2018-06-09: It's The Little Things That Matter

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  • Log: It's The Little Things That Matter
  • Cast: Tethelle Cirdian, Talise Gianfair, Seraph Lanval, Layna Manydays
  • Where: East Nota
  • Date: June 9th, 2018
  • Summary: On a challenge, Tethelle brings the Fox Company to the Artificer's Workshop, to see what the fabled place may have in store for them...and there, they have a small, but grand, adventure.

===============================<* East Nota *>================================

Once two towns on opposite banks of a large river, East and West Nota are now a single city bound by a large bridge spanning both banks. Both halves of the city are laid out on sprawling terraces carved out of a large hill (some suggest by the Goddess herself). Stone stairs link the terraces to each other; the average Notan spends a good deal of her day climbing.

East Nota marks the border separating the heart of the Meribus continent from the more lawless lands to the east. It serves as a large commercial hub where residents of the eastlands can still experience a taste of what some would call civilization.

Althena's Guard maintains a significant detachment here, ostensibly to discourage banditry, but local rumours suggest the Goddess is preparing to extend her reach and call her recalcitrant children home.

DG: A party led by Tethelle Cirdian is now entering The Artificer's Workshop.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=========================
========================<* CHALLENGE - One Small Step *>========================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 The door relents to the merest push, but all that does is let the             
 Artificier's shrink ray fire freely. Now you're mere inches tall, and         
 several feet in the air. Well, you were several feet in the air. That number  
 is dwindling fast as you plummet towards the floor.                           
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

There may have been a drunken challenge involved.

The challenge was Tethelle's, or at least accepted by Tethelle. She decided to hit a bar to see if she could find rumours of ancient ruins, because it works on Filgaia, and she ended up in a drinking contest against people she didn't know and probably wouldn't have spoken much to had she been sober and unarmed.

She did not find clues to an ancient ruin. She did find information about a less ancient ruin that might have some interesting things inside. And she was pretty much dared to go in; since Tethelle fancies herself an adventurer, there was nothing to do but invite some people around and give it a good look.

"It's probably mostly empty by now," Tethelle says, "but that was true of many ruins on Filgaia and it never stopped me. And if we can find a secret door, of which I am sure there are some because it's an artificer's, maybe it won't be quite as empty in there."

She leans on the entrance door. This is fine. What is less fine is that it's barely even catched closed, which she didn't expect, and it opens immediately; she was preparing to force it. Which means she stumbles several steps inside before vanishing in a flash of light!

Well, 'vanishes'. She's merely a lot smaller than she was before when the light fades, and she's not the only one. "Hey, what happened?" she yelps, holding onto her sword (which, fortunately, shrunk with her). If anything it's proportionately smaller than usual because she tried to block with it.

DG: Tethelle Cirdian has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, One Small Step.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise is at her wit's end to figure out how the hell to get back to Filgaia. There's not much reason for her to stay on Lunar, really; everything here is just as she remembered it. Nice at first, but ultimately stifling, and she's just as useless here as she always was.

Ah well. At least this ruin might hold something, she figures. A couple of steps behind Tethelle, she blinks as her friend tumbles through the door and vanishes.

Talise gasps. "Tethelle!" she shouts as she starts forward.

There's another flash of light.

"--Oh. Oh, there you are, Tethelle," Talise says. "I wondered what happened to you."

She looks down. "Oh, and there's the ground."

Talise blinks. Then she looks up at Tethelle.

"Fuck," she says, before letting out a yelp and latching on to the nearest thing she can. In this case, Tethelle.

DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, One Small Step.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval was delighted to find a bar that was loose enough about its contents that they could be readily consumed. So he had his fill. He also had the fill of maybe up to seven or eight other people, maybe more. He had a lot.
        He wasn't in a great place to advise Tethelle against much of anything, but when does he do much of anything other than drink? He just seems content to mostly hang around and have fun and maybe sometimes douse things in water, but, he continues his streak of freeloading as he does.
        He's in such great spirits that he doesn't comprehend what just happened after that big flash of light as he goes into a free-fall belly flop with a joyful 'wheeeeeeeeeee!'
        He has no idea how much trouble they're all in. (How little trouble instead, maybe...?)

DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, One Small Step.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

If there's anyone who can sympathise with that story, it would probably be Tethelle's current traveling party. Layna could confirm, she'd done worse things as a result of a drinking challenge. Really, what was the point of drinking if you didn't go out and do something stupid because of it?

The outside of the Workshop, though...it doesn't look like much. Layna has a drink in her hand, she's been sipping at it for the past little while.

"I'm sure there's gotta be somethin' here, aye? Otherwise they wouldn'ta made such a big deal about it." She replies with a shrug. And that's when Tethelle leans on the door...accidentally pushing it open, and causing them all to be engulfed by a flash of light.

...A flash of light that sees them all rendered much, much, muuuch smaller than they were but a moment before.

All of them except for the drink that Layna was currently holding in her hand. Without Layna holding it anymore it falls to the ground and tips over, beginning to slowly pour out onto the floor.

At full size it might not be much...but with as small as they've become, it's like a veritable fountain of alcohol.

Maybe it'd cushion their fall, if they choose to land in it...or maybe there are other plans.

DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Quartermaster's Stash toward her party's challenge, One Small Step.
=========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=========================
========================<* CHALLENGE - One Small Step *>========================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 The door relents to the merest push, but all that does is let the             
 Artificier's shrink ray fire freely. Now you're mere inches tall, and         
 several feet in the air. Well, you were several feet in the air. That number  
 is dwindling fast as you plummet towards the floor.                           
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
====================<* The Artificer's Workshop - Round 1 *>====================
==========================< Results - One Small Step >==========================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tethelle Cirdian                    0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talise Gianfair                     0 --(15)--> 15                 Fail
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Layna Manydays                      0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Quartermaster's Stash               2   Agility Effects: Quicken              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Tethelle Cirdian            0 --(20)--> 20                 Pass
Conditions: Injure(2)
Effects: Quicken(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Tethelle Cirdian 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> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

"Talise, be careful!" Tethelle stumbles toward Talise, tugged slightly off-balance until she straightens up.

Tethelle somehow manages to land on her feet, though it's really only chance - she's pretty good at dropping from a height, she jumps at things often enough. She is, admittedly, not used to doing it with her perspective changing so quickly, nor with Talise hanging on, who was also hit by a shrink ray but not at the same time, so they don't end up the same size until both of them are done shrinking. It gets kind of awkward for a moment.

Also, she manages to land on her feet with a squelch in a river of alcohol. Her nose wrinkles. Even she's not going to drink it off the floor. "Is everybody all right?" she asks, dusting herself off as best she can and looking around. Tethelle is a short woman, but 'short' means five and a quarter feet, usually, not five and a quarter inches. Or less. Or more. Tethelle isn't good at judging the size of anything at this point.

"...what now?"

DG: Seraph Lanval has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=============================================
===========================================<* CHALLENGE - The Kitchen Sink *>===========================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 Dirty dishes, cups and plates float in dirty, stagnant water. Unpleasant      
 looking mould grows on some. A filthy dishrag hangs over a faucet.            
 Fortunately, there are enough things floating on the surface that one could   
 jump across to the other side. You don't want to fall in the water, though.   
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Compare and contrast the local water elemental spirit, Lanval, who continues to laugh up a storm as he does not seem to care about how dirty the floor is. "Wow, thish place looksh sho big inshide.... and it'sh full of beeeeeer!" He's in a happy place. "Tashtesh jusht like the Quartermashter'sh Shtash... mmmph. Might even be that... ha ha ha...! Wowwww... thish wash the besht trip eveeeeeerrrr!!"
        Oh, if only. Once they've gotten their bearings, there's a climb up a series of well-stacked books and a very sturdy length of string in which to climb up to what appears to be someone's kitchen counter. This same someone also should have been doing their dishes. They have not, in... approximately forever.
        Cups, plates, and dishes float in the dirtiest dishwater one could imagine for this side of Lunar, with stinky (but colorful) mold growing on some. A filthy dishrag hangs out to dry, lording over this forever put-off household chore.
        "Hhhhhheeeeeeyyyy," Lanval says as he crawls and rolls across the counter, so comprehensively drunk he can't even pretend to stand up, "thish place musht be fulla booze... I'mma race ya to it...!"
        Aaaaaaaaand Lanval just throws himself into the water. Normally, this sort of thing might be welcome. He's handy to have around because he provides so much clean water, and sometimes even just cleans it for them.
        The many-years-stagnant water does not brighten. A few bubbles rise up from the rancid sink water as a floating dish (that might make a nice raft) happens by within jumping distance for the others.
        Lanval finally surfaces.
        "Thish ain't booze," he comments, sounding sobered by this discovery.

DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Bubble Pipe toward his party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise is somewhat less catlike than Tethelle, though she does land.

On her head. "I'm okay," she groans from where she's embedded up to the hips in the floor.

She pulls herself out with a great deal of effort. With a wince, she shakes herself off, pausing to check if she's bleeding. She's not.

Dusting herself off with a huff, Talise climbs up with the rest of the group. She boots herself over a handle with a grunt --

Only to gag and bury her face in the collar of her coat as she realizes how close they are to that pungent sink. "Oh, vile," she chokes out, turning ever so slightly green.

Lanval at least seems to like it. Talise stares at him.

Then she begins to move. Grimacing, she tries to keep from breathing too much of the stonk in as she jumps towards a plate, then towards the bottom of a teacup. She lands with a jingle of mail, then squints across the sink towards the next jump.

"I never was much for doing dishes," she confesses. "But that's me being a terrible organizer."

DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle is not wearing armour. It makes the drops a lot less heavy.

It also makes the climb a little easier, once it begins (she helps Talise out of the carpet first). "Well don't stop," Tethelle says, from just behind Talise. She adds, thoughtfully, "Or do, I suppose, but warn me first."

She pulls herself up a few moments behind Talise and immediately regrets it. She'd take a step backwards if there was room enough for her to do so without falling back off the ledge. "Nobody is much for doing dishes, that's why the new recruits have to do them," Tethelle says, accurately, because in Fox Company that's her. (At least sometimes.)

She makes a running leap, hits a sort of vaguely clean or at least less dirty teacup saucer (it's grubby, but not actively moldy), and surfs across it for some distance on sheer momentum. Her feathery skirt billows out before she lands, giving her the little extra lift she needed to get to it. "And I don't intend to do these. Except with a flamethrower. If I could cast a fire spell."

DG: Tethelle Cirdian has used her Tool Feather Cape toward her party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna drops pretty lightly. She's used to falling from high places, primarily because she's used to jumping from them to pose dramatically. Having wind magic probably also helps - she's been known to cheat like that.

With that done, though, she follows the party to their next destination, which involves following Lanval...who promptly hurls himself into an unpleasant looking sink, expecting it to be booze.

"I'll miss that lad. In some ways, he was the best of us." Layna says, shaking her head sadly. If she had a hat she'd remove it respectfully, but she doesn't...

...And besides, he bobs to the surface safely a moment later, making it a moot point. Layna shrugs.

"Nah, me either. I've got people for that, it wouldn't look good for me to be scrubbin' at the dishes, aye?" She comments with a chuckle as she begins to leap from stepping stone to bubble to stepping stone.

"I've...but I'd wager it'd take a lot more than what I got to take care of this mess." She comments, glancing to Tethelle.

DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Kitchen Sink.
=============================================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=============================================
===========================================<* CHALLENGE - The Kitchen Sink *>===========================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 Dirty dishes, cups and plates float in dirty, stagnant water. Unpleasant      
 looking mould grows on some. A filthy dishrag hangs over a faucet.            
 Fortunately, there are enough things floating on the surface that one could   
 jump across to the other side. You don't want to fall in the water, though.   
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
========================================<* The Artificer's Workshop - Round 2 *>========================================
=============================================< Results - The Kitchen Sink >=============================================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tethelle Cirdian                    5 --(8)--> 13                  Pass
Feather Cape                        2   Agility Effects: Quicken              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talise Gianfair                     15 --(8)--> 23                 Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Layna Manydays                      5 --(8)--> 13                  Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       5 --(8)--> 13                  Pass
Bubble Pipe                         3   Agility Effects: Rally                
-------------------------------------------------------< Party >--------------------------------------------------------
Leader: Tethelle Cirdian            20 --(20)--> 40                Pass
Conditions: Injure(1)|Tire(2)
Effects: Quicken(1)
===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: The party led by Tethelle Cirdian 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> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Owing to their lessened overall mass, the floating dishes and cups don't tip too much when everyone lands on it. Only the stench is harrowing. Thanks to expert timing, without the need to be fast as lightning, they don't even so much as get a droplet of the icky water (which would be more than a little bit frightening).
        The arguments about who would ever do the dishes may have to be settled with kung fu fighting, another time. Maybe it is a problem for another group, as they all make it to the other side of the sink. The rest of the counter is theirs to explore...!
        Lanval leaves the still water from within the confines of a soapy-looking bubble! He has a haunted, vacant look in his eyelids. Presumably, also in his eyes. But his eyes are fully closed. They somehow remain haunted and vacant.
        Now that it has been safely established that this entire place is not, in fact, made of free-flowing booze, they can get to the bottom of this.

DG: Talise Gianfair has drawn a new Challenge.
==========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>==========================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Rocking the Cradle *>=======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
 Five metallic spheres hang from a simple rig, via rope running though the     
 centre of each sphere. It's also on the edge of a bench, with a gap between   
 you and the next bench over. Lifting a sphere on one end and releasing it     
 causes it to launch the sphere on the opposite end with equal force. It       
 should be enough to get you over, if you can provide sufficient force on the  
 starting sphere.                                                              
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Yes, but Benedict's good at them," Talise points out with a look back at Tethelle, before huffing a little at the sight of her friend fwoofing along in that fwooshy cloak. She hangs back a bit to watch her from the rear.

Then she hops to the next floating platform. For once, a quickness challenge doesn't get the better of her, probably because she didn't wear her full armour.

Moving along, the group whisks its way along the countertop, towards the edge of it. A quick hop to the next table puts them on a bench.

As they near the apparatus at the edge of it, Talise frowns and moves forward to investigate. "What's this thing do," she murmurs as she gives the set of five spheres a look over. They're strung out in a rig between the two benches, staggered between them.

Talise frowns as she grips one of the spheres and pushes it a little. "Oh!" she exclaims as one of the other spheres begins to slide over to the group. "Okay, I think I see how this works. This sphere controls those ones at the other side. I think if we're able to jump on that one...." Pushing the sleeves of her coat back, Talise grips the sphere again and lets her gauntlets do the work.

She pulls on the starting sphere - and another sphere rockets effortlessly across the gap, waiting for someone to jump on.

DG: Talise Gianfair has used her Tool Ogre Power Gauntlets toward her party's challenge, Rocking the Cradle.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"It's okay, lad. There'll be more booze." Layna says, offering Lanval a reassuring pat on the back as they go along, before being stopped by what appears to be the end of the road.

Layna frowns and folds her arms in front of herself...but glances over to Talise, as she experiments with a device nearby. She raises an eyebrow at first...but when Talise voices her thoughts, she understands completely.

"Aye, good plan, lass." Layna says, sending Talise an approving grin. Talise puts the plan(and the spheres) into motion, and Layna leaps onto it, using the momentum to propel herself across...

...if she doesn't fall flat on her face, first.

"Lemme know if you need a boost from this side, aye?" She hollers.

DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rocking the Cradle.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval hasn't been filling the air with laughter of any stripe since he got out of the sink, so that bodes well for figuring out this weird thing with the metal spheres with one banging on one side launching the one at the very end.
        Somehow, he's already lounging about at the other end of the spheres. How he clings onto it and not just fall off and drop to the floor like he tends to is a mystery.
        "I've sheen a lotta people do dishesh over the yearsh... yep," Lanval comments, soberly, "Benedict shure ish good at it... wouldn't ashk anyone elshe to do 'em... ya won't find 'nother good dish washer after him fer... decadesh."
        ...Come to think of it, Lanval would probably be the best possible dishwasher on Lunar, wouldn't he? That's yet ANOTHER thing he's being a lazy slob about.
        On top of the whole 'lounging on top of one of the metal balls' thing.

DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Rocking the Cradle.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle Cirdian's fwooshy skirt is very helpful.

Tethelle walks some distance away from the stinky pool of disgusting water (it's worse than a swamp!) before she dusts herself off and lets herself ta ke a deep breath again. She would try to scrape her boots clean but she's pretty sure wiping them uon this will only make them worse. "Better you than me," Tethelle says to Layna. "I can't do anything to them except, I suppose, break them."

"It looks like it moves if you push it," Tethelle says, though she doesn't immediately see the point. Talise does. "Launch me across," Tethelle directs, as she hops onto one and lets Talise swing her across. Once she's on the other side - if indeed she makes it - she tries to catch and wrestle the ball, so they can manipulate it from both sides. It'll make it easier for Talise to get across herself, as well as Lanval - Tethelle figures he might need the help.

DG: Tethelle Cirdian has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rocking the Cradle.
==========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>==========================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Rocking the Cradle *>=======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
 Five metallic spheres hang from a simple rig, via rope running though the     
 centre of each sphere. It's also on the edge of a bench, with a gap between   
 you and the next bench over. Lifting a sphere on one end and releasing it     
 causes it to launch the sphere on the opposite end with equal force. It       
 should be enough to get you over, if you can provide sufficient force on the  
 starting sphere.                                                              
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
=====================<* The Artificer's Workshop - Round 3 *>=====================
=========================< Results - Rocking the Cradle >=========================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tethelle Cirdian                    13 --(18)--> 31                Pass
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talise Gianfair                     23 --(18)--> 41                Pass
Ogre Power Gauntlets                2   Brute   Effects: Strengthen           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Layna Manydays                      13 --(23)--> 36                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       13 --(23)--> 36                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------
Leader: Tethelle Cirdian            40 --(10)--> 50                Fail
Conditions: Tire(1)|Weaken(2)
Effects: Strengthen(1)
================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Tethelle Cirdian has failed this challenge! The party gained 10 exploration! If anyone needs to use
party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

It looked complicated at first! But it's really just shoving shit, and Talise can manage shoving shit. Tethelle makes it across just fine.

Layna and Lanval somewhat less so, largely because the string suspending their balls frays and snaps halfway through the process.

"Damn it all," Talise growls as she dives for the edge of the platform. Before the string can completely fall away, she manages to take ahold of it, holding the other end of the string between her knees to try and keep Lanval and Layna from falling into the abyss between the two benches.

"Please hurry and climb off before I lose my grip," Talise suggests mildly while clinging to the two ends of the string for dear life.

DG: Layna Manydays has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>========================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - The Marvelous Toy *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 It goes "zip" when it moves and "bop" when it stops and "whirr" when it       
 stands still. You're not quite sure just what it is but it's you it wants to  
 kill. Sure, it may be wondrous and colourful, and have two big green buttons  
 that look like eyes, but right now it's trying to run you down and needs to   
 be stopped.                                                                   
=Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous==============================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"...Well now." Layna says, as she finds herself plummeting downward before she can make it to the otherside. Fortunately, Talise makes a last second save, grabbing onto the end of the string before it falls completely away.

"Not a worry, lass. Thanks for the save!" Layna says. Ordinarily she would just do a wind-powered jump to get up...but Lanval's here. Chances are she's probably going to have to carry him.

Either way, it takes a little time but soon they're all in one place again...and that's when they hear it.

Zip.

A wondrous, colorful thing appears. It's hard to tell what it is, but several things are immediately clear. It's marvelous! It's a toy! It's out for blood!

Malice gleams in its big, round, green button eyes, and two whirling sawblades emerge from its form as it 'zips' for them, aiming to run them down.

"Whoa now! Looks like we've got company!" Layna says. She...honestly, it's hard to take this thing seriously, which obviously means it's going to be a problem. She leaps over it, and as she does so one of her bracers ignites. She punches downward, sending a shockwave of wind and fire directly at it.

DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Marvelous Toy.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

It takes Talise some effort to pull herself back up the rope after that. She's blushing intently. "No problem," she manages to answer.

Catching up quickly, she moves along with the others - but as something zips past, Talise gasps and jumps back. Her eyes grow wide as she stares at the remote-controlled...

...What is it? It's some kind of toy, but not one Talise has ever seen the likes of.

And it's popping saw blades out. "Well, that isn't good," Talise understates.

With a yelp, the swordswoman dives to one side, rolling away as the toy rips past her. The saw blade sticking out of it slices through her coat and carves away a chunk of the tail of it. It tumbles to the ground, leaving the coat ending roughly at Talise's waist.

Fortunately it doesn't cut her sword off. "Bastard thing," Talise growls as she whips Rastaban out and lashes with a couple of hard strokes, darting to the side and delivering another as she attempts to carve several holes through the buzzing toy's side.

DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Marvelous Toy.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle is pretty sure that she can maneuver this ball with one finger... at her normal size. Right now it takes both arms to swing it around to help people across.

She practically tosses it back when everyone is over; it hits with a click and starts up the cradle again, but it quickly swings to a stop as she turns away from it. They have places to go.

"So," she says. "Now that we're up here, why don't we look around for a way to turn back to normal? Or does it just wear off if you wait? I don't think I would be a fantastic swordswoman at..." She eyeballs the table and compares her size to it. "Inches," she eventually says, with a sigh. "I know I'm short, but please."

Though she might be about to test that. Something she doesn't recognize zips out at her and attempts to run the party down. Tethelle's reaction is to draw her sword - still smaller than usual owing to her attempt at blocking the shrinking ray with it - and assume a low posture, sweeping her blade diagonally upward as she dances to one side, trying to cut a long line across the passing toy. The glittering charm, now on her sword knot, glitters.

DG: Tethelle Cirdian has used her Tool Icon of Equites toward her party's challenge, The Marvelous Toy.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval does need to be carried, twice over, as to not drop off and let himself splash down to wherever deep in the abyss of this oversized locale. (He still doesn't get it.)
        "Thanksh. 'll be okaaaaay," he slurs and trails off as he rises about. Something strange on wheels - a carriage of some kind with no horses? Come to think of it he did run into a big one with people living inside of it lately, maybe he oughtta speak with them about it later - comes on by.
        He sways and spins to deftly avoid being run over or cut down (barely), stumbling about half-aware of his surroundings because he had that much of the Quartermaster's Non-Shrunken Stash. At some point, he falls face flat just as the marvelous toy looks ready to try and run him over head-on.
        A great splash of water emerges under where his own face impacts with the ground, threatening to engulf it or at least just make it wet.

DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Marvelous Toy.
========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>========================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - The Marvelous Toy *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 It goes "zip" when it moves and "bop" when it stops and "whirr" when it       
 stands still. You're not quite sure just what it is but it's you it wants to  
 kill. Sure, it may be wondrous and colourful, and have two big green buttons  
 that look like eyes, but right now it's trying to run you down and needs to   
 be stopped.                                                                   
=Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous==============================================
===================<* The Artificer's Workshop - Round 4 *>===================
=======================< Results - The Marvelous Toy >========================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tethelle Cirdian                    31 --(5)--> 36                 Pass
Icon of Equites                     1   Combat  Effects: Cleanse              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talise Gianfair                     41 --(5)--> 46                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Layna Manydays                      36 --(5)--> 41                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       36 --(5)--> 41                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Tethelle Cirdian            50 --(20)--> 70                Pass
Conditions: Overzealous(2)|Weaken(1)
Effects: Cleanse
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Tethelle Cirdian 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: Tethelle Cirdian has drawn a new Challenge.
=========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=========================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Through the Mouse Hole *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 A gap in the wall leads to a series of winding tunnels left by the mice that  
 inhabit this old house. The ways weren't designed for those without           
 whiskers, but with a little effort, you can make it through the paths, and    
 take some of the shortcuts through the workshop the mice made for             
 themselves.                                                                   
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Treasure========================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"No idea, lass!" Layna replies with a shrug as Tethelle asks whether or not it'll wear off on its own. "I think you're right on the money, there - we oughta look for somethin' to make us big again, aye? Seize our own fates, I say!"

But that was then, and now Layna's flying through the air. Her shockwave impacts it, causing it to bounce upward and toward Talise, who dives to one side at the last second. She takes advantage of the opening to cut several holes into it, including damaging a wheel.

This causes it to spin out with a 'whirr', it's flailing sawblades miraculously not coming into contact with Lanval each and every time as he stumbles about. But then, he collapses, and it seizes its chance, gunning right for him...

But with it's damaged wheels it can't drive properly through the puddle that emerges. With a 'bop' it tries to get itself under control, then with a 'zip' it heads for Tethelle...who waits for it.

It runs right past her as she dances to the side and slashes upward. It continues for a moment...

...and then 'bop's its last 'bop' as it falls away from itself, splitting into two pieces.

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Once they've dealt with the... whatever the machine is... by carving it into pieces, Tethelle returns her sword to her scabbard. It looks like she took bruises rather than an open wound; she's moving a little stiffly where the machine clipped her as it sped by but doesn't seem to be bleeding.

"It could have been worse," she says, working out the stiffness. "Let's look, then." She is only sort of worried about another one of those machines showing up... or two or three. She can't dodge all of them at once if they work together. "At least we know that the artifice is still working, beyond the magical beam."

Tethelle walks for a few feet (so, a while) before stopping. There's a little side entrance... well, she's pretty sure it's not supposed to be an entrance. Even on her it only comes up to her chest now. But... "This way. There can't be any machines like that in here, and where there's one of these, there will be more."

Tethelle ducks through the mousehole. It does not open up inside - rather the opposite, at places the party will have to crawl. But it is a shortcut, and the mice have stolen some shiny objects and taken them for themselves in there. Maybe something will be useful for exploration? Tethelle swipes a length of thread that seems like it would serve as a rope.

DG: Tethelle Cirdian has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Through the Mouse Hole.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"I've got to wonder who builds buzzsaws into a toy," Talise murmurs as they move on. She sheathes Rastaban along the way and hopes she won't need it again any time soon. Fighting while tiny makes her feel incredibly vulnerable.

She takes a look over Tethelle as if to make sure she's alright, but soon she's whisking after her, only to pause when they reach that little entrance. "Yeah, and I don't think they'll have much luck getting through that little hole," she concedes as she reaches into her pouch and comes up with a chocolate biscuit.

She offers one to Tethelle, then the rest of the group. But her real purpose is simpler: As she ducks into the hole, she's breaking off small pieces of biscuit and leaving them behind the group so they can backtrack if they get lost inside the wall.

Talise sneezes as she crawls past a giant dust bunny. "I miss being big," she grumbles.

DG: Talise Gianfair has used her Tool Chocolate Biscuits toward her party's challenge, Through the Mouse Hole.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

"Try not to think big thoughts while you're actually in the wall," Tethelle suggests.

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"I dunno. Busting through a wall sounds sort of fun," Talise quips as she crawls along behind Tethelle.

"Though maybe this isn't that bad."

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"The same person who'd have some kind of weird shrinking beam pointed at their own front door, I'd wager." Layna replies with a shrug toward Talise. They were past the point where they could assume that the Artificer was a...logical individual.

But, Tethelle has a point - they have another confirmation that some of the machines here still work, which means hope that there'll be a device in here to return them all to normal size. She even points out what is hopefully a convenient pathway!

Hopefully.

It's a small one, even for Tethelle who's the smallest of their group. Layna grimaces, and then shrugs.

"Better safe than sorry, aye...?" Layna says, and then ducks into it right after them.

With one hand she accepts one of the biscuits, and with the other she begins to reach for her telescope. It might not help much here, but it'll at least give her a way to look further ahead for signs of trouble.

After all, whatever made these holes might still be here...

DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Captain's Telescope toward her party's challenge, Through the Mouse Hole.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval lies sprawled out on the ground for a while as they all move towards the mousehole to consider their next route through what seems to be a crawl space for their size. Think of all the accumulated things in there. So tightly packed, so filled to the brim with...
        "Ha ha ha...!" Aaaaaand Lanval's back, following them again, while wearing the dumb novelty glasses with giant beer bottle lens on them as he happens along his own fork of these old chewed-up mouse tunnels.
        Lanval, for all the visual bulk to his manifested form, does not appear to be slowed by this overly much as he crams himself through the tiny mouse tunnels. Then again, he's a Seraph, and physicality seems to be a polite suggestion at best with the lot of them. Even with this caveat, the way his body just seems to twist and contort - like some kind of portly gymnast...!
        "What do ya mean yer not big, Talishe?" Lanval asks. "You shtill look the shame shize to meeee..."
        He entangles himself in some very shiny cloth which is now, suddenly, a perfect hammock for him to take five while he puts on that dopey cat-like smile. Which promptly detaches and sees him tumbling down another tunnel.

DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Amber Tinted Glasses toward his party's challenge, Through the Mouse Hole.
=========================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=========================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Through the Mouse Hole *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 A gap in the wall leads to a series of winding tunnels left by the mice that  
 inhabit this old house. The ways weren't designed for those without           
 whiskers, but with a little effort, you can make it through the paths, and    
 take some of the shortcuts through the workshop the mice made for             
 themselves.                                                                   
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Treasure========================================
====================<* The Artificer's Workshop - Round 5 *>====================
======================< Results - Through the Mouse Hole >======================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tethelle Cirdian                    36 --(10)--> 46                Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talise Gianfair                     46 --(5)--> 51                 Pass
Chocolate Biscuits                  1   Wits    Effects: Cleanse              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Layna Manydays                      41 --(5)--> 46                 Pass
Captain's Telescope                 3   Wits    Effects: Fanfare              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       41 --(5)--> 46                 Pass
Amber Tinted Glasses                3   Wits    Effects: Fanfare              
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Tethelle Cirdian            70 --(25)--> 95                Pass
Conditions: Overzealous(1)|Stupify(2)|Treasure(1)
Effects: Cleanse
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Tethelle Cirdian 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.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle Cirdian remains thinking small thoughts, regardless of what Talise said about walls.

And they even work! They work right up until the point that Tethelle tries to go straight and the ceiling drops lower. She ends up crawling to try to get through... and she still doesn't fit. "Ah, a little help," she says, sounding slightly muffled - she's managed to wedge herself in such a way that she is stuck, her back pressed hard up against the 'ceiling' and chest against the floor with the pommel and crossguard of her sword digging in a little lower down her back. It's not comfortable. She might be the shortest one of the group, but that doesn't mean she slips in everywhere like a mouse or a snake.

Fortunately, she can be pulled free by whoever is behind her by tugging, though with minor damage to her wardrobe; a rip down from the back of her collar from where it snagged on rough wood. Also fortunately, there is another route out into the open if you go back about five mini-paces and take a left. That one doesn't get quite so low.

DG: Seraph Lanval has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=============================================
==============================================<* CHALLENGE - Rattus Rex *>==============================================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 In the midst of a small group of rats is a very big rat, standing on its      
 hind legs, and holding a sceptre made out of match sticks. On the rat's head  
 is a crown, with some sort of device in it. If anything, it looks like the    
 crown was made around the device, crafted with tiny rat claws. The            
 Monarchical Rat taps the sceptre against its empty paw, then points it at     
 you. Letting out a chitter that inspires its followers, the battle begins.    
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        The group, sans someone who went low, find they're not out of the mouse tunnels just yet. The light of day they see is, instead, a whole bunch of collected shiny junk that has maintained its luster over the years. Some of it has been compiled together in a makeshift throne, from which sits...
        A rat. A rat whom taps a sceptre made out of match sticks. Fitting on its head is a fancy toy crown that has a bunch of weird things on it virtually none of them could identify as anything beyond 'a bunch of weird things,' with a bunch of scuffy rat claw marks around it.
        Rattus Rex, the Monarchical Rat, taps the scepter against its paw one more time before pointing it at them. A faint electrical pulse can be felt - not harmful, but present - and the rats lying in wait start to flood the space within the wall. Rats. Rats everywhere.
        Rats of perfectly ordinary size. (ROPOS?)
        Lanval's lounging on the back of one such attack rat whom crawls up from below, using that fancy piece of fabric he tried to make into a hammock earlier. He laughs it up and just waves the gourd around, and it is unclear if he's just celebrating being in the company of royalty or just having a lot of fun being on the back of something moving about so very fast. But maybe it's helping by accidentally(?) slapping a few passing rats upside the face?
        Time to see who rules this roost - mice? Or foxes?

DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Rattus Rex.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise crawls along behind Tethelle and does not think big thoughts. She has other things on her mind.

Like prying Tethelle out of the tight squeeze she's in. "Breathe in," she suggests as she reaches in to take ahold of Tethelle, beginning to shimmy her out of the tight squeeze.
        But there are more mouse tunnels ahead - including one full of treasures. And a rat.
        A king rat. Talise blinks a couple of times, then smiles crookedly. "Oh, that little crown is so cool."

Less cool is the flood of rats pouring into the walls. The swordswoman widens her eyes, then grunts as she draws Rastaban again, giving it a twirl.
        Rats begin to launch themselves forward, and Talise treats them rather meanly. Whirling into their ranks, she begins to cut them down as they approach. Then she lunges at the rat king himself.

"Sorry, but it's not gonna happen!" she shouts as she winds up to deliver a heavy slash aimed to...

...to knock off that crown.

What a jerk, Talise.

DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rattus Rex.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

As they're scrabbling through the mouse tunnels, they find what appears to be a kingdom of rats. Layna, at this point, has ceased to question things. This seems perfectly normal.

"Hey, listen, I was wondering if-" She starts, trying to explain the situation to the Rat Monarch...but he does not seem interested in discussion. Instead, he sics his minions on them. Layna sighs, and then shrugs.

"Alright, let's do this the fun way." She says.

Talise moves in to deal with the leader, while Layna instead decides to deal with his minions. She moves to grab one of the rats as it lunges at her...

...and then suplexes it into one of its buddies.

Hey, they started it.

DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rattus Rex.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

"Wouldn't breathing out be more useful?" Tethelle asks, still muffled, before she's pulled out.

There is no pop, but there feels like there should be one.

Slightly embarassed by getting stuck, Tethelle takes up a position further back in the group this time to avoid trying to squeeze past the entire crowd. So she can't see where they're going until they get there, and she wasn't expecting -

"Is that a machined rat?" she asks, confused. "No - just the crown is machined. Watch out!"

Tethelle does try to get forward, but there's more room in the rat room, if only because of all the rats in there (rats are obstacles, not barricades). Tethelle draws her sword and vaults on top of one of the rats, kicking past Layna's suplexing combo as she begins to carve a path through the room, slashing at whiskers and paws in a swirling, arcing path of destruction.

Tethelle only feels a little guilty. They're rats. Rats, unlike mice, are assholes.

DG: Tethelle Cirdian has used her Tool Icon of Equites toward her party's challenge, Rattus Rex.
=============================================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=============================================
==============================================<* CHALLENGE - Rattus Rex *>==============================================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 In the midst of a small group of rats is a very big rat, standing on its      
 hind legs, and holding a sceptre made out of match sticks. On the rat's head  
 is a crown, with some sort of device in it. If anything, it looks like the    
 crown was made around the device, crafted with tiny rat claws. The            
 Monarchical Rat taps the sceptre against its empty paw, then points it at     
 you. Letting out a chitter that inspires its followers, the battle begins.    
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
========================================<* The Artificer's Workshop - Round 6 *>========================================
================================================< Results - Rattus Rex >================================================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tethelle Cirdian                    46 --(5)--> 51                 Pass
Icon of Equites                     1   Combat  Effects: Cleanse              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talise Gianfair                     51 --(10)--> 61                Fail
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Layna Manydays                      46 --(5)--> 51                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       46 --(5)--> 51                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
-------------------------------------------------------< Party >--------------------------------------------------------
Leader: Tethelle Cirdian            95 --(25)--> 120               Pass
Conditions: Fright(2)
Effects: Cleanse
===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success!
DG: The party led by Tethelle Cirdian has successfully explored The Artificer's Workshop!
=============================================<* The Artificer's Workshop *>=============================================
=======================================<* CHALLENGE - The Artificers Notebooks *>=======================================
|Type: Discovery   |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 You find a number of notebooks, each filled with a plethora of notes,         
 presumably the writings of the Artificer of Moor Anys. One details how to     
 counteract the shrink rays effects. The notes are chaotic, outlining failed   
 experiment after failed experiment: A device to suck knowledge from the       
 brains of others; multiple attempts at a time machine; a device to swap the   
 brain of a human with the brain of an animal. Despite the long list of        
 failures, there are some gems in there, particularly on miniaturization       
 techniques, that could be of use to an artificer or other worker of magic     
 devices.                                                                      
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        The defensive effort against the Fox Company invasion commences in earnest - and it should be over before it begins, thanks to one key, focused tactic.
        Talise not only knocks the crown off - it bounces off another flailing rat and it ends up fitting snugly on her head. It's a fetching look for her, and in theory this should be the end of the problem... except for whatever techno-sorcery is in place somehow makes it incompatible with her mind. It is now broadcasting nonsensical directions that make the rats a bit more erratic to deal with, but at least ensures she gets some sweet-lookin' loot to keep once it's all taken care of.
        Taken care of, it does. Layna goes and suplexes one of the rats into the ground so hard that it cracks apart and reveals the daylight of the room... underneath? Whoa! They got up into the attic!
        Rats fall and collapse all around them as Tethelle wields her blade, swatting them aside with strength and skill imparted by her devotion to Equites as the floor starts to give out from under all of them. Soon, rubble and treasure all fall out. Down, down, down they go...
        ...onto a desk full of legible notebooks. Opening and turning pages will be something of a hassle, but they are insightful reads. Key among them, counteracting the shrink ray effects (apparently there are multiple colors of ray and one has to match to whatever color the flash was). Then it gets a little weird, talking about failed experiment after failed experiment.
        Transplanting knowledge and memories from one mind to another, swapping minds between entire species (human and rat is a common one), something about time machines (clocks??), etcetera, etcetera. Plenty of stuff about miniaturization as a whole, though - their sponsor would definitely find some good use for this information!
        Lanval's still lazing on a scrap of fabric on the table. "Why did they make thish place sho big, anyway? Mmmmm," he strokes his beard, "maybe they were makin' thingsh big here..."
        ...Oh well, never mind him.

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"...So does that make me the Rat Queen now?" Talise asks as she adjusts her new crown. She smiles sardonically.

The big heap of books, however, proves useful enough. Talise blanks out on some of the ones about mind transplants. She focuses on a couple of the key ones. "Okay, huh. This one looks like it'll re-biggen us," she says as she flips one of the pages, having to heft it and shove it because of her size. "Seems like it's mostly based on colours of the beam...."

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle Cirdian was not expecting the floor to give out.

She clings to her sword with one hand and grabs the back of her collar with the other to ensure that the rip on the back of her shirt doesn't get any worse than it already is (spoilers: it is not great). She tumbles, rolling once - fortunately, when you are very small and thus light, a fall is less scary than it is as a big person.

Tethelle does not land on a notebook. She lands in the inkwell. Fortunately, it has long since dried up, so the only effect is that when she stands up she is covered in black powdery grit. "Ugh!" She shakes her head, causing a small cloud of ink dust to fly from her hair.

She peeks over the edge of the inkwell. "Maybe I should stay in here and not track ink dust footprints all over until you are done reading," she says, squinting at the text from where she is.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Once again, Layna finds herself falling. It's a good thing that's one of the things she does best! A cushion of air prevents her fall from being anything to worrying about, and she'll do what she can to keep the others safe, too.

Once they're all safe and sound, though, she turns her attention to the books. She looks them over, frowning to herself.

"There're a lot of strange words in these books, aye? Can't rightly say I know half of 'em..." She comments, rubbing her chin. A lot of them seemed...made up, or maybe the person who wrote them was on another level entirely. Either way, she sends a nod toward Talise.

"Aye, good idea. Whatsay we get ourselves big again, and then worry 'bout the reading later?" She suggests. At least they knew where this table was.

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise pulls herself up until she's lounging on the book in front of her. She kicks a heel up and cups her chin in her palms before smiling archly up at Tethelle. "As much as I like you dirty sometimes, it'd definitely help to be able to read all this stuff through first," she agrees.

She rolls to one side to let Layna get a look too. "Yeah, most of the language seems like jibber-jabber, but the basic principles on this one seem sound. We need to get the laser to come out turquoise. That should reset it."

She checks the page again. "Either that or we'll get even bigger than normal, but hey, worth a shot, right."

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

"At this point I want a bath," Tethelle says, swinging herself up to sit on the edge of the inkwell without getting too much powdered crap on the desk. "Then we can talk."

She pauses. "And not in the sink."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval has since ambled in front of the shrink ray. He seems confused (and/or amused) at the construct, as the others go about figuring out how one exactly manipulates the thing to get it to make people not-shrunk. Sometimes he presses a finger against the sharp, pointy ray-firing bit. He fumbles around some buttons and dials. He seems confused about the idea that nothing is coming out of it... then shrugs, going to lay down on the ground (...well, table) before it, arms against the back of his head.
        "Okaaaaay~! Turn on the tap!"
        That is so not a tap. But it does seem like he's set it correctly?

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"Turquoise, aye?" Layna replies, considering...and then shrugs. "Well, that sounds easy enough. Let's give it a go! What's life without a little risk?"

She does not say 'What's the worst that could happen?', because everyone knows that is always followed by finding out what, exactly, the worst that could happen is.

She's good with not knowing, especially when it involves someone who's been working on shrink rays, brain swapping, and time travel.

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Yeah. I'm one hundred percent up for a bath, to be honest," Talise sighs before she sits up and slides off the book.
        There's a copy of the ray there - the one Lanval's tinkering with, anyway. Boosting herself up onto it, Talise roots through it before finding a dial and giving it a good crank. "Phew. This is a nightmare when I'm this puny," she huffs, but soon enough, there's a click as the ray hums to life. The ray emerging from it is an inviting turquoise colour.
        "Okay! If I die, make sure you don't give Benedict my stuff," Talise calls before she swandives off the machine and into the beam.

There's a loud *THUD* a second later as a full-size Talise hits the ground on her side.

"Ow," she groans.