or may not be realizing, the boy doesn't seem to handle a lot of things in a 'natural' manner.
Which, speaking of the man of many names, Vash will find that despite the battle that is looming, Rudy is looking right at the man. After all, when confronted with these goblins, Rudy killed with a cold-blooded nature. Vash, like before, is somehow not killing them despite his weapon. Once is chance. Twice is a pattern. A short pause goes on before Rudy pulls out his own weapon. This time, he shoots for the goblins weapons, moving to stay behind Morgan who is acting like a nice bodyguard with his shiny shield. His main focus are those that might be shooting on Gwen, clearly wanting to make sure she's safe first and foremost, but well, she's been helping him, so best to return the favor, right?
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Stumbling from the giant rats as they flee, the courier's face falls. "T-these guys again?" exclaims Gwen, her reaction and words nearly in sync with Morgan's own. "Man, this is just insane."
She doesn't want to waste any energy that could be used to power that device. Even if the coils in her coil gun won't use too much, she doesn't want to risk it. So, instead, she does the next best thing: she punches them.
Taking advantage of the distraction Vash provides (it's almost as if it's meant to be convenient!) and being mindful of the bullets that cover her, Gwen leaps in, landing a punch with her right hand into one of the Gob's faces. The glove on her hand masks the ARM underneath, of course, making the courier perhaps look a little strange as she attempts to use that same fist, over and over, on every hob she land her fist into.
DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Well-Stocked Goblins.
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
Rats makes some good eatin', in some circles, Arleph have found. The problem with them is the disease they carry. FORTUNATELY, with HIGH TECH PURIFIERS, the rancid flesh of rodent can be made edible, if you'd really rather not have to eat your boots! Or if you already have eaten them.
As soon the rats are taken care of, the Goblins comes along. These ones wrangle a look from the Symbologist. Of course, he's seen Goblins, before. These ones... these ones seems hungry. Also greedy.
"Bloody hell! We just stumbled on a hunting party!" He shouts, snapping his fingers again and unleashing another series of spells: this one, a rain of acid, coming on from above. "Everyone, stay in formation! We've got to push them before they get to us!"
DG: Arleph Ardan has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Well-Stocked Goblins. DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Well-Stocked Goblins. DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Gwen Whitlock has successfully explored Berry Cave!
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
One by one the goblins fall, before the last remaining few hustle down to goblin town, or wherever it is they go when they aren't wanted or needed. Left around the group is a small-to-medium pile of goblin corpses, a selection of Heal Berries, and...
...oh hey, a dead, unmoving terminal. ain't that a coinkydink?
It sits there, not doing anything, because it's been powerless for forever. Your move, Drifters!
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
There. There it is. "Aha! I knew we were going in the right direction!" Gwen pumps one fist into the air, a giant grin on her face. "Great job, y'all! Now, you all can just sit back, relax and... er..."
Her face pales as she looks at the terminal. Auntie Frea never did exactly explain much. "Uh, Morgan? Any of you guys? So, uh, never did reveal this plan because I wasn't sure you'd be okay with it, but. I think I can use my ARM to power this deal. But not for very long." She rubs the back of her head. "So, uh. Get into position for whatever's going to happen, because once I'm out, I'm *out*. Too much, and you'll have to carry me out."
Then there's the matter of Arleph. Sure, the whole concept of someone's arm being used to power a strange demonic machine entity thing may be scary, but she's certain they'll understand. Maybe. Arleph?
"Okay, uh." Gwen takes off her right glove, revealing a metallic, flexing hand. "Mr. Arden, was it? Usually I don't like to reveal this in front of people so quickly, but you seem to be a pretty swell guy. At least, the sort to understand what this means here." Dropping on glove to the ground, Gwen takes off the other glove on her left hand, revealing a healthy, pink hand. "Now, this doesn't get out, okay? It's a secret. There are probably lots of people a looot more interesting out there. And this?" She points to the terminal. "Much more interesting. I'm guessing."
A bit later, when people have gotten situated and Gwen finds a point where she *thinks* will work, the courier looks over at everyone. "Okay. If this backfires, I'll, uh. Buy you all a drink. We'll call it even."
Like that'll make up for it.
Clasping her hand around some wiring. Gwen exposes more of her ARM from underneath her sleeve, pinning the sleeve in place. "Okay..." Short curly hair floats upwards from the static electricity that begins to build, sparks forming around her right arm. "It's go time!"
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
On the one hand, this plan is sort of crazy; the terminal is probably not meant to take 'robot arm taser' as a power source. On the other hand, depending how old this thing is, it might have some serious surge protectors built in, so...play ball?
Gwen powers up for quite some time before the full charge vanishes intot he depths of the machine. The acrid smell of ozone wafts out, followed by old, old, dusty air. And then... a hum? Blue light suddenly comes to life from within the terminal's screen, followed by letters.
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
Arleph takes several deep breath. Casting spells quickly like that can be tiring, very tiring. Still, he recovers fast, quickly enough. He look at Gwen, his gloves shoving into his pockets. The older man frowns for a moment, looking at her as she speak things. "That's fine to me, lady." He says, looking over at the terminal, frowning. Now, that's a very advanced thing to find in a place like this. "You're powering up the terminal. There's nothing wrong with that, woman."
His eyebrows raises at the sight of the metallic arm. That's something he didnt expect.
"That's... some impressive cyberwares, lady." He says, watching her starting to power the terminal, giving a look at the other party members, frowning. "Nothing of this comes out. This is vitally important, not to mention polite, to be quiet about each other's little habits and secrets. We all have some of these."
The terminal vanish, the blue lights opens up as the terminal, Arleph giving a slow frown as he approaches the terminal.
"This..." He begins to say, looking up and down at the computer, his symbology gloves wriggling as he look over the words of the screen. "This is an log in message from the OS. Whatever happened here, the program had some problems loading up fro... gods, know since how long, at least a number in 6 digits of days." He gives a slight tap on the screen, frowning further in thought. "It likely tried to connect to a more global network, it didn't work."
He looks at Gwen. "I belive it's think you are someone else, and claims you have unread message and if you wish to read it." Arleph pauses, squints at the word again, then amends. "Or a draft of a document. Hard to tell."
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"...well I was gonna use my ARM to power it up. But...if you think you can darlin'..." Morgan replies wryly towards Gwen as she steps forwards. A frown slightly though at her before he nods slowly. "...and if it starts to looks dangerous or if something starts to overload I'll get you out. Don't worry about it."
...the he seems...suprisingly ok with this. Familiar with this technology. Which is...odd? But you know he was a Gear battler.
And Gear Battlers are strange arn't they.
Then Arleph is talking and Morgan just blinks at him a moment as the fox steps forwards. There is a curious look on his face as he peers over his shoulder at the screen. "...well if its been that many years, and judging from the place the network doesn't exist anymore. Even if it did the hardlines would be cut. There isn't anything left to connect too. But at one point there had to be labs liek this all over the place..."
...a long pause.
"I'm going to go with yes on this question though. See what happens."
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
As the terminal is discovered once more, Rudy walks with Gwen. He doesn't speak, which works out because he's not that great at it and he doesn't even know what to say in this situation. But she has her idea and Rudy just nods. It's not something he seems entirely comfortable with, but in the end, seems to respect her choice. He places one hand on her back, as if ready to catch her or perhaps pull her away if a swift retreat is needed.
Brown eyes look to her, look the screen, then to Vash, Morgan, and then to Arleph as the man tries to decode and seems to be decent at it. He hopes that someone will give some sort of answer that gives him peace. Morgan's response of 'mystery labs' being all over does little to soothe his concerns.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
That arm.
Vash arrives just in time to see Gwen juice that console up with her own limb. Whatever bizarre thing the blonde young (?) man might have said dies on his lips as he sees her sputter that thing online with the charge of her cybernetics. His brows lift, in tandem, eyes wide in muted, understated surprise as he sees it all come to life thanks to her actions. A moment passes.
His smile is a soft, gentle thing for Gwen, and yet somehow there's an undercurrent of sadness there as he steps up to that console and places a hand on her shoulder. Brief, and yet that hand feels heavy with the weight of its reassurance.
"Thanks, Gwen."
It's an oddly somber note that the red coated young man hits as he looks down at that screen with eyes that, for a moment, seem to reflect some sort of understanding of just what he's looking at -- what he's reading, even garbled as it is. Arleph explains, but Vash is already moving the leather-encased expanse of his hand up as he speaks to man that console, and load up the draft still lingering on that forgotten computer without so much as a blink, or a word offered to anyone. For all the red-coated eccentric might have been so bombastic before, to see him so distant is...
... disarming, in its own, strange way.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"Cy-berwares?" Gwen looks from Arleph to her hand, then back. "Oh! Uh, no, it's not ceramic." That's clearly what he meant, right? She gives the doctor a small smile, as he assures her. "Thanks. Both for that, and for for coming. I didn't get a chance to really tell you that, but. I kinda hope this helps you out."
Gwen looks at Morgan for a long moment, then shakes her head. "Nah. I'm just a courier. You seemed like you'd have a better idea of what'd come up." She wets her lips. "However, I don't know how long I'm gonna last, if this works. A human body's only got so much energy to go around." No one else should do it. Vash said something about how he didn't want it to steal his soul. That could've just been part of his usual happy-go-happy spiel, but still.
Rudy... just needs to be Rudy. He was scared enough when he accidentally nearly took over her ARM. He can sit this one out, as can Vash. They'll both be fine. Gwen can do this. "Morgan, I appreciate you keepin' an eye on things."
When it fires up, Gwen already feels a strain. Breathe. Just breathe. There's a hand on her shoulder, light, brief, and heavy all at the same time. She turns her head, and sees Vash. She smiles. "... Y'get to keep your soul," she murmurs under her breath, hopefully only for him to hear.
They're talking about a screen. She looks pale as she looks towards Arleph. "... Tell it yeah."
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
Vash's secret is safe; all anyone else will see is that the screen flickers more or less as Gwen says 'yeah', revealing...
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Gwen holds on to the wires, her own world seeming to construct down to a small fraction of her eyesight. She breathes in, out, each breath a conscious motion that becomes harder and harder to maintain.
Then, just when everyone's had the chance to glance upon the words, the screen flicks off, the courier's grip slackening and her body slipping to the ground.
When checked, she's still breathing, but she's unresponsive. Her color is pale, but stabilizing. Despite Gwen's unvoiced claims that she'd be letting go before this was going to happen, it may be that some unlucky soul'll have to cart her body out of the cave.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
Morgan glances over with some surprise at Vash. He wasn't expecting something like that from him. Honesty there for a second, but only when the cyberarm came out. And Gwen's comment about the arm causes him to smile.
"It's a term for an ARM like yours." He adds towards Gwen with a flash of a grin towards her, reasuring is what its ment to be at least.
The next file flashes up though and his eyes narrow at it. Again corrupted. Which isn't really suprising.
"Defintally an error message. Warning systems, something went very wrong...which..." A smirk. "...well that should be obvious." A frown then before he opens his mouth to say something else and...
...and Gwen collapses.
The fox blinks a moment as his attention is drawn away from the screen and then he sighs and kneels next to her.
Checking a pulse, to make sure she's still breathing. Rudimentry first aid, something anyone would know. Right? Right.
"I can carry her back, but it looks like she'll be fine. She'll just need a lot of rest after this."
<Pose Tracker> Arleph Ardan has posed.
Arleph's attention is upon the screen. Morgan's... own familiarity with the term cyberware is troubling, interesting. Even more, his analysis of the computer message is even more interesting.
He looks at the Beastman, an eyebrow raised further. "That's correct. Hm. I didn't figure you'd have some computer knowledge." He says, smiling..
Then Gwen collapses.
The Symbologist similarly move over to check on the poor girl, letting the foxman take the pulse as he was there first. He performs secondary checks-up, his gloved hands roaming over her throat and back where she fell. He nods, in approval. "Yup, nothing's broken. I'll take notes of what's on the screen then we can get out of here."
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
Rudy just looks to everyone who seems to know and understand what is going on with the 'ancient' tech, the blue haired boy just saying nothing for the time being. In the end, it doesn't really matter to him. It doesn't seem to help people, doesn't provide any answers (seemingly), and there is no profit. As a Digger, might be worth something to get the console out, but as Roughnight considers it, he looks toward Vash. Like before, some insight is gleamed and he decides to merely leave it be.
And then Gwen collapses?
As she falls, Gwen is lowered to the ground by Rudy, who was ready for this moment. However, he lets Morgan and Arleph look at her before letting the fox-man take the woman up. "I'll make sure the way is clear ahead. We should get her to a place she can rest." And with that, he just begins to walk off, giving the console a final look before making his way into the caves once more.
<Pose Tracker> Vash the Stampede has posed.
Despite what everyone else is saying, Vash is silent as he looks over that draft. Those aqua eyes look sharp, as if he were already piecing things together in a way his previous antics probably wouldn't have suggested possible. The young-looking man closes his eyes, and heaves a sigh.
Seed. Not..
Gradually, his gloved hand falls away from the console. He looks up, and boldly declares, with great certainty,
"I have no idea what strange, mystical language this is, but we should probably leave before it curses us with Heal Berry Bedlam!!"
A fist is clenched. For emphasis. "... Seriously I'm really scared you guys--"
And then Gwen collapses.
Those eyes widen. It's remarkably fast, how quick he pivots to face her. Concern is writ large on that normally goofy face, but as the others confirm that she's alright, another sigh escapes him -- one more relaxed, more relieved.
Morgan offers to carry her -- but the tall man in the red coat is already crouching down, to slip hands around her and lift her like she weighed little more than a twig. He doesn't draw attention to it. He just looks ahead as he stands, eyes afire and nostrils flaring.
"Yet another victim of the Heal Berry Bedlam...!! Quickly, to safety!"
And here, Vash the Stampede is just going to march off exit-wards -- making sure, at least, to trail behind Rudy as he decides to clear the path.