2020-02-15: So Long To Return
- Log: So Long To Return
- Cast: Avril Vent Fleur, Yue Rohay, Scathach, Lydia Seren, Ambrosius, Rebecca Streisand
- Where: The Ruins of the Laboratory -Tishrei-
- Date: February 15, 2020
- Summary: Avril and Rebecca venture into Tishrei together... and are met by a surprise party of Veruni including Yue, here for mysterious reasons. And also Lydia. Things don't at all go awkwardly.
DG: A party led by Avril Vent Fleur is now entering Ruins of Lab -Tishrei-. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
==========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>==========================
==========================<* CHALLENGE - EXPRESS UG *>==========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
The Ruins of the Laboratory -Tishrei- take you to the coast of Meria Boule's
southern peninsula, far from being an obscure ruin in the midst of
wilderness. There, you all see it -- the wreckage of an ancient, massive
metal building is plainly moored between large crags where the beach ends
and a sheer cliffside begins.
Inside, the air is chilly and still as a panel pops into place as if
detecting your presence. Streams of data filter through the panel monitor,
and you can read the following words--
-DETECTING-
Biosignatures Detected: -Drifter- Designation C2A2
Constructing Appropriate Challenges...
-READY-
--and the very world seems to reconstruct around you, altering data cube by
data cube into a highway from a far-gone civilisation, replete with tall
skyscrapers in the distance. The sky is burning, and spotlights are
everywhere.
Any further awe will have to wait, however. The very highway is also the
scene of a battle -- terrified motorists in cars and trucks are headed your
way, as they flee the incoming bombs of massive mechanical bees!
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWbvXCKdFrg )
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
The moment that Avril and Rebecca step into the ruins of the lab, they're greeted by a strange hovering display of text across the screen.
"Biosignatures... detected?" Avril reads aloud, gazing up at the screen.
Which is the moment when everything about them appears to distort and they're dropped into a world that no longer exists.
If it ever had.
...But let's back up a moment, first.
Meria City, outside the Thames, has proven to be the 'base of operations' for the trio for the bulk of their time in this part of Filgaia. As much as Avril would like to return to search again in the ruins of the desecrated shrine near Honeysday (the Gobs aside, there is the matter of it once being home to 'Johnny Appleseed' and all the questions that presents of who was there over a decade prior), it simply isn't safe to set up camp there long-term, not when not even the residents are certain when their Veruni masters might again travel there.
Someday she'll chance it again, but not now.
No -- they've set their sights elsewhere. Grand quests are all well and good, but they still have to sleep and eat, and so life has somewhat taken a more practical turn.
Hence coming here now, on the request of the regional archaeological society. They asked for some sketches of the ruin and area -- apparently the insides of the place have proven a bit of a headscratcher.
So here they are now.
Until very rapidly, here they aren't.
"Are we... is this the same place, do you think?" Avril asks her friend, her eyes widened at the sight before them but otherwise taking this in remarkable stride, all considering. A panicked motorist abandons her vehicle and flees past them; Avril turns after her as it to take her hand, but she may as well tried to take a handful of air. She never even comes within an inch of the fleeing motorist's form. Then Avril turns back, looking in the opposite direction once again.
Her gaze lifts, to the skies.
"--Oh."
She reaches out to take Rebecca's hand, the Sea Medium in her other hand. Her expression is grim. "Lucadia--" she pleads, already running in the direction of the mechanical bees as they come in droves.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, EXPRESS UG.
<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.
A familiar figure appears not long after Avril and Rebecca appear, and not alone either -- because Yue is here having possibly brought Ambrosius and Scathach (unless they'd like to come separate!) because of a very special reason.
"... Avril. Rebecca," she speaks quietly. There's a large bouquet of flowers in her arms.
She blinks a few times as she looks to the panel, however, frowning as it announces that it detects biosignatures. "Pray wait, do not touch that--"
*FLASH*
Too late.
Yue sucks in a breath as she looks up and stares towards the very city that they have been brought to. Her eyes flicker with a measure of fear and intense memory. "The CBD... and this must be that day..."
A pause, as the roar of vehicles soon overtakes them. A panicked motorist abandons her vehicle, and Yue hurries instead towards that intact-enough looking vehicle.
She inspects it for a moment, then makes a decision: "... climb in. I can drive us out of here."
Never mind the insanity of trying to drive -- and stick, too! -- while you've got shackles on your arms...
Whether or not everyone filters in, though, she gives the parked vehicle's engine several experimental revs; the tachometer hits a steady seven with each hit of the metal.
"... good enough. Let us go."
<Pose Tracker> Scathach has posed.
Rumors of the Ice Queen couldn't be ignored. Scathach had been assigned to Aquvy during the late unpleasantness with the Metal Demons; she had heard, mostly, about them rather than witnessed events in Ignas with her own eyes. But rumors about Avril had spread through Veruni society.
And when rumors swirled that she was present in Meria, Scathach could not overlook that. She had to go looking, to determine for herself. She did not, of course, come alone.
Which is why, a little after Avril and Rebecca, she appears. On the tall side, with a dark blue dress done with purple patterns -- resembling circuitry -- she is striking. She might pass as an elf, with the pointed ears... but the pointed fangs hurt that. Some Veruni veer from strictly human looks. And, well, the black eyes and dark blue hair (with dyed red tips) are striking.
She puts a hand on her hip, and looks at the traffic. "Gwahaha!" she laughs. "Yes, humans--I mean ordinary members of my species, of which I am one! Tremble in fear, for the SHADOWS will come to CONSUM--"
A screaming man on a motorcycle sends Scathach into a tailspin. She whirls, facing after him -- and jumping to the side, past a fleeing family of four. She yells at him, as she glances at Yue.
She hops, without a thought, into the car. Then she screams after the cyclist: "Hey! HEY! The shadows don't fear BAD DRIVING, JACKASS!"
DG: Scathach has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, EXPRESS UG.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia is pretty excited to visit this mysterious lab that she doesn't know has anything to do with Kamui or her own alts. Instead she rubs briefly at her neck as she arrives and then looks towards Avril as they enter the MEGAMAN STAGE UNIVERSE.
"This reminds me of the ruin of memory." Lydia quips. "Man this is so lifelike and awesome."
She looks over to Yue and waves a hand towards her.
And then she fans out her wings as she hovers up into the air, spraying rainbow colored exhaust as she does so.
She then looks to Scathach. She blinks a few times.
"I am not a human." She says. "I'm a beastman." She frowns. "Wait...am I still a beastman?"
She gets a lost look on her face as she stares into the middle distance.
"What am I?... Am I beastman...or machine...??" She starts spinning around in the air in a circular pattern. Vertically.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Radical Skates toward her party's challenge, EXPRESS UG.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Indeed, Ambrosius has elected to accompany Yue here. He isn't entirely sure what she was doing, but as her friend he would support her, no matter the endeavor.
And it's for this reason, that as she goes to speak with with Avril and Rebecca... that he and the others find themselves in an entirely different environment.
"...Hmm. Faaascinating... It appears... very liiifelike..." Ambrosius observes curiously. He glances toward Yue, as she mentions 'that day'... but before he can ask, suddenly, vehicles are coming right toward them, chased by mechanical bees!
Questions will have to wait. Ambrosius readily accepts Yue's invitation, climbing into the vehicle. It'd probably be much easier than him having to run - he was not the fastest thing around.
He spots Scathach, too - he sends her a meaningful glance of greeting, but otherwise does not do anything that might give her cover away while she's pretending to be human.
Because that would be rude.
DG: Ambrosius has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, EXPRESS UG. DG: Yue Rohay has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, EXPRESS UG.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
"I'm not sure I know what a biosignature is but detected... sounds like we tripped something."
Suddenly wary, Rebecca pulls out her ARM, spinning it into her hand like she's expecting a fight.
As she turns around, her brow suddenly furrows as everything changes around them.
And...
"I'm... honestly not sure." She says as she lowers the muzzle of her ARM, nodding in wary agreement with Ambrosius. She was expecting a threat, not something like this, as suddenly she looks at the familiar girl in the air. "Lydie... um - now really the time to get all... existential?"
As a panicked motorist runs on by and Avril tries to get a hand on her, Rebecca calls out.
"Hey - Miss - mind telling us what's going-"
And then in the opposite direction, "-on."
It's Avril that reacts first, being the more composed of the two, but with a hurried stumble step before correcting herself, Rebecca turns and flees with her like she's on a bridge - and a train is coming their way.
"We'll need more than Lucadia for this one..."
Rebecca indicates as she holsters her ARM and draws another one. Looking over her shoulder as the pair runs...
And then suddenly there's Yue... "Oh it's you."
Usually she'd prefer to take their chances.
But at that moment Scathach makes her declaration that she's a member of the human race. Rebecca gives her one look as the totally human girl almost gets run over.
Then Rebecca looks at Avril for one brief moment as their seconds - and options dwindle.
Back to Yue. "I think we're gonna accept your generous offer."
As she uses her Portal Gun at the roof of Yue's commandeered vehicle, before scootching in. "You sure you can drive this thing wearing those!? Maybe Avril should drive!"
The way Rebecca figures, Avril can pilot a gear, how hard could it be?! Nevertheless she doesn't press the point.
Before Yue even gets them going, Rebecca fires her portal gun again at the dash.
Then slips her head through the portal she created to make an impromptu sunroof, bracing herself against the seat with a foot as she draws out her ARM and tries to get a beed on some bomb dropping bees.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has used her Tool Portal Guns toward her party's challenge, EXPRESS UG.
==========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>==========================
==========================<* CHALLENGE - EXPRESS UG *>==========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
The Ruins of the Laboratory -Tishrei- take you to the coast of Meria Boule's
southern peninsula, far from being an obscure ruin in the midst of
wilderness. There, you all see it -- the wreckage of an ancient, massive
metal building is plainly moored between large crags where the beach ends
and a sheer cliffside begins.
Inside, the air is chilly and still as a panel pops into place as if
detecting your presence. Streams of data filter through the panel monitor,
and you can read the following words--
-DETECTING-
Biosignatures Detected: -Drifter- Designation C2A2
Constructing Appropriate Challenges...
-READY-
--and the very world seems to reconstruct around you, altering data cube by
data cube into a highway from a far-gone civilisation, replete with tall
skyscrapers in the distance. The sky is burning, and spotlights are
everywhere.
Any further awe will have to wait, however. The very highway is also the
scene of a battle -- terrified motorists in cars and trucks are headed your
way, as they flee the incoming bombs of massive mechanical bees!
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWbvXCKdFrg )
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
=====================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- - Round 1 *>===================== ============================< Results - EXPRESS UG >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sea Medium 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yue Rohay 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scathach 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Radical Skates 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca Streisand 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Portal Guns 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ambrosius 0 --(0)--> 0 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
The world changes about them--
And quite quickly, Avril realizes they aren't the only ones hear.
A fact that might have lead for more disagreements, perhaps, with certain involved parties if it weren't for the fact that they are all very much collectively now in harm's way.
She breaks into a dash, drawing on the Medium's power. But even with a Guardian backing them up, is it really possible for Lucadia alone to help them cross the distance -- to somehow get past the horde of machine bees?
It seems dubious, a fact that Rebecca quickly cottons to. A flash of the portal guns follows, which rapidly sees her and Rebecca translocated into the back of the car that Yue has commandered. Avril has a split-second to both process this fact and reflect on the circumstances of their last meeting before her gaze flits to the sight of the girl in the road (namely Scathach) before them. "Oh-- be careful! Miss, please-- perhaps you had best come with us?"
A pause, when Rebecca wonders if Avril should drive, instead.
"Have I used a machine like this before...?"
Perhaps now is not the best time to get a crash course in driving? Particularly not when she spots others not among those fleeing away from the mechanical swarm and potentially in danger.
"Is that-- Lydia! Please, over here!"
But neither is Lydia the only one.
She, making the only real ethical decision one can make at this time, throws open the door for Ambrosius as he makes a move for the car just a moment too late and reaches out a hand.
...The car may very quickly have become quite cramped.
DG: Yue Rohay has drawn a new Challenge.
=========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>=========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Trail on Powdery Snow *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The sensation of cold is palpable as the mysterious panel shifts you to a
powdery snowfield. A glowing goal exists at the other end, separated by
several platforms with strange discs with sirens upon it.
The danger is quickly visited when you land on the same platform as one of
them and--
!! WeeeOOOOweeeOOOweeeOOOO !!
AAAAH it's /tearing/ through snow to you at /high/ speeds! Jump-- ...
And it stays dormant once more. But land once more in its vicinity and--
!! WeeeOOOOweeeOOOweeeOOOO !!
AAAAH NOT AGAIN
Perhaps... you will have to somehow circumnavigate around these
hyperactive... vacuum cleaners? Floor pucks? What is the purpose of these
mysterious machines? The ancients are -weird-.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHkZejYxTuM )
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Slow=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.
Rebecca questions if she can really drive wearing shackles. "... I have done it, once or twice. It should not be harder than duct tape races," she responds, as if this was a perfectly normal thing to do.
A pause.
She looks to Scathach as she jumps in towards the back as well. "Somehow, I am immediately reminded of Kaguya..." she responds to herself, chuckling.
"... you are Lydia," Yue takes a moment to answer, mid-kansei dorifto. "I had been reminded... I do not really like the term 'beastman' all that much."
"... thank you," Yue speaks frankly to Avril when she decides to come in, breathing softly and with relief as she pulls Ambrosius in. One split second later--
Yue floors the pedal as
EUROBEAT INTENSIFIES - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w67YfN8dvo
and the commandeered vehicle not so much 'goes' as 'pops a wheelie' and lurches down the highway.
The driving is paradoxically, simultaneously 'maniacal' as it is 'precise'. The kind of driving of someone who not so much views cars as a vehicle as it is an extension of their body, lives and breathes engine and exhaust--
"Hold onto something,"
she says as she cuts the acceleration and suddenly banks a hard left, hitting them all with some sudden and rude G-forces as she slams her foot on the brake and lets them drift through the corner on sheer inertia--
!! WEEE WOOOO WEEEE WOOOO !!
--and the scene suddenly shifts as Rebecca, being the one ontop of the makeshift sunroof, is the first to feel the cold; the car they're on has something glowing bright red plowing through snow at them.
It looks like... a puck with a light on it.
A menacing evil puck that won't let snow nor hail nor rain stop it.
"It's catching up," Yue remarks as they lose speed. "The tires are not gripping the ice as well..."
There's no choice. She's going to have to step up her game--
And she lets go of the wheel as they skid and pulls her hair up and casually ties it into a high ponytail.
DG: Yue Rohay has used her Tool Cute Scrunchie toward her party's challenge, Trail on Powdery Snow.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia Seren says, "Hiii Rebecca...." to her. "I didn't mean to ghost you or anything, I just got kidnapped by Solaris and conscripted into their service because of a program that takes over my body if I don't listen to them properly but also this person seems to see me as family so I don't even really know what to do for it for real or anything but it's kind of been on my mind for a while and I'm actually usually in a pretty ggood mood regardless but sometimes it's like 'what even is my life right now?' I didn't really expect to be a flying robot girl who can fly around like a cool person but also kind of stuck working for jerks at this point in my life. I was agoing to wait until I was middle aged or something."
Spin spin spin.
She eventually drops down and lands on Avril's car and sits down on it.
She looks to Yue for a moment upon being identified. She tilts her head a bit and adds, "Oh?" She frowns. "Is there another name for us or something?"
She then holds on for dear life oh noooo.
But luckily she can dig her hands INTO the car roof and hang on that way.
"It's like I'm flying!" She cheers.
...Frown. "Wait a minute."
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Radical Skates toward her party's challenge, Trail on Powdery Snow.
<Pose Tracker> Scathach has posed.
"Don't ask me, fellow human! I don't define you!" Scathach yells back at Lydia in the heat of the moment, eyes halfway to crossed and fangs bared.
Really, she can't yell without doing that, though.
"YES," she says, looking at Ambrosius. "HELLO, Ambrosius and Yue. I'm sure everything will be fine," she groans, as she squeezes into the car with everyone else. "Uggggh, bad drivers... I thought we left them behind in whatever we're calling our normal human city..."
She slumps between Ambrosius and Lydia, and she can't quite hold onto something. Her expression screws up -- and she looks back out the window. "Rohay!" she yells. "Drive faster! What is that thing!? I--ugh, hold on--"
She fishes around in her bag. "I have a tome of FOUL SECRETS and ANCIENT MYSTERIES here, and it will tell us what terrible things that humans -- that's us -- have built in the past! It says..."
She fishes it out of the bookbag at her side. Doing so requires invading the personal space of Ambrosius. She pulls out a book, and begins to read. Its leather cover is ancient, wrinkled, and stained red. "...that in times past, Hendrik looked longingly into her eyes. 'Yes, Carlotta,' he said. 'I will stay tonight.'
"'Oh, Hendrik! Then... my heart and bod--'"
Scathach screams and hides the book under her butt, while a massive claw of shadow rises up and pushes the car forward. "GO FASTER!! YOU HEARD NOTHING!!"
DG: Scathach has used her Tool Concealed Romance Text toward her party's challenge, Trail on Powdery Snow.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius almost doesn't make it to the vehicle - but, thankfully, Avril reaches out her hand. Ambrosius accepts it, using her help to pull himself into the vehicle.
"...You have my graaatitude..." He says to Avril with a nod, once he has himself situated.
It is pretty cramped, but he can handle it - more importantly, when the scene shifts, they find themselves in a snowy field... and chasing after them is a disc-shaped machine with a light on it.
It's also very determined, chasing after them at a high speed. Ambrosius frowns for a moment.
"...I can... reeespect its teeenacity... but we cannot allow it to catch us..." He decides. He leans out the window - partially to make more room for Scathach as she fishes through her bookbag and partially so he can aim better - with one hand raised. Water begins to swirl and converage around it before being launched at the evil robot puck. The water scatters around it, freezing almost instantly into a wall that might at least slow it down.
...Or give it a cool ramp to jump off. Either or.
His usual stoic expression does not change in the slightest as Scathach reads from the wrong book. It comes in handy. He does, however, glance briefly up at Rebecca and Lydia on the roof.
DG: Ambrosius has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Trail on Powdery Snow.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
'Human', Scathach insists, repeatedly, once she climbs into their increasingly crowded vehicle. Avril simply regards her a moment as she climbs aboard and considers the young woman's ears and fangs.
"Oh, I see," she remarks, ultimately.Yue says they should hold onto something. Avril has all of a moment to look about her, including down at her lap where the Medium still rests.
Of note: the blinking outline surrounding a complete lack of things that would consitute 'a thing that could be held onto'.
So she does what is perhaps the next best thing and holds onto the nearest thing to her.
This is Ambrosius. Hopefully Ambrosius has something to hold onto. The car, moments after, slides into a drift.
"Are we... on ice? But we were in a city only moments ago, were we not?" Avril remarks, once righting herself in her seat.
There is a pause.
"A tome? Oh, perhaps it might tell us where to go. I do not think we should permit that thing to strike us--"
There is silence thereafter from Avril's particular position within the car.
"...Ah."
She is reminded of a particular, best-forgotten book in another ruin on a different continent, a long while ago.
The Medium, mercifully, still in her grasp where it rests in her lap, chooses this moment to shine as Lucadia's power is invoked.
....Even for an ancient queen, some moments are just too awkward to remark upon.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, Trail on Powdery Snow.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
"... ... ... ..." Lydia's explanation truly takes a while for her to comprehend. She's not stupid, she's just preoccupied, and then suddennly her head snaps to attention on Lydia, "WAIT WHAT WAS- GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING?! SOLARIS DID WHAT TO YOU? A PROGRAM THAT DID WHAT? Oh my gosh Lydie-!"
Rebecca bangs the rooftop as the maniacal part of the 'maniacal and precise' jolts her to the side. "Hey-! KEEP IT STEADY!"
Then realizing that there's an easier way to do that, she puts her hand on the roof and ducks back through the portal. "Are you trying to get us all killed!?"
Before she pops back out. And a wave of cold hits her. Along with a sight of Sirens and lights.
"F-F-F-"
Rebecca goes back through the portal rubbing her arms, and suddenly she announces to the group her F-Bomb.
"-FREEZING! What is going on out there!? Something's on our tail!"
Patting her arms. "... can't let a little cold bother me." Suddenly Scathach's reading reaches Rebecca, and she suddenly glances at Avril, going bright red within the space of a few seconds. A flush that certainly isn't coming from the cold alone. "... ... ...WELL-! I think I'm all warmed up now. Best... get back out there." She squeaks out.
This time Rebecca doesn't brace herself on the seat, as she goes through the Sunroof. Climbing up on top of it. She crouches down. Then shrugs her shoulders, and puts her head back through the roof.
"Hey Driver - Count to Ten. Tap on the brakes - then gun it immediately."
Rebecca then pulls herself back on the roof.
And slides down the back of the vehicle to point the Portal Gun Lydia gave her at the rear bumper.
She then points it at the ground in a spot where the snow has been cleared by their snow hijinks.
"Cold cold cold..."
Rebecca says as she climbs back up and tries to brace herself on the back of it.
As she mutters to herself, rubbing a cheek with a glove. "... warm yourself up thinking about a poem you're gonna write after this is over."
Assuming Yue actually does it, then the moment she brakes, all the puck like devices trying to tailgate them might just crash against the portal the back bumper is sporting. And erupt out of a hole in the ground.
Possibly sending everyone that almost struck them skywards... like one great Roomba geyser.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has used her Tool Portal Guns toward her party's challenge, Trail on Powdery Snow.
<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.
Yue barely tunes into Lydia's story and it makes her head spin, so she compartmentialises and pushes that on to one side. There's a lot of silent sympathy there, though.
She does ask if there is another name for them, though.
"... I do not know... people?" Yue admits she doesn't have quite the answer. "What is the difference?"
It's helping her focus on her driving, perhaps, because Scathach has a tome of power to identify what their aggressor is--
"... oh. Oh," Yue pauses for a flat, long moment. "That is issue sixteen, is it not? Or was that after Henrik becomes a vamp--"
She has no time to get confirmation, because the shadow-claw actually sends them leaping up wards which--
WEOOOOOO...
--turns off their assailant. "Hmm...? Is it detecting our presence on the ground?"
*SLAM*
She lands again and, sure enough, the puck from hell begins to chase after them once more. There's a grimace, but she finds the escape a bit easier than it should be, perhaps because of Lucadia's Medium on Varil's lap.
Yue spares a moment to explain, "That panel has a series of fabricated situations, typically for training. ... though I believe over time it may have become overly aggressive."
Rebecca issues a plan to her, though. Count to ten, then tap on the brakes... then gun it. "All right."
One... two...
...
-There-!
She feathers the brakes-- the car skittering for a moment as Rebecca employs the one rule true for both car and puck alike:
Speedy thing in, speedy thing out.
"... good thinking, Rebecca," Yue answers. But what awaits them next?
=========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>=========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Trail on Powdery Snow *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The sensation of cold is palpable as the mysterious panel shifts you to a
powdery snowfield. A glowing goal exists at the other end, separated by
several platforms with strange discs with sirens upon it.
The danger is quickly visited when you land on the same platform as one of
them and--
!! WeeeOOOOweeeOOOweeeOOOO !!
AAAAH it's /tearing/ through snow to you at /high/ speeds! Jump-- ...
And it stays dormant once more. But land once more in its vicinity and--
!! WeeeOOOOweeeOOOweeeOOOO !!
AAAAH NOT AGAIN
Perhaps... you will have to somehow circumnavigate around these
hyperactive... vacuum cleaners? Floor pucks? What is the purpose of these
mysterious machines? The ancients are -weird-.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHkZejYxTuM )
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Slow=============================================
====================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- - Round 2 *>==================== =====================< Results - Trail on Powdery Snow >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sea Medium 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yue Rohay 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Cute Scrunchie 3 Agility Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scathach 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Concealed Romance Text 3 Agility Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Radical Skates 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rebecca Streisand 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Portal Guns 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ambrosius 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Hesitate(1)|Slow(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Ambrosius has drawn a new Challenge.
=========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>========================= ======================<* CHALLENGE - Reborn Mechanics *>====================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The panel doesn't seem to discriminate from areas you've been to prior -- as you find yourself in another segment of the Central Highway from before. There are no terrified motorists to avoid this time, however you are up face to face with one of those enormous bee assault crafts, the Bee Blader. It gleams and launches a violent spray of vulcan fire -- and also drops reinforcements in the form of white pods that sprout legs! You'll have to take it down quick before you get overwhelmed... And also mind that it doesn't land and take out the highway you're on either! (BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuRBS8MlSDQ ) =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Reckless, Maim=================================
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
They successfully manage to escape from the mechanical puck! As they drive onward, the chill air begins to dissipate. Suddenly, it becomes hot - incredibly hot, even, as they find themselves returning once more to the highway are they found the vehicle in.
It's a pretty familiar scene - vehicles fleeing from an enormous assault bee... except, this time, they're one of the vehicles fleeing!
"...Be careful..." Ambrosius warns to those on the roofs. He leans out again, drawing his revolver. The Bee Blader launches vulcan fire, and begins to drop white pods with legs. Ambrosius frowns.
"...I shall deal... with the reiiinforcements..." He states. He takes aim with Conversator and then fires, trying to eliminate each pod with a single shot.
A part of him is disappointed that this is just a simulation. He wouldn't mind examining the scrap.
DG: Ambrosius has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Reborn Mechanics.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"You were just defining me as human! You just defined me human now! You defined yourself as human too! I'm not human!! Beastman or cyborg-senpai. Those are the options!!" She doesn't argue about Scathach being human or not because...she doesn't care!! But she is just pointing it out.
"Uhhh back to the BEEginning Rebecca? Well, it's kind of an awkward story uhhh what did I say? Man I don't even remember exactly uhhh well I was captured by Solaris when I left home the first time and they turned me into robots and apparently I am all robots now? Not like every single robot but I am made out of robots? Which is why I'm like all existential and shit--"
She leaps away from the vulcan fire, hovering into the air for a moment before attempting to swoop forward and swing her blade at it! Her blade which is twisting out of her arm from within.
She takes three quick swipes, WHOLLY INTENT on carving a Z in there!
Why a Z? IT STANDS FOR ZOO which is how HER CAPTIVITY FEELS LIKE SOMETIMES.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Rachiel Medry Is Doing Her Best toward her party's challenge, Reborn Mechanics.
<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.
Yue's expression wilts again as the scene changes back towards the burning city. She flits a spare glance towards a road sign written in Zeboim, murmuring, "Here again... are you trying to tell me something?"
She shakes her head, starting to sweat as the Bee Blader chases down after her. "Tch...! Hang on!" She jukes the car left, right, but the weight of their vehicle is undoubtedly heavier than the turn speed of gatling gun fire. Fortunately, Ambrosius is on the job, eliminating some of the pods.
Lydia comments on how she isn't human. There's a sad crack of a smile even as she exerts effort to turn the steering wheel. "'Veruni'... 'human'..."
She snorts to herself, shaking her head. Her eyes widen as she notices that she can't steer to avoid damage any further, before--
*RUMBLE*
...
...
A Friend-shaped Golem has emerged from the ground to block machine gun fire behind them.
Yue peeks at the rear view mirror and her head hangs low.
"Promme... did you make the right choice after all?"
DG: Yue Rohay has used her Tool An Old Golem Core toward her party's challenge, Reborn Mechanics.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
Rebecca gets dot eyes for a moment as she tries to fathom what Lydia went through. And then after a moment, she waves her arms together. "... Okay - how about this. How about we sit down someplace later. We'll get a bite to eat and you tell me the whole story. And... we'll talk all of it through."
-=-=-
Rebecca just fingerguns at the Pucks. "Bingo!" Before turning to the car and holding up two fingers in a V to look through the back windshield with a triumphant smile.
Then the atmosphere goes from freezing to sweating in about five seconds flat. "This place is nuts!" She complains, panting as she squints into the haze of a heat mirage.
And then...
There is an enormous beecraft, spitting fire at them out of a Vulcan cannon.
"Oh come on!"
Popping off a few shots, she eventually tries to invoke her Medium.
Ley energy rises up around her...
Wind
Fire
Earth
Water
Wind...
The car is moving so fast that the leyline energy they're on keeps shifting around her like a strobe light, and the light around Rebecca just keeps shifting like the Medium is confused what energy to blast it with.
"This again! Just - act like I'm not moving - and not on a leypoint - blast them with pure energy-!"
Easy enough for her to say. The Medium keeps blinking back and forth with light.
Frustrated - she announces, "Oh FINE - MATERIAL-!"
And suddenly blast after blast of prismatic energy erupts from the sky ahead to slam into the Bee Blader.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has used her Tool Sky Medium toward her party's challenge, Reborn Mechanics.
<Pose Tracker> Scathach has posed.
"What! I did not!" Scathach grumbles back at Lydia.
She frowns, arms folded, and she looks rather flustered. The Veruni woman glances sharpoly out the side as the car picks up pace. Then, though, her coal black eyes catch the bee. Ambrosius leans out -- and that makes Scathach think. She reaches into her book bag, and pulls out a book.
This time, she looks at the spine. She ducks low -- a bullet slams down near her, and she flips a couple of pages. It might look calm. But, she glances warily at Avril.
She saw that look earlier.
Then, she says: "Ah-ha!" Then, Scathach pokes her head out, and holds a hand out. This is when the shadows swirl, pouring up from the ground, and form an enormous shadowy hawkmoth. The huge moth sweeps down, trying to slam bodily into the mechanized bee.
"Gwahaha!" she laughs. "My portable library... cannot be stopped! And contains NO EMBARASSING BOOKS! WHATSOEVER!"
She gives Avril another look.
DG: Scathach has used her Tool Advanced Warfare Text toward her party's challenge, Reborn Mechanics.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Hopefully this isn't some sort of near-blasphemous moment for Ambrosius, all considering.
But yes, the once-and-future-queen of the Veruni is currently holding onto him for dear life. Perhaps using the seatbelts might be a better investment?
Assuming there was time to do that, that is. As the car slides across the ice, the evasion with the puck-like thing becomes increasingly precarious--
Until Rebecca intervenes as only she can.
Literally: she's the only one with guns like that.
After the tension eases, Avril settles back into her seat, her gaze on the road ahead.
"I see," she says, on the matter of this being some sort of training program. "So what we are seeing and experiencing now is not truly occuring?"
Another moment passes after that.
"Rebecca? Might it be better if you were to come inside?" It had seemed cold out there...
Warm air billows through the sunroof just moments after that. "...It appears to have no set temperature," she observes, helpfully.
Just as a bullet arcs through the air, from a nearby bee.
There is time enough to share a completely nonjudgemental look* with Scathach as Avril reacts in the way only she can:
Which is to say she rises from her seat and squirms up through the sun roof to take position atop the car in a way that is probably not particularly wise but certainly looks dramatic, particularly after the hot wind sends her long hair aflutter.
"Rebecca-- ah," she starts, stopping up short when she realizes what the would-be circus performer is busy doing. "Lydia, please let me know if it turns its attention this way!"
Which is when Avril narrows her eyes and joins that explosion array of Material bursts with her own shots of icy magic.
*(...not really)
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Reborn Mechanics.
=========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>========================= ======================<* CHALLENGE - Reborn Mechanics *>====================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The panel doesn't seem to discriminate from areas you've been to prior -- as you find yourself in another segment of the Central Highway from before. There are no terrified motorists to avoid this time, however you are up face to face with one of those enormous bee assault crafts, the Bee Blader. It gleams and launches a violent spray of vulcan fire -- and also drops reinforcements in the form of white pods that sprout legs! You'll have to take it down quick before you get overwhelmed... And also mind that it doesn't land and take out the highway you're on either! (BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuRBS8MlSDQ ) =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Reckless, Maim=================================
====================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- - Round 3 *>==================== ========================< Results - Reborn Mechanics >======================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yue Rohay 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass An Old Golem Core 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scathach 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Advanced Warfare Text 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rachiel Medry Is Doing Her Best 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rebecca Streisand 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sky Medium 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ambrosius 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Fright(1)|Hesitate(2)|Maim|Reckless(2)|Slow(1) Effects: Embolden(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Not blasphemy, perhaps. But, it is definitely not one of the things Ambrosius thought would happen today. It's... a strange feeling.
"I suspect... it may have... at some point in the past..." Ambrosius comments, with a glance toward Avril. There was Yue's comment after all, though he doesn't mention The car swerving makes it difficult for Ambrosius to land a shot on the pods, but his aim is good enough that it doesn't matter. The problem is that there's a lot of them, and he spends the entire fight dealing with them. But then again, someone had to.
The others fair better than he does. As the Bee Blader goes for another burst of vulcan fire, a golem appears to intercept the attack! The bullets bounce off into the horizon with the harmless 'plink' noise of ineffectiveness.
And then, the others unleash their attacks before it can re-aim. Lydia slices a Z into the machine as Rebecca calls upon Solais Emsu, raining blast after blast of prismatic energy down upon it. A huge hawkmouth, born from converged shadows follows next, slamming into it. The machine crackles with energy, then, falling from the sky. It looks like its about to fall toward them and explode, taking them with it... but, icy magic from Avril causes it to freeze solid before it can detonate, shattering harmlessly as it collides with the ground.
DG: Scathach has drawn a new Challenge.
==========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>========================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Departure *>=========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- A basic stage of panels and platforms is the backdrop of your next challenge, courtesy of the mysterious panel. And equally mysteriously, you can sense the flow of gravity altering and shifting, your very body becoming lighter. The panel chirps... Challenge: WALL-072 Cleared Clear Attempts: 182 Glowing arrows point up the walls, suggesting that you climb -- now possible with altered gravity -- and even hop from one to vertical pane to another. During some stretches, you can even wall-run for a while, with your newfound mastery of space! ... You get the feeling this is a favourite challenge of the laboratory's intended inhabitant ... (BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5QvALaSp-U ) =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Scathach has posed.
Scathach watches as ice freezes the bee drone over. There is a moment where her eyes narrow; where she looks a touch more serious. Maybe, she thinks, the rumors about this one are true. But what would that mean, really? The sorceress seems to tense for a moment, as their car rushes down the highway.
And then it slows to a stop. The reason is that a wall awaits them. Arrows point upward, and the doors to the car slide open with a little 'pop.' When they do, the arrows begin to glow gold.
And panels appear, with a flash. Scathach frowns -- and then she stands up, and the dread tome that she sat on falls open. It has interstitial artwork on the chapter. "GWAAAAAAAAAH!" Scathach observes, thoughtfully.
She grabs the book, and then a pillar of shadow forms. It builds upon itself, one after the other, and begins carrying her upward.
"All of you better hurry!" she yells. "Th-the dread truths of the night will haunt your dreams if you fall behind or... just move, damn it!"
DG: Scathach has used her Tool Concealed Romance Text toward her party's challenge, Departure.
<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.
Finally, finally, their crazy ride comes to a stop.
Yue lets out a faint exhale of breath for a moment, the jangle of chains rattling as she steps on out and gives the poor car a pat on the hood. "... thank you," she speaks to it. "You were a fine ride."
She's careful to pick up those flowers once more. She looks to Avril and Rebecca, and now that they have a chance to converse, she murmurs, "... do not worry about anything, by the way. Today, I am here to pay respects to a dear old friend."
She lifts up towards the direction of the arrows as--
'GWAAAAAAH!'
Yue stares towards the... interesting spread and murmurs, "Ah... perhaps..." A pause. "Well. They are... very flexible."
She clears her throat, then leaps up as she follows the pattern and proceeds onward.
Not once does a single petal of flower go.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Sure thing! It's coming back no--oh nevermind it's dead!" Lydia shouts. At least she leaves Scathe (that's what she's callign her now in her head) alone on the matter of embarrassing books. Lydia knows what it's like to be horny and honestly she now feels like she has evolved--not past being horny or anything, but is more capable of hiding the power of her horniness! So in this way, maybe she can be a mentor or Scathe who is clearly hiding books about things one tends to be HORNY ABOUT.
She looks pretty smug for a moment before adding, "Yeah--yeah sure we can talk. I've missed all of you." Her cheeks silver a bit but she tries to be cool about it BECAUSE SHE IS THE CYBORG-SENPAI now. She has to be strong and manage her libido properly...so that Scathe has someone to look up to while mastering her own!
"Huh??" She asks of Yue. That's about as much she understands right now. She frankly sounds a bit lost.
She still has her wings out (she never had opportunity to...not have them out) but she plays through the climbing walls normally, hopping from one to another cheerfully because this is HER JAM.
"Wheeeeee!" She cheers, starting to really enjoy herself.
"Can I call you Scathe? As a nickname? Are we at nicknames yet?" She asks. "It sounds cool."
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Radical Skates toward her party's challenge, Departure.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
"It would have been more comfortable." Rebecca finally indicates to Avril, "Though..." She admits with a grin, "Riding on this thing was pretty thrilling."
And she's supposed to be the responsible one-! Yet she's also an acrobat after all.
Her expression gets more somber though as Yue finally says what her purpose here is. Lowering her voice, as she crouches down on the vehicle, "I'll believe you... and keep to the truce. So long as you make sure the others behave around Avril, out of respect to your old friend."
She may be looking Scathach's way as she says so. Maybe she doesn't know she's a Veruni but her index of suspicion is dialed up pretty high when anyone comes near them and puts on a pretending to be human act.
"Hm. Guess it's the adrenaline but I'm feeling pretty light..."
Rebecca briefly is proud that her training has paid off enough... but then she actually hops off the car - and finds herself falling slowly to the ground..
"Well - hey - that was pretty fun actually."
And lands lightly.
Considering the possibilities, she looks over at Avril, as her face splits into a grin.
"Race everyone to the top?"
Rebecca runs at the wall, and with a hop, finds herself suddenly running straight up it, before kicking off into a flip.
Then back and forth between it and a vertical pane, before running sideways across the wall to another section.
Rebecca shows off that with her acrobat training that she could probably be a protagonist in a platforming game fairly easily.
"Missed you too Lydie!" Rebecca says as she waves at her - upside down in the middle of a slow motion somersault.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Departure.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
'Oh nevermind it's dead', Lydia observes. Avril simply watches on cooly as the bee machine explodes in a dramatic detonation. "Yes, it certainly seems it has," she remarks, keeping her position atop the roof. Though she at least eventually does crouch, in abeyance to physics and their current momentum.
At long last the car does come to a stop.
Avril's gaze meet's Yue's own soon after she hops from the rooftop of the car, battered and damaged from its long service in crossing the hazards that had been scattered in their wake.
"...I understand. Thank you," she says, ducking her head and upper body in what may be a formal but appropriately upper class bow.
Though her gaze may ask in silence soon after that: 'an old friend'?
"...Where shall we go from here? It does not seem that there is a path to follow," she observes, until she glances upwards. "Oh, I see. So we are meant to--"
She barely even has the Medium in her grasp when there is a terrible scream.
Avril's gaze falls on the artwork on display via the fallen-open book.
Slowly she lifts her hand to cover her mouth and then averts her gaze.
Are there... things that can embarrass even an ice queen?
(yes)
Rebecca's intrusion into the goings-on is a welcome one. She smiles, even in spite of recent embarrassments. "Indeed. Let us see which of us can reach the top first. Lucadia!" she calls out, the Medium shimmering.
* Avril used Jump!
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, Departure.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius is somewhat glad to finally be leaving the vehicle. It was... a little cramped. He looks to Yue for a moment as she thanks it.
"...Iiindeed." He agrees with a nod toward the vehicle - and then toward Yue again as she explains that she won't be causing trouble today.
"Iiindeed. Siiimilarly, I am here to accompany her..." Ambrosius explains. He didn't know this friend of Yue's, but he'd still support her.
Meanwhile, when Scathach stands and a certain tome falls out into the open, Ambrosius politely looks away and instead turns his attention to the challenge before them.
"...Hm." He mutters. This...is a problem. He is definitely not going to race anyone, and will be most likely the last one up, even with the reduced gravity.
DG: Ambrosius has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Departure. DG: Yue Rohay has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Departure.
==========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>========================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Departure *>=========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- A basic stage of panels and platforms is the backdrop of your next challenge, courtesy of the mysterious panel. And equally mysteriously, you can sense the flow of gravity altering and shifting, your very body becoming lighter. The panel chirps... Challenge: WALL-072 Cleared Clear Attempts: 182 Glowing arrows point up the walls, suggesting that you climb -- now possible with altered gravity -- and even hop from one to vertical pane to another. During some stretches, you can even wall-run for a while, with your newfound mastery of space! ... You get the feeling this is a favourite challenge of the laboratory's intended inhabitant ... (BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5QvALaSp-U ) =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
=====================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- - Round 4 *>===================== ============================< Results - Departure >============================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sea Medium 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yue Rohay 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scathach 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Concealed Romance Text 3 Agility Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Radical Skates 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca Streisand 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ambrosius 5 --(5)--> 10 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 60 --(25)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(1)|Maim|Reckless(1)|Treasure(1) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has passed this challenge! The party gained 25 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Scathach has posed.
Scathach, sadly, doesn't register Lydia as a senpai. She does register her as potentially cybernetic, but 'cyborg' doesn't seem to exempt her from a judgment of being human.
"We are absolutely not remotely at nicknames," Scathach says, with a groan. "You may call me Scathach."
Scathach rises up on her pillar. For good measure, the pillow of shadow shifts to be a gnarled and twisted thing, stylized to look something like a rotting tree. They all rise, in their own way -- though Ambrosius lags behind. One platform flashes away, under his feet, part way through...
But Scathach makes a shadowy hand appear, and lift him the rest of the way. They land on a platform, then...
And whatever awaits next!
DG: Rebecca Streisand has drawn a new Challenge.
=========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>=========================
===========================<* CHALLENGE - Crash! *>===========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Through the almost-sacred hallway, you come across an ancient laboratory, as
tall as it is wide; hexagonal in shape, it has been tossed into complete
disarray over the ages. Computer panels, server racks and other such
technological apertures are strewn about the room, little better than debris
and junk now.
But before you can examine much in the room--
/
_ _ _ _____ _____ __ _ _ __ _ ____ /
\ \ \ /_____\ \_____\ \\ \ \ \\ \ / / ___
\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ --*----
\_/ \_/ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ \ \\ \___/ \
___________________________________________ / \
/
--a great pistoning noise and a release valve of steam accompanies a
rupturing tremble of the earth. A massive cylindrical chamber emerges, and a
giant, stocky Reaverbot emerges from within!
(Image: https://i.imgur.com/9tfWZiB.jpg )
The Golem's sensors lock onto you. A thin, trailing laser sizzles across the
floor from its mouth to reach distant foes, as it attempts to seize and
throw whoever comes close enough to engage it in melee!
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGM1Qblq_08 )
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
"Aha! Wish I'd had something like that back home to train with!" Rebecca says gleefully as they reach the top.
Once at the top - it is not long before they come to a hallway.
And at the end of a hallway is an ancient looking laboratory that's mostly been ruined by the ages.
Obviously there's nothing to fear from this pl-
Except the moment anyone so much as twitches a pinky finger inside, a siren goes off.
BGM Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGbru76Hddg
A cylinder rises in the middle of the room, the glass shunts aside and...
It's a giant reaverbot of course.
Twin engines fire, as it hovers off the ground and approaches.
Immediately its hand grasps the side of the chamber it came from, glass shattering, and it throws it at the group.
While a red light on its forehead emits a laser that begins to chase people around the room.
Those grabby hands make it look like engaging it in melee MIGHT not be the best idea. Maybe.
So after the party rolls initiative and spends several rounds fighting this thing...
... we cut to where Rebecca has her back pressed to another ruined laboratory cylinder, ducking her head down as a laser burns through the cylinder overhead.
"You know - compared to everything else we've been through... this is shockingly straight forward."
Rolling out of cover, she invokes her medium. Ley energy rises around her - and the debris suddenly rises up to blast the Reaverbot in a blast of stone and rock.
"Don't suppose anyone's got a good plan for taking one of these down?"
DG: Rebecca Streisand has used her Tool Sky Medium toward her party's challenge, Crash!.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius sends Scathach a nod of gratitude for the save.
They continue, and... of course there would be a Reaverbot at the end. Still, Ambrosius finds himself somewhat relieved that this is something he can effectively deal with.
"...Agreed..." Ambrosius says with a nod, as Rebecca comments on how straight forward this is. And as for a plan...
"...I shall...serve as a diiistraction. Utilize the opportunity...to vaaanquish it..." He says. He strides out from behind cover, then, his revolver drawn. He takes aim and fires repeatedly. The shots blink off, but they're not meant to do damage - just distract it.
But, right as the Golem turns its attention onto him and is about to fire his laser...
A woman dressed in blue, wearing silver armor and a horned helmet that hides her eyes joins the fray - dropping from the ceiling foot-first to bring one of her bladed boots down on one of the Golem's arms before jumping back out of grabbing range. She may be recognizable to some as one of the mechanical Scutum soldiers utilized in certain ancient ruins, but she acts a fair bit differently than any they've ever seen.
"...Minerva." Ambrosius greets with a nod. She sends him only a nod in response. There is still a fight to be concluded, after all, and she was ever the serious type.
DG: Ambrosius has used his Tool Minerva toward his party's challenge, Crash!.
<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.
"I will. But I do not have to ask Ambrosius to behave," answers Yue softly, having full confidence in her friend. She spares another glance towards Lydia as she and Rebecca pact to talk later, chuckling faintly. Well, it is nice to still have those looking after you still...
She looks to Rebecca when she mentions she's feeling light, though.
"Take a moment... there is a kind of vertigo involved with these devices," Yue responds with some distaste, perhaps if she's feeling it herself.
She's not quite as invulnerable as some other Veruni, after all.
Avril bows to her in understanding, but there is a quietness in that gaze that she catches.
"... figures from the past have a habit of turning up, one after another," is what she answers.
But eventually, they come onto the end and...
...
Yue sucks in a moment as she murmurs, looking towards the laboratory. "... I have returned, Sio--"
*RUMBLE*
A siren goes off, and the Reaverbot emerges. She scowls for a moment as she says, "That is not a combat purpose model... why is it set to attack us?"
There's no time to question it. Rebecca asks if anyone has a plan. Ambrosius serves as a distraction, with Minerva assisting as well.
"There is an override," Yue reveals as she darts across a criss-crossing laser and reaches for a panel. "I will see if it is still operable. It will be far less dangerous than trying to destroy it."
DG: Yue Rohay has used her Tool An Old Golem Core toward her party's challenge, Crash!.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Okay but I don't know if you respect me enough in order for me to respect you enough to go along with that request because of all the times you called me human even after I said I didn't like it so maybe I'll use it anyway because TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY but I'd rather get along so maybe I'll use your name and you can not call me human?" She doesn't quit manage a SCATHING tone honestly but she seems serious about her RACIAL DESIGNATION.
She turns in midair to face the golem. A thin trailing laser sizzles across the floor and scrapes at her. Lydia spins out of the way in midair and continues to hover their for a moment as the gems along her body suddenly shine brightly.
A good plan? Lydia studies the golem. The room doesn't have TOO much room to maneuver in but--
"I have a plan," Lydia says as she channels the medium power and fires a giant death laser at the machine.
"Hit it real hard!"
MEANWHILE AT THE LYDIA CONTROL STATION.
Rachiel palms her face.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Rachiel Medry Is Doing Her Best toward her party's challenge, Crash!.
<Pose Tracker> Scathach has posed.
The Golem appears, and Scathach's footsteps slow. She glances at Lydia -- makes a bit of a face -- and then sighs. "Yes, yes, fair enough--now, perhaps--oh, hell, it has a laser!"
Her nose wrinkles at Rebecca's question.
"One I'll have to devise!" Scathach answers Rebecca after a second. She slides her book she would rather not think about into her bag; instead, she pulls out the tome she had used before, flipping through it. Her eyes, briefly, are on the Golem. Its laser scorches the ground, but slams into a dome of liquid shadow that rises up over her.
It holds the laser at bay -- and as the dome fades, she stands there, flipping a few pages. Then, Scathach looks up.
"I think--yes. One of these will suffice," she says.
Scathach's hand extends outward. Shadows surge from across the ground -- leaking and dropping away from cracks in the ground, from those others cast, from nooks and crannies. They twist -- and then the mandibles of an oversized insect-like creature appear, and slam into the Golem from each side.
"Yue! You better move quickly!" Scathach yells, as her shadow-mandibles try to hold the Golem in place for a moment.
DG: Scathach has used her Tool Advanced Warfare Text toward her party's challenge, Crash!.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"...Yes, it seems that way," she says, quite simply, to Yue.
What else can be expressed, right now?
Avril ascends to the top, light still shimmering after her once she lands before even that much sparkle yet in the air fades away. "That was enjoyable," she remarks to her friend. "I suppose it makes sense that whoever else used this training space would have used it so often."
If only Avril knew.
She walks along with the others, alert but hardly on edge, now. "If this is a training space, once we reach the end--"
A siren cracks through the air then, as if to, in one go, both undercut what she had said and add support to it.
A laser slices through the air as the Reaverbot makes itself known. Avril scatters, breaking off from the rest as she tries to -- hurriedly -- consider her options.
The beam trails after her as she goes.
Melee is risky. She needs more time now than she has for other maneuvers. If she could but obtain some space in which to breathe--
Cut to, a few rounds in, Avril similarly crouched low behind some apparatus in the room, her gaze quickly walking the walls and ceiling. If there were some way to apply direct force here...
She reaches into her wrap then, a sudden idea settling over her. It is a bit of a long shot, but perhaps...
She draws forth the strange button she had taken off of one Solarian researcher ages ago, a certain man named Castle, and presses it.
What she needs right now is a distraction. Like the sudden fist of an angry god.
Something that will allow her to then apply her magical arts without taking an oversized laser beam in retaliation.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Crash!.
=========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>=========================
===========================<* CHALLENGE - Crash! *>===========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Through the almost-sacred hallway, you come across an ancient laboratory, as
tall as it is wide; hexagonal in shape, it has been tossed into complete
disarray over the ages. Computer panels, server racks and other such
technological apertures are strewn about the room, little better than debris
and junk now.
But before you can examine much in the room--
/
_ _ _ _____ _____ __ _ _ __ _ ____ /
\ \ \ /_____\ \_____\ \\ \ \ \\ \ / / ___
\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ --*----
\_/ \_/ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ \ \\ \___/ \
___________________________________________ / \
/
--a great pistoning noise and a release valve of steam accompanies a
rupturing tremble of the earth. A massive cylindrical chamber emerges, and a
giant, stocky Reaverbot emerges from within!
(Image: https://i.imgur.com/9tfWZiB.jpg )
The Golem's sensors lock onto you. A thin, trailing laser sizzles across the
floor from its mouth to reach distant foes, as it attempts to seize and
throw whoever comes close enough to engage it in melee!
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGM1Qblq_08 )
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
====================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- - Round 5 *>==================== =============================< Results - Crash! >============================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yue Rohay 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass An Old Golem Core 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scathach 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Advanced Warfare Text 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rachiel Medry Is Doing Her Best 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rebecca Streisand 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sky Medium 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ambrosius 10 --(0)--> 10 Pass Minerva 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Avril Vent Fleur 85 --(35)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Injure(2)|Maim|Slow(2) Effects: Embolden(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Avril Vent Fleur has successfully explored Ruins of Lab -Tishrei-!
=========================<* Ruins of Lab -Tishrei- *>========================= ============<* CHALLENGE - Result of Mission IV - You Learned! *>============= |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- With your concentrated assault, the Golem stops, then goes 'bweep' as it announces, "RETURNING TO HOUSEHOLD TASKS..." and disappears down a capsule chute. A panel nearby shimmers to life and a jingle starts playing: (BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRSDe2qCaWs ) = RESULT = ------------------------------------ Mission GREAT! 20p CLEAR TIME 4'51"45 18p ENEMY 66 20p DAMAGE 19 15p RETRY 1 0p ELF 2 13p YOUR CODENAME IS: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TJZh4qGGgaZrlp8zVv--sxbMPtlfV66FOAFuVomdu8s/edit#gid=0 (Follow the link to find instructions to generate your own codename!) While the contents of the screen are largely... gibberish to you (Elf? What if you brought some elven compatriots with you? Would that have changed anything?), the machine whirrs as an old data disk pops free of the dispenser slot. A certain black-haired Reploid in a headband and gi appears on screen, facing a training dummy. She cups her hands together and tries to unleash power from her palms, but nothing keeps happening. She keeps trying until she gets frustrated and gives up. The only clue is a cryptic message: V \ > + PUNCH Can you master this ancient code where this Reploid clearly failed? Hadoucan where she can't? (OOC: You acquire a data disk that can be used to learn an ancient Reploid's TEC Deathblow! The specifics are up to you, given the video showed nothing, but usually involves... some kind of fireball. Maybe. Potential flags include Brutal, Smite or Break.) =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
Shadow Mandibles Clamp down from Scathach. And Scathach has an uncomfortable experience of a laser beginning to slowly swivel towards them. Now - granted the Shadow Mandibles are holding the Reaverbot so that it's laser is having a hard time pivoting, but this causes it to just come towards her REALLY slowly - like some Laser that a James Bond villain is using to try to execute the protagonist.
Closer. Closer.
Lydia counter-lasers it though long before it could ever reach it though and the Reaverbot rocks back in obvious pain.
"Ah yes. The Dean method." Rebecca mutters, "Least it doesn't involve Shovels."
And Avril hits a button.
The button is pressed. Fear... the Button.
A Golem Fist smashes out of the ground. The Reaverbot is crunched up against the ceiling.
Wobble. Wobble. It gets little mechanical canaries flying around its head.
Suddenly the Reaverbot shakes it off and lets out a horrible mechanical roar!
And that's the exact moment Yue finds the access panel, and taps the shutdown.
The Reaverbot simply powers down, and falls forward.
Suddenly a display pops up: RETURNING TO HOUSEHOLD TASKS
A chute pops up, at the top of the chute is a note which says: Garbage Incinerator And it SHUMPS down in that direction.
Fear not, it's not actually being incinerated, it's just its laser was literally being used to incinerate garbage.
A panel suddenly shimmers to life and tells them their score.
Rebecca leans over and whispers to Avril, "Do they think you're an Elf?" She then counts up the number of suspicious folks in the room. "Well if so maybe she's alright..." She sorta cants her head Scathach's way, since obviously if it thinks Avril is an Elf, then it means the other one is Yue.
What she doesn't know is that if that were true the Elf Score would be four.
Anyhow, it starts flipping pictures of each of them on the screen, from various shots of their antics throughout the course. Sort of like a highlight reel.
A prompt pops up under each of them.
HOMETOWN?
"Uh... Capo Bronco?"
Recorded.
Characters blip into place next to Rebecca doing a somersault - to form into her title beneath it.
"The Blobby Robo of WHAT?"
Rebecca puts her hand to her face and looks away like she's embarrassed, "Nngh... noone tell Dean. If that got back home that that was my Drifter name or something I think I'd die on the spot."
A Data Disk pops out from the dispenser. And it shows a Reploid on screen performing a chi fireball over and over, on repeat above the little highlight reel of each of them.
<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.
Yue lets out an exhausted exhale as the finally finds the override and the Golem returns to... household chores, of all things. "By the Guardians," she mutters blasphemy for her people. She gets up and walks towards the nearby dispenser and looks to Rebecca.
"Buggy Scrapper, hm...?" she chuckles and says, "Do not think too much of it."
She does pause, though, as she walks forward and finally, finally places those flowers down on the dispenser -- or rather, something that looks vaguely like an input slot.
"... I am sorry it took me so long to return. For the longest time, I thought I would not."
She closes her eyes, quiet for a moment.
"Marivel is doing just fine. Brighter than she was before. She has a large, found family that is doing her wonders. And though not all matters have been resolved... I have a feeling that she would do well."
A longer pause.
"Rest well, my dear old friend. Siobhan."
She half-turns and chuckles sadly, having no interest in the disk, but--
The screen warps just a little bit.
It almost looks like some of the pixels on it can say...
THANK YOU
...
But that's just a bug, isn't it? See you next time, Buggy Scrapper...