2018-09-07: Risen Waters

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DG: A party led by Ambrosius 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> Ambrosius has posed.

While others were up above dealing with the titanic creature ravaging Azado, Ambrosius was not idle. No, far from it - he had, after all, been stuck underground in an ancient ruin.

...In other words, he's having a really great time. Never mind the fact that people are dying on the streets above.

And then, there's a massive crash that sends a shockwave throughout the ruins, enough to knock him clear off his feet. Shortly after this, people start flooding in - jumping in or being tossed in by the shockwave up above.

Ambrosius is a little cross.

"Iiinterlopers...I cannot study like this..." He mutters, picking himself up off of the floor and dusting off his cloak.

But this shockwave unearthed secrets, leading him further inside...to a mysterious door, which is our tale truly begins.

"...Faaascinating..." He murmurs. He doesn't try to open it just yet. No, right now his focus is on studying those pictographic tiles and trying to extract every ounce of meaning from them that he can.

Someone should probably come hurry him along, or they'll be stuck there forever.

DG: Ambrosius has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door.
<Pose Tracker> Malfi has posed.

Malfi moves forward to examine the tiles on the door. Evidently the trick is to slide some but not others...but which ones? She uses her scanner -- it's not much help! -- but at least she gets good pictures of the Elw runes and the tiles' images. So she does the sensible thing and starts sliding the tiles methodically, trying to get every possible combination. Unfortunately, even with relatively few tiles, that's going to take awhile...do they have the time to spare?

DG: Malfi has used her Tool Portable Scanner toward her party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door.
<Pose Tracker> Yarobeleedt has posed.

        Fun fact: Yarobeleedt is the very, very first one in all of Lunar to be here, because it is the very deepest part of it he could go when he first saw trouble over the horizon during a panicked search for at least some other Guardian Statue to destroy. He is utterly frozen solid. He blends almost too well with the local architecture, and can be confused for being a drippy, leaky pipe of some kind in the darkness.
        ...
        Confused? He is totally drippy and leaky.
        He might also be the reason there's the sound of rushing water nearby, because whatever he saw made him so scared that he just dug underground and did not think to patch up the hole behind him, so hey, enjoy the near-inevitability of this chamber being flooded that much faster.
        Also, further enjoy the complimentary falling form of Yarobeleedt plopping on the ground after another tremendous seismic event, who starts scratching his limbs wildly on the door while screeching like mad. Also screeching like sad.
        Screeching like everything is screeching at once.

DG: Yarobeleedt has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Duplicator-Sealed Door.
<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

"DAMNIT!"

A deep, angry voice can be heard near Ambrosius, as a massive figure lands downward nearby, nearly toppling over after the landing. He seems pretty roughed up, bruised and lacerated by debris flaying faster than eyes could normally track flying at him, and tons of rubble falling upon him.

"I couldn't even get a sample! It just disappeared!" he remarks to himself.

Attempting to gauge the area, he finds others gathered nearby-- all familiar. "It is you lot! Good!" he says to everyone. Ambrosius gets a massive hand on his shoulder. Malfi, the one whom helped establish Hive's Haunt, gets a nod of approval. Yaro... gets an odd look. What is wrong with that Metal Demon? It is like his cellular structure has degenerated.

"If we get out of this," Elvis adds toward Yarobeleedt. "...Remind me to look in to your well-being. There has to be something to stabilize you."

He might not udnerstand any of that, but Yaro has 'helped' (big quotations there).

"I recognize these runes!" Elvis says, pointing at them as he reaches for one of his ironbound tomes. "They are ancient forms of script from Filgaia. But why are they here?" They unfortunately don't have time to find out why, just to decipher and get deeper. The only possibly safety there might be.

DG: Elvis has used his Tool Copious Research Notes toward his 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambrosius                           0 --(8)--> 8                   Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malfi                               0 --(3)--> 3                   Pass
Portable Scanner                    2   Wits    Effects: Enlighten            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elvis                               0 --(3)--> 3                   Pass
Copious Research Notes              2   Wits    Effects: Enlighten            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yarobeleedt                         0 --(8)--> 8                   Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC                
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Ambrosius                   0 --(20)--> 20                 Pass
Conditions: Reckless(2)|Tire(2)
Effects: Enlighten(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Ambrosius 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> Ambrosius has posed.

Ambrosius's study is interrupted by two things falling from the ceiling. The first is Yarobeleedt - dripping and leaking and scratching and screeching. Ambrosius recoils away from the Metal Demon, but before he can say anything further, there's a much louder crashing noise as a certain massive Scientist crashes down.

"Seeentinel...it is good...to see you safe..." Ambrosius says, hurrying to his side. For his efforts he gets a big pat on the shoulder. It's enough to nearly knock him off his feet, but he manages to remain standing. "Allow me...I have some heeealing taleeents...that may be of use...

With Elvis's permission, Ambrosius will begin utilizing some healing Ether to help patch him up.

But with everyone reunited, the opening of his door can truly begin.

Ambrosius's time is largely spent tending to Elvis or studying the panels without actually touching them, while Yarobeleedt...

Well.

In the end, it's mostly Malfi and Elvis that do all the work - by consulting their individual notes, they're eventually able to deduce the correct pattern.

And slowly, the door begins to open...

DG: Yarobeleedt has drawn a new Challenge.
================================================<* The Flooded Ruins *>=================================================
==============================================<* CHALLENGE - Sinscales *>===============================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 When you enter this room, you find a small pool that sparkles with            
 always-clear water. A restorative pond, which can lend rejuvenative effects.  
 It would be a place to rest, for a moment, except for one problem: a cluster  
 of winged insects, with skittering legs, are scattered about. When you        
 enter, they turn at you -- and then leap, trying to bite at you with their    
 mandibles!                                                                    
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
<Pose Tracker> Yarobeleedt has posed.

        "AAAAAAAAAA," says Yarobeleedt to the kindly old scientist whose curiosity in his deteriorating health with all the gratitude and kindness he can muster, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAA,"
        There is no floor ahead of them through that door. There is a short fall instead, so short that maybe it shouldn't be called 'a fall' so much as 'an architect's failure to install something like a short staircase.' The screaming is blessedly muffled for a time.
        A time in which everyone is splashed in cool, crisp, clean water that sparkles with almost a complete lack of a proper light source to sparkle off of. That is how sparkly it is. By any of their reckonings, this water is... perfectly safe to drink, and filled to the brim with restorative power!
        Even with Yarobeleedt splashing about in it. He is not so foul as to ruin it forever! Feel free to drink up as much as one wa--
        Okay now it is ruined, because when Yarobeleedt climbs out of this surprisingly deep pool of water, he is covered comprehensively in a whole cluster of indistinct but winged vile insects that are currently visiting his person. He hoots, he hollers, he rolls everywhere and maybe into everyone and even worse...
        *squeak*
        WHY DOES HE EVEN STILL HAVE THAT THING?! The... the hated toy effigy of Stare Roe, as noisy as it is apparently indestructible as it bounces around everywhere in the chaos that ensues.
        *squeak* *squeak* *squeak*

DG: Yarobeleedt has used its Tool Toy Guardian toward its party's challenge, Sinscales.
<Pose Tracker> Malfi has posed.

Malfi is at a disadvantage: neither of her weapons would be particularly good against small, nimble opponents. She resorts to swatting the bugs by hand. At least she can shapeshift her "hand" into something more resembling a paddle! But then it gets bug guts on it, ewwww! She continues swatting and will be relieved when she can rinse the bug residue off in the restorative pond -- which she hopes will heal the bug bites she's been sustaining! At least the insects don't seem to be blood feeders (or maybe they don't recognize mercury blood as food). Getting out of town and into the sewers has been rough!

DG: Malfi has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sinscales.
<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

"Thank you, Ambrosius! It is catastrophic up there. Some kind of being appeared and is manipulating space to churn everything into nonexistance!" the man huffs. This is literally the only safe area for who knows how far, and even then, last I saw it was still bearing down on us!"

One massive attack opened the waterworks to this depth, one more could end them at any moment. Getting farther down was imperative. With soem quick references between he and Malfi, the door opens in to a room, some sort of fount made to take a rest.

Oh god what is that noise Yaro is making, did he break him? "Y... Yeah... OKAY ONWARD!"

"WAIT--" the man shouts as the odd Metal Demon enters the water. That might not be... well never mind, it looks still clear somewhat. Yeah, definitely magical. "Oh, those don't look friendly," he comments, wrenching a fist.

"You might want to hold still WHAT IS THAT?!" Elvis shouts, that toy flying everywhere in front of the group at these insectoids looking to take a bite out of the party. A look to Malfi. "Is being with him always like this?!"

And THE PROFESSOR looks to try and deck some insects, all the while having to avoid a very wild toy and a gibbering degenerate.

This might go bad.

DG: Elvis has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Sinscales.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

"A being...? I see..." Ambrosius comments with a frown. That's a little...disconcerting. Well, it was a good thing he came down here, then.

Ambrosius steps through the door, and finds himself stepping into a pool of clean water. If it wasn't for his height, this fall might be a little more concerning, but like this it's nothing more than a small stumble.

"...Hm." He takes notice of the water they've found themselves in, and draws out one of those metal containers he's been known to use. This one is empty, but with his talents he begins to carefully guide some water into it, filling it up so that he may use it later.

It's during this that Yarobeleedt begins making a bit of a racket. He rolls around covered in...giant bugs? Ambrosius frowns and draws his revolver. He then begins to fire repeatedly, aiming to pick the insects off one by one.

He isn't actively aiming for Yarobeleedt, but he won't be too broken up if he hits him.

DG: Ambrosius has used his Tool Mist Canister toward his party's challenge, Sinscales.
================================================<* The Flooded Ruins *>=================================================
==============================================<* CHALLENGE - Sinscales *>===============================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 When you enter this room, you find a small pool that sparkles with            
 always-clear water. A restorative pond, which can lend rejuvenative effects.  
 It would be a place to rest, for a moment, except for one problem: a cluster  
 of winged insects, with skittering legs, are scattered about. When you        
 enter, they turn at you -- and then leap, trying to bite at you with their    
 mandibles!                                                                    
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
===========================================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 2 *>============================================
================================================< Results - Sinscales >=================================================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambrosius                           8 --(0)--> 8                   Pass
Mist Canister                       1   Combat  Effects: Cleanse              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malfi                               3 --(0)--> 3                   Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elvis                               3 --(0)--> 3                   Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yarobeleedt                         8 --(5)--> 13                  Fail
Toy Guardian                        2   Combat  Effects: Embolden             
-------------------------------------------------------< Party >--------------------------------------------------------
Leader: Ambrosius                   20 --(20)--> 40                Pass
Conditions: Reckless(1)|Save Point(1)|Tire(1)
Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1)
===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: The party led by Ambrosius 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: Malfi has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* The Flooded Ruins *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Golem Arm *>==========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 The Elw created a number of golems to defend their ruins. However these       
 ruins ended up on Lunar, it seems that their guardians remain. Much like the  
 ruins, though, they have taken considerable damage. In this case, it is only  
 a disembodied stone arm that crawls down the hallway to stop you. Then,       
 however, it lifts into the air -- balls up one great, rocky fist -- and       
 flies out to punch you!                                                       
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Yarobeleedt has posed.

        *BANG*
 
        *SWAT*
 
                *WHAM*
 
                        *squeak*
 
                                "hexxxxxxx"
 
        Everything is awful. As the mist clears, there are now bug corpses everywhere, and also Yarobeleedt looks especially beaten and shot up, but that's probably a net positive in the great big picture of things... anyway, look at the shiny, clear water! Even with all the dead things and Yarobeleedt around it, none of it is fouled! They can take a moment to freshen up--
        Only a moment, because the sound of rushing water makes the idea of rushing onward that much more sound. Yarobeleedt claws after on his one more solid arm to drag himself along, snagging up that Stare Roe toy with his more noodly arm before following along. He 'hexes' the entire way. They're kind of nasty hexes.
        He'd better not say anything like that around Carol!!!
        Malfi finds an intact dead speciment to take with her.
        Okay, so not everything is as awful.

<Pose Tracker> Malfi has posed.

"I'm afraid so," Malfi answers Elvis as their small party scrambles past the restorative pond and into the next room -- where, oddly enough, a stone golem's arm is waiting to ambush them! It is unfortunate for them that the arm is able to fly or levitate -- it would've been easier to fight had it been forced to stay on the floor. It's solid stone, and determined to get the best of them! They'd better use strategy to defeat it!

DG: Malfi has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Golem Arm.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

With the problems dealt with, Ambrosius returns his revolver to its holster within his cloak and moves on. It doesn't seem like anything of importance was lost, thankfully.

Before they get too far, though, they're attacked by...a giant stone arm?

"This...this is a Golem's arm..." Ambrosius observes. "A priiimitive one...but a Gooolem arm just the same..."

He brings out the canister he just filled, opening it up to release the refreshing, cleansing mist within. Rather than shoot or cast at it, however, he rushes forward to grapple with it and throw it against the far wall to try and disable it.

<Pose Tracker> Yarobeleedt has posed.

        As is expected of Yarobeleedt, he addresses this with all the pride and culture of his people.
        He screams and hides as he drops THAT THING again on the ground. The golem arm slams its fist down...
        *squeak*
        Then the golem arm starts playing with it.
        *squeak* *squeak* *squeak*
        As it is a golem and not a small child, it is maybe less a matter of it having any sort of capacity for amusement and more that it has identified the offending object as not being properly crushed underneath its might, so it keeps trying to do so while Yarobeleedt just tries to clamber up some corner of the chamber somewhere to get away from whatever it is that has set him off. Maybe it's his own shadow.
        Good news is, the arm may be distracted long enough for it to be disassembled.
        Bad news is *squeak* *squeak* *squeak*
        ...
        Bad news is self explanatory.

DG: Yarobeleedt has used its Tool Toy Guardian toward its party's challenge, Golem Arm.
<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

 When the dust (or ichor in this case) settles, the insects are dealt with, and remarkably, Yaro is able to cobble himself back together. About as good as possible anyway. Elvis grimmaces after hearing Malfi. "Hmph." Might be something to get used to if he keeps running in to him.

The Veruni kneels down by the water, and takes a few dregs with cupped hands. "That... does feel better." He thinks there might be an aftertaste though. It could jsut be the water source, but...

Ugh.

Yaro's curses garner a raised brow toward the Metal Demon. At least Carol isn't here. A young lady should never hear such things! "Any word from the others at Hive's Haunt?" he asks Malfi. Though a dragging noise interrupts him from elaborating further. "A construct's arm! Still active," the man says, readying to aggress the creature-- err, part of a creature.

"Be careful, Ambrosius!" Elvis offers, moving in to formation to assist him up close.

  • squeak*


NNGH

DG: Elvis has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Golem Arm.
DG: Ambrosius has used his Tool Mist Canister toward his party's challenge, Golem Arm.
<Pose Tracker> Malfi has posed.

"Not lately," Malfi answers Elvis again. Ambrosius tosses the golem arm, still distracted -- if such a thing can be said to BE distractable -- by Yarobeleedt's squeaky toy against the far wall, where the construct continues to attack the Toy Guardian as Malfi and Elvis smash it. It takes no little effort, but at last the arm lies still. Malfi hands Yarobeleedt his Toy Guardian, if for no other reason than to keep him from screeching about it. The party moves deeper into the sewers...

===========================<* The Flooded Ruins *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Golem Arm *>==========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 The Elw created a number of golems to defend their ruins. However these       
 ruins ended up on Lunar, it seems that their guardians remain. Much like the  
 ruins, though, they have taken considerable damage. In this case, it is only  
 a disembodied stone arm that crawls down the hallway to stop you. Then,       
 however, it lifts into the air -- balls up one great, rocky fist -- and       
 flies out to punch you!                                                       
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound====================================================
======================<* The Flooded Ruins - Round 3 *>=======================
===========================< Results - Golem Arm >============================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambrosius                           8 --(0)--> 8                   Pass
Mist Canister                       1   Combat  Effects: Cleanse              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malfi                               3 --(0)--> 3                   Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elvis                               3 --(5)--> 8                   Fail
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yarobeleedt                         13 --(0)--> 13                 Pass
Toy Guardian                        2   Combat  Effects: Embolden             
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Ambrosius                   40 --(20)--> 60                Pass
Conditions: Wound(2)
Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Ambrosius 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: Elvis 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> Elvis has posed.

In trying to stop the golem arm, the squeaky Toy Guardian flies in front of Elvis' face one too many times, and causes him to snap. "CAN YOU STOP WITH THAT?!" he yells, loud enough to make some debris trickle down from the ceiling. He huffs and stares at that toy quite angrily. Thankfully Ambrosius and Malfi are able to finish the job.

It takes a bit of time, but Elvis eventually calms down as they travel.

The party can still feel the tremors of above every once in a while. A terrifying aspect to the creature's dreaded power being felt so far down.

However, one corner turns to a rapidly expanding path, and ahead lies a large double door, still gleaming with magic, and no Keystones or Duplicators in sight. A sigh comes from the Professor. "We're going to have to beat this one down. This doesn't have an unlocking mechanism. I have seen similar on Filgaia." The man pulls out some handwraps and prepares his hands for a vicious assault, as his Detonation Aura flares to life. "Ready to take out some stress?" Elvis asks the party.

He flies at the door. "I AM!"

DG: Elvis has used his Tool PALB-3106 Power Gloves toward his party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Malfi has posed.

"I am!" Malfi exclaims. "I haven't had a proper workout in ...5 minutes! (That would've been fighting the golem arm). She prepares to bash the door in alongside Elvis. They make a pretty good team...

DG: Malfi has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Yarobeleedt has posed.

        Yarobeleedt flinches as though he were punched in the... himself, as the effigy of Stare Roe is forcefully hand-delivered back to him. More like he snatches it out of their hands, because he wants to act out his fantasy of utterly annihilating Stare Roe's statue (despite it being long since shattered) and will covet it until the indestructible pet toy givesup the ghost and-- this is getting weird, let's move on.
        Yarobeleedt darts to and fro as he slithers along, knowing full well what he saw up there but lacking any proper capacity to describe it other than an unvoiced 'nope nope nope nope nope' and is only going down further and further into these sewers because he is completely scared out of his wits and has no idea what to do.
        They come across a door where further progress is proven impossible, so Yarobeleedt kind of stews in the corner nearby because as far as he can fathom, this is presently the furthest possible place he can go from whatever's making that ruckus far above them. It will never be far enough above them. He scratches a scythe-like claw from his more solid arm gainst the ground... no, it's like bedrock, he can't just burrow further.
        He starts rubbing back and forth against the wall purposefully, without calling much attention to himself beyond this weird and seemingly purposeless act, until suddenly he just disappears through it in which he is blatantly trying to go out of bounds of the room's collision detection.
        That or he found a secret crack that he was just blobby enough to get through, but c'mon, no matter how you slice it that's cheating.

DG: Yarobeleedt has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward its party's challenge, Mysterious Ancient Door.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Ambrosius might have taken the opportunity to rob some spare components from the golem arm. Whatever the case, it sure isn't working anymore. He progresses as if nothing had even happened...up until the point they find their pathway blocked by a door.

A door that, according to Elvis, doesn't have a key.

"It is a shame...that we must damage...a piece of history... However..." Ambrosius rummages through his cloak, drawing out what appears to be the handle of some manner of device. "We cannot allow it to...oppooose us...eeeither..."

With that he channels Ether into the device he holds. A swirling blade of dangerously-high pressure water emerges from the other end and he rushes forward, swinging it through the door repeatedly with the goal of reducing it to its component pieces.

DG: Ambrosius has used his Tool Aqua Cutter toward his 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 4 *>=======================
====================< Results - Mysterious Ancient Door >=====================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambrosius                           8 --(0)--> 8                   Pass
Aqua Cutter                         3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malfi                               3 --(5)--> 8                   Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elvis                               8 --(5)--> 13                  Fail
PALB-3106 Power Gloves              3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yarobeleedt                         13 --(5)--> 18                 Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC                
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Ambrosius                   60 --(20)--> 80                Pass
Conditions: Weaken(2)
Effects: 
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Ambrosius 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> Elvis has posed.

While many of the magics of this place are ancient and fading, this door seems unnaturally prominent and unphased by the passage of time. Elvis and Malfi more to collide with the door, and they do, defly! A thin sheen of magical energy appears on contact, and a shockwave peals out, buffeting them away with the same power they brought to the table! "AGH," Elvis grunts, tumbling once then making it to his feet, skidding back.

Yarobeleedt does indeed find a crack, it expands into various small tunnels, and is easy to finalge his way to the other side, but upon reforming, he finds that part of him has angry, screeching rats stuck to him! Looks like he went through a rat nest!

Ambrosius makes his move, and while the shielding was made to prevent large concussive forces from taking down the door, the runic magic was not made for high-intensity pressure at a razor's edge. The door attempts to block it every time, and Ambrosius finds resistance on his swings, the door is taken down with enough effort, and the barrier fades!

A few coughs come from Elvis as he stands. "We better keep moving."

Another tremor.

"...Quickly."

DG: Yarobeleedt 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=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Yarobeleedt has posed.

        (FAST FORWARDING THROUGH SCREAMING AND FLAILING FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE -Editor)
 
        The double doors fly open... then fall off the hinges... and slide down a long flight of stairs. If they act fast, they can leap on and go for an amazing ride down into the depths, where it will terminate in one final big 'SPLASH' before a flooded circular chamber full of markings that Elvis and Ambrosius will instantly recognize as...!
        Hold on one moment, that's Yarobeleedt spitting up unpleasant fluids as he crawls out from underneath the submerged half of this makeshift double-door raft. Okay, we're good, moving on.
        ...Flooded circular chamber full of markings that Elvis and Ambrosius will instantly recognize as of Elw make... just like at the Pleasing Gardens. In fact, if one so much as looks down, they can make out the crystalline structure that is quickly being submerged by the water trickling in. They're on the third story of this chamber, and it's all submerged from here. So much debris has filtered in that it obscures one's clear view of the esoteric ancient console that controls this.
        What is 'this'? Why, the exact same kind of structure seen at the Pleasing Gardens that teleported virtually everyone in the vicinity of Lost July all the way to Lunar! All they have to do is swim down and push a free-floating crystal into the receptacle.
        "Noooooo... is this the depths of the depth away from death?! Is only six feet deep instead....!" Yarobeleedt wails and despairs. Oh, right, he was forced into regenerative torpor by Lunata and wasn't conscious for the actual act of teleportation before, as he huddles within himself and considers who he is going to try and shove towards the big thing above if it pokes its... head?... in the chamber.
        The chamber shudders violently. They have to turn it on. Now.

DG: Yarobeleedt has used its Tool Clutch Harness toward its party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Malfi has posed.

Malfi is having some difficulty. Being made of dense living metal makes swimming impossible. The best she can to is submerge and carefully pick and climb her way across the fences and other obstacles. It's a good thing she doesn't really need to breathe...

It takes her far longer than the Veruni, because they can swim, so someone else beats her to the crystal and pushes it into its receptacle.

She really owes that someone a favor now...

DG: Malfi has used her Tool Blackest Coffee toward her party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

"...Agreed." Ambrosius replies. The blade of water goes still, splashing all over the floor as he returns it to the depths of his cloak. He follows the others down the stairs, where they find a rather interesting chamber.

"...Another of these deeevices..." Ambrosius observes. He had seen those humans activate a device much like this just before everyone was teleported. Which meant if they could activate this one...!

"I shall...atteeempt to deal with this waaater problem..." Ambrosius says, extending a hand out over the chamber. He tries to take control of it - to not necessarily eliminate it as a factor, but to draw enough of it away that the others would be able to swim down and activate it much more easily.

Of course, he can't activate the device himself while he's up here manipulating the water, so if no one makes it there might be trouble.

DG: Ambrosius has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Water Level.
<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

"Okay, everyone good? Lets move-- oh." Yaro seems to be having a poor time.

The party proceeds to an odd chamber that appears to be flooding, and at an unsettling rate. Deep within is some sort of-- "Wait, there!" Elvis says, pointing in the water. if his eyes didn't ecieve him, it looks like a teleportation circle. Problem is, it is deep underwater, and the controls are nowhere in sight at the moment due to obfuscation.

A look to everyone else present. "We better get underway! I don't wanna drown!"

Ironically saying this, his only option is to swim.

The man takes a leap and dives in to the water. Swimming isn't a strong suit due to size and weight, but at least he can hold his breath a long time!

DG: Elvis has contributed a Agility Basic Action 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambrosius                           8 --(100)--> 108               Fail
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malfi                               8 --(100)--> 108               Pass
Blackest Coffee                     2   Agility Effects: Resilient            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elvis                               13 --(100)--> 113              Fail
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yarobeleedt                         18 --(100)--> 118              Pass
Clutch Harness                      3   Agility Effects: Rally                
-------------------------------------------------------< Party >--------------------------------------------------------
Leader: Ambrosius                   80 --(10)--> 90                Fail
Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Weaken(1)
Effects: Resilient(1)
===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: Ambrosius is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Malfi is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Elvis is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Yarobeleedt is too exhausted to continue!
DG: The party has failed this challenge! All party members are now Exhausted. This attempt is over.
DG: The party led by Ambrosius has been fully Exhausted by The Flooded Ruins!
DG: The party will now draw a conclusion.
================================================<* The Flooded Ruins *>=================================================
===========================================<* CHALLENGE - Hopelessly Lost *>============================================
|Type: Escape      |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1          | 
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
 The twisting hallways of the flooded ruins, with their strange infestations,  
 have caused you to get hopelessly lost. You are turned around completely.     
 That is when you hear a rumble through the whole of the dungeon -- and then   
 there is a flash of light.                                                    
                                                                               
 You have returned to Filgaia.                                                 
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Yarobeleedt has posed.

        It's a lot of water, and there is a lot of trouble ahead. As they all get to work, they notice that there's a whole lot of other people going about trying to do the same in other parts of this great chamber. Some have to stand around and pep talk about where they're going. Others get a bit leery. Nonetheless, there is a common thread among all of them who come down to this strange place that should not even be on Lunar by anyone's recognition.
        They all have to brave the depths.
        The Veruni and Metal Demon mish-mash team-up are among the very last to take the chance, and as it turns out, by the time they are there, it is too late. The entire place shudders even more violently as it feels like the architecture above is about to be ripped clean and crushed from above their heads. Ears pop. The air becomes far harder to breathe (for those actually in the air).
        Yarobeleedt and Malfi make it furthest down - the latter thanks to Ambrosius' work, the former because suddenly he decides he wants to try and sacrifice Malfi to whatever's going on above him to save his skin - and all of them feel as though they are no longer bound by the gravity of Lunar itself. There is a violent shuddering and tugging that threatens to send them all to a one-way trip to a watery, debris-filled oblivion.
        Elvis will note that the crystals are shining - it's activating! By his calculations, then-- wait, there's a very young woman who, from this angle, looks an awful lot like--
        There is one last rumble, and blinding flash of light.
        The air grows arid... familiar.
        The environs... especially familiar.
        ...They returned, and none will have themselves a moment of rest as... well, those events that follow are well-documented, indeed.

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Ambrosius holds it for as long as he can. Perhaps they would've made it down faster were he to swim down along with them, or perhaps he would've slowed everything down. They won't know either way now, for before they know it, they've all found themselves back on Filgaia...and in a rather perilous predicament.

All of them save one - Ambrosius is nowhere to be seen. It seems that he's ended up elsewhere...but this is fine.

There's someone he needs to see, after all.

<Pose Tracker> Malfi has posed.

As the teleportation activates, Malfi instinctively reverts to her human disguise -- that of the warrior-woman, "Tamryn." There was no telling where she was going to wind up, but she doubted it would be any place friendly to Hyadeans...

<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

Swimming can be difficult with debris, and a bunch of other humans being there already. He can't exactly bat them away after all! Fluid motion and whatnot.

And just before Elvis has to try and seek oxygen, he spies a familiar figure far below, tampering with the device. How do they even know how to use it?! WAIT.

Elvis attempts to call out a name.

A vicious tremor occurs.

Then a burst of light.