2019-11-15: Attacking the Darkness
- Log: Attacking the Darkness
- Cast: Lily Keil, Hiro, Xantia, Fei Fong Wong
- Where: The Shadow Vault
- Date: November 15, 2019
- Summary: A group of Intrepid Adventurers™, each with their own reasons for being interested, face the darkness of the Shadow Vault.
=============================<* The Shadow Vault *>=============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - The First Step *>========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
The Shadow Vault is a shrine dedicated to the Guardian of Darkness, Leitea
Salk. Though it has been sealed for as long as most can remember, the
entrance lies open now. Fittingly enough, no outside light is able to reach
its interior, shrouding the entire shrine in darkness. Strange things roam
its halls of smooth black stone, and stranger things still occur within
them. Darkness seeps from the open doors, spilling out like water.
A series of Symbols running along the base of the interior walls once
provided light to the temple, but they have long since been scratched and
broken, and no longer provide the safety they once did... and in this
temple, your light is your lifeblood: as much a way to allow you to see as
it is a way to fend off that which resides within.
Therefore, before you enter, it is imperative that you prepare your own
supplies appropriately to ensure that you will have enough light to make it
through safely, even if it means retreating temporarily to acquire more
supplies.
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
It was Hiro who mentioned the Shadow Vault to Lily--a place that is perhaps for obvious reasons also of note to her. She would've put out a call to other Wolves, naturally, to gauge interest and acquire a full party--though it's possible some were already here. But here on this isolated, windswept island...
Lily Keil looks to the doors ahead, to the entryway and the darkness within it. She's not entirely uncomfortable with darkness... But apparently, it might strengthen the creatures within.
It reminds her of her time in Linaweyul.
"I have a few flares," Lily points out, "And I can light lamps and torches easily. I do have a lamp, and a supply of oil; if we need to, I can just conjure light, but I'd rather save that energy for combat or other purposes."
She is, naturally, comparing light sources with the group.
Lightning crackles in the distance; there's a storm on the horizon.
"The Guardian of Darkness..." Lily considers, thoughtfully as they process their lights.
DG: Lily Keil has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The First Step.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
When Hiro presented it to Lily initially - it was an idea that they simply have a fantastic adventure. He has other motives certainly. His fledgling talent in shadow magic. The Dark Presence that Mariel said she felt in the wards Althena's Guard placed over Kilika...
A way back to the right side of Lunar that doesn't require them to go all the way back to an Elw 'garden'.
"It kinda does, doesn't it?" Hiro remarks of Linaweyul. Ruby notes, "Don't worry about light! I've got it covered!"
One would think that she's talking about simply spewing flames everywhere.
They would be wrong.
Ruby is currently wearing goggles and a little harness that has small bottles of oil attached to it. Within her mouth hangs an oil lantern that burns bright... for now.
Surprisingly practical for a dragon adventurer on the go.
Hiro opens the book to 'Grandpa Gwyn's Adventuring Checklist For Dark and Dismal Places.'
"Lantern?"
"Check!"
"Extra Oil."
"Triple Check!"
"Harness?"
"Check!"
"Safety Goggles?"
"For the last time Hiro - that's not on there! Grandpa didn't own any goggles!"
Hiro reaches out with a finger to tap her goggle lens.
"Well I added it to the list because I thought they'd look cool on you!"
Ruby giggles a little at that.
"Welllll... you may be right on that..."
"Let's get going... don't want to get caught in that storm."
Ruby proudly flies on ahead to keep the way lit up.
"... say Lily. Your magic is a little different than ours... so I was wondering. When you use Shadow Magic - what's the difference between how it feels compared to malevolence?"
He knows how it feels to him perhaps... but... that's not good enough for him to simply know his own experience.
"Or like say... a Dark Power?"
DG: Hiro has used his Tool Grandpa Gwyn's Notebook toward his party's challenge, The First Step.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia accepted Lily's call for assistance readily. She's always happy to help, and had been looking to do some exploring besides. Not just for exploring's sake, although that tends to be enough if the company's good. But the return to Filgaia has relit the spark of investigating her past, and who knows? Even if she appeared to have the greatest ties to the Ignas region, that doesn't have to mean she's never been to Aquvy. Anything might jog a memory.
Granted, there's no real reason to assume this to be true about the Shadow Vault in particular. But it sounds interesting, and what more do you need aside from the aforementioned good company to have a good time, really?
Though all smiles on the way here, seeing the importance of light causes Xantia's expression to sour briefly, as she laments, "I've been trying my best, but I still can't get Light to happen. I know the potential's there, but..."
Ah well, it's not like she doesn't already have a way to manage. With a shake of her head, her smile returns as she activates her ARM. No, she hasn't mistaken this for a Combat challenge, it's just that her energy blade provides decent light on its own. It's better than your average torch, as long as you don't mind that it colors the surroundings red. "This'll do," she concludes cheerfully. "Ruby'll probably be fine, but y'know, can't hurt to have a backup!"
The Guardian of Darkness... when Lily says this, Xantia comments, "You know, I've actually met Leitea Salk before. It showed up in the Guardian Temple to test us. Not as... well, I don't know what I was expecting, but it seemed pretty nice to me. I still remember what it said."
Xantia's voice takes on a more deep, grave tone as she recites the words, perhaps trying to emulate the way in which they were spoken to her. "The shadow of the past hangs heavily upon you. You stand before us - our last hope. We ask you to remain true to yourselves - even if you will not join our cause. Do not let the end come upon you without struggle. Fight - for those who cannot. For those you love. For yourselves if nothing else."
Instantly returning to her usual self, Xantia shrugs. "Well, it's not like I wasn't going to do that anyway, but it's nice to get approval, right?"
DG: Xantia has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The First Step.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei Fong Wong can literally punch fire but he is unwilling to rely on that in a place like this, so he has brought along a torch alongside his usual tools (his fists) and he lights it with his hand before letting his hand drop.
"Heh, well, light's pretty tough." Fei admits to Xantia. "Though I'm not sure I can really talk about the mechanics of ether. I just sort of...make it happen. And then it happens." He shrugs. "But I think in a place like this it's best if we've all got our own lights."
He exhales briefly, closing his eyes. "Fuhh." He isn't looking forward to this, but he can't allow his friends to go in alone. He pauses to look back over to Xantia. He grins briefly. "Oh they talked to you huh?" He dips his head. "Not the sort of thing I'd expect from a Guardian of Darkness but... hey uh. Yeah. Guess appearances can be deceiving."
"But..." He adds. "Humans can be pretty powerful, pretty deadly, could even save the world... but there's another side to humanity isn't there? The ones in the sky are human too, and the kind of world they want... it's just as unacceptable, you know?"
He shakes his head again and then smiles at Ruby.
"Hey," He says. "I'm really happy to see you two again. I've missed you guys. I'm sorry that we keep, uh... that your journey keeps getting delayed... But I hope I can help you get where you need to go some day."
And with that he means to head on in.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Artist's Toolkit toward his party's challenge, The First Step.
=============================<* The Shadow Vault *>=============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - The First Step *>========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
The Shadow Vault is a shrine dedicated to the Guardian of Darkness, Leitea
Salk. Though it has been sealed for as long as most can remember, the
entrance lies open now. Fittingly enough, no outside light is able to reach
its interior, shrouding the entire shrine in darkness. Strange things roam
its halls of smooth black stone, and stranger things still occur within
them. Darkness seeps from the open doors, spilling out like water.
A series of Symbols running along the base of the interior walls once
provided light to the temple, but they have long since been scratched and
broken, and no longer provide the safety they once did... and in this
temple, your light is your lifeblood: as much a way to allow you to see as
it is a way to fend off that which resides within.
Therefore, before you enter, it is imperative that you prepare your own
supplies appropriately to ensure that you will have enough light to make it
through safely, even if it means retreating temporarily to acquire more
supplies.
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless=================================================
========================<* The Shadow Vault - Round 1 *>======================== ==========================< Results - The First Step >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiro 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Grandpa Gwyn's Notebook 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xantia 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lily Keil 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Artist's Toolkit 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Lily Keil 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Reckless(2) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Lily Keil 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> Lily Keil has posed.
"Yeah, I only figured out light when my life was on the line. I needed something that I could use against Voss's magic, that would burn it up--so I just... hold in the power until it seems almost too much, and then force it forward. It's sort of the opposite of dark magic." She nods to Fei, though. "I don't know all the mechanics, either, but I'm learning anyway. I agree about light."
To Xantia, "Really?" Lily asks, thoughtful. "We saw Dan Dairam. ...In fact, he helped me." With her Malevolence problem. She considers the words... "Yeah. That sounds like darkness, to me," Lily says. "It's... pure. It is what it is, unadulterated. That's how it should be, at least."
Lily finishes talking about the purity of darkness and then grins at Xantia. However--
"I think Ruby will take care of most of us," Lily says gamely after that.
"I'm not sure what kind of Dark Power you mean," Lily admits. "But it's possible to use darkness to manipulate as well as destroy, if you're careful, sure."
"...It's only similar in one way," Lily says of shadow magic and Malevolence. "Malevolence is... sick, corrupting, oily almost. Dark magic the way I use it--it gains power with hate, with anger, but it doesn't cling the same way. There's no sickness; where Malevolence corrupts, my shadow magic destroys. It's... clean the way cold air is clean, sharp the way a blade is sharp. Malevolence lingers on my mind, the accumulated... sediment of emotion. It overwhelms, it calls, it wants you to give in--my shadow doesn't... want anything. It's... purer."
Lily shakes her head. "I remember how it felt, to be suffused with Malevolence. It didn't empower me, it just made living harder."
They head in. Their various lights--torches, lasers, Rubys--hold, for now. And inside...
DG: Hiro has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================ ======================<* CHALLENGE - Shadow of Doubt *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- This room holds a strange atmosphere within it. As you step into the center, your light source begins to take on a crimson glow, and your shadow begins to shudder and stretch out on the floor before peeling off. It locks eyes with you before lunging at you aggressively and turning your own talents against you. If you want to continue, you will need to deal with this twisted mockery of your image before it deals with you. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
And then Lily answers his question. For a while he seems a little distant, as if he's thinking it over while she relates it.
Hiro just grins at Xantia. "Hey if it's there - it'll happen one day Xantia. I wouldn't sweat it. I sure couldn't do all the magic I can do until I trained with Lemina and Jean. Just keep working at it." Whereas Ruby pipes up as Lily says she's got it, "Yep! All taken care of!"
Ruby whispers Hiro's way. "Is that really Xantia or a Doppelganger?"
Hiro simply waves it off, without following up. He figures it's not his business to pry on this sudden change unless Xantia says it on her own.
Whereas Ruby smiles at Fei - which is quite a sight given that she has a lantern hanging on her lower jaw. "Oh Fei! We missed you too. And hey it's fine. Where we are now is probably even closer than Spira was given our luck." "Isn't that the truth?" Hiro agrees with Ruby, grinning at her before looking at Fei, "Anyhow Fei - you're here now - and you've stuck by us throughout all of this. Friends like you help me believe that - we'll make it there one day."
He then gets somber at Xantia's statement. "... remain true to yourselves - even if you will not join..." He looks serious for a few moments, before noting, "Yeah... that is nice."
Though his expression changes when Lily uses the word 'Pure'. "Pure... huh?" The idea of it - gives him this little shiver. It's not exactly a thrill. Though he keeps listening to the answer...
Clearing his throat as they walk down the darkened paths of this place he notes, "Well... Zophar was malevolence when I encountered him - so I'm trying to distinguish it from something this Dark Presence... Mariel felt in the wards Althena's Guard used on the Spiran Temples..."
He moves his hands as he illustrates, his shadow mimicking him on the walls, gleaming in Ruby's lantern light, stretching longer, distorting... "I didn't have much resonance back then when I encountered him - so I guess I'm thinking - if I investigate it in the future - trying to discern the..."
The others might notice it before Hiro, how his shadow is now stretching out of sync with him. A shadow hand begins to draw a shadow blade out of a sheath.
The others' Shadows begin to move in similar ways. Hiro doesn't notice it at first, instead looking down at the pendant around his neck that started glowing faintly. "... this thing only glows when we're about to be in a-"
A shadow blade darts raises up high, before coming down low. One can almost imagine it shouting DODGE THIS!
It doesn't though, all of their shadows begin a silent attack in an unnerving way, using their own techniques against them.
A little Ruby shadow melts out of the darkness and immediately bops Ruby with a precious dark pawsie.
DG: Hiro has used his Tool White Dragon Wings toward his party's challenge, Shadow of Doubt.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei smiles at Hiro and Ruby. "Heh...nice of you to still say that after everything. But ... thanks. I'm glad you two see me as a friend." His cheeks redden faintly and he looks down at his feet--briefly because of what Hiro says next.
"Mariel felt what?" Fei's eyes widen. "Wait, you mean... there's some kind of dark 'presence' in the Church?"
Fei trails off for a moment.
"Yeah that tracks." Fei says. He really isn't very surprised by this information but, then again, he has always been skeptical on most religions barring maybe the Nisan one, though he's really just a skeptic through and through. And not one of those youtube skeptics that are 'skeptical' that the world is 'round'.
"H...Hey! I don't think I can fight some kind of Shadow Ruby! Don't make me fight Shadow Ruby! Hey! Wait!! Shadow Ruby, don't bop Ruby!"
He stumbles backwards in terror and, to be frank, Shadow Hiro isn't helping matters either. They're too sweet and wonderful, he can't bear to fight even doppelgangers of them! No sir, no how!
But then he has to consider his own doppelganger. He braces as his own shadow breaks off and takes form.
It takes the form of a small boy. It doesn't speak. It just looks right at Fei.
It extends a hand and points to him.
'How much longer will you keep running away? Remember...'
Fei swallows.
'Remember that you--'
Fei unleashes a quick chi blast against the doppelganger then shakes his head. "No time for this." He says. "I know even if I were to run to the end of the world it wouldn't be far enough."
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool RPS Badge toward his party's challenge, Shadow of Doubt.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia looks surprised when Lily feels like that was an expected sort of thing for the Guardian of Darkness to say. She was in the Fei camp there, not at all what she was expecting. But then, she's never felt like she understood Darkness very well. Not that she feels she really understands any element very well, not even the ones she has no trouble using. But Darkness in particular feels like, to put it fittingly, a complete black box.
She doesn't comment on it until Lily explains the feeling in more detail. "It feels like most people would think of Light with the word 'pure'. But maybe they both are? Leitea Salk seemed to get along pretty well with Stare Roe." She met both at that time, apparently she doesn't feel like that detail was very important with how she just kinds of mentions it as an aside.
She smiles at Hiro's encouragement regarding her own (lack of) mastery over Light. "Thanks, I will! I have help from a Seraph of Light, so you know, probably nobody better to teach me, right?"
It's true that she may have changed a bit in the time since Hiro and Ruby saw her last. But if that's the case she doesn't realize it enough herself to comment on it.
What may especially not seem much like her - although it has gotten to be more common in recent times - is that Xantia stays fairly quiet upon entering the Vault. Chattering away even under the most unfitting circumstances is more her status quo, but she more and more has these moments where she's just... quietly thinking to herself. Right now, she's thinking about Malevolence. She's never really considered before how scary that must be, to be affected by it so directly.
She only pipes up at the expected moment, when Fei speaks of being friends. "Of course he does, Fei. You were already friends before all of that happened. You don't just stop being friends when something like that happens. That's not how it works." It's not how it works in her book, at least.
Her first clue that's something's wrong is that her energy blade spontaneously starts to glow more brightly. When her own shadow appears to come to life, Xantia's reaction is... perhaps surprisingly calm, merely frowning at her double. She's been there before, fighting imitations, an idealized image of herself... But never more strongly than when she had to fight herself after someone or something else was in control of her body. Compared to that, this feels like a particularly pale imitation.
The shadow clone rushes in, unleashing a furious flurry of punches and kicks, which Xantia calmly blocks or dodges. Then the roles reverse, Xantia going on the offensive and Shadow Xantia perfectly defending against the strikes. Already not a paragon a patience normally, Xantia's runs out extremely quickly this time.
"I'm looking for the real me. You're just a bad copy! Disappear!"
She doesn't defend against the Shadow's next attack, instead lunging forward to counterattack with her energy blade. No need to hold back here - if this thing can be sliced to ribbons she's perfectly comfortable with doing just that.
DG: Xantia has used her Tool ARM Blade toward her party's challenge, Shadow of Doubt.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
"Yeah," Lily answers Hiro about her magic. But Zophar--and the Dark Presence... "Hmm... I didn't get a chance to examine those," Lily answers thoughtfully. "You might be lucky, if he's as powerful as you say--not to have been able to sense the full depths of that power. It can be... overwhelming."
But then, Lily has a different kind of sixth sense than most.
"I think they both are, in their own ways. But for me it was always darkness that was most that way--unadulterated, unaltered. ...When I was a little girl, when something didn't make sense... it at least did."
"But I don't know much about what's going on with the Althenans. Just that it isn't like Leo, to go this far. I think his emotions have gotten the best of him, in a bad way."
Lily's own shadow shudders, stretches, and peels off of the floor. It becomes a shape, much like her own, done up in moving ink. And abruptly its hand is covered in shadowy mist--and a spear of ice launches for Lily's back, aimed straight for her heart. The sorceress turns, and with a wave of her hand, flame batters the spear away. She narrows her eyes. "True to yourself," she repeats. "...All right then."
For the next few moments, they trade spells at a dizzying speed--the shadow wields darkness itself, unmakes a section of floor outright, but Lily counters with a column of burning light. The shadow hurls fire; Lily blocks it with a shield of ice. The shadow fires a bolt of nuclear fire--The shadow fights silently, but with increasing ferocity--a dark thrum can be felt radiating away from it, a hatred for its counterpart--or maybe for everything--and it fires another blast.
Lily blocks with her arm, and there's a scent of something burning. But as she does, she pulls a strange disc from her jacket, one that some here might recognize as an Copy Artificial Medium--and channels its power. The faint colors of Celesdue's robes shine from the Medium, pink and pale tans and all--and Lily charges, putting herself into a completely open position as she lifts her arms, taunts the Shadow forward--
"Replace!" Abruptly, with a flash of the Moon Medium's power, they disappear and reappear opposite one another, switching places, and the Shadow overextends itself--
...At which point Lily sinks her knife completely into its back.
"...Can't beat me with my own tricks if I'm not just 'me', can you?"
Of course, it's possible that doesn't kill it... in which case it can counterattack easily with Lily's powers. But why... was it so angry?
DG: Lily Keil has used her Tool Moon Medium toward her party's challenge, Shadow of Doubt.
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================ ======================<* CHALLENGE - Shadow of Doubt *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- This room holds a strange atmosphere within it. As you step into the center, your light source begins to take on a crimson glow, and your shadow begins to shudder and stretch out on the floor before peeling off. It locks eyes with you before lunging at you aggressively and turning your own talents against you. If you want to continue, you will need to deal with this twisted mockery of your image before it deals with you. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
=======================<* The Shadow Vault - Round 2 *>======================= ========================< Results - Shadow of Doubt >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hiro 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass White Dragon Wings 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Xantia 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass ARM Blade 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lily Keil 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Moon Medium 2 Combat Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fei Fong Wong 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass RPS Badge 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Lily Keil 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Reckless(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lily Keil 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> Hiro has posed.
Ruby reels as if she's been hit by a fly swatter, reeling. "Don't worry Fei - I've got this!" The Shadows don't know - but by giving Ruby a fight like this...
It's given her a fight...
The real Ruby charges at the Shadow Ruby in mid-air, and the two begin grappling, in a rapid pawsie vs pawsie scratching fury.
4
3
2
3
"YAHYAHYAHYAHYAH! EAT THIS!"
Shadow Ruby gets a faceful of flames.
4
And begins to dissolve.
... it's the first fight Ruby has been in that she's won on her own.
"Aha! That's what you get for being an inferior monochrome copy of the bonafide red dragon!"
Hiro circles his clone, in a lunging back and forth. And when it looks like it's got him, suddenly other shadows rise up from the floor like liquid - that then shape into swords.
The shadow Hiro is suddenly perforated from six different directions.
Hiro's fist is closed in concentration, sweat beading on his forehead. Only relaxing when his too dissolves.
Fei's shadow takes the Chi blast - and wavers - like smoke. It keeps pointing at him - like the smoke is going to reform. And then it simply fades away, its eyes still on him and its finger pointed until the last possible second.
Xantia and her clone go through the motions of the back and forth until she stops defending and counters it. The creature is impaled. There's resistance as the blade enters. And then suddenly there isn't. It is gone.
Whereas Lily... translocates behind the shadow her with Celesdue's power. That +xd6 extra sneak attack damage allows enough to do critical damage.
The clone has time enough to look over its shoulder at her. Though it doesn't grab the knife. There's instead a shadow knife in its hand - as if it's spiteful and angry enough that even in loss it might try to take her down with it.
It looks like it's going to charge her with a stab - however it's a feint and it throws a dagger her way.
The dagger dissolves and so too does her clone before... it can begin to strike home.
Hiro pants afterwards... and looks around warily before sheathing his sword. "Everyone okay?"
He's quiet for a time, moving closer to Lily. "... It's his sister. I'm sure of it." Hiro finally answers Lily - on the subject of Leo. "People go to pretty extreme lengths to protect their family."
Ruby looks proud of herself before flying over to Xantia to ask, "It's Clarine right - you're learning from her? Just making sure because Liath can be... welllllll... super literal?" Not to mention in Althena's Guard but...
... maybe this is her bigger concern when it comes to Xantia learning things.
DG: Xantia has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================ ====================<* CHALLENGE - Attack the Darkness *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The shadows seem to almost stir around you. You can feel it - a sense of warning, a growing danger in the back of your mind. Something is watching you, and it does not mean you well. You cannot see it, but you can feel its presence all the same. A show of force may cause it to reconsider your threat level, and buy you more time to continue exploring. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Tire=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia is pretty dispassionate about dispatching her shadow double. There was a time when she would have been distraught over an incident like this, but... well, at this point it'll take more than a shadow to weigh up against all her actual worries regarding her identity. It... might be considered progress?
In any event, she doesn't waste time, looking over to make sure the others aren't having any trouble with their respective doubles. Things look fine from her limited viewpoint, so she quickly decides that there's nothing to worry about there, and reassumes her usual level of cheer. "That wasn't so bad! If that's all this place's got, we'll be done in no time!" Done with what exactly? Heck if she knows, she's just along for the ride, no particular goals in mind here.
She looks sympathetic when Hiro shares what he knows regarding Leo. "To protect his sister..." For obvious reasons, she looks in Fei's direction before turning back to Hiro. "I didn't understand what he was doing, but... I guess maybe it's not so hard to understand, after all."
Then Ruby approaches, to who she nods readily. "Yeah! You know Clarine? She actually fought Liath, who I guess is with the Althena people, so... I don't know if that's somebody I could get along with, after everything that happened."
Xantia's still talking as the party's started moving further ahead, seeming unconcerned enough, until something abruptly changes. Though she wouldn't be able to articulate how she knows, Xantia can just... feel eyes on her. She suddenly takes on a far less friendly tone when she informs whatever may be out there, "I know you're there. Come on out! I'll handle you just like I handled the last one."
Xantia flips open a pouch hanging from her waist, taking something out of it. And then she throws a punch at a loose boulder in front of her, shattering it effortlessly. She might have been checking if there was anything behind it in the most direct way possible.
Then she turns to the group, illuminating the object she now holds in her hand. That's definitely the head of her Megaton Hammer, now fitted with a hand grip instead of the long metal shaft that it used to be connected to. And just like that she's all cheer again as she announces, "You like what I've done with it? I call it Mini-Megaton!"
The head alone weighs a ton, only to Xantia would this make that tool more practical to use.
DG: Xantia has used her Tool Mini-Megaton toward her party's challenge, Attack the Darkness.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei says, "Religion's the opiate of the masses," softly. "I'm not trying to say that there's intentionally malevolent expectations in a lot of cases but when you let someone else do the thinking for you, you're always risking being pushed into something you don't want to do." He shakes his head. "And sometimes that isn't even bad. But sometimes it is. That's where we are right now, I figure."
Ruby reassures him and he grins. "Well alright! I trust you, Ruby!" And by all appearances...Ruby does win the fight! Hopefully the real Ruby can take more than 10 points of damage, though, but then--it IS an inferior copy. Hard to beat the original.
Fei forces himself to turn his attention off of the shadow ... child? He isn't sure who it is supposed to be. He really hopes he's not a Crazy Jane type here. "Liath? Who's that? They're not another Seraph secretly trying to destroy Filgaia I hope." Why is he assuming this?? Because, uh, he's met a lot of sassy seraphs ok and he's real skeptical thanks to Ragnell these days.
But Hiro has more to say. That he's out to protect his sister. "W..well..." Fei admits. "To be honest... if that's what it is, maybe I can't really judge." He glances over to Hiro. "I mean, I know what I'd do to protect Elly. And uh. You know. Heh. I imagine I'd go to far more lengths. I mean I know I would? But even so... his sister isn't really in danger with us so maybe what he thinks is protecting his sister, really isn't?" There is a shift in the darkness and Fei frowns, shifting as he crackles a red aura around himself.
And his hair shifts to red as well and--
"Yeah it looks pretty cool." Ugh! What does Id think he's doing just popping up casual-like after saying all that he did to Xantia last time? What a doofhole!
This doesn't stop him from crossing his arms in an imposing manner though.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool The Other Guy Lends a Hand toward his party's challenge, Attack the Darkness.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Lily considers her own double, and shakes her head. Instead she considers, "His sister... Maybe. Family will use family, too, if it comes down to it. Do you really think she's behind it?" ...Maybe Lily's not the best person to talk about the importance of family to, considering that her first thought appears to be manipulation rather than just excessive protection. She shakes her head.
"Our light's holding at least," Lily comments, the way she doesn't comment on Seraphs for the moment.
She finally adds, "But religion shouldn't be accepted uncritically. Any that doesn't include thinking for yourself, interrogating what you've been taught..." She shakes her head. "I guess in fairness, I favor Nisan."
Lily quiets, as she sees Id for a moment. Looks at Xantia.
"Oh, yeah," Lily agrees, as she pulls her ARM from within her jacket, "Really suits you." In more ways than one.
But Lily aims her heavy red-and-black pistol forward in the darkness--and clicks it over, a hum as she focuses into it and activates its enchantment--
"I feel it. It can come for us if it wants." Lily points at a nearby wall--and fires, the ARM blasting forth a ray of freezing energy that ices over a wide area--
At which point Lily crackles a little herself and delivers a hammerblow of fiery energy from one hand to blast the whole damn structure before her apart.
DG: Lily Keil has used her Tool Lycoris RM-81-ICE toward her party's challenge, Attack the Darkness.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
Ruby bobs her head up and down. "Yeah! I mean - she also fought Ragnell so... that's swell buttttt..." A beat, as she answers Fei's question. "She's a Seraph who works for Althena's Guard. I don't know all the details but they act like she's kind of a big deal." Apparently she hasn't gotten the memo that Liath was declared the Prime Lord to the true Shepherd.
Whereas Hiro answers Fei... "I think you're right... Mauri is... nngh..."
It's hard to think of her and not see her burning Marivel to 'death'. "... I don't know all the details. I know Ronfar... left Althena's priesthood over something dealing with Mauri - Leo's Sister - but... he hasn't been around to answer questions." Lily adds a new angle, and Hiro feels uneasy, "... I can't rule it out. The two are... very different."
And then Xantia reveals... that she knows something is out there.
Hiro motions for Ruby to come close, and the two confer in a huddle.
Hiro takes away the lantern from Ruby, and swings the shutter around it so it's illuminating less - and more a single direction. He then drapes his orange scarf to the side of it.
Where did Ruby go!?
Hiro clears his throat, "And if her Megaton Hammer - and..." Hiro double takes at Fei's red hair and aura, "... that guy or-" Another double take at Lily's Ice ARM, "- all that ice - don't finish you off then..."
Hiro opens the shutter just a little wider, and a gigantic silhouette of Ruby appears on the wall where the light is pointed, posing threateningly, giving the illusion she's much - much larger - especially with her wings spread out - and hair standing up on end.
"... our Shadow Beast will!"
The shadow gesticulates threateningly, and Ruby lets out this sibilant hissing noise to try to add to the illusion...
... it definitely sounds catlike but it'd be wise not to call her on that.
DG: Hiro has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Attack the Darkness.
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================ ====================<* CHALLENGE - Attack the Darkness *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The shadows seem to almost stir around you. You can feel it - a sense of warning, a growing danger in the back of your mind. Something is watching you, and it does not mean you well. You cannot see it, but you can feel its presence all the same. A show of force may cause it to reconsider your threat level, and buy you more time to continue exploring. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Tire=============================================
=======================<* The Shadow Vault - Round 3 *>======================= ======================< Results - Attack the Darkness >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hiro 0 --(8)--> 8 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Xantia 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Mini-Megaton 3 Brute Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lily Keil 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Lycoris RM-81-ICE 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fei Fong Wong 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass The Other Guy Lends a Hand 4 Brute Effects: None ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Lily Keil 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Tire(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lily Keil 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> Xantia has posed.
Whatever presence had been watching, one can imagine the "..." bubble appearing over it at Hiro and Ruby's shadow puppet show. But no one will ever know whether that was effective or not - between all the violence inflicted and the general Aura Of No-No that's being put on display by the group, whatever may have been present just now seems to think better of it, the sense of danger slowly fading away until it vanishes entirely.
"Oooh, I didn't know you had a weapon like that, Lily. Or that you could summon Shadow Beasts, Hiro!" It would be hard to tell if Xantia is for real with that one, if she weren't Xantia and you could be pretty sure that she means everything she says exactly how she says it.
She also looks pleased as punch getting compliments on the custom modification of her hammer. Especially when Id appears, from her perspective just to deliver that compliment, taking his appearance entirely in stride like she tends to do. "Hehehe, thanks!"
That was the impulsive natural reaction. It takes her a moment to think back on what happened before and realize that she probably shouldn't appear that happy given that Id was being a meaniehead last time. "I-I mean... it's not like I care what you think about it. Getting compliments from you doesn't make me happy at all!"
Now it's doubly obvious that she was for real before, because she quite obviously isn't now with the visible effort it took her to say something that's not true. That was probably the least convincing Tsundere act that anybody's ever seen.
DG: Lily Keil has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* The Shadow Vault *>=============================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Animated Armory *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You step into a room that appears to, at one point, have been used for
honing one's skill in combat. A series of fully stocked weapon racks lines
this room.
These weapons, each a sleek, curved blade of black steel, sense your
approach and slide out as if drawn by invisible soldiers before brandishing
themselves in your direction in a clearly aggressive fashion. There does not
appear to be any way around them. You'll have to fight your way
through...but on the bright side, they look pretty valuable. This might be a
blessing in disguise.
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure, Wound==========================================
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
"Then we might need to find Ronfar," Fei points out. So...do more gambling, Hiro?
But when Xantia gets tsundere at Id. Id's natural response is, well.
"Yeah... well... just because I like your weapon it doesn't mean anything either." Id says right back at Xantia. "And I don't care if you don't care about me saying if I like it either. And I can like it whether or not you're happy about it!"
Id promptly goes back into Fei's subconscious and Fei groans. "I really wish he'd stop that."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
To Hiro... "Complicated. Well, that doesn't surprise me." Pause. he does the shadow puppet thing. "That reminds me. I didn't get to ask before--when did you learn shadow magic? I thought most mages from Lunar had a set element they had to use."
to Xantia, "Pistol's old, enchantment's new. It got an upgrade from the Trial, and I thought it might be handy to brittle things up before I tried to destroy them. That only has a few uses before it has to recharge--but it can do bullets made of water longer."
...Lily doesn't comment on Xantia being happy. It's--it's for the best.
"Seems a little... Well. Could be more pleasant."
But as they step into the next room, there's weapon racks. Lily shows an obvious interest--before they slide out from their racks and holidng-places and point their way, a whole line of them. "...Hmmm," Lily says. "I wonder if I can use this... Well, after we stop them trying to kill us. I think..."
Lily pulls her Medium again, and breathes, attuning herself--before it glows. And--she disappears abruptly. Right out of view. For a few moments... before--
Ice erupts around some of the blades, suddenly a column that seeks to engulf at least one outright.
"I can't tell if the assailants are invisible or if they're wielding themselves, but if we neutralize the weapons we should be safe!"
"...Keep one if you want. I'm hoping we can, anyway."
DG: Lily Keil has used her Tool Moon Medium toward her party's challenge, Animated Armory.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"Aha - well - now you know." Hiro in the aftermath rubs the back of his neck, before he sweatdrops at Xantia and Id's exchange. "Well at least he's not trying to punch my jaw off..."
Ruby jostles Hiro's scarf before coming out like a Magician having finished a magic trick, grabbing the lantern on the way. Before flying up to Id with an angry tone. "Hey Mister-!" Ruby looks like she's going to be indignant at Id but then just giggles and flies away like some kid playing around, "It's really cute when you pretend like you don't care about her~"
Hiro decides to focus less on that swift change to and from Id and instead answer Lily's question, "... It happened just after Ragnell gave that orb to K.K.. I was so mad about it and well..."
He takes a deep breath.
"I don't know... it just happened. I don't know if it was a result of training - magic lessons - how I felt about all that - me seeing Jean using her unique kind of Shadow Magic... or what. Anyhow - I'm not too good at it yet. I can make things darker around me - and I know one attack spell."
With a shake of his head, he looks away. "If you have the Blessing of Althena you're born with one element - but sometimes you're able to unlock others... like a hidden potential? Lemina would be able to explain it better I think - she was using two elements before I ever met her. But it's real rare that anyone manages more than two."
They come to the armory. And Hiro draws his blade. "First time I've ever seen a sword wield itself..." He notes with a grin, the medallion upon his neck has a faint glow, though the glow is decreased in intensity - the others might notice their weariness becoming easier to deal with. "I'll just take it as a challenge."
And with that, Hiro sets upon it, with a series of ever-shifting sword strikes in an attempt to... disarm it.
"Come on - is fighting us what you really want? Wouldn't you rather go on an adventure with us?"
... Is Hiro actually trying to negotiate with the sword!?
DG: Hiro has used his Tool White Dragon Wings toward his party's challenge, Animated Armory.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
"Hrmmph!"
Such is Xantia's eloquent reaction to Id firing back at her and then making sure she can't get the last word in. She doesn't think it's cute at all, that guy is so frustrating! "Totally gonna punch him," she mutters to herself. Xantia might be the only one who'd consider punching the Demon of Elru to be a good idea. Or saying so to his face, which she's already done earlier. This is just serving to psych herself up for it that much more.
But for now, the moment passes quickly. She responds to Lily readily and friendly enough. "Oh, I see! Kind of like what happened to my claw!" Lily wasn't there to see it, but Xantia did mention that she 'punched a thing with her claw and it froze', presumably that's what she's talking about. Like many other things she does, enchantment is a thing that just sort of happened accidentally.
On Hiro and his impressive Beast-summoning Shadow Magic, she notes, "Oh, yeah, that happens sometimes. ...I couldn't make Fire happen by myself until that one time I got really mad at that guy." She turns an angry gaze to Fei, before smiling at him, clarifying, "Not you, the Other Guy."
Then the group wanders into the armory, encounters a bunch of flying swords, and-- off Xantia goes, immediately swinging away with her energy blade, which tends to trump common blades. She needed that, nothing better against frustration than a good fight, didn't even care what it is she was fighting.
Only then does she hear Lily say to keep one if they want. "Oh. Um. Nah, that's okay." Probably nothing much left to loot on her end - it'd be shocking if anything she managed to hit with that little mini-rampage was still in one piece.
DG: Xantia has used her Tool ARM Blade toward her party's challenge, Animated Armory.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Id is vamoosing so fast out of there that he doesn't even properly respond to Ruby though he does kind of puff his cheeks out before vamoosing.
Fei is mostly worried that all this teasing will one day set the guy off but it hasn't happened since the Photosphere. And that was over an act ago! He's taken over but he's been on, you know, SURVIVABLE behavior since. Fei can't help but worry. If it happens again there wouldn't exactly be an Asgard around, necessarily, to save everybody's asses.
"It's strange to me that most people can only do two elements. Or one. The power is the same either way, it's hard for me to imagine such power deciding on its own 'you punch fire, you spit lightning.' But maybe there's a reason for it beyond it just being a matter of talent."
He says, "Uh... I thought you two were friends? Did I miss something?" He shakes his head. "But it's fine. I mean, I'm usually angry at me for something so I can't really blame someone else for being angry at me. Uh. IF you meant me. If you meant Id, well, it's probably normal to be mad at someone who goes around talking about murders all the time."
Right Adachi??
Nevertheless, Fei thinks about the principles of RPS and tries something.
He picks up a large stone and tries to block a sword with it. This may result in a sword in the stone!
DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Animated Armory.
=============================<* The Shadow Vault *>=============================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Animated Armory *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You step into a room that appears to, at one point, have been used for
honing one's skill in combat. A series of fully stocked weapon racks lines
this room.
These weapons, each a sleek, curved blade of black steel, sense your
approach and slide out as if drawn by invisible soldiers before brandishing
themselves in your direction in a clearly aggressive fashion. There does not
appear to be any way around them. You'll have to fight your way
through...but on the bright side, they look pretty valuable. This might be a
blessing in disguise.
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure, Wound==========================================
========================<* The Shadow Vault - Round 4 *>======================== =========================< Results - Animated Armory >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiro 8 --(0)--> 8 Pass White Dragon Wings 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xantia 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass ARM Blade 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lily Keil 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Moon Medium 2 Combat Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Lily Keil 60 --(25)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Fright(1)|Tire(1)|Treasure(1)|Wound(2) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Lily Keil has passed this challenge! The party gained 25 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Fei Fong Wong has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Fall into Darkness *>=====================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Your journey within the Shadow Vault is at its terminus. Ahead of you, there
is a light in the distance that yet remains untouched by this place. As you
step forward, however, the shadows beneath your feet begin to surge
violently. Cracks begin to form in the floor until, suddenly, you feel it
begin to fall away from beneath your feet.
You, too, begin to fall as tendrils of shadow reach up in an attempt to drag
you down.
And yet, with what remains of your light source, you can see it: even as the
floor falls apart, there is still a pathway up to the light you saw before.
There is no time to think. Draw upon everything you have and make your way
up before the vast abyss below claims you.
=Dungeon Conditions: Collapse, Reckless=======================================
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
"Interesting," Lily answers. "If you were angry, that would be in line with my understanding of the Dark element--but it could just be that the emotional state unlocked your latent power. I couldn't really say, but it would be very interesting to manage to study. ...If your friend's magic had any influence, for that matter. I'll talk to Lemina sometime. ...She herself has at least three. And I am technically a teacher at her Guild."
If she makes it back to Vane at some point, anyway. Or maybe she'll teach some classes on Filgaia and consider them part of it...
But here, the armory. "That's the way," Lily says to Hiro of a challenge. And as it turns out--
Well. Xantia makes a number of them no longer a problem in the least. Fei does in fact end up with a sword in a stone--with a thrust, it cuts straight into the stone with all the power of its invisible, perhaps magically nonexistent wielder. ...A number are now just clattered down around Xantia, whatever having wielded them long gone. ...Did the swords bounce away, or did she just destroy them outright? It's hard to tell in the dark, but with Xantia, it's easy to bet on the latter.
Hiro's negotiations shouldn't work... They really shouldn't. But perhaps there is something in here about being true to oneself, as the Guardian said, because he eventually 'disarms' the air of the weapon--and it clatters to his feet, briefly glowing to announce itself to him. Lily, meanwhile, freezes one in place--and when she dismisses the ice, it too clatters down.
She steps forward, to pick it up, looking it over--a curved, black blade.
"Well, Fei--some people just have particular talents, and not others. The ability to use magic at all isn't entirely well-understood by everyone--definitely not forms like Ether, or the Blessing. Maybe anyone who tries and figures out the way can learn, and most don't--or maybe the magic itself is a reflection of something inside you."
Lily considers. "Maybe you can use so many because of the way you are? If it reflects one's nature, and you've had different natures... Maybe you carried them along."
Pause. "Maybe that's why I can use so many."
Regardless, those who want them have cool swords--the very coolest were the ones to survive, after all. Never mind the ice on Lily's.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
"...I don't know..." He drops his sword in the stone. He's not a Shadow Hearts character. That's Marivel.
"I... Yeah. I don't know," Fei admits. He seems content to leave it at that, though the idea that he's been relying on his MPD to essentially win fights is kind of horrifying to him. He tries not to think about it.
And something within him tells him...otherwise. It just doesn't seem right. Feel right.
He pauses suddenly. "Hey...." He looks down. "Um." He looks at the ground. "Guys?"
His eyes widen. His voice becomes more panicked. "Guys! The ground!"
It has cracks in it now! Yikes! The shadows are surging and Fei steps forward only to tumble down into the abyss--
--he's going to need a hand up but luckily there's a little bit of time because he has to do a random encounter while in midair. --wait, there's no random encounter?
...HURRY SAVE FEI!
His hand lashes out wildly to try and grab a hand for some help here.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Fall into Darkness.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia ignores the swords - they were of interest when they were hostile, not so much after going inert. She's not much for swords that don't glow anyway. She also doesn't comment on Fei's Ether talents, but looking in her direction when it comes up would reveal a bit of a complicated expression. She's certainly gotten a glimpse of how vast a potential he possesses in a way that few could.
What she does instead is... pat Fei on the head in reassurance. "It's okay, it's not you I'm mad at. We'll work things out. Nothing to worry about." There probably is something to worry about for most people, but Xantia doesn't always worry about things most people would. She also still doesn't think it's particularly weird to headpat someone much taller than her.
And then the floor starts to crack. "Fei...?" There's not much time to think, but Xantia acts quickly, slipping on that claw that she mentioned before. Despite its name, it's more like a set of fancy brass knuckles with long extensions. It's also been imbued with ice powers, so when Xantia punches the ground, rather than only cracking it further, it reinforces the section of the floor directly ahead by freezing it solid.
Xantia then leaps onto the ice, using her momentum to try and quickly slide across the first section of the hazardous floor, and grab hold of Fei's hand in passing. Not the easiest improvised stunt she's ever pulled, but you do what you can when desperate enough. ...and really, Xantia doesn't even need to be particularly desperate to pull half the stunts she pulls to begin with.
DG: Xantia has used her Tool Blizzaga Claw toward her party's challenge, Fall into Darkness.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"Oh gosh Lily don't work for her! ... ... ... She won't pay you what you're worth."
Hiro looks sheepishly at Xantia. "It's funny though - even though it's how it happened. I'm not as mad at her anymore... well mostly." "It's okay Hiro-! I can be mad for both of us."
Hiro simply picks up the sword he fought in the aftermath, wrapping it in cloth, and putting it away in his pack.
What? Swords are his thing...
He's following along, and then Fei - and the floor...!
Hiro dashes forward, and shouts, "FEROCIOUS WINDS!"
And then - a column of wind acts as a counterforce to Fei - trying to buoy him up as a counterforce to him falling. That's not enough though is it? Because...
"Fei!" Ruby is holding the lantern as she dives into the pit.
Whatever she sees, she suddenly pales.
Then dives down low.
"LET GO OF HIM!"
Flames spew around in the dark just below Fei's feet - leaving her in danger of being grabbed.
Hiro then uses his sword, and stabs the ice that Xantia has formed to then try to use his other arm to brace her position and keep her from falling in.
"I gotcha! Pull him up!"
DG: Hiro has used his Tool Ruby Being Helpful toward his party's challenge, Fall into Darkness.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Lily laughs to Ruby. "We had an arrangement that worked. Don't worry. If I did anything complicated, she'd have to deal with standard Black Wolf rates."
Save Fei--Fei is falling. His hand lashes out wildly for help, and there's no way that Lily can reach him in time. She sees him fall, towards the darkness, into the abyss.
Lily, though, is also suddenly falling, and she looks around quickly to find something to arrest her fall--She decides quickly.
Turning mid-air, she puts out her hands--and blasts with fire, a great, gigantic conflagration. If it works... She'll turn as she hits the ground, roll, and run along the ground.
...Of course, even if she can get herself out, she could injure herself doing it with the desperate methods she has to take to try to fly.
DG: Lily Keil has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Fall into Darkness.
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Fall into Darkness *>=====================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Your journey within the Shadow Vault is at its terminus. Ahead of you, there
is a light in the distance that yet remains untouched by this place. As you
step forward, however, the shadows beneath your feet begin to surge
violently. Cracks begin to form in the floor until, suddenly, you feel it
begin to fall away from beneath your feet.
You, too, begin to fall as tendrils of shadow reach up in an attempt to drag
you down.
And yet, with what remains of your light source, you can see it: even as the
floor falls apart, there is still a pathway up to the light you saw before.
There is no time to think. Draw upon everything you have and make your way
up before the vast abyss below claims you.
=Dungeon Conditions: Collapse, Reckless=======================================
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Fall into Darkness *>=====================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Your journey within the Shadow Vault is at its terminus. Ahead of you, there
is a light in the distance that yet remains untouched by this place. As you
step forward, however, the shadows beneath your feet begin to surge
violently. Cracks begin to form in the floor until, suddenly, you feel it
begin to fall away from beneath your feet.
You, too, begin to fall as tendrils of shadow reach up in an attempt to drag
you down.
And yet, with what remains of your light source, you can see it: even as the
floor falls apart, there is still a pathway up to the light you saw before.
There is no time to think. Draw upon everything you have and make your way
up before the vast abyss below claims you.
=Dungeon Conditions: Collapse, Reckless=======================================
=======================<* The Shadow Vault - Round 5 *>======================= =======================< Results - Fall into Darkness >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hiro 8 --(0)--> 8 Pass Ruby Being Helpful 2 Agility Effects: Resilient ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Xantia 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Blizzaga Claw 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lily Keil 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fei Fong Wong 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Lily Keil 85 --(35)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Collapse|Reckless(2) Effects: Quicken(1)|Resilient(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Lily Keil has successfully explored The Shadow Vault!
============================<* The Shadow Vault *>============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Book of Lost Rituals *>====================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The Shadow Vault is, first and foremost, a temple for the worship of Leitea
Salk. As you step into the light ahead, you emerge into what appears to be
their primary shrine to him. A red carpet leads you from the door to the
other end of the room.
At the far end, surrounded by candles burning with black flame is a statue
of the Guardian of Darkness himself, nearly as tall as the room you're in.
The statue is carved from the same smooth black stone comprising the rest of
the temple, with a glittering ruby set into his chest.
It is, for all intents and purposes, an ordinary statue...but even so, his
eyes appear to be staring down at you, assessing your worth.
Placed upon a pedestal in front of this statue, however, is something of
interest: a black book, bearing the emblem of Leitea Salk on the front. It
appears to detail various rituals used to worship Leitea Salk, rituals that
have long since been lost. Among these is a ritual for binding creatures of
shadow into an appropriately-prepared vessel. The cultural significance of
such an item is incalculable...
...And, not only that, there are passages detailing various forms of
darkness-based sorcery, described in enough detail that one could adapt them
to their own methods with only a small amount of difficulty.
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Lily gets a bit lucky, she aims her flame perfectly and manages to throw herself out of the rapidly expanding pit with no problem. She might want to stretch out her legs a bit later to make sure she doesn't get stiff but she'll be fine.
Fortunately, Ruby dives down just in time, diving low herself--putting HERSELF at risk. "R-ruby? Wait don't--" Fei stammers before she unleashes a poof of flame. It's hard to tell if the hot air bursting up as a result slows down Fei's descent but Xantia is able to grab one of his arms with her own.
Fei looks terrified, not for himself but for the young dragon down there. He reaches out in an attempt to catch her, even pushing his hands through the flame to do so. He may have forgotten Ruby can fly--or is unsure that it matters in this dark place.
Luckily he uses a fire medium so he is pretty resilient on that front.
Unfortunately Xantia starts sliding herself. She's strong but her position isn't really grounded and Fei is pretty jacked. Luckily with that extra bit of help from Hiro, they are able to be pulled out of danger and into a safer location.
"Ruby are you okay??" Fei says, regardless of how that went down.
Farther on ahead in the light are several DARK FLAME CANDLES with a statue of the Guardian of Darkness present. And in a pedestal in front of this statue is a black book.
Probably nothing spooky there!
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Try to act surprised - Xantia wasn't thinking about what she was doing at all. The plan began and ended with 'grab Fei somehow'. That much goes without issue, but luckily Hiro was there to stop that from sliding into an even worse situation. With his help, she can manage to bring Fei back to solid ground. "What about you, are YOU okay??" Not to shortchange Ruby, but a) Xantia never even noticed what was down there, and b) Fei can be pretty frustrating in how he doesn't worry about himself enough. Which may be the pot calling the kettle black a little bit, but never mind that.
As for the room beyond, Xantia only takes a cursory look at the book before deciding that yeah, she's not going to get any of this. Books never seem to help her with her powers, they just have to sort of... happen. And she's not sure about if she can or would even want to learn Darkness stuff. First things first, anyway, she's working on Light right now.
Ultimately, Xantia is more interested in Leitea Salk's statue, gazing up at it for a time. Back in the Guardian Temple, the Guardians appeared from statues much like this. She can't be sure if that means all of their statues are like that, of course, but... she's getting that feeling of being watched again. Not the threatening kind this time. She can't help but smile, and speak her thoughts aloud.
"Well... I think I'm doing pretty okay. Don't you?"