2018-10-09: The Journey More Pleasant
- Log: The Journey More Pleasant
- Cast: Avril Vent Fleur, Leah Sadalbari, Celine Jules, Lydia Seren
- Where: Serpent's Coils
- Date: October 9th 2018
- Summary: A mixed group heads into the Binding Depths of the Serpent's Coils, in search of what treasure -- and fell presence -- may rest in the newly uncovered section. Lydia finds a new friend. Avril learns something important. Leah makes a discovery. Celine displays her true power.
DG: A party led by Avril Vent Fleur is now entering Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== ===============<* CHALLENGE - Do The Whole Serpent Coil Again *>================ |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The Serpent Coils are overrun. Some power here is causing something new to emerge from the dark caverns that lay beneath the dungeon. Demi-human creatures with pig snouts and swords, wobbling, aggressive slimes, armed and armored lizardmen and even the very sand beneath your feet coming alive to grasp you; all these things have populated the halls, formerly occupied by more common Filgaian threats. There is only one real solution to get to the deeper layer quickly: Run past everything in your way like a maniac. The path deeper down is obvious enough, when you find it: A rupture in the Serpent Coils' brickwork, leading down to long caves...and much, much older bricks. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
The Serpent's Coils is one of those places that Avril had only heard of, the last time she had spent long in Ignas' west. The last time, there had been no reason to have gone there, with their search after the statues taking them foremost down the path of whispered rumor rather than blindly into the depths of the many ruins dotting Filgaia's countryside.
This time the rumors were enough to bring her here.
Maybe they should have come before, runs the young woman's thoughts as she locates the hidden entrance to the ruin. Something is wrong here -- something, much further in scratches at her spiritual awareness. Not Malevolence. Something... else. She's quiet as she approaches the blank stone wall where the entrance is known to lurk.
She finds it a little too easily for someone who has by all accounts never been here before.
"Oh... there are a lot of slimes here," the silver-haired woman comments mildly, as the horde awaiting beyond the entrance jiggles forward en masse.
With a slight flourish, she brings forth the octagonal disc of the Sea Guardian from the depths of her robe. "We should make haste. I feel as if engaging them may be an inefficient use of our time," she says as she glances at the others.
One shoe goes 'tick' as she takes a step down a short flight of stone steps.
"Lucadia... lend us your power," she intones, as the disc begins to glow.
Muted conduit to the Guardians or not, it still shines.
The rest may be a bit of a blur, between angry slimes, lots and lots of strange piggy men, block puzzles, missing floors, and some 'platforming required' moments. Hopefully, Lucadia's power -- what is available to them -- is sufficient this day.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, Do The Whole Serpent Coil Again.
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
There has been a change in the depths. ...Previous reports don't at all match with the new rumors coming out of the Coils. But eventually, some brave Drifter will want to investigate. Inevitably, they'll come up... and Leah just happened to be there willing to join the expedition. Join, and pay others for the same--the official story goes that she has a buyer for artifacts from such ruins, and can guarantee a minimum payout even if things go poorly, provided that they all stick with it. Unofficially...
Unofficially she brought cookies for the group and offered them on the trek over, and even now looks out at the wall, stepping up beside Avril. The blue-haired woman considers the horde beyond.
"...Slimes," she repeats. "Well, I guess I'm going to need some oil," she complains, shrugs and shakes her head. "But I'm with you. Let's move past. ...I'll give people a hand up if they need it--my spear can stretch."
And at that--the Medium has glowed. Leah feels the power of the sea flooding through her limbs, fascinated. But Leah?
Leah manipulates a little switch and leaps--
And spins mid-air as she lands on the side of the wall as if it's a floor. She keeps moving, shifting from platform side to platform bottom, running ahead. She'll stop and offer a hand up, as she offered, if she needs.
DG: Leah Sadalbari has used her Tool Gravity Module toward her party's challenge, Do The Whole Serpent Coil Again.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
Did Celine do the first of the Serpent Coils? It's possible, but with a group of no-nothing or lesser skilled adventurers!
It's unlikely she got too far. However, with a buyer looking for treasure in the even deeper crevices of the Serpent's coils, Celine was more than willing to join with a crew that might be more capable! The money that was dangled before her face only helped, honestly. It really helped a lot more than it probably should have, with Celine grinning all the way from the offer on.
Of course, the money that is offered is something that'll be have to be enjoyed after the adventure. No sooner than she took a step inside, the Demi-human beings, slimes, and other creatures that swarm are very active. Far more active than they have any right to be! It might be that oppressive atmosphere, different, but still a bit - well - oppressive! Eyes focus all around her as she walks along with the others, "Oh, just slimes~?" Celine asks, glancing at the jello. "At least it's a nice bright welcoming. Really adds to the atmosphere. Do you think they all just decide on what color they were going to be, or they get to choose by themselves?" Celine asks of Avril, perhaps already starting to add her special bit of commentary.
"W-huh!? We're going to wade through them?" What an odd comment to make after another! Yet slimes are somewhat slow. Maybe they can... shuffle by? Just enough? Munching on a cookie, Celine asks all of this while her mouth is somewhat busy, in between nibbles. Yet Celine chews gratefully! Perhaps trailing behind the others a little, Celine would stride through, or try, filled with the Sea's energy! "My, is this what water feels like inside you?~ I'm so used to fire and other sensations, I just never thought about how it might be for the other few." Hopefully her heels will prevent any slippery sludge issues!
DG: Celine Jules has used her Tool Fashionable Boots toward her party's challenge, Do The Whole Serpent Coil Again.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia Seren is eager to lend Avril a hand. She is, after all an ice person who may very well be the coolest person she snows.
Nevertheless, Lydia isn't too experienced with this place though if she recalls correctly, she nearly drowned. Or was that a different dig entirely? She's honestly having keeping track of all the times she nearly drowned. So is her player! This is unnerving!!!
Lydia glances towards Leah. Blue hair! She just eems to be quietly sizing up the lady.
"Man, for a day for me to have given my pistols away. I really need to find a replacement!"
She crosses her arms slowly as she tilts her head curiously at the demi-humans. Are they beastmen? The lizardmen too? "To be honest, I could probably just say 'hey' to them but..." She frowns. "Something seems weird here, so I think uh...in this case, wem ight be better sneaking about."
She starts following the group, pushing her hands into her pockets as if that might make her smaller. "But if they do cathc us I guess I could try dip...loma...cy?"
She sounds uncertain.
DG: Lydia Seren has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Do The Whole Serpent Coil Again.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== ===============<* CHALLENGE - Do The Whole Serpent Coil Again *>================ |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The Serpent Coils are overrun. Some power here is causing something new to emerge from the dark caverns that lay beneath the dungeon. Demi-human creatures with pig snouts and swords, wobbling, aggressive slimes, armed and armored lizardmen and even the very sand beneath your feet coming alive to grasp you; all these things have populated the halls, formerly occupied by more common Filgaian threats. There is only one real solution to get to the deeper layer quickly: Run past everything in your way like a maniac. The path deeper down is obvious enough, when you find it: A rupture in the Serpent Coils' brickwork, leading down to long caves...and much, much older bricks. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
===============<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils - Round 1 *>================ =================< Results - Do The Whole Serpent Coil Again >================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sea Medium 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leah Sadalbari 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Gravity Module 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celine Jules 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fashionable Boots 3 Agility Effects: Fanfare -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Slow(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur 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> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Thank you for coming with us, Lydia. I'm rather concerned about what could be at work in these ruins."
In silence Avril considers Leah, but it's merely the same curious quiet consideration she's given the woman since they first met. It's possible that if Rebecca had been present, she might have considered Leah more closely -- after all, of the three of the friends, Rebecca is the more worldly of the lot. Still, even asking around would have only confirmed that Leah was precisely who she presented herself as--
She's a Drifter, and she's looking for assistance in delving into a ruin showing unusual activity of late, chasing after rumors. For material gain, perhaps -- she wouldn't be the first.
Avril stands out among Drifters for simply being present to investigate and hopefully put a stop to what is stirring in the depths.
This feeling already bodes ill.
"Hmm... I wonder if that might be possible?" Celine might have meant the comment as a joke but Avril seems to be taking it with all seriousness...
Hastened by the power of Lucadia, mysterious technology, and a really good pair of heels, Avril and the rest plunge onwards through the ruins. A few shots from the highlight reel:
Avril and the others borne away from a group of piggish creatures by Lucadia's magic.
Leah managing a narrow leap and reaching out to catch Lydia when the young shaman stumbles.
Celine just treading on a slime and dealing it a puncture wound that it -- and its fellows -- won't forget easily. The gelatinous tide parts. They're free to venture deeper.
DG: Leah Sadalbari has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - Failing Floor *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You barely get ten feet into this long room's dirt floor before someone's foot punches entirely through the floor. Recovery from that one is easy enough, but it's clear the floor is bad here. You'll have to walk carefully....or, run like hell and hope the ground doesn't crumble until you're no longer standing on it. =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
"Believe it or not," Leah remarks, stopping along a wall in a crouch, "The color of a slime is largely influenced by the particles that make up its form--that is to say, what it ingests." Hup--another jump. She has of course noticed Lydia sizing her up. Leah is older than many Drifters, though the blue is the brilliant azure sort of color--she might be thirty or so.
"There are a few good ARMs meisters in the area," Leah offers to Lydia on another stop. "...But diplomacy is always good when it works."
Leah seems friendly enough, at least, if a little bit big-sister towards all these youths walking around. Knowledgeable, thoughtful--she isn't shy about mentioning her interest in archaeology, though this place isn't in her specialty.
...She also carries a large spear as if it weighed nothing.
Once they're before a large door, past all the slimes, Leah looks around to the others. "Are all of you all right?" she asks. "Don't hesitate to ask me if you need healing. I can patch up minor matters without much trouble."
Leah leads the way into the next room, reasoning herself a good shield, but--ah, there it is, ten feet in and Leah's foot crunches through the floor, the older woman falling far more quickly than is reasonable for someone of her apparent build, and with the scratch of stone against metal rather than... anything at all fleshy.
An instant later however there's a strange hum and she rockets back up, standing on the roof, looking thoughtfull down. "That was unpleasant." There's... something black, under her torn pant leg, where one would expect skin. "Let's be careful. Grab this if you start to fall." She extends her weapon somewhat and starts again forward.
DG: Leah Sadalbari has used her Tool Gravity Module toward her party's challenge, Failing Floor.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
"If they catch us while just trying to get through, what kind of diplomacy do you think they'd like?~ Robbery, or armed?" Celine asks a bit cheerfully as manages to stride through a few slimes, less than carefully, as she steps and treads on one, puncturing it with platform heel boots that are like both fashionable and, especially as shown now, functional! Of course, Avril's response has Celine nod. Oh, she was serious too. "Mhmm. I bet it is, though I don't think they always get along."
As Avril bore away with magic, Leah and Lydia going forwards, Celine keeps up! "Ah, so that explains why they're always the same~. They just eat whatever they can find, which usually is the only thing in the area, right?" She exclaims, click-clacking on her heels as she follows the others, taking care to stride and leap when she has to - her outfit doesn't help her manuever any, at least!
The large spear is rather impressive, compared to Celine's mini-staff, but the staff is certainly necessary for what she does with it! Following along, it's surprising when Leah stops, Celine pinwheeling her arms a bit as she stops. "Ah?"
Though Leah topples over. "W-didn't we have someone here!?" She asks, a bit alarmed, before that same someone rises upwards! "Oh we did!" Leah, upside down, surprises Celine. "If the floor's bad, you might have to watch the ceiling - ... but if it falls, do you fall up, or does it fall down into you?" Celine wonders, out loud, but then looks down to focus.
Unfortunately, platform heels may put overly large amounts of pressure on the floor - this .. could take a while. She'll have to take it slower!
DG: Celine Jules has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Failing Floor.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Hey no problem, Avril!" She gives her friend's friend who is also a friend a thumbsup.
Lydia stumbles, but Leah is able to catch her before she falls over. Watch where you're goin', Lydia!
But other than that, it seems the team is able to move on without much trouble. Whew!! Lydia wonders if Leah is as old as Leon but she doesn't really know her. Or...know her. At all. "Hey," She tells Leah. "Thanks for the save. I'm Lydia. You?"
She smiles faintly when it seems Leah has some healing power too but as she's a new person, she figures she should try to hold off doing anything too crazy.
"The guns I had weren't usually like weapons, really," Lydia says. "If I have to fight, I will probably just hit them with my gods and let that be the end of it. It usually works."
Lydia's foot punchs clear through the floor suddenly. "....Sigh." She says, not sighs. She looks to Leah, extending a hand.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Hey no problem, Avril!" She gives her friend's friend who is also a friend a thumbsup.
Lydia stumbles, but Leah is able to catch her before she falls over. Watch where you're goin', Lydia!
But other than that, it seems the team is able to move on without much trouble. Whew!! Lydia wonders if Leah is as old as Leon but she doesn't really know her. Or...know her. At all. "Hey," She tells Leah. "Thanks for the save. I'm Lydia. You?"
She smiles faintly when it seems Leah has some healing power too but as she's a new person, she figures she should try to hold off doing anything too crazy.
"The guns I had weren't usually like weapons, really," Lydia says. "If I have to fight, I will probably just hit them with my gods and let that be the end of it. It usually works."
Lydia's foot punchs clear through the floor suddenly. "....Sigh." She says, not sighs. She looks to Leah, extending a hand. "I weigh more than I look. So uh... I hate to ask again but...I'll probably need your help."
DG: Lydia Seren has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Failing Floor.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Is that so? I see, so slimes are capable of acclimating to their surroundings in that way... It is clever of them, is it not?" is Avril's commentary on the mysterious capability of slimes. "Perhaps if we were to take one to a different location we might be able to see for ourselves what changes could result."
For all the dangers they plunge through -- some narrow misses and the like as well -- Avril continues in the same determined yet ultimately unruffled manner as always, Medium still borne in her arms.
"I am alright. So you are capable of healing as well?" she notes, glancing once Leah's way. "With this, I am also able to tend to any wounds we may suffer," she says, jostling the Medium a touch in her arms. Her gaze shifts soon to the walls.
"Is this a different construction material? It doesn't quite match what was above. I have heard tell that some people have built cities atop the ruins of cities. Perhaps this might be the-- ah, careful--"
She's taken a step backwards, just as a section of the floor crumbles away beneath where she'd been standing only moments before.
And even this is giving way. She wheels back several steps before she finds more sturdy ground, and there eyes the hallway before them.
"...It would seem this floor is unstable. Please proceed with caution."
There's a moment's pause before she again brandishes the Medium. "Lucadia, please lend us your grace," she says, before springing across the open gap and...
Races for the exit ahead as the enchantment holds.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, Failing Floor.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - Failing Floor *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You barely get ten feet into this long room's dirt floor before someone's foot punches entirely through the floor. Recovery from that one is easy enough, but it's clear the floor is bad here. You'll have to walk carefully....or, run like hell and hope the ground doesn't crumble until you're no longer standing on it. =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
===============<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils - Round 2 *>================ ==========================< Results - Failing Floor >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(15)--> 15 Pass Sea Medium 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 5 --(20)--> 25 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leah Sadalbari 0 --(20)--> 20 Fail Gravity Module 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celine Jules 0 --(20)--> 20 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 20 --(10)--> 30 Fail Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Slow(1) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has failed this challenge! The party gained 10 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
"A bit of optimism keeps the journey more pleasant, at least... But I suspect you have a point about the slimes' receptiveness." Leah offers that fairly casually to Celine. And the matter of slimes--she nods to Celine, pleased, and also to Avril. "A woman of science I see," Leah says to Avril with an approving nod and a small smile. "We could! It would be a bit dangerous, of course, but kept properly contained..." She wobbles her hand a little. The point is Avril's analytical nature has gotten a smile and a couple of little flowers above Leah's head in the interface though not literally so.
To Lydia Leah offers a hand; it's gloved, and should Lydia take it, harder and colder than is typical for a human hand. "Leah. It's good to meet you properly." She looks to Avril next, "I am; I have some magic for the task, and some basic supplies." A beat, "Interesting device. Good to know that two of us can do it, too."
Her single good eye lingers on the disc for a moment thoughtfully before she turns to Lydia. "Ah, so?" A laugh, then. "That's certainly an... interesting way to put it. You're from the Baskar Colony, aren't you?" But, she steps forward. And--
Yes. Yes, the floor is unstable. In point of fact, Celine does fine! ...Well, she does slow, and the care with which she travels means that she is able to avoid most of the floor breaks; walking in heels means watching out for that kind of thing. However... She had a point about the ceiling.
Before that though, Lydia punches through the floor with her foot and Leah takes that hand back. "It's all right; I'm stronger than I look, too. One of the benefits, I suppose." She can indeed help support Lydia's weight one-handed, somehow. But...
Well. Lucadia's grace surrounds them, and by Lucadia's grace, when the ceiling and floor both crumble into dust, they are suffused with a blue light, which gently surrounds them and cushions the inevitable fall down three stories.
DG: Celine Jules has drawn a new Challenge.
===================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>==================== ==================<* CHALLENGE - A Door With A Small Lock *>================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- You encounter a plain wooden door, unremarkable except for the sheer implausibility of a banded wooden door still being down here, and for the sheer sturdiness of its construction. Bullets, bombs and fists all do simply nothing to it. You'll need the key. And if you haven't found the key already....guess you gotta go find it. Did you miss any paths on the way in, maybe? =Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
"Well, I'm sure they're less dumb than they put on... since I've seen a few things sthey do!" None of them that identify that yes, slimes have a totally intelligent life! It's, at least, perhaps more than she thinks at least. Smiling as she walks along, she nods and looks over to Avril and Lydia as well, "My, this is a bit tricky..." Not as analytical as Avril, Celine is figuring out the floor part the hart way! "Well I'll try, this'll take a bit too long... ah.."
Still, Celine isn't antisocial, "Celi-eeee!" She flails a bit, nearly falling, "Line..." She adds, rubbing her hat as she strides carefully.
Almost over, Celine turns back to the others, "Guess we worried about nothing, right? This was simpl-" And then the shrieks began. Especially from Celine. Traveling down, down, down - Celine holds outo her hat and dress, and staff, as she plummets with the others, "Oh what were the words again...!" She mumbles, regarding a symbological chant she had used previously while falling - but Avril has them covered!
Literately, the grace surrounding them and making the fall a little less worse than it couldbe. Falling onto her back, Celine lets out a heavy breath. "That... could have been worse~." Sitting up, she glances around, "You really helped out, Avril! I like that kind of landing more than the other kind..." Rubbing her back a bit and staggering up with a wince, she eyes... a door.
"A door?" How obvious! Celine walks over.
She grasps the handle.
She pulls.
Nothing. "This door is stuck pretty good... don't worry~, I got it!" Standing back a bit - Celine's thigh glows a bit red. "Oh hungry flames!" A small fireball twirls through the air, impacts and... nothing. Celine stares, "Hahaha.... is ... it really wood...?" She's left to wonder, thinking. There is a lock... but a key? Think... Celine goes a bit silent as her head tilts! Maybe she'll figure it out - maybe! "I bet the keys nearby, at least!"
DG: Celine Jules has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Door With A Small Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia frowns faintly. Prosthetics aren't uncommon but it could be something else. Inhumanly cold hands aren't particularly rare in this business so she doesn't even comment on it. Besides, even if she were a terrible cyborg warrior, who cares? Lydia is also a terrible cyborg warrior. But noticing it is still a surprise.
"Yeah," She admits. "I'm from the Baskar Colony. It's a nice place for the most part, though I didn't really appreciate it so much at first, you know?" She grins. "But that's part of growing up, right? Totally normal."
"Oh shit--" Lydia says when the other foot punches through the floor. "UWaAWaAAAAaaaa!" It sounds just like with Link.Whomever that is!
"Hmm...it seems like we need a key." Lydia says.
Schrodinger starts trotting out from nowhere, carrying a key in their mouth.
"Oh hey! A key!" Lydia says cheerfully but...
IS IT THE RIGHT KEY?!
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Schrodinger the Cat toward her party's challenge, A Door With A Small Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Yes, containing a slime would be difficult," Avril says, tilting her head to one side as she frowns. She's... seriously considering this, isn't she. "Perhaps with the proper container... one that would resist their corrosive nature..."
Perhaps it's best that this -- thanks to the nature of the challenges that sprout in their path -- remains solely an academic one, for now.
Her fingers tighten fleetingly around the Medium as Leah notes it.
"Yes, it is."
She doesn't elaborate, not in those seconds before Leah finds the floor and finds it unstable. "Ah... Are you alright?"
In the end, she's not quite fast enough.
But Lucadia's blessing is still active, and effectively cushions their fall when it comes, when they plunge down into the space beneath the unstable floor.
"Goodness, that could have been unfortunate," she comments, glancing back up to the place from whence they'd came. "...You're quite welcome, Celine. It is fortunate that Lucadia was able to save us from harm." It goes without saying that this is doublely so with the dampening effect on the Guardians.
"Oh, a door... it is locked?"
A pause filters out. Avril glances about herself, taking in their surroundings. No, it's just the door, the place from which they fell...
The pots.
As Schrodinger comes trotting up with a shiny prize in his mouth, Avril starts going through the pots. She's at least not smashing them, which is more than can be said of some legendary heroes out there.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Door With A Small Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
Leah looks back at Lydia at the frown, and smiles anyway. "Prosthetic," she explains, not really necessary but as if it's apologetic. ...The overall effect might be a little guilt-inducing because she looks self-conscious.
"We all find that we want to go places other than where we were born," Leah answers. "I think it's natural. I'm glad you've come to appreciate your home, though. I've never been to the Colony here in Ignas."
As for the slimes... It's probably for the best. ...Also Solaris probably has captive Slimes somewhere. It's natural.
"Celine," Leah repeats once they've all up again. She glances to the door, though--the truth is, as a veteran adventurer, Leah knows well the bane that doors represent. Especially when they have... locks. "Any fall you can walk away from, right?" A beat, "...Lucadia, you say? The Guardian of the Sea?" She's heard it a couple of times now, in fact.
...But there's a cat there. "Ah! Hello there," Leah says. "That's convenient, isn't it? Do you know this fellow?"
Is Lydia not actually helping but instead focusing on the cat? Looks like.
DG: Leah Sadalbari has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Door With A Small Lock.
===================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>==================== ==================<* CHALLENGE - A Door With A Small Lock *>================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- You encounter a plain wooden door, unremarkable except for the sheer implausibility of a banded wooden door still being down here, and for the sheer sturdiness of its construction. Bullets, bombs and fists all do simply nothing to it. You'll need the key. And if you haven't found the key already....guess you gotta go find it. Did you miss any paths on the way in, maybe? =Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
==============<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils - Round 3 *>=============== ====================< Results - A Door With A Small Lock >==================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 15 --(0)--> 15 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 25 --(0)--> 25 Pass Schrodinger the Cat 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leah Sadalbari 20 --(0)--> 20 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Celine Jules 20 --(5)--> 25 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 30 --(15)--> 45 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Hesitate(1) Effects: Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
As the kitten comes up with a key, Celine peers down at it. "A colony isn't much different than a small town or village, right? How's life there?" She asks, a bit curious, while thinking of something entirely else. It might be a way for Celine to not think about such questionable things that currently strife her! Yet Lydia is okay, and gets up - as does Avril.
"Maybe they'd survive in the pots around. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any pots if the slimes ate them, right?" Avril is, smartly, going through them without breaking them. Otherwise they wouldn't get a slime! The focus is still treasure, right? Not slime? "I think it's rather locked. Could be likely to be unlocked soon~." Celine teases, a bit.
"I still visit my home, but it's .. well, it's a bit out of the way, and near a pretty large forest~." Celine remarks, glancing around - as Leah repeats it. "Oh, any fall I can walk from is usually a relief! This one included." While Leah focuses on the cat, Celine doesn't even notice it! "Could it be in the floor somewhere ...?" But the cat is noticed by the rest - and the key, of all things, carefully fitted to the keyhole! The symbologist only knows after it's been turned and reminded that 'hey, we got it' does she turn around from ... tapping the floor bits with her staff. "...Oh. You mean a cat just... brought the key to you?" Of course, Avril likely found a nice triggerswitch by moving something in a potmoving a pot onto a specific tile, too!
Celine welcomes it, however! "Wonderful~! We're off again!" She beams. "Mm, a door, some slimes, and a fall... not too bad so far~." Probably a bad time to say such a thing, however!
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - Hall of Knights *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You enter into a hall cut out of the cavern rock. The chamber is large and impressive, columns splitting up small niches where stone statues of unfathomably ancient heros, carved of stone, still stand vigil over this long-fallen keep. The statues are surrounded by knee-high ceramic pots, which were presumably once full of offerings for protection and prayer. The far door won't budge. There don't seem to be any levers, but a floorplate is loose. Maybe if you could shift the statue next to it...? =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Indeed, just as Avril shifts a lovingly decorated pot, the door opens.
Later inquiry will turn up the fact that this happened because the cat brought in the key, but for now...
"Shall we?" she says, after carefully setting the pot to one side and rising to her feet.
"...Lucadia?" she says, a moment later, turning her head Leah's way. "Yes. She is the Sea Guardian. This Medium is aligned to her," she explains, gesturing to the device she still bears in the crook of one arm. "Even with the Guardians now silenced, a portion of her power yet remains in the Medium."
She cannot sense Lucadia, not anymore.
The door opens into a hallway, perhaps once constructed to venerate ancient heroes -- their statues still stand, though who they are and what they might have done remains a mystery. The most that one might be able to use as sort of guess are their accoutrements. ...And the small, broken-up things that rest in the small pots that surround each statue.
There far door as they soon discover won't open.
A little further searching finds a panel that nudges the door a fraction if they all should stand on it but...
It still won't open.
"Hmm..." Avril takes a step back, as if to take in the whole room before them. "...There." She points at the statue next to the panel. "That statue isn't aligned to the rest in this room. Perhaps we might be able to move it onto the panel?" Her brow crinkles in apparent thought.
"Here. If the rest of us push... perhaps this might make it easier." She takes a breath, extends a hand...
And without a word ice begins to slick the floor between the statue and the panel.
No incantations. No muttered words. No Crests. Not even the Medium she holds shines. Just her will and the manifestation of ice. It's very, very similar to Ether. To the point that a scholar dedicated to the study of Ether might be necessary to rule it any different from that rare art.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Hall of Knights.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"It happens sometimes," Lydia asides to Celine. "Schrodinger is a little hard to explain, but sometimes they just know what to do. They're a little unreliable though." She scritches behind Schrodinger's ears. "Not that I'd trade them for anything<3" Yes the <3 is in place of a period there.
Leah has more to share. "Oh uh," Lydia says, face tinting silver which is also decidely not normal and human. GUILT INDUCEMENT TECHNIQUE - SUCCESSFUL! "It's uh cool. I'm like... mostly... also? Prosthetic? Sort of? Maybe?" GUILT INDUCEMENT TECHNIQUE - CRITICAL HIT! ULTRA SUCCESSFUL! LYDIA HAS TAKEN CRITICAL GUILT DAMAGE.
"Schrodinger's a good kitty." Lydia trails off into saying just that. That silver tint never really goes away either. She is super embarrassed. That's probably why she shareed that weird bit of information about herself.
"Anyway. Um." Lydia reaches behind her back and draws out her metal bat, glancing over to Avril. Push? She thinks. Brute force? Okay.
She exhales faintly, and then she puts away her bat and walks away.
....and then she runs back, carrying a large boulder which she thorws at the statue! Why didn't she just use a pot if that's what she was gonna do!?
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Asteroid Ball toward her party's challenge, Hall of Knights.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
"Oh, So her power is etched on a Medium?" It's all interesting to Celine, who goes to also examine it. "I guess it's a different way, than etching into your body~." Celine so claims as she looks down at the medium, smiling. "Hmmm... I prefer this way though, since I can fel it directly~. Thought I guess I felt the medium earlier, too." She points out.
It's a round-about of logic!
As the door opens to venerate such ancient heroes, statues still standing, the key problem at the end once more falls down to ... a door. "My, this feels a bit claustrophobic, doesn't it?" Celine remarks, heels click clicking on the stone floor as she strides in after Avril and the others.
She finds herself on the panel with the others, the door barely opening. "My, I guess you aren't that much more heavier than you look~." Celine cheerfully reminds Leah, being a bit teasy.
Finding herself off of it, Avril's notice that there's a statue nearby brings Celine to notice it as well. Her staff taps on the stone below her as she looks, "You think so?" Then there's ice starting to seperate it. "!?" Celine backs off, "It just froze!!" But it seems - Avril might be doing it!? "...Huh."
"Well, I guess I should help out~." With a smirk and a wink, Celine plants her staff on the ground. "Oh roaring winds! Share with us your strength!" The muttering of Symbology ends with such a phrase, her 'cape' attached to a ring floating around her billowing, a green tattoo lighting up as things get certainly more windy around! It may not help, whipping others hair and clothing - but with such force, it's likely to actively push that statue adequately enough!
Of course, she might also be helping Lydia's GIANT BOULDER that she is throwing also!
"Sounds like a good cat~. And you should visit, Leah. Maybe they'll more than welcome you." More than!?
DG: Celine Jules has used her Tool Symbological Staff toward her party's challenge, Hall of Knights.
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
Lydia blushes silver that's fascinating. Leah shows juuust enough interest that it's not rude, and glances to the side. "It can be hard to get used to a replacement limb, can't it?" she asks. "...He does look like a good kitty. They? There's more than one?" Leah reaches down and very very gently scritches the kitty. Not much though; she's clearly being careful with her mechanical hand.
"Really?" Leah asks, looking them to Avril. "That doesn't look like your typical Medium. Fascinating; I would've expected it to have more symbology relating to the Guardian's mystery..." She talks in academic terms about religion because of course she does.
"...Well, let's hope we don't need too much of Her power while she's silenced, hm?"
Leah, after not helping at all with the door, walks into the next room with the group. She considers Celine, "Yes, Symbology would feel very tactcile, wouldn't it?"
...Celine casts spells; Lydia throws a boulder. Avril... Avril uses a magic very familiar to Leah, in fact. She 'hmms' a little at all of them for a moment.
Leah walks up and, pulling an actual crowbar, just jams it into the base of the statue that is assuredly rocking by now with everyone trying to move it... and helps with raw metal muscle fiber.
"That's a very interesting form of magic, Avril." And a beat, "Ha! Maybe, but I don't know; they're understandably wary of outsiders."
DG: Leah Sadalbari has used her Tool Crowbar toward her party's challenge, Hall of Knights.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - Hall of Knights *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You enter into a hall cut out of the cavern rock. The chamber is large and impressive, columns splitting up small niches where stone statues of unfathomably ancient heros, carved of stone, still stand vigil over this long-fallen keep. The statues are surrounded by knee-high ceramic pots, which were presumably once full of offerings for protection and prayer. The far door won't budge. There don't seem to be any levers, but a floorplate is loose. Maybe if you could shift the statue next to it...? =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
===============<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils - Round 4 *>================ =========================< Results - Hall of Knights >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 15 --(0)--> 15 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 25 --(0)--> 25 Fail Asteroid Ball 3 Brute Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leah Sadalbari 20 --(0)--> 20 Pass Crowbar 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celine Jules 25 --(0)--> 25 Pass Symbological Staff 3 Brute Effects: Rally -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 45 --(15)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Engraved her power upon the Medium... hmm, I wonder if that may be so, if in an allegorical sense?" She's willing to consider the thought, at least.
But at Leah's question on it, Avril shakes her head. "No, this is not a typical Medium, as I understand it. It's called an 'artificial Medium'. It seems they are rather old, though even the Baskar know little about them or where they may have originated. Humans, it seems, can use these readily..."
One key fact she keeps close to her chest, at least for now. At least for a time when they are not deep in the heart of a dungeon. There's one important thing about her Medium that makes it different from most artificial Mediums -- already uncommon items -- that now and again surface in Filgaia.
"...I hope you are right," she says instead, head bowed.
It only takes a moment to create ice from nothing, to coat the floor with it. With a gust of bolstering wind strengthening the body, it becomes possible next to slide that statue across the ice--
Though perhaps that rock hit it a little too hard.
The ice, too, proves far too slippery. Did Avril put too much of her will into it? The statue begins to glide over the switch--!
Before Leah is able to stop its flight with her crowbar and lever it properly onto the panel. It slots into place with a satisfying sound.
And the door pops open immediately, revealing the means to the way beyond.
"Is it?" Avril asks, glancing over at Leah. "I learned to control this power on Lunar. I am afraid I know little else about it."
A moment passes. "But, perhaps we should continue onwards?"
DG: Leah Sadalbari has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== =====================<* CHALLENGE - Sniveling Bokoblins *>====================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The hallway here is crawling with nearly a dozen small, foul beasts. They aren't quite Gobs, but they're not really pig beastmen either; they have the upturned nose, but the lower jaw juts forward grotesquely, and sunken eyes gleam with malicious intent. They wield swords and spears, though the weapons are crude. If these creatures are known to Filgaia, they don't live anywhere you've been. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
"Interesting. Even the Baskar don't know... Now that's a find. If you ever consider allowing it to be researched by a professional, then I'd love to get a rubbing of its inscriptions there. No pressure, of course. But it's quite the find."
...She bows her head as well. Maybe they will be all right. ...Frankly, Leah isn't even lying about that hope, believe it or not. But now?
Now Leah looks up from deploying her crowbar and nods crisply. "Much better. Shall we?" Leah heads ahead first this time, but pokes with the butt of her spear to ensure that the floor is solid. On the bright side... The floor is solid. "Yes," Leah agrees, "We can walk and talk. How long have you had it, do you know?"
However... now there are nearly a dozen ugly monsters. Leah narrows her single eye at them, spinning her weapon and pointing it before herself immediately. It's like a combat animation!
"Be on your guard, everyone. I'll draw their attention so that the rest of you can take them down."
Leah steps forward, bends at the knee--
There's a faint whine, the sound of gears turning, and the sudden sensation of wind, and she LEAPS ten feet up the high ceiling of the hallway and crashes down into the center, whirling out with her spear at a group of them at once. "Come on!" she challenges them.
...The wind that buoyed her is familiar to Avril, though.
DG: Leah Sadalbari has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sniveling Bokoblins.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
Celine isn't too familiar with mediums, so at this point, it's all conjecture! Possibly correct, but also equally flippant! As Celine listens to the words that it is an 'artificial medium' Celine has a moment to think - what is that? What is a real medium, anyhow?
She isn't familiar enough, at all, anyhow~.
The statue begins to slide! "Wonderful~!" Celine remarks, with the rock also throwing it forwards, is it going to overshoot!? Will they be stuck, forcing their way back up and out!? The answer is no, however, as it slides into place. "Perfect~." Celine exclaims as she strides forwards. "Sounds good! I don't want to just hang around here, anyhow~." The woman proclaims - before they stride forwards towards a mosnter nest! "Oh. That's a lot of them..."
"Sounds like a plan, dear, go get them~." As Leah rushes in, Celine hangs back, twirling her staff. "Oh light of the stars..." She begins. The challenge may continue a bit, before Celine is either too slow to help, or may even take just enough time - "Ray!" A star of light bursts into life above them!
Which then promptly summons smaller celestial moon lasers, energy rippling down to each Bokoblin. If she's lucky!
"Mhmm~. Like this, It's all ... it's all right on me, somwhere, you know? A tattoo somewhere of a shape!" A star likely... but where is the star tattoo on Celine!?
DG: Celine Jules has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sniveling Bokoblins.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
The difference between Mediums is -- as Lydia might be able to demonstrate -- like night and day.
"A find... I had not thought of it as such. Would I be able to watch you work with it? Pardon me, but it was a gift from a dear friend of mine and so I would not like to lose sight of it," she says to Leah, on the topic of the Medium.
"I developed this power earlier in the year, so I am afraid I can speak little else of it. On Lunar, I had the opportunity to learn how to control it. It is possible of course that I have had the capacity longer but not the aptitude for it," she continues, explaining a slightly abbreviated version of events. After all, she has only just met Leah, and even though the woman has been nothing less than helpful...
She still remembers Janus, and remembers also the price on her head. ...Now that she is back in the Badlands, it may be wise to consider a change of clothing.
On Lunar she didn't have to worry about such things. It's in a way made her a little more careless, even with her hemming in a few key pieces of information. (for now)
But such discussions may not have long to go. Ahead lurk monsters, more of those strange creatures like those that dwelled above.
Avril's expression hardens. "I see... you will not let us pass without a fight, will you? Then I understand. Lydia, Celine, please provide us with support from here," she says, polite as always.
The Medium is tucked away as Leah charges forward. From beneath her wrap, Avril produces an object akin to a sword without a blade.
The sound of footfalls ring out as she races in from behind Leah.
That's the same sort of power isn't it? Right there.
There's light when she pulls the trigger. It's not just from Celine.The 'hilt' becomes the handle of a whip, itself a long streaming blade of light.
The air hisses as the arc of the laser beam whip lashes through one of the Bokoblins. ...But is this enough to handle the rest of them? More are coming.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Beam Whip Mode toward her party's challenge, Sniveling Bokoblins.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia is sensitive to those kinds of looks but since she kind of gave a look like that to Leah, she tanks it since she hardly wishes to be hypocritical about it. "Yeah." Lydia admits to Leah. "It's pretty rough. I used to be pretty bitter about it but I'm over it now." Pause. "Mostly." Lydia shakes her head. "Schrodinger is plural, but I use 'they' because they're a non-binary cat." Maybe Lydia asked the cat's pronouns though she doesn't actually explain how she knows this about Schrodinger. She doesn't explain the 'plural' thing either.
"To be honest, I'm not sure what to think about artificial mediums like that," Lydia says. "But I haven't met anybody who is a jerk using one so I guess I can accept it even if I kinda feel like it's stealin'."
Ultimately, now there's monsters. Lydia is hesitant to attack because she doesn't know what they are. "hey!" She says. "You guys cool with being friendly?"
She gets jabbed in the gut with a spear. Lydia frowns and draws out her own medium. Hers, it seems, is Silver. What kind of incredible magic is she gonna summon from her Guardian!? It turns out she's using a special technique called 'Swinging the Medium Down Upon Its Head'.
"Yeah!" She says to Avril. "Sure!"
DG: Lydia Seren has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sniveling Bokoblins.
====================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>===================== =====================<* CHALLENGE - Sniveling Bokoblins *>====================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The hallway here is crawling with nearly a dozen small, foul beasts. They aren't quite Gobs, but they're not really pig beastmen either; they have the upturned nose, but the lower jaw juts forward grotesquely, and sunken eyes gleam with malicious intent. They wield swords and spears, though the weapons are crude. If these creatures are known to Filgaia, they don't live anywhere you've been. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
===============<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils - Round 5 *>================ =======================< Results - Sniveling Bokoblins >======================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 15 --(0)--> 15 Pass Beam Whip Mode 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 25 --(5)--> 30 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leah Sadalbari 20 --(0)--> 20 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celine Jules 25 --(0)--> 25 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Weaken(1) Effects: ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur 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> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
"I see. Well, if that's what they prefer," she says, dignified even if she is a little dubious about cats having preferred pronouns. If Lydia says so hey she'll go with it. But for the other, "I used to be very bitter about it myself," she offers instead, before she moves on."
And, "Certainly," Leah replies. "I would only want to sketch it and take some impressions, nothing that would require it to leave your presence. Even that would be a great find for our understanding of the history of these things."
Stealing, is it? That's an interesting thought. But Celine continues to be quite Celine, and Leah nods back to her with some amusement; it seems she appreciates being friendly, at least. And is comfortable with Symbology, not that that's unusual. However, there's fighting around the dialogue next:
They in fact are not cool with being friendly. Lydia gets jabbed with a spear, and that sucks. The monsters indeed mostly focus on Leah, save for a couple that see Lydia swinging around a rock and seem to take exception to the idea. Celine's brilliant magic lasers down on each of them however, and between it and Avril's beam sword, the rest fall quickly.
Rising again, Leah smiles in a way that might be reassuring to Avril. "It's possible, of course. I was just curious; I have a similar ability, and it's very rare. ...You'd be wise to conceal it if you can; there are those who fear such abilities even above other forms of magic."
See? Super helpful.
"...That looked like a nasty hit, Lydia. Are you all right? We can move forward when we're ready."
But, she looks to the distance thoughtfully, and frowns. "...Strange, though. I've never seen anything like these in this area before..."
DG: Celine Jules has drawn a new Challenge.
===================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>==================== ===================<* CHALLENGE - A Door With A BIG Lock *>=================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- This next chamber terminates in a massive door in gold and red. Although the colors and materials seem like the chambers of a king, the door is also blocked up and barricaded as though to keep something terrible inside. There's no knocker, no magic puzzle: Just a single great big keyhole. You'll need to find it somewhere else in the dungeon. =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
As the explorers delve deeper in, the monster swarm that is found certainly detest them! That is fine, as they are equally detestable to each other. Not cool with being friendly, it isn't long before the adventurers take the beasts to task - a beam whip sweeping out from Avril, and as the monsters are rocked, and ray'd and then some! It's wonderful that they fall after being pressured to do so. "Ah, it's nice it worked out so well~." Celine cheerfully states, "Look like everything is going our way, too. Without much running around, either. I think I prefer this, you know?" She remarks off-handedly as she strides with the rest.
"Oh, yes, when you're alright! I'm not even remotely tired yet... so I can help stand guard!" At least one of those two actions she's great at!
However despite that, Celine does wander off a bit forwards. "No? I take it you're familiar with the area?" She asks of Leah, treading a bit past, words becoming slightly louder yells as she reaches a bit further out. "Is it a more recent thing?" She yells, but is heard in more of a normal level.
Before she sees it. Peeking her head in, Celine looks all around. Normal room. Statues line the walls - tapestries on either side of a giant red and gold door! Nearby, two braziers burn in a bright light. On the opposite side, two are unlit. The floor itself is multi colored. One of the walls is cracked - specific cracks that are a bit curiously wide.
There's even a little glowing orb, across a smallish pit - just too far to normall jump.
Celine looks back and with a bit of a defeatest expression, rubs the back of her neck. "We miiiight be stuck trying a few things... unless any of you have an idea or two? There's a massive door..." No puzzle on the door, but the room attached to it...? "And the keyhole is at least twice the size of the last." Hw will the cat save them now!?
DG: Celine Jules has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Door With A BIG Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia Seren sees a giant door. Lydia places Schrodinger on her head as she tries to puzzle out this situation. Did Schrodinger find a key and somehow bring it over all the way here? Is the solution really just the same puzzle all along?!
"Hmm...." Lydia says.
"Meow." Schrodinger says.
"Hmmm...." Lydia says again before her eyes widen and she snaps her fingers. "I've got it!" She turns around and points directly at Celine Jules like a Professor Layton character. "Schrodinger does not have the key for this door and I can prove it."
She points towards the door. "That keyhole is really big! Way too big for Schrodinger to carry over here! And Schrodingers don't tend to work together so I think it pretty unlikely that they swarmed up and carried one giant key together!"
She pumps her fist dramatically. "Therefore...the big key... is somewhere else!"
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Schrodinger the Cat toward her party's challenge, A Door With A BIG Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Charge expended, the ARM reverts to its inert state: just a hilt again, in the end. Avril returns it from whence it came.
'There are those who fear such abilities even above other forms of magic.'
Avril's blue eyes widen a touch; her attention immediately shoots over Leah's way. "Is that..." she starts to say, only to peter out long before she completes her question.
'Is that true', she had wanted to ask.
But she's well-acquainted with the fact that her very existence seems to be one desired by certain people.
That she possesses powers beyond a normal human's capacity. Leah's own is like this? Is, perhaps, that state she sometimes falls into a part of--
She does not ask such things now. Instead, she, for the moment grimfaced, nods. "I understand," she murmurs.
She will have to be careful, back on Filgaia.
Who is it out east who wants her to return so badly that they're willing to pay so much, to anyone?
Could it be that the reason they want her back is because of these powers?
Such questions will also have to wait. Now, the chamber ahead looms before the lot of them.
"..."
She stares at the door alone for the moment. Slowly her hands twitch at her sides.
"...There is something dangerous behind that door," she utters, still staring ahead. As if in a trance, she takes a step forward.
Only to stop again and shake her head.
"...I suppose we must open it. Now where could a key of that size be hidden? I suppose we should take a look," she says, to Celine's acknowledgement of the same predicament at hand.
She begins to slowly pace the room, craning her head to take a look at the walls. To closely inspect the flames and tapestries. To stare at that distant glowing orb quizzically.
But it's the wall she returns to, and the wall she knocks a the back of a gloved hand against, as if she were politely inquiring at someone's door.
"I believe this wall is hollow," she states. "Even a mild strike should be sufficient to shatter it." She steps back. "Well, then? Lydia, perhaps this may be where our key is hidden."
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Door With A BIG Lock.
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
"Glad to hear it," Leah replies to Celine. At her question, though, Leah nods, looking thoughtfully into space. "I am. Or I was; it's been a while since I've been out in this part of the world in particular... And I keep my ears open. But this is... strange."
Statues--gorgeous statues, indeed, tapestries. Leah considers as she looks around, her gaze lingering on one of the tapestries for a while.
"It is a large door," she remarks. She does indeed wait to see if the cat's got it, and--...and...
"...Sounds logic," Leah says to Lydia with a little laugh, warm and pleasant. But to Avril--Avril who looked at her, who didn't finish her question...
"Just be careful," Leah says to her in passing. And then she pauses, turning to look over Avril as she declares something dangerous is there. For long moments she coniders, before nodding.
"...Yes," she answers, "It's the only way forward. ...Though I wonder if we can take one of these tapestries with us on the way out. It would certainly fund the expedition... Let's hope so."
She nods along however as Avril mentions the wall hollow, and walks up to it. "Then I can handle that."
Leah walks up to the wall, and--
Gently presses her hand into it until the stone cracks.
DG: Leah Sadalbari has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Door With A BIG Lock.
===================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>==================== ===================<* CHALLENGE - A Door With A BIG Lock *>=================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- This next chamber terminates in a massive door in gold and red. Although the colors and materials seem like the chambers of a king, the door is also blocked up and barricaded as though to keep something terrible inside. There's no knocker, no magic puzzle: Just a single great big keyhole. You'll need to find it somewhere else in the dungeon. =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
==============<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils - Round 6 *>=============== =====================< Results - A Door With A BIG Lock >===================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 15 --(15)--> 30 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 30 --(0)--> 30 Pass Schrodinger the Cat 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leah Sadalbari 20 --(0)--> 20 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Celine Jules 25 --(15)--> 40 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 80 --(0)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Fright(1) Effects: Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 0 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
Somewhere else!?
The amazing power of DEDUCTION from Lydia causes Celine to clasp her hands on her cheeks, gasping as the declaration is made! "No way! So then if it is ... somewhere else!? that leaves... a lot of places, actually.." Celine remarks, glancing all around. Schrodinger, of course, seems perfectly ok about that. With her eyes, Celine stares all around, glancing left - then right! It doesn't help too much. Of course, Avril is on it, Celine peering, "I bet she knows..."
As she goes near the flames.. "Oh, I remember a flame puzzle, could it-" And then Avril walks away.
"Could it have a clue on -nevermind~."
The glowing orb, "Maybe if we..."
Avril returns back to the wall, making it clear that the wall is hollow. Celine's head lists to the side a bit. "You think it's back there...?" With Leah pressing against it, one of Celine's arms goes to her hip, the other hand to her chin, "That'd be a first..." Celine is of course proven so very wrong. The wall is pushed on by Leah. It turns out, you see, that Avril is right and wrong!
Made clear by Leah pressing against the wall, hands pushing forwards to ... physically push the wall forwards. The force is enough, and it turns out to be a trick to actively push the wall out. They key, you see, is underneath the wall. Like a door hiding a key underneath it. Except it is a very large key.
"! So it IS!" Celine remarks, "To hide it in a wall.... or I guess, under. We're going to find out after all if your feelings right on the money, Avril~." Celine exclaims, before glancing back over to Leah. "I took a little break - we all deserve some now and again, right~?" Celine asks to her, "Is it, though? There's a lot of monsters, some traps... and locked doors." She states, hips and heels moving after each other, "It seems normal to me~." Unless she means the feeling...
DG: Lydia Seren has drawn a new Challenge.
===================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>==================== =============<* CHALLENGE - Parasitic Armored Arachnid: Gohma *>============== |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The great double-doors open up into a huge cavern. The ceiling disappears into darkness above. There's a skittering, clacking sound from those shadows, before a tremendous creature, a spider bigger than most homes on Ignas flips down from the ceiling and SLAMS into the dirt before you, shrieking. A single huge eye gleams from between two massive shielded arms, which move with nimbleness to block any attack on that central eye. Its carapace in yellow and green glistens, before it jabs forward with a massive claw! You'll have to hold those shields down somehow before your attacks will do any damage at all! =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Schrodinger licks their paw carelessly. You can't use a cat to solve all problems, just most of them.
"Never seen monsters like this before," Lydia says quietly to Celine as the team opens up those great double doors into a huge cavern. Looking up, Lydia doesn't even see a ceiling. She reaches to her side, reaching again for that Silver Medium (last seen swinging against a moblin's skull). Leah earlier asked how she was doing but she seems to be doing fine. Lydia doesn't even seem to be bleeding, though there's silver stains on her clothes where she was struck.
And the suddenly...
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WDFUcjWARU
A spider crashes down from the sky, one with hold on massive shielded arms? Are the rest of the spider arms shielded? Nope just the front arms. Huh. Nevertheless, this is a pretty huge spider. Lydia kind of stares in shock while the boss's name appears in letters above.
PARASITIC ARMORED ARACHNID: GOHMA
"Whhhhhhhhy?" Lydia breathes out before it swings a massive claw in the party's direction, sending Lydia ducking and revealing a central eye that it had been protecting. "A weak point?! On a spider???" Lydia says before saying, "Gonna try bashing down a shield...! Here we go! Rigdobrite...! METEOR CRASH!"
A large meteor comes crashing down from the sky towards the monster.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Asteroid Ball toward her party's challenge, Parasitic Armored Arachnid: Gohma.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Leah--?"
Leah approaches the wall... to put her hand through it. Avril can only stand on and watch in a mix of shocked surprise, her lips slightly parted.
Then that shock turns to amazement as there is no key tucked neatly behind the wall or locked in a chest, but a key that handily pops right up out of a secret compartment in the floor. "Oh, I had not anticipated that, I think," she comments.
As for the general aura she's apparently privy to, though--
"It hasn't faded. It's the same sensation I felt when we came here, only now stronger. Whatever waits behind this door, please, be on your guard," she says, in those intervening moments before the key is taken to the door, the door is unlocked, and the room beyond is entered--
Nothing awaits inside.
"--Wait," Avril calls out, before pointing up towards the ceiling. "Above!"
Even as she shouts it, the monstrosity of a spider comes crashing down. Wheeling back a step, Avril has but moments to take stock of what stands before them before a raking claw forces her back.
"A... armor," she utters, before frowning, her brow knotted in fierce determination. "It's covered in armor! Unless we can break its shell or find a weak point, I do not believe we will be able to harm it!"
Her heart pounts in her chest. For an instant, she considers her options. Absolute Zero. A spell? Perhaps Lucadia? Or--
Yes, says the impulse. That. Use it now.
From the depths of her wrap she pulls out a device that looks for all the world like a small nondescript metal box. It opens up.
There's a small button inside, which she presses firmly.
The chamber rumbles.
And then out through one of the side walls with an explosion of rock and rubble comes the speeding leg of a Golem--
Well, at least, it's most of a Golem's leg. It terminates somewhere just over the knee.
It streaks right for the monster with all due haste, making use of whatever remains of its power source in a desperate final charge.
...Does this mean the rest of the Golem is still in the wall somewhere? Maybe it couldn't get all the way out...
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Remote Golem Override toward her party's challenge, Parasitic Armored Arachnid: Gohma.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Was that thing always a leg--" Lydia begins before LOUD NOISES drown her out.
<Pose Tracker> Leah Sadalbari has posed.
"Me either," Leah mentions about the key at the bottom. She of course noticed the question, though, and stretches her fingers some after she finishes pressing into the wall. But the aura--
"...The monsters here aren't the ones you'd expect," Leah explains to Celine, and nods to Avril. "All right. We'll be careful."
The spider swings down, and Leah is hit straight on by the claw, hitting the chamber wall hard enough that it cracks against her. She narrows her eye in an instant. "Good point--"
...Avril summons up a golem's leg. a golem, out of nowhere. For no apparent reason. Leah stops for an instant and stares at it for a moment, putting it all together--
And laughs. How can she do anything else?
But while the Golem is charging, Leah bends at the knee and leaps, pulling not her spear but a crowbar to jab straight into an arm joint and take the opportunity to try to pin it down to prevent it shielding its weak point, like Lydia.
DG: Leah Sadalbari has used her Tool Crowbar toward her party's challenge, Parasitic Armored Arachnid: Gohma.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
"...Never?" Celine is a bit aprehensive when she hears the word 'never' - and it's clear as Lydia says it - the way she says it - especially. Striding into the main room of the next chamber - which of course is but a single room - the Symbologist glances up above to see the endless ceiling. "I guess that's the way back up~." She answers, especially as Lydia grasps the medium.
"Oh? So it's in here somewhere?" Celine asks of Avril, as she once more states that it's the same sensation as before! Only stronger. It certainly hasn't gone away. "So maybe it can sense us then, too?" She asks, in the moments of silence and peace that comes before something bad. Nothing. "Oh good~. It probably left, that makes it easy after a-" Bove - Avril shouts, as the monstrous spider crashes down. Celine, already straggling behind, still is forced back a few steps! "What in the world!?!" Her choice words ring out, as Avril calls out regarding armor, too!
Celine herself thinks of the various spells and symbols etched onto her body. Wind? No. Fireballs? Hahaha. Lightning? Unlikely. Going through a metaphorical library, Celine pauses - nearly toppling over - as a LEG EXPLODES out of a wall!
Oh.
That gives her an idea!
Right after she catches herself from falling.
The staff is clasped as a specific symbol, swirling around on the inside of her thigh, lights up and burns brightly - hands clasped carefully as her staff takes flight infront of her. The symbol etched before her in the air. "... Explosion!"
WIth the incantation complete, and with a leg slamming towards it - and a ball to bat away the shield thanks to Lydia, a ripple of heat centers about the eye. It doesn't stay a ripple for long. A small detonation begets another, a chain of detonations growing with increasing intensity, detonating further and further outwards as Celine controls them - before a single final explosion, excessively larger than the smaller ones, would swallow up GOHMA and even crack some of the earth on which he is surrounded by!
She ... may actually only get one chance. If the creature is going to follow up after them, it's not going to be easy for Celine to get another shot like this!
DG: Celine Jules has used her Tool Symbological Staff toward her party's challenge, Parasitic Armored Arachnid: Gohma.
===================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>==================== =============<* CHALLENGE - Parasitic Armored Arachnid: Gohma *>============== |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The great double-doors open up into a huge cavern. The ceiling disappears into darkness above. There's a skittering, clacking sound from those shadows, before a tremendous creature, a spider bigger than most homes on Ignas flips down from the ceiling and SLAMS into the dirt before you, shrieking. A single huge eye gleams from between two massive shielded arms, which move with nimbleness to block any attack on that central eye. Its carapace in yellow and green glistens, before it jabs forward with a massive claw! You'll have to hold those shields down somehow before your attacks will do any damage at all! =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
==============<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils - Round 7 *>=============== ===============< Results - Parasitic Armored Arachnid: Gohma >================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 30 --(0)--> 30 Pass Remote Golem Override 4 Brute Effects: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 30 --(0)--> 30 Pass Asteroid Ball 3 Brute Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leah Sadalbari 20 --(0)--> 20 Fail Crowbar 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Celine Jules 40 --(0)--> 40 Pass Symbological Staff 3 Brute Effects: Rally ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Weaken(2) Effects: ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has successfully explored Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils!
===================<* Binding Depths of Serpent's Coils *>==================== ======================<* CHALLENGE - Ancient Remains *>======================= |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Gohma screams one last time before light pierces it from within. Bursting rays rip out of the creature, again and again, some inner core going wild before the whole creature finally shrieks and blows apart into gouts of harmless smoke. As you explore the chamber, you come across a pile of long-dead bones. It seems to be at least one complete long-dead skeleton, and possibly several. They appear reasonably intact, but Drifters see enough skeletons that it's relatively easy to tell that something's...off? You may need to take them to an expert. Or, if you are an expert, at least to a place that has better light. You should submit a +request about this Discovery! =Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Yeah that...that beast didn't really stand a chance.
Leah and Lydia end up smashing / prying free one of the shields while Avril's golem ... leg .... manages to kick the other spider limb so hard that it swings back wildly out of position. This leaves it open to attack for MASSIVE DAMAGE but who is going to unleash that massive damage?
It turns out the answer to that is Celine unleashing rippling explosions that don't so much hit the Gohma's weak point so much as hit the Gohma's everything including the weak point and when the dust finally settles, there isn't a Gohma present anymore.
Bakuretsu Bakuretsu la la la~
Also, now that the team can explore the room properly, it soon becomes apparent ........there's no treasure. In fact, Lydia soon breaks off from the group to posture up one of the skeletons at her side.
"Never give up Skeleton!" The Skeleton seems to have already given up. "Huh...I guess after all htis we made an amazing discovery. The monster lair has corpses in it."
And then she pauses for a bit longer. She squints at the skeleton.
She squints more at the skeleton.
"Um....is it just me or is this skeleton....weeeeird?"
She gathers up the skeleton into a pack and says, "I think we should take this skeleton with us!" She says cheerfully. "Yay skeletons! It's our skeleton now."
She looks to Avril. "It's our skeleton now."
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Where do the Golem pieces come from? And why do they come when she pushes the button?
She doesn't know, and attempts to quantify it has been a question that has proven slippery. Sometimes, it seems as if it simply doesn't work.
Right now though the section of Golem leg smashes the spidery monster in the wall, which helps nail it in place while the others crack the shell... and Celine does the honors.
There isn't even dust left.
Even most of the Golem's leg has been vanquished.
A peek into the next room reveals--
"Oh," Avril utters, gazing at the array of skeletons on display.
"Are these... were these people?" With care, she treads into the apparent mass grave, crouching beside the same skeleton that Lydia appears to have taken an interest in. "There's something..."
Her gaze lifts to meet Lydia's.
"Yes, there's something not quite right about-- ah," she utters, before rising to her feet as Lydia packs the bones away.
She tilts her head to the right as if thinking something over.
"...Is this a burial custom?" she asks. "I understand that people tend to put the dead beneath markers and leave them flowers," she continues, as if this weren't a custom that she was acquainted with.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia looks into Avril's eyes. Surely she's going to go into an in depth explanation as to why she's doing this strange thing right? Surely she's not gonna just like assume she understands. Right?? RIGHT???
"Well," Lydia says. "Archaeology isn't really my field, but yeah! It's pretty normal for an archaeologist to find skeletons and drag them out of a tomb and put them on display, especially if they're weird looking!"
She gives Avril a big thumbsup. But wait! Lydia! You can't get too far in this direction! The only 'archaeologist' you know is Avril's alt! Dial it back a bit.
"My guess is we should probably take it to an expert though since it may be a mystery...that we can solve!"
Perhaps even a solution to the mystery of Avril's identity?! Probably not!!!! But what else is she gonna do? Go home emptyhanded? She'd rather face a Serpent coil Curse.
<Pose Tracker> Celine Jules has posed.
With the rest of her MP expended (and no way to recover it!?) Celine lets out a nice hearthy "Phew....~" Before looking on at the remnants of the ... oh. There aren't any! The giant monster was effectively obliterated with a combination assault from all present! Pushing her hat back up, Celine walks with the rest, twirling her staff as she strides forwards. "Well, now that's all done with, I wonder what kind of treasure we've found~?"
Lydia seems to have explored a lot of it. Though out of everyone, at least Lydia seems to enjoy what she found! "I can't believe nothing here.... oh well~." She got paid up front, which, while terrible to begin with, suddenly is far less bad now! Imagine that. "I guess it actually paid to help out and do some normal adventuring once in a while~." Well, it's not Metal plants, nor is it ingredients for food - but Celine certainly will accept skele-
"...You're bringing that gaudy and absolutely disgusting thing back?" She asks of Lydia, but the answer is obvious as she states it is THEIR skeleton now. "You can ... have it. I don't think skeletons are anything but weird..." As Avril asks out loud, Celine looks on. "Depends if you're a grave robber or not." The woman remarks, shrugging.
As Lydia and the others do take the skeletons, she grabs a pot - or a tapestry. Or both. Souvenirs~.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Thanks. Skeletons are awesome." Lydia tells Celina.
One of her best friends is a skeleton OKAY??
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Is that so..."
Having not made it to Adlehyde in time for the exhibition, Avril did not get to see the fine fruits of archaeology on display at that particular event.
"It appears there are many means of handling remains of the departed," Avril comments, taking another look around her at the strange skeletons.
Something... really isn't right about them, but what that might be remains elusive down here in the dark.
"A grave robber...?" Avril's brow creases.
"For what purpose would someone..." she trails out, as if recalling now what Lydia had said to her.
People put them on display.
"..."
She crosses her arms over her stomach and glances away, as if troubled. "Even those who rest in the graveyard... I see..."
Shaking her head, she pulls away and begins to head towards the exit.
"Let us go. I sense nothing sinister here now. It may be that whatever had been has at least for now been vanquished."