2017-11-15: A Presentiment
- Log: A Presentiment
- Cast: Ida Everstead-Rey, Rosaline Calice, Avril Vent Fleur, Fei Fong Wong, Layna Manydays, Jack Van Burace
- Where: Great Krosian Plains
- Date: November 15th 2017
- Summary: A group visits the Eerie Farmhouse in search of its secrets, and get to the root of the problem. ...Sort of.
DG: A party led by Ida Everstead-Rey is now entering Eerie Farmhouse. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - The Carrots... *>======================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- One's journey to the eerie farmhouse outside Krosse starts a few blocks up the road, rather than at the farm itself. No matter what route one takes to the farm, the first problems happen a few hundred feet afield. Coming from the direction of the farm is a veritable legion of what appear to be tiny carrots, or at least, some sort of root vegetable. They walk on tiny arms and legs that split off from their tiny orange-brown bodies, with a gait that isn't quite right, bending in ways that seem like they would break a normal vegetable and dripping a paralytic toxin as they walk. Individually, they aren't much to look at -- but mind the poison! ... Just what is happening at that farm? =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida has decided to put a bit of distance between her and the camp in Gunsmoke--no more than a week, she's told herself. She's told herself, repeatedly, that no one is angry with her. She did her best, it wasn't her fault the others got careless with the explosives. The incident with the worm could've happened to anyone. Field work is messy.
And yet, despite the reassurances of the expedition staff, she feels like she let the terrible, violent, rough-edged world of Drifting into the delicately-manicured world of academia. Ida doesn't know which she belongs in. Taking a commission from someone to look into 'disturbing reports' from outside Krosse lets her put that decision aside for now. It's a welcome distraction.
Ida is in the lead as the group makes its way towards the site of the strangeness--she stops at the sound of something moving, like the pitter-patter of dozens of tiny feet. She holds up a hand. "Do you hear that?" Something orange starts moving towards them from further up the road. Is it liquid? No, it's a field of tiny, angry carrots. Ida would find the idea funny if they weren't emitting horrible, high-pitched noises and dripping some noisome fluid. Good heavens, she thinks. "Flash out!" she cries. She flings a lit flare grenade into the carrots, scattering them. A moment later, it erupts with a dizzying thunderclap and a flash of light. But will it be enough to break their ranks?
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Flare Grenade toward her party's challenge, The Carrots....
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
An Etone's work is never done. When it's not zombies, it's ghost pirates. When it's not ghost pirates, it's... spooky evil carrots? That can't be right. Upon reading the exorcism request letter, Rosaline thought at first that some kids might be playing a prank on the Church.
Flash forward to now.
"Um," Rosaline stands corrected, as a vegetable army marches towards her group. And what a betrayal it is, too-- As a magic user, Rosaline is rather fond of magic carrots.
Oh well.
"Good luck, everyone," she says, already taking out her vial of holy water. Most people here haven't seen her do this trick before, and so they might be surprised to see clouds form above them and produce something quite rare in this corner of Filgaia-- Rain.
"HYDRO STORM!" Rosaline explains, as the vial in her hands glows with the woman's magical energy.
The rain feels invigorating to the group, though its true purpose might not become immediately obvious. That is to say, wash that nasty, nasty liquid away! ...Whatever it even is.
DG: Rosaline Calice has used her Tool Holy Water toward her party's challenge, The Carrots....
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
It was, perhaps, not entirely the finest scientific expedition that's taken place.
Not that Avril would know. Well, remember, in her case.
But on the other hand, they had assisted with several critical research projects, and perhaps it's the job that's done well that's worth the most. Besides, the worm was likely to have exploded even if no one had touched it, given the extent of bloat...
But it's all neither here nor there.
This isn't the first time Avril's been to the farmhouse. Back then, she had come with Dean to investigate some unusual events, thinking perhaps it was related to the Reapers that had so unnerved Dean. But it had turned out to be something else. The mystery's cause hadn't been determined, but she had thought the disturbance ended.
Spoilers: no, it wasn't.
"Those carrots... be careful. That fluid is a corrosive poison," the mysterious young woman says, eyeing the slow row of marching vegetables.
She draws forth Absolute Zero, lunging forth into melee range the instant the flash grenade is launched as she pulls the ARM's trigger. The air hisses as she lashes the beam whip, again and again, at the possessed (?) carrots.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Beam Whip Mode toward her party's challenge, The Carrots....
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei has come along largely to make sure that uh, that Ida and Rosaline are, like, okay? Because they seem kind of ... hardcore lately. Especially Rosaline 'EXPLOSIONS' Calice. Nevertheless, he didn't think this would involve fighting poisonous carrots.
Fei lashes out with his feet to smack away carrots that get too close, throwing the occassional ki blast. He doesn't rely on the ultimate power of the RPS Badge yet because you never know when a Combat 4 challenge will be thrown your way. Fei isn't going to be the guy caught out if a giant elephant death monster appears out of the ground, no sir!
Still, he covers his eyes to avoid getting too dazzled by the flashbombs before loking back towards Rosaline.
"Don't plants feed off water?" He asks of her as he kung fus.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Carrots....
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna was always available to help her friends out whenever they needed it. It might make one wonder whether or not she had any real duties with her crew, but...well, having Dahlia around to issue orders in her place really helped. It meant Layna could go do things on her own sometimes, without worrying about them.
Things like helping Ida and Rosaline investigate the strange reports issuing from a certain farmhouse.
Layna pauses as they approach. There's the sound of something approaching them, and it's only when they get closer that Layna realises what they are.
"The hell? Carrots?" She comments, confused. She's about to go and grab one when she hears Avril issue a warning.
"Aye, will do." Layna replies with a nod, backpedaling and covering her eyes with an arm. Once Ida's flashbang goes off she draws the revolver at her waist and issues several shots into the crowd while they're still dazed.
Her wind magic would probably just spread the poison around and undo Rosaline's work, and she didn't want to be close enough to touch it...
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Carrots....
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
When you taunt a unfathomably old sentient engine of destruction, you accept your concenquences. Said concenquences included nearly getting all your blood punched out, then having been stuck in bed for weeks while people fussed over you.
Dying would have been better.
But still, Jack is out once again. Driven by Hanpan to actually get out and do something that isn't brooding or planing on just how much torque it might take to twist Beserk's head from his shoulders.
He's been quiet for the most part, moving carefully on his first real adventure out and about again. Its only natural of course. But as the orange meance starts to scream its way up the road towards them he just raises one eyebrow.
"...well." He finally mutters.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
"...I didn't think I'd be fighting vegtables today. But its not the strangest thing I've ever done.
DG: Jack Van Burace has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Carrots....
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - The Carrots... *>======================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- One's journey to the eerie farmhouse outside Krosse starts a few blocks up the road, rather than at the farm itself. No matter what route one takes to the farm, the first problems happen a few hundred feet afield. Coming from the direction of the farm is a veritable legion of what appear to be tiny carrots, or at least, some sort of root vegetable. They walk on tiny arms and legs that split off from their tiny orange-brown bodies, with a gait that isn't quite right, bending in ways that seem like they would break a normal vegetable and dripping a paralytic toxin as they walk. Individually, they aren't much to look at -- but mind the poison! ... Just what is happening at that farm? =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
========================<* Eerie Farmhouse - Round 1 *>========================= ==========================< Results - The Carrots... >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Flare Grenade 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Van Burace 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Holy Water 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Beam Whip Mode 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ida Everstead-Rey 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Injure(2) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ida Everstead-Rey 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> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Unfortunately, Fei finds out what that weird mystery liquid is the hard way. As soon as some of it gets on him, the skin around the point of contact starts to grow numb; as more and more of it gets on him, it gets harder for him to move right. Jack runs into similar troubles. One wrong move, and either of them could end up face-down in a horde of ravening, flesh-eating carrots! Layna's shots hit their target, but the problem is that there's too many carrots for her to have much of an impact. A few of them burst into splatters of goo, but the rest of them just keep coming.
That is, until Avril cuts loose with Absolute Zero, which starts cutting through the carrots like the crop vegetables they are. Ida's flashbang erupts next, turning the center of the horde into a geyser of carrot pulp; some of them are flung off, while others are knocked around.
Rosaline's water flushes the remains away, and also washes the toxin right off Jack and Fei before it can do too much damage.
Ida hurries over to Fei to offer him a hand up. "Are you two all right?" she says. She looks over at Jack, concerned. "I wasn't expecting... well, that."
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - The Combine *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- <This field was in the middle of reaping, it seems, when it was abandoned(?). A combine -- one which /should/ be drawn by horses, but instead is unhitched -- sits in the center of the field, unused and alone. Rust has started to form along the blades, and the metal is pitted at spots. Which makes it all the more unnerving, no doubt, when the cylinder of blades lurches to life, one side moving just slightly faster than the other for a moment, and it begins to pursue the party through the fields, tearing up the dirt itself as it moves. The metal and wood of its assembly creaks, squeals, and groans, despite having no earthly force to propel it. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Bad Luck, Overzealous==============================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Were those carrots fleeing something, or merely coming out of the woodwork, so to speak?
The charge guts out a few moments later. Avril takes a breath, sparing a glance at the scattered carrots... before glancing over at her allies in this endeavor.
In particular, her gaze lingers on Ida and Rosaline for a moment, a faint thoughtful frown on her lips.
"Is everyone alright? Fei, how do you feel?" she inquires, returning Absolute Zero to its place under her wrap and drawing out her Medium.
And then Avril hears a familiar sound.
Creaaaaaaaaak.
The young woman brings herself up to her full height, squaring her shoulders as if she's just scented something on the wind.
Shrieeeeeek.
Snap.
"Everyone!" she shouts, turning sharply to glance back over her shoulder at the others. "Run! It's coming!"
What's coming will become apparent in mere moments.
Perhaps that's what the carrots were fleeing.
As the combine trundles along as steadily as a movie killer towards them, rusted blades snapping blindly through the air.
Metal screams. Is it... picking up its pace?
The Medium, in Avril's hands, shines bright. "Please..." she intones, urging forth but a small measure of the Guardian's power.
Perhaps enough to allow them to Jump out of the way.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, The Combine.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna returns her revolver to its holster. She takes a moment to look over the battlefield and think about just what exactly it was that they had fought...at least until Avril shouts rather suddenly.
She doesn't really know Avril all that well, but she seems like the quiet type. When she shouts, it's probably a good idea to listen.
Layna turns and begins to run, reciting an incantation as she does so. A subtle green glow starts to surround Layna...and with a powerful gust of wind she shifts to the side suddenly, hopefully out of the combine's path. There will be several more as necessary to keep up with the rest of the party.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Combine.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei Fong Wong grimaces, lugging a temporarily paralyzed leg about. He flicks the carrot off and looks towards Avril. "Oh I'm okay." He tells her. "My leg's just a bit numb, but so long as we don't have to do any running all of a sudden, I should be okay."
At that point, Avril starts yelling to everyone to run.
"Aw shit." Fei says, turning around to face what's coming--and firing a chi blast to throw him after the others rather than actually try to run with a leg that's barely working.
"This is incredibly inefficient!" Fei shouts.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Combine.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
And Jack is covered in carrot juice.
He slipped, he tripped, and the Carrots nearly made short work of him. What a horrible way to die. Eaten by sentient veggies.
At least now he's just wearing most of them instead.
...again. Not sure which is better.
Slowly though he stands up and starts to clean himself off with a sigh. "I'm find, Ida. Nothing wounded but my pride." He adds with a shake of his head...
...and then Avirl starts shouting. "It's coming? Whats coming? Animated beats? Vicious oranges? Ravenous wheat?" He asks just as he turns to see...
"Oh yes," A pause. "Horrible machine of mechanised destruction. Much worse than beats."
So he does move but even as he does he flings his arm out towards the threasher. Hanpan flies from his grasp towards the animated monstrosity as the wind mouse attempts to find some why to shut it off from the inside.
"FOR THE RECORD I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A BAD IDEA!" The little fellow informs all within earshot.
DG: Jack Van Burace has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Combine.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"It's magic water," Rosaline answers Fei, managing to sound quiet over the sounds of a momentary downpour and powerful kung-fu, to mention just a few things. "It's going to be fine." A pause. "I-I hope." Sometimes monsters DO absorb elements...
They don't appear to this time, at least. Though Rosaline will need to watch out, in case they run into an off-color version of the same model with completely different stats.
"I-I'm all right," Rosaline says, thank you for asking. Well, for a very relative degree of all right. In a general sense, since people are wondering, saving the Fengalon statue last week seems to have lifted Rosaline's spirit somewhat. It was an oasis of hope in a desert of horror and unpleasant surprises.
Speaking of which, Rosaline's ears twitch right about when Avril tenses up, announcing trouble.
"Oh no," Rosaline says as the harvester makes its appearance.
She takes right off into a low run. Once she's picked enough distance, however, she stops to coil her body into a vertical leap, in an attempt to jump ONTO the harvester and, hopefully, stop (or at least wrangle) this crazy thing!
"Oh nooooooooooooo," she cries out, at at least some point of the process, leaking terrified action heroine tears.
DG: Rosaline Calice has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Combine.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"I'm not hurt," Ida says, to Avril. Her gaze flicks down to Fei's leg a moment, and she frowns. "Poison?" she wonders, aloud. Carrots... don't produce that, but they don't normally get up and run after people, either. "Here, Fei." Grey-blue eyes meet Fei's as Ida offers the martial artist a shoulder. "I can aid you until it wears off." Jack seems to be in better shape, or at least ambulatory.
Then, the horrible noises start. Ida looks behind her, her face going pale. "Running!" she cries. If Fei hasn't taken her up on her offer, she tries to grab him, hauling him after her even as he tries to disable the machine. Running while carrying someone larger than her is not an ideal solution, but hopefully it should keep both of them from being sliced to ribbons.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Combine.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - The Combine *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- <This field was in the middle of reaping, it seems, when it was abandoned(?). A combine -- one which /should/ be drawn by horses, but instead is unhitched -- sits in the center of the field, unused and alone. Rust has started to form along the blades, and the metal is pitted at spots. Which makes it all the more unnerving, no doubt, when the cylinder of blades lurches to life, one side moving just slightly faster than the other for a moment, and it begins to pursue the party through the fields, tearing up the dirt itself as it moves. The metal and wood of its assembly creaks, squeals, and groans, despite having no earthly force to propel it. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Bad Luck, Overzealous==============================
========================<* Eerie Farmhouse - Round 2 *>========================= ===========================< Results - The Combine >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 10 --(20)--> 30 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 5 --(20)--> 25 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 10 --(20)--> 30 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Van Burace 10 --(20)--> 30 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 5 --(20)--> 25 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 5 --(15)--> 20 Pass Sea Medium 3 Agility Effects: Fanfare -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ida Everstead-Rey 20 --(5)--> 25 Fail Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Overzealous(2)|Slow(2) Effects: ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ida Everstead-Rey 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> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"I believe it may be a toxin of some type. Perhaps a paralytic compound? Carrots do not usually produce such chemicals, as I understand," Avril comments, extremely seriously.
...Sometimes it's tough, being an amnesiac.
But toxins might be of secondary consideration with the bladed farming mechanism bearing down on them. It's picking up speed--
Lucadia's power shimmers around Avril, filtering slowly outwards. She tenses, then leaps, further than any person could ever hope to jump under ordinary circumstances.
The good news is, she escapes the snapping blades of the combine.
The bad news is, she's literally the only person to do so, as the Guardian's magic either just can't reach the rest of the scattered group or... doesn't. The distinguishing line between the two may be difficult to see.
Avril notices this perhaps two seconds after landing, turning to stare as the combine continues to bear down on the others. "No--"
Try as they might -- with blasts of wind magic or chi alike -- neither Layna or Fei appear to be able to outpace the slowly accelerating combine, singlemindedly focused on its target. Ida makes a heroic attempt to haul the injured Fei along, but it sadly doesn't do much to allow them proper escape. It stays on them, no matter how they might attempt to turn or swerve away. Things look grim.
Before Rosaline and Hanpan alight on the machine, attempting to wrest control of the wayward combine. ...It isn't easy. It is, perhaps, not unlike attempting to wrestle a rampaging bull, with the controls fighting her every inch of the way. And inside the guts of the machine things aren't much better -- every inch of this is a whirring deathtrap. But somewhere there has to be something that will give.
The backs of those fleeing grow ever closer--
And finally, the machine's brought to heel. Rosaline, with the help of Hanpan breaking something essential inside, steers it away from her allies.
But it's still probably not stopping, unfortunately for her and the wind mouse, until it hits something solid.
DG: Layna Manydays has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================= ========================<* CHALLENGE - The Reaping *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- At first glance, this looks like a mere job uncompleted -- a section of farmland where the reaping started, but was never finished, tools discarded and field left in disrepair. The tools, however, seem to have other ideas, as they one-by-one pry themselves off the earth and swipe, instead, at the investigators! Each swipe seems to render them that littlest bit slower, though; this is, no doubt, a simple question of moving carefully and waiting for the tools to.. exhaust themselves? Is that right? =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Slow===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
The combine chases the party all the way to a partially-reaped section of farmland. Rusted, discarded tools litter the fields, some hidden by the plantlife that's begun to replace this place.
"Careful...there's no telling what might be hiding in here..." Layna mutters. This seems to be the cue for a rusted scythe to emerge from within the overgrowth and swing for her head!
Layna backpedals quickly out of its range, but the rest of the tools have begun to slowly rise up and face down the party...
They start swinging, seemingly intent on harvesting the party for some strange purpose...it would probably be best to avoid that.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Reaping.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
"Hanpan! HANPAN! Where are you going you have to jump out!!" Jack calls out as the thresher goes tearing off.
The wind mouse, clinging on for dear life to Rosaline's shoulder just gives an exasperated sigh. "I really hate it when he decides to state the obvious."
The swordsman though does have the good sence to keep running. After all getting caught under those thresher blades would not be fun.
The next field over though seems to be a little bit better. Not threshers at least. So the knight slowly seems to relax just slightly. No veggies. No threshers. This could be...
And then suddenly a rake is flying at his head.
"So," Comes his questioning call. "I havn't been around that much since I nearly died. I'm I'm going to guess that this isn't normal behavior?" He asks as he parries the angry tools with his sheathed blade, trying to keep out of the way as much as possible.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei will take the hand up. but it doesn't help much. This was a terrible idea. Maybe he should have used the MIGHTY RPS BADGE before!! But no, he refuses! Carrots aren't worthy of the mighty RPS Badge!
But thankfully Rosaline and Hanpan are able to divert the machine before Fei (and possibly Ida) are crushed by it. Luckily, at this point, the numbing seems to be wearing off somewhat and he can actually walk and hop a little.
"...Huh..." He says, seeing the tools starting to rise up. "I thought the carrots were going to be the weirdest thing I saw today."
He glances over to Ida and adds, "Thanks for helping me out there. Was a close one!"
He is gonna let the rest of the crew go first before advancing himself so they get tired before he tries to limp through it himself.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Reaping.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Avril, in the end, has to sort of jog after the racing combine to where it chases the others.
She pauses for a moment on the edge of the field, has a long silent look at the Original Sea Medium, then tucks it away before proceeding.
"--Is everyone alright? I was concerned that you might have-- look out!"
She is treated to a front row seat of a farm implement attempting to take Layna's head off. Nor is it the only one. A rather wicked-looking spade slowly rises into the air before streaming, end glinting in the light, right for Avril. "Ah--"
She twists out of the way. It's far from the only one, as a series of weeders slowly rise.
"They're-- slowing," she manages, sidestepping these as they rain down in an arc. "Perhaps if we can outlast them--"
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Reaping.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida manages to avoid being shredded by the combine, and does not leave Fei to the same fate. That's about the best thing one can say about what just happened. The naturalist all but collapses as the combine is diverted; she's breathing hard, and she feels far more exhausted than she should be. Maybe because she was helping Fei?
"Not... injured," she says, between breaths. She looks at Fei, then at Jack, trying to work up a response. "Just--" Suddenly, a giant scythe comes out of nowhere. Ida ducks under it, eyes widening in terror as a part of her brain flashes back to the last time she had to dodge a scythe. No one's wielding it, especially not her. She forces herself to run, even though she's out of breath.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Reaping.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Rosaline holds on to the combine for dear life, getting swung about violently as she steers the things in general directions less likely to end with her friends harvested.
Finally, the rampage ends with a thundering crack, as the possessed piece of farm equipment impacts a tree, sending Rosaline (and her mouse passenger) flying in her friends' direction.
She lands among the unharvested crops, which at the very least cushion her fall somewhat. She picks herself back on her feet, still dazed, only to narrowly avoid getting swiped at by that scythe that just attacked Layna.
"Eep!" she lets out, ducking, then weaving out of the way of an incoming hoe, leaping to avoid a low-swinging axe and staggering back to dodge a gentle stream of water from a watering can.
"It seems there's been a lot of supernatural activity in the region," Rosaline calls back to Jack, extending a hand from Hanpan to run on and leap back to his partner. "I don't... think it's normal..." Maybe it's just seasonal?
DG: Rosaline Calice has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Reaping.
DG: Jack Van Burace has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Reaping.
============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================= ========================<* CHALLENGE - The Reaping *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- At first glance, this looks like a mere job uncompleted -- a section of farmland where the reaping started, but was never finished, tools discarded and field left in disrepair. The tools, however, seem to have other ideas, as they one-by-one pry themselves off the earth and swipe, instead, at the investigators! Each swipe seems to render them that littlest bit slower, though; this is, no doubt, a simple question of moving carefully and waiting for the tools to.. exhaust themselves? Is that right? =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Slow===========================================
=======================<* Eerie Farmhouse - Round 3 *>======================== ==========================< Results - The Reaping >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fei Fong Wong 30 --(5)--> 35 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ida Everstead-Rey 25 --(10)--> 35 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Layna Manydays 30 --(5)--> 35 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jack Van Burace 30 --(10)--> 40 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rosaline Calice 25 --(5)--> 30 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 20 --(5)--> 25 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Ida Everstead-Rey 25 --(15)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(1)|Hesitate(2)|Overzealous(1)|Slow(2) Effects: ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Ida Everstead-Rey 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> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Aye, I've been hearing the same." Layna says with a nod toward Rosaline. "I've got my crew investigating it, but..."
She interrupts herself to duck the scythe as it goes for another swing at her and Rosaline, this time slower than it was before.
It looks like Avril was right...every swing seemed to expend some of whatever force it was that was keeping them going. They just had to keep it up, keep dodging...
For the most part, that plan will see them through. Fei stays back, and the tools don't even seem to realize he's there, instead choosing to go after the ones that have already entered the field.
Jack and Ida seem to catch the worst of it - something about them attracts more of the tools than the others. They'll have to do a bit more dodging, but in the end at least everyone makes it out in one piece.
DG: Rosaline Calice has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Tool Shed *>=========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- This small building with a heavy door is marked with the word "TOOLS" in solid block letters, crafted by a firm and even hand. The building itself is sturdy, made of thick masonry blocks and firmly planted in the soil. The tools inside would be quite the boon for dealing with the plants outside, but getting in there requires picking the door lock. Failing that, there's always looking for a key under the myriad rocks and bushes nearby... but wouldn't the larcenous route be that much faster? =Dungeon Conditions: Reckless=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"Does anyone need healing?" Rosaline asks, just in case, as she rejoins the group. She made it out all right, herself, having only sacrificed a few hairs from the tip of her tail.
Finally the group has a moment to breathe and take in the surroundings. The tool shed stands out, and it doesn't take long for the members to investigate it.
"If we could get our hands on non-haunted tools," Rosaline muses, "then we could regain control over the harvest, putting farm tools in the hands of the humble, hard-working Filgaian rather than the forces of evil."
She glances at Layna, a quick, silent apology in her eyes.
"More importantly, maybe there's something we could use to calm those spirits. Finish their unfinished business, perhaps?"
She looks back to the half-harvested field, extending absurdly far in every direction. Dear Granas, no!
"I-In any case," Rosaline says, looking back to the shed, "it could be worth looking into. Now where is the key...?"
As the party's paladin, it falls upon her to look under rocks and over the doorframe, while the rest of the group does... whatever it does.
DG: Rosaline Calice has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Tool Shed.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Nay, I'm fine." Layna replies, shaking her head as Rosaline asks if anyone needs healing. She has a few cuts on her coat, but it doesn't seem like they managed to get past the armor underneath.
They move on and come across a hopefully non-haunted toolshed. Layna returns Rosaline's glance with a simple nod and a grin, clearly not at all offended.
But getting in...Layna briefly wishes Dahlia was here. Her axe would be pretty useful right about now.
Instead...
"Bah, we don't need a key. We just have to give it a good ol'..." Layna brings her foot back before slamming it forward into the door. "Kick!!"
...It may be sturdier than it looks.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Tool Shed.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida ends up with her back to a wall, gasping for breath as the tools chasing her draw ever-closer. At the last possible second, the force animating them gives out, and the possessed farming implements clatter to the ground in a pile of wood and rusting metal. Ida takes a moment just to breathe. She's tired, her legs feel like rubber, and she wants to just sit down for a while.
Then Rosaline points out that this is a tool shed--Ida's leaning against one of its walls--and she limps around towards the door. "One moment," she says. She reaches into her pack, removes a canteen and a package of chocolate biscuits, and takes a long swig of water. "Let's--let's all have a moment to rest, shall we? That was harrowing."
Pun not intended. There's a harrow right over there, in the pile, but Ida doesn't know from farming implements.
Layna kicks the door. "Careful," Ida says. She feels reenergized, at least--enough to stand up and raise a hand. "We don't know what's in there. For all we know, it could be whatever animated those tools." She peers at the lock, which looks... decently well-made, if kind of rusty. "I think this is the two-tumbler kind. Does anyone have a small pin?"
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Chocolate Biscuits toward her party's challenge, Tool Shed.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"I am alright," Avril answers, pausing just long enough to brush some errant dust off her skirt. She appears to be unscathed, honestly.
Her gaze, too, falls upon the shed.
"Hmmm. Do you feel as if that may be the case, Rosaline?" she queries, tilting her head to the right as she considers the rather locked shed and its contents... and the fields. "Perhaps we may find some clue, or some other means within the shed. ...I had come to this stead before, and though we thought that we had vanquished the cause at the time, it appears that was not the case. We should consider this carefully."
Which is when Ida suggests they take five and think about it. "Yes, let's. I do not believe our current circumstances necessitate hasty action."
Once she's taken her short rest, Avril stands, regarding the lock as Layna attempts a more percussive approach. "Hmmm. A small pin, is it?"
She reaches up to her braid, and pulls free a single small hairpin. "Will this suffice, Ida?"
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Tool Shed.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei Fong Wong's patience pays off this time. By now, his legs are working pretty normal-like. "Ida's right, we shouldn't try to rush this one." Is he ... just saying that so he gets a chocolate biscuit?? No, no of course not. He actually does believe a sittch in time saves nine. It's an improtant rule....
...but he is still going to take a chocolate biscuit. "These are kind of," munch munch. "Addictive."
Fei says, "Hold on--!" to Ida. "Before you use a pin..."
He reaches into his artist's toolkit and withdraws---a thimble! He offers it to Ida.
"Best to be safe!" He says. "So you don't prick yourself."
Fei is kind of a dork sometimes okay?
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Artist's Toolkit toward his party's challenge, Tool Shed.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
He should have stayed in bed.
Jack came to this conclusion about the point where he was being beaten back by a animated rake. Weather is was the wounds or just the oddity of it all. Well...its not going well for Jack.
The rake finally breaks itself in two as it cracks him across the skull and the swordsman rubs the crown of his head as he grumbles and glowers at the toolshed.
As if he'd like to light it on fire.
Meanwhile Hanpan just sighs as people attempt their own ways in. "...pardon me miss," He says politely to Rosaline before bounding off her shoulder. "...I shall try it from the inside." Says the ancient mouse before scampering in a crack between boards to try just that.
He is fearless as he is wise.
DG: Jack Van Burace has used his Tool Hanpan toward his party's challenge, Tool Shed.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Tool Shed *>=========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- This small building with a heavy door is marked with the word "TOOLS" in solid block letters, crafted by a firm and even hand. The building itself is sturdy, made of thick masonry blocks and firmly planted in the soil. The tools inside would be quite the boon for dealing with the plants outside, but getting in there requires picking the door lock. Failing that, there's always looking for a key under the myriad rocks and bushes nearby... but wouldn't the larcenous route be that much faster? =Dungeon Conditions: Reckless=================================================
========================<* Eerie Farmhouse - Round 4 *>========================= ============================< Results - Tool Shed >============================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 35 --(5)--> 40 Pass Artist's Toolkit 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 35 --(5)--> 40 Pass Chocolate Biscuits 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 35 --(10)--> 45 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Van Burace 40 --(5)--> 45 Pass Hanpan 3 Wits Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 30 --(5)--> 35 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 25 --(5)--> 30 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ida Everstead-Rey 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(1)|Reckless(2)|Slow(1) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ida Everstead-Rey 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> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Rosaline gladly accepts a biscuit, thank you very much. A chocolate treat is a welcome manner of managing the stress of fighting, running away or just looking for one's darn keys.
"How did you handle it?" Rosaline asks Avril, sheepishly, upon learning that she had been here before. "It might be useful to know..." And if what they did seemed to work, either it was wrong, or they didn't do it quite thoroughly enough.
Layna embraces the kick-the-door-down style of adventuring, but clearly the powers that be will have none of that. The door is old but doesn't budge an inch.
Ida opts for a more delicate touch, with a pin provided by April and a thimble provided by Fei that somehow ends up useful. The delicate lockpicking procedure begins...
Hanpan meanwhile opts for a roundabout route by going in by his lonesome. He is luckily greeted by neither angry farmware nor killer tomato. He does, however, see a broom wedged firmly into the door's handle. It may have fallen there after someone slammed the door.
Ida hears a faint click, then another. Success! However, attempts to turn the handle meet unexpected resistance.
Back inside, Hanpan uses wise mouse strength to push the broom out of the way and--
The door swings open, with Hanpan getting flung away for his troubles. Oh well.
Inside is... tools, almost disappointingly. No glowing orb, no cryptic note, but there is however a map of the premises. This might be helpful in exploring further!
"Praise be," concludes Rosaline.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - The Kitchen Sink *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Though the door into the main component of the house from the kitchen is barricaded on both sides and borders on impassable, the kitchen can be accessed from the outside. Unfortunately, while there's little *inside*, stepping in leads to the door back /out/ being locked behind the investigators, followed by a screech as someone -- or something -- peels out into the night. Most of the windows are overgrown as well -- it's time to look for an alternative exit, clear a window, or pick the lock... which for some reason requires a key on both sides, normally. Why would someone install a storeroom lock on a kitchen door? =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Reckless====================================
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Captain's Telescope toward her party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
A thorough inspection of the tool shed turns up nothing that could be responsible for... well, everything. There's one more building to check within easy range--and that's the farmhouse. "I can't sense any Malevolence," Ida remarks, to Rosaline. She's trying not to think too hard about the last time she came into contact with it. Remembering how you literally put a hand clean through a man's torso is enough to mess with anyone.
The farmhouse is boarded up tight. The windows are all barricaded, and when Ida tries the front door, the doorhandle won't turn. Fortunately, the kitchen door appears to be unlocked. Ida gently pushes it open; it swings open with a dull creak, allowing everyone to file in.
The door leading deeper into the house is barricaded--someone's shoved seemingly every article of furniture they could into it. Ida frowns, takes out a cookie, and eats it.
Skittering, from outside. The door slams shut, and a horrible screech tears through the air. Ida jumps, and glances around to confirm that yes, everyone heard that. "What in God's name--?" She looks over at Avril. Hopefully she still has that lockpick.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Chocolate Biscuits toward her party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Judging by Fei's horrified face, he heard it. He reaches into his kit and offers Avril her thimble again if she's interested in using that lockpick strategy again.
"Safety first," Fei says while trying not to think about what might be out there. Or... what might be in here...!
There's a nearby crash of thunder.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Artist's Toolkit toward his party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
"How do you sense Melevolence anyway?" Comes Jack's question as he slips into the kitchen, dusting himself off and collecting his partner as the wind mouse poses oh so nonchalantly on the doorknob.
He would ask more but the sudden ominious crash from the door and the squeeling movement from outside cause him to turn and spin. Nearly drawing in suprise before he realises nothing is really there.
...and realises that this little area of this little house isn't that big.
He eyes the door for a moment, trying to see if he could just slice it off or not. Then comes a sigh and a glance towards Hanpan.
The mouse just shakes his head. "This is the last time, Jack. You'll never learn if you just let me do all the work." He cals as he scampers off to try his hand at the lock from the other side.
DG: Jack Van Burace has used his Tool Hanpan toward his party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"Me neither," Rosaline answers Ida, quietly. "I'm glad it's not that, at least." She has spells and blessed bullets for Filgaian supernatural threats, at least. Malevolence, not so much. To Jack: "I think it's just that I'm spiritually sensitive, myself..." She did go from zero to able to see Seraphs in a hurry.
The sound of that screech is followed by a high-pitched yelp from Rosaline. When Ida looks back at her, she finds the nun tense-looking, ears on high alert and tail standing on end.
"I'll, um, I'll watch your backs while you figure this out," she says, drawing her ARMs and turning back, eyes darting and ears performing a full sweep of the environs for the sound of intruders (...or inhabitants?) "So nothing sneaks up on us and, um..." she says, trailing off.
With Rosaline on the lookout for spooky surprises, Ida can at least concentrate on figuring this one out without worrying about them herself.
DG: Rosaline Calice has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Things look simple enough as they make their way into the farmhouse itself...but Layna had since concluded that things here were never as simple as they seemed. That proves to be the case here, as shortly after they enter the door slams shut behind them, accompanied by a terrible screech.
Layna frowns.
"I think some rotten blaggard's having a jest on us, me hearties." She comments with a frown. Was it the carrots?
It was probably the carrots. Next time she saw one she'd give it a good punch for this.
Having learned her lesson last time, she reaches down to her belt for the telescope at her waist.
"If you're gonna try pickin' it, use this to get a good look at it first, aye? Might help." Layna suggests.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Avril takes the hairpin back once it's offered her way. "The last time? Hmm," Avril considers, as the shed creaks its way open. "We had managed to get inside the farmhouse, but it appeared that something had taken residence within. Once we managed to vanquish it, it resolved whatever had asserted its control over the farmhouse." She pauses as she peers inside the shed. "Or, perhaps, so we had assumed. It was clearly not as easily defeated as we had assumed, or this steading would not have such creatures still inhabiting it."
Her lips purse as Rosaline brings out what the shed had held. "A map..." Her gaze rests on it for a long moment.
"It may be time to see if we can find our way into the farmhouse, once more." Her gaze hardens as she regards the building, her shoulders stiffening as she almost seems to stare it down. "There's something in there, once again... I do not think it means us any kindness."
The doors are locked, of course.
Correction: most of the doors are locked. They find their way inside. "This room... I do not think--" Avril starts to say from the corner she's wound herself into, already turning as the door slams shut, locks, and something screeches. One hand lifts halfway to her chest.
She hesitates like that for a good five seconds before she nods and hurries over to the door, handing over the hairpin.
It's a rather unusual make for a hairpin, actually. The shape is odd, and whatever alloy it's made of...
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - The Kitchen Sink *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Though the door into the main component of the house from the kitchen is barricaded on both sides and borders on impassable, the kitchen can be accessed from the outside. Unfortunately, while there's little *inside*, stepping in leads to the door back /out/ being locked behind the investigators, followed by a screech as someone -- or something -- peels out into the night. Most of the windows are overgrown as well -- it's time to look for an alternative exit, clear a window, or pick the lock... which for some reason requires a key on both sides, normally. Why would someone install a storeroom lock on a kitchen door? =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Reckless====================================
========================<* Eerie Farmhouse - Round 5 *>========================= =========================< Results - The Kitchen Sink >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 40 --(5)--> 45 Pass Artist's Toolkit 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 40 --(5)--> 45 Pass Chocolate Biscuits 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 45 --(5)--> 50 Pass Captain's Telescope 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Van Burace 45 --(5)--> 50 Pass Hanpan 3 Wits Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 35 --(5)--> 40 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 30 --(5)--> 35 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ida Everstead-Rey 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Overzealous(2)|Reckless(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ida Everstead-Rey 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> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida hasn't elaborated on where or how she learned how to pick a lock. It's kind of weird.
FOUR YEARS AGO
"I almost have it," says Ida, college sophomore, as she works at a gate's lock with a bobby pin. Ahead is the school athletic field, which is locked for the night, and behind her are her social-club sisters. Most of them are carrying squares of scrap metal painted black and white; a wagon is nearby, stacked high with sheet-metal chess pieces.
NOW
Ida listens and watches as Avril gets to work. "Typically, exposure," Ida says, to Jack. "Though individuals who are attuned to the realm of the spirits have a much easier time of it." With a little elbow grease--and a little help from the others--Hanpan is able to open the window just enough to wiggle through. Once he's on the other side, he can help with the other half!
"What is this made out of?" Ida says, running the hairpin between her index finger and her bethimbled thumb. It's really sturdy for something so small and light.
Tumblers turn. The door comes open! Nothing ambushes everyone from deeper inside the house!
Hopefully.
DG: Jack Van Burace has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Breaking and Entering *>===================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- At long last, there's a clear path to the porch, and subsequently, the entrance to the main farmhouse. There's just one problem, of course: *click click* *click click* It's locked. It's EXTREMELY locked. Once again, the greatest archnemesis of any investigator is... door... =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Weaken, Hesitate============================
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
Hanpan does indeed wiggle out and between a lockpicker and lots of moral support. Well it seems they can get out of the first problem just fine. Though as the door slowly swings outward there is a bemused tone from the tiny wind mouse on the other side.
"My friends," He addresses them all. "I believe this house was designed by a madman."
Because not two feet in front of them. Down what could only with the upmost of charity be called a hallway. Is indded a second door. Solidly build. And locked no less than two dozen times. All up and down one side.
A giant sign is set across the front of said door.
'GO AWAY'
Its also seems to be missing a handle.
Apparently someone doesn't want them in there.
Jack just quirks one eyebrow as he starts to smirk his hand reaching for the other thing he usually keeps with him. His guitar as he strums a little tune. Trying to find one creepy enough to give the house some good background music.
"We arn't going to take that kind of talk from a door are we?"
DG: Jack Van Burace has used his Tool Guitar toward his party's challenge, Breaking and Entering.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
...There was another locked door.
Layna stares at it for a moment, before reaching into her coat and pulling out a bottle of some variety of alcohol and taking a deep swig.
"Aye." She agrees with a nod toward Jack.
"There's more where this came from if anyone needs somethin' to drink."
Once she's good and satiated, Layna takes a moment to assess the door itself.
"Nay, I don't think we are! Me hearties...a sign like this, with so many locks...it just makes me want to know what's in there even more." With that said, she reaches into her coat again...
...and draws out a somewhat large arm-mounted drill.
"So why don't we see what's in there, aye!?" With a wide grin she activates the machine, which comes to life with a loud 'whir'. She thrusts the drill toward the door, aiming to go through the locks and, possibly, even the door itself.
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Quartermaster's Stash toward her party's challenge, Breaking and Entering.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Rosaline breathes easier when the door opens, allowing them to put more distance between them and... whatever they heard before.
Or so she thinks!!
"It... looks that way," she answers Hanpan, staring in disbelief.
"Y-Yes!" she answers, getting some semblance of fired up as Layna takes the sign as an invitation. "If this doesn't work, maybe... one stick should be enough, I think," she says, pulling out one (1) stick of that cream-colored symbological TNT she carries sometimes. She doesn't want to blow up the WHOLE house.
DG: Rosaline Calice has used her Tool Blessed Bomb toward her party's challenge, Breaking and Entering.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
The door swiiiings open and--
Avril slowly tilts her head to the left, gazing at the sign on the door at the end of the hallway. "It appears there is another door," she comments, and before anyone can set charges or put down dynamite, bring out machines, or whatever else is about to be leveled at the door's metaphorical feet...
Slowly walks up to the door and pushes on it.
...What?
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Without doubt, she'll make her way on back again and reclaim her hairpin.
And look at it, quizzically.
"I do not recall," she answers Ida, truthfully. "Is it unusual?" She's only had it since she woke up in a golem's hand, after all.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Breaking and Entering.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei looks towards Jack. "I don't know," He tells him. "I'm uh... I've been defeated by a fair number of doors. There was that Duplicator Door we couldn't get open, that door that had this huge keyhole but couldn't actually--find any key and we couldn't bust it down." He shakes his head. "Doors are no joke, Jack. And that's a fact!"
SAILOR FEI SAYS!
And perhaps because of it, Fei just kind of patiently waits because he knows how CERTAIN (ROSALINE) MEMBERS (ROSALINE) OF THE PARTY (ROSALINE) handle such obstacles.
In fact he takes several steps backwards and takes some cover.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida accepts Layna's fortifying liquor, and takes a long swig. She has a feeling she's going to need it.
The naturalist does what she does best in this situation, which is to run support--once Avril gets her token push in, Ida steps up to the plate. She balls up a fist, takes a breath, and strikes the door near where all the locks are clustered. She might be able to weaken it, or at least help make a hole for Rosaline's explosives.
Ida looks at Avril as she hands the hairpin back over. "I've never seen a hairpin that could take that," she says. Those were some heavy-duty tumblers.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Breaking and Entering. DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Breaking and Entering.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Breaking and Entering *>===================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- At long last, there's a clear path to the porch, and subsequently, the entrance to the main farmhouse. There's just one problem, of course: *click click* *click click* It's locked. It's EXTREMELY locked. Once again, the greatest archnemesis of any investigator is... door... =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Weaken, Hesitate============================
========================<* Eerie Farmhouse - Round 6 *>========================= ======================< Results - Breaking and Entering >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 45 --(20)--> 65 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 45 --(20)--> 65 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 50 --(20)--> 70 Fail Quartermaster's Stash 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Van Burace 50 --(15)--> 65 Pass Guitar 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 40 --(15)--> 55 Pass Blessed Bomb 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 35 --(20)--> 55 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ida Everstead-Rey 80 --(0)--> 80 Fail Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Overzealous(2)|Reckless(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ida Everstead-Rey has failed this challenge! The party gained 0 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
As the sweet sounds of fast fingered guitar waft over those contemplating the door, the Diggers make their moves. Woodchips fly from the drill but the door proves to be supernaturally strong. It seems the drill takes the worst of it, slightly mangled in the process.
The bomb fares better at least and with the efforts combined there seems to be...a...two foot wide hole. In the middle of the door. Right where the sign was painted on.
"Well. That showed that sign." Jack points out. Always remaining positive there.
DG: Rosaline Calice has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - ...And The Stick *>======================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Inside the house is a tangle of roots and plants and flowers along every wall, every doorframe, every window and every fixture. The atmosphere is oppressive, and feels like it threatens to crush the investigators under itself. Oh, wait, no, that's all the roots and plants doing that. Whoops! Each tendril of the overall mass is like a creature unto itself, lashing out with slashes and stabs in between trying to crush each and every investigator like a grape. The source of the roots and vines is unclear, but they themselves can at least be cut away... =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Exhaust===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Well, at least the guitar music makes this stressful situation more bearable.
"This is a very serious door," Rosaline concludes, when the smoke clears. "...What do we do now? I have more sticks..."
Before the group can debate what to do next, something else does it for them. With a rusty, deafening cacophony, the extra-locked door bursts off of its hinges, giving those standing too close a good faceful of lock, doorframe and even door.
Rosaline comes out of cover (she knows her dynamite safety, even if it's technically enchanted not to hurt people) to inspect the damage and see if anyone is badly hurt. Whatever just opened the door for them has other ideas. Leafy vine tendrils burst out of the newly-opened hole, grabbing for whatever they can wrap themselves around.
This includes Rosaline's legs. "Oh no."
She is dragged into the dark room, trying to plant her claws into the wooden floor but merely pawing at it softly with her oversized gloves.
"OH NOOOOOOOOoooooooooo........" she screams. Well, what are you waiting for?
The team gives chase and finds that the door led to a flight of stairs leading to the basement. Exactly what was IN the basement is unclear, because the experience is definitely more floral now than originally intended. Vegetation covers everything, and the worst part is that it's actively trying to kill and drag away everyone present.
Once the group catches up, they first notice the pleasant feel of healing rain (yes, even indoors, magic is wonderful), hear the sound of ARMs fire, then finally find Rosaline already in the middle of a pitched battle. She is firing her arms at sharp-toothed, glowy-eyed tomato creatures dangling from the vines. Her habit and face are stained red with tomato juice as she screams as if possessed.
The gang can presume a few things: Rosaline likely cast her rain spell BEFORE she flipped her entire lid, and these vines may be connected to, say, a Killer Queen Tomato at the source of this whole mess, which may have filled the power vacuum left by April and Dean.
Or perhaps they'll find that the politics of the Salad Kingdom are more complicated than that. But first things first: reassessing your place on the food chain!
DG: Rosaline Calice has used her Tool Holy Water toward her party's challenge, ...And The Stick.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna's drill sputters and dies, and she sends it a frown.
"...Guess I'm gonna have to get it repaired." She mutters, storing it away again. That's fine, really she didn't see herself needing it again for a while anyway.
It's around this time that the door bursts open and Rosaline is dragged in. With a growl Layna draws her gauntlets and gives pursuit, a rarely-seen look of fury on her face.
And inside...plants. More plants. Though on further inspection it appears to be one big, overgrown plant causing quite a bit of trouble.
She sweeps and hacks at the vegetation in her path with the blades at the end of each gauntlet as she attempts to make her way through it all toward Rosaline.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, ...And The Stick.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
A fist-sized chunk of doorjamb goes flying, and glances off of Ida's forehead as she rises from her cover to take stock of the situation. The naturalist stumbles, grabs hold of the kitchen counter to steady herself, and presses a hand to the injury, wincing. She's not bleeding, but that's probably the only good news. She can hear Rosaline's voice, as well as disconcerting slithering noises--and the former is getting more panicked. Ida looks up, and--
"Rosaline!" Ida's eyes widen. She follows after Layna, tearing through the house. She takes the basement stairs two at a time--her fatigue has suddenly become irrelevant in the face of something making off with a trusted friend.
Ida does not have a blade. However, several other members of the team do. "Jack!" Ida cries. "Avril! Take point!" They should be the most effective against the weeds. Ida's hand makes a tentative motion towards the small of her back. Will it work? Does she dare risk using it? Rosaline's life is at stake. Ida swallows hard, ignites a flare, and tosses the grenade at a separate cluster of animate tomatoes, outside of Rosaline's firing arc. She then wades into the melee, tearing at the ferocious foliage with her bare hands.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Flare Grenade toward her party's challenge, ...And The Stick.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Oh, I see. Hmmm, I suppose it may be rather resilient... I had not considered that, Ida."
Though maybe it's needed, given the volume of hair it's helping to hold up.
Avril narrowly ducks out of the way of the door as it goes flying down the hallway.
The same can't entirely be said of the flurry of assorted shrapnel that follows.
She raises her arms to shield herself, somehow retaining hold over the hairpin as the fragments fly.
At least it doesn't last long. Straightening as the dust settles -- and putting the hairpin back where it belongs. Well, a lady needs to keep her hair neatly positioned...
"Is anyone injured? It seems a rather large hole has been created--"
there are vines
rosaline vanishes into the darkness
Blue eyes widen.
Only to narrow.
There is no cry, no shout after Rosaline as she's dragged off to points unknown. Avril, grim-faced, draws Absolute Zero from beneath her wrap and runs off into the darkness beyond this place.
Light flares as she pulls the trigger on the ARM.
And arcs overhead.
Followed by a rising swing from below.
Take point, Ida says. She barely has to ask.
"Let us cut it down," she declares cooly, rolling back on her heels to curve out of the way of an errant vine that comes swinging at her.
It is, as she moves to follow that attack with a slicing swing of the laser beam whip to stop it from attacking with that particular vine ever again, the only comment she makes now on the foe before them.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Beam Whip Mode toward her party's challenge, ...And The Stick.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei lowers his hands. They were covering his ears. He looks towards Rosaline and says, "Well it seems like--"
A vine grabs her and whisks her away.
"...I guess we should have leafed well enough alone." Fei says instead of what he was going to with a straight face. The chase is on! Follow that plant before Rosaline becomes plant food! Fei, remembering that Rosaline has 'another side' to her that's kind of scary--takes up the rear again lest he end up running straight into an explosion.
really
Fei ignores the small voice in his head that complains about this since he BELEAFS in Rosaline's abilities, he can afford some caustion. He draws the RPS Badge in his hand.
He darts forward, his body blurring as he shows several different RPS moves with his hands from Paper, to Scissor, and even Rock! As if compelled, the plant reacts and uses several vines to battle Fei in RPS.
Fei nods once and this is about when he leaps into the air and uses the Kakei technique (ie: Fei turns himself into a explosion and throws himself at the enemy).
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool RPS Badge toward his party's challenge, ...And The Stick.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
Jack was going to say something. Some quip about doors and the strength thereof. Something perhaps involving the power of music. Then the door explodes outwards, vines collect Rosaline and then withdraw into the dark room.
Well. That wasn't expected.
To his credit the sword comes out before he's even fully stowed the gituar as he leaps to the attack. "Layna can you see Rosaline?" He calls out as his blade flickers in a deadly dance, slicing into the greenry with the intent to clear a path for everyone else.
"If you can see a root or a body of a plant shoot it Ida!" He adds he does his best to at least give her a clear shot.
DG: Jack Van Burace has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, ...And The Stick.
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - ...And The Stick *>======================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Inside the house is a tangle of roots and plants and flowers along every wall, every doorframe, every window and every fixture. The atmosphere is oppressive, and feels like it threatens to crush the investigators under itself. Oh, wait, no, that's all the roots and plants doing that. Whoops! Each tendril of the overall mass is like a creature unto itself, lashing out with slashes and stabs in between trying to crush each and every investigator like a grape. The source of the roots and vines is unclear, but they themselves can at least be cut away... =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Exhaust===========================================
========================<* Eerie Farmhouse - Round 7 *>========================= =========================< Results - ...And The Stick >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 65 --(5)--> 70 Pass RPS Badge 3 Combat Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 65 --(5)--> 70 Pass Flare Grenade 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 70 --(5)--> 75 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Van Burace 65 --(20)--> 85 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 55 --(5)--> 60 Pass Holy Water 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 55 --(5)--> 60 Pass Beam Whip Mode 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ida Everstead-Rey 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Hesitate(1)|Overzealous(1)|Wound(2) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Ida Everstead-Rey has successfully explored Eerie Farmhouse!
=============================<* Eerie Farmhouse *>============================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - A Bitter Sweet Ending *>===================== |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The roots and vines give way, and behind them lies a parcel a couple feet on each side, wrapped in colorful paper. The investigators open the box with faith. Inside was...! ... honestly, what /is/ all this? To someone without much technical experience, it looks like a lot of odds and ends. To someone with that experience, though, they're fairly obviously tools for a variety of practical crafts. There's antiseptic gloves, for a compounder; an element analyzer and a jeweler's loupe, for an appraiser; a few flasks, a nice knife... if you're a technician, there's probably /something/ nice for you here. There's also a note in there, but it's mulch now. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
The group cuts its way down. Even Jack's lightning-quick blade dance isn't quite enough to stem the green tide, but a moment later, Avril's beam whip joins in the impromptu gardening, working to spectacular effect.
Ida opens the tomato harvest with a well-tossed flare bomb. Rosaline was too busy shooting nonstop to cover her eyes, but was luckily looking in the exact opposite direction at the time. Several of the tomatoes near her find their glowing eyes ceasing to do so. It seems they have indeed been blinded.
Fei unleashes RPS techniques of terrible power, forcing some of the vines to crawl back in the face of such a gambling apocalypse ('zawa zawa', the sound effects read) before he uses the Kakei technique. There is no known counter-move to one turning themselves into an explosion, in rock-paper-scissors or otherwise, and so the basement is soon cleared of several tomatoes.
Layna and Ida make their way towards Rosaline, slicing and tearing away at their foes, respectively. The Etone-to-be actually turns to see them as they approach before she resumes being very violent. This, for those keeping score at home is an improvement over most of the times she's in this state.
A particularly large tomato monster, the aforementioned Killer Queen Tomato, makes itself known. It would normally get a boss entrance, but the team's momentum is such that the murderous fruit is immediately, neatly sliced by a combination of Fast Draw technique, beam whip, gauntlet blades and catwoman claws. (Ida, having no cutting implements, just pulps her assigned tomato portion.)
That does it. The plants go limp and resume being inanimate rather than affronts to all that is good and pure. The rain is still going, and manages to wash the worst of the tomato juice off people now that it is no longer being produced.
Rosaline catches her breath, having quietly stepped aside a second to find her gloves, which she is now putting back on. "I'm sorry," she says, meekly, not specifying about which part.
But in all the slicing, a suspicious crate was revealed, possibly the only remaining intact clue to what this place even was. "Was this a workshop?" Rosaline asks, quietly, as she lets other people inspect the contents to their leisure. "Or... a lab?"
Science! The enemy of religion. She should have known.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
The group cuts its way down. Even Jack's lightning-quick blade dance isn't quite enough to stem the green tide, but a moment later, Avril's beam whip joins in the impromptu gardening, working to spectacular effect.
Ida opens the tomato harvest with a well-tossed flare bomb. Rosaline was too busy shooting nonstop to cover her eyes, but was luckily looking in the exact opposite direction at the time. Several of the tomatoes near her find their glowing eyes ceasing to do so. It seems they have indeed been blinded.
Fei unleashes RPS techniques of terrible power, forcing some of the vines to crawl back in the face of such a gambling apocalypse ('zawa zawa', the sound effects read) before he uses the Kakei technique. There is no known counter-move to one turning themselves into an explosion, in rock-paper-scissors or otherwise, and so the basement is soon cleared of several tomatoes.
Layna and Ida make their way towards Rosaline, slicing and tearing away at their foes, respectively. The Etone-to-be actually turns to see them as they approach before she resumes being very violent. This, for those keeping score at home is an improvement over most of the times she's in this state.
A particularly large tomato monster, the aforementioned Killer Queen Tomato, makes itself known. It would normally get a boss entrance, but the team's momentum is such that the murderous fruit is immediately, neatly sliced by a combination of Fast Draw technique, beam whip, gauntlet blades and catwoman claws. (Ida and Fei, having no cutting implements, just pulp their assigned tomato portions.)
That does it. The plants go limp and resume being inanimate rather than affronts to all that is good and pure. The rain is still going, and manages to wash the worst of the tomato juice off people now that it is no longer being produced.
Rosaline catches her breath, having quietly stepped aside a second to find her gloves, which she is now putting back on. "I'm sorry," she says, meekly, not specifying about which part.
But in all the slicing, a suspicious crate was revealed, possibly the only remaining intact clue to what this place even was. "Was this a workshop?" Rosaline asks, quietly, as she lets other people inspect the contents to their leisure. "Or... a lab?"
Science! The enemy of religion. She should have known.
<Pose Tracker> Jack Van Burace has posed.
Furiously Jack hacks and slashes at the animated, and angry, greenary. His blade is so not made for this, but at the moment its a matter of life and death. A sharp blade cuts animated and angry vines as well as it does flesh at least. Though the hacking he has to do makes him wince internally.
Finally though, its over and the swordsman has a chance to survey the pulpy mess they've left behind. A raised eyebrow at the mess. The people. A feeling of relief now that Rosaline is ok.
He smirks slightly at the apology. "You," He fixes her with a mock glare. "Owe us all a drink."
But he leans back against the wall. "A madman's workshop to be sure." Then a pause again. "...and remind me again not to do do excerise like this so soon after nearly dying."
Everything hurts.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna doesn't stop until there's nothing left. She punches and swings until she's covered in tomato pulp and the plant ceases moving. She takes a deep breath and straightens up before casting her gaze about the room.
"Rosaline. You alright?" Layna asks, her tone serious. She looked fine, but she was the one who was dragged off first so there was always the possibility of injury.
And then Rosaline brings her attention to something. She moves over to where she is, inspecting the parcel that was once colorfully-wrapped. It was probably intended for someone at some point, but Layna doesn't seem to consider or care about that.
"Well, well, well! What's this, now?" Layna says with a grin. She roots through the package, separating out the contents and eventually pulling out a knife. It doesn't look like it was meant for combat, necessarily, but it was a nice, useful-looking knife. She studies it for a moment before nodding.
"Hm...Dahlia might like this..." Layna muses.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
The beam whip cuts true. Artfully, perhaps, various plant fluids splatter around Avril as she cuts down vine after vine.
...Getting to the root of the problem, as it were.
Exhaling, she closes her eyes once the chaos quiets. The charge gutters out.
All of two moments pass before she wordlessly returns Absolute Zero to its place beneath her wrap and opens her eyes once again.
Her gaze is steady, calm.
"Rosaline, are you alright?" the young woman asks, pacing a few steps forward to offer the nun a hand up if she needs it.
And pauses for a moment, eyes suddenly wide in exactly the manner of one who has just had someone tread on their own grave. Her hand draws back, nearly as if stung.
Her gaze flits across the room, wordlessly seeking after the source.
...Settles on two others standing here for a few heartbeats...
Worry writes nakedly across her face.
Followed by confusion.
And then, as her fingertips slide off the proverbial glass surface, as memories fail to appear to create any sort of context for what she feels, as sort of reluctant resignation. Her lips press thin.
She again extends the hand to Rosaline, as if the moment that transpired just now never happened. "Here..."
At some remove she will examine the collection of crafters supplies they've found and, as if it called to her, select a slender kit of metal-working tools. The type used for fine work, as it happens.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"Sorry for what?" Ida says. She holds out her hands, allowing the rain to wash off the juice and pulp.
Avril looks shocked for no reason whatsoever. Ida's own eyes widen in surprise; she glances behind her, but there's nothing. She looks down at her hands, as if half-expecting the juice to have turned to thick, Malevolence-tainted ichor, but it's still vegetable matter.
Probably nothing, Ida thinks.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"I'm all right," Rosaline answers, as several people inquire about her well-being. She's hurt, but she's seen worse.
"Causing a mess," she answers Ida, very quietly. Avril extends a hand, which she hesitantly moves to take, until it's... retracted?
Rosaline's expression is puzzled. But then... no, of course Avril is right to be scared, after seeing her like that. But then the hand is extended again. Rosaline still hesitates, but takes it.
As far as she's concerned, she DOES owe everyone a drink.