2017-08-22: Desert Cuccos
- Log: Desert Cuccos
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline
- Where: Great Aveh Desert
- Date: 22nd August 2017
- Summary: Riesenlied and Noeline go scouting in the desert. The cuccos are real, I tell you!
DG: A party led by Riesenlied is now entering Great Aveh Desert.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=============================== <* Great Aveh Desert *>============================
=========================== <* CHALLENGE - Shifting Sands *>=======================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Upon entering the Great Aveh Desert, you find... sand. A lot of sand. Like,
a LOT of it. And it slips out from under your feet as you walk.
This is maybe not such a great idea.
=Dungeon Conditions: Overwhelm================================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has had some strange priorities in her life before, but...
...
As she gazes out towards the expanse of the desert -- flanked only by Noeline and her companion Odjn, she has to wonder:
"Was this really such a good idea?"
Still, they know the answer -- yes, this was probably necessary for Wayside, and they've got to check that nothing amiss was happening around their backyard anytime soon.
She flaps her wings and rises to the air, holding her hand out for her. "Do you need a lift?"
Odjn sighs and says, "I feel my throat burnin'..."
DG: You use your Tool Dragon Wings against your party's Challenge, Shifting Sands!
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Dragon Wings toward her party's challenge, Shifting Sands.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline sighs ruefully at the sight ahead of them; already, she's been having some difficulties with her long and flowing dresses in the midst of the shifting sands, and has had to change her style a little towards something shorter and ever so slightly lighter for the sake of both heat and not tripping over herself. How on earth did she make it through this area the first time around, so many years ago?
The answer is 'carriages', probably.
"It is for the best," she reminds herself and Riesenlied, a small satchel entrusted to her by Devet slung over one shoulder - inside of it are a number of small perimeter devices, intended to be scattered over the desert to provide something of an early warning system. As the most able-bodied of the members of Wayside at the moment, it's fallen to the two of them to go out and deposit them around the desert.
"My thanks," she notes gratefully - and gracefully, as she takes Riesenlied's hand before stepping in closer, sneaking into an embrace around the other woman's neck instead.
Totally just to get over the sand, of course.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shifting Sands.
========================== <* Great Aveh Desert - Round 1 *>======================= ============================= < Results - Shifting Sands >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 0 --(9)--> 9 Pass Dragon Wings 3 Agility Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 0 --(12)--> 12 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Overwhelm Effects: ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 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 lets a little yelp as Noeline dangles herself around her, and while the two awkwardly bobble in the air, she eventually manages to keep them steady... enough... to not outright collapse the two over the sands. Though curiously, Riesenlied is dressed rather more conservatively for the desert, but she doesn't seem to voice her complaints.
"You two seem to be a bit closer than before... why's that?" Odjn squints.
DG: Noeline has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================== <* Great Aveh Desert *>============================ ============================= <* CHALLENGE - Quick Sand *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The sand beneath one of your party members suddenly gives way; apparently there was an air pocket underneath them. You've got a few seconds to pull them out and get away before the collapse widens! =Dungeon Conditions: Injure, Hesitate=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"Do you think so?" hums Noeline to herself, ever so innocently, as they travel through the air. Her gaze flicks towards Riesenlied for just a moment, her toothy grin a warning sign for what is to come, and she rests her head against the other demon's shoulder while doing her best to flutter her eyelashes. "Wouldn't that be a good thing, though~?"
Her teasing is in high spirits, possibly even moreso than the last time the two of them braved an inhospitable location with Odjn at their side - but she's also aware they're in a desert, and clearly doesn't want to tax Riesenlied's wings too badly. "In any case, it is more than we-ee--..."
The hitch in her voice is from when she lightly drops back to the ground, and the way one of her legs dips down much further than the other all of a sudden; she huffs immediately in response, lunging up on her good leg as she attempts to gain height back into Riesenlied's arms. Fortunately, there's a beep in response - and Strife suddenly bursts from her satchel to act as a stepping stone upwards.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Strife toward her party's challenge, Quick Sand.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied does kind of falter a little, as her wings aren't exactly meant for long-distance travelling -- but there's a yelp as Noeline starts to dip, as she stumbles herself and holds onto Strife in turn with some relief. "Good thing you two are here..."
Odjn folds her arms to complain, "Why am I starting to feel like a third wheel here?" A pause. "Fourth?"
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Quick Sand.
========================== <* Great Aveh Desert - Round 2 *>======================= =============================== < Results - Quick Sand >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 9 --(16)--> 25 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 12 --(11)--> 23 Pass Strife 3 Agility Effects: Rally ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Injure(2)|Overwhelm Effects: ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 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.
"--well, unless you're willing to carry Riesenlied here," Noeline grins up at the little Dragon, huffing out a breath that is something of a relief as Strife's thrusters fire and provide enough lift for both of them at once. The ARM is evidently not used to having two passengers; it strains and beeps in indignation, but does at least provide enough in the way of sideways thrust to get them clear of the sinkhole that opens under the sand behind them.
But Noeline is not unfair, and sighs as she grins up at the Dragon once they're on more stable land. "Rest assured, you will be more than necessary in the days ahead. We're counting on you to help look after the place, after all. You've surely got a lot to teach people?"
It's a bit of a deflection, but she's okay with that.
DG: Riesenlied has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================== <* Great Aveh Desert *>============================
========================= <* CHALLENGE - Collateral Damage *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Suddenly the sound of metal screaming on metal echoes out, followed by the
soft *crumpt* of an explosion in the near distance. Moments later, a pair of
Gears - one Aveh, one Kislev - plow through a nearby dune, engaged in a
vicious melee combat.
They don't even notice you, which is good except for the maybe stepping on
you thing.
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Bad Luck==========================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's a jolt of shock from Riesenlied as she lets go with a little flutter of her own wings after a bit, petting Strife apologetically as she instead looks to Odjn. "Yes... I would-- wish no less of Wayside than to have your own experiences be taught..."
Odjn frowns very gently as she says, "... just what-- happened in that temple anyway? You're different..."
The sudden crunch of Gears, however, is a lot different than what had happened before -- she gestures for Noeline and tugs them behind a dune. "Here!"
DG: You use your Tool Dragon Wings against your party's Challenge, Collateral Damage!
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Dragon Wings toward her party's challenge, Collateral Damage.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The spy's instincts are sufficient to hear the thrum of the Gears before she sees them - and sense them coming closer. Fortunately, so are Riese's - so by the time the winged woman is swinging over and behind a dune she's already right behind her, skidding to a halt as she bunkers down behind the cover.
Her hand manages to remain in Riesenlied's, their fingers clasped.
"... ah..." she starts to say to Odjn - and then glances to Riese, her brow furrowed. The look on her face is obvious enough: if anyone were to support them, wouldn't it be Odjn?
DG: Noeline has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Collateral Damage.
========================== <* Great Aveh Desert - Round 3 *>======================= =========================== < Results - Collateral Damage >======================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 25 --(11)--> 36 Pass Dragon Wings 3 Agility Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 23 --(10)--> 33 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 40 --(15)--> 55 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Hesitate(1)|Injure(1)|Overwhelm|Wound(2) Effects: ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied 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> Riesenlied has posed.
Without too much more trouble, the Gears continue their battle, a clash of iron and fury bashing each other as the two speed towards the other side of the Dune. There's a quiet sigh from Riesenlied, as she gestures to Noeline. "Place one here -- under the divot of that dune."
Odjn squints to go, "... Riese?" She's not used to being ignored, it seems.
DG: Noeline has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================== <* Great Aveh Desert *>============================ ============================= <* CHALLENGE - Sandslide *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Your party is on the downslope of a dune when suddenly the sand underneath your feet begins to slide and give way. You've got a few seconds to figure something out before you're carried down in a rush of rolling sand. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Bad Luck===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline nods, bending down to extract a small, dense cylinder from her bag; she pushes it down into the sand, rocking it from side to side to force it downwards - and huffing softly as she does so, giving the little Dragon an amused look. "... Riese is rather worried about what you might think, Odjn. What happened in there was rather-- overwhelming, and to be quite honest we're not sure how exactly to share it."
Her expression suggests she knows how unusual it is for her to be the concilatory voice - but then, she's had a lot more time to be at peace with the idea of being at odds with the rest of the Metal Demons.
"... it isn't bad, just-- ah--" she tries to continue, but again feels the sand shift unpleasantly underfoot, hopping upwards and trusting in her nimbleness to carry her high enough up the hill. "Riese!" she calls, reaching down for the other demon.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sandslide.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"A-ah!" Riesenlied gasps just for a moment as she tries to reach for Noeline's hand, and winds up missing it -- there's an awkward moment where she starts to tumble and fall onto her back, dragged down by the sands--
--"Geez!" comes the interruption, as Odjn suddenly seizes Riesenlied by the collar and drags her back up enough to allow the blonde Demon to make it the rest of the way... hopefully... before she falls a long way.
"Odjn..." Riesenlied murmurs.
"If y'don't wanna tell me, fine! But don't get so distracted!" Odjn lectures, folding her arms. "... I don't like seein' a sad Riese."
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sandslide.
========================== <* Great Aveh Desert - Round 4 *>======================= =============================== < Results - Sandslide >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 36 --(23)--> 59 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 33 --(24)--> 57 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 55 --(5)--> 60 Fail Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Overwhelm|Slow(2)|Wound(1) Effects: ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has failed this challenge! The party gained 5 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 leans down to catch Riesenlied's hand, doing her best to haul the other woman up to the top of the hill. At first, her huff in answer is quite light: "We are not sad, I promise. If anything, the news was-- a distinct relief. Just that it might be rather conflicting, in a completely different way to Adlehyde--"
Whatever she was saying is cut off when the sand under her other hand gives way, the small dune she's leaning on suddenly giving way from under her; with a yelp, the two of them tumble downwards into the wash of sand. By the time they manage to drag themselves clear - not to mention push out of the sand, and shake themselves down, and make it through Noeline's rather lengthy bout of upset whining - the two of them look rather the worse for wear. "... w-well. At least that tracker is well and /truly/ buried," she grumbles.
DG: Riesenlied has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================== <* Great Aveh Desert *>============================ =========================== <* CHALLENGE - Lost... Again! *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Okay, seriously, how are you supposed to keep track of which way to go when everything looks like MORE SAND? =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied yelps unceremoniously as Noeline starts to tumble, and they wind up crashing against each other and tumbling down quite a fair ways with Odjn also getting trapped and yanked along. "W-why meee--"
...
There's a cute little cough out of Riesenlied as she flails the sands out of her sleeves, and she murmurs, "I-- yes... if anything, this is closer to what I truly want you to see..."
Odjn doesn't look particularly convinced, though. "... mmm... but are /you/ going to be all right? You two?"
A pause. "Where'd we..." Riesenlied squints, as she says, "Ah-- the tracker was that way, so we'd go... that way." Very helpful, Riesenlied.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Lost... Again!.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline looks rather bedraggled, not to mention in desperate need of a shower; she's lost one ribbon, much to her annoyance, and her hair is shot through with obvious clumps of sand as she grimaces, doing her best to try to pat her dress down. "U-ugghh... I shall never get used to deserts," she grumbles, before looking to the sky with a frown, and then turning to take in the horizon.
"... that... is a very good question, honestly," she sighs towards Odjn, but then breaks into a surprisingly confident smile. "We may make some unexpected enemies. But this time, we can be truly proud of what we're doing."
"Ah-- I think it was a little towards the left," she adds, tilting her head. "Wayside's Pass is there, I am reasonably sure."
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Lost... Again!.
========================== <* Great Aveh Desert - Round 5 *>======================= ============================= < Results - Lost... Again! >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 59 --(15)--> 74 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 57 --(17)--> 74 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 60 --(5)--> 65 Fail Conditions: Bad Luck(1)|Overwhelm|Slow(1)|Stupify(2) Effects: ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has failed this challenge! The party gained 5 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 does take some time to brush Noeline's hair and garments down, while she smiles quietly to say, "There is an honesty in deserts that I find calming. It may be barren, yet there is a tranquility in it..."
Odjn stares to say, "I don't see bugger all but sand, just a heads' up."
And so they wander off... where...
DG: Noeline has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================== <* Great Aveh Desert *>============================
=================== <* CHALLENGE - Cactus Juice Is The Quenchiest *>===============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
After slogging for what seems like hours through the desert, you come across
a group of cacti growing in the shadow of a rock outcropping. There are
several different sizes and shapes, but there's supposed to be water inside
these and not some sort of weird hallucinogenic.
...right?
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure, Treasure=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
By the time they reach the outcropping, Noeline is looking a little haggard - and keeps adjusting her dress a little, assaulted by that worst of feelings: sand inside of her clothes. "Haah... well, at least we are mostly done," she decides, having taken the opportunity to plant most of the devices along their path; only later will Devet pout at them, tell them that they were a mile off in the wrong direction, and receive the greatest deadpan of all time.
She is not much of an outdoorsman, but does at least summon her scythe to slice the top of one cactus off, flipping the top to act as a makeshift cup. "... this should help," she offers to Riese, aware the other demon might be rather tired at this point, and then repeats the motion for herself.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Cactus Juice Is The Quenchiest.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied, on the other hand, does have her limits, and those limits are a lot shorter as she starts to look particularly dizzy from how her Tainted physiology is affecting her. "M-mm--" she squints and drops to one knee, nodding slowly as she takes a little cup to sip from the cactus juice.
A pause, as she blinks a few times...
...
"I--is that a cucco... over there? C-cucco...!" Riesenlied starts to... coo.
"O-oh no! OH NO! It's like Adlehyde all over again!" Odjn starts to panic.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Cactus Juice Is The Quenchiest.
========================== <* Great Aveh Desert - Round 6 *>======================= ===================== < Results - Cactus Juice Is The Quenchiest >================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 74 --(26)--> 100 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 74 --(26)--> 100 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 65 --(15)--> 80 Fail Conditions: Injure(2)|Overwhelm|Stupify(1)|Treasure(1) Effects: ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: Riesenlied is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Noeline is too exhausted to continue!
DG: The party has failed this challenge! All party members are now Exhausted. This attempt is over.
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has been fully Exhausted by Great Aveh Desert!
DG: The party will now draw a conclusion.
=============================== <* Great Aveh Desert *>============================ ========================== <* CHALLENGE - Gallagher Oasis *>======================= |Type: Landmark |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- As you limp toward the crest of a distant dune, you see a glimmer of light off a reflective surface, surrounded by a flash of green. It's an oasis - a small pool of life-giving water, around which some hardy ferns and other plants are somehow resisting the encroaching desertification... but for how long? =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline, poor poor Noeline... never got to see that part of the city's history. "I-- I beg your pardon?" she blurts towards Odjn, stunned and rather confused as parts of her hair split in a very haphazard fashion. More tired than she cares to admit, she's taken entirely by surprise when Riesenlied repeats the soft noise, and even starts to flutter her wings. C-c-cute... thinks Noeline, as the Riesecucco snuggles up to her--
--wait, no--
"Riese!" she yells more firmly, at least having the werewithal to throw a look around them, and direct Odjn towards what looks like a spot of shimmering blue in the distance. "Odjn, check--" her vision swims a little. "--check that's real for me!"
It is, it turns out - and moments later Noeline staggers to a halt by the little pond, the blonde in her arms and rather curled up against her by now, Noeline trying to pretend like she's not fiercely blushing.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Cucco!"
Riesenlied -- or, yes, the Riesencuccoon, at this point in time -- is rather terribly snug against Noeline as she carries her towards a very real oasis, and Odjn's kind of just flaking as she mumbles, "Please let there not be any cuccos here... please let there not be any cuccos here..."
"Cuccos are really cute and adorable and round, don't you agree, Noeline? Shooo cute..." as she cuddles a... particularly round pieces of rock, not looking like she's particularly willing to move anytime soon.
V-victory...?