2018-03-09: Starfall
- Log: Starfall
- Cast: Kahm Yugh, Elhaym van Houten, Loren Voss, Ribaldy
- Where: Tzadkiel
- Date: March 9th 2018
- Summary: The transportation from Filgaia to Lunar does not go easy or well for the Tzadkiel, or its crew.
DG: A party led by Kahm Yugh is now entering Starfall. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Red Alert! *>========================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- An overwhelming experience of distortion waves over everyone aboard the Tzadkiel as the ship is caught up in the massive quantization phenomenon at Lost July. The angle of the ship changes abruptly, sending crewmembers anything not nailed down flying violently from where they stand. Your best bet is to grab hold of something and avoid any sudden flying objects! =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
SKY OVER LOST JULY
The Tzadkiel hung above the Elw ruins that floated above Lost July, it's presence a domineering reminder of Solarian supremacy even while damaged. Gears and metal dragons clashed around it's smoking hull as the ship's crew recalled all units in preparation to evacuate the area. A massive energy fluctuation had been detected, and the Commander didn't want them anywhere near the area when the next strange event occurred.
Unfortunately, this nugget of strategic wisdom was recognized too late. A flash brilliant green light floods the helm. For a moment, no one sees anything as the internal gravity the ship suddenly finds itself turn on an extreme axis.
TZADKIEL - GEAR HANGAR
Flight crews scrambled desperately across the hangar's deck as, one by one, gears came landed in various states of damage. The Vierge, Schiehallion, and Hauteclaire are among the last to arrive as the bay doors close shut behind them, the Hauteclaire narrowly skidding to a sparking, stumbling stop that nearly threw the unrestrained Kahm Yugh from his open cockpit hatch, where he'd have made a none-too-decorative crimson splash on the wall.
Fortunately, the linear catapult also works in reverse: magnetic locks clamp the gear's feet to the floor, and the guidance system did the hard work of decelerating the mobile titan in a matter of moments before things got worse (Except they were totally going to).
Kahm dropped onto an access catwalk bloody and beleaguered, his side still dripping fresh blood from the battle below and feeling pain and injury in a dozen different places. "We need to..." He gasped, "Get to a secure-"
Whatever phenomenon had started in the Elw Ruins hit the ship right about then, throwing Kahm forward violently as crews and equipment flew through the air while the ship pitched. Spying a handhold, he reaches out and attempts to grab hold for dear life, sparing an eye for Elly and Loren, wherever they are.
DG: Kahm Yugh has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Red Alert!.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
Vierge slams in last. Elly lingered. Vierge had taken the least heavy damage, and there are certain matters for which the raw strength of a Gear - even a gracile one like Vierge - are the best and surest cure.
Vierge lands at a bad angle. That may be important later. Even so, the cockpit hatch opens, functional if with a brief hitch. Elly reaches over, grabs the bailout pack with one hand, slides its strap over her shoulder and let it give its subtle automatic squeeze.
She is not quite in true with the space. She judges herself, tenses up, once, twice, and then leap --
The ship lurches!
But in her favor. "Major!" Elly cries out as she grasps onto a handrail, looking towards him. She levers herself around, boot soles pressing against the textured metal of the catwalk and letting herself pull forwards.
DG: Elhaym van Houten has used her Tool Sassy Boots toward her party's challenge, Red Alert!.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Landing isn't easy by any means. The heavy support Gear Schiehallion, by contrast to the more delicate Vierge, has definitely seen better days.
It's notably missing a head. This has made it tricky to fly and tricky to land, but fortunately the last several dozen yards are assisted.
Actually getting out of the machine is at a noted delay. Perhaps more than a few mechanisms were damaged in the fight.
It's the medical kit that he grabs before exiting, running on autopilot. The Major's certain to be in bad condition and, and--
No sooner do boots touch the walkway than the ship lurches.
Perilously.
He grabs for the railing, his other hand gripping the strap for his kit tightly.
Blood drips across a distant catwalk as the Tzadkiel rolls. "Major--?!"
DG: Loren Voss has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Red Alert!.
<Pose Tracker> Ribaldy has posed.
As everything goes crazy, machinery and boxes are shifting around radically, blocking off paths.
And opening others.
The three gears slam into place, people start staggering around on the walkway, and when the ship makes one decisive lurch, the cover of a large ventilation shaft bangs open, disgorging a large dog in a vest and slacks. He tumbles through the air, dropping right toward the catwalk, fur fluttering in the wind.
He tumbles until the officers are in his sightline and beams, reaching up and waving at them as he falls toward certain death. He drops below the level of the catwalk.
A grappling hook attached to a well-knotted rope then shoots up, biting into one edge of the walkway. Ribaldy shoots back up the other side, going "oh god oh god oh god" as he tries to successfully land on the catwalk without totally eating shit.
DG: Ribaldy has used his Tool Red River toward his party's challenge, Red Alert!.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Red Alert! *>========================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- An overwhelming experience of distortion waves over everyone aboard the Tzadkiel as the ship is caught up in the massive quantization phenomenon at Lost July. The angle of the ship changes abruptly, sending crewmembers anything not nailed down flying violently from where they stand. Your best bet is to grab hold of something and avoid any sudden flying objects! =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
============================<* Starfall - Round 1 *>============================ ============================< Results - Red Alert! >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kahm Yugh 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ribaldy 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Red River 3 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loren Voss 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Sassy Boots 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kahm Yugh 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Injure(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Kahm Yugh 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: Kahm Yugh has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= ====================<* CHALLENGE - Combat Drone Rampancy *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Whatever is going on with the Tzadkiel's status has caused a batch of floating combat drones to deploy with incorrect IFF targeting. They're registering everything as enemies, and they don't shoot to stun! No recovery option here, just take them down before they take you down! =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Treasure===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed. <SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RRI4m-q3Nc
Kahm manages to grab a hold of the railing with one hand, the rest of him flailing behind him as a heavy toolbox narrowly passes over his head. The world has become an unnerving alteration alternating red hues as warning lights flash angrily with their urgent audio cues. He hears two voices call out for him at once and manages to sight-with some relief-Loren and Elly nearby.
"Stay where you are!" He warns, trying to get his second hand on the railing, "We have no idea what's going on right now, and-Voss, watch out!"
He was calling out a large, runaway work cart that was bearing down on Loren as he spoke. Hopefully the Lieutenant was quick enough to roll away, but Kahm would be next the target as conveyance came bearing down on him with all it's momentum. The Major wasn't about to win an argument of physics, deciding to take his chances and let go.
A flies about ten feet backwards before managing to collide with Ribaldy's chest just as the beastman falls by way of greeting, shuddering against the impact and the sudden, nauseating change of direction. Regardless, he wasn't going to look a gift a horse in the mouth, and clumsily clung to the larger Ribaldy as that grappling hook bore them to safety.
By the time they got topside, the ship had managed to stabilize it's axis, but another problem became apparent as violent shudders ran all throughout the Tzadkiel's many decks, as if the ship were transferring every single fluctuation of its environment to interior. That was not typical-the gravity drive generally made travel seamless and comfortable at all times.
A chime came in on the PA system moments later in a soft, but stressed female voice, "All able-bodied crew are requested to report to to the engine room immediately. We have a code red. I repeat, we have a code red..."
Kahm grunted, his various aches and pains complemented by the smell of, well, Ribaldy. "Ribaldy, how....no, actually, we don't even have time for 'that'." Kahm said, struggling up to his feet, "You all heard that, we need to see what we can do. Loren, patch me up as well as you can in the next two minutes. I just need to hold together for....and hour, at most."
Or maybe less than that. rampant combat drones broke into the hanger after several moments of critical recuperation. You could tell they were rampant, because they were shooting at people.
The Major didn't waste any further time, throwing one of his grenades into their midst and covering it with several shots from his sidearm, "Seriously? Did we get hacked?! Try and fight them off, there's an access corridor in the southwest we can take!"
DG: Kahm Yugh has used his Tool Sonic Grenade toward his party's challenge, Combat Drone Rampancy.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
Loren's alive! The Major's alive! Nobody has obvious injuries incompatible with life. Hurray! The sudden arrival of the well-dressed canine hero of crime gets a second, wondering look from Elly, but it cannot last more than a second.
"Sir!" Elly says to Kahm - acknowledgement, not a request. The crate makes her glance up with alert, and soon enough they move forwards, through the shaking and trembling ship.
Where is it going? Elly thinks.
What's happening?
Am I going to survive this?
The PA works. A code-red is announced.
Elly has empty hands. She wraps them over her own arms. The sensation of guilt, of shame, of lassitude, tries to rise up. Only the alarms keep it at bay, keep her focused, keep her away from all of her terrible rising weariness. She can feel a tiny headache blossoming behind her eyes. It will grow to a mighty oak in time.
Then a drone shoots at her backside. Elly jumps up with another "!!!" - and with a strain, the thunder arcs forwards, aiming to snap into and through a drone. Elly grasps a nearby railing afterwards, breathing out with effort. "Who could have hacked the systems?" Elly speculates, squeezing her eyes shut afterwards to try and draw up another formation's worth of Ether.
DG: Elhaym van Houten has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Combat Drone Rampancy.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
A fun, interesting fact: the human heart hangs off the aortic arch, about all quarter pound of it.
It's the heart to which Loren's thoughts turn as the ship does a very sudden lurch. For a moment, internal organs very much feel as if they're not where they're supposed to be.
He tries not to think very hard about it, or any of the also very interesting and very lethal injuries that can result from a crash.
Such thoughts are quickly left behind, as it happens. In this particular instant even Ribaldy's sudden arrival goes uncommented upon:
Watch out!
Loren stares, a touch blankly, at the cart speeding towards him and lets go of the railing.
Fortunately, this means the cart doesn't slam into him. Unfortunately, untethered to anything, he does slam into the opposite wall.
He's in the process of peeling himself up when the PA erupts into a code red announcement. Some scrambling results after this, the medic hauling ass, so to speak, to meet up with the rest of their crew.
He slides the visor up. Ribaldy -- fleetingly -- gets a look, as if Loren were silently wondering how in the Emperor's name the beastman had gotten himself in here.
But there are more important things to worry about.
Such as, for example, the gaping hole in Kahm's side. "...Understood. Hold still. I'll do what I can."
Temporary methods are all he can do now. More robust methods of putting Kahm back together will take time, time they don't have.
Damn you, what did you do to yourself, he thinks furiously as he assesses the injury, knowing there wasn't any alternative then or now.
There's no time. ...Particularly not as the security system -- bugged or hacked or whatever -- goes on the offensive. "Van Houten! It's all yours!"
One of the healing patches will have to do, but he'll back it up with a blaze of ether, just enough to keep the Major together a little longer.
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Solarian Medical Kit toward his party's challenge, Combat Drone Rampancy.
<Pose Tracker> Ribaldy has posed.
Ribaldy washes. He's a clean dog looking for love so he picks flowers for the soap the Ties make personally. This means he smells like oil and dandelions today.
He doesn't even exhale when Kahm impacts him in midair, instinctively clamping a thick hand onto him. They make a positively Vallejoian vision as he swings up, over, and - against all odds - lands solidly on his feet, work boots thudding heavily into the catwalk.
He lets Kahm go before anyone can think they're having a moment, kicking the grappling hook loose and pulling on something on the big dual-tank on his back. He isn't usually armed when he sneaks his way onto the ship, so this is unusual - and fortuitous. The hook noisily ratches back onto a spool attached to the tank.
He tries to grin sheepishly at everyone, though he looks a little nervously at Elly - but then things keep getting worse. "I needed some, uh, materials," he manages.
The drones burst in. Ribaldy immediately straightens. "For this."
Normally, his twin Age of Collapse flamethrowers are hanging on either side of his fuel tanks, but they've been replaced by some kind of crude two-barrelled battle gauntlet made mostly of scrap, but also a fair amount of black armor-grade plastic and the high-grade milspec duct tape Solaris troops swear by. He shifts his right hand into it, pulling it forward, the pilot lights sparking in front of the unified flamethrowers' nozzles.
"I left money! Also I'll make a hole!" he says quickly before sprinting forward at the extremely dangerous drones, slamming his eye shield over the top half of his face, sweeping fire at the drones as he starts moving toward the access corridor Kahm mentioned. He is barking furiously, trying to make himself an obvious target while Loren tends to Kahm.
He seems to know exactly where that corridor is, which is a whole other conversation someone might consider having.
DG: Ribaldy has used his Tool Molotov Cocktail toward his party's challenge, Combat Drone Rampancy.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= ====================<* CHALLENGE - Combat Drone Rampancy *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Whatever is going on with the Tzadkiel's status has caused a batch of floating combat drones to deploy with incorrect IFF targeting. They're registering everything as enemies, and they don't shoot to stun! No recovery option here, just take them down before they take you down! =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Treasure===========================================
============================<* Starfall - Round 2 *>============================ ======================< Results - Combat Drone Rampancy >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kahm Yugh 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Sonic Grenade 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ribaldy 5 --(5)--> 10 Pass Molotov Cocktail 2 Combat Effects: Rally and Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loren Voss 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Solarian Medical Kit 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 5 --(5)--> 10 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kahm Yugh 20 --(25)--> 45 Pass Conditions: Injure(1)|Slow(2)|Treasure(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Kahm Yugh has passed this challenge! The party gained 25 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: Kahm Yugh has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =========================<* CHALLENGE - Hull Breach *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- A damaged portion of the Tzadkiel's hull suddenly tears open as you traverse up the main corridor, rapidly depressurizing the deck as air escapes to an uncertain and no doubt fatal destiny outside of the ship! Automate birdlime spheres immediately begin to patch the breach, but it would be a fool's errand to wait for them. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
TZADKIEL - BRIDGE
Nothing could have prepared them for this.
The brilliant green light of the Elw Ruins teleporter effects fade to dazzling vision of unknown space shimmer in hues of purple and magenta. The stars that would normally populate the night sky seem stretched into infinity, and the incredible forces shaking the entire ship suggest that that move forward at an unprecedented speed.
"Report on the gravity engine?" The Commander asks, perhaps to focus on something more practical.
"We're still looking at a criticality event in 10 minutes, unless emergency crews can get inside." An Operator reports, sweat beading on her brow as her eyes flitted rapidly over readouts, "The whole ship has gone into automated defense. People are having trouble traversing between sectors."
"We'll have to hope what personnel we have are resourceful enough to get there, then." Ramses said, eyes looking forward at the void, "The best we can do is keep the ship steady so they can do their job."
TZADKIEL - ACCESS CORRIDOR
The drones, fortunately, are plenty susceptible to the particular brands of destruction the group doles out. Kahm's grenade scrambles their targeting matrix as the sonic pitch overwhelms their tuned frequencies, causing shots to go astray. Elly's chain lightning passes through several drones at once, frying circuit boards and hampering motility long enough for twin streams of flame to sweep across them and reduce the drones to slag. Whatever mystery lay behind their sudden anti-Solarian programming is destroyed with them.
Kahm grunts a bit as Loren completes his work, knowing full well they don't have the kind of time for a lasting solution. It was okay-the pain faded from his chest, side, and body as that last healing patch worked it's technomagic, fueling another batch of standard drugs and painkillers into his bloodstream to allow unhampered movement and unclouded thought. Moment enough to wonder why Ribaldy seems to know the route so well and long enough to appreciate that, right now, it's an advantage. "We need the fastest route to the the engine room." He says, ducking into corridor with the rest of the group and leaving the chaos in the hangar behind them with a mechanical hiss.
Moments later, the adjoining wall to the whole burst open in a scream of wind and fury, stealing the air from Kahm's mouth before he could even shout a warning. A glimpse outside showed the same view the Commander crew were currently seeing in the helm, with a far deadlier process.
Kahm grabs an automated handrail on the other side of the wall and hooks a utility clip from his belt in for added measure, kicking off the ground the try and grab anyone who was about to fly into the void before the birdlime sealant did its job.
DG: Kahm Yugh has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Hull Breach.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
Elly doesn't seem to have any objections to Ribaldy's aid; she seems, if anything, abashed when he speaks to her. She feels like she ought to apologize to him somehow, but then Ribaldy busts out some improvised death flame spitter - she has less than no objections.
Is that a thing? Either way she exhales and presses forwards, staying low, avoiding putting herself up to where a long shot could hit her. She stays with the others. She has no better plan. She takes a deep breath--
The wall rips on its seams. Elly feels a subtle searing rip as her mouth opens and that spares her more than a survivable interior injury, staring with bugging-out eyes at the sudden rip into - into - into -
She keeps her mouth open, remembering drills. She slides out a leg, and the skidding, stuttering motion as she is drawn towards the void in a rippling and scenic storm of vented air and swirling red hair is stalled enough for her to grasp onto Kahm's arm. Some blood flashes to ice on her lips.
DG: Elhaym van Houten has used her Tool Sassy Boots toward her party's challenge, Hull Breach.
<Pose Tracker> Ribaldy has posed.
Ribaldy, immediately: "We'll be comin' up on a laundry tube that has a little hatch you can pop open that kinda opens up into, uhhhhh... substructure? And it's a little tricky but you can get into a vent from there that's like a straight shot to a lounge the engine rooms guys use." Beat. "I READ. ON A... BLUEPRINT?"
Beat. Ribaldy keeps trotting along, nervously not meeting anyone's eyes.
"I mean it's not like I take anything. ...withoutputtingitback."
Trot.
"Like most of this stuff isn't even in the books Myyah has that she lets me read. I don't really get any of it but like I see some of the stuff in ARM salvage sometimes and do you hear a creaking noiiEEEEE"
His yammering is cut off by the horrific tear, Ribaldy's fluffy tail pulling inexorably toward vacuum as his ears stiffen in surprise. His fur helps keep the sudden cold away, though frost is gathering at the tips. The Beastman quickly grabs at that grappling hook again, pulling out a length and passing it back to Loren, the nearest person to him, gesturing on as he drops to all fours and starts barrelling forward, ears pressing against his skull, thankful for the little protection his eyeshield is affording him.
DG: Ribaldy has used his Tool Red River toward his party's challenge, Hull Breach.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
They're probably all going to die.
It's a grim premonition that Loren doesn't voice aloud, focusing on the task at hand. ...The Major's been up about as long, if not longer than he has. He was already wounded back in Krosse, and he knows Kahm didn't get additional care between the assorted missions.
And he saw him get shot.
"That should do it. It should hold for now." But he pauses, stress and exhaustion prompting him to state what he never would otherwise dare to outright say. His voice is low when he murmurs to Kahm: "...Don't push yourself, Major. You're not in good condition."
Even to a superior officer, though, can he really conscience having a hand in this?
Nevertheless, they move, once the drones are cleared out of the way.
Ribaldy, Loren thinks in passing as the beastman darts down the hallway, knows where he's going a little too well.
Make that far too well.
Maybe someone's been indulging him more than they should have. The LtC. leant the beastman... what?
They're all questions to ask another time, though.
Certainly not when the ship is apparently intent on coming apart around their ears. An oath -- in Solarian -- starts to slip Loren's lips as the wall rips on its seams.
Before even breath itself is stolen.
In the next second that beats its way out, his gaze turns towards the gaping rip as it starts to drag him towards it.
that's not space
what is that?
Instinct -- and training -- take over where the mind reels. He grabs for the opposite wall in search of a handhold--
--finds instead the length of the grappling hook that Ribadly offers over.
He inclines his head in a nod, possibly the closest that Ribaldy might get as a thank you, using it to anchor himself as he crosses the gap.
DG: Loren Voss has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Hull Breach.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =========================<* CHALLENGE - Hull Breach *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- A damaged portion of the Tzadkiel's hull suddenly tears open as you traverse up the main corridor, rapidly depressurizing the deck as air escapes to an uncertain and no doubt fatal destiny outside of the ship! Automate birdlime spheres immediately begin to patch the breach, but it would be a fool's errand to wait for them. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
============================<* Starfall - Round 3 *>============================ ===========================< Results - Hull Breach >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kahm Yugh 15 --(5)--> 20 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ribaldy 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Red River 3 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loren Voss 15 --(5)--> 20 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Sassy Boots 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kahm Yugh 45 --(20)--> 65 Pass Conditions: Stupify(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Kahm Yugh 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: Kahm Yugh has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =======================<* CHALLENGE - Locked Turbolift *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You have reached the ship's central turbolift, only to find it sealed and refusing to admit anyone inside. An inspection of the command plate will reveal that rampant power issues have caused the lift's security protocol to reset. You'll need hack your way past this one, or find some other way to access the lift! =Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Loren's warning hadn't gone without silent acknowledgment by Kahm. The Major knew he was in no condition for further....heroics, as some might turn them. But duty was duty-if push came to shove, his body would have to deal with it. Better than either of his subordinates being risked more than necessary.
Of course, he doesn't tell Loren any of that.
Later, while clinging to the hand rail and hoping held, he'd like to tell Loren to grab a hold of him, but it's a bit hard to do when there's no medium to carry that sound. It's just Kahm and Elly then while the unknown outside attempts to suck them into it's fatal embrace, the Major using every ounce of strength and willed ether he can muster to pull the Lieutenant closer. His grip is like iron, and Elly can see the strain written painfully on his face as veins bulge at his temples and sweat freezed on his brow.
Suddenly, it stops. The last of the sealant takes hold, and everyone suddenly drops to the floor as local gravity re-asserts itself. Kahm kind of hangs since he's still clipped to the railing, but a moment's fumbling corrects that and the Major is soon on his feet, gratefully drawing breath.
"Considering the state of the ship, i'm a little reluctant to put us at risk by going into the ducts right now." He'll say, consider Ribaldy's suggestion, "And even more reluctant to split us up. The turbolift isn't far from here, we can use it to reach the engine bay directly."
Moments later, in front of an unyielding turbolift door, Kahm smacked the wall with his hand and cursed loudly in Solarian. The red-tinged alarms on all levels of the ship seemed to indicate the growing urgency of time.
"Okay, one second..." The Major said, flipping out his field handbook and flipping to the backpages, "Here are some directions on how to gain root access to the system. From there, it's your show."
'Your' referring to Loren, whom Kahm shoved the book at with an encouraging nod.
DG: Kahm Yugh has used his Tool Field Handbook toward his party's challenge, Locked Turbolift.
<Pose Tracker> Ribaldy has posed.
As the world reasserts itself, Ribaldy helpfully announces, "THAT SUCKED." He retracts his hard nails from the floor, fluffs out his tail, and shakes frost off of his fur, warming himself up with the sharp motion, starting from his head and reverberating back until his whole body ripples like a drill. It's bestial, undignified, and extremely relaxing.
He heaves back upright and responds to Kahm, "Yeah, that's fair." His ears droop. He really wanted to go into the substructure. But now they have a little downtime. He scratches at his head as they head toward the turbolift, slowly, hesitantly dropping back toward Elly.
"Hey," he says in greeting like a brick into a punchbowl. Ribaldy glances around. "Kent's, like... still... real mad." He then raises his hands. "I mean. I don't mean, like, whoops, why'd you make him so mad, like, I get it. Well, I don't get it, actually, which is kind of how I get it? Like I don't really get a whole lot of what was going on to begin with because it was a lot of speeches and I listen to a speech for a while and then I start thinking about building stuff, or girls, o-- I mean other girls! I don't stand around thinking about you or anything! That'd be weird, right? Ha ha ha! Yeah that'd be weird."
You're doing great, Ribaldy.
"Anyway I just wanted to say like I don't, like, want to shoot you a lot or anything. I mean if Kent were here I'd probably have to start shooting you but when it's just us, like, I can be, like... I can be cool."
"Super... super cool."
There's a turbolift. Ribaldy tries not to look like he's craning his neck to look at the directions. "Hey do you need tools? I've always got some tools. Like, ARMs Meister tools so there's some precise stuff I mean you've probably got better what with how you have a big ship and laser guns but maybe you don't have them like on you right now?"
DG: Ribaldy has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Locked Turbolift.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
Sealant takes hold. Air returns. Elly lets out a rasping, shuddering tubercular cough complete with some blood spots, but her grip on Kahm's arm eases. Miserably, she feels ungrateful, but she makes herself stand, walking herself up the wall with her hands. It would be pathetic if she had not just sucked vacuum by surprise.
Her voice is fry-laden and creaky as she says, "I think... th, that's wise. Sir, when we get to the engine bay..."
Elly looks at Ribaldy and her expression is one of hope. Now it's somewhat forlorn hope, granted - but he's an ARM meister, she thinks. She seems to recall that. She swallows coppery saliva and troops into --
No she doesn't. She stares at the door.
Elly coughs wetly into her hand again. Then she takes a deep breath and says to Kahm, "When we reach the drive, is there... something we ought to do? If the system's out of balance, I don't know quite what would... hah..." Another cough into her hand.
This one's on you guys, Loren! And Ribaldy.
She has nothing else to do here, while the magic happens. She tells Ribaldy, with pain that has nothing to do with him, "I understand, Mr. Ribaldy. I made a - bad decision - I appreciate your - um -" She trails off, partly for lack of vocabulary in -Lamb- immediately to hand and partly so he can help Loren pry the door open or what-have-you.
DG: Elhaym van Houten has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Locked Turbolift.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
It's possibly best, with tension running high for the medic -- already far too long without anything resembling a proper night's rest, without the space for any sort of recovery (physical or otherwise) from the barrage of urgent assignments -- that Kahm doesn't voice the statement in his heart.
As it is, Loren has his doubts that his advice will be listened to. Frustration seethes, a counterweight to the stress and exhaustion both that dog him.
How many times will I have to watch you almost die?
Though subsequent events might prompt the medical officer to focus on his own troubles, as the gap in the side of the ship seems fit to drag him out into the void. His grip on the rope slips and he slides towards the rift--
The sealant cakes over the gap. Loren hits and bounces off what is now a solid wall, then gasps, coughing hoarsely as air returns. He waves a hand as if to indicate that he's fine.
Comparatively, he is.
In any case, they review their options. "If the security's as bad in there as it is out here... It's probably a bad idea to try the ducts." He ducks his head in a short nod. "Right. Let's try the lift." It's not far--
It is, however, also refusing to open, as they discover moments later.
He takes a glance at the console next to the door. "The security system must have reset. We'll need the override code to bypass it. Er--"
This is the moment when Kahm shoves the guidebook into his hand.
Which is followed by the readjustment of his glasses -- a fleeting attempt to pick up on anything that might be missed here -- and an even more hurried review of the pages... and the console itself.
"Why, do you have something? We might need to take the console apart if this fails. There's a mechanical override." His eyes narrow as he advances on the console, glancing between pages in the guide and it as he works. "...I hope you didn't know about that one already, either," he mutters, gaze darkening.
Okay, if he knows the idiots in engineering, they're probably using a basic algorithm to generate the codes... or they just picked something incredibly stupid.
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Etheric Lenses toward his party's challenge, Locked Turbolift.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =======================<* CHALLENGE - Locked Turbolift *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You have reached the ship's central turbolift, only to find it sealed and refusing to admit anyone inside. An inspection of the command plate will reveal that rampant power issues have caused the lift's security protocol to reset. You'll need hack your way past this one, or find some other way to access the lift! =Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
============================<* Starfall - Round 4 *>============================ =========================< Results - Locked Turbolift >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kahm Yugh 20 --(10)--> 30 Fail Field Handbook 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ribaldy 15 --(10)--> 25 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loren Voss 20 --(5)--> 25 Pass Etheric Lenses 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 15 --(5)--> 20 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kahm Yugh 65 --(20)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Stupify(1)|Tire(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Kahm Yugh 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: Kahm Yugh has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =========================<* CHALLENGE - Shields Up! *>========================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The Tzadkiel has a critical problem: The reactor core is approaching critical mass, but the technicians can't enter the engine room to restore order because the ship's automated system believe it to be under attack, and has raised an energized forcefield over the entrance! There is no time for an elegant solution here - use your strongest attacks to punch through the shields and get the team inside before the whole thing blows! =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
While they wait for Loren to work his magic, there's a bit of time to discuss other matters. Kahm doesn't comment on the matter of Elly's position with the Black Ties-the matter was closed for now as far as he was concerned. Speculating on just what they're supposed to do when they reach the engine room, however, is worth considering. "I'm not sure myself what the objective would be. But I imagine the Commander wouldn't have requested all hands unless he believed there was something we could do down there. It could be those drones we encountered in the hangar are keeping the crew from getting close, or there's debris they need help clearing out. I suspect we'll need to see what the situation is and work at a solution from there....but it has to be important. The ship shouldn't be subject to stresses like this. If something goes wrong with the gravity engine, we'll fall right out of the sky or...wherever it is we are right now."
In many respects it was an unthinkable scenario plied on top of other, previously unthinkable scenarios. That the Tzadkiel itself could be dealt such a crippled blow by enemy machinations was...frustrating, to sat the least. Kahm's frown only increased as the idle time allowed his mind to add up things that painted a less and less pretty picture of their predicament.
Meanwhile, Loren is able to make headway. The instructions in Kahm's handbook turn out to be for a slightly different version of the OS (Oops), but with one of Ribaldy's smaller tools he'll be able exploit a hardware design flaw and gain root access all the same. From there it's a relatively simple exercise in guessing exactly what kind of IT-aggravating unsecure passcode engineering set things too, and the the turbolift door slides open with a pleasant chime.
"Good work." Kahm said, clapping Loren on the shoulder on his way in. The ride down would be relatively smooth and fast as the lift shot past multiple decks to finally hone in on the one they needed. It's just enough time for more conversation, if anyone wants to have it.
Once they emerge, however, the issue becomes relatively clear. Criticality warnings are ablaze in the engine room, but the emergency crews can't get pass the forcefield. What needs to happen seems rather obvious to Kahm. "That forcefield is top-grade, but the power fluctuations the ship has been experiencing may help us here. Focus all your attacks on a single point, and sustain it fails, or we do."
Kahm began by tossing a sonic grenade at a particular point in the field and then striking it with etheric bolt of lightning, detonating it as a more conventional explosive rather than a tool of sonic oppression.
DG: Kahm Yugh has used his Tool Sonic Grenade toward his party's challenge, Shields Up!.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
Drones, Elly thinks. That, she can deal with. Debris... she can make it run and flow. It might make a huge mess of the corridor, to reach out with Earth in such a way, but, Elly thinks, 'need must when the devil drives.'
Where are they right now?
Elly swallows again. As the lift opens and they move forwards, Elly sags against the back of the lift and fishes in her survival kit. She takes something out and, with all the casualness of someone having a shot of liquor, stabs a thin needle into the inside of her arm - which might concern Loren briefly, but, no, it's a Rosesol distillate.
After this she straightens up. There are still the periodic coughs, but she's not collapsing. Ding!
Criticality warnings.
Something about those warnings... alarms... the sense of something being breached, terminally wounded, the carefully webbed creations of machine and software being torn asunder by something implacable... Elly shakes her head, takes a deep breath (winces a little) and raises both hands.
How dramatic! Her fingers even curl and twist and -
That cube appears. The same technique she's unleashed on Siegfried several times. A blow that can at least leave a mark on a Quarter Knight. The tiny cube is not as tiny as it usually is - Elly trembles a little as a space the size of a beer can contracts inwards, jiggling its position slightly. The weavery is slippery here. At least with its incinerating plasmic glow, helpfully highlighted by lightning, it's easy to see where to aim!
I wonder how bad it is in there.
We could all die...
"Ahuh," Elly vocalizes, swallows, and mutters, "Sorry," even as the Thermo Cube manages to tighten up another cubic centimeter or so.
DG: Elhaym van Houten has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shields Up!.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
The fact that they're pulling all able-bodied crew in at all doesn't... bode well at all, Loren thinks, as he works to gain access to the OS. If it was an engineering issue, engineering should be able to handle it. If it were the malfunctioning security system, there should be armed crew on hand to take care of the problem.
So it suggests, as Kahm says, that nothing exists in sufficient capacity to handle the problem.
And it occurs to him that he has no idea what sort of damage the Tzadkiel has taken, let alone where they're currently located. One problem after another...
And barely any time to get a breath in edgewise.
...Did they change the OS? The instructions here aren't quite... accurate.
In a fleeting moment of tact, Loren doesn't mention this, instead extrapolating what's needed - and with the help of a particularly fine (surprising, that) tool, gaining access to the system. At which point, a few stabs in the dark style guessing later:
There's a pleasing chime. ACCESS GRANTED. OPENING LIFT DOORS.
The look in Loren's eyes is a dark one, however. "I can't believe it..." he mutters.
I'm going to literally kill them for setting that as the password. And after I went to the trouble of guessing something more complicated, runs the thought, before Kahm claps him on the shoulder and with a couple words of praise abruptly nips that one in the bud.
It's into the lift after that, and down.
It's really only interrupted by a brief, concerned, sidelong glance at Elly.
...But that didn't look like a Drive injector.
Relief: very slight, honestly.
Then gone altogether by the time they reach the engine room.
He accepted it: he was never going home again. He was going to die on duty. It was fine.
But there's still that fine spiderwebbing chill that settles over him as he stares ahead at the shielding.
Idiot. Idiot, you're going to die, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to give up.
Reaching into his kit, he extracts a set of Rosesol, handing them off as needed before using one himself. "You might need this."
Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes, channeling every inch of the stressors and pressures found deep within the planet's crust and layering that onto the lot of them: a little extra strength behind the push to come.
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Solarian Medical Kit toward his party's challenge, Shields Up!.
<Pose Tracker> Ribaldy has posed.
To dig his tools out, Ribaldy got to show off the part of his flamethrower shield gauntlet thing he's most proud of - the business piece ratchets up to sit over his upper arm, freeing a hand in a fingerless leather glove to open up his crude toolkit.
His tools are well-worn and well-cared for even if they are just secured in rough fabric stitched to leather by loops of string. Some -Lambs- know the value of things at least.
"Well if it's engineering I can... kinda help. I haven't gone in there, honest, but if someone can yell stuff at me I'll at least know a little bit of what I'm doing from stuff I've read." He also has the advantage of having been taking apart a hot plate while everyone else was in a horrible battle and being tough and hardy besides. "Basically I can at least swing a wrench, you know? I promise I'll try really hard not to learn anything."
And now you know that when Ribaldy lies, his muzzle opens in a wide grin afterward, as if attempting to be disarming.
Another moment passes in the turbolift, a brief moment of silence. Ribaldy seems to be the enemy of silence. "Boy. I hope everyone's alright. The other guys were doing somethin' down there but didn't really need me around for it. Probably trying to be quiet. I kind of have a hard time with quiet, like, I get noticed really easily for some reason. My mom always told me that-"
The turbolift opens to blessed chaos. Ribaldy's ears wilt for a moment, but perk as Kahm takes charge and outlines some action. "OK. Watch your heads up front!" He clicks the ARM back down over his hand and pulls some hammered scrap from the same bag he kept his tool pouch in, fitting it over the flamethrower's nozzles. It has little holes for the pilot lights and terminates in a single longer barrel. "Haven't actually tried this thing in the field yet. This is kind of exciting! I usually don't get to do stuff like this!"
Kahm grits under the pressure of responsibility. Loren accepts the end of his life. Elly distractedly thinks about complete annihilation.
"We have fun!" Ribaldy says, beaming. "Like aside from all the terror, I mean." He clenches his fist and flame erupts out in a narrow, violent jet at the shield, bright and painful to look at. Tiny flames poke out through imperfections in the scrap nozzle. The whole thing is starting to glow red hot - hopefully it can last long enough.
DG: Ribaldy has used his Tool Molotov Cocktail toward his party's challenge, Shields Up!.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =========================<* CHALLENGE - Shields Up! *>========================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The Tzadkiel has a critical problem: The reactor core is approaching critical mass, but the technicians can't enter the engine room to restore order because the ship's automated system believe it to be under attack, and has raised an energized forcefield over the entrance! There is no time for an elegant solution here - use your strongest attacks to punch through the shields and get the team inside before the whole thing blows! =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
============================<* Starfall - Round 5 *>============================ ===========================< Results - Shields Up! >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kahm Yugh 30 --(5)--> 35 Pass Sonic Grenade 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ribaldy 25 --(5)--> 30 Pass Molotov Cocktail 2 Combat Effects: Rally and Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loren Voss 25 --(5)--> 30 Pass Solarian Medical Kit 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 20 --(5)--> 25 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kahm Yugh 85 --(0)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Kahm Yugh has passed this challenge! The party gained 0 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Kahm Yugh has drawn a new Challenge.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =======================<* CHALLENGE - Brace For Impact *>======================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You report to the bridge in time to see an unfamiliar, verdant landscape roll out before you through a darkened sky. Navigation systems are somehow useless, and despite best efforts of the crew the keep the Tzadkiel from exploding, the ship has bled enough fuel and damage to flight systems that a crash-landing seems unavoidable. If anyone has any smart ideas, now is the time. =Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm's grenades create a small indentation in the field, which is further warped by Elly's thermo cube, straining and yielding the tiniest, pinprick of a hole is yielded. Loren's earthen force expands the breach, further destabilizing the field until Ribaldy's experimental weapon tears through the remain in a brilliant spark of heat and and accelerated gas, prompting the entire field to shudder and flicker out under the group's combined assault.
And not a moment to soon. The emergency crew is only too glad to get inside and get to work, though one of them blanches visible when they catch site of Ribaldy. "What the hell is that doing here?!" He asks, pointing accusingly at the beastman.
"He's here to help, and we aren't in much of a position to refuse him." Kahm says, nodding Ribaldy forwards, "He does have a degree of clearance. I'll take responsibility for anything else, but he'll stick to helping with non-critical tasks."
Kahm places very specific emphasis on those last syllables, but Ribaldy is free to go in and provide assistance where he can. The engine room of the Tzadkiel is technological marvel unlike anything previous glimpse on Filgaia, and the techs work diligently against the clock to restore it to stable, non-critical environment. It's a tense few moments, but the alarms eventually fade to a clean, normal hue of pale white. Everyone wipes some collective sweat from their brow as the shudders in the ship began to level out.
"Major Yugh, Lieutenant Van Houten, Lieutenant Voss and....miscellaneous personnel." The female voice from earlier chimed in on the PA, "Your presence is requested in the bridge."
One short turbolift ride late, Kahm emerges with the rest onto the bridge in time to see that unfamiliar landscape spread across the land. He's at something of a loss for words until the commander himself speaks from his seat.
"If anyone knew something about this, I thought it might be all of you." He says patiently. "What the hell happened down there?"
For lack of antything else, the Major consulted his handbook again. "...Sir, standard field etiquette suggests we should try to ditch in a reasonably remote location, to minimize chances of discovery."
DG: Kahm Yugh has used his Tool Field Handbook toward his party's challenge, Brace For Impact.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
When the field gives way, Elly almost keels over. Almost! It's a near thing, but she knows perhaps she can expect little aid - she sways, she puts her shoulder against the wall, and she downs the second Rosesol of the day with the thirst of a vampire fresh from the sun-baked deserts.
The headache is coming up on her now. Even so, that mute determination keeps going. She has someone who she hopes survived. Can he have possibly lived through something like that? Elly can't say. All she can do is trust -
"Ah," she says to Ribaldy, almost mumbling, lips wet with blood. "If your weapon needs cooling, I, I think t'd be a bad idea right now but I could, ah, a col-" Don't say collar, she tells herself. "A jacket, of ice, and it could, I mean, it might -"
She looks dully at the emergency crew, and though she will hate it later, she does not speak in Ribaldy's defense. She sags against a wall instead, awaiting death quietly. When it does not come, she seems awkwardly surprised, perhaps almost and obscurely disappointed. But up she goes, slightly improved for the period of inactivity.
Into the turbolift. In the turbolift Elly provides little beyond a weak smile, possibly at thin air. And another cough and a hand at her side. The air doesn't smell like home, any more, she thinks with obscurity.
The door opens.
There's the commander, glorious and crisp despite the signs of stress. She feels dirty, sweaty, ugly, wretched, ragged, meek. She looks at him meekly, and her back straightens and she sketches a salute.
Her eyes turn towards the screen.
An unfamiliar landscape, rising to meet them.
The screaming fatigue inside of her head comes to a peak. Three activations of that system that strains the mightiest to save the surface-dweller -Lambs-. Three acts of heroism. A hasty run, a terrifying retreat, a battle against an unthinkably massive entity supporting an unknown reserve of that terrifying and all-too-novel violet force of Malevolence. And now they're going to crash.
As Kahm digs in his guidebook Elly starts to hyperventilate, her fingers running up and through her hair as she stares straight ahead of her. Her features start contorting. In mere moments she is going to scream until her lungs finish bursting and her entire body turns inside-out.
Or so she feels. She strains against it but it's like wrestling the wind, like fighting the tide with a sword. Names fall away, words, thoughts, concepts.
DG: Elhaym van Houten has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Brace For Impact.
<Pose Tracker> Ribaldy has posed.
Right after the shield gives way, the scrap nozzle sloughs off, bits of weaker metals sagging in. Ribaldy stomps down on it to put out any lingering fires inside of it as they progress.
In a weird way, Ribaldy is almost relieved to hear the 'that' and know that they probably mean 'Lamb' and not necessarily 'giant dog'. He's had to put up with the latter many times over his life and has become rather resigned. At least he knows there's a bunny girl that runs around here. A pink bunny girl with a sunny personality and great smile and--
Ribaldy ratchets his unnamed ARM back up and slaps his face with both hands, shouting, "Focus!" to himself. He narrows his eyes and clenches his fists, muscles bulging, presenting something a little more like the Solarians here might expect - a pair of strong, brutish arms as opposed to an ARMs Meister here to leech off their technological advancement.
And in truth, the engine room is way over his head. He expected more combustibles, not... whatever's going on in here. He holds things, moves parts around, wrenches things free. In the end, black oil is blending in with his brown fur and his vest is basically ruined, but as a Suit he can ironically get away with wearing cheap clothes.
Later...
"Ooh, is that me? I'm usually extremely cellaneous, so this is a fun change." The crisis is still not really getting to him, and he's used to working up a 'sweat', panting with his tongue lolling out whenever he isn't immediately doing something.
He eyes Elly with concerned eyes as they go down the turbolift. "Oh, uh," he starts, to try and soothe her: "It's fine, that thing's supposed to be, like... disposable." He gives her shoulder a squeeze. "You really oughta just take it easy since I'm pretty sure we're not going to die anymore." He can't really do anything for Elly, so, in a burst of cowardice, he stops paying attention, missing the building tide.
Of course, he can't miss what he sees outside of the bridge.
Ribaldy looks for a moment. His head cocks to the side.
Nope. Don't process it. Deal with it later. You're good at looking past stuff.
He walks forward, squinting out at the planet, and lamely tries to help: "Is the, uh... hull integrity... good? Is that number high enough to kind of... go for a landing in..." He rubs the side of his face. "What do you call it when a lot of trees are all together?"
DG: Ribaldy has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Brace For Impact.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Dimly, at the edges of his awareness as he, will largely subsumed in the task at hand, he's aware of the device that the beastman brandishes at the barrier.
This is exactly why Lambs are dangerous, is what he doesn't so much think -- there's no room for it -- as acknowledge for the fact it is, to him.
He releases his focus with a sharp-edged breath, shoulders sagging. That took more out of him than it should have, even with the booster in the form of the Rosesol. That's not good. Sidelong, he glances at Elly. ...Is she still holding strong?
Such darker emotions ebb briefly, then subside altogether. After all, even the golden girl sways on her feet for a moment.
The crew rushes in towards the engine room soon ater. "It's a long story," he mutters, half to himself, half as a response to the question at hand. He sets his jaw soon after -- he should have kept that to himself, he thinks, shaking off the sudden muzziness that settles over him. The pills must be wearing off...
Even stress has its limits. He stares a touch blankly towards the engine before them, able to feel nothing but a sort of numbness as potential death lurks.
It'll be quick, he decides.
But the alarms fade. The ungainly pitching of the ship is settling out. Perhaps something akin to order is being restored.
...He spoke too soon. A wordless glance spans between him and his fellow Solarians (and Ribaldy) before he makes his way over to the lift.
Even he, for all his best efforts, at best manages a passable salute as they arrive on deck...
Just in time to see an image of the ground racing to greet them in a loving embrace.
Oh.
Yeah. This is how it'll go.
He reaches up and slips off his glasses, tucking them away into a case and slipping that into his bag.
"...Brace positions are advised, sir. The front of the ship is likely to sustain major damage..."
Who's that talking?
Oh. It's himself.
"If any divertable power remains, activating shields is recommended."
It's the Commander. He's talking like this in front of the Commander, as if he knows anything. Shut up, shut up, just shut up and accept the final moments in silence--
And slowly, slowly, his attention ratchets over to Elly, a few last words dying on his lips.
That's probably bad.
So it is, as the ship plummets for Lunar's surface, that Loren advances on Elly with a tranq from an oblique angle and... does what he must.
DG: Loren Voss has used his Tool Etheric Lenses toward his party's challenge, Brace For Impact.
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =======================<* CHALLENGE - Brace For Impact *>======================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You report to the bridge in time to see an unfamiliar, verdant landscape roll out before you through a darkened sky. Navigation systems are somehow useless, and despite best efforts of the crew the keep the Tzadkiel from exploding, the ship has bled enough fuel and damage to flight systems that a crash-landing seems unavoidable. If anyone has any smart ideas, now is the time. =Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
============================<* Starfall - Round 6 *>============================ =========================< Results - Brace For Impact >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kahm Yugh 35 --(10)--> 45 Fail Field Handbook 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ribaldy 30 --(10)--> 40 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loren Voss 30 --(5)--> 35 Pass Etheric Lenses 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 25 --(10)--> 35 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kahm Yugh 85 --(35)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Secret(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Kahm Yugh has successfully explored Starfall!
=================================<* Starfall *>================================= =================<* CHALLENGE - Strangers in a Strange Land *>================== |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The Tzadkiel manages a controlled crash landing, impacting the ground with as much skill as can be managed in such an unprecedented situation. The experience is by no means gentle as the ship tears through foliage and and undergrowth for half a kilometre before finally coming to a rest, leaving black trail of smoke and burnt forestry in it's wake. Power stabilizes throughout the ship, and crewmembers begin to get their bearings. The way is clear to exit the ship and get a bead of on your surroundings, but it becomes clear from an initial scan of the area that you are in unfamiliar environment with no known topographical similarity to Ignas. More than anything, however, it is a look up at the open night sky. The stars are -not right-. And why does the moon...not look like the moon...? =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
LUNAR - ROLANCE REGION
The night sky over Rolance lit up with an unusual visitor as the Tzadkiel streaked over farmland and keeps, limned by a faint aurora as it screamed across the skyscape towards an unbidden destination. Smallfolk made prayers of safety while learned men consulted their charts and astrology. At the moment, no one knew what to make of what the saw.
TZADKIEL - BRIDGE
The Commander listens to each word of advice in turn (Or lack thereof, with Elly) with poise and reserve, appearing to dwell deeply on them. "If all you can do is tell me what I already know, then we're really in a bad spot." He said, though his tone was not particularly admonishing.
"My apologies, sir." Kahm snapped a quick salute, though it seemed unnecessary as the Commander immediately launched himself into actions.
"Bring all power to forward shields. We'll use the foliage coming up as our landing are. It'll be a rough go of it, but the hull is nothing to sneeze at." Ramses said, crisp eye briefly flitting towards Ribaldy, "She'll hold."
The operating crew immediately makes the commands reality, and one can feel the slight pitch of the ship as it careened towards an inevitable meeting with the Earth. Kahm met Elly with a hazardous eye until he saw Loren moving into action and nodded-that was probably the best move right now. Whatever the medic had done on him was beginning to wear off as well, and the Major felt the accumulated fatigue from countless rapid deployments (and the associated injuries) re-assert themselves up his body as he took up bracing position.
The ground rose up, and then a great *CRASH* shook the entire hull of the ship as it struck the earth, plowing a deep gouge into the soil as enormous trees broke initially upon it's shields, then it's hull once those had failed. It was even worse than the trip between here and there-the whole world felt like it might as well shake apart as the ship briefly went airbound again in a bounce from it's own momentum, then crashing down again as it finally came to a screeching, halting stop.
All sorts of alarm begin anew as people came to their senses, but Kahm wasn't among them-the Major looked faintly up to confirm that all his charges were alive or close enough to it, then fell into unconsciousness as the wounds finally took them. When anyone checks him, they'd find the man was quite bad off-he needed full medical attention, fast.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Externally, Loren is worn thin but holds position as well as he can, eyes forward as suggestions finally trail on off.
Internally, on the other hand, he cringes. Yes, babbling like an idiot, runs the thought. That's exactly how you make a good showing. Admonishment from the Commander may not, strictly speaking, be at all needed.
Though with Elly's situation, he has other concerns soon at hand, namely, wrangling her into a seat and strapping her in.
She'll try again. Just wait for it.
But he also knows that if he lets her die here, her father will make him wish he'd died as well.
So it goes. Once she's secure he sets himself up.
Leans back. Closes his eyes.
If it's going to happen, let it happen.
Maybe it's the exhaustion. The stress, the repeated engagements. Staring into the eyes of death, again and again.
But the thing that he'll later look back on the most about that final catastrophic descent is just how thoughly calm he was in those moments.
Or perhaps, pushed those last few inches over the edge into sheer blank numbness.
Either/or, perhaps.
But he's conscious when the ship meets the land below, conscious all through that last bouncing slide, still conscious when all is silent and still.
He's one of those still able to stand, in the end.
Others aren't.
"Major--!"
Rest won't be coming anytime soon for him.
<Pose Tracker> Ribaldy has posed.
When people open their eyes, Ribaldy is wedged in between two chairs, upside-down.
He has never been on a crashing ship before.
Isn't up on the protocol.