2020-04-26: The Edge of a Secret
- Log: The Edge of a Secret
- Cast: Seraph Harmaus, Seraph Ragnell, Kaguya, Layna Manydays, Gwen Whitlock
- Where: Sword Cathedral
- Date: April 26, 2020
- Summary: Entering into the Billion Blade Barrow in search of Filgaia's secrets, Kaguya and Harmaus bring a small crew along with them to navigate the fine-edged perils of the sword-strewn labyrinth.
DG: A party led by Seraph Harmaus is now entering Billion Blade Barrow. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - Guillotine Gate *>======================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Entry into the barrow is on its face a relatively simple task. The patterns on a series of engraved stone pillars need to be rotated to properly align the inscribed symbols. The trouble is that... They're jammed. They won't turn! But you've come all the way out into the middle of nowhere, you can't just leave! So if the puzzle won't budge, then you'll just need to... Move the gate by hand. The rust-covered, guillotine-like gate. To get it to move, you'll somehow need to find enough leverage to force the thing back into the stone ceiling. But be careful, slipping and letting the blade fall could be deadly...! =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Harmaus has posed.
"Jaeja," remarks the Seraph as he regards the gate before them, one hand on his hip.
It's quite a sight: the engraved pillars, the guillotine-like gate. The entryway into the location known as the Billion Blade Barrow is designed to impress.
Even if it is, by now, well-coated in rust and the like.
Very very coated in rust and very very very unmoving, even after earlier attempts to rotate the puzzle pillars. It seems that this was a puzzle, but it's the sort of puzzle that now...
"Is broken," Harmaus notes languidly, lifting both hands to shrug widely. "Always another problem, yes?"
After the agreement he had struck with Kaguya, weeks ago...
After that meeting with Clarine that had gone poorly...
If there was anything to be done about their mutual situation, it would come out of the secrets etched into ancient old places like this one. Of this, the Seraph was assured.
They hadn't come alone. A little asking around had found a few likely sorts, and the expedition had been off and for the ancient weapon burial site.
He regards the closed gate a little bit longer before sauntering over towards it and crouching before it.
"Yah well. If gate not opens, we opens it!"
He attempts to heft up the blade-like door from the floor level, just far enough that he can wedge a dagger into the gap.
The next steps are someone else's problem.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
The Billion Blade Barrow. If nothing else, it has an interesting name. Ragnell is probably not particularly welcome in a place that might be holy to one of the Guardians, but when has she ever let things like that stop her? And while she might prefer projectiles and explosives to blades, that doesn't mean she can't take a look around.
Mind, she'll have to get past the rusted guillotine gate first. But the fact that the gate is a guillotine is just incredibly funny to her.
"Sure, sure," she says agreeably when Harmaus-in-a-meat-puppet declares they'll just force their way open. "With the blade as rusted over as it is, it shouldn't even be all that hard."
Famous last words, maybe. Regardless, when her fellow Seraph wedges in a dagger, she strolls over and... doesn't follow up on that, but instead smashes the heel of her boot into the most rusted parts of the blade in an attempt to crack it apart.
Like Harmaus, the next step is someone else's problem. But at least there's options now!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Also there is a handing-out of delicious cheesecake bites, which are not only tasty but also have magic properties that allow one to engage in rough physical labor without tiring out as quickly. Handy!
DG: Seraph Ragnell has used her Tool Cheesecake Bites toward her party's challenge, Guillotine Gate.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya has posed.
Do people here even know what a 'billion' is?? Kaguya isn't so sure. Not the average citizen of the region, anyway. But, one suppoes they don't need to to say the words...
"Always something," Kaguya agrees good-naturedly, and then, "Ooh, cheesecake." What?? She's vegetarian, not vegan. Kaguya chomps that down first before she does much of anything else; after her snack, however, after Harmaus may have managed to wedge a knife in...
Only after that does Kaguya pull one of her box-bombs from her things, cracking open the case and pulling some coil from it. She leaves alone the green, glowing, menacing substance within for now. "Let's see, rust shouldn't impact this too much..."
She does some tinkering with a screwdriver, the bomb, and then the blade, "Who needs muscle when you have electromagnets?"
Beat, "Those are real good by the way."
DG: Kaguya has used her Tool Magnetic Resonance Bomb toward her party's challenge, Guillotine Gate.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
It's a wonder that Layna hasn't been down this way yet. A ruin dedicated to ancient weapons... she doesn't really put as much stock in them as others do, but it's still something of interest to her.
Still, whatever it was that kept her from it up to this point, she's here now. She stands with the others, eying the guillotine-like gate.
"Well, I'll give 'em this - they're sure dedicated to the aesthetic, aye?" Layna comments with a shrug, looking the blade up and down. She rolls her shoulders then and steps forward - but not before accepting a snack from Ragnell and sending a nod of approval her way.
"Aye, that's the spirit." She comments with a grin toward Harmaus before approaching the gate, gripping the safer portions of it before trying to heft it up with brute strength now that the others have helped provide some leverage.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Guillotine Gate.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Gwen is here. She's been here before, even. That was definitely not a fun time, but at least Zed's sword is better for it.
But maybe, while she's laying low, she might as well check to see if things are still okay. Her, and a bunch of acquaintances, including Harmaus, who actually was the reason she's here at all. Because she was asked.
Also, there's food!
Gwen takes one or two or three (whichever she's able to get away with) of Ragnell's cheesecake bites, making a singsong hum of approval as she pops one in. "Oh man, Ragnell, I didn't know you could make stuff like this! These are delicious!!"
She does not comment on the fact that there's a Kaguya here, or well, anything else, instead blithely strolling over to help Layna lift up the gate with her right hand.
.... oh wait did kaguya mention electromagnets
DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool ARM-ored Fist toward her party's challenge, Guillotine Gate. DG: Seraph Harmaus has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Guillotine Gate.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - Guillotine Gate *>======================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Entry into the barrow is on its face a relatively simple task. The patterns on a series of engraved stone pillars need to be rotated to properly align the inscribed symbols. The trouble is that... They're jammed. They won't turn! But you've come all the way out into the middle of nowhere, you can't just leave! So if the puzzle won't budge, then you'll just need to... Move the gate by hand. The rust-covered, guillotine-like gate. To get it to move, you'll somehow need to find enough leverage to force the thing back into the stone ceiling. But be careful, slipping and letting the blade fall could be deadly...! =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
======================<* Billion Blade Barrow - Round 1 *>====================== =========================< Results - Guillotine Gate >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Harmaus 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Ragnell 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Cheesecake Bites 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gwen Whitlock 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass ARM-ored Fist 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaguya 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Magnetic Resonance Bomb 3 Brute Effects: Rally -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Seraph Harmaus 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Injure(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Seraph Harmaus 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> Seraph Harmaus has posed.
If there are snacks being had, then, apparently, Harmaus is for having them.
Learning that he needed to feed the body had been at one point an interesting experience...
He's left the dagger and the gate behind, standing and watching, all the while chewing thoughtfully.
As Ragnell gives it the old boot, which makes the gate crack but not bend or break.
As Kaguya approaches and applies some sort of device to it. It begins to lift slightly moments after she activates the gadget.
"Is starborne magic?" he muses, having thankfully swallowed first.
By now, it's easy for Layna and Gwen to get their hands in safely and begin to lift the gate the hard way.
...Though...
Gwen just might briefly experience a slight... difficulty as the gate clicks up into the 'open' position. The device is still active.
Harmaus's comment on this turn of events is, again"
"...Jaeja."
DG: Kaguya has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Memories of the Forge *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Can any living thing truly claim to remember the moment of their birth? Perhaps not. Perhaps no living thing can. But weapons are not 'living.' The cataclysmic origin of each and every blade buried here has been scorched indelibly into their very being. All at once, the weapons around you bring that memory to the forefront of their artifact-souls and project it into the world. The temperature skyrockets, the air chokes with smoke and the scent of slag. The only way forward is to power through the crucible- or to shatter the blades and their memories with them. =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya has posed.
"Anybody can do it if they know the trick," Kaguya answers Harmaus, "But if you don't... it might as well be magic." She then grins at Layna. "They really are, huh? I kinda respect that."
She mysteriously says nothing to Gwen at first. Mysteriously...
Nah it's just that she has nothing to say until she grins at her in passing. "Glad you could give us a hand?" she offers, and then leads the way forward. Within a passageway they reach quickly, however, there is something of a test; weapons all around suddenly call out; their memories project forward, and heat boils over. Kaguya immediately pulls up her breathing mask, securing it over her mouth and nose, looking around with sweat already on her brow. "Ugh," she says, and looks around. "This is... Some ridiculous..."
Pause. "...No," she says. "No, it's forging..." It dawns on her, despite the discomfort and the smoke that starts to cloud the air. Ice begins to rime around Kaguya as something like Ether suffuses the air about her--she projects this cool field for herself and anyone who follows close, planning to just--
Walk through.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Sometimes a billion isn't a billion, but another word for 'a lot.' Certainly there are a lot of blades here.
Ragnell grins when Kaguya compliments her on her cheesecake. She cocks a fingergun at her and makes a 'ka-click' noise. "You know it, babe," she drawls. When Kaguya sets up a homemade magnet, though, she leans in in interest. "Huh! That's actually really somethin'!"
Layna and Gwen get grins too when they also compliment Ragnell on her travel snacks. "Now ya know," she says to the latter. "Snacks are *crucial* to the able traveler."
She moves out of the way of the others coming in to heft the gate up. And up it goes! "Nice work," she remarks. She glances at Harmaus, or rather his meat shell, though currently it's basically one and the same. Then onward she goes.
The way soon gives to the scorching memories of blades, from the time of their forging. Ragnell, being a Seraph, and in particular a Lightning Seraph, isn't affected by the heat like the others, but there's really something about this...
"Their memories..." she muses, looking up and around.
Then she pops another cheesecake bite and moves forward. More are likewise available for any who want more.
DG: Seraph Ragnell has used her Tool Cheesecake Bites toward her party's challenge, Memories of the Forge.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"That they are. You're not gonna get a crew going without proper feeding, that's for sure." She says with a nod of agreement. Gwen gets a thankful nod, too, when she too moves over to help lift up the gate, and with everyone's help they make it through! Layna dusts off her hands with a grin before looking back to Kaguya.
"Aye, me too." She agrees, then follows her foreward. The difficulties start almost immediately. From the weapons around them, thing sbegin to heat up, and the air becomes filled with smoke and the scent of slag. Layna frowns, pushing forward and covering her nose and mouth with her sleeve.
She glances toward Kaguya as she speaks, though. Forging, huh...? So anyone who wanted to go through here needed to be forged, just like the blades that rested here.
Kaguya uses sorcery to chill down the area, and Layna's not going to turn down the help. Fortunately, there's something she can contribute. She incants a quick spell, and suddenly a whirlwind starts to build around them, dispersing the smoke and the scent of slag away from them.
It should make it a bit safer for those of them who still need to breathe.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Memories of the Forge.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Harmaus has posed.
"Ah." Harmaus folds his arms over his chest, as if to consider this. "Magic that any can, else cannot," he muses, tilting his head to one side. "Then we learns it," he seems to conclude, though perhaps leaving the nuts and bolts of the matter to another time and place than 'right here'.
He meets that look from Ragnell, only to grin over at her toothily.
The air begins to grow uncomfortably warm. One of the drawbacks of having a body -- if he were 'himself', this would be but nothing.
Forging, Kaguya remarks.
"Ah. It melts and borns anew, yes?" remarks the Seraph-in-flesh, pausing a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Tcha. Not ready yet. We endures this!"
At which remark he pulls a flask from his belt and downs its contents in one go.
"...We endures this," repeats the Seraph, as he soldiers forward, walking the path with renewed vigor through the wind and cool air billowing through this space now.
DG: Seraph Harmaus has used his Tool Titanforce Extract toward his party's challenge, Memories of the Forge.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"N' theeerrreee we *ugh* go!" Gwen grins in trimuph as the gate clicks into position. Her celebration is cut short as she finds her ARM hand reluctant to leave the metal surface, causing her to tug away before the device is turned off.
Getting up from where she landed with the quiet embarrassment of a cat that's fallen off a shelf, she strides on along with the group as if nothing had happened.
...
..... She didn't remember this part if this place. Was it always this hot in the ruins, or was she just distracted?
Gwen rubs her arm over her sweaty face, her jumble of curled hair now stuck to her scalp from the moisture. The cool air, made possible by Layna and Kaguya's magic, certainly makes this bearable.
"So, uh," she starts, looking at Kaguya, "we just gotta forge on ahead then, eh?"
Her following silence is punctuated by an awkward cough, one hand snaking out to sample a few cheesecake bites from Ragnell.
"... I'll just clear a path... or somethin'..."
Because you never turn down food.
DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool ARM-ored Fist toward her party's challenge, Memories of the Forge. DG: Kaguya has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Memories of the Forge.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Memories of the Forge *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Can any living thing truly claim to remember the moment of their birth? Perhaps not. Perhaps no living thing can. But weapons are not 'living.' The cataclysmic origin of each and every blade buried here has been scorched indelibly into their very being. All at once, the weapons around you bring that memory to the forefront of their artifact-souls and project it into the world. The temperature skyrockets, the air chokes with smoke and the scent of slag. The only way forward is to power through the crucible- or to shatter the blades and their memories with them. =Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
======================<* Billion Blade Barrow - Round 2 *>====================== ======================< Results - Memories of the Forge >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Harmaus 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Titanforce Extract 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Ragnell 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Cheesecake Bites 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gwen Whitlock 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass ARM-ored Fist 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaguya 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Seraph Harmaus 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Injure(1) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Seraph Harmaus 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> Kaguya has posed.
"Hey, thanks," Kaguya answers Ragnell, pleased. She is pretty happy with that particular bit of science after all. Particularly given that it helped get them into this interesting place, and from a Lightning Seraph...
Yes, there may be time to learn it. For now, though--The breathing mask isn't perfect; Kaguya does some coughing as they go, too. But between that she answers Harmaus, "Right. A little old-school maybe, but the principle is pretty timeless."
The cheesecake bites are cool and refreshing, and also, something to think about for a moment that isn't terrible heat. They are easier to enjoy with the whirlwind that keeps the worst of the bad air at bay, though, just as Harmaus can endure with the contents of that flask pushing forward. "...Heheh," Kaguya coughs. "Forge... ahead."
Gwen, meanwhile, batters through obstacles that would otherwise have made it a longer journey through the room. Eventually they reach the end, and all at once, the heat starts to fade--
And it is ordinary stone and dank air once again, quenched. If it was a test... apparently the group has passed.
DG: Gwen Whitlock has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - Shadow Stitch *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The old masters wielded techniques that could only be called supernatural. It's little wonder that some of those arts have been etched into the memory of their favorite weapons. Candles flicker and glow all around you, casting the burial chamber in warm, nostalgic colors. Your shadows creep along the walls and floor, drifting eerily across decorative bas reliefs and long-forgotten reliquaries. Everything seems far too quiet. Suddenly, blades launch themselves at you from their altars! Fortunately, they don't hit anything vital. Unfortunately, when you go to move, you find that your shadows have been pinned to the walls. Every attempt of movement is punished by a burst of white-hot pain. Trying to tear your shadow free is impossible, the blade pulls at your shadows border instead of coming loose. Maybe if you can dislodge the blades without moving your shadows, or snuff out the light in the room, you might be able to break free...? =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"Let me scout on ahead." It's not really such a bad idea, since Gwen has been here before.
Unfortunately, the next chamber is also not recognizable, much like the last. The courier looks around, casting glances towards the layout of the room, as well as the candles. "... don't look familiar to me from my last trip here, but it's mighty nice in here, at least. Look at the reliefs against the walls there- those might be clues."
She continues to walk on, ever the confident scout/courier, until a sound causes her to freeze in place. "Stay back guys!"
Blades shoot from what seemed to be merely decorative holes in the walls, sailing through the air with mechanical ease.
It seems however, at least in Gwen's case, their aim was off, as the courier seems fine.
"Haha, caught myself just in ti-"
She collapses with a shocked cry of pain as soon as she attempts to make that first step forward.
There's no sign of blood, no sign of ripped fabric, but there might as well be. Gwen continues to panic causing even more cries as she repeatedly attempts rise an fall several times like a stunned sparrow.
The more astute of the group might see Gwen's shadow writhing against the wall, pinned in place by a blade.
They also may see the glint of another round of blades shooting out, possibly pinning any Drifters that were lured out by Gwen's cries.
DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shadow Stitch.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Gwen says she'll scout ahead. Layna nods, and while she waits, she reaches into her coat, draws out her drill and slides it over her right arm. She's noticed a pattern here - she has a feeling she might need it soon enough.
And that's about when she hears a cry of pain in the next room, signalling trouble.
"We'll be right there, lass! Hold tight!" Layna calls back, rushing into the next room. There, she catches sight of Gwen's predicament. She puts the pieces together, but not quickly enough. Layna leaps back to avoid the flurry of swords, and while she manages to avoid a good portion of them, one still manages to lodge itself into her shadow's leg.
"...Damn." Layna hisses in pain. "Alright... you wanna play dirty, then let's do this."
It's a bit easier to move, only pinned at one point, but it's still not pleasant as she forces her right arm up, leveling the drill at the wall. It begins to whir dangerously. It might not seem like much, but then Layna recites another wind spell. The spinning drill incites the winds further as they begin to build, until the ARM releases a cyclone not unlike a drill that smashes into the wall, likely taking out several candles in the process.
There's still more of them to go, though.
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Arm-Mounted Drill toward her party's challenge, Shadow Stitch.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
"When did you learn all these artes, anyway?" Ragnell wonders to Kaguya, of the air-chilling magic she used. "Thought you were a local? Planet-speakin', that is. Though I guess you don't need to be from Lunar t' learn magic..."
Kaguya's 'forge ahead' pun gets a snicker from her too, and onward they go. The air grows cool and dank again as the blades' memories fall behind them--but this time, Gwen goes on ahead to scout out the area. Ragnell shrugs and strolls on after her, hands folded behind her neck. "Suit yourself." Maybe she wants to get away from Kaguya and her electromagnet. ...PRobably not a bad idea, that.
But then, up ahead, Gwen gets shot at with swords. Ragnell stops, peers at the blades... and then passes through as the meatier among their party have to deal with being pinned and burned and lit at.
"I'll be rootin' for y'all on the other side," she drawls. RUDE.
DG: Seraph Ragnell has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shadow Stitch.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Harmaus has posed.
"It is starborne," Harmaus remarks to Ragnell. "It uses starborne magics. Knows starborne things. Soon, we too knows starborne things." He waves a hand, almost dismissively, trading a glance off Kaguya's way.
In spite of the heat, someone like Harmaus (especially) cannot help but chuckle at Kaguya's pun. Once free from the heat, he takes a moment to pause, as if collecting himself perhaps, while Gwen goes on ahead.
He isn't in any particular hurry to amble in after her when she calls out. But he does ultimately walk on in, which is his first mistake.
"Tcha--"
The blades don't strike him. But they do perfectly nail his shadow, striking all limbs save for his right arm. He twists for a moment, as if straining against a tether. "Wretched!" he barks, his expression briefly twisting in a mask of fury. "Wretched, wretched!"
There are reasons that Harmaus opted to claim a flesh-and-blood body once in Filgaia. There are certain advantages to it.
There are also disadvantages to having a body.
He reaches with his one free hand for another flask at his hip; he guzzles it, draws a breath, and closes his eyes.
The light is pale, milky, streaked with red-green tints like an auroral flare seen by the eyes below as it streams from his hands. It swirls about him, spinning to gather in a pale sphere at the apex of the ceiling.
"Shadow binds us. Shadow tricks us," he utters, his eyes opened to slits as he gazes up at that sphere of light. "No more. We banishes it. We decree thus: begone!"
And then, it detonates in a blast of purest white light.
Without a shadow, they cannot be bound.
DG: Seraph Harmaus has used his Tool Titanforce Extract toward his party's challenge, Shadow Stitch.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya has posed.
"That particular set," Kaguya says of the ice, "Was inspired by a..." Pause. She's not going to call Avril her friend. "By someone. I already had the talent for greener magic, now it's just... winter-like." A beat, and she grins over. "I should probably pretend like I care about secrecy more, but I'm not actually local to Filgaia either." She nods Harmaus's way at the explanation.
Kaguya finally lowers her breathing mask again--and the little alterations it makes to her voice-- after a while away from that chamber. Gwen wanting to scout ahead doesn't bug her in the least; Kaguya just gestures vaguely as if to encourage her to it. Nice... Hmm. Reliefs. But--
Blades. "Huh," she says. "They missed. Guess not all craft--urk!" Kaguya gets a taste of what Gwen's got as her shadow is pinned and she can't move, either, then she scowls, seeing stars until she stops to focus. Then she spots Ragnell, and... laughs. "Nice," she says. "It's cool, I've got a solution." She watches Layna's drill ARM work, and 'hmms' a bit at the matter. "I did, though," Kaguya says, "Learn a lot of other Artes on Lunar. But here's an original..."
Kaguya pulls a strange plastic device--a firearm-shaped thing of black and white, the TK-38K that she customized herself, and takes aim at the swords. "Demon Bullet," she says, and it's a lot like the Fang except it's a glowing green projectile. And then there's more of them! She does a lot of shooting.
DG: Kaguya has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shadow Stitch.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - Shadow Stitch *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The old masters wielded techniques that could only be called supernatural. It's little wonder that some of those arts have been etched into the memory of their favorite weapons. Candles flicker and glow all around you, casting the burial chamber in warm, nostalgic colors. Your shadows creep along the walls and floor, drifting eerily across decorative bas reliefs and long-forgotten reliquaries. Everything seems far too quiet. Suddenly, blades launch themselves at you from their altars! Fortunately, they don't hit anything vital. Unfortunately, when you go to move, you find that your shadows have been pinned to the walls. Every attempt of movement is punished by a burst of white-hot pain. Trying to tear your shadow free is impossible, the blade pulls at your shadows border instead of coming loose. Maybe if you can dislodge the blades without moving your shadows, or snuff out the light in the room, you might be able to break free...? =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
======================<* Billion Blade Barrow - Round 3 *>====================== ==========================< Results - Shadow Stitch >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Harmaus 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Titanforce Extract 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Arm-Mounted Drill 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Ragnell 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gwen Whitlock 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaguya 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Seraph Harmaus 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Weaken(2) Effects: ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Seraph Harmaus 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> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Ooh that Ragnell! ".... stole too many... cheesecake bites... too delicious..." Those are the forlorn words Gwen utters, as Ragnell walks by, in order to cheer them on from the other side.
Unfortunately, one blade sails clear through Ragnell's incorporeal form, a slight sensation just enough to made it unclear, even if for a moment, if she'd be able to get away scot free.
The rest fare worse, but only for a moment. Layna's wind magic casts the candles' light askew, distorting their bound shadows. Kaguya's green projectiles dislodge many of the blades, at least partially, enough so that when Harmaus's light spell fills the room, there is a clatter as all the blades drop to the floor noisily.
Gwen gets up rubbing her midsection. ".... Everyone... okay?"
DG: Layna Manydays has drawn a new Challenge.
==========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>========================== ======================<* CHALLENGE - Gathering Clouds *>====================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Weapons come in all different shapes and sizes. Egos do too, as do legends, as do spirits. At one edge of the subterranean structure, you come across an innocuous-looking stupa. Whether you pay your respects to the spirit enshrined within or not, everything seems to be just fine as you turn to leave... When suddenly the stupa's spire rips itself free, reveals itself to be a frankly unsettlingly large blade, and hurls itself forth! The blade crackles with energy, projecting a semi-physical aura around itself many times larger than its already too-big form. It comes crashing down in a massive, overhead strike... As if daring you to try and stop it! Somehow, you get the feeling that the sword's owner was probably the jolly, boisterous type... =Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna exhales as her shadow is freed from the sword. She straightens up and then moves her leg about a bit experimentally.
"...A lil' numb, but I'll live." She decides with a nod, then gestures toward the nearest exit. "Let's get movin' before that happens again, aye?"
And get moving they do - they step out of the room, coming out near the edge of the structure. Not too far from where they exit, an innocuous-looking stupa stands. Layna doesn't really give it a second thought. She starts to move right past it... but then stops.
The reason why soon becomes obvious, as the shrine's spire begins to rip itself free from the structure. It's not just a spire - it's a humongous sword.
"...What the hell?" Layna says in disbelief. The blade crackles with energy, and an aura bursts into life around it, much larger than it already is. And then, it swings down at them in an overhead strike.
Layna curses under her breath and hauls an arm back.
"I don't think there's any other way we're gettin' out of this...!" She says... and as the blade descends, she punches upward, looking to match the blade's strike...!
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Arm-Mounted Drill toward her party's challenge, Gathering Clouds.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
"Starborne? As in Filgaian as opposed to Lunar? Or--" Ragnell gestures at the ceiling. "From the stars?" Dang, Harmaus's mode of speech is archaic. He's even worse, in his own way, than Liath, Ragnell muses. Either way, she gives Kaguya a thoughtful look. When she unloads another new arte on the swords, she grins and laughs--and maybe gets a little stabbed for her non-efforts. "*Ow*. *Rude*," she complains, clutching her stomach and giving the blade a glare.
That definite merits another snack. "This is the last I got, so savor it," she says as she hands out more cheesecake bites. She pops the last one into her own mouth and rolls it over her tongue. Good timing; the spire of a stupa that she passes by without paying much attention to rips itself out of the structure and tears itself forward and around, as if wielded by an invisible giant.
Stop it? Stop this thing?? Oh hell no. The others can try to punch a giant blade, Layna. Ragnell's getting out of dodge.
DG: Seraph Ragnell has used her Tool Cheesecake Bites toward her party's challenge, Gathering Clouds.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Harmaus has posed.
"Secrets are needed not," Harmaus murmurs, as if in response to Kaguya.
She, perhaps, has the best understanding of those now present of what the Seraph thinks of secrets.
"Yes, yes, it birthed among the stars," Harmaus reiterates, a wry smile on his lips. "It listens close. We not repeats it again! Born in heavens, brought low to land. Starborne once, now earthbound. This the fate of its people, shared. An uneasy fate. But future? Unknown, yet." He glances at Kaguya, his smile having shifted to become a quite knowing one.
The light is briefly blinding. And then, it is gone.
"Tcha," Harmaus grunts, rolling his newly-freed shoulder. "All good, now. We moves on, so we do."
He appears to be more than willing to let Layna take the lead, loitering somewhat towards the back of the group of those making their way on through this place. He's more than happy to palm the last of Ragnell's snacks. But does he indeed savor it?
He certainly pops it into his mouth, mere moments before that blade rips free. His gaze tilts upwards.
There is a blurry weft of milky light, smearing itself outwards into the air just above Harmaus, just into that space between him and where the blade comes crashing down. It would be as hard as glass to the touch -- if someone were to touch it.
And below it--
Harmaus is no longer there, joining his fellow Seraph in getting the hell out of here. He only has the one body and it would be an enormous pain to lose it.
DG: Seraph Harmaus has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Gathering Clouds.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"Good, good..." Gwen straightens from her spot on the floor. "... So, what, it got my shadow? Like, actual shadow? As in, the thing that happens when I stand in front of a source of light?"
Someone remembers a few things from some secret Veruni books, looks like.
SPEAKING OF PUNCHING GIANT BLADES
"Oh, I remember this guy," Gwen states without any fanfare when she comes into the space, plucking a few offered cheesecake bites. "Okay, I think we're gettin' near the end, sooo- man! Y'know, Ragnell, you could pay me in these! If you, uh, need to deliver a letter. Or something..."
there is a distinctly Ragnell-shaped outline there now
"Oh, right, right. Don't worry, I'll do my part too. Wait up there, Layna, gonna see if I can punch it too!"
It's what she did last time, and IT WORKED SO WELL
Spoilers: it did, mostly
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya has posed.
"True," Kaguya answers Harmaus's murmur. "Old habit that doesn't have much use."
"Okay forget all that," Kaguya says of the shadow binding, shaking her head. "Thought I might have to get a little extreme there..." She thinks, to someone she knows who uses shadows. Is that a trick of hers? Hmm. Will have to find out. But for now, Harmaus answers Marivel, and Kaguya gives a toothy grin, a little shine catching one of her long incisors. "I'm really not local," she confirms. "There's some entities that don't like that much. But it's why I'm so cool and all.""
"It'll be fine--" But there's... a gigantic sword that happens. Kaguya stares up at it--
Her thin-gloved hands slam upward as if to catch the blade directly, but the best she can do at first is meet it--and even that isn't exactly sustainable. So she thinks about it--"Hey," Kaguya says, "Hold onto that a sec." She--lets go.
"...Totally," Kaguya agrees to savor the last. It might seem as if she stops helping as she takes another bite, pops it into her mouth, and pulls the same bomb she'd messed with earlier. But this isn't quite true. She kneels down and works with her tools, bending metal into place with raw physical strength unreasonable for her size. But she then slams the whole construct upward towards the energy, right beside Harmaus's light.
"Don't look into the explosion if you like your eyes!"
Beep. The whole thing blows straight upward, more single-use cannon than bomb, though the recoil jams Kaguya's arms partway backdown and cracks the ground beneath her.
"Also Gwen you know what shadows really are!! That's cool!" Is now the time???
DG: Kaguya has used her Tool Magnetic Resonance Bomb toward her party's challenge, Gathering Clouds.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Gwen blinks, looking back at Kaguya. ".... w-well, yeah?"
DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool ARM-ored Fist toward her party's challenge, Gathering Clouds.
==========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>========================== ======================<* CHALLENGE - Gathering Clouds *>====================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Weapons come in all different shapes and sizes. Egos do too, as do legends, as do spirits. At one edge of the subterranean structure, you come across an innocuous-looking stupa. Whether you pay your respects to the spirit enshrined within or not, everything seems to be just fine as you turn to leave... When suddenly the stupa's spire rips itself free, reveals itself to be a frankly unsettlingly large blade, and hurls itself forth! The blade crackles with energy, projecting a semi-physical aura around itself many times larger than its already too-big form. It comes crashing down in a massive, overhead strike... As if daring you to try and stop it! Somehow, you get the feeling that the sword's owner was probably the jolly, boisterous type... =Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
=====================<* Billion Blade Barrow - Round 4 *>===================== ========================< Results - Gathering Clouds >======================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Harmaus 0 --(3)--> 3 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Layna Manydays 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Arm-Mounted Drill 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Ragnell 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Cheesecake Bites 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gwen Whitlock 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass ARM-ored Fist 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kaguya 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Magnetic Resonance Bomb 3 Brute Effects: Rally ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Seraph Harmaus 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Tire(2)|Weaken(1) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Seraph Harmaus 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: Seraph Ragnell has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - Wayang Kulit *>========================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Equites is an unusual Guardian. In some depictions, they appear as a primordial guardian beast, a living blade to cut down all that might threaten Filgaia. In others, they manifest as a beautiful battle-maiden, a goddess who brings victory upon her bladed wings. The truth of their existence is complicated, but the existence of their twin aspects are undeniable among adherents of their faith. You arrive in a chamber illuminated by candlelight. A host of weapons are arrayed before you, their shadows crawling long against a nearby wall. There's a sense that behind the great stone gate at the back of the chamber is your goal. But to reach it, you must pass one last test. The candles blaze brighter. The myriad shadows cast from the assembled blades begin to grow, merge and swell. Ten dozen sword-souls unify, forming a singular, feminine silhouette. Her wings are blades, in her slender hands is a single mighty sword. The air buzzes with the power of memory, the collective faith of a hundred and twenty ancient weapons call forth a shadow of the Sword Guardian's goddess-aspect to serve as your final test. Though she may be naught but a shadow, this Equites' blade is as sharp as the legends claim. Prove your mettle, and show that you're worthy of the legacy hidden within this barrow! =Dungeon Conditions: Suffer===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna, Gwen, and Kaguya meet the blade head on. Layna punches it with her drill, Gwen punches it with her bare(metal) hand, and Kaguya looks to just catch it. Alone, it might've been trouble. But together, the blade slows to a stop. Sparks fly as Layna's drill pierces into the glowing aura.
The sheer force of the impact cracks the ground beneath their feet, and releases a shockwave. Ragnell is far enough away that she can escape it, which her incorporeal form certainly helps with, but Harmaus may not be so lucky - it might cause him to stumble if he isn't careful.
The three holding the blade feel some weight as it begins trying to press down, cracking the earth further... and then, Kaguya slams her device upward, causing an explosion that ends the stalemate, forcing the blade back upward.
It hangs there for a moment... but, it almost seems satisfied by the resistance. With a flourish, it returns to its position as the shrine's spire in a manner remniscent of a blade being resheathed after combat.
Layna exhales, lowering her arm. Her drill whirs to a stop, and she puts it away. It's starting to overheat a little - she'll probably have to avoid using it for now.
"Well...That went better than I thought." She says with a laugh.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Ragnell purses her lips thoughtfully when Harmaus confirms that he means exactly what he says. She looks from him to Kaguya, who confirms it further. "Hmmm..."
And then she lets it drop. That's a conversation for another day, though she suspects Kaguya doesn't give a fuck about that Galactic Federation if she's talking about it so openly. Still. Ragnell is very much for secrets, perhaps just as much as Harmaus is against them, so she'll ask more about it in a more private setting.
Besides, who knows? Maybe she'll be able to help Ragnell tinker with that phaser gun she found. Kaguya was there for that too, so it won't even need explanations. For now, she admires certain electromagnetic explosions and waits for the dust to settle once the big ol' blade has been dealt with.
"Gwen, you really should accept payment in the form o' money, not baked goods," Ragnell says. "It's just bad business. If you wanna *trade* somethin' for a cheesecake, though..." Also Gwen you didn't steal any cheesecake, Ragnell let you have it!! But she won't argue that point right now. Instead, she gives Gwen and Kaguya a funny look at their exchange about shadows. Then she shakes her head and offers a hand up to Harmaus. Whether he takes it or not, she'll give the massive sword and its motion after being stopped a lingering look. The motion *is* like a sword being sheathed after battle. Hmm.
The group moves on.
Sooner or later, everyone arrives in a candlelit chamber. Once everyone's inside, the candleflames blaze blue, casting shadows of black beasts in every corner. They grow, and join, and become a Swordmaiden, herself armed with countless* blades. She readies her swords, facing off against everyone at once, and *swings*.
"Hell yeah! Bring it on!" Ragnell cackles to the wordless challenge. Then she chucks a lightning grenade (so called because it explodes with lightning) at the point where the shadows are deepest, and opens fire on Equites' shadow once she's weakened by the flash of explosive light.
DG: Seraph Ragnell has used her Tool Lightning Grenade toward her party's challenge, Wayang Kulit.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
They continue, arriving in a candlelit chamber, bearing numerous weapons along the walls. As if reacting to their presence the candles blaze, and the shadows grow and merge together to form a woman's silhouette - one with bladed wings and a sword of her own.
Layna stares in surprise... and then, a grin crosses her face. She cracks her knuckles.
"Well... if you wanna fight, then I'd be honored. Let's do this." She says. Sure, a part of her wants to bring out new toy... but, she feels like this fight is better suited for melee range. At least, that's what feels right to her. And so she wades in, fists swinging...!
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Wayang Kulit.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Harmaus has posed.
He does indeed stumble, catching himself on a nearby bouquet of blades (point-down, fortunately), only for his hand to wrap around and subsequently dislodge a decaying leather wrap from a seemingly-ancient hilt. He slips to his knees.
Light shines off the wall from the explosion behind and above him in the next moment.
"Aha," he murmurs, perhaps to himself alone.
Ragnell then offers him a hand up; his grip is firm when he grabs for hers.
"Is finished?" he asks, taking the time to dust himself off once he's back on his feet, apparently theatrically. He assesses the 'resheathed' blade. "Then, it goes and we follows."
True to his words, Harmaus lingers on behind as they venture into that candlelit chamber.
"Trickery," Harmaus rumbles, glancing as the shapes as they dance, cast by candlelight. "Not even true darkness. Exists only with light, shadow. But not too much! Or it is all!" He chuckles, as if at his own joke, in spite of the situation that is rapidly unfolding before them.
"We shows it this," he says, all mirth suddenly gone from him as the mighty shadowy blade lashes out. Light -- milky and ephemeral -- flares in a burst about him, perhaps buying him space as the Swordmaiden lashes out.
If anyone is watching him and is able to see the next movement, they'll see him palm something.
"Now," Harmaus says.
His right hand opens. From a simple red cord, a single golden bell dances, singing its simple chime into the air.
"It will stop!"
Be still, says that chime. Be still, rest.
Move no more.
DG: Seraph Harmaus has used his Tool Amulet Bell toward his party's challenge, Wayang Kulit.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya has posed.
Kaguya looks at Ragnell; she watches that thoughtful expression. But if she's not asking, Kaguya won't spill it all yet; she'll have to see about making herself present later. Now, though, Kaguya rolls her shoulders, shaking out her arm. "Ugh," she says. "That's not supposed to hurt." Her complaint aside, she seems in decent enough shape.
The candles blaze. The quiet of the chamber gives way to shadows growing and joining. Here...
A shadow of a Guardian--a divine aspect, perhaps a goddess if anything claims the title. Kaguya sees it forming, and her green eyes blaze. Kaguya laughs loudly, a crow not dissimilar to Ragnell's cackle, and then she reaches to one of the statues ringing the door and leaps. She grips the hilt of one of the shaped weapons in the statue, both hands curling around the grip, before letting her feet hit statue and pulling. Stone hands give way as Kaguya pulls the whole weapon off of the statue, wielding something larger than she is in both hands as she charges for the shadow of Equites before them.
"Aahahahaha!"
DG: Kaguya has used her Tool Loot Abuse toward her party's challenge, Wayang Kulit.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"Hey, I go to many places where currency isn't always a thing, y'know." Gwen laughs, but as Ragnell suggests *trading* something, Gwen blushes, rubbing one cheek. "Well, when you put it *that* way, I can't argue."
Obviously ragnell means Gwen's very own Firey Frea's Chilies Chili, which is better name than 'a chili using whatever experimental chili peppers Auntie Frea was growing at the time'.
Glancing about the chamber they walk into, Gwen nods. "Oh yeah, this happened too! Though last time, we had to cross this chasm on a statue's *sword edge*, and *that* was terrible. I mean, I obviously survived, but-" oh wait the Guardian is assembling
That... is not what happened last time. The last time, it was a shadowy beast, full of fang, fury, and wings. This form is, clearly, owing it Equites's existence as...
"... So it changes its forms, just like all the depictions of Equites are different. But if this form is from the same source, then..." Layna fills the role Gwen served before, taking on the goddess head on, as is Harmaus, to a degree, with his chime.
Gwen only needs to look once at her shaking ARM to know that a brute force approach may not be smart to try. So, a giant grin on her face, Gwen lifts up her right hand, palm out, casting a net of electric energy to join Ragnell's lightning grenade. "Beast or goddess, the test is the same!"
wait did Kaguya REALLY HAUL THAT SWORD OUT
DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool Full Metal Courier toward her party's challenge, Wayang Kulit.
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - Wayang Kulit *>========================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Equites is an unusual Guardian. In some depictions, they appear as a primordial guardian beast, a living blade to cut down all that might threaten Filgaia. In others, they manifest as a beautiful battle-maiden, a goddess who brings victory upon her bladed wings. The truth of their existence is complicated, but the existence of their twin aspects are undeniable among adherents of their faith. You arrive in a chamber illuminated by candlelight. A host of weapons are arrayed before you, their shadows crawling long against a nearby wall. There's a sense that behind the great stone gate at the back of the chamber is your goal. But to reach it, you must pass one last test. The candles blaze brighter. The myriad shadows cast from the assembled blades begin to grow, merge and swell. Ten dozen sword-souls unify, forming a singular, feminine silhouette. Her wings are blades, in her slender hands is a single mighty sword. The air buzzes with the power of memory, the collective faith of a hundred and twenty ancient weapons call forth a shadow of the Sword Guardian's goddess-aspect to serve as your final test. Though she may be naught but a shadow, this Equites' blade is as sharp as the legends claim. Prove your mettle, and show that you're worthy of the legacy hidden within this barrow! =Dungeon Conditions: Suffer===================================================
======================<* Billion Blade Barrow - Round 5 *>====================== ===========================< Results - Wayang Kulit >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Harmaus 3 --(10)--> 13 Pass Amulet Bell 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Ragnell 5 --(10)--> 15 Pass Lightning Grenade 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gwen Whitlock 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Full Metal Courier 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaguya 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Loot Abuse 2 Combat Effects: Cleanse and Sacrifice -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Seraph Harmaus 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Suffer(1)|Tire(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Seraph Harmaus has successfully explored Billion Blade Barrow!
===========================<* Billion Blade Barrow *>=========================== ========================<* CHALLENGE - Tome of Battle *>======================== |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You triumph over the Barrow's final challenge and won the approval of its guardians. Beyond the stone gate, you find... Tablets. A room full of metallic tablets, each one containing ancient Baskar text and a variety of pictographic diagrams. Even if you can't understand the text, the images make it clear that these are some variety of martial arts text containing the secrets of an ancient and long-lost school of swordsmanship...! To those who might know better, this treasure represents something else entirely. These tablets are but one part of a greater whole. Translation of the text would reveal that they were once inscribed by a master of the Sword Saint Style, and would be instrumental in reassembling and restoring the ancient martial school. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
'Is finished?'
"For th' time bein'," Ragnell replies, tucking her hands in her jeans pockets. She nods at his follow-up remark, and onwards they all go. A shadow challenges them, and they do battle.
Layna swings her fists, deciding that this is the best response to the Swordmaiden's challenge. Harmaus rings a bell until the Swordmaiden feels him by her side. Kaguya steals a giant sword and laughs all the way to the ba(nk)ttle. Gwen shoots out a net of electric energy to join with the explosive lightning of Ragnell's grenade, and together they deal a blow most shocking.
Together, their collective blows fell the Swordmaiden's shadow, who drops her weapons and bows to the collective group before searing away. What's left is only normal shadows, not even true darkness, as Harmaus says.
"These fights never last long enough," Ragnell complains as she strides forward through the stone gate. "Good fightin', though." She stops in the other room, squints at the tablets. She picks one up... Oh. Huh.
"Looks like old sword techniques," she muses, holding it up to the light. "Wonder if Liath'd be interested." If not, well, there's plenty more tablets in the room for everyone else to loot.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Harmaus has posed.
In the end, all is indeed still.
The bell dangles, silent now, at the end of its cord. Wordlessly, Harmaus palms it and strides forward in the semi-darkness, tendrils of pale light pouring from his left hand.
"What did it find," he says to Ragnell, the remark more statement than question.
He leans over her, peering at the tablets.
"Aha."
A sword technique. Partial, at least.
"We learns this. Perhaps it is useful, yes?" he remarks, glancing back at Kaguya.
A secret, no matter how seemingly inconsequential or niche, of course has its uses.