2019-11-16: What Lies Beneath
- Log: What Lies Beneath
- Cast: Citan Uzuki, Clarissa Arwin, Jacqueline Barber, Eleanor Klein
- Where: Great Sea
- Date: November 16, 2019
- Summary: To help out the Thames -- and to give their machines a test -- a group descends into the sea in search of the wreck code-named Iron Phoenix. But in the process of getting there, they encountered an unexpected obstacle...
DG: A party led by Citan Uzuki is now entering Seafloor Salvage. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================= =================<* CHALLENGE - Safety First - Weapons Test *>================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Today you've negotiated to assist the Thames salvagers division, courtesy of your Gear (or other undersea-worthy craft). The weather is good and conditions are favorable -- today you are set to salvage what you can from a wreck code-named 'Iron Phoenix'. But first, the crew wants to make sure that your Gear (or equivalent) is ready to face off against any enemies you might encounter below. They've arranged for you and your team to undertake a relatively quick and painless stress test of your Gear's abilities. This involves target practice -- how well does your Gear perform against their training dummy? Well -- show them what you got! (OOC: Note for this round's GM: a Fail does not mean the character's machine fails! It only means that they score an adequate rating on their pass. A result of Pass meanwhile means they passed with flying colors!) BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIDn1dfa8Ic =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
It had taken a little while longer than expected for his Gear to arrive. Some business with pirates, according to Sigurd.
The irony of that particular situation hadn't escaped either of them. He was certain, from what he knew of Sigurd's young captain, that he was fit to be tied.
But all things come to those who wait, or something along those lines. The gear he had dubbed Heimdall arrived without further incident, and was apparently in as good condition as when he'd left it.
Which made it all the more essential to put the machine to the test while he could and see what it was truly capable of. After all, he had only used it briefly in Aveh--
And not since.
The Thames had put out a call for salvagers, which made in his eyes the perfect opportunity to put the machine through its paces.
Underwater, admittedly, but there was nothing like a stress test to see what a Gear could actually do.
The site in question is Iron Phoenix. They're to locate the site (they've been provided with coordinates but things get... messy under the waves) and retrieve what they can from it. In exchange, they can claim their pick of the findings.
"It appears that we will be cooperating today," he speaks, to the team with which he is assigned. "Citan Uzuki, formerly of Lahan. Perhaps we may have met...?"
First things first, though--
They're not sending anyone down without making sure they're ready for the threats of the deep. In this case they are set up against--
"Oh dear. I hope that was not expensive to build."
--a very very large target dummy. It's shaped roughly like a Wels. Or at least, one assumes they were aiming for Wels and not that someone on staff has very poor craftspersonship.
"...Very well. Now, let us see..."
It's been years since he's fought in a Gear. Back in Aveh, he had not even engaged in combat.
So he starts with the basics and urges Heimdall forward, culminating with a haymaker swing for the dummy's... head?
DG: Citan Uzuki has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Safety First - Weapons Test.
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
Unaware of the true origin of her partner in this particular adventure, Clarissa Arwin smiles as she settles into the forward seat of the clunky-looking Gear parked on the deck of the Thames. The monitor to her right is active, comm windows buzzing in it. "Hello, Mr. Uzuki. I'm Clarissa Arwin and this is my brother, Felius."
In the rear seat, the tall, tan young man with the grey-purple hair merely nods. "They need to test our machine, Clarissa."
Blinking, Clarissa looks down at her controls. "...Well, it is underwater... I hope we can handle that. I'm not sure if he's much of a swimmer...."
"He is." Felius rests his hands on the controls. "We're water-tight and equipped with sub-aquatic mobility propellers."
"I'll take your word for it." Blushing, Clarissa runs her hands over her controls, beginning to flip switches. "Alright... I'm going to bring the power on, Felius. Are you ready?"
"I am when you are, Clarissa." His voice is perfectly level.
Clarissa's has rather more excitement behind it. She reaches out to rest her hand on a red toggle. "...You can do it, Guts-Dozer," she whispers to the machine. "I believe in your guts...."
She pulls the switch - and there is a sudden RUMBLE of power.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> START:GUTS <<<<<<<<<<<<<
Servos churn to life. Drive wheels extrude from dormancy and slot into place amongst tank treads. A hatch on the machine's belly flips open just long enough to show row upon row of yellow hard hats rolling into place. Broad shoulders pop into place, heavy arms extending from their sockets.
o` GUTS GUTS GUTS! o`
o` The burning sun, gleaming on my shoulders~
o/` Here we go, start, GUTS comes alive!~
o/` I am machinery, I am a GUTSY BEING! (HEY)~
o/` Jump out onto the sky, HUGE GUTS! (LET'S GO!)
I hope you're singing along with the henshin song as Guts-Dozer's head flips into place and rotates a couple times before centering. Its eyes flash to life.
o/` I am the GUTSIEST...~
o/` I am GUTS-DOZEEEEEEEEEER!~
o` GUTS GUTS GUTS! o`
The fully-deployed Guts-Dozer trundles forward and holds both arms out, grabbing ahold of the dummy. Clarissa holds her control grips tightly for a moment, clutching the test dummy, before hitting a pair of triggers and tapping a series of small keys rapidly.
Springing from Guts-Dozer's chest hatch, a cluster of Metools crawl out across the test dummy. They pop up, deploying little repair tools.
They proceed to build a large hat on the dummy's head. It is a hard hat in the Metool style.
Clarissa's eyes shine. "Waaa, so cute...!"
DG: Clarissa Arwin has used her Tool Metool Repair Squad toward her party's challenge, Safety First - Weapons Test.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline has done some work with the Thames before - she didn't have anywhere else to keep her Gear, so she asked them to hold onto it for her in exchange for occasionally doing some salvage work for them. And so, here she is again!
"Doctor Uzuki." Jacqueline greets with a smile. They've worked together at least once before, and she ran into him all the way back during the invasion of Adlehyde, when he delivered Weltall to Fei.
"And Eleanor and Clarissa, too! I hope you both have been well." Jacqueline says, sending them the same friendly smile. "With a team like this, I don't think we'll have much trouble."
And so, fast forward - Jacqueline is situated in her Jaeger, going through the diagnostics and preparing herself for combat.
"Let's work hard together, everyone! I'm sure we can do it!" Jacqueline broadcasts over her external speakers, for encourage. And then, she takes a moment to assess her dummy. She didn't want to use up all of her resources on something that's only a test, so...this time, she elects to draw out the Jaeger's combat rod.
She lunges forward, striking it quickly in areas that would, on an enemy Gear or a biological opponent, hinder movement before retreating back.
Within the cockpit, she inserts a Crest Graph into a slot on the dashboard. A pair of Geo symbols light up on the panel above it, and with a gesture of the Jaeger's combat rod a tendril of earth bursts into being below the dummy and wraps around it, restricting its movement - but, leaving it overall unharmed.
Or, at least, it would restrict its movement if it were an actual enemy and not just a dummy.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Amplified Speakers toward her party's challenge, Safety First - Weapons Test.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor Klein, for her part, is still somewhat new to the practical applications of Gear piloting. By now she's had the opportunity to finish clearing out and setting up the cockpit, as well as having the whole thing repainted, buying weaponry for use on it, and so on. It's quite comfortable inside, now! There's a little back room to sleep in even. And the Gear itself...
It is humanoid as many, with smooth curves--long lines ending in rounded edges--and a warm color scheme, primarily in pale orange, with pinks and yellows. It is not a Gear meant for stealth. It has a number of guns and launchers on it--no, more than that. It's quite well-armed, but designed for sturdiness; it's not stocky, but its limbs have heft, its body smooth lines upward--Or, well. She, as Eleanor would prefer to say. Like a ship!
"Oh, yes," Eleanor answers once she hears the call. "That makes sense; she's a recent salvage. Very well!" The Iron Phoenix... how exciting!
Eleanor speaks over the radio, "Eleanor Klein, of Klein in Meria. I am also a member of ARMS. I look forward to working with you! Jay, Dr. Uzuki--it's good to meet you!"
She smiles to the Guts-Dozer, and to her, "Hello, you two. Let's do our best! I was looking forward to a chance to test this Gear out on a real field mission..."
Three of Hearts moves smoothly into the water--and Eleanor considers the displays before her. "Let's see," she murmurs to herself. "The best for this is... Aha!"
The Gear's mighty hand rises, and a hatch pops open--steadying the arm with the Gear's other ARM, Eleanor flips the switch to activate it--and deploys a bunch of quick, darting shots to start with, as her Gear starts to move to the side to flank...!
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Safety First - Weapons Test.
=============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================= =================<* CHALLENGE - Safety First - Weapons Test *>================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Today you've negotiated to assist the Thames salvagers division, courtesy of your Gear (or other undersea-worthy craft). The weather is good and conditions are favorable -- today you are set to salvage what you can from a wreck code-named 'Iron Phoenix'. But first, the crew wants to make sure that your Gear (or equivalent) is ready to face off against any enemies you might encounter below. They've arranged for you and your team to undertake a relatively quick and painless stress test of your Gear's abilities. This involves target practice -- how well does your Gear perform against their training dummy? Well -- show them what you got! (OOC: Note for this round's GM: a Fail does not mean the character's machine fails! It only means that they score an adequate rating on their pass. A result of Pass meanwhile means they passed with flying colors!) BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIDn1dfa8Ic =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
========================<* Seafloor Salvage - Round 1 *>======================== ===================< Results - Safety First - Weapons Test >==================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarissa Arwin 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Metool Repair Squad 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Amplified Speakers 1 Combat Effects: Embolden and Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Citan Uzuki 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki 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> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"Ah... Miss Barber, was it? I believe that we have met, yes," the doctor agrees, inclining his head in a single short nod. "I have been hale enough. I trust that all has been well with you...?"
He asks it in the manner of a man hoping for the best but expecting the worst. After all that has happened, of course, it may be a bit of a stretch to expect very many 'cheerful' stories out among those who have taken to Drifting.
And speaking of Drifters... his attention is caught soon after he makes that greeting to his fellows in this expedition by the pilot very unusual tank here. "Then that machine is sea-worthy?" Citan pushes his glasses a fraction up the bridge of his nose as he regards Clarissa. "Of course. It is good to meet you, Miss Arwin." A pause. "Mister Arwin." Another pause. "...This was the same vehicle present just outside the temple in Macalania. Is that not correct? I will be interested in seeing what it is capable of. I do not get the opportunity to observe machines as... atypical as that one very often."
To the last member of their merry crew he hails Eleanor: "And you as well, Miss Klein. It appears that I will have the honor, today. ARMS, was it? Have you also joined their number, Miss Barber?"
Heimdall's first connects solidly with the dummy's head, swinging it back where it stands propped on the deck, but it doesn't topple over.
He'd pulled his punch; the Gear had by his estimation performed admirably in behaving as instructed. And here had had expected it to give him more trouble, after the last time...
Vines follow in the wake of that hit, rising to construct the soft cloth form of the Gear-sized combat dummy. Not a mark is left on the dummy, but if it were not already incapable of motion, surely it would remain immobile.
The tank swarms ahead and there, from the sides--
It's a sea of yellow hats.
They provide the dummy with... its own hat.
Which is welltimed for it since the shots ring out from Eleanor's Gear and patter right off the helmet, which remains a pristine yellow.
"...Unorthodox, I'll give you that," says the rabbit-eared man with the megaphone on the docks below. "But... thanks, I guess? Maybe a protective hat like that'll keep Jones from sewing a new one for a bit and all." He pauses, scratching behind one floppy ear. "But I guess that's that. You lot did well and all -- good strategy, Barber; nice firing, Klein -- so I'll give you flying marks. Oh, and thanks for not wrecking the dummy too much!"
He waves to the launch crew, perhaps to give them the all clear.
DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================= ===============<* CHALLENGE - All Wrapped Up And Nowhere To Go *>=============== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Progress towards the site is going smoothly-- Until it isn't. Almost invisible in the water, you have encountered a stray oversized net from some fishing vessel, churned along in the currents. This is a problem because it has wrapped around your Gear, locking its limbs and impeding your movement. You're going to have to break free of the net if you want to keep moving. =Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Slow===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"I'm not here on official business," Eleanor admits, "Either for my family or for ARMS, but you do have three members in good standing! Miss Barber isn't one of us but is at least a valued supplier for me." She lets Clarissa handle the talk about Gutz-Dozer--instead... she considers--
"That's very handy, I like having protection. And it saves resources!"
They move onward--they're going to the site, and it's smooth... until suddenly Eleanor finds herself caught in a net, along with the rest of them, for that matter. "Oh--" Inexperienced, it takes her a moment to figure it out, checking an exterior camera...
"A net," Eleanor comments thoughtfully. "However... I was given a tool for precisely this situation! Onward!!"
Is--is she excited to get to use this? Maybe. Because abrubtly the bottom of the Gear's 'gauntlet' pops out, and then slides upward, pushing through--and then ignites. A heat cutter!! "Just a moment o/~"
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Heat Cutter toward her party's challenge, All Wrapped Up And Nowhere To Go.
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
A familiar voice comes in over the comline, and Clarissa widens her eyes at the sight of a comm window showing a framed image of a dark-haired woman in glasses. "Ah, Jay!" she gasps with a warm smile. "It's wonderful to see you again. You look like you've been well!"
When Citan makes his observation, Clarissa bows her head shallowly. "Yes, Guts-Dozer was there to help us when we needed it most. He's not very usual, but he has a lot of courage and he wants to do his best. And I'm glad I can help him do that."
As they descend, it's clear enough that Guts-Dozer has a few things going for it underwater - among them both a lot of ballast and a steady oxygen supply. Little propellers on the big tank's underside churn in a slow stream as the ungainly-looking Gear from ages past descends towards the seafloor, before finally touching down gently. Heavy treads churn through muck and rock easily as the machine trundles onward through the water.
"We're coming up on a submerged ridgeline," Felius reports from Guts-Dozer's rear seat, voice still level. "The terrain here is a little uneven."
"Right," Clarissa says - and then an alarm begins to buzz.
Something drapes over the Gears - an old fishing net, choked with mold and seaweed. Clarissa gasps and bolts upright in her seat, startled. "Wh-what is it?" she breathes before answering her own question. "You're right, Eleanor... it's a loose fishing net. Someone must've had it come loose. I hope nothing got caught in it...."
You did, Clarissa. You did.
She nods firmly. "We can deal with this easily enough," she says as she releases a couple of capacitors. Seawater ripples around Guts-Dozer's huge forearms as it grabs two bunches of net.
It proceeds to tear a huge hole in the netting with nothing but brute strength.
DG: Clarissa Arwin has used her Tool Super M-Cap toward her party's challenge, All Wrapped Up And Nowhere To Go.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"Well enough, thankfully! And I hope the same goes for you." Jacqueline replies to Clarissa and Citan with a nod. She listens with interest as the latter observes Guts-Dozer, but chuckles good-naturedly when he asks her about ARMS.
"No, it's largely a coincidence - though I'd like to think our organizations are on good terms, at least." Jacqueline replies with a friendly smile. Eleanor explains too and Jacqueline beams within her Gear. "Yes!"
And with the tests passed with flying colors, they're cleared to dive in and make their way toward the site they're looking for today! Unfortunately, it isn't long before they're met with a problem - an oversized fishing net, difficult to see in waters like these. Jacqueline huffs.
"...It's really irresponsible to just leave things like this lying around in the ocean. What if something got caught in it?" Jacqueline says. She shakes head head, then watches as Eleanor's Gear produces a heated cutting blade.
"Oh, that's very useful!" Jacqueline replies. She may have noticed how excited Eleanor seemed to be about it.
Guts-Dozer, meanwhile, just moves in with big, strong arms.
"Impressive..." Jacqueline notes. A big, strong Gear...! But, there's a task at hand. She draws her own Gear's sidearm and takes aim.
"Watch out, I'm about to fire." She warns. She takes note of some large stones it appears to be tangled around, keeping it locked firmly in place. After doing a quick scan to make sure nothing is using it as a shelter Jacqueline fires.
The shell strikes the rock solidly...and then, a second charge in the shell goes off, transmitting the shockwave through the rock with the goal of shattering it completely. With luck, that should make it a bit easier for the others to deal with.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Breaker Shells toward her party's challenge, All Wrapped Up And Nowhere To Go.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"Ah, I see. I admit, I have not to date had much contact with ARMS. On Spira I admit I spent much of my time learning from the locals, and before that... well, we had simply not crossed paths," the doctor states. "I wish you well in your mission against Odessa, though I admit that I am myself not one given to war or battle..." He sighs, a touch wearily. "Of course, war has a habit of finding its way to one's life whether they wish it or not."
That is the passage of fate, at times.
Heimdall sinks beneath the waves; using thrusters, Citan negotiates the terrain with his altered bouyancy of this environment. Lights snap on from his Gear -- at least for now. "I will want to take caution with these. I would not want to attract something unfortunate," he remarks over communication channels. "Take caution if you sustain damage and must retreat. We are not deep enough to be subjected to crushing pressures but any ascent is best done slowly."
Pressure builds up rapidly, in an environment such as this.
"Yes, it does appear that we are in a bit of a, ah, bind," the doctor remarks. "Given the size of it, I would assume it was used for trawling before it became... loosed." He skims the controls before him before he finds what he's searching for. "...However, I believe with some application of force we should be able to break free. One moment--"
He presses the button on the Energy Saver subsystem module. Just as he'd requested, Sig had indeed followed through. This should prevent excessive fuel consumption.
"--There. Now, if you will do the honors, Miss Klein, Miss Barber? A few well-placed tears should make our task simpler." The Heimdall shifts, as best as it is able, trapped in the netting. The Gear grabs a section of it. "On your count, Miss Arwin--"
The Gutsdozer ripping a hole in it direct may have to be the signal.
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Energy Saver toward his party's challenge, All Wrapped Up And Nowhere To Go.
=============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================= ===============<* CHALLENGE - All Wrapped Up And Nowhere To Go *>=============== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Progress towards the site is going smoothly-- Until it isn't. Almost invisible in the water, you have encountered a stray oversized net from some fishing vessel, churned along in the currents. This is a problem because it has wrapped around your Gear, locking its limbs and impeding your movement. You're going to have to break free of the net if you want to keep moving. =Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Slow===========================================
========================<* Seafloor Salvage - Round 2 *>======================== =================< Results - All Wrapped Up And Nowhere To Go >================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Energy Saver 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarissa Arwin 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Super M-Cap 1 Brute Effects: Strengthen and Fanfar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Breaker Shells 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Heat Cutter 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Citan Uzuki 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Reckless(2)|Slow(2) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki 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> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"We as an organization were kept somewhat... busy," Eleanor admits as to ARMS. But the rail--that's certainly notable. "Yes, many things could be caught in it! Sea creatures, for instance. Or... Gears." Eleanor is not terribly pleased with the netting, but--
But she's happy anyway because her cutte gets notice! "noted, staying out of line of fire!"
"...Thank you for your well-wishes--it's my hope that people not on the front lines can be spared more of this conflict than Odessa seems to wish. ...But we can't always have what we want."
Eleanor considers--take caution.... Hmmm, all right.
In point of fact Citan's Energy Saver works fine!! It's just that the tangle was a little worse than otherwise, and so he has to grind his machine's gears a little, so to speak.
But between Jay and Eleanor preparing the way, and the Guts Dozer... bulldozering through...
It's all fine!
"Well! One problem down. I think I can see a more efficient way to navigate that, next time..."
DG: Clarissa Arwin has drawn a new Challenge. ==============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - Mucho Mean Manta *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ----------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------- You find yourself rather suddenly under attack as you make good on your approach towards the wreck site. Floating towards you is the great ghastly cousin to the humble sea pancake -- a malicious monstrous manta ray. It comes in at a charge, attempting to batter your machines to bits. The stinger on its tail might in fact be the least of your worries. It's time to fight back, lest you be crushed here by this menace! =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Overzealous=======================================
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
"You're right, Jay," Clarissa says with a little frown. "I wouldn't want any dolphine to get caught in this net!"
Shouldering what's left of it aside, Clarissa pushes her controls gently forward. "Are you managing alright, Guts-Dozer?" she murmurs to the ancient Gear beneath her.
The robot does not answer verbally. It is a piece of metal. Clarissa closes her eyes and smiles anyway. "...I can feel your desire...."
As she opens her eyes, she checks her radar, guiding Guts-Dozer around a large stand of rock. Despite the machine's huge weight, the massive tank treads handle the seafloor without particular difficulty, leaving tracks behind in softer sand. "We're making good time. There's an underwater moraine on the sea charts. The wreck should be just past that--"
The radar bleeps suddenly, and Clarissa jerks in her seat, looking down at the screen. "What's that?" she gasps.
"Something's coming this way," Felius reports. "Be ready."
"But what could--" Clarissa cuts off and hits a switch at the last second. A pair of floodlights behind Guts-Dozer's eyes shine into the murk.
They light up a huge, spade-like shape. A gigantic manta ray descends on Guts-Dozer, throwning up bubbles as it lashes the ancient machine with its stinger-bedecked tail. The swing slams into the Dozer's torso, and Clarissa yelps as she's thrown in her seat, clutching her controls. "Gh-- hang in there, Guts-Dozer!" she exclaims.
"Clarissa, compartment 31 is taking on water," Felius says, as unruffled as ever. "Taking care of it."
"Right!" Clarissa says firmly.
The two go to work. Popping out from Guts-Dozer's chest, a pair of Metools with little snorkels and flippers swim out and clamber up the Gear's torso, underwater torches throwing up streams of bubbles as they set to work welding a broken panel back into place. Meanwhile, as the manta wheels to attack Jay, Eleanor and Citan, Clarissa steers Guts-Dozer on the offensive. Its mouth opens, and a few shells lob through the water on bobbing traectories, propelled towards the offending ray.
DG: Clarissa Arwin has used her Tool Metool Repair Squad toward her party's challenge, Mucho Mean Manta.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline nods her agreement to Clarissa. Fortunately, together they're able to deal with it pretty handily and move on!
As they move on, however, they find that some of the denizens of the sea aren't exactly pleased to see them.
A huge manta ray goes for the Guts-Dozer before whirling on them.
"Clarissa, Felius, are you two alright?" Jacqueline asks. It looks like they've got things under control, but she had to make sure.
Meanwhile, she draws out her combat rod, studying it carefully. It goes for her with its stinger, and she quickly shifts it to the side, away from her.
"Be careful! The environment down here has made this an easy home for creatures that can pose a threat even for a Gear..." Jacqueline warns. "This manta ray's stinger is dangerous, but it can easily crush parts of your Gear if it gets too close...try to avoid it if you can!"
She might be reading out of the Lifeweaver's Codex, but her speakers carry this to everyone.
"I'll keep it busy - strike when you see the opportunity!" Jacqueline says. Her combat rod makes it easy to keep her opponent where she wants them, and control the space between them - by keeping the ray's attention on her, it should let the others act more easily.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Amplified Speakers toward her party's challenge, Mucho Mean Manta.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"That is an exceedingly large animal," Eleanor says in surprise, but then puts her hands on the maneuvering controls. "I'm coming to back you up!" she declares over the radio, and listens to Jay's explanation. Yes, that would make sense, wouldn't it? The conditions here...
"Since you're keeping it busy--Let me try something I worked on myself!"
The orange-haired elf opens a panel on the side of her controls, revealing a button that's now exposed. "Readying missiles!" Eleanor declares, and depresses the button. A targetting system comes online--
She lines up the target on the manta. "Engines full to stern on my mark. Three... Two... One--Mark!"
Missiles come launching from the Gear, spreading apart in transit--to unite on impact, where they explode--not into fiery blasts, but into gigantic bursts of watery magical power, of obscene pressure to crush apart a foe outright.
"Oh, good--I was hoping that enchantment took..."
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Sorcerous Missiles toward her party's challenge, Mucho Mean Manta.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"Indeed. War very rarely leads to anything good," the doctor remarks, quite plainly.
He did say he was from Lahan.
"Thank you for the update, Miss Arwin," he says, once they've freed themselves; he used up more fuel than he would have liked in that obstacle. "I believe we are making good time."
Famous last words.
The light of his lamps catch the outline of it first.
"Miss Arwin, look out!"
The warning doesn't come quickly enough. It's for her and then the rest of them, battering forth through the waves with its decided bulk and force.
The Heimdall at first drifts once stuck, as if it were seemingly disabled by the strike. Then it shifts, jetting out of alignment with the creature when it comes in for a second shot, taking the Gear out of the manta's plane of attack entirely.
"--Understood, Miss Barber." His gaze flits across the screens and consoles within, and venting some of the fuel saved -- what he didn't end up wasting regardless thanks to the situation with the netting -- he redirects power to the armored plating on Heimdall's forearms.
"I will need to get in close. I am waiting for the opportunity to arise!"
He is above it, now, which grants him certain opportunities--
And certain perils.
Perhaps, if he were to, so to speak, grasp the nettle--
The moment presents itself seconds later. He descends, reaching out for the stinger. To hold it back, to damage it so it remains no threat, or perhaps, to help hold the creature back--
Any of these outcomes would be acceptable.
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Insulated Armor toward his party's challenge, Mucho Mean Manta.
==============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - Mucho Mean Manta *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ----------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------- You find yourself rather suddenly under attack as you make good on your approach towards the wreck site. Floating towards you is the great ghastly cousin to the humble sea pancake -- a malicious monstrous manta ray. It comes in at a charge, attempting to batter your machines to bits. The stinger on its tail might in fact be the least of your worries. It's time to fight back, lest you be crushed here by this menace! =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Overzealous=======================================
=========================<* Seafloor Salvage - Round 3 *>========================= ==========================< Results - Mucho Mean Manta >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Insulated Armor 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarissa Arwin 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Metool Repair Squad 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Amplified Speakers 1 Combat Effects: Embolden and Fanfare ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sorcerous Missiles 3 Combat Effects: Rally ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Citan Uzuki 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Overzealous(2)|Reckless(1)|Wound(2) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki 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> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
"Yes, we're okay!" Clarissa exclaims. "It just surprised us."
The manta ray isn't messing around, even against Gears. On the positive side, manta rays have little concept of how subaquatic charges work. The shells Guts-Dozer spits lob sluggishly into the huge creature, explosions kicking up waves in the water and hurling the monster to the side.
The ray lashes out, that dangerous stinger lashing towards Jay - and it strikes true, putting a hole in part of her machine's armour. Clarissa gasps, Guts-Dozer pivoting towards the alchemist's machine. "Hold tight, Jay!" she calls out.
A couple of Metools hop up Jay's gear. With a soft pulse and bubble of welders, they manage to seal the hole in record time.
Her guidance gives Citan and Eleanor the opening they need. Sorcerous missiles fly and slam into the ray, hurling it through the water. It gives Citan a window to strike, reaching for the stinger - and he grasps it, allowing another wave of missiles to strike the creature.
Stung and trailing blood into the water, the ray wings away and makes tracks, swimming off into the depths. Clarissa trains her floodlights after it, pressing her lips gently together.
"Is everyone alright?" she asks. "Jay... Eleanor... Mr. Uzuki?"
DG: Jacqueline Barber has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================ ====================<* CHALLENGE - Topping Off The Tank *>==================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Sunk into the ocean floor here, you catch sight of a heavy cannister half-buried in the sediment. The bright labeling on it suggests that it just might have something of interest inside. Upon closer inspection, you can see for yourself that this is the case -- it is a storage container for a good quantity of Gear fuel (quality seal from Ethos and all still legible). There's just one snag: the container it's in is partially corroded and fused shut which means it might take some effort to crack it open and retrieve the fuel within. Still, this far from anything resembling a depot, it's a worthwhile endeavor. =Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
The main problem with being the focus of something's attention is that you're the most likely target for attack, and Jacqueline can only hold her own for so long. It manages a hit on her Gear - but fortunately, the Guts-Dozer and its repair crew are on the case!
"Whew...thanks, Clarissa." Jacqueline says with a sigh of relief. "That could've been bad, but I'm fine now, thanks to you!"
She considers Eleanor and Citan, then.
"Enchanted missiles...I never thought about that, Eleanor, that's pretty clever!" Jacqueline says. "And quick thinking there, Doctor Uzuki - that must've saved us a lot of trouble."
With that round of compliments there, it's time to move on. Things are pretty uneventful for a time, but then the sight of something brightly-colored and clearly man-made catches Jacqueline's eye.
"Is that...?" Jacqueline says. She pilots the Jaeger closer and very carefully wedges it out of the ground, where the writing on it is clearer.
"Huh...this looks like an Ethos fuel supply cannister. It looks like the seal's still intact..." Jacqueline observes, then frowns. "...But, it looks like the connector has been corroded, and fused. We might be able to refuel if we can manage to fix it."
She has plenty of power left in her machine, but it was important to never turn down an opportunity to recharge in a location like this.
"Let's see...if I reduce the power output a little..." She murmurs. She inserts her Gear's side-arm into its holster for a second to adjust ammunition before redrawing it and taking aim.
She fires a Breaker Shell at the cannister - rather than shattering outright with the rock, her aim this time is to just to open up a weakpoint in the corroded and fused seal.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Breaker Shells toward her party's challenge, Topping Off The Tank.
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
Clarissa smiles in her comm window, her eyes warm. "I'm glad you're alright, Jay. Stay close to us, okay? We'll get there together."
Her smile widens a bit. "Eleanor's very good with magic! She has some really incredible talents. I don't think I could ever do something like that...."
Trundling along into the briny depths, Guts-Dozer navigates with little difficulty until Jay calls out the colourful item they've found. With a frown, Clarissa turns Guts-Dozer's eye floodlights on the object.
"An Ethos canister?" Clarissa blinks, guiding Guts-Dozer in closer. She clicks a couple of buttons, zooming in on her monitor.
"You can bypass that style of connector," Felius says, his comm window springing up to reveal his usual unreadable expression. "Set your intake port to passive capture."
Jay starts firing shells at it. Clarissa, for her part, blinks at Felius, but her brother by circumstance has already taken over the controls. Another Metool with a prop and fins swims out with a tool, a length of hose dangling from beneath it. Guts-Dozer itself reaches out with one hand as the Metool begins to saw loose the old connector, preparing to weld the hose and mount into place.
With a bit of work, the Metool will set up to carry the hose - but there's still the matter of getting the seal to give up gas.
Felius solves this by having Guts-Dozer release its arm servos and give the tank a brisk smack.
DG: Clarissa Arwin has used her Tool Super M-Cap toward her party's challenge, Topping Off The Tank.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"Oh--thank you," Eleanor says to Clarissa, "But if you ever want to try learning, I do know the introductory steps. It may very well be that you could!"
And, "I thought it'd be useful in situations where ordinary missiles were less so." Pause. "Also, it let me try out a few spells that were of great interest. Technically it's not so much that the missiles are enchanted as that I used magic to create--well, I'll show you the papers sometime."
But the canister... "Hmm," Eleanor remarks. "if I can heat it gently, the metal will expand and we may be able to more easily break it open without setting it on fire. Let's see..." She moves closer with her heat-cutter--but doesn't apply it directly. Instead, she begins superheating the water nearby and below, allowing the warmth to suffuse it.
"At least... in theory this would help. I can't tell you how many stuck jars I've managed to open through application of heat and cold magic when I couldn't find some older boy to do it for me."
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Heat Cutter toward her party's challenge, Topping Off The Tank.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
He grabs the manta by the tail. And he does not let go.
Not until the manta expresses its strong desire to leave this place, immediately. Releasing it, he watches it retreat for a moment or three more before beginning his descent back to rejoin the others.
"Yes, it was fortunate that we were able to resolve the situation with a minimum of damage. ...Miss Arwin, you appear to have taken a deep gouge to one side. Is everything alright?"
She's not panicking, and neither is he -- to judge by the even tone of his voice. He just sounds concerned, as if he were checking in.
"It was beyond the next ridge, if I am not mistaken about the directions Miss Arwin relayed," he remarks, before Jacqueline spots something that glints in the wake of their lights.
"A lost fuel supply cannister... of Ethos, I see... given its current status, I do not think it would be worth our while to return it." He pauses, glancing inside at his own fuel monitor as he directs Heimdall downwards alongside the cannister. "In our current situation we would be better served making use of it. We still have yet to reach the salvage site. One moment here, and let us see if I can force the mechanism..."
He engages again -- just after Jay fires shells at it and Eleanor takes a tactical approach to loosening the stuck enclosure -- the Energy Saver subsystem, grabbing onto the top of the canister with the Gear's hands as the Metool descends with tubing.
He's still holding it when the Gutsdozer's arm gives it a good twack on the side.
"I am oddly reminded of, ah, opening a tightly sealed jar of jam..." he remarks, before giving the lid a good twist.
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Energy Saver toward his party's challenge, Topping Off The Tank.
============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================ ====================<* CHALLENGE - Topping Off The Tank *>==================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Sunk into the ocean floor here, you catch sight of a heavy cannister half-buried in the sediment. The bright labeling on it suggests that it just might have something of interest inside. Upon closer inspection, you can see for yourself that this is the case -- it is a storage container for a good quantity of Gear fuel (quality seal from Ethos and all still legible). There's just one snag: the container it's in is partially corroded and fused shut which means it might take some effort to crack it open and retrieve the fuel within. Still, this far from anything resembling a depot, it's a worthwhile endeavor. =Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
=======================<* Seafloor Salvage - Round 4 *>======================= ======================< Results - Topping Off The Tank >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Citan Uzuki 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Energy Saver 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clarissa Arwin 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Super M-Cap 1 Brute Effects: Strengthen and Fanfar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Breaker Shells 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Heat Cutter 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Citan Uzuki 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Overzealous(1)|Save Point(1) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki 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> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"That sounds fascinating, I'd love to see them." Jacqueline replies, as Eleanor mentions the papers. She couldn't help but be curious when it came to sorcery!
And then, they get to dealing with the container in question. Working together it's fairly easy, all told.
"Stuck jars, and some particularly stubborn monsters, too." Jacqueline comments with a chuckle. Her Breaker Shell pops open the seal, but it's still stuck - but, as Eleanor's Heat Cutter begins to warm up, it gradually begins to loosen, which makes it easy for Citan to twist it right open.
Meanwhile, one of Clarissa's Metools is busy attaching a hose to the side - and once that's all done, it'll be easy for them to refuel.
"There we go...that's looking a lot better." Jacqueline comments, looking over her fuel gauge. "Just let me know when you're ready to move on!"
DG: Clarissa Arwin has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================== ===========================<* CHALLENGE - Enemy Mine *>=========================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ----------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------- You are not the only one seeking that wreck. You may have already known or suspected as much, but now it is clear -- another Gear rips through the water only to stop and pause to send you a message before jetting onwards. It's a challenge. They want to see who is the one who should get to claim the prize of the wreck this day. Is this now a race? Yes. This is now a race to the finish line that is the wreck. (OOC: The GM for this round should feel free to have one of their alts be the rival for this challenge!) =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust, Tire============================================
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
A gauge on Clarissa's screen suddenly pings, and the girl smiles as she realizes that Guts-Dozer is suddenly full up on fuel. "That was handy!" she says cheerily, beginning to push Guts-Dozer onward into the murky depths.
Guts-Dozer's floodlights slash through the dimness towards the indicator on her radar. "We shouldn't be too far away now. There's only straight seabed ahead of us. I think if we take it easy--"
There is suddenly a crackle over the comline.
"OHOHO~"
Bubbles stir wildly as a slender, silvery shape blasts through the water, the concussive displacement of water jerking Clarissa back in her seat. The machine that passes by is clearly more advanced than anything fielded on the surface - a gleaming machine with a set of feather-like binders attached to its back like folded wings. Pivoting in the water, the Gear looks back at the gathered group.
SPECIALIZED GEAR OF SOLARIAN ELITE
E S C L A V E
"My my, what brings you silly [Lambs] down this far?" breathes a throaty voice as a comm window pops to life. Lorelei Calice looks as vivacious and elegant as ever, save for two things: She's traded her Etone Elite outfit for a low-necklined variant on a Gebler uniform, and her normally blue eyes are flat and seemingly empty of pupils, as if there's not much behind them but a program. Her smile is almost unnaturally cheery. "Of course you're not going to beat us to it, you know that, of coure? Ohoho~, how silly of you--"
"Focus on the objective." The voice is short, sharp and comes from the seat behind Lorelei, home to a young woman with gelled-back hair. The alleged Mignonette Stirling has also traded her Etone's habit for a Solarian uniform, and her glasses flicker with data.
Her eyes are clear enough as she focuses on Citan's comm window for a second. Then she cuts the line.
As Esclave accelerates in the water, Clarissa widens her eyes in surprise. "Wh-who are those two?" she gasps as she boosts Guts-Dozer's throttle - but for all the big Gear's stability, it's also fairly slow.
DG: Clarissa Arwin has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Enemy Mine.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor frowns as she hears the laughter--and turns her Gear to compensate for the sudden rush from that other Gear's passing. And that question... the comm window pops up, and she can see Eleanor lifting a disapproving eyebrow as she looks her over. "I don't much like your tone," Eleanor says guardedly. But the other has cut the line--
"I couldn't say," Eleanor answers with a shake of her head. "But no one I'm interested in losing to. Three! Let's give it all you've got!"
She flicks a few more switches--and with a burst of speed, the Three of Hearts starts picking up momentum through the water, folding its hands before itself to break some of the water before it.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
It looks like they have a clear shot to the wreck...but, before they can get too far, another Gear appears. Jacqueline lets out a gasp of surprise. That laugh...!
"...Lorelei!?" Jacqueline says. "You're with Solaris? I'm glad you look well, but..."
That was a surprise to her. She can dwell on it later, though. For right now...
"...If Solaris is after this, then that's reason enough for me to want to get it before they do... let's hurry!" Jacqueline says to the others. She pushes the Jaeger to accelerate forward. She might not have any way to make herself faster, but the Jaeger is fairly fast and maneuverable, even in the water. Maybe it'll give her the edge she needs...
DG: Jacqueline Barber has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Enemy Mine.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
There. That will do it. With the reserves in the tank -- shared out among the four of them -- they're at least reasonably close to being full up, if not at that.
"We are making good time, I believe. If I am not mistaken, the site should be not much further ahead--"
Laughter rings out across his radio frequencies. Then, he sees it. Incoming--
Solaris Gear.
In the privacy of his Gear, Citan Uzuki sits up a little straighter in his seat.
And then the images flicker on upon the console screen and he takes a slow, shallow breath. His gaze is not on Lorelei, but on...
"...We must hurry. If they are after the contents of that wreck--"
He scans the console a moment. What's his best option now--
Of course. Sig said he had installed redundant mobility circuits, to prevent tampering or overheating.
"I owe you my thanks, Sig," he murmurs, rerouting Heimdall's power systems accordingly.
He engages the mechanical thrusters, using their force to propel himself through the waves, after the speeding Gear.
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Motion Guard toward his party's challenge, Enemy Mine. DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Enemy Mine.
==============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================== ===========================<* CHALLENGE - Enemy Mine *>=========================== |Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ----------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------- You are not the only one seeking that wreck. You may have already known or suspected as much, but now it is clear -- another Gear rips through the water only to stop and pause to send you a message before jetting onwards. It's a challenge. They want to see who is the one who should get to claim the prize of the wreck this day. Is this now a race? Yes. This is now a race to the finish line that is the wreck. (OOC: The GM for this round should feel free to have one of their alts be the rival for this challenge!) =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust, Tire============================================
=========================<* Seafloor Salvage - Round 5 *>========================= =============================< Results - Enemy Mine >============================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 5 --(3)--> 8 Pass Motion Guard 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarissa Arwin 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 5 --(3)--> 8 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Citan Uzuki 80 --(0)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Tire(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki has passed this challenge! The party gained 0 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
Esclave is an awfully fast Gear. It shoots through the water like a silver shooting star, leaving a massive wake of bubbles streaming out behind it - and making it easy to follow.
It's Clarissa who is the laggard. Guts-Dozer can't move all that fast even on land. "Ahhh, they're so fast!" she exclaims as she tries to ramp the throttle up, serving mostly to kick up muck.
Citan, Jay and Eleanor have much better luck. The Jaeger and the Three of Hearts nip at Esclave's heels, while Heimdall launches just ahead of them, close enough to nearly make contact.
Within the Gear's cockpit, Lorelei Calice focuses forward, letting data stream through her mind. She shuts out everything else. The chemicals give her no other choice.
The real control lies in the rear seat; Lorelei herself is there more as a living ether battery than as a being. From the primary controls, Dr. Taphas Parth scowls. "I'm going to have to work on her," she mutters as she steals a look at her side monitor. Heimdall's too close and she's not sure how she feels about it.
As the wreck comes into sight, Lorelei twitches in her seat. "...Anomalous Ether...."
"Hm?" Taphas squints ahead - and a sensor squeals. "Damn. We're not equipped to deal with this under duress. Bring us up and we'll let the [Lamb] trash play with the dead."
Outwardly, the pursuers experience a sudden surprise: Barely a kilometre from the wreck, Esclave suddenly veers upwards, and with a burst of hyperthrust, it climbs rapidly towards the surface and out of sight.
Bringing up the rear, Clarissa blinks. "...What on earth...?"
DG: Citan Uzuki has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================= =====================<* CHALLENGE - A Ghost Of A Chance *>====================== |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- At last, you reach the wreck. Negotiating entry into the wreck itself is not the problem. The problem comes in the form of what's /in/ the wreck. No one mentioned to you the possibility that the wreck might actually be haunted. Which, of course, it is. Exploring a wreck filled with ghosts that don't want you despoiling their resting place is its own hurdle -- they might not be able to actually do anything to cause you immediate physical harm but they /can/ make your exploration/reclamation various degrees of 'unpleasant' to 'nearly impossible'. Getting around them and their various tricks and traps and reaching the cargo is going to take willpower and some solid planning... if not an outright exorcism. =Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
Just as they close on the Solarian Gear--
It suddenly seemingly gives up the game and rockets upwards, apparently for the surface far above.
"...What in the..." Citan utters, glancing first upwards, then over at the wreck.
He eases back the throttles as he arrives at the 'Iron Phoenix' wreck, ultimately alighting just outside the metal monstrosity that lays still on the floor of the ocean here.
But rather than head on in, the Heimdall pauses, then raises a hand as if to indicate the others should stop.
"Wait. Something is not right here. They would not have given up on the wreck unless there was something that they could not handle within. They must have only just realized what was wrong... but what is it?"
There is perhaps nothing else for it but to venture into the belly of the beast, so to speak.
The problem quickly makes itself known.
It looks at first like a corpse, still lying on the inside of the ruptured hull where they make their entrance. But it looks relatively intact; hasn't this wreck been lost for a while--
When it starts to rise up from the side of the hull, neck and upper back first as if a part of it were outright broken, it becomes apparent what is going on here.
"Oh--" Doctor Uzuki utters, gazing into the face of the spectral corpse courtesy of his Gear's external cameras.
"--I see."
It isn't the only one, either.
And they aren't precisely forming up the welcoming committee.
"Do not look at them! Keep moving and take care where you step!"
Some parts of the floor (wall, ceiling) have vanished, perhaps at spectral whims, for they never actually were intact anymore at all.
DG: Citan Uzuki has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, A Ghost Of A Chance.
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Arwin has posed.
Bringing up the rear is Guts-Dozer, trundling into view of the Iron Phoenix and leaving an arc of loose silt to settle back to the seabed. Clarissa blinks as she watches Esclave streak off into oblivion. "Yes... something must be wrong, Mr. Uzuki. Let's be cautious...."
The problem becomes apparent. The dead begin to rise. Clarissa sucks in a breath, her heartbeat quickening and her eyes going wide.
The worst part is that she can't just see them. She can hear them in a way that has nothing to do with speakers or sound. Maddening whispers hiss in the back of her mind. Closing her eyes, she clenches her teeth and tightens her hands around the controls.
Then she opens her eyes again and sets her jaw. "Let's stay focused," she declares firmly and steadily, a rock despite the horrors rippling around her. "If we aren't scared, then we can do this. I know we can."
Guts-Dozer presses forward, floodlights panning through the nightmarish ghostscape and bathing scenery both real and imagined. The big machine's treads rumble clean through a ghost. For all that the phantoms horrify, the machine doesn't flinch.
Because it's got guts. Huge guts.
DG: Clarissa Arwin has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Ghost Of A Chance.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
The Solarian Gear...gives up? Jacqueline frowns. That was too easy - and, Citan echoes her thoughts.
"Right... Only one way to find out, I suppose." She replies. They make their way into the 'Iron Phoenix', where they immediately learn that it is, in fact, haunted.
Jacqueline's used to the undead by now - one of her closest friends was a zombie, in fact - but the sight of it still draws a sharp intake of breath from her out of shock.
"...R-Right. We have to...keep moving." Jacqueline agrees with a nod. And then, she brings out her Gear's maintenance manual. She picks out a chapter and starts reading it aloud to the others.
It doesn't matter which one - the important thing was to give everyone a voice to focus on that wasn't that of the spectral whispers. A bastion of normalcy to grip onto as they made their way through this place.
Meanwhile, she keeps a careful eye where she goes, to make sure she doesn't fall(literally) for any of their tricks.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Maintenance Guidebook toward her party's challenge, A Ghost Of A Chance.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"...Yes, I understand what you mean," Eleanor answers Citan. "Acknowledged, Dr. Uzuki! We'll move on past them!"
She assumes that's why the Solarians gave up--Eleanor is... strangely quiet, as they're avoiding the spectral corpse, the ghosts. She finds herself appreciating the dry, technical reading. Because...
She can't entirely avoid looking away. But there is a way of looking without looking. "That's right," Eleanor says, distantly. "We..."
She can't quite muster the heart to be her usual self, amidst all of this.
"I can plot a path. Here--" A mapping system, perfect for salvage, is installed in her Gear--and it starts to fire its invisible beams to make out what's real without the messiness of sight getting in the way. "I'll relay my findings... This way! And then--Follow me!"
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Laser Mapper toward her party's challenge, A Ghost Of A Chance.
=============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================= =====================<* CHALLENGE - A Ghost Of A Chance *>====================== |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- At last, you reach the wreck. Negotiating entry into the wreck itself is not the problem. The problem comes in the form of what's /in/ the wreck. No one mentioned to you the possibility that the wreck might actually be haunted. Which, of course, it is. Exploring a wreck filled with ghosts that don't want you despoiling their resting place is its own hurdle -- they might not be able to actually do anything to cause you immediate physical harm but they /can/ make your exploration/reclamation various degrees of 'unpleasant' to 'nearly impossible'. Getting around them and their various tricks and traps and reaching the cargo is going to take willpower and some solid planning... if not an outright exorcism. =Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
========================<* Seafloor Salvage - Round 6 *>======================== =======================< Results - A Ghost Of A Chance >======================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 8 --(0)--> 8 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarissa Arwin 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 8 --(0)--> 8 Pass Maintenance Guidebook 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Laser Mapper 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Citan Uzuki 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Madness|Tire(1) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki has successfully explored Seafloor Salvage!
=============================<* Seafloor Salvage *>============================= =====================<* CHALLENGE - Is This Engine-uity? *>===================== |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- At last, you access the cargo within the wreck: You find an array of machine engines within -- from those that might form part of the machinery that drives a ship to those that might empower excavation equipment. They're still in good shape and once you bring them up, should work perfectly. It looks like this ship was from Guild Galad before it was sunk. And now by the laws of the sea, they are yours. Or at least, you'll have your pick of an engine -- Thames' deal was that you would get your pick and they'd get the remainder of any cargo. Nice job. And now, the long task of bringing them back up to the surface awaits. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
Neither is this the first time the doctor has faced the undead--
But there are as always visceral responses, even after all these years. A little part of himself that almost wants to see another face on that of a corpse, again.
Even if far more to the point is his concern about what sort of trouble they can cause, even if they appear to be unable to so much as lay a hand on their machines. Of course, this is their resting place so they would seek to protect it--
But neither can he simply turn around and leave. The others seem to feel similarly.
"Keep reading, Miss Barber," he says, pressing on through the maze of rotting and corroded steel, dogged at every step by the phantasms. Slowed by their trickery and illusions. Having something to focus on in a difficult time, even to the point of a maintenance manual, is helpful.
He can remember as a child, reciting by rote what his grandfather had taught him. It had gotten him through a very difficult time, indeed...
"A mapping system? You are very well prepared, Miss Klein. Please show us the way forward," he says, pausing long enough to permit her to catch up and move past him, the better to trace the path they must safely take.
The door to the Vault soon looms before them, the ghosts fading away as they make their final approach. "Miss Arwin, if you would?"
The tank should be able to plow right through it, by his reckoning. The metal looks very weak.
And plow on through it does.
There, still sealed in crates--
"...Engines. A shipment from Guild Galad. ...A couple years old or so, if I am to judge by the style."
...How does he know that? Is he some sort of amateur machinist in his spare time?
"They're still in good condition. I do not see too much sign of corrosion. We should move them quickly to the surface. Alert the Thames; let them know we are bringing up salvage."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
It isn't easy, but eventually, they manage to find something worth bringing back. Jacqueline lets out a sigh of relief when they find the crates - of engines, apparently, according to Citan. As requested, Jacqueline makes a quick transmission back to the Thames to let them know what they found.
"An engine, hm? I don't have much use for one, myself... The Carakin's Emma Motor is still going strong..." She considers, then thinks on it for a moment. "...But then again, Shalune might be able to find a use for it..."
That was a good enough reason as any to take one with her.