2018-09-06: Dive to Heaven
- Log: Dive to Heaven
- Cast: Talise Gianfair, Sephilia Lampbright, Tethelle Cirdian, Seraph Lanval, Layna Manydays, Rosaline Calice
- Where: Azado
- Date: September 6, 2018
- Summary: The Fox Company delves into the flooded Elw catacombs beneath Azado as Sin rampages above. (This takes place before Tiamat's Wrath.)
DG: A party led by Talise Gianfair is now entering The Flooded Ruins. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=============================<* The Flooded Ruins *>==============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Duplicator-Sealed Door *>=====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
The terrifying rumbling from above gives some idea of what lay on the
streets of Azado. Whatever brought the tidal wave with it has not stopped,
and the occasional horrible groan of wood and shattering of stone indicates
that not all is safe in the city. The sewers, too, rumble and shake as you
move through them.
But there are deeper things hidden within these sewers, and you come across
one of several entrances... guarded by a sealed door. There are runes upon
it, glowing softly. Those with experience on Filgaia may recognize the runes
as Elw. The door has several sliding tiles, with images carved into them.
Slide them in the right direction, and the door will open.
Or, spend awhile breaking it down.
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Tire===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Things were rumbling above for quite awhile. While some members of the Fox Company had gone up to see what was going on up there - and indeed, it was something horrible - others had stayed behind to protect the innocent.
But there was more down here than a mere sewer.
By the time Rosaline, Layna and Lanval return, a couple of mysterious side doors have been opened already. The first two opened up to simple alcoves with treasure chests in them. "I can't believe this was down here," Talise says for probably the third or fourth time as she finishes tightening the strap on something she found in one of the chests. It's a full suit of plate armour. It's even in her size, made of a polished, silvery metal that doesn't seem to have rusted with time. A couple of small runic characters are stamped discreetly into the epaulets.
The other room held treasures, too - perhaps a couple of weapons, and an Elixir which was for some reason hidden in a grandfather clock. But it's the third door that's really stumping the group. This one has runes that glow actively - and a series of sliding tiles, images on their face suggesting some kind of pattern to how those tiles can be slid.
"I don't think this is something the Guard put down here. Actually, if I didn't know better, I'd think those were Elw ruins," Talise says as she squints at the runes.
She pulls out her box of cookies and nibbles on one, offering them up distractedly.
"Elw?" Benedict says with a bristle of his beard as he tests one of the sliders, to no effect. "You mean the same kind of thing that brought you from the Blue Star to here?"
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy, hand glowing with conjured magic light (which is her other trick, aside from animating Chauncey and healing), takes a businesslike approach. "Right. Dad's journal probably has something on this! Plus, my journal has some of those signs too, so if I cross-reference...wow, it really is useful to write stuff down!"
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has used her Tool Dad's Journal toward her party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle spent those few moments pacing around, helping Talise with her armour (it's always easier with a second pair of hands, and though Tethelle doesn't wear plate mail, she knows how it goes on) and making sure she was recovered and ready to go.
But now it's door time.
"I think you're right," Tethelle says to Talise. "It looks like Elw to me. I wish I could read it." But, though Tethelle can read the ancient texts of her temple (slowly, with effort), and it uses some of the same characters, it isn't the same language at all and she can't make heads or tails of it.
Tethelle reaches out and shifts a tile. Then another. Then another. By the time she has made seven moves, including some that moved two tiles at once, she realizes she has done nothing but move four of them around in a loop. "Damn," she says, more to herself than anyone else. "Well, I think that one needs to go to the top left. Maybe if we start sliding the proper things up to a corner and work out?"
Tethelle is not good at sliding puzzles.
DG: Tethelle Cirdian has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door. DG: Talise Gianfair has used her Tool Chocolate Biscuits toward her party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval has had quite a rude shock about the whole picture. Something nobody could do anything about, something about the Guardians screaming and crying in terror... all he knows is that it's really, really, really bad up there and maybe he shouldn't have crawled up to take a look.
"H-Hey... hey... Taliiiishe," comes Lanval, who is coming into this cutscene with the stupid swirly glasses attachment on his face as he comes staggering in after a rough bubbly landing, "Benediiict... Shephyyy... Tethelle... it'sh bad up there... I... uh, uhhh..." He's not even sure where to begin. He has no real point of reference to describe it in greater detail as he staggers forth and promptly faceplants himself against one of the runes that extend to the floor. It glows a little brighter.
It may not be because it is activated, but because it is reacting badly to it getting wet. Whatever guiding mechanism underneath seems to see it fit to just move it away from this watery irritation.
In his hand is a newer, fancier-looking drinking gourd that just happened to be down here for who knows how long. Funny how that works, sometimes...
DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Amber Tinted Glasses toward his party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
It was, indeed, something horrible. Layna had fought it...for a certain definition of the word 'fought'. While she might have come out of it less hurt than others she was far from unscathed, and if it wasn't for one Lanval's handy bubbles catching her, she'd probably be out like a light right now.
As soon as she met back up with Talise, Tethelle, and Sephilia, she immediately began ranting about some 'horrible hell whale' the Guardians called 'Obsession' and were freaking out about. Rosaline might be able to explain things in a fashion that makes more sense.
Eventually, though, she calms down, at which point she takes a moment to appreciate Talise's new armor.
"Looks good on you, lass." Layna complimented with a grin. Layna, meanwhile, had laid claim to a cutlass they had found in one of the rooms...at least once it was confirmed no one else wanted it. She didn't use swords, but it was nice to have one to point dramatically with when necessary.
But, all good things must come to an end. Now, they are faced with that most dreadful of challenges...a door. This wouldn't be as much of a problem if it wasn't for the horrific hate - well, okay, obsession - whale raging up above.
"Aye, I think I've got this one all figured out." Layna says, walking up to the door...and then planting her foot into it at full force.
That's...probably not going to work.
=============================<* The Flooded Ruins *>==============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Duplicator-Sealed Door *>=====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
The terrifying rumbling from above gives some idea of what lay on the
streets of Azado. Whatever brought the tidal wave with it has not stopped,
and the occasional horrible groan of wood and shattering of stone indicates
that not all is safe in the city. The sewers, too, rumble and shake as you
move through them.
But there are deeper things hidden within these sewers, and you come across
one of several entrances... guarded by a sealed door. There are runes upon
it, glowing softly. Those with experience on Filgaia may recognize the runes
as Elw. The door has several sliding tiles, with images carved into them.
Slide them in the right direction, and the door will open.
Or, spend awhile breaking it down.
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Tire===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Things... haven't been going very well up above.
Rosaline is tired and her kimono is turn in some places, but at least she doesn't look significantly injured. That's one of the perks to being a healer. She is, however, still very wet. Her hair looks a little odd when it isn't floofed all the way, it turns out.
"I can't thank you enough for earlier," she tells Lanval as they catch up. "I'm in your debt several times over, now." He might be a bit distracted right now, however. The situation has gotten dire.
"It's... yes," she concurs with a sad nod. "We can explain more later, but there's a... creature rampaging, with power enough to frighten the Guardians. The sooner we flee this town, the better." By her expression, it might be best to heed what she said and ask them to elaborate later.
A pause. "...Oh, new look," she tells Talise, with a tone of approval. She then looks around the ruins, taking in the surroundings. "The Elw..." This is a tremendous find. Elw ruins, here? And yet, she's too exhausted to think much of it. This really is a 'bottle-it-up-and-take-stock-later' sort of day.
Her eyes land on the runes.
"Actually... I know someone who might be able to help us with this. Hopefully they'll hear..."
She takes out an item from her bag, one that isn't part of her usual arsenal. It is a pink, rather ornate metal ring with a cat's bell attached to it. Honestly, it looks like a magical girl transformation item.
Rosaline rings it. She sadly does not turn into a magical girl.
RATHER DISSONANT BGM CHANGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC59hR6rICM
"It's a cat-astrophe!" a Katz says, floating into the room, held aloft by a bunch of balloons. They let go and land on their feet, take a few seconds to pant and straighten up with a, well, cat-like smile.
"Hello! Nice to meet mew! Or should I see, see mew again!" Those present have indeed already met that particular Katz, back in Castle Rabenstein. "You can call me... Kobayashi."
"Why Kobayashi?" Rosaline asks, her head tilted.
"To prevent confusion-nya," they explain, with a satisfied nod and cross of the arms, "and because it's a competent-sounding sort of name."
"E-Either way," Rosaline shakes her head, "I'm sorry if this isn't the best moment for introductions, but Kobayashi has offered to accompany us and help out from time to time."
"Ah!" Kobayashi walks forward towards the sliding tiles. "Sliding tiles! This is a Katz Klassic! I know how to solve this one, just hear me out..."
There's a 50/50 chance that Kobayashi has in fact no idea what they're talking about.
DG: Rosaline Calice has used her Tool Katz Kall toward her party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door. DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door.
=============================<* The Flooded Ruins *>==============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Duplicator-Sealed Door *>=====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
The terrifying rumbling from above gives some idea of what lay on the
streets of Azado. Whatever brought the tidal wave with it has not stopped,
and the occasional horrible groan of wood and shattering of stone indicates
that not all is safe in the city. The sewers, too, rumble and shake as you
move through them.
But there are deeper things hidden within these sewers, and you come across
one of several entrances... guarded by a sealed door. There are runes upon
it, glowing softly. Those with experience on Filgaia may recognize the runes
as Elw. The door has several sliding tiles, with images carved into them.
Slide them in the right direction, and the door will open.
Or, spend awhile breaking it down.
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Tire===========================================
========================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 1 *>========================= =======================< Results - Duplicator-Sealed Door >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talise Gianfair 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Chocolate Biscuits 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sephilia Lampbright 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Dad's Journal 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Katz Kall 2 Wits Effects: Fanfare and Rally ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tethelle Cirdian 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Lanval 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Amber Tinted Glasses 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Reckless(2)|Tire(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair 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> Talise Gianfair has posed.
It's a new experience for Talise because she's never worn full plate before. Fortunately this set doesn't appear excessively heavy or bulky - at least, not for armour. She does grin at Layna a bit, cocking her head. "I kind of thought so, too."
But more important things lie at hand. Like the door. The pesky, pesky door. Layna cuts across the silly mind games by giving it a swift kick in the... in the door. The sound of the impact reverberates through the corridor like a bell.
The door doesn't even budge. Talise gives Layna an amused smile. "Good try, but we'll bash the next one. Maybe."
That leaves solving the puzzle. Talise, Benedict and Tethelle monkey with it - and indeed, Sephilia helps out. What turns out to be most helpful, though, are her own notes: After all, she was with the group in the Pleasing Garden. The Elw runes within correspond to some of the more common ones on the ruins there, and sure enough, the one in the top left does indeed seem to correspond to a rune indicating 'left.' Or 'up.' Or 'dog.' Or something like that.
Lanval faceplants into the tiles and slows everything down. With a sigh, Talise takes the Seraph by the shoulders and moves him to the side. "Hang on there, bud. What's going on up there? We keep hearing things explode."
That opens things up for Rosaline to call for aid - and call she does.
RING A LING A LING
It's a Katz Klasic. The kute kitten solves the puzzle with nyary an effurt at all. With a soft chime and a pulse of runes, the door slides open.
"...Who's your friend," Talise asks Rosaline with a blink.
DG: Tethelle Cirdian has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Flooded Ruins *>============================= ===================<* CHALLENGE - Batten Down the Hatches *>==================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The tidal wave and the ensuing destruction have caused no small amount of flooding in Azado, and that water has to go somewhere. Parts of the ruins have always been prone to flooding. When you enter this room, this proves true. A gout of water comes bursting through an open doorway, and begins to fill the room. If you don't move quickly to, somehow, barricade the entrance, then you may find yourselves swiftly underwater. =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Injure======================================
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle is indeed going to need some explanations.
"Slow down," she says. "Slow down! What's this about a whale that the Guardians are afraid of?" Tethelle doesn't know any of that - it's clear that she doesn't recognize it from the short description, and she wants to know more. "Please, tell me what you can. This I think I need to know."
Though Rosaline has a point. "You're right. Maybe once we're through this. There's still danger around." And she's not sure the Katz are helping it. She looks at 'Kobayashi' a little uncertainly. One person who doesn't help is plenty. But another? "If you're sure," she says, unsure if she's saying it to Rosaline, Kobayashi, both, or everybody.
He's apparently sure.
Tethelle walks through the now-open door. She strides down the hall and looks around. "There's a crossing room in here," she says. "Three-way, it's Y-shaped and we're at one of the arms of the Y. We just need to figure out which way to... go?"
Tethelle hears something. She tilts her head as if trying to figure it out, and then sprints to the other arm of the Y just as water cascades out of it. "Come on! Give me a hand, there's a door here, we can stop the tunnels from flooding. And if we don't we're going to drown down here instead of up there!"
DG: Tethelle Cirdian has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Batten Down the Hatches.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"A whale?" Talise says with a blink, scratching her temple with one gauntleted hand. "Why would the Guardians be afraid of a whale?" She pauses. "Wait, they're obsessed with a whale? I mean, I knew a guy like that back on the Lunabelle... something about a white whale eating his leg... but how can a whale piss off the Guardians?"
Talise doesn't have much more time to ask questions, though she nods as Tethelle echoes the sentiment. Through the hall they go - and then comes the sound of creaking and rushing water.
"That is not a sound I like," Talise says.
Then she starts running. Widening her eyes, she follows Tethelle towards that other corridor, her armour clanking a little but not encumbering her from a decent sprint even with water becoming a threat. "I really hope I don't have to end up swimming in this," she grouses as she whirls, settling in beside Tethelle and reaching for that door.
Talise holds it, waiting for the others - the other five, actually, with Benedict bringing up the rear and stealing looks over his shoulder. "It's coming on fast!" he shouts. "What I wouldn't give for a pile of sandbags...."
DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Batten Down the Hatches.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
"Ha ha ha... ha... ha ha," Lanval's hardly in a position to give any sort of cheery reassurance even to someone who has claimed to now be in his debt several times over. Seraphim don't need to breathe, but Lanval sure seems the equivalent of being out of breath! He's completely freaked out. He's over five hundred years old and has probably seen maybe the worst mortals have to offer to one another, but whatever happened up there is enough to rattle him! It's a good thing that between the three of them who came down, Rosaline has the best presence of mind to describe what's going on.
"Uhhh... well, they kinda... are, yep," he nervously tries to laugh it off as Talise helps him along, "thanksh, Kobayashi~"
He doesn't have time to really clarify on anything being said, because as Tethelle points out, this chamber is standing to rapidly flood. He's pretty much useless at assisting in hefty physical barricades, and that is a lot of water about to bear down. Sitting himself down to try and calm himself while the water level rapidly rises and threatens to envelop him, he has to hold off further exposition to go about casting some esoteric Seraphic Arte to try and push back the flow of water itself.
Water gives way, as is its nature, but it also always moves to settle where it is to be contained, which is right here. There is a lot of water that wants to go somewhere, and Sin up there is having a grand ol' time just shoving more and more floodwater down into the sewers.
This is taxing even for him.
DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Batten Down the Hatches.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna's sure she could've got it open if she just kept kicking at it, but it's probably better that she left it to the people who can actually handle the puzzle. Including, apparently, the Katz? Layna eyes them for a second...and then shrugs.
"Aye, well, if the little guy thinks they're up for it, I don't see a problem." She comments. And hey, they certainly seem to know their stuff!
Layna follows Tethelle through the door, looking the place over. She doesn't get much time to look, because it isn't long before more trouble arises.
"Ah, hell." Layna says succinctly, joining the others in trying to keep things barricaded so they aren't swept away.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Batten Down the Hatches.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy does a lot of things that are helpful! Like, making Chauncey big, with diggin' claws to help dig and shove stuff into the way.
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has used her Tool Digging Claws toward her party's challenge, Batten Down the Hatches.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"I've been helping the Katz out with... some things," Rosaline explains, regarding Kobayashi. Talise knows, the rest she'll explain later. No need to make things even more confusing right now. "In return they gave me this bell, among other things." She points to her kimono, which incidentally has a much more conservative cut than it used to.
The puzzle is solved! Told you it was a Katz Klassic. Kobayashi gives a pawsie-thumbs-up, then immediatley curls up for a nap, right here, right now*. Rosaline doesn't seem to find this behavior unusual.
The party proceeds, and it seems they've got a flooding problem. Rosaline lets out a tiny noise as she loads up some marked cartridges into Mother's Mercy.
"Heads up!" she announces as she fires her weapon at the ceiling in some key points-- to collapse it strategically, and hopefully not flood the place even further. It's a bit of a gamble!
* They'll be fine. They have a lifejacket.
DG: Rosaline Calice has used her Tool Mother's Mercy - Demolition Rounds toward her party's challenge, Batten Down the Hatches.
============================<* The Flooded Ruins *>============================= ===================<* CHALLENGE - Batten Down the Hatches *>==================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The tidal wave and the ensuing destruction have caused no small amount of flooding in Azado, and that water has to go somewhere. Parts of the ruins have always been prone to flooding. When you enter this room, this proves true. A gout of water comes bursting through an open doorway, and begins to fill the room. If you don't move quickly to, somehow, barricade the entrance, then you may find yourselves swiftly underwater. =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Injure======================================
=======================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 2 *>======================== =====================< Results - Batten Down the Hatches >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talise Gianfair 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sephilia Lampbright 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Digging Claws 3 Brute Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Mother's Mercy - Demolition Rounds 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tethelle Cirdian 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Lanval 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Talise Gianfair 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Injure(2)|Overzealous(2)|Reckless(1) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair 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.
Tethelle Cirdian noticed the change in kimono. She wasn't going to bring it up, though.
Right now she's busy trying to push and hold a door closed. She and Talise get to pushing, which slowly starts to close the door, especially when they're joined by Layna pushing hard. Lanval manages to move some of the water, but there's still so much of it that it's less effective than it could be.
Once the door is closed, water sprays through at the joins, and it threatens to push open again - but between Chauncey's mighty claws and Rosaline firing explosive shells, the pair manages to jam the door so that it can't open. It's still leaking water through the gap between the door and the wall, but it's not much; a trickle is a lot safer than a flood.
Tethelle spends a moment leaning against the door, but now it's to wipe sweat off her forehead.
DG: Seraph Lanval has drawn a new Challenge.
================================================<* The Flooded Ruins *>================================================= =======================================<* CHALLENGE - Mysterious Ancient Door *>======================================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | -----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------------------------- Some ancient doors have keys. However, when parts of these ruins flooded, the key to this particular door washed away. Where it is, only the fish know. Nonetheless, a door engraved with runes and slightly glowing stands between you and your destination -- blocking off the hallway. You will need to force your way through this one. =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
The flooding stops, but the rumbling continues above. More and more of Azado disintegrates underneath Sin's incredible power over the forces of gravity. Their makeshift barricade door should hold them only for as long as it takes to get to that other part of the Y-shaped junction that leads to some way... out of here.
The water is about knee-high, and Lanval drifts on the surface. Something shiny drifts past one half-lidded eye, and then... it disappears through a tiny, tiny little slit. Impossibly tiny, like it exists just to be large enough to inconveniently suck that away.
"...Hope that washn't anything important," he murmurs as he drifts along towards the other door of interest. "Mmmmph... whatever that thing ish, it'sh tryin' ta bring the whole place down on ush. It'sh got power like ya wouldn't believe...! Pickin' up shtuff outta thin air 'n..."
He leans against the door. He can lean on things and they will move sometimes, especially if they're open. This door is not open. He brushes one of his hands on the lock, and then it hits him. The thing he saw disappear...
"Uh oh, that wash the key, washn't it," he says aloud, then suddenly laughs. "Aaaaah! Ya didn't hear that!! Nope! Washn't the key I jusht... shaw... 'm goin' ta get it..."
He ambles over towards the crack to go try and retrieve it, but they don't have the time to wait. They're going to have to bust that door down, pronto!!
DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"Chauncey's got a spare key," Sephy quips, as the doll lumbers up to the door, winding up for a slam.
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has used her Tool Digging Claws toward her party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"Oh, that's a Katz," Talise says.
Then she pauses. "Wait, I've seen a Katz before."
Then she pauses again. "Right, sorry, I think I've got it now," she says with a quick shake of her head. "Little frazzled. No worries! Let's roll. Can comment on Rosaline's cute kimono later."
At least the flooding is lessened here. As Lanval floats along, Talise wades after him, blinking with surprise as she realizes the water isn't really leaking into her armour. She does, at least, prod Lanval lightly along, giving him a little push.
Until the key vanishes. "...That was a key, Lanval," she says with a dip of her lashes.
Indeed, Lanval starts leaning. With a sigh, Talise gently eases the Seraph to one side. "We're just going to have to brute-force this thing, honestly. I think Chauncey's got the right idea." Winding up, Talise draws a wet boot back, then slams her heel into the door a couple times, giving it a hard kick.
She doesn't have her special gloves on. Her normal strength is sufficient that she can follow up the kicks by attempting to slam her armoured fist through the door as hard as she can.
DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna keeps pushing until there's no longer anything pushing back. She exhales and backs away, dusting off her hands and then hurrying off to the next on their path.
...Unfortunately, this one is locked, and the key is, apparently, missing. Layna grins as Sephy offers her own 'key' to take care of the problem.
"Aye, lass, that's a mighty fine key." She comments with a grin, and decides to follow the same precedent set by the others. Layna brings out her drill again. It's starting to look a little beat up, but it's still got more than enough oomph. She affixes it to her arm and starts going to town on the door, aiming to drill right through it.
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Arm-Mounted Drill toward her party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle Cirdian only needed a few moments to recover. She looks okay now, even if she is having to wade.
"What key?" she asks Lanval, slightly sharply - she hadn't seen it. "You can't run off and find the key! We don't have time for you to find a little thing like that." Not with the door right here. She thinks the other have the right idea.
Tethelle's approach is just as blunt as most of the party's. She tries to rush the door, but it slowed by the water, and her shoulder slam is not nearly as effective as she was hoping for. Fortunately, she can kick just fine. She's not going to use her sword for a task like this, even if it is already rather battered and not her preferred one anyway; this one has a weird curve to it for chopping.
But, today: kicks. Maybe with the drill and claws it'll be enough.
DG: Tethelle Cirdian has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Rosaline doesn't like water. It's her second least favorite of the four classical elements. Buy she wades in it without complaining. A glint catches her eyes. "Ah!! Is that..."
The key disappears.
"Oh no... Oh no!"
Lanval moves to get it, but the others favor a more direct approach. Luckily, Rosaline still has a few demolition rounds loaded. "CLEAR!" And she fires another couple of explosive blasts, taking the opportunity to shout out some of her frustration as the ARM roars. Catharsis is important! She's learned that.
DG: Rosaline Calice has used her Tool Mother's Mercy - Demolition Rounds toward her party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
================================================<* The Flooded Ruins *>================================================= =======================================<* CHALLENGE - Mysterious Ancient Door *>======================================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | -----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------------------------- Some ancient doors have keys. However, when parts of these ruins flooded, the key to this particular door washed away. Where it is, only the fish know. Nonetheless, a door engraved with runes and slightly glowing stands between you and your destination -- blocking off the hallway. You will need to force your way through this one. =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
===========================================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 3 *>============================================ =========================================< Results - Mysterious Ancient Door >========================================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Talise Gianfair 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sephilia Lampbright 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Digging Claws 3 Brute Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Layna Manydays 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Arm-Mounted Drill 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rosaline Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Mother's Mercy - Demolition Rounds 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tethelle Cirdian 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Lanval 10 --(10)--> 20 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 40 --(20)--> 60
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair 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. [OOC] Talise Gianfair says, "I kind of giggle with delight every time I see a 'Oh no... oh no!'" [OOC] Rosaline Calice says, "Aww" [OOC] Seraph Lanval says, "we passed, thankfully" [OOC] Rosaline Calice says, "Lanval failing this one is amusing and appropriate" [OOC] Seraph Lanval says, "I have really got to set my width back down to default, keeps doing that - and yep, it is!"
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval is putting his everything into finding that key! He's a spirit of water, so he's confident about his ability to retrieve the thing from wherever it's washing out to. While he's doing this, everyone else is doing the reasonable thing about what comes natural. Talise actually manages to open it right from the get-go but accidentally jams it in an inconvenient way just as she starts to pull it open, more the fault of the water about rather than anything she did.
There is drilling from both plush claw and metal screw, and then there is a great explosion of power from Mother's Mercy that just blows the thing away. The water level thins out as the gathering water in the corridor rushes right on out ahead to wherever it may lead.
Lanval, meanwhile, laughs as he holds up the shiny thing he has miraculously managed to retrieve.
"Heeeeey! I found it! Let'sh get it..." He looks up. "Open. Huh." He lets the water currents of the emptying chamber carry him out after them, looking kind of sheepish. Well, it's good that he's made friends with more corporeal people who are better equipped to do more corporeal things...
[OOC] Rosaline Calice says, "Aww, poor Lanval"
[OOC] Rosaline Calice says, "I'll grab next!"
DG: Rosaline Calice has drawn a new Challenge. ============================<* The Flooded Ruins *>=============================
===========================================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 3 *>============================================ ========================<* CHALLENGE - Sinspawn Ammes *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Some of the hallways of the flooded ruins have been infiltrated by monsters from above. When you see floating conicL jellyfish, hovering in midair, you may think them beautiful. They glow, with a bioluminescence, and their tendrils hang low and twitch. But when they reach out, they shock with actual electricity, and prove quite vicious. That none in Meribus or Glenwood have seen these creatures before, though... that may be worrisome. =Dungeon Conditions: Injure, Fright=========================================== [OOC] Layna Manydays says, "B-boss fight!!" [OOC] Tethelle Cirdian says, "these assholes" [OOC] Rosaline Calice says, "Who are those guys? :Ia" [OOC] Tethelle Cirdian says, "I'm going to assume this is actually supposed to be a Sinspawn Echuilles since that's what the description describes" [OOC] Tethelle Cirdian says, "in which case:" [OOC] Rosaline Calice says, "oh wait" [OOC] Tethelle Cirdian says, "https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/b/bb/Sinspawn_Echuilles-enemy- ffx.png" [OOC] Rosaline Calice says, "I keep not reading card names!" [OOC] Tethelle Cirdian says, "(Ammes looks like a big spike with tendrils and is absolutely *not* what the description is of)" [OOC] Layna Manydays says, "Yeah, Ammes is more of a thing stuck in the ground...either way, we're fighting bosses from FFX." [OOC] Rosaline Calice nodnods! [OOC] Talise Gianfair says, "Gosh darn bosses" [OOC] Sephilia Lampbright says, "urp"
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Rosaline has already rushed ahead with the others when Lanval announces that he found the key. This may be for the best.
The party proceeds, and the good news is that, a few hallways and rooms later, the water level has lowered to a more manageable level. The bad news is that, despite this, apparent marine life is still around.
"What the..." Rosaline stops, furrowing her brow at the sight of an unfamiliar trio of floating jellyfish(?). "These aren't Hellions, I'm pretty sure..." No trace of Malevolence to be felt. In fact, it's a bit thinner in the air than the sensitive might expect. "Could they be related to the... thing above?"
"HYDRO STORM!" she announces then, not wasting a second.
Now, adding indoor rain to an already flooded ruin may not be the best of ideas, but it does provide much-needed refreshment to the team, in addition to somehow, through tortuous video game logic, dissipate a Thundara spell coming their way.
"We can't allow these things down here!" she announces, a little panicked, as she steps behind the frontline fighters and draws Esdras and Judith.
DG: Rosaline Calice has used her Tool Holy Water toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Ammes.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"Maybe I should see if my gauntlets will fit with this," Talise murmurs as she looks down at the gauntlets that came with her armour. It's a tradeoff. Maybe not a terrible one, but here's one end of it.
And then there's the other end of it: The fact that she's fairly sure her new outfit will conduct electricity. Jolting back with a hiss of breath, Talise jerks away from the bobbling jellyfish, keeping her distance as best she can. "Yeah, not swinging a metal thing at those guys," she decides, curling her lips in irritation.
Fortunately Talise brought a problem-solver for just this sort of thing.
She feeds a few shells into the magazine of her handy shotgun and pumps it once, then hefts it and begins to spray down the hallway with buckshot. "I really hope there's a warp back to Filgaia down here, because I'm almost out of shells!" she shouts over the noise as the sound of gunfire rings off the walls and floor, reverberating eerily through the flooded ruins. She keeps her distance - which puts her at about mid-range on the jellyfish, just as close as she needs to be to try and splatter them with hot lead.
DG: Talise Gianfair has used her Tool Trench Sweeper Shotgun toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Ammes.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy's in Chauncey's backpack in a heartbeat, and the big plush doll is doing some smashing!
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Ammes. [OOC] Sephilia Lampbright says, "sorry sorry sorry everyone"
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle, as always, has ended up near the front of the group. Why wouldn't she? She's got a sword, that's pretty much where she needs to be to do anything. Which means she sees what looks like a strange jellyfish pretty early.
"Watch out! It's a..."
Tethelle realizes that she has absolutely no idea what that is.
"Monster!"
Leaping forward, she brings her sword through a series of loops that looks very artistic right up until the point that it turns into a mighty diagonal slash, ending with a flick of the tip of the blade to knock any jellyfish parts that might be stuck on it off. "Related to the whale, you mean? Well, it is sea life... what should we expect it to do? Electricity?" She felt the tingle when her metal sword got too close to it.
DG: Tethelle Cirdian has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Ammes.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval is nearly oblivious. (When isn't he already oblivious?) He's making up the rear of the party as they charge on ahead, because there's no time for rest while the whole place is a-shakin'.
As much as they greatly dislike its presence in great concentrations, Malevolence's almost complete absence is a concept that blindsides him. Lanval almost doesn't even see what Rosaline's HYDRO STORMing at first, or why Talise has her weird Blue Star-origin fire wand out and shooting. Only when he bothers to look up does he at last see it and acknowledge that yes, there is something here that's very surprising and bad, and it has a character not dissimilar to--
"That'sh definitely not a Hellion!" Lanval confirms Rosaline's fears. "Wh-whatever it wash up there... the Malevolence all went away when it came closhe..." That should be a good thing, for all the trouble it causes!! But the idea that it could all up and disappear entirely like it did in that instant... "Shomethin'... shtrong enough ta clear out the Malevolence... 'n alsho shcare yer Guardiansh..."
That is something insane conceptually, but anyway, Lanval straightens himself out (mostly) as he steps back from an electrical discharge that would do a terrible number on him, because electricity and water do not mix. Whirling about his new gourd on the old rope he has attached it to, he casts forth another Seraphic Arte in the form of a splash of water as if to try and short it out for the effort.
"I don't even know what it ish...! Jusht that it'sh baaaaad!" So they should kill it like they're already trying to, good!
DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Sinspawn Ammes.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"Whatever it is, Chauncey hits it like anything else," Sephy adds
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna quickly stores the drill away once more. She hoped she didn't need to use it again, but she would if it came down to it. It was starting to look a little worn out, though. But then again, so was she.
She trudges onward along with the others, when suddenly Rosaline points out a problem. This gets a sigh out of Layna and she rolls her neck.
"Maybe, but I don't think it's gonna give us time to find out." She replies. In fact, it's already lashing out at them. Thankfully Rosaline's magic protected them, but they're getting ready to launch another barrage of attacks.
"Let's finish this quickly, then, aye?" She then rushes forward to deliver a punishing barrage of punches toward the nearest one.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Ammes. ============================<* The Flooded Ruins *>=============================
===========================================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 3 *>============================================ ========================<* CHALLENGE - Sinspawn Ammes *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Some of the hallways of the flooded ruins have been infiltrated by monsters from above. When you see floating conicL jellyfish, hovering in midair, you may think them beautiful. They glow, with a bioluminescence, and their tendrils hang low and twitch. But when they reach out, they shock with actual electricity, and prove quite vicious. That none in Meribus or Glenwood have seen these creatures before, though... that may be worrisome. =Dungeon Conditions: Injure, Fright=========================================== =======================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 4 *>========================
===========================================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 3 *>============================================ ==========================< Results - Sinspawn Ammes >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talise Gianfair 10 --(0)--> 10 Pass Trench Sweeper Shotgun 1 Combat Effects: Embolden and Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sephilia Lampbright 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosaline Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Holy Water 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tethelle Cirdian 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Lanval 20 --(0)--> 20 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Talise Gianfair 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Injure(2)|Weaken(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"Gravity magic, maybe, but it did just try to shock us," Rosaline explains, as she starts firing her ARMs at the nearest creature.
And illustrating just that, one of them waves its tentacles, casting a dark pall over Sephilia and Chauncey as they leap into action. What she says ends up a bit ironic, then, as the plush protector finds himself unable to reach the floating creature. At least Tethelle uses the window to leap in from another angle and slice the thing in half cleanly, leaving behind only a strange, glowing smoke that soon disappears.
Lanval's panic is justified, but he at least rises up to the occasion, and water seems to work just as well as on anything else despite the monster's apparent aquatic nature. While it is getting hosed down, Layna comes in with a flurry of punches that seem enough to dissipate the creature into the air.
Talise meanwhile charges in with her shotgun, while Rosaline provides support from the back. It isn't clear if this monster has ever experienced ARMs before, but it makes no indication either way. Bullets and buckshot make quick enough work of it, literally blasting it apart and soon leaving no trace.
"That was odd," Rosaline remarks, holstering her weapons. "But hopefully that's the last of them. Let's move on."
DG: Layna Manydays has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* The Flooded Ruins *>============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - The Water Level *>=======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In the depths of these flooded ruins, you find salvation. Those who were at
the Pleasing Garden recognize, instantly: a circular room, with a
crystalline structure in the center. A teleportation station, which will
activate a wide-area teleportation for smaller people. Those in Azado could
be whisked away from the thing destroying their city.
However, there is a problem.
You have entered on the third level of a three-tiered room -- and it is
flooded. You will need to swim down, and swim past some fences and rails
that pose obstacles, to activate the teleporter. The activation is a simple
matter of pressing the crystal into the receptacle. And, of course, you will
need to hope enough others can do the same...
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
After dealing with the Sinspawn, they surprisingly don't run into any further problems - presumably, it had already 'dealt' with any of the dangers they might have otherwise faced.
Layna forges on ahead, and right at the end of the hallway they find a door that leads out to the top of a circular, three story room. Except for the platform the door opens onto, it has been entirely flooded.
This is the end of the road. But at the center of the room, they find a structure very familiar to those who where present at the Pleasing Gardens.
It's a teleporter. But to actually activate it...they need to swim to the very bottom. Layna frowns, and looks at it consideringly.
"...I think this is our only shot, me hearties." She said, then draws out some bottles. She passes one out to everyone. "If this works like I think it does, then this might be just what we need to get outta here...but there's no tellin' where we'll end up, or if we'll even end up all together."
Layna raises her bottle.
"So, let's have a quick drink, aye? And promise to have another one together...wherever the hell we end up. To us!" Whether or not they accept the toast, she then takes a deep swig, stores the bottle away, and then leaps down into the water.
She was a pirate - swimming was something she was good at. She wouldn't let any amount of obstacles get in the way.
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Quartermaster's Stash toward her party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
While the thing dissipates, Lanval tries to swing a hand up into what it all seems to disintegrate into. It's so weird - it's bad but if it's not Malevolence, what is it? Whatever 'it' is, it lingers and flits away moments before he can grab hold of any part of 'it.' Both eyes remain open, half-lidded, exhaling with a troubled grunt. He literally almost walked into those tentacles like it wasn't a thing, because to his worldview it almost wasn't something to really 'notice' by the rules he thought it played by.
There's so much he just doesn't understand, as someone who basically had life go reasonably okay for five hundred-ish years (if a little more, um, eventfully the last back half of it).
They come up to a dead end, by his reckoning, somehow able to discern this. It seems like there's a lot of passages that just lead here, and... nowhere else, and the water level still yet rises. The place shudders like it could come down at any time.
"Huh? What do ya mean, Layna...? I don't shee a way out," he murmurs. He grows uneasy. He can survive in water just fine, he is water. But these are mortals who, unlike him, actually have to take in air at all times. They could run out. They could also be crushed...
"Mmm. 'd never turn down a drink, for shure," Lanval says as he takes his bottle and engages in a toast. This could be the end of the line, but there's Layna's devil-may-care attitude that's defined her. She seems sure of herself, and he has no idea why. All he sees in the water are crystals and some weird structure or another. Nothing that looks like a door.
Unlike his usual self, he seems to savor and slowly drink his share of the Quartermaster's Stash like it may be the last one among friends... and then Layna jumps in.
"...What'sh she doin'?" Lanval asks, as he nurses his bottle.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy quivers a little. "I...don't wanna swim...I'm...I can't really swim...all that well." Her voice is quiet, small.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"I mean, there are monsters from Lunar that aren't Hellions, I think," Talise breathes once the little skirmish has wound down.
But it's dealt with, and they're moving on.
Into a room full of water. A room full of water with a strikingly familiar structure in it.
Under the water.
"So Tethelle," Talise says conversationally. "How quick do you think you could unbuckle me?"
The ceiling creaks a little. Water is beginning to drip into the room. Wincing, Talise inches forward, shaking her arms as if to test how much she's going to be able to move them under there. "Okay, so someone's gonna have to give me mouth-to-mouth if I sink like a rock," she suggests before looking over towards Lanval, then Layna.
"...The good news is, we'll probably be able to finish what we started back there," she says in a quieter tone. "Stopping the Metal Demons from bringing back Mother."
Taking a drap of whiskey, Talise takes a long swig, then passes it off to Layna. She uncoils a length of rope from her pack and ties it off to something, then secures the other end around her waist, swinging both legs into the water. And then she looks back, watching the way Lanval seems to recoil so grimly.
Talise smiles up at him. "Lanval," she says, voice quieter. "That'll take us back to the Blue Star. And, y'know... you don't have to be nervous about going there. We'll be with you and we'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Meanwhile, Benedict's sliding himself into the water, too. "My contact's going to kill me," he grumbles. "On the plus side, if we can go back and forth someday, we'll have a headstart on expanding into the interplanetary market...?"
DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
At least there's not an endless number of Sinspawn. Tethelle wouldn't be able to keep this up forever.
Tethelle is running to keep up and almost runs straight into a room that isn't there - or, more accurately, it is flooded several floors deep. She skids to a stop before she pitches into it recklessly, causing a series of splooshes from kicked-in rocks.
"Is that..." Tethelle recognizes this. "That is a teleporter! Like the one in the Pleasing Garden! We have to activate it." She's seen those crystals, too. "It would save people - look how far out it took people from Lost July." She glances at Sephilia. "You don't have to, but be prepared in case something happens." What? Well, she doesn't know. That's why she wants someone to watch. Maybe a monster coming up behind them or something.
She accepts the drink from Layna, who is thinking along the same lines as her. Taking a swig, Tethelle considers and takes another before passing it along. She breathes in, out, in, out, in -
Tethelle knows how to swim with the natural skill of someone who grew up on shore. This water is dirtier than the beaches of her home, being mostly floodwater and collapsed ruin, but that mostly means she has trouble seeing, and right now she doesn't need to see where she's going - it's down, down, toward the crystal. She should be able to find that, at least, unless she gets turned around.
Tethelle is also rather glad she has only a half-skirt instead of the whole thing. It's not hurting. In fact, it's helping, streaming out behind her and making her path more obvious to the people who follow her in the cloudy water.
DG: Tethelle Cirdian has used her Tool Feather Cape toward her party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Rosaline stops at the sight of the teleporter. So. This is it. This day is loaded with fate. Praise... be?
"I promise," Rosaline says, gladly taking the bottle and taking a swig. Once upon a time, she was very hesitant to drink, but her time as a Hellion changed a few things about her. Besides, she did say that she needed a drink upon seeing Sin.
"We've seen this before-- One of those machines took us to Lunar to begin with. This..." She takes in a deep breath. "This might be our way home. Or, well... My home and Tethelle's..." She looks to Tethelle, then the others, lingering on Lanval. "We can't force you to come with us, but at this rate, I don't think we have a choice."
The room rumbles, as if to illustrate.
Even she doesn't even seem that enthused about the prospect of going back 'home'. But Talise reminds them of the Metal Demons. Layna has a whole crew down there still, and Tethelle brings up a good point about the survivors. This seems to be the push Rosaline needs. She spares Sephilia a sympathetic glance, but soon takes another breath and dives in.
The water disagrees with her fur, and she's not a very good swimmer to begin with, but there's something to be said for sheer desperation sometimes.
DG: Rosaline Calice has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy mutters "Aw heck, no other way out..." and dives in, flailing around uselessly at first.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Stopping Metal Demons, bringing back Mother... he's only tangentially aware of that entire conflict. Lanval sits dumbfounded as Tethelle points out, out loud, what the hey this is! A teleporter...!
Talise, with a smile tells her Seraph buddy as to what's even going on, which is always going to be a weird feeling. He never would have imagined in over five hundred years that mortals would have to fill him in on much of anything when he'd already witnessed generations of mortals doing their thing.
"...The Blue Shtar." He repeats. This will take them there, somehow...?
This is it, isn't it? This will take him away from Lunar, all he's ever known. Lunar doesn't want him any more. The Goddess condemned him for daring to even stand against the Red Priestess - no, he was condemned for even daring to question Her plan before the Dragonmaster. Even if he could theoretically survive this tantrum above, it'd take him centuries to get out. If he ever did. Everyone here would be long dead.
Rosaline says they can't force him to come. This could be where they say goodbye, if they so please. He has no idea what to expect beyond here, except that people live on the Blue Star somehow. And that they have weird fire wands. Why is it the Blue Star if there's so much fire from there?
He's going to get to find out, if all goes as they seem confident it will.
He can't sit and be afraid of things he's never seen before. He's already got enough homegrown fear and loathing of all he's ever heard of Glenwood!!
"...All right." He works up that dumb smile of his, eyes closed. "'m gonna follow ya... guessh we got no choice, huh? Ha ha ha!" And that's that! He looks over to the worried, shaking Sephilia. "...Don't ya worry. Ain't yer dad a great explorer? I mean... hey... far ash I can shee, yer already like one too..."
Lanval stands up, and finishes off his bottle of the Quartermaster's Stash in a flash. THAT'S more like him.
"Don't ya forget... I'm a Water Sheraph. 'm not gonna let the water take ya out before ya get there...!"
Then he sits back down. Lovely. Then he gets out that pipe. Okay, we're getting somewhere now.
Lanval takes another deep drag off of his kiseru-style pipe. Bubbles form and flit, out the pipe and even out his nose. The ones from the pipe all enlarge into the perfect size in which to help envelop and carry people... wherever. They're bubbles, they kind of do their own thing until they cease to exist, usually, but this time they seem to fight the nature of what bubbles tend to do by slowly descending into the multiple-story drink, giving them more time to breathe in air (though that is limited) before it inevitably pops.
He descends after into the drink with a grace and serenity that can be expected of someone who is of the water itself, for someone who does not look too graceful or serene on average as some dumpy-lookin' wastrel that... he kind of is.
He'll move to assist in using the water itself to try and help push the crystals in place - and, if need be, carry people back out of the water if they so look like they're going to drown.
All while keeping that placid, cat-like smile. Whatever's coming next, he's along for the ride with 'em!
DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Bubble Pipe toward his party's challenge, The Water Level.
===========================<* The Flooded Ruins *>============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - The Water Level *>=======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In the depths of these flooded ruins, you find salvation. Those who were at
the Pleasing Garden recognize, instantly: a circular room, with a
crystalline structure in the center. A teleportation station, which will
activate a wide-area teleportation for smaller people. Those in Azado could
be whisked away from the thing destroying their city.
However, there is a problem.
You have entered on the third level of a three-tiered room -- and it is
flooded. You will need to swim down, and swim past some fences and rails
that pose obstacles, to activate the teleporter. The activation is a simple
matter of pressing the crystal into the receptacle. And, of course, you will
need to hope enough others can do the same...
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
======================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 5 *>======================= ========================< Results - The Water Level >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Talise Gianfair 10 --(0)--> 10 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sephilia Lampbright 5 --(5)--> 10 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Layna Manydays 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Quartermaster's Stash 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rosaline Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tethelle Cirdian 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Feather Cape 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Lanval 20 --(0)--> 20 Pass Bubble Pipe 3 Agility Effects: Rally ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Fright(1)|Hesitate(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair has successfully explored The Flooded Ruins!
===========================<* The Flooded Ruins *>============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Teleporter Activated *>====================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You swim down into the depths of the teleportation room. It is hard, but you
manage to press the crystal into the activation chamber. There is a moment
to wait -- perhaps to swim back up -- as other groups must also press in
their crystals. When you look around, you realize: this room is similar
enough to the one in the Pleasing Garden that it must be part of a network.
Then, however, the room rumbles. There is a flash, as all of you are whisked
away.
You have returned to Filgaia.
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Individually, they call come to the same conclusion - this is what they have to do. They share a drink together and begin the long swim down. They're not going to let a little thing like 'three floors-worth of water' stop them from completing their task. Sephilia might need the help of Lanval's bubbles and someone else, but eventually they make it down and activate their own individual switches with just enough time left to return to the surface for a gasp of breath.
There is a moment where nothing happens. A minute seems to stretch on until infinity, where they have to wonder whether this device was even functional...
...And then, the room rumbles. There is a flash, and suddenly, they're all gone.
Back to Filgaia.
No longer are they on the surface of the water, but instead, they're on warm, solid ground. ...Very warm. In fact, it's almost like there's fire around here somewhere...!?
"...Everyone alright?" Layna asks, hauling herself to her feet and rubbing at her eyes as the blinding light begins to dissipate. She looks around...
...Only to find that they've landed themselves in an active warzone in Adlehyde. There are other people they might recognize, too...but so are the Metal Demons.
"...Well then." Layna mutters, shaking her head. This wasn't good. She wasn't in a condition to fight a Quarter Knight, but...
Layna recites a quick incantation, her body once more taking on a green glow.
"I'm gonna go try to evacuate as many people as I can. As for the rest o' you..." Layna grins. "Give 'em hell for me, alright?"
And then she's off.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy is hyperventilating a bit by the time they land.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
It sure does help that Lanval's making those bubbles for them. It helps enough that Talise eventually undoes her rope and lets herself drift down, her weight and the safe air pocket of the bubble more than enough to guide her on towards the teleporter below.
There's a tight feeling in the pit of her stomach. They're descending, and they'll be going back to another world once they hit bottom. But even with all she's learned on Lunar, a part of Talise can't help but brim with excitement. The mysteries of Lunar are closer to her - but those of Filgaia could reveal the very foundations of why Lunar exists in the first place.
And beyond that - there's a promise to fulfill.
As the chamber rumbles, Talise inhales and braces herself for the golden glow of light to wash over her.
"What in Althena's name am I getting myself into," Benedict mutters to himself from within another bubble as he, too, goes into the light.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval arrives. He has no preconceived notion about what it actually entails. He was submerged in water, and then all of a sudden, he is sitting there out in the open in what looks like a castle town full of very, very angry and/or tense people. Hordes of strange creatures are also present - as are the fires and cries of war. Lanval mostly muses aloud about all the fire adepts and the like while everyone scrambles to do whatever it is they will to save the day.
Some blobby serpent-slug-whatever races by him. He's not sure what to make of it, except that's not a Hellion? There's something very strange about the air here - maybe not bad, inherently, but strange, and...
...that's something to discuss for another time, because there's so much chaos and he's just kind of overwhelmed about the whole of it.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle shoves against the crystal with - well, not with all her strength, because that's actually kind of hard to do underwater and because she doesn't want to break the thing. Enough strength. She does not use a bubble, though by the time the teleporter actually kicks in, she's really starting to wish that she had.
She's going home, she thinks. She can finish her quest, help save the world from Metal Demons. It's what Tethelle has been trying to do for most of her time on Lunar - not that she didn't like the place, but right now, this is where she belongs. She hopes she'll be able to travel back sometime when the threat is gone... if the threat is gone.
The transport whisks her away to Filgaia soon enough - somewhere where she can catch her breath, and where she's going to very shortly get into a rather dangerous battle...
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Rosaline gladly accepts a bubble. She does what she can to push with the rest, and soon they succeed. She closes her eyes as the light engulfs her.
It's time for this Etone-in-training to return to her Church, she thinks. It's a bittersweet feeling.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy is glad that this time she told her parents goodbye properly and got to see them. She didn't know this would be happening, but she isn't going to not leave without saying gbye.