2017-07-01: The Place Once Called a Temple
- Log: The Place Once Called a Temple
- Cast: Avril Vent Fleur, Corwynt, Matilda Whitehead, Riesenlied, Noeline
- Where: Temple of Rejection
- Date: July 1st 2017
- Summary: Avril accidentally trips the security in the Temple of Rejection and gets trapped inside. While her friends are off looking for help, other people arrive and also get trapped. An escape attempt becomes necessary.
DG: A party led by Avril Vent Fleur is now entering Temple of Rejection. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
==============<* CHALLENGE - Open Entrance to the Closed Palace *>============== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The entrance to the interior of the temple is, generally speaking, a massive stone wall with no noticeable locking mechanisms or method of operation. Right now, though, that wall just simply isn't there, letting you freely wander in to the massive entrance hall, full of beautiful, stone-wrought paths and pillars and at its very center, three large, floating crystals: one red, one white, one blue. At least, that entrance is open for as long as it takes you to step inside, at which point the wall will just suddenly reappear behind you as if by magic as alarms blare all around you for your intrusion, easily as big as a Gear and dense enough to withstand the strongest of blows. There's no way to go but forward, now, with a stone-carved console from a bygone era capable of opening one of many paths further into the Temple of Rejection if you can but figure out how to use it... =Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
According to the local traditions in Gounon, a cask of wine is left here at the temple each and every year as an offering. Very few of the villagers dare do more than that -- this place is known only as hallowed ground, the alleged site of the first apple tree in the region, and no one wants to risk angering whatever might rest below.
A young woman and her friends had only arrived hours ago to make an offering, at the request of the local mayor.
Something had gone very wrong. They had raced for the exit, only for the door -- the wall -- to suddenly seal shut, trapping the young woman, Avril Vent Fleur, alone inside the temple. It showed no signs of reopening. With little recourse, her friends had hurried back to Gounon to try to find someone -- or someones -- willing to help.
The temple is silent and still by the time anyone else arrives, showing no sign of the chaos that had transpired hours earlier. The door is open.
There's no sign of anyone trapped in here either -- or at least not immediately. Moments after anyone else enters the temple, a young woman peeks out from behind one of the pillars, hesitantly. "Dean? ...Rebecca?"
A staticy hiss snaps out within the temple atrium and all at once klaxons sing as the place onces again comes alive. An electronic voice, heavily modulated, makes a staid announcement.
TARGET REACQUIRED. INITIATING HIGHEST SECURITY PROTOCOLS. REPEAT, INITIATING HIGHEST SECURITY PROTOCOLS. FACILITY NOW ENTERING LOCKDOWN.
The young woman's blue eyes widen and, emerging fully from behind her pillar, she rushes for the doorway--
Which is no longer present, in a sudden flash of yellow light. There's only a wall.
The young woman pulls up short, exhaling a short breath as she stares at the spot where there once was a door. "...It's happened again..."
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
While White Knight Leo has been busy being a whole lot of himself to the people of Lacour, Storm Fist Corwynt was doing what he normally does when Leo is putting a public face on the Guard - making sure that the actual Guard continues to function. He has spent the past week or so in careful negotiations with Adlehyde's chamberlain and various other public figures, and doing the nearly-literal mountains of paperwork that have piled up because Leo has refused to do them.
Corwynt is less bitter about this than many seconds in command would be - he is good at paperwork. And Leo is good at inspiring people. They make a good team.
But when a report came in of a strange new Temple - and when the first Guardswoman sent to investigate it came back nearly dead - Corwynt put a pin in the remaining paperwork and set off to have a look for himself, because he'll be damned if he lets any more of his people run face-first into the darkness without fair warning.
But instead of Storm First Corwynt, the man who arrives is MYSTERIOUS DRIFTER CORWYNT, who is absolutely not the same guy as Storm Fist Corwynt, because he is a) wearing a truly awe-inspiring fake moustache and b) claims to be in search of ADVENTURE and PROFIT and FILTHY LUCRE, just like any other Drifter around. So that's settled.
When the group enters the hall, Corwynt touches a pale blue jewel to his forehead, channeling a fragment of the Blessing that is the birthright of all Althena's children into it, causing it to grant him a moment of perfect recall (which is a big reason why he's so damned good at paperwork). He rushes through the half-hour long debriefing in a fraction of a second, then drops the jewel, letting it hang from its chain around his neck. "I believe this stone is the key," he says, stepping forward. "And these crystals with their colours." He gestures at one of the runes on the stone. "Not that one, though - I've seen its like before. It's undoubtedly a trap."
DG: Corwynt has used his Tool Rememberizer toward his party's challenge, Open Entrance to the Closed Palace.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
There's something that just feels wrong about being around the Lacour Tournament of Arms right now, for Matilda. She's had some good fortune, though, on that front; there's something else to do, and she's even run into one of her Drifting colleagues to do it with!
Keeping pace with the man with the dubious facial hair, Matilda arrives with Freischütz at the ready -- just in time for the door to close behind her. Her whole body tenses up as she realizes that, for the moment, they're trapped; fortunately, Corwynt seems to have some idea of what to do.
"Really -- must all ruins use these kinds of security mechanisms...?" she asks, irritated, before setting to work -- first with the stone Corwynt indicates. She looks exhausted already, though. Though her hands move with shocking lightness, her eyes have big bags under them, and her whole body seems at once tense and sagging. She barely notices Avril.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
It's calling to me...
Riesenlied has... not quite been herself ever since the destruction of Old Petra. The Metal Demon spent nearly 36 hours in a comatose state, and when she awoke, she seemed... a little beside herself -- like she were constantly distracted by something. Her empathic connection through the use of Laevateinn to the civilisation destroyer she learnt was called 'Id' must no doubt have done something, but... what?
Poor Noeline probably has her work cut out, given that she didn't get out unscathed either -- they tried Gounon, as it was a somewhat familiar location with nice apple orchards that maybe could help them relax. It wasn't meant to be. The moment she heard that there were people trapped at a nearby temple, the winged commander of the Ebony Wings was just... gone.
It's rather obvious where she went.
What is it? What are you telling me?
I can't understand... I want to...
She's found at the front of the temple as her eyes widen. "It's..." She holds her head with a silent and gasping wince. She's somewhat carelessly wandered inside before the alarm begins to ring with a heavily modulated announcement that causes her to wince-- "A-aahh--"
Corwynt may notice her. The Deceiver, from the Battle of Adlehyde. She isn't particularly making herself disguised, as much as Noeline might want -- it's also hard to disguise yourself when you've got large, chitinous horns to either side of your temple and large black wings. She's dressed in an Ellurian tribal capelet atop her white and black sleeveless shirt and armwarmers, as well as a skirt and armored leggings to go with it.
"... I sense something ..."
She looks to where Corwynt points at the runes. "Yes... I think so, you are right. But this one ... it signifies release ..." She holds her head. "Why... no? Why do you reject me..."
Yep, she's not really being herself at present... but she does drift close enough to -- look towards the blue-eyed woman around the pillar. "Ah-- hello? No, I am not Dean... or Rebecca."
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Open Entrance to the Closed Palace.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The famed and somewhat-well-known 'Crimson Noble' isn't doing so great as of late, and while this is never exactly a surprise, it's starting to reach the point where Noeline is unable to hold it back, with some of the stress and tension bleeding through to make its way into her flighty, devil-may-care act.
There's a lot to worry about. The Metal Demons are scattered, and while many survived the conflagration at Old Petra, many did not. Worse, something that they were starting to consider 'home' has been razed to the ground, and while the aftermath provided a welcome opportunity for human and demon to intermingle and trust each other a little more, it still chafes her that it took something so drastic to allow the chance.
And, of course, there's Riesenlied's state afterwards. For all her resolve to protect Riesenlied, her promises seem terribly hollow in the wake of another near-death, not to mention the emotional battering that her partner evidently took in those moments where she managed to forge a connection with Id. Lost and angry at herself, that is perhaps the part that chafes Noeline the most.
But-- she can at least bring herself to accompany Riesenlied in the aftermath, letting her concern guide her towards a quiet village in which to recuperate and ensuring she's close by even when the winged woman finds herself called to a ruin in search of remnants of the Metal Dragons. And there's suddenly a lot to distract her as their ingress is met with a series of blaring alarms, the hair on her neck rising as the door seals behind them.
"--tch--" sounds out the odd girl in the extremely flamboyant red and crimson dress, a hand drawing through her long black twintails to flick one of them out as the voice above her warns about security protocols at a time when Noeline is getting rather paranoid. "Really, are you going to fuss so much, even after all this time?" she grumbles towards the ceiling itself as she steps up towards the trio of orbs, planting her other hand on her hip as she regards them for a long moment.
"--I have seen something like this elsewhere, myself. I believe it was something to do with matching the colours such that two of them point towards one of the exits, corresponding in kind - it is simply a matter of figuring out how to cycle them properly," she lectures, a little point-blank.
Her gaze flicks towards the unusual girl - but she has to admit she's a little busy at the moment, concerned that the warning blasting through whatever central system guides this place is meant for the Metal Demons present.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Open Entrance to the Closed Palace. DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Open Entrance to the Closed Palace.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Neither Rebecca or Dean is here. Avril can tell that, immediately. Her shoulders sag a touch. Very slightly, the young woman bows, as if in apology. "...I'm very sorry. You came to assist, did you not?"
It's entirely possible they might not have.
"And now, you are also trapped in here..."
Blue eyes quickly find and linger on Riesenlied, as the horned woman speaks to her feelings. Her lips part slightly. "You... as well? I feel the same. As if something here is attempting to push me away. I thought it might have only been me, but..." She frowns, shaking her head as she hunches her posture more 'inwards'. "It is... unpleasant."
If Avril finds anything odd about Corwynt's disguise she doesn't show it. A vaguely concerned gaze rests on Matilda as the woman makes her way towards the console. "Are you quite alright?"
As for the console itself...
"A trap..." Coming up from behind Corwynt, the mysterious young lady's gaze scans the console. "...Yes, I think so as well. This one, here..." she indicates a different item on the console. "I have a feeling that this one might be correct." The same one that Riesenlied had pointed at. "...Release. Yes, that does seem to be its meaning, somehow," she adds, by way of explanation. For what it's worth. Furrowing her brow slightly, she adds, "Perhaps, that might be why it seems to be right?" She glances, at Noeline. "Color switching... Perhaps if we combine this one with this one here... This one means 'Change'." She leans in and pushes the symbols.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Open Entrance to the Closed Palace. DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 11 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> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
One of the doors -- a wall, actually, dead ahead -- slides open as the white crystal shines brilliantly.
The way is open. "Perhaps, if we explore further, there might be another exit?" Avril asks the assembled group, tilting her head to one side.
But nevertheless, she glances down at the console, hands still lingering over the symbol for Change. "...It feels... stronger..." she murmurs, frowning unhappily. "I don't... but, I want to leave this place, too..."
DG: Corwynt has drawn a new Challenge.
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Extinguish the Spark *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Beautiful architecture of a bygone era still somehow preserved in perfect form is, on occasion, bedecked with unusual sights that were not there before the temple's security activated: torches, all of them flickering with hauntingly beautiful, cold blue flame. In many of these winding rooms they can be found, barring the way further upwards through the temple by way of strange, archaic gating mechanisms. The torches must be extinguished in order to continue -- yet if they are not all extinguished in time, those bizarre blue flames will reignite again, forcing you to start over again. As if the temple were deliberately trying to exhaust you... =Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
If the MYSTERIOUS DRIFTER CORWYNT recognizes the Deceiver or her Consort, he does not make any move to unmask them. Perhaps it is because their disguises, flimsy as they are, are sufficient by Guard standards. Perhaps it is because it is two against one. Or perhaps it is because he has other things on his mind today. Regardless, he leads the others forward once the wall opens the way....
...to Hall of the Flame.
Yes, the little martial artist thinks. This is as far as his subordinate was able to make it - a truly devilish challenge that drained her spirit as she attempted it, preyed upon her frustrations. But forewarned is forearmed, and the man from Meribia draws upon faith and iron will in equal amounts, the power of it tickling at the edges of his Blessing; his clothing stirs as if by an unseen breeze as he makes it through the halls. And then he channels the Rememberizer to life once more, bringing perfect recall into his mind - total, precise recollection of everything he has ever seen or heard. The words of his Guardswoman, giving him the order of the first five torches to activate, providing him a head start. Filling his mind with the minutiae of a thousand details of his duties.
Returning him to the moment when he saw the Shadow Dragon move through his city like a scythe, the warm feeling of his mother's blood upon his face as the cultists struck her down in front of him. As it does every time he uses the device.
"If you wish to drain me, spirits, then drink your fill," he mutters to himself as he moves through the first five torches in order. "Drink and choke on it."
DG: Corwynt has used his Tool Rememberizer toward his party's challenge, Extinguish the Spark.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
On the one hand, Noeline's job may have just become harder, but on the other hand, Riesenlied looks a bit... calmer, more relaxed, at hearing someone also 'hear' something like she does. Her posture also turns inwards as she bites her lip. She nods to Avril. "... yes, I do feel it too. I don't think it will let us out here... I don't think it can be forced. Oh-- my name is... Riesenlied."
She looks concernedly towards Matilda, but... her expression seems just a little off right now, as she looks to Noeline again. "I'm sorry... I acted recklessly again."
Her eyes widen just for a moment, as she steps to the hallway of flame. "I don't have anything special here, but..." She stands by some torches and has a gesture with her hand, closing her eyes. "... these mechanisms are linked in some way? The flame is linked..." A pause. "They all must fade...?"
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Extinguish the Spark.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
When Matilda sees Riesenlied, her expression shifts from 'tired' to 'sour.' Noeline is with her, though, which means Matilda can at least make the effort to pretend she isn't incredibly upset by the mere presence of a Metal Demon on Filgaia.
"... Hello," she ofers Noeline. Riese gets no comment because Matilda's still mad about Adlehyde -- or maybe there's something else at play here. In any event, she starts to move forward; when Riese's introduction draws her attention to the fact that she hasn't bothered to introduce herself, she adds, for Avril's benefit, "... Ah -- my name is Matilda Whitehead."
As they move ahead, toward the flame, she scoots toward Noeline. "... Is something amiss with Riesenlied?" she asks, looking to the toches and toward Corwynt's approach thereto. "... That would make sense -- I've seen a similar puzzle elsewhere. Perhaps, if we want them all to fade at once... we should set up an apparatus -- no, doing it remotely would be difficult... maybe we need to split up?" Giving each of them separate responsibilities... the idea is the only one Matilda has, but she doesn't seem to relish it, either.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Extinguish the Spark.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline, a black-haired girl with strength beyond that of her frame present at Riesenlied's side, surely couldn't be the same person as the mysterious Ebon Zero. After all, she's also a black-haired girl with strength beyond that of her frame present at Riesenlied's side, but the two are clearly completely different. Noeline has twintails, and a distinct lack of armor covering her face. Ebon Zero didn't have nearly as good a sense of style and used a sword.
Obviously, completely different.
That said, Noeline certainly looks like she could be a consort right now, helping Riesenlied forward whenever she stumbles with a touch that is obviously terribly affectionate, unwilling to leave her side for more than a few moments; instead, Strife and Trouble are taking on much of her job of interacting with the world at large, the two pods flying in front of her to scout out the area ahead of them.
"Miss Whitehead... I do sincerely hope you're well," she bows her head after a moment in greeting, and while the words sound genuine her smile doesn't exactly reach her eyes - Matilda can tell that the Crimson Noble is wary, not of her so much as the world in general right at this moment. "... it has been-- a very long week," she adds, and then huffs softly. Well, Matilda knows the score, at least, enough for her to add: "I have no doubt that the rumours have flied fast and quick."
"That may be best, yes. I will have Strife and Trouble jam the door, if necessary, to ensure it remains open while we all reconvene."
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Extinguish the Spark.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Riesenlied," Avril repeats, almost as if to be sure that she has it right. "That's a nice name." She pauses, then gestures towards herself with one of her gloved hands. "My name is Avril. And the rest of you are...?" Just because they're in the middle of a dungeon that's under lockdown doesn't mean it's bad time for proper introductions.
Such as: "Matilda... I'm pleased to meet you, as well." She extends one delicate hand towards the young scholar.
Although she lingers when following after the rest, the young woman appears to be in no hurry to be left behind. Treading cautiously after them, she pauses once inside the hall of flames, glancing around at the many dancing torchfires... and at Noeline's pods. "Oh, what are those? They... seem familiar, somehow."
As if on cue, the little pods swerve up to Avril and bob alongside her as if they were overeager puppies. The young woman blinks, drawing back a hand at first, only to hesitantly reach out and pat one of them (Strife) on the 'head'. "...How cute..." she comments at last.
"Five flames... and the door is closed. Hmm. Let me think..." Raising a hand to her chin, she watches in silence for a moment as Corwynt sets about attempting to douse the flames, while Riesenlied and Matilda speculate on the nature of the fire. "If they all are doused... I think so, too. Perhaps that would be best, if we each tried to extinguish one of them at a time?" Approaching one of the torches, she inspects it a little more closely. Something's off about the mechanism.
"Do you think that might happen?" she asks of Noeline, referring to the door as she finishes her investigation.
"...I feel as if they may relight if we are not fast enough," she announces a moment later, taking a step back. "Shall we do it together, then?"
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Extinguish the Spark. DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 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> Corwynt has posed.
The power of TEAMWORK and REPRESSED MENTAL TRAUMA and also METAL DEMON SOUJO LOVE STORY prove sufficient to the task; after one retry, the portal deeper into the Temple opens up.
"Excellent work," COrwynt rumbles, tucking the jewel back under his gi again. "Shall we press on?"
DG: Riesenlied has drawn a new Challenge.
===================<* CHALLENGE - Star-Spangled Security *>=================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 3 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Many sights can be found in the Temple of Rejection that simply weren't there before, if the people of Gounon are to be believed. The temple's security systems are one of them, as many and varied as they are. Once long dormant, the thing now thrums with life, and one of these security systems includes a series of altars that project glowing, holographic displays of... globes? spheres? orbs? either way, each are colored either red, white or blue, much like the crystals at the entrance, and all can have those colors changed by some clever interaction with the altars. To proceed further, you'll have to match the colors of a frankly dizzying array of altars up in the proper order. There's no clues. Just the temples overwhelming hatred for new guests. Lucky. You. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has a delicate smile in turn to Avril, and nods. "Thank you. Avril... that is a good name too." Matilda can certainly tell something is off about Riesenlied... the way she nervously looks about -- the way she holds her head, as if something oppressing is disturbing her... she still is as reactive as ever to Noeline, though, and it's quite clear she relies on her for her support when she stumbles.
She focuses her own power to eliminate her flame, and the path is clear. "Oh, I'm glad..."
The next chamber, however, would prove to be quite the puzzle. Once more, the colour of red, white and blue bar their way once more, this time in the form of altars that project holographic spheres. "... Miss Avril ... I feel as if--" she hesitates. "Each colour... it echoes slightly differently, and there is an underlying contraption that links them together."
She places a hand to the nearest white one, and gasps when it changes to blue -- and the other two beside it change to white and red. It's one of those puzzles. At least you don't have to solve it in 4 steps or less.
"Yes, I sensed change just now. But the question is... in what way do they link? Might there be a hint somewhere...?"
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Star-Spangled Security.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
With a satisfied huff from the Crimson Noble - as if she were responsible - the door rattles open. "... my apologies," she says after a moment, realizing it that they've made it two rooms through without being attacked. That seems to satisfy her paranoia for the time being, and her shoulders sag ever so slightly as she helps Riesenlied forwards through the door - even if her eyes are on Corwynt for a long moment.
"My name is Noeline Carver," she greets with a slight tilt of her head, taking a moment to take in the sight of the lightly-haired woman as she lifts a hand in Disney Moe fashion to pat one of her little spherical ARMs on what passes for its head. Strife bobbles in midair as it accepts the pet, twirling around a little in a happy sort of acceptance. "I am a Crimson Noble, and a long-time friend of Riesenlied's. As far as those children go, they are my-- companions, I suppose you could say," she smirks quietly to herself, shaking her head in amusement.
For once, she smiles; it's been a while. "I have Miss Whitehead to thank, in fact," she adds as she indicates the other woman present. "One of the pair got badly damaged some time ago, but her repair work has been top-notch." True enough, both pods are pitted with age - but one of them has been freshly repainted a fetching sort of pale pink, and has a delightful hat attached.
"... haah..." she sighs out as she steps forward, looking up at the array of lights. She's clearly the insightful sort, her eyes immediately flicking between multiple sets as she picks out ways to line them up - but at the same time, rejection or no rejection, she's already feeling a little battered with the world.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Star-Spangled Security.
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
For his part, Corwynt is recovering from the ordel of the last challenge; still, he spares enough mental energy to regard Riesenlied with a touch of scorn.
"Are you truly so baffled by it?" he asks. "It's quite simple, really - recall the same crystals at the entrance. If you replay the same pattern with these as was used on the console at the entrance..."
He's been helpful enough for a while. He leans back against the wall and drinks water from a canteetn.
DG: Corwynt has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Star-Spangled Security.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
Matilda accepts the extended hand. Her gloves are a strange material -- silky-smooth, a little soft, and deathly silent. They're also clearly brand new; indeed, this is only her second time wearing them! "It's nice to meet you, Avril," she says, taking a breath.
Pleasantries out of the way, Matilda scootches toward Noeline as they head through. "I just followed the instructions in the book Miss Riesenlied gave me," she says. ... apparently Riesenlied rates a 'Miss' again. That's something! Maybe. "It really wasn't anything that impressive." There's a beat, before she adds, "I... want to talk to you about something later. Not here. Perhaps when we go to fix that Gear wreck, finally."
Matilda looks to Riesenlied as she moves up to the altars. "... Do you need to sit down? It's quite all right if you're unwell," she notes, as she takes a crack at fiddling with one of the altars, per Corwynt's instructions. "... I doubt they would use the same pattern twice -- though it's said that the true way to startle your opponent is to be *truly* one-dimensional, so..."
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Star-Spangled Security.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Avril takes that hand from Matilda and shakes. Just as she's seen Dean do. Her grip is firm but only properly so -- just enough to give a good handshake without breaking someone's hand or giving someone the dreaded limp fish.
Smiling ever so slightly as she makes Riesenleid's acquaintance, Avril's blue eyes slip upwards in the next heartbeat. Just a touch, they widen. "Are those horns?," she asks, rather to-the-point about what she's seen. "Wait, Rebecca had said... a beastwoman?" She pauses. "That would make sense. I haven't seen one before."
Meanwhile, within the room of flames, Avril's apparently made some friends. She smiles at the pair of pods, eyes crinkling as she realizes one of them has a tiny hat. "Noeline. It's good to meet you, as well. And your friends. Do they have names, too?" Indeed, she can see that they've had some repairwork done... and that they're quite old. "It's strange, but I feel like I've met them somewhere before... Or something like them?" Her smile fades, replaced by a quizzically troubled frown.
Avril has, it appears, considerably more trouble extinguishing her flame, but in the end...
The next door slides open.
There are lights absolutely everywhere from a whole sequence of altars. It's dizzying to look at.
"A hint somewhere... I think--"
Corwynt says the magical words that jog (what there is, at present) of Avril's memory. Realization alights in her gaze. "That's right. There were the crystals back in the entryway. The sequence in which they were aligned must then be the same."
She pauses, regarding Matilda, hand resting against her lips. "Unless, they weren't? Hmm... Of course, that means that if the people who made this place forgot the proper code, they could have encountered difficulty in here. Perhaps, we should act as if they could be the hint?" Turning then, the silver-haired woman approaches an altar. "Now, if I remember right, the order was..." She pauses a moment, creasing her brow as she thinks back. "Red, white, then blue. Then, that means that if I were to touch this one here--"
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Star-Spangled Security. DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has failed this challenge! The party gained 6 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> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied looks rebuffed and cowed at Corwynt's comment, lowering her head. "Oh... ... yes, you're right." She watches as he works at the altars -- the terminals? The word just flashed into her mind. There's no doubt that there is a technological nature to this Ruin... just what is the nature of this place? What is the significance of the colours?
Corwynt's idea has merit -- there must be a significance to the pattern, kind of like a pass-code... but it's not quite as simple as the mechanism in the entrance, due to how the linked colours interact with one another.
"I... I think I will," Riesenlied admits, sitting down gently after Matilda's suggestion comes, with a weary sigh. "Sorry..." Both Matilda and Noeline, with Corwynt's hints, are capable of deciphering a clear pattern that helps set them through to align the colors -- much like how a rubik's cube has a logical progression...
Riesenlied stares up with a slight noise at fright to Avril, and says -- "Oh, yes, they're -- horns." They wiggle slightly. Waku-waku.
Red, white, blue... with Avril's last step, the door ... slowly rumbles into a heavy, uneasy opening. That's the fortunate part.
The unfortunate part is that Riesenlied appears to have tripped an alarm when she sat down, because another blaring siren exclaims, INTRUDER ALERT, INTRUDER ALERT. RE-IDENTIFYING AND SCANNING SEARCH...
The light around the areas start to turn menacing as she gasps and says, "O-oh no! I'm sorry--" she hurries along, wings wiggling, highly embarrassed at her mistake. They move forward, albeit at an exhausting and unsteady pace...
DG: Noeline has drawn a new Challenge.
=========<* CHALLENGE - The Ground is Rising the Ground is Rising! *>========= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Access further up into the temple seems impossible in this room: there's a doorway above but there's no stairs, there's no elevators, there's no anything... except the series of rising and falling pillars that all raise up to specific and varying heights before falling back down again in strange, erratic patterns, as if the temple was deliberately trying to throw you off. Considering some of those pillars ascend so high they collide with the roof of the room, well -- that's probably not far from accurate. Try not to get flattened like a goomba! =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"That one is Strife - the other is Trouble," admits Noeline, feeling a little haggard as the next of the alarms starts to blare; she squints past the noise, shaking her head with a sigh - but a relieved one, as their next obstacle seems to be something other than a puzzle. In the state she's in, it's something of a relief to be able to face something so simple. "They have proven invaluable in exploring ruins, I must say. Trouble has a number of useful devices to allow me to bypass those who might get in my way, while Strife--"
The obvious vampire pauses to nod her head solemnly in Matilda's direction, one hand beckoning the second of her little spherical robots back to her side. Out of nowhere, the Crimson Noble suddenly hops up onto its back, balancing there with ease as a rocket on the base of the white pod suddenly fires, the upwards thrust countering her additional weight. "Certainly, that is fine. Though-- I may require a couple of days yet. We are supposed to be on holiday," she adds with an amused huff as she takes Riesenlied's hand in hers to glance at her with obvious concern. "... do you need a lift?" she offers softly...
... and smirks back in Avril's direction, as the little ARM starts to simply lift her off the ground to bypass the trap entirely. "Strife does this." Ugh, that lazy Noeline!
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Strife toward her party's challenge, The Ground is Rising the Ground is Rising!.
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
Corwynt regards the rising and falling pillars with something approaching relief. After the puzzles of the last few rooms, it is nice to have something as simple and uncomplicated as near-death squishing experiences to deal with.
The little man crouches and then leaps upward from pillar to pillar, calling on the air within the Temple to carry him upward, motes of green-white light dancing around his feet with each leap.
DG: Corwynt has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Ground is Rising the Ground is Rising!.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied stares up with some surprise of her own, lowering her head. No, Riesenlied, you can't look down, you must look up here.
Deeper, still...? I will come to you...
"... I am not making it easy for you," Riesenlied murmurs regrettably to Noeline, seemingly easy to cow and agitate into anxiety. She holds onto Noeline's hand softly, before hopping up -- her wings stretch upwards as the ground starts to rise in turn. They shimmer in a cascading weave from each of her feathers with a trailing bed of photons that appear to wisp out in a pattern that makes it easier for those following to find firm footholds.
She watches Corwynt as he hops from platform to platform in agile manner, murmuring, "He's very skilled..." some part of her mind nags at him. She feels some measure of fear. "From where did he learn to do that?"
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Dragon Wings toward her party's challenge, The Ground is Rising the Ground is Rising!.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"... You have holidays?" Matilda asks, taken genuinely offguard by Noeline's explanation. "At any rate -- that'll be fine. I have some things I need to attend to before Fruit Day, in any event, and depending on the circumstances, Fruit Day may be... difficult." S... someone besides Armengard actually cares about Filgaian holidays?
Looking into -- and subsequently heading into -- the next area of the labyrinth, Matilda is momentarily caught off guard by its sheer size. The pillars begin to rise and fall, rise and fall -- and surprisingly, Matilda is actually fairly ready for this sort of traversing. Indeed, she seems just as comfortable with it as she does with the puzzles.
Looking to Avril, she asks, "Will you be all right, traversing this?" She waits a few moments for an answer -- before starting a series of upward leaps. Despite her huge coat and all the things she's carrying, she seems to be quite the climber!
... she's had a lot of practice, lately.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Ground is Rising the Ground is Rising!.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
As for the twin pods: "Strife, and Trouble." She bows her head briefly, as if in proper greeting. "Well then, it is nice to meet the both of you."
The alarm system blares out again, cutting off any proper explanation on Strife for now, and here Avril briefly cringes, the sudden sense of rejection surging in the air around her. Riesenlied may have tripped the security this time around, but she's not the only one to be targetted by the raw aura of hatred emanating from the temple's very essence. "No--" she utters, squeezing one eye halfway shut. "Don't... reject me..." She takes a breath, followed by another. She grits her teeth. It feels like she's swimming against the tide.
No, there's no giving up here. "No. ...I will see you again," she utters, to no one in particular. The sun, and more importantly, her friends.
Decision made, Avril turns from the console and races after Riesenlied and the others.
The 'pressure' in the air still feels heavy in here. Avril presses her lips thin. Particularly so once she gazes up at the rising and falling pillars. "If we make a wrong step..."
No way but forward, though.
Rebecca had said there were people like that, even if they hadn't met any on their journey yet. Reisenlied has horns, and as it happens, wings, too. They even work. "How useful," she murmurs, before Noeline demonstrates just what Strife can do. "I see, that must be helpful when exploring as well." The young woman takes a step back, no obvious means apparent for her to ascend the pillar. She certainly doesn't look dressed for it... or like she's used to making extreme jumps. Like Corwynt.
"Oh, how skillful," she comments on his leaps, as she draws a strange gray-white octagonal device from the folds of her dress. "...Thank you, Matilda. I believe I will be alright, though." Closing her eyes, she focuses on the device, allowing her senses to unfold. It shines. Mysteriously.
She feels more connected. As if the feeling of rejection had ebbed, just for a moment. Avril takes a step back.
And then in one go, the power of the Sea Guardian flowing within her, makes a startling leap upwards for one of the rising pillars.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, The Ground is Rising the Ground is Rising!. DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur 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> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's chuckle, as she takes a hold of Riesenlied's arm, is both amused and soft with emotion: laced with an affection surely beyond that any Metal Demon could ever muster, but also tinged with fear and worry. "When do you ever?" she teases, though, and that seems to bring something of a genuine light back to her eyes for a moment. "At the very least, allow me to do this much for you."
"Everyone needs a holiday sometimes, Miss Whitehead," she comments as Matilda goes past. "Really, whatever do you think I do all day?" The chance to tease is also welcome, her mouth splitting into an amused, fanged grin as she distracts herself in the act - and patiently allows herself to rise on the pod's back, to the point where they can find themselves a passage onwards.
A spike of laughter at the back of her head makes her wince: first when Corwynt marshals the winds to allow himself to rise, and then a second time - stronger - at about the same moment as the girl in green performs an astonishing leap that trails behind it the power of a Guardian. The line seems almost clear to her, now, and she dimly has to wonder if that tenuous connection has somehow managed to strengthen in recent times. Another thing to worry about.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* CHALLENGE - Fourway Floor *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You stumble upon a simple, fourway intersection, the kind that would make any driver furrow their brows in irritation. The door behind you is open, but there doesn't seem to be any other entryway or exit at the end of any of the halls -- just an ancient console at the very center, and a stone arrow pointing in one direction or another. Whenever the console is operated, the arrow will move, and a new pathway will open. Or maybe nothing will happen and you'll just waste a bunch of time until you get the right combination. It's hard to say. Aren't ancient ruins great?? =Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
No one got smashed. Probably important. Probably.
"... That's a good point," Matilda concedes to Noeline, as the group gets situated and through the door. Her eyes turn forward to the strange device. "Oh -- this one's different," she says, heading up toward it. The challenge of dealing with the dungeon seems to have managed to get her out of her Deep Sulk, at least for now; Noeline always seems like she can be trusted to be a good, helpful person when it comes down to it. Even if she keeps dubious compan.
"Ah -- this one, I think, would actually seem rather simple," Matilda notes, rotating the stone arrow with the console. A passageway opens! A strong start. "Yes, okay. I think the best thing to do is for one of us to operate this, and others to explore the halls it opens..." She rotates the arrow again. This time, nothing happens.
"Oh, dear," she says. "We may be here a while... still -- I'll do my best to operate it smoothly and reliably until we have a clear path through..." Sometimes that's all you can hope for.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Fourway Floor.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied looks just a bit worn down by the time they arrive at the stone hallway with the console with the arrow. "... I profess I don't quite understand, but ..." She thins her lips for a moment, as she watches Matilda peruse the machine's contraption. "... mm."
She closes her eyes.
"... it's so hard to think here ... there is a raw feeling of ..." Is it hatred? Is it grief, borne of rejection? She can't quite understand, not yet.
I won't step away. I can't... I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.
She's not sure who she's communicating with. Her senses are scrambled, more so than usual. Oftentimes, she winds up finding red herrings in dungeons, following what she believes to be the remnants of her ancestors from a thousand years ago. But this time... she's not alone.
"I'll remain by Miss Matilda's side... I think I can -- sense something in the mechanism when a passageway opens. If my intuition is correct, it might just help lead us forward." She closes her eyes in deep thought and concentration again, letting out a soft breath.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Fourway Floor.
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
Corwynt certainly looks like a guy who's spent his life training - what bits of his skin can be seen are covered in old scars - but there is definitely something more there as well. The Blessing of Althena flows through his blood, like all Lunar's children, and its connection to the wind is his constant companion. He touches down on the last platform and waits to see if anyone else needs a hand up before moving onward.
...to another damned puzzle.
Corwynt taps the Rememberizer to his head once more, then frowns. His people did not make it this deep, and he has no recollection of a particular solution. He therefore shakes his head and relies on his own native wit, offering the occasional suggestion but not backseat-paneling.
DG: Corwynt has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Fourway Floor.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
It's odd; for all that Noeline's a lot better trained at sensing things like the Guardians - largely thanks to having a Medium stuck within her - and for all that it can cause Riesenlied grief at times, there are still many moments when the winged commander can certainly pick out much more of the world than the spy can.
She does not feel any rejection - at least, not beyond the unnatural and unwelcoming nature of the temple seeping through the stone - and certainly cannot pick out whichever voice is leading Riesenlied onwards, communicating with her so strongly.
Still, she's more than aware she can trust in it, at least, and that impulse - once she's helped the winged woman to the ground and hopped off of her pod - makes her stride forwards to assist in hauling the lever around.
"... very well," she nods to Riesenlied, her brow furrowing slightly. "Simply let us know when you feel something different." There's a slight spike of grumpiness to her voice as her two pods, freed of the vampire's weight, lift again to circle slowly around Avril like a pair of white, spherical puppies - but then she's turned back to nod solemnly to both Corwynt and Matilda, huffing as she takes some of its heft. "If nothing else, I am confident in that much."
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Fourway Floor.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
A startlingly agile leap is followed by another as Avril ascends, a fraction of the Lucadia's dexterity flowing through her. The presence, however partial, of the Sea Guardian's temporary connection to Avril -- and thus Avril's connection to Filgaia -- glows bright to the senses of the spiritually inclined for a moment or three.
It only fades entirely moments after Avril lands safely above and tucks the Medium away. "It seems that we made it."
The pressure, for now, is somewhat eased -- but it isn't gone. "It's as if I'm not welcome," she murmurs, padding after Matilda as the young scholar activates the console. "An arrow? ...Hmm, I see. If you activate it like so, then the passageways open."
Silence. "...Or perhaps not?" Avril comments, tilting her head to one side as she raises a hand to her chin.
Once the next door opens, Avril turns to her and nods. "I shall go ahead and check this one." Stepping away from the console, she approaches the next door that opens -- only to pause a moment as the pods once again encircle her.
Slightly, she smiles at the pair. "Hello there. Are the both of you here to assist me? I would not mind your help," she says to the pods, before breaking away from them to accompany Noeline.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Fourway Floor. DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has failed this challenge! The party gained 19 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> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
This situation gets incredibly complicated incredibly fast, mostly owing to Matilda's suggestion. The core problem is that pairing Matilda and Riesenlied together as navigators is kind of a rough idea, given the circumstances. Matilda isn't very eager to wait for Riesenlied's intuitions, and snaps at her more than once.
After the first successful exploration of a segment, though, things start to go a lot better; while Matilda was initially fairly difficult to work with, the pair finally find their pace and start correctly calling out Riese's intuitions, and the actual explorers cover some ground very quickly from there. They're eventually able to find switches that prop open other doors, and in turn, create a straight path into another room.
"... Thank you," Matilda offers Riesenlied, a little awkwardly, once they finally have a path. "I apologize for getting snappish. ... It's -- been a very difficult week."
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* CHALLENGE - Consult Your Blue Book *>==================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Oh hey look. It's a bunch of floating, blue books. Isn't that odd? What are floating books doing here? Is this a library? Maybe they have useful information on the temple in them. Maybe you should check it out-- OH GOD THEY'RE SHOOTING WATER MAGIC AT YOU WITH CONFOUNDING AND BAMBOOZLINGLY POWERFUL SORCERY THIS ISN'T HOW LIBRARIES ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
It takes a bit of back and forth, as each doorway (when they open) has to be explored, and then the next series of consoles have to be worked after that. "Thank you for your assistance," Avril says when all is said and done to her partners in this particular task.
The last doorway in the passageway opens into a hallway, which eventually unfolds after a short trek through the stone passageway into a somewhat larger room. It's probably a room, anyway. Much like the entrance, there are pillars studded here and there, while strange carvings line the walls.
There are also some floating books, dipping and bobbing as they sway lazily through the air. A few of them absently flutter their pages. They're blue.
"Look, the books are floating!" Avril points out, helpfully.
One after the next, they roll towards the exploration crew in sequence. The covers snap open with all the suddenness of a guillotine. Light shines brilliantly from the pages within. There is briefly perhaps the impression of a magic circle.
And there is far less briefly and far more concerningly the sudden onrush of torrents and scything blades of pressurized water at party.
Avril dodges out of the way, the spell impacting the rock behind her with enough force to take some chips out of the wall. "--I'm very sorry, but you leave me with no choice," she says to the books. Out comes something that looks like nothing more than the hilt to a blade, complete with an out-of-place trigger.
There's a hiss through the air as Avril pulls the trigger, a scent of ozone. Stepping forward with practiced care, she lashes the now activated beam whip at one of the floating books.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Beam Whip Mode toward her party's challenge, Consult Your Blue Book.
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
Water magic arcs out toward the Drifters, and while Corwynt is aligned with another element entirely, even he can sense something wrong about the way these books are dancing. The past several months here on the Blue Star, far from the seat of his Goddess's power, have been a trial; the Blessing is nowhere near as powerful nor bountiful as it is upon his homeworld of Lunar. But even here, on this broken and dying world, he can taste the barest trace of Althena's grace upon the breeze, a hint of something that once was or could be.
But here, from these monsters, he senses chaos and destruction. He returns the same in kind.
Corwynt leaps to the attack in a sudden rush of wind, deflecting a pressurized blast of water away from his body with his steel-wrapped forearms. The little man calls upon Althena's power, green-white light flickering about his legs and feet as he gathers strength on the move. "You may wish to hold on to your belongings," he advises a few seconds before he closes in, leaving his feet in a spinning kick.
That simply does not stop spinning.
The little martial artist blurs into rapid spinning motion, the air coming to the call of its master, roaring around his body in an ever-strengthening spiral. With moments the black and yellow of the little man's gi is gone, washed away by green-white energy, a miniature cyclone forming within the chamber, threatening to claim books and fancy hats alike.
DG: Corwynt has used his Tool Vambraces toward his party's challenge, Consult Your Blue Book.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied finds herself flinching away from Matilda's snapping at her, lowering her head. But she can't back down for long -- not when some sense beyond sense within her is telling her otherwise. It isn't reliable, it isn't a foolproof plan... but she feels like it's their best way forward.
"N-no, it's..." she lowers her head. "Everything has been my fault..." she places her hand to her forehead, voice full of grief and exhaustion. Yes, Riesenlied, take in all of your brethren's sins! It's an incredibly healthy and responsible thing to do! is probably what Id would say right about now.
Riesenlied's eyes widen as the first book opens fire-- er, opens water on her and sends her flying off her feet and against one of the pillars with a hard crashing noise. She drops, and rolls against the ground with a bare cough and whimper. Several of the books swarm her in an attempt to charge up their magics, again, but in that moment of desperation, her eyes glow as her horn begins to thrum, linking her conscience with that of her frame--
"Protect me."
The books stop... they hesitate for a moment, as the words carry weight and power around her, and then the trio of blue books she's somehow managed to convince turn in formation to fire upon their former allies. Looks like the anthology won't be collated after all.
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Dragon Horn toward her party's challenge, Consult Your Blue Book.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"I dare say that is true for all of us," admits Noeline with a rather wryly amused chuckle as she steps forward to cover the front of the group. She's aware that their group is down one ranged fighter, or at least she's seriously hampered - and it's thanks to her. Ah, well. That's life, she supposes.
For a moment, she's conflicted on what to do to cope with this attack, but the yelp from her companion as the winged woman is knocked to the ground - again, she thinks - galvanizes her in an instant, and before she can register what she's doing she's stepped aside to protect her above all else.
"It is not your fault... please, be careful," she warns softly. There's defiance in her stance, and a dark power rising around her; it's dangerous, perhaps, to loose what she can of Duras Drum's power with so many unknowns around, but at the same time the nimbus of Guardian energy around her is the best way she can think of to try to ward off and brunt the assault of sorcery that threatens to bear down upon them.
And, at the same time, she's starting to not care about being subtle.
The power of the Illusory Guardian flickers forwards, stretching out from her to encompass the corridor between the group and the collection of books bearing down upon them. Space seems to distort - warp ever so slightly. Noeline's hold on the Guardian's power isn't strong, not with Duras Drum mostly sealed away, but it is still there.
"Trouble, to me. Please watch out for my firing line," she adds, her voice solemn as she turns side on and stretches out a hand, her second pod swooping down to circle around it as if it were a particularly fat and mobile bracelet. Its 'eye' shutters for a moment, then folds outwards to reveal the focus lens at its centre; in the gloom of the ruins it flashes briefly, and then several bolts of light are spitting down the corridor, picking some of the ancient tomes out of the sky.
It beomes harder when Corwynt turns the corridor into a rising whirlwind - but she just grins and smirks, nimbly picking off those books sent flying by the ravaging winds.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Trouble toward her party's challenge, Consult Your Blue Book.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"... I'm still angry at you, but it isn't that," Matilda says, taking a breath. "... My father died on the road some time last month. One of his idiot friends retrieved his body two days ago." The temperature in the room drops -- fortunately, we have a solution to that, but it'll be a bit before that part of the pose comes up!
The group opens their Christmas present and it's books. What are they supposed to do with books?
Matilda knows! Reaching into her coat, she pulls forth a bottle, noting, "In addition to being a monster lure... this is actually quite flammable in quantity!" She gives it a nice, friendly hurl toward the very aggressive books -- and away, as best she can, from the whirling Corwynt. Her coat billows in the wind he creates, though, which looks SUPER COOL.
Noeline's moment of big magic -- followed by the intervention of Trouble -- catches her eye in a big, big way. She doesn't remark on it, though... just watches as space distorts, and seems keenly interested the entire time.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Succubus Bottle toward her party's challenge, Consult Your Blue Book.
====================<* CHALLENGE - Consult Your Blue Book *>==================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Oh hey look. It's a bunch of floating, blue books. Isn't that odd? What are floating books doing here? Is this a library? Maybe they have useful information on the temple in them. Maybe you should check it out-- OH GOD THEY'RE SHOOTING WATER MAGIC AT YOU WITH CONFOUNDING AND BAMBOOZLINGLY POWERFUL SORCERY THIS ISN'T HOW LIBRARIES ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 26 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> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
One book gets torn neatly in half by the downward arc of Avril's whip.
Something else cuts through the air shortly after, sliding just under the low-level persistent ebb of rejection that flows through the dungeon. It feels...
"An... Original...?" Avril murmurs, her initial shock muting out into confusion. It feels like an Original Medium, but something's wrong. It's as if part of it's missing, an empty yawning gape of a void to Avril's perception. She turns towards Noeline, lips parting as if she were about to say something.
Trouble sweeps through the air in the next instant, slicing the brief opportunity for Avril to comment further in half. She takes a step back, taking herself out of the immediate line of fire, falling back as she disengages the laser whip mode for safety's sake.
Between an outbreak of friendly fire between the books thanks to Riesenlied bringing them over to the winning team, and between the few remaining books (and likely the turncoats) being tossed around in Corwynt's mighty windstorm of a martial arts move -- which creates a much-helpful opening to snipe the books tossed around by the wind or set them on fire -- which spreads quickly in spite of the books watery-talents -- there's little hope for the poor blue books. A few twitch feebly on the stone floor, and others are little more than ash or a pile of shredded papers.
"Shall we?" Avril says, a moment or three later.
She does give Noeline an odd look, though. As if she were attempting to determine something, still.
DG: Corwynt has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* CHALLENGE - This is No Mothra Boy *>===================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You come upon a conspicuously large and empty room, almost designed like an arena floor. It must be a great surprise, then, when the door at the opposite side of this chamber opens up to unleash an absolutely massive-looking moth-like creature, unleashed upon you by the temple in an effort to deter or, hopefully, kill you outright. Venom spews from this creature's proboscis, poisonous powder from its wings. It'll soon fill the entire chamber with its merciless venom to choke you with it, if you don't kill it. Quickly. =Dungeon Conditions: Wound====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
Corwynt has not yet seen the Lacour Coliseum of Arms due to the aforementioned monopoly paperwork holds upon his free time. But he recognizes the place for what it is - an arena, designed to provide challengers a place to practice the arts of combat. Meribia was full of places like this, where students of one dojo or another would test their skills upon their fellow students and rival schools. The Wondrous Academy of the Smiling Breeze rarely participated before Corwynt's arrival among their number. After that, however, he was a regular participant.
Accordingly, the MYSTERIOUS DRIFTER is keyed up for combat before the monstrous moth makes an appearance, and is already preparing to rush in again... when a hint of something foul upon the air sends a shiver down his spine. "Poison?" the little man says thoughtfully, then checks his charge and backpedals quickly. "'Ware!" he shouts. "The creature appears to be issuing a venom of some kind - I will attempt to contain it, but I won't be able to assist in the battle. You will need to slay it without me." Having said as much, the little man drops down into the lotus position, sucks in a breath, and slams his vambraces together, sending a single, pure bell note echoing out along the chamber.
A swirling wall of wind begins to form halfway across the chamber, greenish-white power gleaming through it. The venomous discharges strike against it and are carried away to the sides of the cavern, protecting the Drifters from their effects... but how long the little man can maintain such a broad wall is an open question.
DG: Corwynt has used his Tool Vambraces toward his party's challenge, This is No Mothra Boy.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied's eyes widen when she pulls herself up, as the battle draws to a close. She -- coughs rather violently, but brushes herself still as she dusts herself off and tries to wring the extra moisture out of her dress. "I'm... I am sorry to hear that, Miss Matilda." She bites her lip. She hesitates. There's no ... there aren't words that can console her here... "... you have my sympathy, whatever little I can offer--"
She lets out a little cough as the foulness in the air begins to spread, and she lowers herself, weakened. But Corwynt encourages them to press onward, and the whirl of winds are helping clear the air around them. She can think... she can feel...
Poison may have little effect on a Metal Demon's physiology, in part due to their inorganic nature, and in part due to advanced filtering and life system support. But... she isn't such a Metal Demon -- she is tainted, and her systems are weak, and easy to compromise. The poison still wells in her, and she can feel it. She has to make it quick.
"Come to me..." she whispers, as the feathers from her wings launch in sequence to float by her side. "Battle awaits us."
The Pinions are each dagger-sized feathers, acting like blades of light, carried aloft on a trail of shimmering photons that criss-cross the battle arena and start to strike away at the creature. Riesenlied's horn is largely responsible for the control of these remote blades, moving in concert as she holds her hands to her chest.
"Go, Pinions!"
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Dragon Horn toward her party's challenge, This is No Mothra Boy.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
With a soft huff, the Guardian's power melts away from around Noeline. It's not much to speak of, at the moment - it's certainly no crashing Schturdark, no all-encompassing Celesdue. She's still a novice, and a novice with a shattered and incomplete medium for a sealed-away Guardian. Perhaps the fact that she can summon any power at all speaks to the ability growing slowly within her.
An ability that Mother will probably smite her for in due time, but-- well, one thing after the other. She'll deal with that as it comes, and is exceptionally good at lying to herself. The nod she gives Avril and Matilda in the wake of it is a little cheeky - hard to resist, as her eyes flash with a moment of mischief that's too rare these days - but the Crimson Noble doesn't miss that note of recognition in the odd girl's tone, and quietly files it away for later.
"If you would, sir!" she calls over the sudden roaring winds, a genuinely grateful tone in her voice as she feels the oppressive nature around them clear ever so slightly. From out of nowhere in her hands coalesces a vibrantly red scythe, its metal arranged in ornamental shapes. By rights, it should not be a weapon at all, a nonsense thing suitable only for style - but when she suddenly darts forwards, slipping through the mass of pinion and pod fire as if it weren't there, her first spinning strike nearly shears one wing away from the creature's body.
She twists with it, letting the momentum carry her to one side, and springs off the wall to arc back in. Her movements are practised, well in sync with Riesenlied's fire as she lets the Pinions pin the creature in place for her to crash down atop it, momentarily bringing it to the ground. "Matilda!"
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Trouble toward her party's challenge, This is No Mothra Boy.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"... turn that thoughtfulness inward," Matilda says to Riesenlied first, a little coldly. After a moment, though, propriety gets the better of her, and she says, "However -- thank you. And yes, Miss Avril -- let us." She takes a breath to speak again --
-- and then starts to cough and choke on it, as the poison cuts through the air. "NGhh --" she stammers, reaching into her coat with one hand and covering her mouth with the other. While Corwynt seems to have the poison handled temporarily, she has no intention of breathing over-much again until she can solve the problem in a slightly more permanent way.
The first thing that gets tossed is another of those red-black inky bottles; it should distract the monster for a few precious moments. The next is a bottle of plant-infused spring water, which she throws at the ceiling. "That should neutralize what our mustachioed friend can't push to the side," she says, allowing herself to take a breath again.
When Noeline calls to her and creates a good, solid opportunity, Matilda nods. "Right!" She hops back, drawing forth Freischütz at last; notably for Noeline, the barrel has been fixed since the last time the 'Crimson Noble' saw it. It even shoots straight! Matilda retrieves a handful of bullets, shoving them irregularly into the ARM's magazine slot-slash-reservoir; despite the fact that they go in as a jumble, they go out as a clean set of shots right through for the creature's head.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Succubus Bottle toward her party's challenge, This is No Mothra Boy.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
The grin is met with a puzzled stare. As much as Avril would wish nothing more than to ask questions of Noeline now, this is not the time or place. Instead, she only nods once at Matilda as they move along as a group. Something feels off, an additional feeling intruding into the mess of supernatural sensations she's fielding at the moment.
She takes no more than a couple of steps into the room before what had been a premonition turns into a flat-out warning. She draws herself up, glancing this way and that. "Be careful," Avril says, reaching for that same empty hilt-like device once again. "I feel something. It's--"
It's a moth, apparently.
It swoops down, dust falling thickly from its wings. "Poison -- Yes, I think so too," she agrees, a short shallow nod meeting Corwynt's assessment. "Please, do what you can."
She stares down the giant insect as it descends, gaze hardening though her ambient sense of calm does not depart her. "And I will do my best to help defeat this thing. Now..." Pulling the trigger, there is again the sudden flash of light, a snap through the air as Absolute Zero engages its beam whip mode.
One step. Then another, as the giant moth finishes its descent near to her. With a practiced flick of the wrist, she sends the arcing length of plasma towards one of the thing's wings. She'll cripple it here. Her current relative distance and the wall of wind should help things as far as the spreading poison goes, but for how long? As if in precaution, she raises her free forearm to cover her mouth and nose, though it's not likely to do more than slow the inevitable.
In doing so, her attention is taken off the enemy for a moment and thus instead lands on Riesenlied. As feathers from her wings 'launch'. "Riesenlied -- your feathers are leaving--" Avril starts, only to choke on a cloud of poison as it billows up before her. A coughing fit ensues, continuing even when Avril hunches over and covers her mouth and nose with her free hand.
Only the bottle Matilda tosses serves to cut it off at the root. For a moment, she can drop her hand away and breath properly. "--Thank you!" Avril calls out, falling back as Matilda and then Noeline as well open fire on the moth monster.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Beam Whip Mode toward her party's challenge, This is No Mothra Boy. DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 0 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> Corwynt has posed.
Avril, Noeline and Riesenlied pin and then dissect an insect. This isn't creepy at all.
Between the combined assault and Matilda's never-ending supply of bullets, the monster soon falls; Corwynt wipes a forehead drenched with sweat before dropping the wind wall. "Well done," he says before pushing himself to his feet. "Let's carry on."
DG: Riesenlied has drawn a new Challenge.
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Reject the Rejection *>===================== |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You stumble upon one of the many security terminals that dot the Temple of Rejection. Entirely self-automated, this is what has been controlling - at least in part - the lifelike ways in which the temple has tried to eliminate your presence here. Alarms blare the second you enter. The temple knows you are here. The sound of combat dolls activating en masse to scourge your presence is all too audible. And if you cannot find a way to temporarily shut down the temple's rejection protocols amidst all these glowing consoles from an era long past, then they will purge you from the temple. One way, or another. =Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied turns with concern as Avril lands next to her, whispering in concern, "Avril--" and tries to support her from hunching over. Fortunately, the moth creature is soon torn apart, between the combined forces of Absolute Zero's beam whip mode and Noeline's scythe slicing an already pockmarked and pierced moth into pieces.
As Corwynt dispels his winds and congratulates them, she nods slowly with another cough -- and her Pinions slide smoothly onto her wings, as if it were acting like a housing rack for them. "Yes... they are a part of me," she expresses to Avril.
When they step towards the final chamber, however, they find themselves at most danger -- the alarms are on again, louder than ever. The sound of menacing combat dolls are hot on their heels, and a mass of consoles, each of them terribly poorly understood, are in front of them. It will take more than brute force or combat ability to come through this in one piece.
Riesenlied's eyes widen again as another sharp spike hits her on the head--
No... don't... don't... come no closer...
--and she drops to her knees, clutching at her forehead. The voice, the sensation of rejection is stronger than ever. She gasps in a faint, desperate whimper as she looks up towards the consoles, but even in that moment -- or perhaps because of that moment, she's able to stare up towards the console with certainty. She could sense what it was trying to rebuff her from understanding. "M... Matilda, Miss Matilda, please -- the left one, please find a red switch underneath safety glass and press it. Noeline, to your right-- ennhh--"
She pauses, gasping for air. "--a console will light up once that button is pressed... input the password... the password..."
She falters, her head drooping. She collapses onto her side.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Reject the Rejection.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"--Riese!" yelps Noeline in surprise as the winged woman pitches over - and it is truly a yelp, a scared edge hitting her voice for perhaps the first time in many, many years. For a moment, she truly seems lost, her mouth left open as she stares before sucking in a terribly shaky breath. "--you--" she starts to mutter, screwing her eyes shut - but she bites it back, forces herself to ignore the rumbling laughter in the back of her mind and pushes the fear down as hard as she can.
It's an unfamiliar feeling, or at least a very rare one, but she's had a lot of those recently. "Very well," she says instead, trying to keep her voice soft and even as she whirls back to the console and narrows her eyes at it. "Then we will just have to crack it based on what we have already encountered. This is hardly my field, but I can at least do my best to gather an inkling of what it might be." Her hands are on the keyboard already - who taught a Crimson Noble to type? Maybe there's just endless time to practice when you're immortal.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Reject the Rejection.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
Even Matilda can feel the rejection of the temple in a palpable way, now, as the alarms kick up; at first, she's ready to fight, ready to simply solve her problems the way she so often has -- with a gun. Riese suggests a course of action, though -- and though she hesitates briefly, Matilda ultimately darts for the glass.
She fumbles with the glass for a moment -- is it locked? Can she just not get a good enough grip, with her new gloves? Is there a latch? In her haste, she elects to break the safety glass rather than continue fumbling with it. "Very well -- pressing it now! Miss Carver, go for it!" She weaves to one side, now, trying desperately to avoid the onslaught of mechanized combat dolls. Just... who made this horrifying place, anyway? What resources did they have that were so immense -- and so durable?
... and why were they so desperate to reject those who enter? Matilda's mind reels with the questions, even as she goes into a combat stance and starts to look for any clue as to the password.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Reject the Rejection.
<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.
Corwynt staggers a bit as they enter, shaking his head. For a moment, it felt like something grave was averted. But now... Now it is worse. The blaring sound and the sheer pressure of the for they are calling Rejection is pressing down against his mind... and those of the others, certainly. The strange Drifter...
...no.
The false moustache comes off, and the Captain of the Divine Company, Third Battalion of Althena's Guard steps forward. The second-in-command of the Goddess's Chosen present upon the Blue Star emerges from the shadow in which he attempted to conceal himself... and thereby gave this place what it wanted. The ability to reject him, to deny his existence. He will not permit it any longer.
Green-white energy blazes out from the little martial artist as he slowly strides forward, his power rising to the fore, winds swirling violently around his body. Blue energy gleams from the crystal dangling around his neck, as Corwynt calls upon every memory he's ever known, every experience he's ever lived, every moment of a life that has brought him to this time, and this place. Every thought and prayer directed toward a Goddess who he knows loves her wayward children... and who has sent these poor wretched sould upon the Blue Star a sign of her grace and mercy.
It is not a role he is accustomed to playing. But his Goddess has sent him here for a reason, else he would not be here.
He strides toward the console, all the fury of the storm blazing in his eyes, winds roaring beneath the bones of the earth. "I am the Storm Fist," he says, power leaking out with his breath. He raises his right fist, which shimmers with barely-contained fury. "If this piece of twisted ferrmoancy will bar my path unless we speak a word, then I shall GIVE it one! IN ALTHENA'S NAME!" he roars, raising his fist.
He may be about to punch the console into next week.
DG: Corwynt has used his Tool Rememberizer toward his party's challenge, Reject the Rejection.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Thank you again for your help," Avril informs Corwynt, puntuating the statement with a simple shallow bow.
The pinions meanwhile return with a neatness that seems almost mechanical. "A part of you... but they can detatch?" Once again, the young woman manages to look no less than baffled, no doubt attempting to square this piece of information with what few facts she has available to her.
Amnesia is a hell of a thing.
Regardless, she carries on with the rest.
Up until the point where the alarms blaze to life, shortly after they enter the next room. "This must be -- the security center?" Avril voices, bafflement at her own sudden realization of the proper term blossoming in her expression. Glancing this way and that at the combat drones as they emerge on the scene, she wastes little time in rushing with the rest towards the apparent heart of this section of the complex. And the further she rushes in, the more that sense of something trying to expel her from its sight entirely grows. She's already wincing by the time they break into the room littered with consoles. "They're -- coming --" she hisses out, flattening herself against the wall just inside the door. One eye is almost completely shut. "Why... why do you hate me... this much?" Riesenlied screams out from the pressure of it. It's all Avril can do not to do likewise. Slowly, against the wall, she slides to the floor.
"It wants me to... disappear..." she murmurs, gaze tilted downwards at the floor. It's ringing in her head, as suredly as the klaxons continue to scream out all around her.
But she can't stop here.
Avril raises her head. "The password... do you remember... those colors...? Try those colors..." she gasps out, stabbing for an answer for the place where Riesenlied's insight gives out for the other girls to try.
Or possibly, Corwynt will just apply percussive maintenance to the problem.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Reject the Rejection. DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has successfully explored Temple of Rejection!
=======================<* CHALLENGE - The Distortion *>======================= |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- You come across one of the many security terminals lining this place, currently deactivated -- though likely not for long. Everything here seems self-automated to bamboozling degrees -- the data readouts and computer consoles are all beyond the ken of most people on Filgaia today, the language of this place ancient and strange, but it all seems to indicate that this temple is looking for someone specific -- as if -someone-, not just you, arrived here and triggered this place to activate its defensive measures as almost a frantic response to get rid of them. The only clue? A single warning on a stone plaque towards the back of the room, written in ancient language that nonetheless seems wholly legible to anyone, regardless of their native tongue: If the rumors are true, THE LOLITHIA has remained on Filgaia. If learns of this facility, will undoubtedly shut it down. We have thus equipped the facility with an advanced security system. For the sake of our planet, we must protect it at all costs... =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
The battle at the final terminal becomes more and more intense -- the combat dolls start to open fire with a caustic measure that appears to disregard the safety of the facility they're meant to guard. Bullets launch across the room and cut away at corners and what is hopefully non-essential terminals. Matilda returns fire and pierces one through its metallic head, while smashing her way through the glass to flip the switch as indicated.
Sure enough, with a thrum of power, the console in front of Noeline powers up -- and is ready to receive input.
Avril gasps out for an answer, in the midst of struggling against the intensity of the temple's wave of rejection -- and suggests the colours. Blue, white, red ... try as they might, though, it doesn't seem to correspond to anything. Everything seems lost.
Up until Corwynt steps up to the plate and energises himself, his fist drawn back. He roars out in the name of Althena, and strikes --
And Noeline can see words pop up on the screen.
OKAY, OKAY
FINE
NO MORE HITTING
THE PASSWORD IS:
And an errant string of numbers and letters and symbols are spat out in rapid succession, for the Crimson Noble to type... which thankfully deactivates all the alarms and sends the combat dolls to an inanimate state. Everything is quiet...
...
... save for the single console that now offers its data out to the Drifters. The language is beyond most of them, the self-automated computers and technology perhaps indecipherable (well, save for the Metal Demons, those filthy iPad and Replicon and Trello-using bastards), but nonetheless it'll take a lot more time to extract the data here than the small amount of time they've bought.
The temple's rejection is dire, after all.
But the plaque offers a solid warning:
If the rumors are true, THE LOLITHIA has remained on Filgaia. If ..... learns of this facility, ... will undoubtedly shut it down. We have thus equipped the facility with an advanced security system. For the sake of our planet, we must protect it at all costs...
It should be chilling, especially to Noeline. The mention of the Golem, Ice Queen Lolithia. Just what does this facility have to do in turn to the Golem that they've retrieved from the Fairgrounds? The questions just keep mounting...
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's brows furrow tightly at the first mention of the words; if nothing else, that explains the sense of rejection from this temple - whatever this information is, it's important. Were the names not missing, it might be easier to figure out - as it stands, this could be a facility aligned with the Golem, aiming to protect it, or it could be a facility aligned against it, seeking to avoid Lolithia's gaze.
Frankly, Noeline would bet on the former, at least for the moment.
She sweeps quickly through what she can of the warning, consigning it and any other information she can find to memory - it's not like there's a handy slot for her to pull out a data disk, it's not like there's anything she's got to write with - but she's at least confident that she can remember that much, and perhaps it will be better to come back later with a little more in the way of preparation.
"--we need to leave," she reports afterwards in the direction of the others, squinting behind her as more of the alarms blare. Fortunately, whatever they did to the console - while it hasn't necessarily stopped the attack of the combat dolls behind them - does at least appear to have kicked the elevator into working order, allowing a rapid descent to what might hopefully be the entrance hall and not the closed space that trapped them in in the first place.
"Somehow--" she adds as she drops to one knee to scoop Riesenlied up, carrying the slightly taller woman with a surprising amount of ease, and darting in the direction of the lift. "--I do not believe we're getting much more than that right now! Can you walk? Is everyone alright?!"
Maybe the Crimson Noble can lead, when she needs to.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
In the end, there's only so much good guesswork to be had when struggling against an overwhelming tide of hatred while trying to come up with a possible hit for a password.
While, it seems, security dolls are about to break down the door.
Related: the password is not redwhiteandblue.
Where guesswork fails, though--
There's something to be said for the brute force method.
Everything goes quiet as the security system is disabled. For now, at least. A moment or two later, Avril picks herself up off the floor and rubs lightly at her forehead. "The feeling has gone away," she observes, gaze falling on one of the screens. "I apologize. I wasn't of much use there just now, was I? I am feeling much better now." Picking her way over towards the console, she stares for a moment as data rolls its way across the screen.
It's...
Her brow creases, deeply. "Why is this familiar...? I don't understand..."
--we need to leave.
Avril straightens then, pulling away from the console display. "Oh-- yes. We should. This place is... only sleeping," she says, a moments pause while she attempted to think of how to articulate the feeling she had. Not shut down. It will reactivate, eventually. She understands this, and doesn't know why.
The only thing she does before approaching the handy elevator is pause and stare at the plaque.
And frown, unhappily, at it as well. "The Lolithia..." she utters aloud. "Have I heard that name somewhere?" And she shakes her head.
It's no good. Especially when everything feels familiar to her at various points.
"We should go. I would like to see the sun again."
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"... Well, that's certainly a way to accomplish a goal," Matilda says, blinking at the display. It looks like punching things is a great way to solve your problems!
She looks to the plaque, squinting a little bit at it. "... I don't understand why this is readable, but..." She looks at it a little more closely. "Hm -- the number of... no, that's not right -- I was hoping I could make a guess at the missing data, but... there's no guarantee that this is..." She mumbles, trying to work her way through it -- but then she realizes that there are still incoming combat dolls, and an open elevator.
"... Right. There's hardly enough time to even make a guess," she admits, moving toward the elevator. "I'm fine -- a little exhausted, and queasy, but..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied comments on nothing. It's hard to do so when you're unconscious!!