2017-08-28: Claude's Kingly Adventure
- Log: 2017-08-28: Claude's Kingly Adventure
- Cast: Claude C. Kenny, Matilda Whitehead, Elena, Cyre H. Lorentz, Avril Vent Fleur
- Where: Baskar Colony
- Date: 2017-08-28
- Summary: Claude gathers a party of misfit adventurers as a favor for a king. It mostly goes well.
===============================<* Baskar Colony *>================================ Baskar Colony is the closest thing to a capital for the Baskar Tribe on Ignas. Nestled high in the northwestern mountains, this small village is where many of the Baskar elders dwell. The homes here are simple but imposing structures, often carved into the walls of the mountains themselves. The scant wood here he goes to providing fire and warmth for cold nights. Provisions are limited to what is given by families who live here, as there aren't any dedicated stores; similarly, no inns or hotels provide respite. However, the elders' knowledge will sometimes lure the determined and desperate to this place. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKKhBT0A1pE
DG: A party led by Claude C. Kenny is now entering Mountain Palace. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=============================<* Mountain Palace *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - The Sunset Path *>======================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The Mountain Palace is found, unsurprisingly, in the mountains, specifically among the peaks overlooking a lake in the northwest of Krosse. The road leading there is not terribly well maintained, and the closer you get to the cave - no matter what time of day it is - the darker the surroundings get. Be careful - it's a long way down. =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.
After many months, Claude C. Kenny's glorious adventure on Cow Patty Planet has taken him to... exactly where he started his adventure on Cow Patty Planet, i.e., the Kingdom of Krosse. It was a natural stopping point before Cecilia's group moved on to their actual destination of November City, and it gave Claude the opportunity to swing by his technical employed, the King of Krosse. What followed was an exercise in the age-old military tradition of not technically lying to your superiors.
<Krono> so hows dat sorcery globe goin
<Claude> makin progress
<Krono> how so
<Claude> not dead yet
<Krono> ...
<Claude> Rena also
Shortly after that audience, the King asked Claude to nip on up to the Mountain Palace to investigate a weird rumour. Claude, sensing an easy way to curb the royal displeasure, picked up three adventurers and started marching north.
"Okay, so, remember," he says halfway up the LONGEST ROAD EVER OMG. "If you see a guy with dragons on his shoulders, you don't know who I am."
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
It's honestly not hard to get the help of Matilda Whitehead; despite the fact that she's been hovering around Wayside for the last little while, she does tend to go out of her way to poke around new, exciting locales...
... mostly because she's constantly reagent-desperate, especially this close to the Actual Desert. Everything she needs to do her job is at a premium, so naturally, she's attached herself to the first adventuring party to cross her field of vision.
Hoofing it up the path doesn't seem like too much of a problem for her... yyyyet. "Of course not," Matilda replies smoothly -- before she reevaluates that request and turns to stare at Claude. "... Someone with -- what, again? I can't possibly have -- oh, are you running from the Metal Demons...?"
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Sunset Path.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
- Elena needed fresh air after the temple incident. She had a lot to think about, to say the least. Maybe... just this once... playing the part of adventurer would be alright? There are people out there who need help, and are some Drifters, the ones who aren't after money, just helping out in their way?
- Well, that'd have to do. Maybe it's just the distraction she needed. Sadly, fate puts Elena in a party with Cyre again. That sure keeps happening.
- But for once she doesn't seem inclined to yell at him? Actually, she hasn't looked at him the wrong way even once so far.
- "Is it normal that it is getting darker and darker? It should still be day for several hours!" Elena remarks, on the ominous air of the cave entrance. She tries to mind her footing carefully, but as ever, her lack of experience adventuring shows.
DG: Elena has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Sunset Path.
<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.
Dubious royal names notwithstanding, Cyre has been seen in the Krosse area himself lately. Why? Because of strange rumors associated with strange mountaintop temples. Mountain temples tend to be important places for Baskars for some strange reason, maybe because it's the only place they can go to properly worship their gods without annoying priestesses breathing down their necks all the goddamn time.
So, you know. Best to deal with whatever horrible monsters might have taken up residence there before things get to become too much trouble. He's brought some company along, too! For security.
"WHAT?" Cyre yells down from his MAKESHIFT PARASAIL. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU FROM UP HERE, SPEAK UP!!"
That's a lie. Cyre's ears are huge. He can hear them just fine.
He just kind of wants to draw attention to the fact that he doesn't actually have to walk this horrible trail. Flight has its advantages!
DG: Cyre H. Lorentz has used his Tool Reverse Parachute toward his party's challenge, The Sunset Path. DG: Claude C. Kenny has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Sunset Path.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
- Someone had once suggested to Avril that she investigate various ruins as a means of resolving her various personal mysteries -- to wit, if anything stirred any memories. Just because she's now in a different (and yet still faintly familiar) part of Ignas doesn't mean she's about to stop following that little piece of advice.
- Because given the way things are going, it's probably good advice.
- "Cyre, that device of yours seems rather useful," Avril comments, among those treading the wearisome path on foot. Though it is a little tiring, there's something pleasant about a journey like this with people she knows.
- Dean, conspicuously, is not here.
- The thing about giant robots is that you have to keep an eye on giant robots.
- Dean is managing to stay in one place for now, somehow.
- "...Dragons on his shoulders? Oh, do you mean shoulderplates?"
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Sunset Path.
=============================<* Mountain Palace *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - The Sunset Path *>======================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The Mountain Palace is found, unsurprisingly, in the mountains, specifically among the peaks overlooking a lake in the northwest of Krosse. The road leading there is not terribly well maintained, and the closer you get to the cave - no matter what time of day it is - the darker the surroundings get. Be careful - it's a long way down. =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
========================<* Mountain Palace - Round 1 *>========================= =========================< Results - The Sunset Path >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Claude C. Kenny 0 --(13)--> 13 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matilda Whitehead 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elena 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(6)--> 6 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cyre H. Lorentz 0 --(4)--> 4 Pass Reverse Parachute 1 Agility Effects: Rally and Quicken -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Claude C. Kenny 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Claude C. Kenny 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: Cyre H. Lorentz has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Mountain Palace *>============================= ===========================<* CHALLENGE - ?HERB *>============================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- A small opening in the roof has provided enough sunlight and rainfall to one corner of the room that a bed of moss has formed. A few interesting-looking herbs are growing off the moss. They may be safe to eat, or they may kill you dead. =Dungeon Conditions: Secret, Exhaust==========================================
<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.
"No, it's pretty much actual dragons," Claude says, huffing and puffing a bit as he stares up at Cyre, suppressing the urge to phase gun him out of sheer spite.
Eventually, though, they make it to the top, and only Claude is winded. Maybe he shouldn't have been jogging yesterday and singing ancient songs of his people* to Cecilia and Gwen. He shrugs. "All right, let's go," he says.
* Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.
Claude clearly needs to stop skipping leg day. It's bad for the heart. Also his mom would probably be disappointed-- it's just ONE mountain, Claude. Come on man!!
"It is, isn't it?" Cyre says with a light chuckle as he descends right on time to join the others as they finally find their way to the temple mouth. "Probably one of my favorite tricks. There's nothing like being able to just... Fly away from all your troubles sometimes, you know?"
Beat.
"Uh. Claude, do you mean actual literal dragons on his shoulders or--"
Cyre stops as the party makes their way into the first of many temple chambers. Why? Because there's just enough sunlight in this here passageway to reveal the presence (and fuel the growth of) some shady-looking harbs. "Oh, hey!" Cyre grins, moving to immediately begin harvesting leaves, berries, nuts, everything he can get his hands on. "This stuff! If I remember correctly, this is some good stuff. Medicinal, you know? No detrimental effects at all. Unless--"
Cyre frowns.
"Unless this is that stuff that looks almost exactly like the first stuff, but is in fact a horrible poison."
...
"I guess we'll find out??"
DG: Cyre H. Lorentz has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, ?HERB.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
Matilda doesn't break stride at all as they actually head in. She's feeling pretty good, truthfully! ... Even better when she sees the moss; she goes from 'adventuring neutral' to 'clearly excited,' as if a slightly spiky exclamation mark bubble has appeared over her head. She jogs over to the moss immediately, crouches down, and takes a peek.
"Hmmm... oh, this is going to be annoying," she says, to no one in particular. She ignores Cyre's succinct, easy explanation. "There are a few plants that can grow alongside moss beds like this in this type of climate -- I actually used to cultivate some of them on purpose! We were a little low altitude for it, but I managed. This one here is definitely safe," Matilda says, plucking one.
Her eyes sweep gradually right and she murmurs, "... Oh. Oh, this'll be annoying... as our friend says, there are two strains of this one -- and actually, they're the same family! It's just that one of them is so concentrated as to be toxic... it'd still be useful to me, but I would need time to process it."
Her squat turns into a sit, and at this point, she does address Cyre more directly. "If they flower, you can tell very easily! There's a subtle difference in the color gradient of the petals that can't be accounted for by care." She's not stopping. "... These aren't, of course, and if they aren't yet, you have to..." She pauses, reaching into her coat and getting a different set of gloves and swapping. She starts to poke oh-so-gently into the herbs. "There's a very small difference in early leaf formation -- you have to find an extremely immature segment, and..."
To an untrained observer, Matilda is basically just faceplanting in the moss. She's that close. Honestly, the real exhaustion might be getting her out of this room.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, ?HERB.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
- Oh, Elena remembers why she dislikes Cyre now.
- She puffs up, catching up to him as soon as it becomes an option. "That was very rude! When people talk you should remain able to listen and answer!" Hey we're right back to this, it's familiar territory after all!
- Wait, dragons? A confused look takes the Songstress' face hostage as she looks at Claude. "I am sorry, did you say there is someone out there who wanders about with dragons, actual dragons, on his shoulders? ... would that not be... very visible?" And why is Claude hiding from Dragon Person? Mysteries to solve.
- Oh look, herbs.
- She glances over Cyre's shoulder, crossing her arms. "I see you are at least educated enough to be able to tell! Perhaps you should sample it, and if your gods see fit to save you we will know it was poisonous?" That's a terrible plan, don't do that.
DG: Elena has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, ?HERB.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
- "Oh." There is a long pause. "I was not aware that was possible," Avril says, as if the possibility were of scientific interest but not unduely shocking. ...as usual??
- But they emerge -- and not too worn out at that from the long climb -- at one of the temple chambers. "Hmm," Avril muses aloud, footsteps echoing faintly on the bare rock.
- Where there is bare rock.
- She approaches one in particular as Cyre and Matilda by turns expound on the plantlife here and crouches to peer, intent, at one of the little plants sprouting up between the rocks here, delicate flowers hanging from similarly delicate stems. "So it could be helpful or harmful..." She leans in, plucking a leaf between her gloved fingers before crushing it firmly. And sniffs, experimentally.
- "Some dangerous plants have a particular scent."
- She pauses. "...I wonder why I remember that...?"
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, ?HERB.
<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.
Cyre isn't sure what's going on, and this makes Claude C. Kenny very happy, because he is sometimes a jerk to people who are jerks to him. (Okay, he is always that.) "Pssht, you're a Digger and you don't know anything about Herbs?" he says. "What kind of traveler wouldn't know anything about herbs? Let me see that," he says, grabbing a couple of leaves.
He stares at them a bit.
Claude's skills:
Perseverance: 10
Musical Notation: 5
Musical Instrument: 5
Metal Casting: 3
Writing: 2
Danger Sense: 2
Mental Science: 0
Biology: 0
Herbal Knowledge: 0
".....HMMMMMMM..." he says loudly, turning and walking away from the group, peering at the leaves and subtly checking something in his pocket.
Species: Lavandula spica
Herbal Knowledge: 0
"......oh, yeah, he's just a dude with actual dragons on his shoulders," Claude says, then walks back toward the group. "Yeah, these are totally fine, you can eat some," he says to Cyre.
DG: Claude C. Kenny has used his Tool Tricorder toward his party's challenge, ?HERB.
============================<* Mountain Palace *>============================= ===========================<* CHALLENGE - ?HERB *>============================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- A small opening in the roof has provided enough sunlight and rainfall to one corner of the room that a bed of moss has formed. A few interesting-looking herbs are growing off the moss. They may be safe to eat, or they may kill you dead. =Dungeon Conditions: Secret, Exhaust==========================================
=======================<* Mountain Palace - Round 2 *>======================== =============================< Results - ?HERB >============================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Claude C. Kenny 13 --(3)--> 16 Pass Tricorder 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Matilda Whitehead 5 --(4)--> 9 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elena 5 --(14)--> 19 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 6 --(3)--> 9 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cyre H. Lorentz 4 --(3)--> 7 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Claude C. Kenny 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Secret(2) Effects: Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Claude C. Kenny 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: Matilda Whitehead has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Mountain Palace *>==============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - A Locked Door *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Today is Door Day. Don't you hate it when you touch a door handle and it
shocks you? Well, medical research says there are electric waves running
through our brains, so I thought I could use my mind to open this door. I
tried it, but it failed miserably. How sad."
--Armengard
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.
"I am pretty sure that shoulder dragons is not a common or particularly healthy affliction," Cyre says as he watches Matilda do... Matilda things. "I mean, how has one of them not eaten his head yet? Dragons are usually pretty chompy."
Fortunately for everyone involved, these herbs seem to be COMPLETELY SAFE TO EAT. Well, after some treatment anyway, most of them are safe to eat. Some of them are safe to eat right now. Cyre and Matilda, who appear to be the only ones here with actual ranks in Knowledge: Nature, are able to tell that much. Which is why Cyre looks Elena directly in the eye when he shoves a leaf
Right
Into
His
Mouth
And chews it right up. "I think this one's probably a mint," he says, then, and starts packaging the rest up. "We should mark this spot on our maps for later. Might be able to come back by this way to do more foraging in a few days."
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"It's a good thing it's right by the entrance," Matilda notes. "I'd hate to have to go much deeper in -- though honestly, the path itself would be discouraging enough..." She heads along, content with having topped up her supply of lavender and artemis leaf. They're the two she tends to need most, anyway.
... Can't win 'em all, though, one supposes. Emboldened by the giant stack of herbs she's just taken for herself, Matilda strides confidently through the ALL EXACTLY IDENTICAL HALLWAYS, comes to a door, and reaches out to push it open.
Nope."
Her expression sours very quickly. "... The door is either locked or stuck," she declares, as if that weren't keenly obvious. "Fortunately, as Drifters, we have a variety of remedies for..." She reaches into her coat, pulling out a bottle of blue lotion and just whipping it at the door.
"... exactly this sort of problem," she declares, as it sizzles. She then scoots back to Avril, her contribution finished. "... You know, I'd completely forgotten the scent -- I'm so used to working in conditions where it's hard to discern... thank you."
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Bubble Lotion toward her party's challenge, A Locked Door.
<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.
Claude C. Kenny also has a solution for locked doors, but it's a lot less cerebral than Matilda's. He turns on his heel and begins walking down the stupidly identical hallway until he reaches the end of the corridor. And then...
"---aaaaaa---"
Claude starts sprinting down the hall, his right hand glowing with a power that could be described as generating some form of awe.
"---AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA---"
<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.
A door.
It seems the presence of DOOR is ubiquitous in any and all mysterious mountain dungeons. The ancients seem to have been fond of DOORS considering how they're basically everywhere. Sometimes they even glow blue! That kind of thing is an indication that the party will be coming back in that direction at some point in the future- otherwise, why would anyone put such an obiously important DOOR in the way?
"It's true," Cyre says of the scent of poison plants. "Animals can tell that kind of thing. I'm pretty sure beastfolk could, too, if we really put our minds to it. That's why you rarely see beasts dying of poison plants out in the wild, you know?" Unless they're horrible carnivorous killer vine plants.
There's a beat as Claude rushes on by, his hand aglow with an awesome power. Cyre busily grabs a couple of fresh leaves from his own stack of herbs and combines it with a pre-dried mixture. He shoves the combination into his favorite brass censer and sets it alight while they wait for the door to open... One way or another.
"Breathe in deep, folks. This should help soothe those tired legs."
DG: Cyre H. Lorentz has used his Tool Invigorating Vapors toward his party's challenge, A Locked Door. DG: Claude C. Kenny has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, A Locked Door.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
- Some unfortunate plants have a distinctive scent.
- So do some good and wholesome plants. "...This one is lavender, isn't it? How interesting, it feels like it's been some time since I've handled any..."
- Though the scent is pleasant, it fails to spark any particular memories. Just the understanding that she had definitely, at one time, handled lavender.
- So it's onward! ...Though a bunch of naggingly familiar hallways, bound to wreck havoc on someone for whom EVERYTHING is vaguely familiar.
- Avril has the faintest glimmer of a headache by the time they reach a door.
- It doesn't open. Helpfully, Avril walks up and pushes at it. "...It certainly seems to be stuck," she reports, then glances down the hallway.
- She regards Claude curiously for a moment.
- Then takes a step back out of the way of the likely blast radius.
- "Oh, did I?" she comments to Matilda. "I'm glad to be of assistance, in that case. I wonder if I studied some plants once..."
- And as Cyre brings out the thurible, she rolls her shoulders and takes a deep breath. Content to watch and wait for now, it seems.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Locked Door.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
- Elena stares back at Cyre. You win this one, catte.
- She's about to ask Claude about this shoulder-dragon person again when he starts running straight for the door. Screaming.
- She can't throw a bomb in these conditions! ... so she does the next best thing. Her Mana Egg shines brightly as it's whipped out, and a short prayer layer, watery-blue magic shoots from Elena's hands towards Claude, increasing his strength and speed by quite a bit!
- It'll only last a few moments, but a few moments is all he's probably going to need at the rate he was already going before she interfered.
- "I am sorry, but has anyone here actually ever encountered... safe ruins? Ruins without traps?" It's a legit question.
DG: Elena has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Locked Door.
=============================<* Mountain Palace *>==============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - A Locked Door *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Today is Door Day. Don't you hate it when you touch a door handle and it
shocks you? Well, medical research says there are electric waves running
through our brains, so I thought I could use my mind to open this door. I
tried it, but it failed miserably. How sad."
--Armengard
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
========================<* Mountain Palace - Round 3 *>========================= ==========================< Results - A Locked Door >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Claude C. Kenny 16 --(6)--> 22 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matilda Whitehead 9 --(5)--> 14 Pass Bubble Lotion 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elena 19 --(5)--> 24 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 9 --(3)--> 12 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cyre H. Lorentz 7 --(5)--> 12 Pass Invigorating Vapors 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Claude C. Kenny 40 --(30)--> 70 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Secret(1) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Claude C. Kenny has passed this challenge! The party gained 30 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: Elena has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Mountain Palace *>===============================
==========================<* CHALLENGE - Rope A Dope *>===========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
Halfway down this stone corridor are five frayed ropes rising up into the
shadows in the high, vaulted ceiling. A hand-painted sign on the wall reads:
PULL ME TO GET A PRIZE
The prize may be rocks on the head, but there's no other way forward.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"No," Matilda says, with a shake of her head at Elena. "Pretty much every ruin has locks and traps. It's kind of -- well -- you know." She gestures vaguely. "The done thing." She takes a deep breath as well --
-- and then Claude blows the door clean open because that's the kind of thing Claude does. Burst Knuckle is the ultimate omni-tool. Given Claude is probably missing access to any actual Federation omni-tools that would be more effective in situations like these, it kind of has to be.
Matilda claps politely for the youth. The youth... who is what, two, three years younger than she is?
When you're a doctor it's like a multiplier.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
- "Oh... I see..." Elena answers Matilda, frowning.
- Ahead, the road abruptly stops. A hallway ends, with no door, no passage, no trapdoor in sight. There's just five ropes, hanging from the ceiling - from tight shafts too narrow to climb through. Then there's the sign on the wall, taunting the party.
- PULL ME TO GET A PRIZE
- There are no signs of amazing prizes here. No giftwraps, no stray coins. Just ropes and a sign. But it's a dead-end, so what else are you going to do?
- "... there are five of us, and give ropes. Perhaps we must each pull on one," Elena takes a guess, and reaches for one experimentally. She tugs, and it moves. Nothing goes awry YET.
- "Maybe we must do it together?"
- Only one way to find out.
DG: Elena has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rope A Dope.
<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.
Claude C. Kenny advances forward, picking chunks of door out of his body. He offers Matilda a short bow, greatly enjoying the applause, even though he's (probably?) aware it's just polite.
And then there are ropes. Five ropes. For five dopes.
"That makes sense to me," Claude says to Elena, because he received multiple blows to the head during his adolescence. He reaches up to grab the rightmost rope. Bad things never happen to people with the choice on the end, probably!
DG: Claude C. Kenny has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Rope A Dope.
<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.
PULL ME TO GET A PRIZE??
Cyre frowns at the... The most obvious trap in the world. Is this real life? Do they really have to pull these OBVIOUSLY TRAPPED ropes?
Yes, apparently. That is exactly what it is that they have to do.
"..." Cyre stares at the dangling strands. He sighs, moving towards the leftmost rope. Rather than just tug it JUST LIKE A DOPE, he instead... stands a little ways back and uses his thurible's chain to grab at the rope from just a little bit further away.
Might be important if, for instance, rocks fall and everyone almost dies.
DG: Cyre H. Lorentz has used his Tool Invigorating Vapors toward his party's challenge, Rope A Dope.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
- If Avril weren't Avril, she might have applauded. As it is:
- "Oh, thank you, Claude," Avril says, moments after the door undoubtedly expires tragically.
- Well then.
- Without further ado, it's onwards into the depths of the ruins, wherein perhaps she will find something familiar... or just have a good experience.
- Ahead, there ropes hanging from the ceiling.
- "How interesting. There are exactly five. I wonder what would happen if there were less than five of us?" Avril asks, peering curiously at the heavy knotted rope hanging before her. "Hm..." Her brow creases, she looks hither and yon, as if in vague recollection of...
- of...
- And, bouncing heavily off the wall of faulty memory, ultimately reaches out with one hand and pulls on the end of the rope.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rope A Dope.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"Well -- if the rest are trapped, all five of us pulling one each will..." Matilda frowns. "... certainly not drop any rocks on the other four of us." She pauses before taking up her position, pulling out Freischütz and popping another bottle of that lotion from earlier into the magazine slot-slash-reservoir and taking the time to make sure it's in its friendliest, most coach gun-like configuration so it can be comfortably used with one hand.
She then aims it at the ceiling. "If it drops some sort of trap on us, I'll shoot it!"
Sometimes, a dose of paranoia is healthy!
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Bubble Lotion toward her party's challenge, Rope A Dope.
==============================<* Mountain Palace *>===============================
==========================<* CHALLENGE - Rope A Dope *>===========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
Halfway down this stone corridor are five frayed ropes rising up into the
shadows in the high, vaulted ceiling. A hand-painted sign on the wall reads:
PULL ME TO GET A PRIZE
The prize may be rocks on the head, but there's no other way forward.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
=========================<* Mountain Palace - Round 4 *>========================== ============================< Results - Rope A Dope >============================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Claude C. Kenny 22 --(8)--> 30 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matilda Whitehead 14 --(3)--> 17 Pass Bubble Lotion 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elena 24 --(5)--> 29 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 12 --(10)--> 22 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cyre H. Lorentz 12 --(3)--> 15 Pass Invigorating Vapors 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Claude C. Kenny 70 --(20)--> 90 Pass Conditions: Injure(2) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Claude C. Kenny 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: Avril Vent Fleur has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Mountain Palace *>==============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Fire Lizards *>=========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
These lizards are about ten feet long, and hop back and forth from foot to
foot. The lizards are on fire. The lizards eat fire. The lizards breathe
fire. If you are extremely unlucky, you will discover whether they also poop
fire.
(the answer is yes)
=Dungeon Conditions: Maim=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
- The ropes are pulled!!!
- Matilda, Elena and Cyre('s chain) get bonked on the head by a very small rock with a note attached. It reads: IF YOU CAN READ THIS NOTE YOU NEED TO YELL AT WHOEVER'S IN CHARGE OF REFILLING THE AWESOME PRIZES! THIS NOTE IS NOT REDEEMABLE FOR AN AWESOME PRIZE!
- Claude and Avril receive awesome prizes. Specifically, large rocks! But they're painted gold, so like, clearly they're worth a lot, and anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't understand that gold is valuable. Use your newfound large gold rock to teach them the truth.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
- The rope is pulled. Avril blinks, then glances upwards as something makes a distinctly dopplering whistling sound from overhead.
- BONK.
- Well, at least the rock is painted gold? It's these little thoughts that count. Avril, though, for her part is just going to reel dizzily for a moment and probably lean against the first person she stumbles into.
- She didn't need those memories, did she?
- But on the upside, a little door pops open in the wall!
- On the downside, it seems they won the grand prize, and it's walking on in.
- Or they're walking on in, to be precise. The temperature in here rises considerably as the fire lizards slide on in to the chamber excitedly. Like extremely eager dogs. If they were on fire.
- Part of the rock melts as they do. Things are looking up! This will be great.
- Avril, once she's reasonably steady again, focuses on the blazing lizards that hop about excitedly and burn actual pieces of the wall off. She blinks. Then blinks again as she stares at the... melting wall.
- "I suppose we have no choice, then," she states, drawing her ARM from beneath her gown. "It appears these are quite dangerous. Please use caution!" she shouts, pulling the trigger as she rushes in.
- She even only barely wobbles on her feet as she lays into the lizards with a literal laser whip with an expert hand.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Beam Whip Mode toward her party's challenge, Fire Lizards.
<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.
'I suppose we have no choice,' says Avril Vent Fleur.
Claude C. Kenny has a slightly different reaction.
"HEADS UP!" he calls out in warning as he leaps over Avril (tucking his legs up in order to avoid kicking her in the head, although he makes no promises about the little blue-yellow hairband thing). Claude lands in front of a fire lizard, which opens its mouth to spew fire at him; the blonde swordsman stomps down on its mouth until its chin hits the floor, and only a little lick of fire squeaks out...
...onto a steak that Claude is carefully turning in one hand. "Man, dragon fire cooks good," he says, licking his lips as the smell of sizzling beefsteak wafts out over the group. "I don't know why more people d---AUGH!"
This last yell is the result of a second lizard chomping down on his left calf. Claude starts punching it in the face with his non-steak hand. This is going well.
DG: Claude C. Kenny has used his Tool Pocket Steak toward his party's challenge, Fire Lizards.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
- "That is not my idea of a nice prize," Elena complains, though whether it's about the large golden rocks, the small rocks, or the FIRE LIZARDS, is up in the air. Probably all three? The Songstress backs away, but stops herself shy of falling behind Cyre. No, of course she can't allow herself to do that.
- She brandishes her scepter, Mana Egg held high in the other hand, using the metal mace to guide the flows of blue-ish white magic leaking out of the glowing crystal. "I will shield us from their heat and claws! O protective waters, turn my faith into a barrier!"
- Just like that, shields! Nice, watery blue shields, especially great at dealing with fire damage. They'll take a few hits before bursting, which is hopefully all the party is going to need!
- Yes, even Cyre gets one, because while Elena has no love for the Guardians after that temple incident, she's not about to mess this up over a petty feud.
DG: Elena has used her Tool Mist Egg toward her party's challenge, Fire Lizards.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
Matilda accepts her tiny rock. She isn't fast enough to shoot anyone else's rocks, because she was looking directly above herself; she does, however, scootch closer to Avril to steady her. "It's all right," she says, voice gentle. "... You may have a concussion, but I'll treat that as soon as we get out of here," she murmurs. "You seem to have okay visual tracking, at least, for this soon after the impact..."
She straightens up real fast when the situation turns into fire lizards, though. Fortunately, Matilda is ever ready for a conflict, despite her seeming gentle nature. Still holding Freischütz in one hand, she gives the weapon a quick twirl while simultaneously throwing out a pungent bottle with her other hand.
It might only get the lizards to turn around and poke at it for a second -- but LITERALLY ANY AMOUNT OF TIME is an improvement over fire. Speaking of fire: Matilda does just that, shooting corrosive lotion at lizards from a gun.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Succubus Bottle toward her party's challenge, Fire Lizards.
<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.
Well! Things could be much worse. He could have been hit by a much BIGGER rock. He could have been hit at all! Fortunately, Cyre is smarter than your average cat. He grins just a little bit at his PEERLESS AVOIDANE OF MISFORTUNE. "I'm not sure 'gold rocks' count as special prizes, but hey, I'm not going to complai--"
Avril stumbles into him! Cyre frowns and catches her like the Cool Mage Character that he is. "Hey, 'ril, you alright? That was kind of a hard hit, there. I think we should have something to put on that."
Or, they would. If there wasn't, you know, suddenly a troop of lava lizards.
What kind of lizard evolves the power of FIRE? Some kind of salamander? Or maybe a chameleon? Hm.
Elena is standing in front of him. Because she doesn't want to be behind him? What, that doesn't even make sense! He can totally backstab her from here!
He doesn't. He just deploys a powerful gust of wind that might ACCIDENTALLY catch her in it. It does, however, push the heat back for long enough that Cyre can prepare a more appropriate spell.
A spell like "WIND BLADE!"
DG: Cyre H. Lorentz has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Fire Lizards.
=============================<* Mountain Palace *>==============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Fire Lizards *>=========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
These lizards are about ten feet long, and hop back and forth from foot to
foot. The lizards are on fire. The lizards eat fire. The lizards breathe
fire. If you are extremely unlucky, you will discover whether they also poop
fire.
(the answer is yes)
=Dungeon Conditions: Maim=====================================================
========================<* Mountain Palace - Round 5 *>========================= ===========================< Results - Fire Lizards >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Claude C. Kenny 30 --(100)--> 130 Pass Pocket Steak 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matilda Whitehead 17 --(100)--> 117 Pass Succubus Bottle 2 Combat Effects: Embolden, Fanfare, an -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elena 29 --(100)--> 129 Fail Mist Egg 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 22 --(100)--> 122 Fail Beam Whip Mode 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cyre H. Lorentz 15 --(100)--> 115 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Claude C. Kenny 90 --(10)--> 100 Fail Conditions: Maim Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: Claude C. Kenny is too exhausted to continue! DG: Matilda Whitehead is too exhausted to continue! DG: Elena is too exhausted to continue! DG: Avril Vent Fleur is too exhausted to continue! DG: Cyre H. Lorentz is too exhausted to continue! DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Claude C. Kenny has successfully explored Mountain Palace!
=============================<* Mountain Palace *>==============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Otherworldly Lucre *>======================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
In the depths of the ancient ruins of the Mountain Palace, you find a room
that has seen recent use - the fireplace has been swept, the bed is rumpled,
and a cup of tea sits upon a nearby desk. Next to the cup is a large back of
golden and silver coins of unknown origin. If you want to steal them, you
should do so before the owner gets back.
You are a jerk if you do!
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
- "Oh, I suppose it was a rather hard hit," is Avril's comment to the young compounder and shaman alike as Matilda and Cyre catch and steady her in tandem. "Then, I shall count on the both of you..." If she has a concussion, it might not be a serious one if she can carry on a conversation... maybe.
- Though the incoming lizards might be more of a concern.
- Before Avril can so much as close on the pair of fiery lizards, Claude rushes in to do battle--
- Or maybe take advantage of the opportunity for a perfectly-cooked steak. Either/or. Much like sharks, the group finds that fire lizards also don't like to be punched in the face. The one Claude hits recoils and blinks.
- Another discovery for the night: fire lizards resist beam damage. Absolute Zero fails to do more than somewhat dent their hides.
- It does, however, still make them kinda mad. The lizards flare with fire and rage, inhaling mightily. And then breathe out! Flames lick across the suddenly rather tight chamber the group has found themselves in--
- Fortunately, the shields Elena puts into place absorb some of the fiery impact.
- Unfortunately, they don't absorb all of it.
- And despite what has been done to them, the lizards... look just as strong as ever.
- A blade of wind scythes inwards at a critical moment, blowing the flames aside as a bottle of monster attracting liquid splashes onto the ground.
- Her face covered with her arm, Absolute Zero's current charge spent, Avril squints through the haze of heat and points ahead. Towards the door. "Hurry! Before they attack again!"
- Indeed, now's their chance to run past the lizards -- while they curiously inspect the rapidly evaporating liquid -- and into the room from whence the lizards came.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
- Oh no Elena's faith wasn't strong enough to protect the party! ... or maybe the fire lizards are more faithful?! Whichever one it ends up being, the result is the same. Elena is knocked against the wall after her own bubbly, watery bubble fails to protect her, and it's not long after that the party's defenses drop too. The call to retreat sounds just in time, and Elena wastes no time trying to slip between two of the beasts towards Avril - wait, they're retreating further in? You know what, that's fine, it puts a door between them and the lizards. If they can close it.
- "We must close the door behind us!" she, handily, states, just in case it wasn't obvious enough. Now let's hope there aren't MORE lizards in that room, if they can get the door shut.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
Matilda has a rough go of it; her armor protects her from the worst, but she's got a few nasty burns for her troubles; if they weren't 'retreating forward,' as it were, she might want to retreat for realsies.
Once the group manages to slip inside the next room, Matilda -- rather than assess the coins, or even worry too much about the door -- moves toward Avril, while simultaneously rubbing some sort of paste on her own arm with a wince. "... Let's see... you're moving well, you're tracking well -- it suggests either no concussion or a very mild one. You must be dreadfully tough, dear..."
Shifting to get a slightly better angle to take care of Avril from, Matilda shuffles Avril toward the bed quickly, and reaches into her coat. "Ah -- before I recommend something... any allergies, any bad reactions that you know of? I keep a few different types of painkiller on hand," she inquires, a little nervously. "... ah -- do you have any less obvious wounds from the battle just now that I'm missing, as well...?"
She pauses at this point in her patient assessment to treat her own wounds again. She still hasn't noticed the coins.
<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.
What could have ever led to the evolution of fire lizards? If there's any evidence of intelligent design, it's these things. Also, evidence that God is a total and arbitrary asshole. This isn't even a fire-themed dungeon! What are they doing here!?
Cyre hisses a curse as the lizards close in, conveniently pushing Elena's water shield right in rather than making their way past her to burn HIM. Thanks Elena! Finally, a use for Granas priests!
He makes it into the back room not long after Matilda does, and turns about to focus his will into manifesting a... series of whirling air currents on the ground?
Oh.
They're... mines.
"What the hell are those things even?"
Beat.
Cyre looks around the room they find themselves in.
"...Is-- is this a bedroom? Are those someone's pets!? What even the hell?"
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
- Hopefully, someone can either barricade the door or do something about the lizards from in here.
- As it is, this is without a doubt... certainly lived-in. Avril blinks, uncertain for a moment if she's seeing things or not, before Matilda takes her by the arm and steers her over towards the bed. She sits. Her head does feel a little strange but...
- At least she doesn't look more than 'gently concussed and lightly roasted'. It could be worse!
- "My head hurts a little," she comments, glancing up at Matilda as she's fussed over. "Um... I don't think I do." Not to her recollection, anyway.
- Amnesia can be a problem with medicine sensitivities too.
- "I am only as injured as I appear. Elena, I think those barriers you used prevented the damage from getting worse. Ah..."
- She leans, to one side--
- It's not because she's about to pass out.
- She's looking over at the door. "...I think someone should bar the door."
- Or attempt to blow up the lizards from here, either/or.
- Quizzicaly, her gaze does another sweep of the room. "Is this... someone's home?"
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"Okay," Matilda says. She takes a moment to fluff out her hair before fumbling in her coat for a few seconds. Eventually, she finds a jar of blueberries. "This is truthfully the simplest remedy for short-term injuries with no particular lingering effects. The burn..." She pauses. "... I'm afraid I'm out of anything that would treat a burn particularly well. I'm sorry." She glances off to one side, gently rubbing at her elbow with her opposite hand. "I wish I could be of more help."
She finally gets clued into looking around the room, and says, "I -- think someone may be holing up here... perhaps for research purposes, or to avoid the law..." She glances from side to side. "... There are signs of recent use here, but they may hav eabandoned it..."