2019-11-26: Beneath Kattlelox
- Log: Beneath Kattlelox
- Cast: Dash Caskett, Seraph Clarine, Marivel Armitage, Tio
- Where: Kattelox Ruins
- Date: November 26, 2019
- Summary: Dash needs to prove himself for his diggers license. The easiest way to do that is to go into Kattlelox's local ruins.
==============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>============================== The massive, sprawling Underground Ruins underneath Kattelox Island are as famous as they are infamous -- rumours abound that they actually connect the entire length of the island, and to this day the sum total of the Digger's Guild knowledge have not fully mapped it out. Perhaps you can contribute to this, little by little, but beware... the mysterious mechanical creatures known as Reaverbots infest this strangely intact, ancient ruin. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ0MWvyF-ZM
DG: A party led by Dash Caskett is now entering Kattelox Ruins. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
=============<* CHALLENGE - The Incredibly Unplanned Entrance *>==============
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Sometimes, a Drifter does not come to the Ruin.
Sometimes, the Ruin comes to /you/.
Such is the situation today, an incredibly ordinary day that finds you and
your friends spending time in the Downtown district of Kattelox City.
Perhaps a leisurely walk in the park is the order of the day, or some light
reading in the library piques your interest. Whatever the case may be--
"I'm so~rryyyy!"
A tiny humanoid machine in blue with a bright yellow head that can only
charitably be described as "lego-like" (whatever that means, strange
Earthlings and their terminology) is whimpering before an open manhole.
A manhole that, after a cursory check, leads to the sprawling Underground
Ruins rather than the sewers. There's a break in the ladder, so you'll have
to lower yourself very carefully if you choose to. But this isn't a Digging
day, right? You had business in the Downtown area--
"My friend fell insiii~de!"
Oh /no/. It's too cute to ignore.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
Ah, a lovely day in Kattelox!
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MR0yn56rTI
A nigh cloudless sky overhead, a light breeze has somehow made it into the citadel-like walls of the city, and there isn't trouble to be seen! Kattelox is a safe city, its citizens enjoying the safety of the walls around that have stood since as long as history can recall.
However, business was afoot! A young man in two-tone blue armor has entered the downtown district. Weapons equipped but no plans to take them out. Having recently joined ARMS proper and speaking with fellow team members, he had precented himself to the Mayor after Professor Barrell talked over empathite with her. He has officially applied for a Digger's License! But he now has to prove himself to be granted access to more dangerous, less travelled ruins.
CHecking the boards for work is pertinent to earning reputation for this, however!
First though, a voice can be heard nearby.
"I'm sooooooorrryyyyyy...." comes a sad little voice. It is from a small robot barely a foot tall. It's head is much bigger than one would expect. "Uh... everything okay?" Dash asks the little mechanical servebot.
It motions with a little pronged hand down the manhole. "My friend fell insiiiiiide...! If we don't come back together, we will be in trooooouuuubleeee..." A small sigh escapes Dash. "Playing around manholes is dangerous. I can help get him back...!" Despite the ladder being damaged, he will be careful in climbing down as best he can in his armor.
DG: Dash Caskett has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Incredibly Unplanned Entrance.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
It's a warm, pleasant day! So, it's a good day for Digging. Clarine is here as well, looking to assist her friend with earning his license. You couldn't go digging without a partner, after all. You had to have at least two people, but no more than seven - though sometimes it gets a little fuzzy, particularly when it comes to people bringing along hangers-on.
"I still find it quite curious that one requires a license for this, but I suppose it is in the interest of protecting those are not yet fit to handle more difficult ruins..." Clarine muses, drifting along beside Dash. She pauses, however, at the sound of a small, sad voice. It's a little robot! Clarine stares for a moment, awed. Before...
"Do not fear, little one. We shall rescue your friend. Take heart!" She says encouragingly. She lets the others go down first before reaching into her sleeves, drawing out a prism. It floats above the manhole for a moment before Clarine steps off into the hole below. This might be alarming for those not used to her, but gravity has a very tenuous grasp on her. She'll float very gently down... and, the moment everyone else is inside, light will refract off the prism she left behind, forming a shimmering, rainbow barrier that'll prevent anyone else from falling in until this mission is resolved.
DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Prismatic Projector toward her party's challenge, The Incredibly Unplanned Entrance.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
It's a warm nigh cloudless day! And that means Marivel is wearing sunglasses and holding an umbrella over her head and looking mildly sour. The lack of clouds makes her feel like she is always burning up a little.
"Sunnnnnn..." Marivel complains shaking a fist under her umbrella's shade. But she does smile when she looks to Clarine. "Have you enjoyed getting some sun?" Vicariously try to enjoy it through Clarine! That's the plan!
As the servbot tells their story, Marivel takes a long swig of a juicebox that contains...well you know by now.
And then she adds, "Well it seems we are going down. Don't mind if I do."
The sewer is more cover than 'THE BURNING CLOUDLESS SKY' so she'll take it.
DG: Marivel Armitage has used her Tool Tomato Juice For Grownups toward her party's challenge, The Incredibly Unplanned Entrance.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
It is unusual for Tio to be out on her own, or at least without Eleanor. But someone decided it would be good for her to go exploring, and Kattelox seems a safe enough town.
In reality, this has led to Tio sort of following the others, as they are familiar faces. It's a start, right?
This means she also stumbles across the tiny robot, and looks down at it. What a strange creature. Her head tilts to one side, as it often does when she is trying to take in new information. "Another automaton?" She asks. There has been such a variety of mechanical persons, instead of one model fits all. It seems odd to her.
But the tiny robot is worried about it's friend, and she looks down the manhole, then up at Clarine as she and Dash agree to help. "I will assist as well." Dash is already halfway down the broken ladder as she says this. So she gets in line and waits until the other members of the party are on the ladder before starting to climb down herself, as is the noble tradition when you don't want to slow down the flow by having each party member climb the ladder one at a time.
DG: Tio has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Incredibly Unplanned Entrance.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
=============<* CHALLENGE - The Incredibly Unplanned Entrance *>==============
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Sometimes, a Drifter does not come to the Ruin.
Sometimes, the Ruin comes to /you/.
Such is the situation today, an incredibly ordinary day that finds you and
your friends spending time in the Downtown district of Kattelox City.
Perhaps a leisurely walk in the park is the order of the day, or some light
reading in the library piques your interest. Whatever the case may be--
"I'm so~rryyyy!"
A tiny humanoid machine in blue with a bright yellow head that can only
charitably be described as "lego-like" (whatever that means, strange
Earthlings and their terminology) is whimpering before an open manhole.
A manhole that, after a cursory check, leads to the sprawling Underground
Ruins rather than the sewers. There's a break in the ladder, so you'll have
to lower yourself very carefully if you choose to. But this isn't a Digging
day, right? You had business in the Downtown area--
"My friend fell insiii~de!"
Oh /no/. It's too cute to ignore.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
========================<* Kattelox Ruins - Round 1 *>======================== ===============< Results - The Incredibly Unplanned Entrance >================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dash Caskett 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Clarine 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Prismatic Projector 1 Agility Effects: Fanfare and Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marivel Armitage 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Tomato Juice For Grownups 1 Agility Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tio 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Dash Caskett 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Slow(2) Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Dash Caskett 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> Dash Caskett has posed.
Dash has a radio connection to Roll for Spotting, but having people with him out in the field (or ruin in this case) is invaluable! "Some sections of the island are full of dangerous Reaverbot, Clarine," Dash comments toward his Seraph friend-- no, ARMS partner! Both, even! "The tech pulled from the ruins are extremely valuable, so the License acts as prevention keeping out both inexperienced delvers, and people who shouldn't have their hands on those kinds of finds.
"Barrel is a famous researcher in Aquvy, so was easy to get the approval, but I still have to prove I am ready like everyone."
The sad little frown it has (:c) turns into a happy smile! (:>) "Thank you...!" it chimes, as it sways on its feet! it seems to have trouble seeing Clarine though, but is appreciative nonetheless for the comfort! The little servebot makes sure to get out of Marivel's way to let her get down as well. "Be careful of the ladder! It broooooooke..." "Marivel, Tio! Hello!" Dash calls up as he climbs down. He avoids the damaged areas as he goes. "Uh... This sewer isn't a sewer, I think!" The cute servebot gives Tio a double-nod as it sways on hits feet idly, waiting for this wonderful rescue team to save his fallen friend!
Clarine, Marivel, and Tio likewise have no issues going down the ladder! After all, if any of them did, do they really belong in the ruins if a ladder can stump them? They are made of sterner stuff than this!
Wood, it looks like. Or some kind of polymer. Tough to tell in this lightning.
DG: Tio has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>==============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - No Matter Where You Go... *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You'll never be without... a wall to destroy.
It is the perpetual, universal constant. Or at least, the one constant that
does not involve a Door. No matter whether up in Meribia, in Spira's
reaches, or down here in Aquvy in the most well-explored of underground
Ruins... there's always another cracked wall just waiting for some curious
Drifters to shatter.
It's almost nostalgic.
Get to explodin'!
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
It does not take very long down the path from the sewer to find, well, a wall with a big crack in it. Indeed, it looks firmly impassable... Except for the roughly one foot hole at the bottom which someone small could climb through.
Tio looks at it, and her little antennae give off a small beep. "The path continues behind this wall. I suspect we will have to continue forward to find this friend." She says, stepping back from the wall, and looking towards the others. There's a pause.
"I will attempt to breach this wall in a less explosive manner." She says, looking slightly apologetically towards Marivel and Clarine.
And then she touches her hand to her Mana Egg, and let's out one of her very short chants. "Green."
And then there is a rumbling beneath the crack in the wall, before, suddenly, a tree starts to grow out of nowhere pushing up and trying to drive the crack further open.
Succeed or fail, the tree doesn't last and disappears moments after, but it's a potentially safer option. Provided it doesn't manage to grow through the ceiling.
DG: Tio has used her Tool Soul Egg toward her party's challenge, No Matter Where You Go....
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
"I have!" Clarine confirms cheerily as Marivel asks if she's enjoyed it. It was pleasant and warm - she was always happy on days like this. But she knows her friend isn't, for obvious and understandable reasons, so she doesn't dig too deeply into the virtues of it. Instead, she looks toward Dash as he speaks.
"Ah, I understand the importance of it... It is just a novel idea. In my time, we did not have this level of organization... all too often would I have to rescue inexperienced adventurers undertaking locations they were not adequately prepared for..." She explains.
But, they all descend without incident. It's dark down here... but it's not so bad with friends by her side, at least. She's sure Marivel must be enjoying this more, too. They continue forward, but their path is soon halted by...a wall.
"A dead end...? Or..." Clarine starts, but Tio lays it out - the path continues beyond it. "I see..."
She sends Tio a brief smile when she says she'll try a less-explosive manner. For Clarine's part she extends her hands in front of her, an orb of light sparkling into existence. She gives it a light push and a searing beam begins to emit from it, which she directs in the hopes of cutting a doorway open just a bit larger than they are so that they can pass through without incident.
DG: Seraph Clarine has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, No Matter Where You Go....
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
The ruins are quite unwelcoming. geometric, with the walls being made of some kind of mixed material. Almost looks like the walls were compressed this way. Freaky.
Ahead of them lies their frist obstacle. A wall! A wall with a crack in it. "Huh... Wasn't this the only way? How could they have gotten through this wall?" A curious question, but not one to worry about. For they had the tools for the job!
"I... Is that a plant?" Dash asks Tio. "Cool! Let me see if I can help." The Blade Arm attachment makes a mechanical sliding sound, and detaches in the boy's other hand. A bit of fast work, and it is put away, and another impletement is drawn fro mthe back. One taken on every ruin delve. "Drill Arm time!" he says, holding up what is, essentially a massive drill now attached to his right arm.
It keens a high pitched noise as it spins up, and is applied to the wall, debris starting to fleck away from the surface.
"It helps keep casualties down and recoveries up," he says toward Clarine over the drill sound. "Glad to hear you saved people back then though!" He makes sure to slide his face mask over to keep debris from hitting him.
DG: Dash Caskett has used his Tool Drill Arm toward his party's challenge, No Matter Where You Go....
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel Armitage says, "Ah! Tio! Tis good you are eager to help those who are lost. It speaks well of you." As usual Marivel avoids phrasing things away from what might sound like an order when it comes to her but that doesn't mean she can't compliment behaviors that she approves of either.
She is slow to respond to Dash, partially because she was already hopping down when he arrived but also because--well, it's mostly that really. Marirvel looks up after and adds, "Mayhaps we'll be lucky, Dash. Were you keeping Tio company today?"
She then tilts her head at Tio's apologetc look--because honestly, Marivel trends Renegade more than you might think someone like her would normally. Rather than interfere, she wishes to see where Tio and the others go with this.
"Pity the trees do not last. T'would be quite helpful ecologically," Marivel murmurs. "But I suppose I ought consider what such magic would draw frrom."
She seems pleased with Clarine enjoying the day. Clarine being happy is...honestly an infectious experience. Maybe it's how the sun feels for humans, Marivel wonders.
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, No Matter Where You Go....
==============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>==============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - No Matter Where You Go... *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You'll never be without... a wall to destroy.
It is the perpetual, universal constant. Or at least, the one constant that
does not involve a Door. No matter whether up in Meribia, in Spira's
reaches, or down here in Aquvy in the most well-explored of underground
Ruins... there's always another cracked wall just waiting for some curious
Drifters to shatter.
It's almost nostalgic.
Get to explodin'!
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
=========================<* Kattelox Ruins - Round 2 *>========================= ====================< Results - No Matter Where You Go... >===================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dash Caskett 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Drill Arm 2 Brute Effects: Resilient -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Clarine 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 0 --(15)--> 15 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tio 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Soul Egg 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Dash Caskett 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1) Effects: Resilient(1)|Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Dash Caskett 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> Tio has posed.
Tio is mostly remembering a moment with lightning and explosives not that long ago.
"Affirmative. This is forest magic," as though it were normal. Tio's elements are weird.
The teamwork of drill, tree and light make short work of a wall. Where the tree provides force, Dash can drill around it and weaken the wall even further. Finally Clarine's blasts of light finish it off, shattering the wall. She nods to Marivel. "Thank you. I wish to be of use." That's still not the right reason, is it.
The path is clear!
"...I do not detect the automaton. It may be outside my range." She says, as she looks ahead. How far could a little servbot have gotten in the time they'd been there?
tNevertheless, she continues forward.
DG: Seraph Clarine has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - It's a Met-roidvania *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
This is it.
This is where the map supplied by the Guild ends. The primary reason that
the Diggers' Guild have still yet to fully conquer the Kattelox Underground
Ruins...
... it's enormous and complicated. Imagine the largest Digsite you've been
in -- and then multiply that by a factor of about six. There are Portals
leading into the Ruins from forests on opposing ends of the island, let
alone more entrances in the most unlikely of places.
On the other end, it's now your turn to walk into uncharted territory and
slowly add to the map until it reaches complete fruition -- does the Mother
Lode await at the end?
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
With the wall broken they're able to move on...but they soon find that no maps continue beyond this point. The cracked wall must have been the result of several long attempts to break it down, and they're the first to succeed.
Beyond, however, it leads to the enormous and complicated maze of the Kattelox Underground, and without a map to go by they'll have to make their way by their own navigational skills.
"I shall keep track of which paths we have already taken... I will ensure we do not get lost, while the rest of you keep an eye out for our little friend..." Clarine advises. She reaches into her sleeve, drawing out a sphere of pure, clear crystal which and letting it hover in front of them a ways. Light emits from it in order to illuminate further trouble.
Mazes were something of a specialty of hers, at least as long as there weren't shenanigans going on behind the scene to obscure her senses.
DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Brilliant Sphere toward her party's challenge, It's a Met-roidvania.
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
The wall crumbles with the combined might of ARMS! "Yeah!" the boy says, holding his non tool-laden fist up. "That was really cool, everyone!" A look over toward Marivel. He remembers thaeir conversation from before about Tio. "Oh, if we could only find a fortune down here!" he says toward her, putting the Drill Arm away on his back for the time being. "I wasn't at first, but am glad to keep her company now, for sure."
The path ahead is... complicated at the very least. Known maps have nothing down for this segment. "We may be in trouble. Let me see if I can help us.
He begins to talk toward the side interior of his helmet. A female voice can be heard coming from it.
"Roll, you there? We are in an unfamiliar section of the ruins."
"H-Huh? Dash? What are you doing down there already? I don't even have the equipment on!"
"Sorry! Someone fell down here and we can't find them. Can you scan the area for us?"
"Sure, give me a minute."
The voice cuts out. "Perhaps Roll can help us find our way. Spotter equipment can deep scan the area, she might be able to see something we can't." A no to Clarine. "Good idea! Poor fella didn't stay by where he fell. Maybe he was scared? Or got chased by something..." One hand shapechanges into the Mega Buster at the thought. Something could be down here with them. "how far can you detect, Tio?" he asks. "I hear some of the ruins can scramble signals. which could cause us more problems."
"Hope we can find them soon." Maybe he should have asked the servebot what their name was...?
DG: Dash Caskett has used his Tool Roll Call toward his party's challenge, It's a Met-roidvania.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel...may have completley forgotten about that whoopsie.
...because it was partly her fault.
You see.
The wall seems broken now, though, so she moves on, stretching her arms from side to side as if she had actually helped destroy the wall (she didn't). "Many people do," She admits to Tio's desire of being of use. The comment is otherwise neutral.
They seem to have entered a maze and work on a map. Marivel doesn't have a pen and paper with her so she whistles to Hob to record their movements to aid in the construction of one later.
"Well, this is your expertise isn't it?" Marivel mentions to Clarine. "My life is in your hands, my friend!"
One important lesson of a Crimson Noble is to defer to expertise. Pride triumphs all and it's hard to be prideful when you're constantly looking like a doofus because you ignored the person who knew what to do for prideful reasons.
"You knw, you never told me much about Roll," Marivel adds to Dash, but doesn't directly ask for details.
DG: Marivel Armitage has used her Tool Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. Armitage toward her party's challenge, It's a Met-roidvania.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
Oh dear. These are terrible large ruins indeed. Tio could tell that they opened up, but this much? She looks around, slightly astonished. The breadth and depth of the ruins is beyond what she had thought. Tio's sensor antennae light up, and she tries to get... something. "My sensors range is limited. I cannot get a complete reading of the area." She's certainly trying.
But perhaps providing a third source of data will guide them. And she can contribute with that, even if she can't directly interface with everything here. "I will alert you if I detect anything."
Marivel's non-commital comment is still noted. At least what she desires to do isn't wrong. "Roll is the person who is not Dash's master, correct ?" Well, she remembers the offhand comment Dash made. She looks at Clarine when it's mentioned that this is her expertise. "I will defer to you, Clarine." If someone really knows what they're doing, it seems best to follow their lead.
DG: Tio has used her Tool Sensor Antennae toward her party's challenge, It's a Met-roidvania.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - It's a Met-roidvania *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
This is it.
This is where the map supplied by the Guild ends. The primary reason that
the Diggers' Guild have still yet to fully conquer the Kattelox Underground
Ruins...
... it's enormous and complicated. Imagine the largest Digsite you've been
in -- and then multiply that by a factor of about six. There are Portals
leading into the Ruins from forests on opposing ends of the island, let
alone more entrances in the most unlikely of places.
On the other end, it's now your turn to walk into uncharted territory and
slowly add to the map until it reaches complete fruition -- does the Mother
Lode await at the end?
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
========================<* Kattelox Ruins - Round 3 *>======================== ======================< Results - It's a Met-roidvania >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dash Caskett 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Roll Call 3 Wits Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Clarine 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Brilliant Sphere 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marivel Armitage 15 --(0)--> 15 Pass Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tio 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sensor Antennae 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Dash Caskett 40 --(15)--> 55 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(2) Effects: Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Dash Caskett has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
"It is good to have Tio along!" Clarine chimes in, when Tio is brought up.
They continue on, but Clarine pauses for a moment as she hears an unfamiliar voice.
"Ah...that is Roll?" Clarine questions curiously. "It is good to know there is someone watching out for us."
Everyone decides unanimously to leave the navigation to her and Clarine nods, beaming.
"I shall not lead you astray!" She says, brightening.
And so, she begins to lead the others through the ruins, making sure to avoid doubling back on their trails, while the others focus on keeping an eye out for the Servbot they're looking for. And, after a bit of walking... there's a faint signal ahead!
It's hard to tell if it's what they're looking for, and how far ahead it actually is...but, it's something to go on, and that can be the most important thing at times.
DG: Dash Caskett has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
=============<* CHALLENGE - More than You Can Shek a Stick At *>==============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You notice a strange red spike planted on the ground. Get too close,
however, and it reveals itself to be--
(IMG: https://i.imgur.com/SlVRudr.jpg )
The Shekuten, a nasty little Reaverbot with the penchant for
*BOOM*
... self-destructing. Fortunately, it doesn't come particularly close to you
before it explodes. But the real problem reveals itself when you notice an
entire /field/ of them down the corridor. An area-of-effect spell or
technique, or some kind of wide-ranging grenade may be the order of the day
here.
=Dungeon Conditions: Collapse=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
Dash awaits for a response over the radio as he turns toward Marivel. "I'll have to introduce you to her! She's sorta like my sister! She is also the family Spotter, and also tinkers and makes equipment that interfaces somewhat with my armor and me." He honestly has no idea how it even works. But he does really like using them!
"With Professor Barrell's knowledge, we make the ultimate family team!"
"Correct, yeah Tio! We grew up together! I remember playing with her, even when I was little."
Uh.
"She can't do much out there directly for us," Dash says toward Clarine. "But she can sometimes make out routes with scans, or sense reaverbot energy signatures and other anomalies. It helps a lot!"
The path extends into the dim lightning suffusing the area. It is difficult to tell where the light emanates from but it is ever-present in most areas of the ruins.
And in the dark, glinting is... something red. "Is that a spike?" Dash asks, and upon hearing it, the Shekuten pops is deep red eye out of the ground, and the familiar double toned sound of a reaverbot alert comes from it, where it then rushes the party!
Or tries anyway. It trips o nthe ground and falls over. It then EXPLODES!
A strong personnel explosive, it was still far out of range and did not harm the party. "Close..." comes from the young man. A few steps farther though, and many, many more gleam i nthe distance, like a robotic spike pit. Going near that could be extremely dangerous without clearing them away. But something else is moving i nthe dim light nearby now! "What now...!"
<Mega Man! There are dangerous enemies around!>
Data. SOMEHOW down here ahead of them, dancing his little way toward the party. Data appears to be a small monkey about a foot tall, with a cylindrical body and always smiling his little smile. "Data! What are you doing down here?! Wait, were you hanging out with a yellow robot?"
<Mmm... No! But you should be careful ahead! Without dealing with them far away, they could come close in groups!> "Uhhh... thanks, Data!"
He is so weird.
Tio may understand him-- Data speaks in a machine language that sounds like monkey calls and squeaks to a standard human.
"I guess we better shoot them from afar!" he says, pointing the Mega Buster downrange.
DG: Dash Caskett has used his Tool Helpful Bit of Data toward his party's challenge, More than You Can Shek a Stick At.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
Clarine nods as Dash explains Roll's role.
"Even so...in an environment like this, information is an important tool to have." She agrees with a nod and a smile. "It is nice, to see a family working so closely together..."
But then Dash spots something, which soon turns out to be explosive!
"A-ah! Oh dear... that is rather devious..." Clarine mutters with a frown. In response she reaches deep into her sleeves. This time, she draws out a length of silvery cloth, which she drapes over herself. Suddenly, she appears to disappear from view - even sensors have a hard time picking her up. "I can probably take one more of you under here..."
It'll help them sneak past some of the Shekuten, but that's not all she can do. She gestures, and light converges into a sphere over a cluster of them. This sphere fires out rays of searing light, striking Shekuten and activating them before they can detect the party.
And, as she moves, she spots Data! Clarine may not be a standard human, but she's no machine - she can't understand a word he's saying.
DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Lightbending Veil toward her party's challenge, More than You Can Shek a Stick At.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
Tio listens as Dash explains, and she nods. "I see." Then there is a sudden. Tio steps back, looking at the reaverbot and- Oh THAT'S the sound Kamui made that gave half the room a heart attack. What about these are so startling-
4
And then it explodes. Oh dear.
Data talks to dash, in squeaking and machine noise and then... "Understood. We will be careful." Did... did she follow some of that?
Thats not the strangest thing, though. The strangest thing is that Tio's boost appear to have been replaced with... glass slippers? She draws her chakrams, and starts rushing in. She moves with a frankly ridiculous amount of speed, aiming to rush between the reaverbots, and avoid the worst of the explosions as she tries to slice at them with laser edges. This doesn't seem careful.
DG: Tio has used her Tool Glass Slippers toward her party's challenge, More than You Can Shek a Stick At.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Mrga...Man.
Oh wait Mega Man. Okay. Good.
"Sorta like your sister..." Marivel murmurs, lips twisting into a grin. "It's alright, Dash, to simply call such a person 'your sister'. But I understand what you mean. She sounds like a woman after my own heart."
She pauses a bit before clarifying, "I mean that metaphorically, of course." Roll is not aiming to STAKE her, presumably.
Speaking of explosive situations, a Shekuten appears and detonates. And there's more in the distance approaching. Marivel wrinkles her nose. From afar--seems legit to her.
She draws out her Microphone and chants, "APORT!" and drops a small army of pots down upon the exploding reavers, intending to detonate them from afar. With pails.
Otherwise they might kick the bucket!
DG: Marivel Armitage has used her Tool My Mike toward her party's challenge, More than You Can Shek a Stick At.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
=============<* CHALLENGE - More than You Can Shek a Stick At *>==============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You notice a strange red spike planted on the ground. Get too close,
however, and it reveals itself to be--
(IMG: https://i.imgur.com/SlVRudr.jpg )
The Shekuten, a nasty little Reaverbot with the penchant for
*BOOM*
... self-destructing. Fortunately, it doesn't come particularly close to you
before it explodes. But the real problem reveals itself when you notice an
entire /field/ of them down the corridor. An area-of-effect spell or
technique, or some kind of wide-ranging grenade may be the order of the day
here.
=Dungeon Conditions: Collapse=================================================
========================<* Kattelox Ruins - Round 4 *>======================== ===============< Results - More than You Can Shek a Stick At >================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dash Caskett 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Helpful Bit of Data 2 Combat Effects: Cleanse and Liability ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Clarine 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Lightbending Veil 2 Combat Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marivel Armitage 15 --(0)--> 15 Pass My Mike 4 Combat Effects: Efficient and Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tio 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Glass Slippers 3 Combat Effects: Rally ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Dash Caskett 55 --(15)--> 70 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(1)|Collapse Effects: Cleanse ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Dash Caskett has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
Data looks up toward Tio when she responds accurately. He just stares for a moment before she moves to fight the reaverbots.
3
The Shekuten are known to travel in swarms, but are dealt with easily enough to those with abilities at range. Tio gets through relatively unscathed, the detonations are delayed by a second or two when disabled swiftly. Clarine and Dash deal with groups with their varied forms of light, whether it be technogical photons and plasma, or the magical blessing of light incarnate.
Marivel wins the take for most creative, as metal cookware rains down and sets of severalm as apparently descending metal cookware falls under the rather obtuse enemy proximity protocol. Buckets go flying, as to reaverbot parts! it is absolutely... appailing to watch.
What is left is a smoking corridor. The walls are less damaged than one would thing, but there is a cracked or chipping area here and there. "May want to be careful proceeding in case there are some that didn't explode! Data, you should--"
The monkey is gone. "Augh. How does he do that?" A look to Marivel. "Yeah! I mean, she can't actually be my sister, but she is certainly close enough to count in my book."
"It definitely helps, working together! It can be a pain sometimes too, hahah..." Glad the radio comm is closed. "But the goods outweigh the bads by a good deal."
DG: Tio has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>==============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - High Tech Mimicry *>=======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Mimics are an inevitable facet of Drifter life.
It resides in every stripe and hue of treasure chest, from unassuming wooden
crates to the most opulent and gussied-up royal treasury coffers. And it's a
constant that does not change here in the curious ruins of Kattelox...
Save for the fact that this one is robotic and could be dismantled with some
high-technology know-how.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
The path forward after reaverbots is fairly simple, and the conversation continues. "Sister and I are not of the same model series, but she is still my sister." Okay, her's is perhaps a different case. She pauses. "Are you two a found family?" The term Marivel used rings in her head for a moment.
And then her antennae beep. "There is a chest ahead." She says, and steps forward.
And then the chest unfolds big metal legs. And big metal claws. And big metal eyes. Oh dear.
"...That is not a chest. Hostile detected." The creature lets out a mechanical beep. But it's taking a few moments to get started. And unlike some mimics, it looks to have clear places it can be pulled apart.
Tio scans it with her antennae, and nods. "Weaknesses detected in joints." She starts. "The bolts are fragile."
That said, she raises her chakrams, and targets the glowing red laser edges on them towards the joints, before throwing them at the mimic.
DG: Tio has used her Tool Sensor Antennae toward her party's challenge, High Tech Mimicry.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
"Oh it's a--"
Tio preempts Marivel by explaining that it's a hostile and her cheeks puff out in dissapointment. Look Marivel is not perfect either. She exhales out and nods once to Dash before frowning at the missing monkey. But she doesn't comment on it.
Instead of walking into bitey range of a mimic, Marivel sends over Hob and Nob who get to work on the construct with tools distendng from their mouths, gradually dismantling what they can while not, y'know, registering as lifeforms.
Partway through Hob changes its mind thanks to being a drone with an animalistic mind and floats towards Tio and tries to lick her face with a robot tongue much like how a dog would.
DG: Marivel Armitage has used her Tool Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. Armitage toward her party's challenge, High Tech Mimicry.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
A 'found family'... Clarine beams when Tio says those words.
"Yes, the bonds of family need not be strictly through blood. We Seraphim, for instance, do not have family in the traditional sense, but we can still find family in others..." She agrees. ...She still has her Lightbending Veil on, so it sounds like her voice is coming out of nothing.
Before she can say anything further, they run into a chest up ahead! ...Or, not, as Tio soon corrects.
It rears up to attack! Clarine frowns. As Hob and Nob - or just Nob, as Hob decides on a different plan of action - move to dismantle it, Clarine drifts close. She draws out a flashlight and turns it on, shining it on the mimic.
...It doesn't actually do anything, but it'll sure help everyone see what they're doing!
And with the Lightbending Veil on, it might not even be able to see her to attack. ...P-probably.
DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Brilliant Sphere toward her party's challenge, High Tech Mimicry.
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
"Ah--" Dash considers Tio's question for a moment. "Yeah, I guess we are! That is a good way of putting it." Being adopted can be like finding a family, right?
"Careful! There is a reaverbot in the room ahead of you!"
Roll cuts on over the radio. "Huh. Isn't there only a chest in--" It starts moving. "I stand corrected." Dash considers the target for a moment. "Don't suppose there might still be something in that chest anyway, do you?" he asks the group.
It would be what Roll would suggest, he figures! So he will follow the other's lead, and attempt to shoot the appendages, keeping the body in one piece!
Also not to hit Marivel's assistants. Let's not do that either.
DG: Dash Caskett has used his Tool Roll Call toward his party's challenge, High Tech Mimicry.
==============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>==============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - High Tech Mimicry *>=======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Mimics are an inevitable facet of Drifter life.
It resides in every stripe and hue of treasure chest, from unassuming wooden
crates to the most opulent and gussied-up royal treasury coffers. And it's a
constant that does not change here in the curious ruins of Kattelox...
Save for the fact that this one is robotic and could be dismantled with some
high-technology know-how.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
=========================<* Kattelox Ruins - Round 5 *>========================= ========================< Results - High Tech Mimicry >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dash Caskett 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Roll Call 3 Wits Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Clarine 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Brilliant Sphere 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 15 --(0)--> 15 Pass Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tio 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sensor Antennae 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Dash Caskett 70 --(20)--> 90 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Dash Caskett has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Marivel Armitage has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Hanmuru the Bridge Down *>===================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You finally come onto a long bridge overlooking a deep mechanical ravine
within the Underground Ruins not labelled by the Diggers' Guild. Fail here
or not, you've made progress! However, further advancement is cut
disappointingly short when the ground...
*thump*
...begins...
*THUMP*
...to shake.
(IMG: https://i.imgur.com/a7Xx5k9.jpg )
An enormous Hanmuru Doll, one of the most dangerous known types of
Reaverbots, starts marching in on your vicinity. Your position is terrible
for straight-up combat, but it occurs to at least one of you--
The bridge you're on can't possibly sustain the Reaverbot's weight.
With some ample trickery and a copious amount of explosives or brute force
to shatter the bridge, you can likely dispose of this enormous threat using
gravity as your tool.
=Dungeon Conditions: Collapse, Weaken, Suffer=================================
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
The mimic is expertly dispatched, and pulled to it's component parts. Hob and Nob do an excellent jobs of dismantling. And also licking, in Hob's case. Tio just sort of blinks and stares at the tiny drone. She's obviously not sure what to make of this. Clarine lights up targets, and Dash is able to aim true. Shortly after, all the legs and arms are off the mimic.
The red robotic eyes are still there, looking around. You could open it, if you wanted.
"I believe we can safely proceed." Tio says, after a moment.
At no point does she try to stop Hob licking her face.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel grimaces at just how quickly the mimic ends up pulled apart. Numbers help make quick work at that sort of thing it turns out, she reflects, but she thinks it'd be rather morbid to dig around inside the creature so she just--
--well first she looks at Hob and frown a bit because it's still licking at Tio. She whistles and Hob and Nob float backtowards her side. "Let's keep on moving." She says.
But before long there is a bridge. And in the distance--
*thump*
...
*THUMP*
It's one really big reaver--a Hanmaru! But it's still on the bridge so...
"Ah--the bridge!" Marivel says.
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Hanmuru the Bridge Down.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
The mimic is dismantled, and they're free to move on ahead - but unfortunately for them, the bridge forward is guarded by a rather large Reaverbot. It takes up the entire bridge - there's no getting past it, and fighting it on such terrain will be difficult, too. But... Marivel indicates the bridge. Clarine lets out a gasp of realisation.
"...Understood!" She replies, raising her hands to the sky. A sword of shimmering, rainbow-colored crystal appears above the bridge in front of them. It looks like one of those used in her Prism Sword spell, but this time, it's only the one. She brings her hands down and the sword descends as well, looking to smash right into the bridge and, hopefully, drop the Hanmuru Doll into the abyss below.
DG: Seraph Clarine has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Hanmuru the Bridge Down.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
They clear one enemy, and the road yields another. The bridge ahead is blocked by a massive reaverbot.
Tio responds to Marivel's shout about the bridge by looking down to it. Weaknesses. Exploitable weaknesses. "Acknowledged. Light blue."
A sudden spout of high pressure water crashes into the bridge, ahead of the monstrous reaver bot. She targets it to line up with Clarine's assault.
Sure, that'll make it harder to cross, but that's a problem to be resolved later. It's nowhere near as sophisticated magic, either, but it does the trick. Well, hopefully it does the trick.
DG: Tio has used her Tool Soul Egg toward her party's challenge, Hanmuru the Bridge Down.
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
Well, that is one way to stop a mimic. But a reaverbot mimic? Why would someone make this? THere are tons of mimics in dungeons otu there, there is no need to replicate one. Adventurers would thank people to relocate them. Well, maybe.
The ominous crashing of giant feet give a telltale warning for one of the most frightening reaverbot models. "Oh, not one of these again!" Again? "Oof... I don't think we can dispatch it on our own!" Marivel points out an idea. "Oh, that could work!" That bridge doesn't look like it is supposed to hold that weight. Perhaps they can cause it to wall?
"We better move quickly, it is getting close!" Dash runs over to one of the bridge support corners, and takes back out the Drill Arm. With what strenght he can muster, he jams it into the corner and hits the power, full bore, to try and split the corner open!
DG: Dash Caskett has used his Tool Drill Arm toward his party's challenge, Hanmuru the Bridge Down.
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Hanmuru the Bridge Down *>===================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You finally come onto a long bridge overlooking a deep mechanical ravine
within the Underground Ruins not labelled by the Diggers' Guild. Fail here
or not, you've made progress! However, further advancement is cut
disappointingly short when the ground...
*thump*
...begins...
*THUMP*
...to shake.
(IMG: https://i.imgur.com/a7Xx5k9.jpg )
An enormous Hanmuru Doll, one of the most dangerous known types of
Reaverbots, starts marching in on your vicinity. Your position is terrible
for straight-up combat, but it occurs to at least one of you--
The bridge you're on can't possibly sustain the Reaverbot's weight.
With some ample trickery and a copious amount of explosives or brute force
to shatter the bridge, you can likely dispose of this enormous threat using
gravity as your tool.
=Dungeon Conditions: Collapse, Weaken, Suffer=================================
========================<* Kattelox Ruins - Round 6 *>======================== ====================< Results - Hanmuru the Bridge Down >===================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dash Caskett 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Drill Arm 2 Brute Effects: Resilient ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Clarine 0 --(15)--> 15 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marivel Armitage 15 --(15)--> 30 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tio 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Soul Egg 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Dash Caskett 90 --(30)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Collapse|Suffer(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Resilient(1)|Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Dash Caskett has successfully explored Kattelox Ruins!
=============================<* Kattelox Ruins *>=============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - You a Buster *>========================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
With the Hanmuru Doll disposed of, you discover a small treasure cache deep
within the ruins. Inside, you find...
An ancient composite circuit that the ARMS Meisters and engineers amongst
your team can tell is known as a Buster Part around Kattelox Island. This
one seems designed to work itself into existing weapons-firing systems,
improving firing speed and reload efficiency.
(OOC: You've discovered the Rapid-Fire Buster Part! This can be installed
into an ARM weapon or Tool with the help of a technologically savvy fellow.
Recommended flags include Accurate or Gatling.)
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel points out an idea!
But...wait, is she not helping again? Marivel!! You can't hate physical labor this much can you??? Apparently she can.
Unfortunately the Prism Sword doesn't actually manage to CLEAVE the bridge apart but it makes some leeway. It's only when Tio and Dash clobber it with water and drill respectively does the side of the bridge collapse from that and the strain of the giant robot being on it, sending the machine plummeting to its DOOM.
Well at least it's pretty stuck.
"Maybe we should try...the other bridge." Marivel suggests, and after some walking--
--a treasure chest! And inside the treasure chest...
"Oh! This is a Buster Part." Marivel says. "Hard to tell what it does just from looking at it, but--" She looks towards Dash. "Well, I think I can think of at least one person who would get a great deal of use out of it." She smiles faintly, tapping her cheek. "What do you think, Dash?"
<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.
There is a sharp crack as the Drill Arm punctures through the supporting stone and metal. Dash barely has time to look up to see the Hanmuru Doll fall. "Oh, it worked! Hooray! Fighting that, would have been awful, trust me."
Thankfully another path lay nearby to cross, and it leads to an old chest! "Huh! Wonder what is inside...?" Marivel takes the lead to investigate, and to his surprise, she mentions a Buster Part!
Dash of course runs his blue boots right on over! "Really?! Let me see!"
Now normally Dash is ironically inept at technology that isn't inherantly, well, him. But he always seems to know what these kinds of parts do somehow! "Oh! It is a Buster Actuator. It can make a Buster or other weapon fire faster!"
When Marivel suggests she knows someoen that could use it, Dash sheepishly pipes up. "Well I uh, I could definitely use it! Both for the Mega Bsuter, and to show the Major for my license! If that is okay, of course..." He would have to leave his friends empty handed. Though that Mimic did have so quality parts inside it.
A lonely servebot still lingers outside the manhole, waiting for his friend to be rescued. A shadow walks up to their side. "Ohhhh, you came baaaack~!"
"Eep eep!"