2017-08-28: A Nicked Cage
- Log: A Nicked Cage
- 'Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Maya Schrodinger, Jacqueline Barber
- Where: Cage Tower
- Date: 28th August 2017
- Summary: Following a strange call, Riesenlied and the others investigate the Cage Tower.
DG: A party led by Riesenlied is now entering Cage Tower.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=================================== <* Cage Tower *>===============================
============================= <* CHALLENGE - Tight Fit *>==========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The door to the Cage Tower is locked, but a little ways up one of the walls
is a small crack in the masonry. It may be a tight squeeze, but if you can
make it up there and slip through, you could get in that way.
(hopefully this was not a cheat day)
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has gathered here towards the northern portion of November City after one of her scouts had offered a tip about the place -- of how its structure appear to date back to the Metal Demon Wars, which may contain some valuable information about the past and their ancestors... what will they find here? Hopefully, more than just tragedy.
The winged demon has ridden a horse for once -- deciding that Dragons are too much attention given recent events -- and looks towards the Tower in particular as it rises up menacingly above them.
"... thank you for coming here," she expresses. "I am not certain what we'll find inside... we'll have to be exceptionally careful."
She presses the door at the front of the Tower, however, and quietly frowns. "... mm, of course it's locked. But..." She glances towards the wall and-- quietly flutters her way upwards, squeezing for a moment through the crack and--
--and fidgeting just for a moment. "... I--I haven't become..." oh no, perish the thought, Riesenlied!!
"... S-Strife, could you please..." fortunately, before she can embarrass herself any further, she finally squeezes through a moment later. A rope is wordlessly lowered afterwards.
DG: You use your Tool Dragon Wings against your party's Challenge, Tight Fit!
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Dragon Wings toward her party's challenge, Tight Fit.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
It's been a while since Maya the many-formed one has been in touch with Riese, hasn't it? Not since she dropped by to show off how much better she was feeling, and also to wish the powered-down Metal Demon well while she was sick. The image of sniffly Riesenlied surrounded by cucco blankets will not leave her anytime soon.
It's also been a while since Maya has actually done her goddamn job of sneaking into ruins in search of treasure, fame, fortune, and now maybe also an answer to the scary questions about why the world is ending. But after a period recuperating from the stressful and scary events of the Guardian Temple and the sprint through the warzone, she's come to the conclusion that sitting around feeling sorry for herself won't accomplish much.
So. That's why the dynamic girl in the orange dress is here, squeezing through a tiny, dirty gap. Loving life.
"Nnngh--you know I can never turn down a challenge..."
That's about all she can say to avoid getting dirt in her mouth. Feels good to be back.
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Tight Fit.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline has come along with Riesenlied, of course, the better to keep her safe; they're far out enough from November City that trouble isn't likely to find them, but at the same time she's kind of aware that they might have to work out a new disguise for the cities of the west.
That, in itself, is a bit of a dilemma - because as much as her identity as a Crimson Noble started out fake, it's kind of become part of her by now, to the point that she doesn't really want to discard it just like that. Besides, she's finding herself inordinately proud of Wayside, and would kind of prefer to stand and stride tall in support of it.
Basically, it's a very strange time for her. Not a bad one, of course, just-- a strange one. Does she really even count as a spy now, she wonders?
Anyway, bigger things are up, like a prime chance to tease Riesenlied. Strife does its best to be polite and genteel in nudging against Riesenlied's side, but the girl in black and crimson can't help but brightly snicker at the sight, having let the little robot carry her up to the crack as well. "Oh, dear. I promise not to tell Sedan, or Cetiri," she cackles brightly, her fanged grin luminous as she waits her turn. "Oh, and do be careful, Miss Schrodinger. Now isn't the time to get stuck."
She's humming as she follows them in. Something something pride, something something fall.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Tight Fit.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline had readily accepted the invitation. She was in a new area, with new places to explore. Who knew what secrets and mysteries of the past lie within their walls? It was exciting...and besides that, she needed to take a break from all of the horrible things that were happening in her life lately. Things were looking up, thankfully...but there was still a bit more to go before she could say things had returned to a point she was comfortable with.
She gazes up at the stone tower, a hand shielding her eyes from the intense sun.
"It's quite a ways up...looks like we have quite the trip ahead of us." She comments to her current traveling companions.
Jacqueline had been glad to see Maya again, actually - it had been a while since the two of them met, and the last she'd heard of her had been after Adlehyde.
That was...certainly a time...
Jacqueline takes up the back and tries to get through...
But, unfortunately, gets stuck on her frankly exorbitant amount of bags.
She knew she would be punished for this eventually.
They catch on the sides of the small entryway the others had uncovered, and she finds she can't get through as she is.
"O-oh no..." Jacqueline murmurs. She carefully backs up, hoping that she doesn't accidentally put any tears in them in the process.
From here, she had two options. Remove the bags and push them through(which would take a while), or try to reduce some of the contents. She opts for the latter, pulling out a familiar bottle of pale green liquid and a bunch of healing potions and downing the lot before trying again.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Invigoration Elixir toward her party's challenge, Tight Fit.
============================== <* Cage Tower - Round 1 *>========================== =============================== < Results - Tight Fit >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 0 --(11)--> 11 Pass Dragon Wings 3 Agility Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 0 --(15)--> 15 Pass Invigoration Elixir 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maya Schrodinger 0 --(13)--> 13 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 0 --(15)--> 15 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Conditions: Tire(2) Effects: Stalwart(1) ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has failed this challenge! The party gained 10 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 tugs on the rope with an embarrassed look as she holds onto Maya's hand and helps her along, taking deep breaths and wondering why she feels this way. Of course, once Miss Schrodinger is over, she holds onto Noeline's hand with a quiet grump as she...
...
... keeps tugging... and tugging. "N-Noeline... are you-- stuck?"
A pause, as she says, "A-ah, Jay, maybe you can give her a hand--" she's flush. "No, this is not any of our fault! It's the Ruin's fault for having inconsiderate and frankly unrealistic expectations of bodily proportions!"
... why are you getting so defensive, Riese?
DG: Noeline has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================== <* Cage Tower *>=============================== =========================== <* CHALLENGE - Caging Sphere *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The air around you flickers and shimmers, and the smell of ozone emanates from somewhere above. That's all the warning you get before a sphere of energy forms around you, trapping you inside a cage of invisible energy. It's rooted to the ground, but perhaps you could break out if you hit it enough? =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous==============================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"--I-- I am /not/! And I'll have you know that my bodily proportions are, personally speaking, fantastic!" blurts Noeline in return in a sudden and deeply ruffled temper, her cheeks flaming as she swats Strife's well-meant help away and just forces herself through the gap instead. A nasty scrape on her arm leaves a swatch of silver against the stone - just in case there was any doubt about her true heritage.
Either way, she looks a little the worse for wear from the experience, but it's her pride that's wounded more than her body in the end. In turn, that grumpiness makes her stomp forward impetuously - and blunder right into another trap, almost slamming into the sphere as it forms around her.
"Oh, for the--" she grumbles, testing the cafe of energy from within by leaning against it with an elbow; her hair threatens to stand on end from the static, but it does at least seem safe enough to touch - then lean against - and then jab, making the odd ball she's trapped in rock oddly but drag back to its starting point soon enough.
"--really, now," she adds, holding up a hand. The look of the energy she gathers in her hand is a little odd. It might be her scythe - if her scythe looked like something out of a Salvador Dali painting, deflated and melting in her hand. After a moment, it becomes clear that it's trying to reform its shape, but simply doesn't have the space in the tight confines of the bubble - but the crackling and creaking that emanates from the energy field suggests that's the point, and this is how Noeline's choosing to try to force her way through it.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Caging Sphere.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied yelps as she steps out of Noeline's way, rubbing at her forehead for a moment as she murmurs, "W-wait, Noeline, do you smell something...?" She coughs just for a moment, before the cage emerges around them. "Ah--"
She bites her lip as she looks towards the ends of the cage, before thinking for a moment. "Jay, Maya, could you get the other two points, please?"
In a swift move, Riesenlied's gotten hold of her bullet-bow again, as she focuses on the draw and aims towards one of the spikes on the ground. She concentrates, drawing a point of light from the grip... and looses it in a small explosion of light.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Caging Sphere.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"I-It's alright...honestly, it's fine." Jacqueline says as Noeline protests. Dungeons preferred to keep people out, after all! There was nothing wrong just because you couldn't wiggle in!
Still, she begins to follow Riesenlied inside...and stops.
That flicker and shimmer in the air, that smell...it's much like the phenomenon that occurs when she invokes certain Crests. She notices it about the same time Riesenlied does.
"Everyone, look out!" She calls out...but she's unfortunately too late, as the 'Cage Tower' decides to live up to its name.
Perhaps it took offense at people criticizing its dungeon layout.
Whatever the case was, they were stuck...though Riesenlied helpfully points her in the direction of what seemed to be the source of the cage trapping them.
"Got it!" Jacqueline calls back, drawing a Crest from her pouch. She assails it in her usual manner - slamming an earth pillar into it.
In her defense, she assumed that a physical attack might be more effective here.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Caging Sphere.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Indeed, it's been quite a while since Maya last laid eyes on Jay! At least, compared to after the battle of Adlehyde, she's looking hale and hearty and more like her old self again. She also totally accepts Riese's helping hand, stumbling out of the gap with a comical cough and a hack, patting herself on the back and dusting that dress off.
"No kidding, what a squeeze! Ugh~..." the blonde grouses harmlessly, reaching back in there to give poor Jay and Noeline a hand if they need one. That she was being teased a few moments ago ain't much of a problem to get hung up on.
***
The sudden appearance of a sphere of barrier-energy is a surprise, and Maya is strolling along at the head of the group with arms a-swinging when she walks straight into it and bangs her nose into a crackling shield. "Nnnmmf. Who put these traps in here? They're so /rude/!" she stamps her foot and folds her arms impetuously. Only for a second, though, until Maya rummages in the little brown satchel at her side and produces what looks like a disco ball with a bomb fuse attached to it, which she lights with a match.
After Riesenlied has instructed her to do something. "Ah." she pips, "You betcha." and awkwardly drops whatever weird bomb she just produced (it's small, okay) next to one of the weird spikes on the ground. "Uh, it's okay, my brother made this. He's really good with ancient ruins and things. Watch this."
When the fuse does reach the bomb under Maya's boot, it doesn't explode so much as just kind of crumble with a weird bass-heavy hum. Some kind of sonic/chaff grenade? Maybe? Maya did you even think about how this might be useful befor--no, no, you didn't. Of course you didn't.
DG: Maya Schrodinger has used her Tool Schrodinger Special toward her party's challenge, Caging Sphere.
============================== <* Cage Tower - Round 2 *>========================== ============================= < Results - Caging Sphere >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 11 --(6)--> 17 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 15 --(5)--> 20 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maya Schrodinger 13 --(6)--> 19 Pass Schrodinger Special 3 Brute Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 15 --(6)--> 21 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 10 --(20)--> 30 Pass Conditions: Overzealous(2)|Tire(1) 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.
"Hmf," the Crimson Notble says in response to Maya's outburst. Still feeling ruffled, her free hand attempts to flick out her hair, but-- just sort of conks against the inner wall of the trap, leaving the motion rather ineffectual. That only seems to incense her more; with a grumble, the molten, almost-liquid form of her scythe presses against the inside of the bubble with greater force - but then she yelps hard as something seems to give, a shock of energy running through the metal as her attempt is forcibly dissipated.
Fortunately, everyone else is there to back her up, the generators of the odd sphere crumbling under a repeated and concerted effort from the other three - and the thing just pops after the three points around it are taken out, leaving in their wake a grumbling and ever so slightly singed Noeline.
"Thank you, Miss Barber," she sighs as she... ... latches onto one of Riesenlied's arms for comfort, the Metal Demon version of a Lunie recharge. "And-- I see," she adds without much further comment towards Maya's odd little device, watching the last parts of it smoke and peter out. "Somehow, I feel like your little brother would get on with some of the visitors we've had lately."
DG: Maya Schrodinger has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================== <* Cage Tower *>=============================== =========================== <* CHALLENGE - Metal Beasts?! *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The walls of this room are lined with odd metal cylinders, most of which have been slashed open--the astute might notice that they were breached from inside. Some of them look like they've been sealed longer than others, but you don't have much time to think about it. Several cylinders tear themselves open, and reptilian Metal Beasts burst from inside. They are not very happy at the intrusion. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
"Al? Probably. Nothing really bothers the little guy." Maya quips with a rowdy grin as she leans across and tussles Noeline's hair, because how can she resist when the two Metal Demons professing peace are getting cuddly with each other like that? "But I'd rather keep him outta these kinds of places. Things aren't what they used to be, I feel like places are gettin' more dangerous..."
That thought aside, Maya leads the gang into a circular room with a bunch of cylindrical tanks arrayed around the edges. "Say," the blonde notes as she turns to Jay, conveniently holding a sawn-off shotgun over her shoulder like some kind of Payday character. "Did you guys get most of your stuff out of Adlehyde? Todd 'n Al were telling me you lost it all, and I never got a chance to drop by and offer to help out! I was--kinda out of it." a pause, as Maya glances to Noeline and Riese to flash a winning smile. "No hard feelings!"
BUT WAIT--some of those cylinders (which Maya did not at /all/ pay attention to) explode outwards as slinky-snakey Metal Beasts inside burst outwards with fangs snapping! Metal Snakes fly at the group, even at Riesenlied and Noeline! Snake Man's stage isn't meant to be here what the FU--
Maya for her part, yells in surprise and animatedly dives backwards while pulling the trigger on her double-barreled weapon. It goes ker-boom and flings a dazzling spray of phosphor-like bolts at the nest of snakes trying to murder everyone. "W--what the hell's that? Hey, blow the cylinders up before they can wake up!!"
DG: Maya Schrodinger has used her Tool Tankbuster Cartridge toward her party's challenge, Metal Beasts?!.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied jolts just for a moment, embarrassed as Noeline limpets onto her side to comment, "Y-you are being unusually-- um, hasty today..." as she pats her hand in turn, after Maya's tussled her hair. She sighs in turn as she looks towards the room forward, looking towards Jay as Maya asks on the topic of her belongings.
... she decides to let Jay answer to that. "No, it is I who should be holding it to mind..."
A pause, as she gasps--
--and holds the Dragon's Tear up with a shimmering flash as she concentrates, sending an ebbing flow of photons to surround the room. One of the snakes trying to rattle at the cylinders... ...settle, something about Riesenlied's light soothing them.
"I-- cannot get them all, hurry!"
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Metal Beasts?!.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline observes the bomb Maya produces with interest, curious to see what it was capable of. That her brother was responsible for it doesn't surprise her. Ah, it wasn't an outright, explosion...
"Oh, how fascinating..." She comments, impressed, then begins to follow Maya as she leads them into the next chamber.
"Unfortunately, there wasn't really a lot that could be salvaged...we were able to fix up some of the books, but that's about it." She admits. Those wounds had mostly healed by this point, so she doesn't sound too saddened by it anymore.
"Still, it lead to my forming the Caravan Kinship with everyone, so...while the circumstances could've been better, I think in the end I'm better off now than I was before. I'm just glad to see you back to your old self." She says with a smile.
"As for Todd and your brother...how are they doing, by the way?" She asks, curious. It is around this time that the Tower decides to interject itself into the conversation. Unfortunately, the only thing it was capable of saying appears to be 'Ssss'...
...Actually, no, that's just the snakes. Metal Snakes, to be exact.
Jacqueline backpedals a bit, reaching into one of her bags.
"Watch out, everyone!" She worns, hurling the bottle of black, foul-smelling liquid into the snakes' midst.
Hopefully it'd be enough to deter them.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Reliable Repellant toward her party's challenge, Metal Beasts?!.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline is taken entirely by surprise when her /obviously perfect hair/ gets tousled out of the blue, never mind that it's usually messy enough that it actually doesn't look all that different afterwards. "--do you mind," she puffs up anyway, grumbling as she picks at a twintail but obviously not all that ruffled by the motion.
"...for our part, the events at Old Petra were not something that could really be 'helped' with, not without great danger to yourself. On the other hand, it gave us a chance to reexamine our course, and perhaps correct it - at least, as far as the two of us are concerned," the twintailed Demon admits with what is, for her, a rather softer and more bemused sort of smile as she tilts her head.
The pleasant moment is interrupted by the breaking of glass, however, and Noeline spends no time at all summoning her scythe back to her hands, the metal apparently none the worse for wear despite its earlier problems in the sphere trap. "Corral them in as best you can!" calls Noeline, and someone is evidently quite affected by the Tainted commander's philosophy when she adds: "And do try not to kill any, if possible!"
Suiting actions to words, she picks up the first snake on the flat of her blade, twirling with the 'strike' to simply throw one of the snakes back into the tank; Strife and Trouble are there to act as a hovering, bobbing corral, keeping the Metal Beasts back in their pens with a combination of obstructionism and the occasional dose of laser fire.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Trouble toward her party's challenge, Metal Beasts?!.
============================== <* Cage Tower - Round 3 *>========================== ============================= < Results - Metal Beasts?! >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 17 --(4)--> 21 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 20 --(6)--> 26 Pass Reliable Repellant 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maya Schrodinger 19 --(6)--> 25 Pass Tankbuster Cartridge 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 21 --(3)--> 24 Pass Trouble 2 Combat Effects: Resilient ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 30 --(20)--> 50 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Overzealous(1) Effects: Embolden(1)|Resilient(1) ================================== < 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> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya's excitable shooting repels some of the Metal Beasts that have already lunged from their captivity, dazzling their senses with flare-shot in tandem with Jay's quick thinking: the thick and gross repellant triggers some kind of flight response in the snakes. They are rapidly beginning to think getting the heck out of here is a better idea than randomly biting.
"I'm trying not to kill! I swear it! It's all noise 'n light!" Maya panickedly explains as she comically bonks a remaining snake on the head with the butt of her shotgun, and it makes a x_____X face before coiling down into a knocked-out pile. Luckily, this tricky task is made easier by Noeline's pinpoint drone-fire, holding things still long enough for Riesenlied to reach out and instill peace in the minds of everything that hasn't yet decided to zip away somewhere more peaceful th an this.
So, after a few moments of blessed silence once it's all said and done, Maya exhales with relief and runs a hand through her own hair. Phew.
"Uh--to answer your question from earlier, Mizz Barber, the family's doing well. Todd and Al have returned home to do some investigating, while Shady and I are out here in search of some new leads." Maya /does/ get around to answering Jay's question with a rogueish grin. "Can't keep us down for long. And it sounds like the same for you, too. Glad to hear it."
The sunshiney Drifter, with that, strolls around to Noeline and Riese, to offer a hand to each of them if they're in need of one. "Quick thinking. I, uh, haven't quite gotten to the don't-shoot-first stage yet. Sorry." [OOC] Jacqueline Barber says, "I'll take the next one!"
DG: Jacqueline Barber has drawn a new Challenge.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline stepped out of the fight after sending out that dose of repellant - the others seemed to have the snakes handled quite effectively, after all.
"Ah, I'm glad to hear that...I hope you all find what you're looking for." She replies with a grin of her own. "I was feeling pretty down there for a while, admittedly...but there are people who are relying on me, so I couldn't let myself stay that way for long."
With the snakes corraled safely, Jacqueline leads the others into the next room. The crackle of electricity is a familiar sound to her, so she holds out an arm to halt the others once it reaches her ears.
She peers in carefully, frowning at the sight of the strange machinery in the next room.
"I think I see why the seals in the previous room were failing..." She comments with a frown, then sighs. "Ah, if Shalune were here she'd probably know how to fix these things properly...or at least be able to put a good lightning rod together..."
Unfortunately, it looked like they'd have to be careful. She does send a cautious glance back toward Noeline and Riesenlied.
...How well did Metal Demons deal with electricity? Did they conduct it?
"Step carefully, everyone...but quickly." She warns, before pulling out another dose of that pale-green liquid to put a bit more spring in her step.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Invigoration Elixir toward her party's challenge, Damaged Relay.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied looks apologetic to Maya, but does at least offer, "Your friends are very loyal and true to you. I've only spoken passingly to your butler and Alfred, but Shady was particularly protective of you at that time..."
She steps closer as she holds her head. "... this place is making me feel strange. The scents... the sensations... the-- crystalline resonance..."
She shakes her head. "Why is this?"
She yelps as a particular errant array of electricity splashes out towards her, and she nods as she tries to rise up into the air-- and winds up faltering just a little as a direct bolt singes the arc of her wingspan, and she's left scampering on her feet to try to get to the other end.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Damaged Relay.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya waggles a finger knowingly at Jay, looking a little cocky, but no less friendly. "We've decided to start chasing answers, rather than riches. Try to unearth some secrets that can give us an edge, now that we're all chosen ones and all that nonsense. I consider it making up for lost time, I suppose." and to Riesenlied, she grins toothily. "Aren't they? They're good people. I wouldn't be where I am without 'em, but don't you dare tell them I said that!"
And then, there's a *ZRRRRRCH* of an electric current grounding out againt the sole of Maya's boots and she comically starts to yell and panic and sprints for the other end of the room in a tangle of skirts and equipment. "T--t--t--time out! Waaa~ah!"
One of Solais Emsu's many mysterious chosen champions, everyone.
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Damaged Relay.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"Well-- you are being looked up to, now. I have no doubt that Riese could tell you a few stories about how to handle that sort of situation - though I can't say that I'm quite there yet myself, unfortunately," Noeline... sort of advises Jacqueline, though it isn't exactly terribly helpful in its nature. Same as her, really.
"At the very least, we need to thank you for bringing that odd pink whirlwind to us. Her repairs seem-- rather stopgap, if I'm perfectly honest, but she's got a knack for coming up with new situations. The rest of your party seem quite pleasant as well, though... well, you'll forgive me if I stay away from the shamans amongst you, once you find them again. Actually--"
She cuts herself off with a curious sort of slightly deflated frown. "I believe one of them still considers me a Crimson Noble. Haah, I suppose I need to talk to Miss Whitehead, too..." she trails off - and hops up onto the back of Strife in an almost unhurried manner that doesn't seem to especially answer Jacqueline's internal question, given the sheer casual manner in which she does it.
That said, when Riesenlied falters, she does furrow her brow and sweep in that much faster, aiming to be there to provide a hand should the Tainted commander need it.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Strife toward her party's challenge, Damaged Relay.
============================== <* Cage Tower - Round 4 *>========================== ============================= < Results - Damaged Relay >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 21 --(1)--> 22 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 26 --(1)--> 27 Pass Invigoration Elixir 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maya Schrodinger 25 --(1)--> 26 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 24 --(1)--> 25 Pass Strife 3 Agility Effects: Rally ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 50 --(20)--> 70 Pass Conditions: Fright(1)|Injure(2) Effects: Stalwart(1) ================================== < 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.
DG: Riesenlied has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================== <* Cage Tower *>=============================== ===================== <* CHALLENGE - Broken Teleportation Grid *>================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Strange, luminescent spheres flicker in the air like broken electric lamps. They change position every few seconds, following a complex but predictable pattern--anything that touches them is whisked away to a holding cell. This might be some sort of malfunctioning internal defense system--can you get past it? =Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline wasn't sure what was causing that odd sensation Riesenlied was feeling, but she doesn't have much time to dwell on it as she dodges around bolts of lightning. And fortunately for Maya, though she might come out of it with her hair standing on end those boots of her do, at least, prevent her from suffering any major zaps as she makes it across.
And the question about the conductivity of Metal Demons...isn't answered, fortunately. After the initial zap, Riesenlied and Noeline make it through just fine with Strife's help.
And once they're all safely across...
"Answers...we're looking for the same, among other things. Hey, if I learn anything useful I'll be sure to pass it along." She comments with a smile.
She then glances toward Noeline.
"She's...actually already helped me greatly, in that regard. We spoke the other day." She replies, then glances toward Riesenlied with a thankful smile.
"Hahah, well...honestly, I'm glad she's been so helpful. It's been keeping her busy, and I think that's something she needed." She comments. "And I'm glad to hear you approve of the rest of them, as well. They're all good people, really."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Well, if anything, it would seem that Riesenlied might be lightly conductive to electricity, though not any more than any particular other human. "... I feel bad to have contributed to this, but... I know I cannot," she shivers just for a moment, gasping further.
"... the air is definitely becoming particularly charged--" it isn't even a bit further ahead before more sparks and electrical hazards are shown before them; this time, not enough to create particularly dangerous currents, but enough to indicate a particularly disturbing pattern of lights that she comes close to...
...and is then whisked, towards a nearby cell--
"E-eh?!"
She bites her lip, trying to not panic. "... a teleportation system? This doesn't appear to be what it should be doing..." She plants a hand to the cell wall, before saying, "Careful, or we'll have to break out of this..."
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Broken Teleportation Grid.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya quirks an eyebrow at Noeline, as they walk and talk, before falling into another ridiculous trap. "Oh, that's Matilda. I lost track of her when we tried to cross the desert, everyone got seperated when a buncha guys pointed guns at us. If you find where she wound up, I'd love to hear about it... just as much as I'd love to see what Jay digs out of the world." she does find it in her to offer a playful wink. "I know when someone's moving up in the world, and your star's on the rise."
Riesenlied then demonstrates the somewhat malfunctioning teleportation grid up ahead, and the cowgirl's expression becomes goofily flat and unimpressed. Hands go to her hips. "Uh, I'm a little sketchy about creeping through here. What if it just whisks away a bit of me without the /rest/ of me?" she complains, reluctantly creeping towards the haphazard pattern of lights. "Dad never mentioned /teleport/ mazes..."
Maya your dad went spelunking before Shin Megami Tensei dungeons affected everyone's sense of design.
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Broken Teleportation Grid.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The twintailed demon pauses, and then laughs in a bright sort of amusement. "Ah, well-- if you'd like to know where she is, rest assured you're probably better off asking Miss Barber here, rather than myself," she points out, then decides to answer anyway. "As I understand it, she has thrown in her lot - and her Gear - with the Caravan Kinship. Which, at the moment, means that they are set up just outside of Wayside, a new little village in the mountains."
She-- doesn't actually mention that Wayside is /theirs/, not yet - though it's not clear whether that's because she'd rather it be a mischievous surprise, or that she'd like to defer that side of the question to Riesenlied.
Besides, the other demon just vanished - and Noeline is totally not panicking mildly in return before she sights the blonde in one of the cages along the wall. "Fortunately, old ruins tend to have sufficient accuracy to manage that much, even over the ages. I have seen worse things than teleports, at least," she comments without further elaboration, hopping up onto Strife once more to begin picking her way high across the room, hopefully out of the way of most of the teleport fields.
A roll of her hand sets Trouble flying towards the cell, intending to cut Riesenlied out - except that another shimmer of air and an extremely confused bleep signal the little device getting warped itself, appearing next to Riesenlied in a whining spin before it bonks against the bars.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Strife toward her party's challenge, Broken Teleportation Grid.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"Ah, was she traveling with you? But yes, as Noeline says, she's one of ours. We were traveling together, but...got separated when everything...happened." Jacqueline explains.
"She caught back up with us as we were leaving the battlefield. She was...in a sorry state, but we managed to put her back together...though she'd already done some of it herself." She explains, then smiles a bit sheepishly as Maya comments on her moving up.
"Ah, well, I owe it to everyone's hard work, really..." She says, then turns her attention to the next obstacle.
Up ahead, they find what Jacqueline presumed to be yet more faulty devices probably caused by the damaged machinery in the other room. She can't...quite tell what it does, but Riesenlied fortunately demonstrates for them.
"A-ah...well then." Jacqueline states, a bit disturbed. She then glances toward Maya. "Ordinarily I wouldn't be concerned...but with their current state, that's...not quite out of the realm of possibility..."
...Looks like she'd have to be careful, then. But...she's only got one dose of Invigoration Elixir left.
"Hope I won't need anymore of this..."
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Invigoration Elixir toward her party's challenge, Broken Teleportation Grid.
============================== <* Cage Tower - Round 5 *>========================== ======================= < Results - Broken Teleportation Grid >==================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 22 --(6)--> 28 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 27 --(2)--> 29 Pass Invigoration Elixir 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maya Schrodinger 26 --(9)--> 35 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 25 --(4)--> 29 Pass Strife 3 Agility Effects: Rally ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 70 --(15)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Injure(1) Effects: Stalwart(1) ================================== < 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.
Fortunately for Maya, she *does* get teleported in one whole piece as ... Riesenlied waves sheepishly to her. At around that time, Trouble goes to buzz by their cell door and burn its way through the lock, to which Riesenlied sighs rather gently as she remarks, "... I do agree with Miss Maya."
Noeline veers off towards the cells past the trial, followed by Jacqueline's fast movements thanks to the last of her elixir.
"The Caravan Kinship represents a lot of the hope and verve I wish to see... I want to help you all meet your goals."
That's definitely Riesenlied, saying things like that with a straight face...
DG: Noeline has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================== <* Cage Tower *>===============================
======================== <* CHALLENGE - Sterilizer Protocol *>=====================
|Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
LEVEL 10 QUARANTINE BREACH DETECTED
STERILIZATION MEASURES DEPLOYED
ALL PERSONNEL REPORT TO CLEAN ZONE IMMEDIATELY
The message flashes across a panel on the wall, over and over, as you enter
the room. The floor is strewn with debris--bits of rock and metal, bone and
cloth. Several mostly-intact skeletons indicate more recent intrusion, one
of which lies in front of a door labeled CLEAN ROOM. Moments later, the door
slams shut behind you, a heavy deadbolt falling into place.
STERILIZATION INITIATED
That's no good. Those sensitive to magic get a moment's warning before
Symbological runes on the walls light up, and the air begins to superheat.
Can you break down that clean room door before you pass out?
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"... I must admit... on the whole, the both of you have an admirable outlook. Campaigning against the Metal Demons is a fine enough goal for someone to undertake," Noeline comments, which is a bit rich given what she is - but she seems to have more of a point to come as she continues. "Not to mention wanting to do something about this deadlock between Aveh and Kislev before it consumes anyone else."
"But if you ask me, I'd rather see humans being humans - inquisitive, unstoppable, indefatigable. Hunting through ruins is an excellent way to chase one's hopes for the future, or one's knowledge of the past - and a world full of soldiers would be a terribly boring place. The Photosphere is proof enough of that, if you ask me."
Something about the room ahead catches her attention, but she can't place why - until the doors ahead of them and behind them suddenly slam shit, and the metal demon actually lets loose a swearword in frustration--
--that becomes a note of surprise as the voice blares out, and the spy has looked sharply towards Riesenlied in astonishment. "The systems are still working? No, more than that - what precisely were they doing here that required a level 10 quarantine?!" she blurts aloud, before turning for the door with an urgent tension in her frame.
This time, the weapon she pulls out of nowhere is not her crimson, dainty scythe - but the enormous flat white-metal 'blade' of the Demon Knight, practically the same size as she is. Regardless, she hefts it with ease, bringing it up to slam against the door as hard as she can, again and again. "Hurry! 'Sterilization' is not nearly so pleasant as you might think!"
DG: Noeline has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sterilizer Protocol.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied kind of stares at Noeline as she plainly mentions the Photosphere in plain conversation, but before she can say anything else--
The room starts to blare as she-- gasps as she lets out a rather painful cough as she starts to feel the coarse effects of the Symbological runes upon her -- and she drops to her knees as her wings start to wiggle and contort, before going to drape by her side.
"Quarantine...? Just what did they keep in here--? Metal Beasts..." she gasps as she starts to sweat, and looks towards a nearby wall as she stare towards the door marked 'CLEAN ROOM'. "... can that--"
She concentrates more fully, eyes shut... and she draws her bow once more, drawing a point of light into existence as she forms a shimmering arrow of radiance. "Fly true..."
She looses it, and it curves to strike the hinges of the door with a shattering burst of photonic release.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sterilizer Protocol.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
"Well," Maya assesses grimly as the walls alight with magical runes that threaten to cook everyone in the room alive. "I'll do my best to be inquisitive and full of life into the future, Miss Noeline, but we've got to get out of this miserable little trap, first." and her expression doesn't quite reach a stage of 'panic', even as the flashing red alarms paint colour her outfit an interesting hue, indeed.
Luckily for Noeline, Maya probably thinks she's talking about some kind of photographic equipment, not--you know what.
"You handle the door! I'll try and keep these from cooking us alive!" and with that, Maya skedaddles away from the group and yanks a few vials of a weird silver powder from her satchel. Another one of her brother's weird compounds, perhaps? She flings them onto some of the symbological runes, waits for it to dribble down a little, and then--folds her arms and suddenly starts kicking the runes!?
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sterilizer Protocol.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline listens to Noeline's comments.
"I suppose, in the end, that's what we're working toward." Jacqueline suggests after giving it a thought. "Not necessarily just for 'humans' to be 'humans', of course...but a world where 'people', of all kinds, can be free to be 'people', without having to worry too much about it all coming to and end."
It wasn't the goal itself that was important to Jacqueline, but the reason why they were doing it. Noeline mentions a Photosphere...and Jacqueline assumes that must be where the Metal Demons come from. Unfortunately, before she can inquire further, the room they're in comes suddenly and dangerously to life.
"I'm curious, myself...but there's time to think of that later!" Jacqueline says, then brandishes a Crest. While Maya fights against the tools trying to perform their grim duty, Jacqueline joins Riesenlied and Noeline in attempting to break through the door with her usual pillar of earth.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sterilizer Protocol.
============================== <* Cage Tower - Round 6 *>========================== ========================== < Results - Sterilizer Protocol >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 28 --(21)--> 49 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 29 --(9)--> 38 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maya Schrodinger 35 --(22)--> 57 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 29 --(23)--> 52 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 85 --(5)--> 90 Fail Conditions: Bad Luck(1)|Exhaust(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.
"--ngh!" yelps Noeline as the shimmering heat of the air starts to become unbearable; again and again, she drives the sword into the door, aided by the brilliant light of Riesenlied's new bow as it directs the light of her pinions to slam into the bulkhead - but this is a clean room for a reason, and it isn't how impeccably dusted the corners are. The door is thick and refuses to give, and while the repeated impacts are enough to crack the outer lining, the seal holds and the program continues to run.
Maya's efforts do not seem to be particularly effective, either - while many of the runes appear to simply be washed off the wall by the adventuress' silvery powder, the symbols sliding down the vertical surface as if not actually connected to it, the others continue to brightly glow. Before long, the heat is sufficiently bad as to simply melt the powder away, bubbling as it vaporizes into a fine disappearing mist and leaving far too many of the runes intact.
Eventually Noeline simply opts to sink to one knee, gritting her teeth as she tries to crawl towards Riesenlied's side to assist her - how, the demon is not sure, but it's a raw impulse right now and one she's willing to run with. Thankfully, that's when one of Jacqueline's pillars sees purchase, and abruptly--
WARNING - WARNING - WARNING
SEAL BREACH IN CLEAN ROOM 43
SHUTTING DOWN STERILIZATION PROCESS
Mercifully, the heat abruptly shuts off, as the systems seek to protect long-gone scientists and workers; the group are all stuck in the room, of course, but that's a relief compared to their situation prior, and it means they have more in the way of time to make good on the progress that Jacqueline's begun.
DG: Maya Schrodinger has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================== <* Cage Tower *>===============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - Quarantine Lock *>=======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The clean room door leads to a short hallway, which looks like it was a very
sterile shade of white centuries ago. A glass panel flickers next to the
door on the other end of the hall.
LEVEL 10 QUARANTINE BREACH DETECTED
LOCKDOWN INITIATED
A few wires dangle from a little silvery box next to the door. Maybe it's
some sort of locking mechanism? Perhaps if you got it working, you could
open the clean room... or trigger an even worse emergency protocol.
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
After that last averted catastrophe, Maya Schrodinger is something of a gross sweat elemental lurching through the halls after the much hardier Metal Demons and, probably, the less heavily-dress Jacqueline Barber. "Heh--heh heh, see, nothing to worry about..." she pants, tugging on the neck of her dress and practically watching the steam escape. "Phew! We'll just take a moment here, and--"
The blonde leans dazedly against the wall and then, grinning, takes a sauntering step right through some kind of biological scanner and trips a handful of ancient security protocols.
"Um." Maya adds, glancing up at the ceiling for some kind of hint, as a LEVEL 10 QUARANTINE doesn't mean a lot to her, other than being even higher than level 9. "The last one tried to cook us alive, I don't think this one's going to let us off as easily."
A pause. "Hey--maybe if I blow the door up, we can at least escape with our lives!?"
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Quarantine Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied stumbles dazedly, really, not any more hardy about this kind of thing than Maya might be, carried on one shoulder by Noeline as they head towards the control room in particular. She looks towards the panel as she squints just a few more times, mumbling, "It's like that time with Miss Avril..."
She holds onto the Dragon's Tear and concentrates, a shimmering light appearing from within it as she focuses on the mechanisms.
"... Noeline, access the yellow emergency console and pull the lever. Jacqueline, could you please try to use your lightning to supply backup power where the cables have frayed? And..."
She bites her lip and falters further, apparently too tired to provide more guidance.
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Quarantine Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's looked better, that's for sure; the heat was too ambient in nature for any of them to burst into flames or anything like that, but her face and exposed skim looks-- as if it's about to crisp up or something, not exactly responding the same way that flesh would normally. She hisses under her breath with pain, but it at least appears that they managed to escape before something irrecoverable happened to her.
She can at least provide a shoulder for Riesenlied, and even manage to not be dragging her down the passageway but carrying her instead, even if she's having to be extremely careful with how she actually supports the other woman.
Gently, she directs Riese up against the wall, and then lets out a heaving breath that lapses into a sigh. "It would be too much to think that /all/ the systems would be intact, wouldn't it? Of course," she grumbles, flicking out her hair - and immediately regretting it as it slides against her burnt skin, wincing harshly.
Cutting her losses, she opts to step forward instead, nimbly hinging a panel open. "Standard layouts, I suppose. With a little charge, a bit of rewiring on the lever Riese pointed out should do the trick."
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Quarantine Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Well, they weren't being cooked alive anymore, at least...even though they're currently trapped in another terrible situation.
Jacqueline dress isn't as heavy as Maya's is, but it's still pretty durable for Digs like this, so she isn't doing so great herself. Still, the biggest concern is...
"My potions really don't do so well with excess heat like this...I hope they didn't get too hot..." She murmurs, concerned.
Priorities!
Jacqueline nods toward Maya.
"Yes, do that...we might need an emergency exit." She replies with a nod, then glances toward Riese. Jacqueline nods and draws her Crest before moving over to the panel.
"Yeah...I /think/ I might be able to manage that much...let's see what I can do." She replies with a nod toward Noeline.
She didn't want to zap it /too/ intensely. She'd had to carefully regulate her power here. Unlike with the Carakin's motor, this one wasn't wired up properly.
She takes a breath, focuses, and invokes her lightning.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Quarantine Lock.
============================== <* Cage Tower - Round 7 *>========================== ============================ < Results - Quarantine Lock >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riesenlied 49 --(100)--> 149 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 38 --(100)--> 138 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maya Schrodinger 57 --(100)--> 157 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Noeline 52 --(100)--> 152 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------==== < Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riesenlied 90 --(10)--> 100 Fail Conditions: Stupify(2) Effects: ================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: Riesenlied is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Jacqueline Barber is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Maya Schrodinger is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Noeline is too exhausted to continue!
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success!
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has successfully explored Cage Tower!
=================================== <* Cage Tower *>=============================== ========================== <* CHALLENGE - Beastly Studies *>======================= |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Tucked away in a locker is a packet of paper held together by the rusted remains of metal rings. Though yellowed and wrinkled with age, the writing and diagrams are still clearly-legible, and describe the anatomy of multiple kinds of Metal Beast in exacting detail. An original source from the Metal Demon Wars? It could be worth a lot. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Time is ticking, and the ancient mechanisms designed to cleanse any un-needed biological agents are already starting to spin up. Maya nervously beats a path back to the door and, after a moment's contemplation, starts trying to jimmy open the control panel with what amounts to an allen wrench from her satchel. "Let's see, uh, in here..."
A turret extends from the roof. Maybe the humans don't know what that means, at least, not right away, but even they probably know that it's bad news once it emits a high-pitched whine and a red light starts to blink on it. That's when Noeline butting in and taking over from the Drifter works out better, and the blonde grimaces as she casts about the room for something else useful to do. Luckily, with Riesenlied's guidance--this doesn't really /need/ doing, because another *ZORRRRRRCH* and a lack of dangerous sparks later, the electrical circuit is completed from Jay's burst of force, and the door is overriden.
This is good because the turret angrily lances the empty space where Maya Schrodinger was standing a moment ago with a rather cartoonishly-visible laser beam, but no, she's pumping her arms and fleeing into whatever lies beyond the quarantine with a cry of "Don't hang out, keep moving! Bweh!"
I hope that isn't putting too many words and laser turrets into the mouth of the designer. [OOC] Maya Schrodinger says, "oh i didn't really describe the discovery but i ain't wanna hold anyone up with more posing from me tbh"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied struggles just a little as Noeline lowers her to one corner of the room where she definitely does need to take a moment, stirring to one side as she holds onto her head just a little tighter. "... just what was being kept here...?" She shakes her head and shivers, though the sight of the turret emerging prompts a yelp as she spreads her wings and tries to duck away from its blasts and underneath the next awning. "Bweh!" she chimes Maya.
They pause as they emerge into what appears to be a relatively simple locker -- one off them is ajar, and a file is visible on one of the shelves. After they've had some time to gather their thoughts...
...
"... this is more detailed than anything I've seen myself," Riesenlied has to comment as she looks down towards the file splayed on the table. "The Cage Tower... it seems that whoever built this place was containing and studying Metal Beasts. ... but it isn't certain to me if it is our ancestors, or even humans..."
She shivers at the thought.
"It isn't a place I want to leave alone, in any case... the knowledge here is rather dangerous..."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Somehow their plan manages to escape...but with the heat and the exertion from carefully regulating her spell, Jacqueline is definitely feeling pretty exhausted after all this.
She stumbles into the next room after the others, and that ancient binder grabs her attention. Jacqueline moves in to take a look, scanning it with a frown.
"These are...I see..." Jacqueline murmurs.
This was.../very/ interesting information, but potentially dangerous too, as Riesenlied said.
"Yes, I agree. Unfortunately, though, I'm...pretty tired, after all of that. I think it might be best to retreat for now...just in case we run into another security measure like the last one..." She suggests.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"I am... having some difficulties myself," mutters Noeline in agreement with Jacqueline, glancing towards Maya with approval as the pair of them both limp their way into the storeroom; that's a rare admission for her, and she sighs in the wake of it, staring down at the table for a long moment as she studies the plans and commits them to memory.
"At least we have an explanation for the Quarantine now - and some context for the tower as a whole. I-- dare say that attempting to destroy it might be a little too dangerous for the moment, especially this close to November City," she wonders to herself, then looks to Riesenlied with a frown. "For now, we should perhaps set up a couple of scouts to keep watch. At least we will know if we have to go and plead our case to well-meaning Drifters, or be wary of worse-meaning ones."
"And, well-- if you'd like, perhaps you should come and see Wayside, Miss Schrodinger, and Matilda with it. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised," she adds with a wink - but a very tired one, and she leans slightly into Riese for good measure.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Typical of Maya, she's peering over Riesenlied's shoulder as she pours through the strange ring binder and it's stranger contents. "What is it, some kinda anatomy book? Pretty detailed, I don't think even my old man had anything that good at home..." she pipes up, trying not to breathe too hard lest anyone come away with the impression she did anything other than effortlessly glide through the challenges they faced. "Looks /ancient/. Paper doesn't turn that kinda colour overnight. Well. Not if you're taking care of it, anyway."
That being said, Maya takes a paper fan out of her satchel--where the heck she got it is anyone's guess--and begins fanning Jacqueline helpfully as they contemplate their next move. "This place seems like pretty bad news, so I agree. If you two have some nice place to hole up, I suppose I can come with."
A fluff of her blonde curls and a knowing smirk. That translates to "YES PLEASE GET ME OUT OF HERE". Approximately.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has a wan smile as she nods at Jacqueline, in full agreement. She doesn't need to say anything about her condition to show that she's rather fatigued. "This dungeon still calls to me... there are answers to be had here. We shall have it, together."
Fortunately, there's a 'gonk' from a nearby window as a single eye dominates it a moment later. "Muniii--?"
Ah, there's their convenient exit out of the dungeon.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"It's quite nice." Jacqueline agrees with a nod and a smile toward Maya. Wayside certainly was a lovely little place. She was honestly impressed that it had come along as well as it had. ...Of course, she wasn't going to be the one to spoil its true nature to Maya. That was something she could figure out on her own.
Her eyes are drawn to the window then, as she spots the eye of a certain dragon.
"Oh, it looks like someone followed us after all. He must've been worried about you." She comments with a smile toward Riesenlied. Not that Jacqueline was complaining. She wouldn't admit it out loud...
...But she found Muni-muni incredibly adorable.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
See: world-wise Jacqueline, aware of things like Riesenlied's strange coteries of dragons and the evolving project of Wayside, a demand made of the Guardians by the most treasonous Metal Demon, adjudicated by the mysterious Knight of Trials.
In contrast: Maya Schrodinger, leaping back onto one foot after turning around and spying the big eye in the window and, after taking in a huge breath of shock, asking aloud:
"BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?!"
No doubt Muni is unfazed by this appraisal of its fair looks.