2018-11-20: Harsh Reflections
- Log: Harsh Reflections
- Cast: Matilda Whitehead, Jacqueline Barber, Ines Colina
- Where: Lost Village Fereshte
- Date: 20/11/2018
- Summary: A trio of adventurers head out on an expedition to the Lost Village of Fereshte, and find themselves. Or at least, some version of themselves.
==========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>===========================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Behind the Aurora *>=======================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
The Fereshte were once a prominent Baskar nomadic tribe in the steppes of
Arctica. Those versed in Ellurian history commonly know them as experienced
nomads and traders, and their priests are renowned for their worship of
Odoryuk, possessing healing powers. But the story ends the same anywhere you
dig -- the village of Fereshte was destroyed a long time ago, and no longer
exists now. Central to this service was the chosen of Odoryuk, called the
Heritor, who wielded a Medium of Life and devoted their life to the service
of the Guardian.
Which makes the rumours all the more wild, that the once-lost village of
Fereshte within the Veruni Control Zone now lives on in the present age... a
sheer impossibility in every manner of being.
Whatever the case may be, you have decided to strike out for the village --
and find that the rumours are, bafflingly, true. A bustling village of
perhaps fifty-odd people is visible below you past the roots of a great
petrified tree, its yurts and other buildings surrounding a totem of
Odoryuk, the Guardian of Life.
But something feels quite wrong as you approach -- the air is thick and
suffused with energy.
Those with the means to know feel a strong veil of positive Ley energy
permeating the atmosphere... and it has manifested into a beautiful barrier
that shields entry. You will need power to break through the shield of life
and descend into the village.
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
There's really no simpler or more honest way to put it: Matilda needs to be doing something or she's going to go crazy. When everything went a little sideways when Matilda was off doing a different mission on Lunar, she took it a *little* personally... but now, she doesn't have Kaguya to lean on and it's happened *again*. While the temptation to lie in bed and scream into a pillow is, as always, incredibly strong, Matilda recognizes that the best she can do is act as if things will eventually be righted, and follow up on... all the leads she was going to follow up on anyway.
That doesn't quite make for the *happiest* Matilda, but then, what would? She's set out for Fereshte, after putting out a few feelers for potental expedition partners.
Matilda has no idea what the feeling before her is. She's no mage, not by a long shot -- indeed, among human Drifters, she's among the *least* magically-talented. But she recognizes that wrongness in the air in the most general sense, and...
... throws it to Jay. "... Ah -- help us out," is all she really manages to put together. She doesn't have a whole lot smart to say about it. She does, however, drink a potion. That might help!
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Bubble Lotion toward her party's challenge, Behind the Aurora.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Truthfully, Jacqueline had already been considering making an expedition out to the lost village of the Fereshte tribe. This wasn't her first time there, either - she had last made the trip out a few weeks ago.
But that was with Riesenlied. And now, well...the situation had shifted dramatically. She hoped that there might be something here that might be able to help them, and so when she heard Matilda was looking for partners, Jacqueline quickly stepped up.
"Ah, this is still here..." Jacqueline murmurs, looking up at the wall of Ley energy before them. She looks toward Matilda and nods.
"Right. This barrier...it's a wall formed of pure, positive Leyline energy. It's durable, but there are weakpoints, if you know where to look for them. And once you find them...you just need to hit it as hard as you can." Jacqueline approaches the barrier, resting her hand on one of them. Protected by her gauntlets she's able to interact with it directly and she runs her hand over it, feeling it out.
"Ah...right here. This should work. We should be able to create an opening here." She says, rapping her knuckles on a section and stepping away.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Brewte Force toward her party's challenge, Behind the Aurora.
<Pose Tracker> Ines Colina has posed.
Ines can understand the whole 'need to do something' thing. When the call went out for people to join an expedition, the geohound put her hand up, so to speak. It helped that she had worked with at least one of the people here. Still, this was certainly... a sight.
"Can't say I got the impression anyone'd still be living here." Ines mutters, as Jay tests the barrier. When a weakpoint is pointed out, though, that's something the beastwoman can help with. "Brute force coming right up."
Ines' tattoos glow, and throws her hand forward, and a targeted torrent of wind starts spiraling into the spot pointed, picking up rocks and shrapnel into the ground, directing it all into that point with an intent to break.
DG: Ines Colina has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Behind the Aurora.
==========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>===========================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Behind the Aurora *>=======================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
The Fereshte were once a prominent Baskar nomadic tribe in the steppes of
Arctica. Those versed in Ellurian history commonly know them as experienced
nomads and traders, and their priests are renowned for their worship of
Odoryuk, possessing healing powers. But the story ends the same anywhere you
dig -- the village of Fereshte was destroyed a long time ago, and no longer
exists now. Central to this service was the chosen of Odoryuk, called the
Heritor, who wielded a Medium of Life and devoted their life to the service
of the Guardian.
Which makes the rumours all the more wild, that the once-lost village of
Fereshte within the Veruni Control Zone now lives on in the present age... a
sheer impossibility in every manner of being.
Whatever the case may be, you have decided to strike out for the village --
and find that the rumours are, bafflingly, true. A bustling village of
perhaps fifty-odd people is visible below you past the roots of a great
petrified tree, its yurts and other buildings surrounding a totem of
Odoryuk, the Guardian of Life.
But something feels quite wrong as you approach -- the air is thick and
suffused with energy.
Those with the means to know feel a strong veil of positive Ley energy
permeating the atmosphere... and it has manifested into a beautiful barrier
that shields entry. You will need power to break through the shield of life
and descend into the village.
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
=====================<* Lost Village Fereshte - Round 1 *>====================== ========================< Results - Behind the Aurora >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matilda Whitehead 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Bubble Lotion 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Brewte Force 1 Brute Effects: Fanfare and Strengthe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ines Colina 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Matilda Whitehead 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Matilda Whitehead 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> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
Matilda is not especially great at poking holes in magical barriers. Fortunately, Ines has a surfeit of brute force enough to carry the whole squad; Jay finds the spot, and Ines blows it open with immense ease. Matilda nods once, firmly, then smiles a little. There's something about seeing an obstacle destroyed that just feels *good*, at least in the moment.
As Matilda strides through the remains of the barrier before them, she says, "Let's keep moving, then -- I already have something of a bad feeling about this..." And then, a little quieter, "Thank you, miss," to Ines.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has drawn a new Challenge.
=========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>==========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - A Gift from the Stars *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
A massive metal blockade prevents further passage on a slope downhill
further into the village.
On closer inspection, it seems to be a Gear-like construct about fifteen
feet in height, with large conical arms and body. Decades upon decades of
rust and damage has rendered it utterly inoperable. It is now just an overly
heavy paperweight you'll need to move out of your way. But perhaps if you
upturn it, you may be able to find a useful part or two, if only to sell or
recycle.
The question does remain: Why is there a construct in the village of the
Fereshte?
(NOTE: If your character has the knowledge, they may be able to identify
this construct as a Veruni construction Golem.)
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"I...don't know if I'd call it 'living'. It's more like..." Jacqueline replies, trying to think of the right word for it. "...Mm, well, you'll understand when we get there, I think."
It was a complicated situation. So, too, is the barrier before them - but thankfully, Ines's symbology proves to be more than up to the task.
"Good work!" She says, offering her a smile before moving forward. Having already been here, she elects to take point. They're approaching from a different direction than she did last time, however, she is a little surprised to find the path down into the village blocked by a large machine. Tall hills surround them on either side, making 'just go around' an exhausting ordeal.
...Jacqueline stares at it, eyebrow raised. It's old, incredibly so - rust, damage, and general age has rendered it completely inoperable, But it's general design...
"...It looks like some Shalune would make..." She mutters with a sigh. "Let's see if we can't get it out of the way."
She rummages through her bags, drawing out a couple of bottles. These are passed to Ines and Matilda - healing salves, just in case. As for the Golem itself...Jacqueline gestures upward with her left hand.
A pillar of earth emerges from the ground, aiming to lift the Golem up and out of the way. As she does so, though...it's possible to see a few parts that are more intact than the rest of the machine. They could probably be salvaged, if anyone's of a mind to.
Jacqueline, well...she supposes she could always bring back a souvenir...
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Brewte Force toward her party's challenge, A Gift from the Stars.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"Yes -- Riesenlied had mentioned something to that effect, as well..." Matilda winces a little. She's a little nervous about proceeding into the village, even if she was the one who initiated the approach in the first place.
That golem, though... that gets her attention. "... Well -- unlike everything else, this is actually... something that seems like it *should* sit here." She cracks her knuckles, and sets to work. "Hm -- it's definitely something Shalune could make use of, yes... or, for that matter, I could use in the Honeybee. I'm not sure if you two might get anything out of this, but..."
Matilda fumbles in her pack, looking for a specific bottle. She starts applying something to the metal, trying to get parts she thinks could be salvageable disengaged from the rust and the wreck.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Bubble Lotion toward her party's challenge, A Gift from the Stars.
<Pose Tracker> Ines Colina has posed.
Ines is the last one through, ducking slightly as she makes her way past the barrier. "No problem," she responds to Matilda, following a few steps behind. And then Jay's comment comes through, and the beastwoman shakes her head. "Well. That's not ominous."
And then their path is blocked by a rusted hunk of junk. Unlike the industrious members of the Carakin, Ines doesn't see anything of particular value in the golem. She just sees an obstacle. As the earth itself rises to push a path under the golem, Ines crouches down to try and fit under it and push on through. It involves some leveraging of the mech and some raw strength on her part.
"No offense, but I don't think we should spend so much time trying to loot this thing that it comes down on us." Really, a geohound not concerned with making whatever profit she can? What madness is this.
DG: Ines Colina has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Gift from the Stars.
=========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>==========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - A Gift from the Stars *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
A massive metal blockade prevents further passage on a slope downhill
further into the village.
On closer inspection, it seems to be a Gear-like construct about fifteen
feet in height, with large conical arms and body. Decades upon decades of
rust and damage has rendered it utterly inoperable. It is now just an overly
heavy paperweight you'll need to move out of your way. But perhaps if you
upturn it, you may be able to find a useful part or two, if only to sell or
recycle.
The question does remain: Why is there a construct in the village of the
Fereshte?
(NOTE: If your character has the knowledge, they may be able to identify
this construct as a Veruni construction Golem.)
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
====================<* Lost Village Fereshte - Round 2 *>===================== =====================< Results - A Gift from the Stars >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Matilda Whitehead 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Bubble Lotion 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Brewte Force 1 Brute Effects: Fanfare and Strengthe ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ines Colina 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Matilda Whitehead 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(1)|Secret(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Matilda Whitehead 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: Ines Colina has drawn a new Challenge.
==========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>===========================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - This Inn's a Keeper *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You come across the innkeeper as you proceed through the village square. She
gives you a warm smile as she greets, "Welcome to our inn, the White Mare!"
She's about to beckon you in, but pauses with a convulsive twitch. Her eyes
gloss over as she regards you with coldness and remarks: "Hey! I know you!
All of you! You haven't paid your room bills in over..." She begins
counting. "One hundred and ten years!"
That would be a remarkable amount of money for anyone to casually part
with... you will have to come up with something clever to stave her anger
and convince her you don't actually owe her... much.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
The golem is rather heavy. It takes all of Jacqueline's effort to keep that pillar standing so that Ines can get through and Matilda can do her work. Ines can get through without problem, and with careful application of that solution she's able to remove the parts that look the most salvageable.
When she's done, though...the pillar crumbles out from underneath the golem as Jacqueline's concentration breaks. The machine falls, barring the path once more. Fortunately for Ines and Matilda, they're already on the other side
"H-Hold on, let me..." With some effort Jacqueline manages to climb over it, but it takes a little out of her. "Sorry about that..."
<Pose Tracker> Ines Colina has posed.
Ines cringes a bit, as the pillar crashes. "Hey, are you alright?" There's a response, thankfully, so Ines just sort of waits cross-armed for Jay to make it across. "Let's get going, shall we?"
Finally past barriers both magical and steel, the village square opens up for the intrepid explorers. It's not a large area, but it seems to be busy. Townspeople wander around, seemingly energetically. "Looks plenty alive to me." Ines mutters, given that no-one has yet explained exactly what's going on. But her train of thought is interrupted by the sudden presence of an innkeeper initially inviting them in. And then there's the twitch, and Ines tenses. She's not prepared for what comes next.
"Pay up! You all owe me nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine gella!"
Ines stares. "...I'm sorry, what?" She glances to look at Matilda and Jay for assistance. This is really outside her field of expertise. Sure, she's dealt with people trying to get out of paying her before, but pinning this woman against the wall and baring teeth really doesn't seem like it would be a solution here.
"...Lady, listen to yourself. There ain't a one of us alive to have stayed here that long ago. Maybe try the extortion gig with a lie that might actually get you somewhere."
Definitely off to a good start, here.
DG: Ines Colina has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, This Inn's a Keeper.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
Matilda tumbles out of the path of the falling golem, and seems none the worse for wear for having done so. "Quite all right," she manages, as they start forward into the village proper, and --
Matilda's face falls. "Ah -- I see this is... hm. I'm not sure if it's pre-programmed or simply consistent confusion," she reflects aloud a little -- though she tries not to draw attention to herself as she works her way through this one. She glances to Jay for a moment, nods...
... and then starts producing ledgers from her pack. "Actually, you're looking for the wrong Matilda Whitehead," she offers. "At a hundred and ten years, that'd be my great-great grandmother, more than likely..." She flips through the ledger, saying, "See -- she takes ownership of the farm here... operates it for thirty years... then her son Thomas serves with distinction in the Krosian Guard and requests a debt holiday in lieu of a minor peerage, here."
Matilda smiles smugly, saying, "So, unless you want to petition the King of Krosse over it, there's no way a Matilda Whitehead would owe you anything."
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Portable Library toward her party's challenge, This Inn's a Keeper.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Once she's on the other side, Jacqueline brushes off her clothes. She can see the village square on the other side, at least, so she inhales and follows the others toward it.
When they arrive she's greeted by the familiar sight of the White Mare and its owner. The conversation starts off much as it did last time, but...again, there's that shift in demeanor. She glances toward Matilda, and nods.
"It's like...something made an imprint of them, and we're seeing it play out. They can see us, hear us, and talk to us...but when we leave, it's like we were never there..." Jacqueline comments.
Ines straight up accuses the innkeeper of lying, and Matilda uses cold hard facts to try and prove that it couldn't possibly be her. As for Jacqueline, well...
"Ah, yes... I'm sorry for the confusion, ma'am, but it couldn't possibly be us." Jacqueline says. "Are you sure you've seen us before, and you're not thinking of someone else?"
Jacqueline offers her a polite, charming smile.
"As a merchant, it looks poorly on me if I try to back out of my debts...surely you don't think I'd try to avoid paying my room bills...?" It was worth a shot.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, This Inn's a Keeper.
==========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>===========================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - This Inn's a Keeper *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You come across the innkeeper as you proceed through the village square. She
gives you a warm smile as she greets, "Welcome to our inn, the White Mare!"
She's about to beckon you in, but pauses with a convulsive twitch. Her eyes
gloss over as she regards you with coldness and remarks: "Hey! I know you!
All of you! You haven't paid your room bills in over..." She begins
counting. "One hundred and ten years!"
That would be a remarkable amount of money for anyone to casually part
with... you will have to come up with something clever to stave her anger
and convince her you don't actually owe her... much.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
=====================<* Lost Village Fereshte - Round 3 *>====================== =======================< Results - This Inn's a Keeper >======================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matilda Whitehead 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Portable Library 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ines Colina 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Matilda Whitehead 40 --(30)--> 70 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Secret(1) Effects: Cleanse ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Matilda Whitehead has passed this challenge! The party gained 30 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> Ines Colina has posed.
The three pronged attack of documentation, reputation, and just straightforward being called out seems to work nicely. When faced with the facts presented before her, the innkeeper just sort of wilts, and walks away defeated, without the townspeople turning on the three interlopers. She possibly mutters something under her breath, but it's too quiet to be heard.
"So they're what, ghosts?" Ghosts make some sort of sense, at least. Plus you can do something about them. Once again Ines crosses her arms, surveying the town. "What are you looking for here, anyway?"
DG: Matilda Whitehead has drawn a new Challenge.
==========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>===========================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Once a Curative *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You come across a large field of bright blue herbs -- botanical lore would
tell you that these are Arctican arnica, a poisonous herb that can
nonetheless be compounded into an antivenom agent.
... but whatever power has suffused the village has made these grow to
enormous size -- and a poisonous cloud starts to roil out of their pods.
You'll need to be quick but careful if you want to cross the field without
inhaling the poison.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"It's... unclear. Ah -- that's, the answer, to both of those questions, actually," Matilda says, with a slightly sheepish smile. "As with many things in this business... the best I can really say is that I expect us to know what we're looking for when we see it." She'd have had better guidance on this, she realizes, if she'd just acted sooner...
To get from the village square to... much anywhere else of consequence, the group is forced to cross a field of bright blue herbs. "Oh! This is fortuitous, actually -- I've been in need of rather a lot of this lately, and I've never seen these grow to quite this..."
Matilda pauses, as she notices an unusual shudder from the arnica, as it starts to disgorge poisonous pollen. "... Change in plans," she honks out. "Move." She picks a path through what would seem, at first glance, like the most dangerous, highest-density area... but most of those have already spat out their poison. Perhaps her hope is to avoid disturbing *more*.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Once a Curative.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"That about sums it up...I still haven't quite figured out what's responsible for this, but this village has connections to Odoryuk, the Guardian of Life...I think that might have something to do with it." Jacqueline explains. Once they've managed to get away without having to pay exorbitant fees, they continue forward into a field of arnica.
"Hold on..." Jacqueline says, rummaging through her bags. She produces a series of filtration cloths which she quickly distributes to the party. It should help prevent them from having to breathe in any of that poisonous cloud, but that didn't make it any less of a threat.
She moves forward, holding her breath and ready to distribute antidotes as needed once they've made it through to the other side.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Rapid Remedy toward her party's challenge, Once a Curative.
<Pose Tracker> Ines Colina has posed.
A more concrete answer would be nice, but then again, Matilda's not wrong. Way too often you don't know what you're looking for. "Fair enough." And then there's talk of guardians, and Ines shakes her head. An upbringing in Saint Centour really didn't leave much room for guardian worship.
The field of plants seems almost pleasant, until the poison clouds start dispersing. Ines takes the offered cloth, and pulls her whip from her belt. "Guess we're running."
Ines charges forward, lashing out with the whip to to send some of the more recent pods away before they can spread their poisonous payload, and activating the symbols on her legs to give her a burst of speed through the path ahead.
DG: Ines Colina has used her Tool Runic Whip toward her party's challenge, Once a Curative.
==========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>===========================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Once a Curative *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You come across a large field of bright blue herbs -- botanical lore would
tell you that these are Arctican arnica, a poisonous herb that can
nonetheless be compounded into an antivenom agent.
... but whatever power has suffused the village has made these grow to
enormous size -- and a poisonous cloud starts to roil out of their pods.
You'll need to be quick but careful if you want to cross the field without
inhaling the poison.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
=====================<* Lost Village Fereshte - Round 4 *>====================== =========================< Results - Once a Curative >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matilda Whitehead 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Rapid Remedy 1 Agility Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ines Colina 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Runic Whip 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Matilda Whitehead 70 --(20)--> 90 Pass Conditions: Fright(1)|Injure(2) Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Matilda Whitehead 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> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
The plants aren't *exceptionally* aggressive in their vomiting of poison, at least; Matilda's picked a good path, and Jay provides filtration cloths that serve as reasonably solid barriers against the toxic pollen. Ines secures a safe route -- all told, the whole run goes *extremely* swimmingly!
Once they're on the other side, Matilda takes a moment to pant a little bit. "I hate -- running -- while holding my breath," she mumbles, half-audible at best.
She doesn't yet remark on Odoryuk.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has drawn a new Challenge.
=========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>==========================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Life is too Short... *>====================
|Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 4 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Finally, you navigate your way successfully around the lost village and come
towards the most impressive building deep in the heart of the settlement, an
octagonal yurt with large doors adorned with the iconography of Odoryuk.
This place is purportedly the chieftain's hut, and the dwelling of the-once
chosen of the Fereshte's Medium of Life, the Heritor.
When you step in, the chill winds take hold once more. The aurora veils the
night sky of Elru where the tent's fabric is shredded. The floor is
bloodstained and littered with broken furniture. The only object to survive
without even a scratch or tarnish upon it is a wall-length mirror on the
back...
... which shines with the icon of Odoryuk emblazoned upon its frame.
The moment one of you steps in front of it, a humanoid figure emerges from
the radiant glass. One, then another, then another, until there is one for
each member of your party. At first nondescript, the Leyline exhumes power
as it pulls upon the myriad facets of life itself...
... coalescing into clones of yourselves. But these are not dark or
malevolent or memory clones as you may have encountered in the past -- this
clone instead embodies the question that lingers in everyone's minds, at
some point in life:
What could I have become?
This is the you who took risks when you backed away. The you who didn't let
hang-ups and personal pains drag them into a mire of their own creation. The
you who owned up to that painful mistake and learnt from it. The you who
answered tough, lingering questions and made impossible decisions to get to
where they are today. Pure and certain, a beacon of someone who lives their
life to their fullest.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTNhgb0s6qE )
The Ideal You.
That is who your opponent is.
(OOC Note: Round runners, keep the Ideal self around for the Finale, do not
dispatch them in your resolution poses!)
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret, Save Point=======================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
By passing through the field of overgrown arnica, they're able to make it to the heart of the village. An octagonal yurt, its doors bearing the iconography of Odoryuk, stands in the very center.
"...We're here. I want you two to brace yourselves. What we're about to see might be a little...alarming, but hold on, okay?" Jacqueline says, taking a deep breath. She takes a step inside. Whereas the rest of the village seems intact, stuck somewhen so very long ago, the inside seems have survived the weathering of time.
The floor is bloodstained, and littered with broken furniture. Through the tears in the cloth, they can see the aurora, burning bright outside. And before them...
A mirror, shining with the icon of Odoryuk. In response to their presence, three humanoid figures emerge. The one at the front is visibly...Jacqueline herself. But her stance and her expression is more confident. The other Jacqueline's face bears more visible sign of aging...and right now, it is creased with a frown as she looks over the group.
"...You're back." She says, looking directly at Jacqueline and taking a step toward her. "Did you forget something? Lose something? Or...are you just looking for answers?"
Jacqueline frowns, bracing herself.
"I...there was something I wanted to ask you. Did...would you have-" Jacqueline starts, but the other raises her hand.
"Stop." She lowers into an offensive stance. "First. I want you to show me that you've worked on what we spoke about last time."
And then, eschewing sorcery, the other Jacqueline charges toward her...!
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool The Lifeweaver's Codex toward her party's challenge, Life is too Short....
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
"... Alarming it is," Matilda says, closing her eyes for a moment and breathing in slowly through her nose. She's prepared for this, surely. In her work as a pharmacist and compounder, she's seen so much suffering -- and simply to live on Filgaia, she's caused... suffering enough, besides. What is it that could be so alarming...?
... A humanoid figure emerges. Drawing a commonality between it and Matilda might even take a sec; where the compounder has stuck to her accidental hair-bleaching on Lunar, the one before her still wears her hair solid black. Where Matilda favors a breastplate under her long, utilitarian white coat, the one before her seems... at ease, in a comfortable green sweater and black slacks. Where Matilda's eyes dart, scan, assess -- the other Matilda seems wholly focused on what's before her.
The bleach-blonde compounder takes a half-step back, scanning over her other self. There's an expression she recognizes in there, something old, something buried -- and she seems to like it very little. "... *How*?" she asks, incredulous. "How can you face a planet that quite plainly wants you dead, wants -- *everything* dead?"
"... Is *that* what you took away from that?" comes the reply. It sounds almost hurt. "You're... stuck back there, aren't you? You think of everyone as Bloody-Eye, and not the sad, hungry deserters he brought with --"
Matilda doesn't let that one even finish out. "It doesn't *matter*. In the end, it doesn't *matter* what someone's feeling when they hurt you. Are you any less hurt by the desperate than the vainglorious? Filgaia's a place where people are born to hurt each other, and you -- of *all* people, you -- should know better." Matilda's own stance is the first to drop combative -- and unusual, at that; she picks her compounding knife and drops low, rather than her more conventional weapons -- and her stance places her knife-holding hand *back*, leading with the empty one.
"... I suppose," the other Matilda admits, "if I felt any differently, I'd resent me, too." She retrieves a knife of her own, and the two start to circle each other, looking for an opening.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Life is too Short....
<Pose Tracker> Ines Colina has posed.
Even with Jay's warning, Ines is not prepared for what awaits her in the mirror. Her hand goes straight for the boleadoras on her belt. "What the hell?"
In many ways, the woman looks a match for Ines. Fewer obvious symbological tattoos. Still muscular, but instead of her travelling gear, she wears a heavy blacksmith's apron, and a toolbelt with tools on the trade. The majority of changes aren't visible. Her bearing is different. Less of a fighter. More at ease, maybe. "Going straight to fighting, then?"
Ines growls, but her doppelganger just shakes her head. "Was it worth it? You could have seen Lara grow up. You could have taken over the forge. You could know what happened."
At that, Ines' eyes widen. She falters for a second. Those words hurt. The doppelganger keeps speaking. "Maybe you could have done something, if you hadn't run away. If you could show your face in town. Who knows? Maybe Saint Centour would still be there if you had stayed."
Ines voice cracks, as she shakes with rage. "I don't care what the hell you are." She pulls the boleadoras from her and hurls them at her copy. "If you know a damn thing about what happened, you're going to talk or I'm going to kill you!" She charges in, even as her doppelganger starts to brace herself against the onslaught of an angry beastwoman.
DG: Ines Colina has used her Tool Bewitched Boleadoras toward her party's challenge, Life is too Short....
=========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>==========================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Life is too Short... *>====================
|Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 4 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Finally, you navigate your way successfully around the lost village and come
towards the most impressive building deep in the heart of the settlement, an
octagonal yurt with large doors adorned with the iconography of Odoryuk.
This place is purportedly the chieftain's hut, and the dwelling of the-once
chosen of the Fereshte's Medium of Life, the Heritor.
When you step in, the chill winds take hold once more. The aurora veils the
night sky of Elru where the tent's fabric is shredded. The floor is
bloodstained and littered with broken furniture. The only object to survive
without even a scratch or tarnish upon it is a wall-length mirror on the
back...
... which shines with the icon of Odoryuk emblazoned upon its frame.
The moment one of you steps in front of it, a humanoid figure emerges from
the radiant glass. One, then another, then another, until there is one for
each member of your party. At first nondescript, the Leyline exhumes power
as it pulls upon the myriad facets of life itself...
... coalescing into clones of yourselves. But these are not dark or
malevolent or memory clones as you may have encountered in the past -- this
clone instead embodies the question that lingers in everyone's minds, at
some point in life:
What could I have become?
This is the you who took risks when you backed away. The you who didn't let
hang-ups and personal pains drag them into a mire of their own creation. The
you who owned up to that painful mistake and learnt from it. The you who
answered tough, lingering questions and made impossible decisions to get to
where they are today. Pure and certain, a beacon of someone who lives their
life to their fullest.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTNhgb0s6qE )
The Ideal You.
That is who your opponent is.
(OOC Note: Round runners, keep the Ideal self around for the Finale, do not
dispatch them in your resolution poses!)
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret, Save Point=======================================
====================<* Lost Village Fereshte - Round 5 *>===================== ======================< Results - Life is too Short... >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Matilda Whitehead 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass The Lifeweaver's Codex 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ines Colina 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Bewitched Boleadoras 3 Combat Effects: Rally ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Matilda Whitehead 90 --(0)--> 90 Pass Conditions: Save Point(1)|Secret(2) Effects: Embolden(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Matilda Whitehead has passed this challenge! The party gained 0 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Jacqueline Barber has drawn a new Challenge.
=========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>==========================
=============<* CHALLENGE - ... to Wonder What Could Have Been *>=============
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The battle is intense.
Both you and your Ideal self have been tested to your very limits. And what
did you glean upon the mirror in the midst of that battle? Perhaps it was
an aspect or two about yourself that you refused to face up until now. Or
perhaps, you turned even deeper away from pernicious thoughts that
nonetheless have a nugget of truth in your heart. Only you can answer that
question.
But it is nonetheless evident, at the climax of the battle, that you and
yourself are fairly evenly matched... and if you or your Ideal self
continues, no one will walk away from this cleanly.
In other words, the price is life itself.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5l6XPZxZ8c )
Battle is not the answer here. The Ley continues to flow throughout the
room, the very power of the reflection that has borne manifest here, sourced
from the mirror itself. If you gaze deep enough into the mirror, and search
deep into the Ley itself...
Perhaps it is there that you will find the hint. A seemingly minor clue,
but one that could be the first step to resolving the dissonance...
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
It's difficult, to face oneself. As all three battles continues, it becomes clear that it's an even fight. One might gain the edge for a short time, but it isn't long before the other manages to regain ground.
Continued fighting would only end in the death of one or both selves.
What, then, was the solution?
The other Jacqueline leads with a solid punch toward her gut, but, thinking quickly, Jacqueline draws her cloak around herself, dampening the blow. In retaliation, the other Jacqueline sweeps her leg out from under her, causing her to go crashing to the floor. Quickly she draws a knife and goes for her...but a gesture of Jacqueline's hand causes the stone to rise up beneath her feet at just the right position to trip her up.
Jacqueline quickly stumbles back to her feet...and starts a gesture with her right hand...but hesitates. That hesitation is all the other needs to hurl her knife in her direction. She misses, just barely, but it's enough to interrupt Jacqueline's spell.
"...You're doing better. But you still need to be quicker on the draw." The other Jacqueline concludes, rising to her feet.
Jacqueline exhales, stumbling back a few feet. The other Jacqueline was fiercer, more intense...more willing to land a lethal blow. To fight an opponent like that was difficult, when you were holding yourself back.
Jacqueline braces herself, and watches. Waiting to react to the other Jacqueline's next move...but as she does so, she finds herself staring into the mirror.
What she sees is small - insignificant, even - but...would it be enough to end this fight...?
DG: Jacqueline Barber has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, ... to Wonder What Could Have Been.
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
The twin Matildas make no headway on each other; while neither gets particularly hurt, neither leaves any openings. They're too cautious -- indeed, almost to a fault. "So, for all your talk," Matilda fires off, "You're not any more willing to take risks than I am, are you?"
"I mean... it's still a question of patience, isn't it? Everyone sleeps, eventually," comes the reply.
Matilda starts to circle toward the mirror, as she gives her doppelganger a bit of a surprised look. "... that's something *else* I wasn't expecting after all your talk," she concedes. "Now all that acting like you're better *really* sticks in my craw..."
Matilda glances toward the mirror -- and is attacked for her trouble... but she'd planned for the maneuver, and brings up a ratty, water-damaged old tome to block. It buys her *plenty* of time to study the mirror, with a knife stuck in it.
DG: Matilda Whitehead has used her Tool Portable Library toward her party's challenge, ... to Wonder What Could Have Been.
<Pose Tracker> Ines Colina has posed.
The fight between Ines and her mirror self is brutal. But despite what should be life experience on her side, Ines is angry. She's fighting recklessly, and her calm, collected mirror self is taking advantage of that. Metallic knuckles clash with skin made of stone, and an ill thought out strike leaves Ines getting brutally chokeslammed and dropped on the ground.
"What did you think? That I wouldn't be able to defend myself just because I wasn't going out getting in fights? You just weren't tough enough to put up with the townspeople." The blacksmith from the mirror cracks her neck, looking down at Ines. The geohound starts to pull herself to her feet, and the blacksmith drops in to a fighting stance again. "Do you even have anything but violence and anger?"
Ines growls as she stands, runes glowing. They glint in the mirror. "You keep talking in hypotheticals, don't you? What ifs? Not a damn solid word out of you. Nothing about how you did jack shit." Her she starts to gather wind around her, and the doppelganger does the same. But she doesn't throw her spell. Not yet. If there's anything in that damn mirror, this is it's chance to show itself.
DG: Ines Colina has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, ... to Wonder What Could Have Been.
=========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>==========================
=============<* CHALLENGE - ... to Wonder What Could Have Been *>=============
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The battle is intense.
Both you and your Ideal self have been tested to your very limits. And what
did you glean upon the mirror in the midst of that battle? Perhaps it was
an aspect or two about yourself that you refused to face up until now. Or
perhaps, you turned even deeper away from pernicious thoughts that
nonetheless have a nugget of truth in your heart. Only you can answer that
question.
But it is nonetheless evident, at the climax of the battle, that you and
yourself are fairly evenly matched... and if you or your Ideal self
continues, no one will walk away from this cleanly.
In other words, the price is life itself.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5l6XPZxZ8c )
Battle is not the answer here. The Ley continues to flow throughout the
room, the very power of the reflection that has borne manifest here, sourced
from the mirror itself. If you gaze deep enough into the mirror, and search
deep into the Ley itself...
Perhaps it is there that you will find the hint. A seemingly minor clue,
but one that could be the first step to resolving the dissonance...
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
====================<* Lost Village Fereshte - Round 6 *>===================== ===============< Results - ... to Wonder What Could Have Been >=============== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Matilda Whitehead 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Portable Library 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 5 --(5)--> 10 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ines Colina 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Matilda Whitehead 90 --(35)--> 125 Pass Conditions: Secret(1)|Treasure(1) Effects: Cleanse ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Matilda Whitehead has successfully explored Lost Village Fereshte!
=========================<* Lost Village Fereshte *>==========================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Threads of Life *>=======================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
With a loud and harrowing burst, the mirror's lustre fades. The clones give
you one last look -- a confident look, before dissolving into clouds,
returning deep into the mirror's surface. For now, the bizarre artifact has
lost its power and must recover, and you are safe from its strange
reflective machinations.
Searching the Heritor's tent, you find a large spindle of softly-glowing
thread, laced with the colour of moonlit silver. The thread, despite being
thin and lightweight, is remarkably strong. The applications are numerous if
you craft it into an appropriate Tool.
(NOTE: You may choose to apply for a Tool that incorporates the Enchanted
Thread! Examples include resilient climbing rope, a magic-resistant cloak or
even a fishing rod. The reliability of the magic makes the going easier and
more comforting, suggesting a Stalwart or Resilient Tool.)
=Dungeon Conditions: Vault====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline makes a move...but the other Jacqueline easily predicts her motion and goes for her, grabbing her wrist, taking her legs out from underneath her, and forcing her to the ground.
Jacqueline winces, finding herself pinned. She's not sure what the other Jacqueline has planned...until she releases her with a sigh, standing up and backing away.
"...I would've done the same thing you did." The other Jacqueline says, shaking her head. She extends a hand. Jacqueline hesitates...but accepts it, using it to help bring herself to her feet.
"Those people were in danger. If you hadn't stopped that monster, they would've died. ...And there's no guarantee that you would've been able to save Riesenlied if you went for her instead." The other Jacqueline says. Jacqueline remains quiet. "Alhazred's the one to blame for what happened. Not you. You did what I asked - you made your choice and acted decisively. That's all I ever wanted from you."
The other Jacqueline claps her on the shoulder once before walking over to the mirror - but she pauses, and takes one glance back at her.
"...So, you can stop beating yourself up over it now, huh? There are better ways to direct that energy." She jokes. Jacqueline can't help but crack a smile, even as the other Jacqueline dissipates into clouds.
And so, once all three mirror images vanish, it becomes safe to look through the tent once more. Inside, they find something miraculous - a spindle of softly-glowing thread, laced with a silver remniscent of moonlight.
It's thin and light, but also incredibly durable. And what's more...
"...I think it's enchanted. Sorcery resistance, I think, but there might be more to it..." Jacqueline murmurs, in awe. She would certainly take some - if she could weave it into her already physically-durable cloak, the garment would become even more protective...
<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.
The other Matilda wrests hr knife out of the book -- and takes a moment to look long and hard at her counterpart. "... All right -- I wasn't expecting that." She pulls back, saying, "... I don't think there's any way to bridge the gulf between us. You need to work on yourself so much, I don't even know where to begin."
Matilda hurls her knife at her doppelganger -- just in time for her to dissipate into airy nothingness. Her mood seems... fairly shot. At the very least, the promise of Stuff half-snaps her out of that, though.
"... I think I'll be taking a fair bit of this," Matilda says, with a nod. "I have -- actually rather a *lot* of ideas for it..."
<Pose Tracker> Ines Colina has posed.
This time, when spells go off, the wind around Ines is used not to launch an attack on her copycat, but to divert the tornado that's fired at her. The mirror Ines smirks, and gives one last comment. "If it helps any, I can't tell you what happened either." And then, like the others, she disappears into nothingness.
Ines is silent for a while. Unlike Jay, there's no heartening message from the mirror for her. Just wounds, both old and new, scratched open. She stares at the dormant mirror, her expression dark. When the find is revealed, she's still quiet. "Fine. I'm sure if nothing else, I can sell it." But she doesn't move towards it, instead heading for the opening of the tent. "Just take the spindle, we can split it up when we're out of here. I'll wait for you outside. One more second in here and I'll just smash that damn mirror.""
And then, once outside, Ines finds a tree, or rock, or something large and durable, and drives a fist into it.