2020-12-23: Training Day
- Log: Training Day
- Cast: Citan Uzuki, Eleanor Klein, Fei Fong Wong, Elhaym van Houten
- Where: North Calm Lands
- Date: December 23, 2020
- Summary: In advance of the proposed trek to Bikanel and the shrine there, Citan proposes they take some time to train and prepare. And what better place than the grounds of a long-abandoned monastery?
DG: A party led by Citan Uzuki is now entering Training Grounds of Gusong. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
========================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Iron Fists *>========================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The road to the Training Grounds of Gusong is long and winding. It leads up from the Calm Lands, and then over a narrow set of switchbacks in the mountains. As you near the entrance, you see that it is marked by two huge statues of Gusong: a bare-chested man, with a sash about his waist, and a considerable mustache. They herald entry into the grounds. But there are individuals who block your way. A trio of ancient Unsent Warrior Monks stand there, fists raised -- wrapped with leather, as they were in life -- and with colorful grey and black masks. Known as Iron Fists, they are among Gusong's finest students. Pyreflies waft off them, and they stand ready to prevent entry into these grounds. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Injure===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
It's in the days before the approach to Hoel: Cid has just revealed what his people have uncovered, and preparations are underway for the journey west. Busy as things are, there has been no lack of spare time between planning, and so Citan, drawing upon some of the lore he had learned from the Al Bhed, had suggested a trip to Fei and Elly to one of the more accessible ruins in the region, as a chance to hone their skills.
There's no telling what dangers the shrine might pose, after all. Perhaps it would be better to be prepared.
Moreover, he's heard a few legends about Gusong between this jaunt and the last, and if the stories are correct, the ruins here are the legendary warrior's training grounds...
Of course, all of this is perhaps easier said than done. It isn't long after arriving at the site that even entry won't come quite so easily. There are Warrior Monks present on the grounds.
Unsent Warrior Monks.
"Be careful," the doctor cautions the other two. He claps a hand against Fei's shoulder; any bolstering force is surely incidental. "They look to be 'Unsent'. I do not believe they will fall easily!"
DG: Citan Uzuki has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Iron Fists.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
There are warrior monks present on the grounds, but not only warrior monks. There happens to be a young woman in orange seated on a rock, easy to miss, a bit away from the entrance. She has been making her own preparations, but those apparently included coming out here herself for a while, wandering across the Calm Lands and back into the long road to the Training Grounds.
But she certainly isn't challenging three undead monks to a fistfight on her own.
"Oh! Wonderful," Eleanor says, rising. "Dr. Uzuki! It's a relief to see you." She pulls a coppery-bronze flute from her things and sets it up to her lips, smiling at both Fei and Elly before she breathes in and starts to play. It's a strange, haunting kind of tune, one that imbues health and help into people through some mysterious alignment.
She also has some healing magic to hand out as needed, but doesn't seem to wait for greetings before helping out.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei Fong Wong wonders if these training grounds will give Fei the means to punch Wiseman in the face and so he happily agreed to join Citan and Elly (and ... wait who is this other lady?) on this adventure. He is smilng broadly and appears to be PUMPED UP to help out here.
He flips his rps badge into the air, catching it with a flick of his wrist and he pauses--feeling Citan's hand on his shoulders.
He nods once. "Alright--" He says. "...Got it. I won't go easy on 'em!"
He blinks twice. Apparently the lady is someone else that Doc already knows. That's... Fei is honestly used to that.
"Alright." He says. "...Nice to be working with ya, miss. Name's Fei."
And with that he throws himself into the trio of the ancient Unsent.
Honestly, he kind of sympathizes with them.
"Sorry about this," He says. "MAybe you'll get to rest one day. Wish I could help ya myself...!"
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool RPS Badge toward his party's challenge, Iron Fists.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
It rarely hurts to train, especially when you are faced with a great and terrible potential peril - namely, the transit between worlds (AGAIN). Elly van Houten has no illusions that this is going to be particularly easy, even if her guess at this point has more to do with sandworms.
Perhaps the sandworms and Wiseman are connected? It is unsure.
Elly breathes out at Citan's warning, and also smiles at Eleanor. "Thank you for coming out here," she says to the elvish woman. "I hope it won't be fruitless. I'm Elly."
* Social link begin!
She advances on the monks, holding her staff and reserving her strikes until she sees that blows are thrown. Three sweeps and one actual connection later, she says with a sudden shock of revelation, "Doctor--"
"No, I'll - huff - say it when we have some space to speak...!!"
DG: Elhaym van Houten has used her Tool Iron Born Staff toward her party's challenge, Iron Fists. DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Eerie Flute toward her party's challenge, Iron Fists.
========================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Iron Fists *>========================== |Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The road to the Training Grounds of Gusong is long and winding. It leads up from the Calm Lands, and then over a narrow set of switchbacks in the mountains. As you near the entrance, you see that it is marked by two huge statues of Gusong: a bare-chested man, with a sash about his waist, and a considerable mustache. They herald entry into the grounds. But there are individuals who block your way. A trio of ancient Unsent Warrior Monks stand there, fists raised -- wrapped with leather, as they were in life -- and with colorful grey and black masks. Known as Iron Fists, they are among Gusong's finest students. Pyreflies waft off them, and they stand ready to prevent entry into these grounds. =Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Injure===========================================
===================<* Training Grounds of Gusong - Round 1 *>=================== ============================< Results - Iron Fists >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 0 --(13)--> 13 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass RPS Badge 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Eerie Flute 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Iron Born Staff 2 Combat Effects: Stalwart -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Citan Uzuki 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Injure(2) Effects: Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
There is something about the nature of this land -- even the dead do not easily rest. Is it because of the Pyreflies, Citan has wondered, except...
Right now, though, they have rather more pressing matters at hand. Even if they are not foes in the level of Maester Seymour, it would not behoove them to take them lightly. His hand lingers on Fei's shoulder for a moment--
Before another arrives. "Miss Klein! I had not expected to see you here. Might I ask for your assistance?" He gestures, as if to indicate the trio of Unsent Monks they now face.
Dropping back a few paces, he joins Eleanor towards the back row (so to speak), apparently ready to lend assistance if warranted.
That is, between the weakening effects of the song Eleanor plays upon the Unsent and the one-two combo from Fei and Elly, not particularly needed. There are a few near close-shaves -- perhaps for the want of a nail in the form of Elly's staff, Fei's martial arts, or Eleanor's song it might have gone more poorly for one or many of them.
But in the end, Pyreflies flit away into the aether. The way is clear.
"...What was it that you were about to say, Elly?" Citan pauses. "Oh, I am forgetting myself! Elly, Fei, this is Miss Eleanor Klein. Miss Klein, these are two companions of mine..."
He trails off, apparently permitting them -- Elly perhaps in particular -- to introduce themselves however they see fit.
DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================== ===================<* CHALLENGE - Field of Balancing Poles *>=================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Your pathway through the training grounds takes you up to a higher plateau. This ends in a ledge. There is another plateau in the distance, with a chasm between them. Dozens and dozens of ancient wooden poles are buried into the ground of the chasm. The wooden poles are petrified and sturdy, but a tumble would send you falling to the bottom of the chasm. Crossing will require caution and precision to leap from pole to pole. =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Injure=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Sandworms would be a problem. They do have those in Bikanel. Sometimes, they eat party members.
But here and now, Eleanor waves to Fei and Elly amidst her playing, though she waits until the battle's conclusion to finish introductions, since there is the pressing matter of the undead monks. At this point...
"I'm the lucky one that you all did--I was thinking I'd have to head back trying this on my own." She waits a beat and nods brightly to Citan. "As he says, my name is Eleanor. I'm with ARMS, though today it would appear I'm with the three of you!"
She doesn't talk about whether she expected anybody here. Instead, she looks to Elly, curious what she might've been planning to say, and then steps along through the path. "You both have some impressive maneuvers, there. I'm not nearly so good at hand to hand combat."
But the higher plateau they end up on ends in a ledge... with a number of poles stretching the distance to another plateau. The elf's face falls a little as she recognizes what needs to happen here.
"Ah," she says, "This is going to be somewhat difficult."
But she does have something for this--she closes her eyes and focuses, and the eye might be drawn to a blue anklet she's wearing over flexible shoes, which faintly sparkles with magic when she's ready to go over. ...But, maybe, someone else should show the way first.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Blue Anklet toward her party's challenge, Field of Balancing Poles.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei says, "Oh ARMS." Fei thinks for a moment. "That's the group run by... Irving Valeria right?" He quirks his head. "Did he uh--ever mention a guy by the name of Harthcourt Valeria to you?"
It's a bit of a longshot but Fei hasn't really had a good opportunity to really talk to Irving--and after Id's stunt, maybe he SHOULD just kind of...stay away for a while. "But uh--in either case! Nice to meetcha! What's working for ARMS like?"
He doesn't seem too bewildered by the field of balancing poles. He k ind of quirks his head oddly and then says, "Huhhh...." after a long period of thought. "...You know, I don't know if I ever trained at something like this because of all the amnesia. If I'm gonna be honest, it's actually kind of exciting to be doing actual martial arts training."
He starts hopping along with a big goofy smile on his face. "The trick is core work and banace!" Fei says. Thanks Fei. That's very helpful.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Field of Balancing Poles.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"It would seem that we have all benefited," the doctor notes, glancing Eleanor's way. "We intend to explore this place. I assume you are, as well? Some training may benefit us all before we head to the location of the shrine. I myself have been sitting about far too much of late!"
They advance a distance through the grounds, as Fei wonders after the leader of ARMS; before long they happen across a field of balancing poles.
Which Fei is quick to attempt to cross.
"Fei, I meant for you to introduce--"
It's too late. Fei is heading on across the balancing poles. Citan sighs, only to shake his head. "Please forgive him, Miss Klein. He is, ah... easily distracted at times."
'Harthcourt Valeria', was it...
"Well then, I suppose we should not let ourselves get 'left in the dust'. Let us see what we might make of this!"
He may be a country doctor, but Citan hardly pauses as he similarly begins to cross the poles. The key is as Fei said -- good core strength, balance.
And sometimes a very good pair of shoes doesn't hurt, either.
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Step Shoes toward his party's challenge, Field of Balancing Poles.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
"No, I just - had a horrible thought," Elly tells Citan in the interfering moment. "What if - I mean, the people at Yevon, of, Yevon, whatever; what if they use the Unsent, like those monks... the same way that ancient ruins used refractor automatics?"
Elly nods along with what Eleanor says about ARMS, and then seems to be about to get something out to deal with the poles from a hip pouch, but--
She covers her mouth at the sight of Fei's joy, and then looks to Eleanor. "Sorry to get distracted. ARMS sounds like an interesting group. I was surprised because I hadn't heard much of it until recently, but I suppose sometimes there's a lot of work in the dark, before you have your day in the sun."
Elly then considers.
MONTAGE
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" says Marivel Armitage during a montage of people using light magic against her. (Marivel Armitage is played in this montage by Amelia Watson in a diminutive, dumpling-like form.)
END MONTAGE
"So to speak," Elly says, before she begins her own jumping!
DG: Elhaym van Houten has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Field of Balancing Poles.
========================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================== ===================<* CHALLENGE - Field of Balancing Poles *>=================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Your pathway through the training grounds takes you up to a higher plateau. This ends in a ledge. There is another plateau in the distance, with a chasm between them. Dozens and dozens of ancient wooden poles are buried into the ground of the chasm. The wooden poles are petrified and sturdy, but a tumble would send you falling to the bottom of the chasm. Crossing will require caution and precision to leap from pole to pole. =Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Injure=========================================
===================<* Training Grounds of Gusong - Round 2 *>=================== =====================< Results - Field of Balancing Poles >===================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 13 --(0)--> 13 Pass Step Shoes 2 Agility Effects: Resilient -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Blue Anklet 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Citan Uzuki 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Fright(1)|Hesitate(2)|Injure(2) Effects: Resilient(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"Yes, that's right!" Eleanor confirms Fei's thought there, though Harthcourt... "No," she says with a brief shake of her head. "But I don't often discuss family with him, so that doesn't mean there isn't such a person." Or wasn't. Whichever. She smiles again anyway, because she's a smiley sort of person.
"I don't mind," Eleanor answers Elly and Citan both. "If I were to complain about distraction, I think I'd be in trouble myself... Ah, but ARMS is very rewarding, I find--if I weren't with them I'd probably still..." Pause. "Well no, I guess I'd be at home." Pause. "Not that that's bad, but being able to do something in the world is nice. ...Worlds, I suppose."
She considers, then. Day in the sun...
"Ha ha, yes. I'm not really in it for the glory, though a little sunlight is nice now and then..."
Eleanor does not have good core strength, though her balance is reasonably good. What she does have is magic, and that magic is what sees her across, keeping her steady as she jumps from pole to pole in ways she would have little chance on her own.
Fei is altogether more impressive on the jumps; he does it with style and grace. Citan, too, crosses along without hesitation, and Elly herself proves nimble and quick. They all make it across to the other side, without anyone catching fire from errant light magic whatsoever.
DG: Citan Uzuki has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Like Toppling Dominos *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You enter a chasm that is filled with tall wooden polls. The wood has become petrified, preserving the carvings on them. The carvings depict the various forms and katas of the style once taught by Gusong. The path ahead is a ledge that is higher up a plateau. As you study the poles, you realize they could be toppled in a way that fall against the ledge -- and create a stairwell. However, you have to decide how much force to apply, and where to start the chain reaction. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Treasure========================================
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
Elly answers his question. Citan pauses a long moment, his expression grown faintly troubled. "..." At length, he exhales a weighty breath. "It... is possible, I believe. Yes... and we cannot put it past them... I hope you are wrong, Elly, for this could be..." He shakes his head. "And to hear those who went into Bevelle tell it, many of their elite are 'Unsent' as well..."
It bodes ill, to put it plainly: even those Monks they fought just now are likely only gone 'temporarily'. Without a Sending, it seems, death is an illusive thing.
They cross over quite easily, the lot of them -- fortunately the poles were made to withstand even time and they don't so much as tip over. But something glitters on the floor of this gap...
And what's more, there is nowhere to go from the opposite end it seems except down a slope to the bottom of the gap below. "I suppose this was built so that those who slipped were able to return to try again," Citan suggests, pausing a moment by one of the poles. He brushes off a bit of the dust. "...My word, this form is--" But he turns then, towards Fei. "Ah, my apologies. Fei, where had you said you had seen something?"
On a slightly elevated platform, catty-corner to the path they had taken before, something shimmers invitingly. Conveniently, it also is little more than a hop away from another ledge! Perhaps an instructor had taken this spot, once, to oversee students attempting the crossing.
But there's no apparent way up to it. No way, that is, except...
Taking a few steps back, Citan draws out his camera and takes a shot of the arrangement of poles.
"It is a shame to disrupt them," he says, producing the photograph, "But if we were to do so, my suggestion would be this one, here. Do you see the arrangement of the ones it would strike after?"
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Strauss Camera toward his party's challenge, Like Toppling Dominos.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
"Huh? I did introduce..." Fei pauses. "Oh! I see. I got it. Eleanor, this is Doctor Citan Uzuki. He's the most brilliant man I know." He grins. "Though he shouldn't let it get to his head too much, I don't know that many brilliant men...! But seriously, he is pretty smart. And a good guy." He smiles faintly. "He's stuck by me the longest and--"
He blushes faintly. "Ahh anyway, glad to know he's got more friends." Was he worrying about that?!
He does wonder if Elly's right about them being used in such a way. It makes... a certain kind of sense. If you can't use tech, you make use of what you've got. And there's no shortage of death in Spira. "Well Unsent aren't like fiends just yet." He admits. "If they're not rampaging or running secret religions abusing good people for their own selfish ends..."
He sees something tglittering. "...Ah--!" He points to the shining. "It's there...! We shouldn't leave that behind!"
He promptly jumps down like an idiot. HE HAS A MEDICALL TRICORDER HE CAN FIX IT IF HE HURTS SOMETHING IT'S FINE.
Though thinking about it, maybe he should've given that thing to the doctor of the group?
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Medical Tricorder Fei Somehow Knows How To Use toward his party's challenge, Like Toppling Dominos.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
Discovery and exploration can be a joy, but sometimes you turn over a rock and find some kind of carnivorous slug eating the skull of a chu-chu and it is, in fact, just horrible. Elly tries not to think about it as she wends her way forwards, and then they are faced with:
Poles.
Elly turns her head gradually and takes the ancient imagery in, awed and silent.
"..."
"... wait," Elly says, to late, "wait, is this not the ending? I mean it's got all of the, the... Fei, what do you call them? The -sequences-? The thingies. Moving. Dance moves. The dance maneuvers."
"It's not dance maneuvers," Elly huffs. "Is the pay good?" she asks Eleanor?
DG: Elhaym van Houten has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Like Toppling Dominos.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"That's a very unpleasant thought," Eleanor agrees about the Unsent. Though there is a point that these at least seem not to be doing harm...
Introductions! "Ah!" Eleanor laughs a little at Fei's crack about brilliance, but nods along as if this is exactly what she was waiting for. "I think so, too, though I don't think I've known him as long as you. He seems to keep a good head on his shoulders, at least."
Shouldn't leave that behind!! well. That's it.
"Hmmm," Eleanor remarks. "It is kind of a shame... But we do need to get around. Maybe we can try not to damage them too much."
She peers around, and--ah! She doesn't know what they're called either. But pay, "I think it is, from what I arranged for a friend of mine. I'm afraid I'm the wrong person to ask; I don't really need the money. My friend Xiumei would know, though, she has a great head for finance."
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"That's a very unpleasant thought," Eleanor agrees about the Unsent. Though there is a point that these at least seem not to be doing harm...
Introductions! "Ah!" Eleanor laughs a little at Fei's crack about brilliance, but nods along as if this is exactly what she was waiting for. "I think so, too, though I don't think I've known him as long as you. He seems to keep a good head on his shoulders, at least."
Shouldn't leave that behind!! well. That's it.
"Hmmm," Eleanor remarks. "It is kind of a shame... But we do need to get around. Maybe we can try not to damage them too much."
She peers around, and--ah! She doesn't know what they're called either. But pay, "I think it is, from what I arranged for a friend of mine. I'm afraid I'm the wrong person to ask; my family's money means I don't generally have to be concerned unless, well." She gestures. "Unless we're on another world! And then so is ARMS's primary operating budget. My friend Xiumei is the one with the head for finances."
"Here--let me try this. It won't help us move them directly, but it should still help." She pulls a Berry, and focuses on it; as it disappears into sparkles, its curative energies wash over the group as a whole. Sorcery! It also tastes faintly of delicious berries.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Mystic Items toward her party's challenge, Like Toppling Dominos.
========================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Like Toppling Dominos *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You enter a chasm that is filled with tall wooden polls. The wood has become petrified, preserving the carvings on them. The carvings depict the various forms and katas of the style once taught by Gusong. The path ahead is a ledge that is higher up a plateau. As you study the poles, you realize they could be toppled in a way that fall against the ledge -- and create a stairwell. However, you have to decide how much force to apply, and where to start the chain reaction. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Treasure========================================
===================<* Training Grounds of Gusong - Round 3 *>=================== ======================< Results - Like Toppling Dominos >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citan Uzuki 13 --(0)--> 13 Pass Strauss Camera 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fei Fong Wong 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Medical Tricorder Fei Somehow Knows 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Mystic Items 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elhaym van Houten 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Citan Uzuki 40 --(25)--> 65 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(1)|Injure(1)|Stupify(2)|Treasure(1) Effects: Cleanse ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki 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> Citan Uzuki has posed.
Fei introduces... Citan. Who Eleanor already knows. Citan offers Eleanor a smile that can only be called helpless. 'He means well', says the overall expression. "Fei flatters me," he says, shaking his head. "Still, he is correct: we have known each other for some time." He may, for various reasons, be glossing over the how -- ARMS may not need to know details about Lahan (if they do not already know).
Still, he does glance at Fei -- was that remark just now... relief?? He looks...
Well, he looks like he's not sure what to make of that.
"Forms," Citan answers Elly, absently. He's busy lining up the shot.
Which... Fei jumps down into just after the camera flashes. "Er, Fei? Are you--"
Fei is fine, for the record. He's found something that glitters. A Sphere!
Citan is left standing there amidst the poles. No one else has moved to try and push one of them. "Er... well, alright, then," he says. He pauses a moment to readjust his glasses, then put away both photo and camera safely. "I will endeavor to do so carefully, Miss Klein."
A bit of strength washes over the party! It tastes vaguely like berries.
Citan carefully pushes at one of the pillars. One domino-effect of pillar toppling later...! And there is a bit of a slope made of a few angled pillars up to the ledge near to the spot where Fei now stands.
"It is a shame, but I do not think it will be permanent."
...But who is going to fix it, though?
DG: Fei Fong Wong has drawn a new Challenge.
=======================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================= ======================<* CHALLENGE - Ancient Gliders *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Your route the winding chasms and ruined buildings of the training grounds leads to a large, natural stone pillar on the edge. A winding and narrow path spirals and leads to the top, which towers so high over the training grounds that you can get a good view of the entire thing. Additionally, there is a small shack up here. Inside, there are ancient wooden and fabric hang gliders stored inside. The gliders fit two each. With them, you could fly down to many parts of the training grounds -- though piloting them will not be easy, and take some coordination if you fly with a partner. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Secret=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
I can fix it!
Fei is probably gonna wreck it though. It is absolutely true that he isn't going to volunteer information about Lahan. It isn't even him intentionally trying to hide it so much as his own personal attempt to move on. He figures the whole world knows what he's about now, at least as far as world leaders go...though come to think of it, if they knew...why isn't he being actively hunted down? ... That's a problem for tommorow Fei.
Fei beams as he holds up the Sphere. "I found a Sphere!"
He makes his way back up.
The next route leads through a bunch of winding chasms that lead to the top of a large stone pillar. There is a shack.
"Oh sweet, maybe food's in there!"
Fei makes his way inside.
...
He makes his way back out, wearing an ancient wooden hangglider around his backc.
"This is going to be so awesome." Fei says. "These are hanggliders! I remember--reading about them somewhere! It's amazing, like flying with one huge wing."
RHe looks to Elly. He blinks. He quirks his head. "...Uh..." He thinks. "Techniques?" Pause. "Martial Arts moves?" Fei may have been classically trained at one point but he doesn't REMEMBER it.
"Being a drifter can really screw up your sense of economy." Fei admits before he jumps off a cliff.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Ancient Gliders.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"Well done, Fei," Citan replies. "Perhaps we can take a look at it once we're done here. Now, let me see..."
One partial pillar collapse later, and they're up on a different path, one that leads quite high indeed about the training grounds. Perhaps the master of the training grounds would come up here to oversee the entire site on occasion, or perhaps he would send another--
"I wonder what might be inside?"
It's hang gliders. They might have been used as a part of training by the monks here once.
Citan approaches and pulls one away from the wall. "Forms," Citan says again, still absently, as he inspects one of the gliders. "These are in excellent condition for their age. I suppose the local temperature and relative lack of humidity have helped, there. ...Well, what do you all say? Do you feel like trying something bold? I do not think we will get very far on these grounds on foot, given their condition..."
The most important part of using a glider is of course the push off. Which is done with the feet. ...Unless one opts to just jump off. That's also an approach.
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Step Shoes toward his party's challenge, Ancient Gliders.
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
They aren't done yet. This is merely useless INFORMATION, which CANNOT BE SOLD FOR MONEY.
On the topic of Forms: "Sure," Elly says to Citan with a firm nod - it sounds right to her. She nods once to Fei as well, as if seeking validation. Then she looks to Eleanor, and to Eleanor she does NOT nod.
"I remember hearing about the first time everyone came across and what an annoyance it was that they use those cute little golden coins instead of silver," Elly continues. "It's why I picked up fishing, honestly. Good returns."
And then she is given a fruit coating to go with her strawberry top - ah~! Refreshing~
Forwards.
"With a single great wing...? Ah," Elly says, "it's funny to think about that, but it really is like a single big wing, isn't it! Or like two wings, that have come together..."
...
Elly tilts her head left.
She tilts her head right.
"I don't trust this part," Elly says, but after a little fiddle-farting with a length of fishing line, she seems to resolve the concern she had. That wing DID look a little iffy, or at least discolored, which can be a sign of such things. "Maybe a Fiend chewed on them..."
And after this...
("I wonder who carries them up all this way," Elly asks, while getting in position. With Fei, likely -- unless Eleanor needs the reassurance of a friendly person who has probably been in flying devices at least twice and can also cast 'summon wind.')
DG: Elhaym van Houten has used her Tool Fishing Gear toward her party's challenge, Ancient Gliders.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor is nice, and helpful. She is not going to push over a bunch of poles. It's just not going to happen. However...
She can appreciate the helpless sort of smile, and she looks amused back rather than bothered--if she understands who Fei is, or anything about Lahan, she sure doesn't say so. But who would expect Fei to be Fei???
"Oh, you think?" Eleanor considers. "I suppose if there are Unsent around to guard the place they might fix it up, too."
Food... in the shack?? Eleanor is not so sure there is likely to be food there or why Fei expects there to be, but maybe so. Maybe... so.
"Oh, yes. I just sold some jewelry until I could find a way to get more, myself." She considers. "Fishing is a good thing to be able to do, though."
But there are hanggliders. "Oh... dear," Eleanor says. "That..." She pauses. "...Is it really?" Another pause. "...That does sound like fun..."
Citan speaks of trying something bold, and Eleanor brightens. "Yes," she says, "Let's."
She will go with Citan! Because she just gets the idea that Fei and Elly should go together. For some reason. It's very mysterious.
And very much like she's the youngest person here or something, Eleanor will go, "Whee!" when they actually sail across. ...She does lean on her anklet's magic a little, but mostly just so she doesn't lose her grip.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Blue Anklet toward her party's challenge, Ancient Gliders.
=======================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================= ======================<* CHALLENGE - Ancient Gliders *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- Your route the winding chasms and ruined buildings of the training grounds leads to a large, natural stone pillar on the edge. A winding and narrow path spirals and leads to the top, which towers so high over the training grounds that you can get a good view of the entire thing. Additionally, there is a small shack up here. Inside, there are ancient wooden and fabric hang gliders stored inside. The gliders fit two each. With them, you could fly down to many parts of the training grounds -- though piloting them will not be easy, and take some coordination if you fly with a partner. =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Secret=============================================
==================<* Training Grounds of Gusong - Round 4 *>================== ========================< Results - Ancient Gliders >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Citan Uzuki 13 --(8)--> 21 Fail Step Shoes 2 Agility Effects: Resilient ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fei Fong Wong 0 --(8)--> 8 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 0 --(8)--> 8 Fail Blue Anklet 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elhaym van Houten 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Fishing Gear 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Citan Uzuki 65 --(20)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Secret(2)|Slow(2) Effects: Resilient(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Elhaym van Houten has drawn a new Challenge.
=======================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================= =======================<* CHALLENGE - Sound the Gong *>======================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- You come to a large building at the center of the training grounds. It is in better shape than most buildings, but its huge doors are still locked -- and made of a sturdy stone that will be very difficult to open. There is a glowing glyph across them, too, and a lit channel leads to a small plaza before them. Here, you find an immense gong, and a massive ringer set up on a pedestal. The ringer is too heavy for a simple shove. You will need to apply considerable force to ring the gong -- but also to not damage it too badly. =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQYN2P3E06s
And so, they take flight.
There is no power behind it, but there is also no one watching the skies, jealous of anything that goes above a couple of hundred yards. Elly realizes this silently, with a surging shock of delight, as she leans forwards, leaning towards Fei. Ironic though it may be, that metal staff she totes around (training) does mean their weights are more or less equal right now...
The wind is a living thing, pouring forwards, sweeping through hair. The sun shines bright upon Spira, and there are no fiends in the air, it seems. For a moment, Eleanor can know what a bird knows.
It is a sensation of freedom. A memory to be cherished, one without terror or cruelty or dominion.
Unfortunately it cannot last. But everything's eventual, isn't it? The steep walls of the monastery mean there are not a lot of upwelling thermal drafts, and altitude is shed as potential energy in a steady and gradual way. But there is time to make a great C of a loop, handily avoiding -
"What IS that?" Elly says, spotting, perhaps, a Combat challenge directly avoided.
But there is a high plaza, one a mere seven steps from a huge doorway. The glyph glows and the stone sits, implacable like time. Wind might slay this door but it would take millenia.
But there is a lit channel towards...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW8LrJ_FS5M
A sheltered space, with the lit channel running upwards and spreading out in a colorful mandala underneath an enormous gong. Dangling on steel chains from the roof of the pavilion is a huge log of...
Elly pokes it.
It does not seem to react.
"I think this is petrified wood," Elly says.
FORTY FEET OF IT! (This is not a small pavilion.)
"Well," Elly says, "I guess it can't be helped." Into one pouch and out come four chocobo-themed bandannas. Elly wraps one around her hair, in anticipation of sweat.
DG: Elhaym van Houten has used her Tool Inventory Clutter toward her party's challenge, Sound the Gong.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei smiles back at Elly. It really is like one giant wing, or two wings making a giant wing. In either case, he just enjoys the moment. He loves Elly terribly. He loves her more every time he sees her. Every time she does something a little bit surprising. Sometimes, even, when she does something that's so like her it's completely unsurprising. For all that is dire and painful about this world, Elly's presence makes it livable. Loveable.
And that Doc is here,well, it feels almost like old times. It almost feels like his life hadn't done flipped turned upside down the day Grahf came knocking. Almost, not quite, but he wouldn't want it to surpass that 'almost'. He wouldn't want to forget, just as much as he doesn't want to dwell.
He enjoys the wind in his hair. He feels like he is flying. He remembers when he rode a dragon for the first time in his life. Not just any dragon, THE metal dragon queen.
It wasn't him, but he remembers it as if it was. That feeling of freedom from the chains of gravity...
His thoughts are scattered aas they land and disembark from the hanggliders. He smiles at Elly, not saying a word. He hasn't felt the need to speak as often as he used to. A look could say more than words ever could.
But he does say, "That's one big gong," with a lazy smile. For a dangerous ruin, it honestly didn't really feel it just yet. He doesn't need to look at the Bart Jr doll to know what the Bart Jr doll would want him to do. "Well," He says, approaching the ringer. "Least it's a simple task."
He looks to Doc and Eleanor, scoching a bit if he needs to make room.
"You know, this ... was a great time actually. I'm glad I could spend it with all of you."
He gets to engaging in strenuous effort. It was barely an adventure to him, more a vacation of exploration. It's nice.
DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Bart Jr Doll toward his party's challenge, Sound the Gong.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
There is flight.
Unpowered flight, flight doomed from the moment they stepped off to come to an end somewhere below. But it is still flight -- it is a freedom most will never know, on either of these two interlocked worlds.
It has been quite some time. Perhaps too long. Eleanor may let out a whoop with the joy of it, but if she glances over at her flight partner for this excursion, she'll see that he is in fact grinning, his gaze focused only on the horizon.
He'll make a remark a few days hence about his 'younger days' to another. It's been far too long.
They come in for a landing a little too soon. It's a bit of a bumpy one but aside from the jostle of impact there's no pain, no injuries. Nothing serious to be concerned about (or even anything insignificant to be concerned about).
"Whew! Well then!" says Citan, brushing himself off. He takes a look about. "It seems that this is the inner yard. I wonder what secrets Master Gusong had kept here." Perhaps on that note...! There is a long, long pause as he takes in the sight of the log before the gong. Slowly, he tilts his head a few degrees to the right and raises an eyebrow. "Well."
He raps his knuckles against it. It doesn't so much as sway.
"It does seem excessive..." Pulling out a manual, he flips through a few pages, as if to refresh himself on the material. "The most important aspect of this sort of exercise is to not overstrain oneself. Now then, if you will permit me... this will only take a moment..."
Especially after their earlier exertions, the use of pressure points to set the body right before they try to swing the ringer may be, er, what the doctor has ordered.
DG: Citan Uzuki has used his Tool Acupressure Guide toward his party's challenge, Sound the Gong.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor for one is happy to avoid a combat challenge. But the gliders, as it turns out, are fun. ...If a little dizzying. She spots Citan's grin, and she can tell she's not the only one having fun with it. As she comes to ground she wobbles a little on her feet before she catches herself, looking over the glyph and... Ah. A very, very, very large gong. And a log to ring it. Theoretically.
"Oh... dear," the young elf says, tilting her head and starting to walk around it a little. Then there are--chocobo-themed bandanas. Eleanor blinks at one. "Ah?" she asks, but does the same as Elly after a moment. Then she pauses, and smiles at Fei. "...Yes, it was rather more pleasant than I was expecting, wasn't it? Good company, I expect."
She doesn't know them all well, but she can feel the warmth in this group. And she can also feel...
"Um, I'm not sure how much help I'll be with this, I admit, but..."
She will still make an effort!! ...Because they're all trying so hard so she can't just sit back and do nothing...
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sound the Gong.
=======================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================= =======================<* CHALLENGE - Sound the Gong *>======================= |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- You come to a large building at the center of the training grounds. It is in better shape than most buildings, but its huge doors are still locked -- and made of a sturdy stone that will be very difficult to open. There is a glowing glyph across them, too, and a lit channel leads to a small plaza before them. Here, you find an immense gong, and a massive ringer set up on a pedestal. The ringer is too heavy for a simple shove. You will need to apply considerable force to ring the gong -- but also to not damage it too badly. =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
==================<* Training Grounds of Gusong - Round 5 *>================== =========================< Results - Sound the Gong >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Citan Uzuki 21 --(0)--> 21 Pass Acupressure Guide 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fei Fong Wong 8 --(0)--> 8 Pass Bart Jr Doll 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 8 --(0)--> 8 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elhaym van Houten 5 --(5)--> 10 Fail Inventory Clutter 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Citan Uzuki 85 --(35)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Secret(1)|Slow(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Citan Uzuki has successfully explored Training Grounds of Gusong!
=======================<* Training Grounds of Gusong *>======================= =========================<* CHALLENGE - Fire Claws *>========================= |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The central building of the training grounds is not what you expected. The inside of it is a sitting room and lounge, built for someone of a high station. A few scrolls on the walls note that this place was used by Summoner Galua, one alive in centuries past, and is dedicated to her. The scroll contains a telling line: 'To my love. Lost but not forgotten, may your spirit dwell here.' - Gusong In a wooden chest, you locate a pair of dark red claws that one could wear. These can, with a thought, ignite flames along the claws when striking a foe. A rare weapon, and worth money -- or perhaps using. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.
In the end, it is time to make a new memory. If the chain be long, let it be beautiful as well.
But before you can do the chain...
FOLLOW THE BART JR. DOLL'S COMMANDS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxi2Y4-NNXY
'Lift! Left! Right! Left! Right! Don't stress yourself!'
'Now lean... then lean... then lean... then lean...'
'Right foot forwards! Left foot forwards! Right foot forwards! Left foot forwards!'
'On a ship, we call that port and starboard! Back in the day, Sig told me that they said Larboard and Starboard, but after the Great Dynamic Dockyard Accident, they uh -- anyway--'
None of that happens, except possibly in Elly's gently steamed imagination. However, some warm ups and a prominent position for the supervising Bart Jr. doll and...
pull............!!!!
SWING...
The impact makes a dull noise that is felt more than it is heard. A resonance below the sensitivity of the human - or elvish - ear. It might have rattled a filling loose, and the giant log lurches backwards - something in the roof seems to catch it a little, leaving the group sweaty. The gong sounds and the floor goes dim.
Wait one second. Wait two seconds. Wait three seconds.
On a hillock in the distance... slightly overgrown, and neglected, save for a chest that contains an Ultimate Weapon that may yet be found by those who have need... There is another great bronze bell, a wok-like disk facing backwards. The gong has not been sounded in so long, but the works of old endure! The inverted bell begins to resonate...
Four... five... six...
A pure sound fills the air. Like a great man singing from the throat with lungs of bronze. And the glow on the floor surges to shining white life--!!
It resolves to a luminous copper gold. The doors are open when the group returns, and they are left with a place suitable for a comfortable rest.
And in a wooden chest, beneath a scroll...
Rest a pair of sorcerous claws.
"... This place seems comfortable... but it's kind of melancholy, too," Elly observes. For some reason she lingers near the doorway.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
Pure sound fills the air, and the doors open--
It's the scrolls on the wall that command Citan's attention once they step into the inner sanctum. He readjusts his glasses.
"...Lost but not forgotten, may your spirit..." He trails off, folding his arms over his chest, then bows his head, as if in respectful contemplation.
"...I see." A moment more and he adds, "No, you are not wrong, Elly..."