2021-03-17: He's Not Here to Make Friends
- Log: He's Not Here to Make Friends
- Cast: Riley Arwell, Xander Lovell, Eleanor Klein, Ethius Hesiod, Jacqueline Barber
- Where: Lunatic Garden
- Date: March 18, 2021
- Summary: In which Riley and Xander encounter some friendly Drifters and join them, despite Xander's reluctance.
=============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================= Lunatic Garden is an ancient Metal Demon War-era ruin on a small island on the western side of the Crater Sea, south of Sylvaland. From the outside, the ruin appears to be a stone structure surrounded by an ancient woods (though not quite as ancient as the Great Woods on Sylvara Island). On the inside, the ruins have a thick, jungle-like environment enclosed by stone. They are known to be dangerous -- and many sailors steer clear of the island, much less risk landing upon it. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlC5vTerYaQ
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>==============================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Doors Resealed Too Well *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
There are multiple doors into Lunatic Garden. Some of them have been opened
before.
Unfortunately, some of those who entered hoped to deter those who might come
after -- perhaps to find something they left behind. When you approach this
door, you find that the stone door has some sort of dark grey crust on it.
This appears to be some sort of ancient, powerful glue -- which has sealed
the entire door into the stone. Getting in will require undoing the sealant.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overwhelm========================================
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
As the Fangs approach the mysterious and potentially dangerous ruin, Riley is in the midst of making an important case to Xander -- trying to convince him to change the pronunciation of his name so he can rhyme it with more things.
"If your name is Xah-nder then I can grow fonder of you wherever we will wander, but if your name is Xander, then I'm stuck asking you to take a gander at a lovely salamander, and you can really only write that song once."
He looks up, finding others already gathered near the entrance.
"Oh! Whoa, it's people. Hello, people."
Riley smiles at the strangers. He's a friendly looking young man with tousled red hair, wearing a vest, shirt, and trousers in warm, autumn colors, carrying a guitar and a bow with no quiver. For the most part, he appears human, except for the hint of fangs in his smile.
He gestures to his companion. "He looks like he could be a Xah-nder to you, doesn't he?"
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Xander gives Riley a long look of exhausted silence until finally bringing his hand to the bridge of his nose. "...It was unusually striking, as salamanders go." He snaps himself out of being agreeable with an exaggerated sigh. "Do you have to use my name? Can't I be implied?"
But as they approach, they see others, and Xander turns on his heel, already making the decision to leave and, for whatever misguided reason, expecting Riley to quickly hurry off and hide with him.
Riley does not do that.
Xander spins back around. "Riley."
Where Riley is in warm autumns, Xander's a cold winter with his frightfully pale skin, dark, wild hair, and monotone clothing -- including a dark mantle over a white dress shirt, with the only splash of color being the vials of alchemy potions fixed to his wide belt.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor Klein is used to Marivel; a little fanginess just doesn't faze her much. Especially not with friendly people! Friendly people like these.
She happens to be here eyeing the entrance when they approach, and turns to smile at the others when she sees. Autumn and winter...
"Hmmm," the young elf muses, looking between the two. "Xah-nder..."
"I suppose! He has that look to him, doesn't he?" A beat, and a warmer smile. "Hello Riley, Xah-nder. I'm Eleanor. Were you looking to explore this ruin, too? We'd been about to deal with getting through the door..."
She notes the potions at Xander's belt, and the... guitar Riley has. "Though I suppose if you didn't know there was a ruin here it doesn't seem like a bad place to spend a little while on its own, does it?"
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Historically, Ethius used to haunt the Ignas region by camping out at places of interest he wanted to look into but couldn't on his own. He seems entirely unfazed by the prospect of two others just happening to be making their own approaches. Drifters just sort of... drift together. That's normal!
Also normal: the strange white-haired man who hides the lower half of his face hardly says anything to introduce himself. Like he could stand off to the side (he sort of is) and be removed from the picture without anyone missing much of anything. Almost a purposeful lack of presence.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Chance meetings are surprisingly common amongst Drifters. There seemed to be something about them that drew them together out of the blue, against the odds. It was something Jacqueline had become accustomed to. So she isn't that surprised when, as they study the entrance, others arrive. Unfamiliar faces, at that! Jacqueline turns, offering the two of them a smile.
"Ah! Hello there!" Jacqueline greets, offering a polite wave. She notes their names - Riley and Xander - and notes with interest the potions on Xander's belt. Of course her curiosity is piqued, but it wouldn't do to ignore niceties.
"I could certainly see it." Jacqueline replies, and nods at Eleanor's comment. "I'm Jacqueline - it's a pleasure to meet you both! I'm certain there'd be no complaints if you'd like to join us?"
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Can't I be implied?
"You are often implied. But I need your name if I want you to show up in a song by surprise." Riley smiles innocently. As Xander prepares to bolt at the sight of strangers, he's half ready to try to grab him, but it looks like he is staying long enough to scold Riley, at least.
Eleanor asks if they meant to explore the ruin, while Jay goes so far as to invite them along.
"We were here to explore it! We'd love to join up. It would be fun to travel with a larger group."
He continues to grin like he knows he's in trouble.
"So, let's see... Eleanor, Jacqueline, and, ah, what's your name?" He glances curiously to the quiet one in the group.
With two votes of agreement for Xander's renaming, he also nods with finality. "There you have it, your fate is sealed. Sorry, Xahnder."
The door ahead of them is sealed good and tight, looking almost as though someone glued it shut. Riley hangs back a bit, then places a hand out expectantly in front of himself. The ground stirs and crumbles beneath, until a long polearm emerges, glowing with an eerie magenta light. Is it some manner of mystical weapon? Well, yes and no. It's a shovel, though inscribed with glowing patterns as if it's enchanted for some purpose.
Also, there's no two ways about it, this thing has Bad Vibes. A faint chill comes off of it, perhaps real, perhaps metaphorical, but carrying with it an unmistakeable reminder of the inexorable approach of death.
Heedless of this, he wedges it into what passes for a door gap and wiggles it around.
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Shovel of Valmar toward his party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
With the invitation to come along, Xander opens his mouth to decline, but Riley speaks first. He shoots Riley a look of something between shock and frustration, then gives up with yet another sigh.
"It's -- It's Xander," he corrects helplessly. Realizing it's also, effectively, an introduction, he continues: "...Pleasure." At least he looks up at everyone long enough for a small nod of greeting, including Ethius, who he double takes upon realization he hadn't noticed him the first time around.
Are they doing this now? Fine, they're doing this now. Group activities. Yay.
He only gets a moment to look at the door before a chill crawls up his spine and he hisses to Riley in a low voice. "Are you seriously -- ?!"
Xander buries his face in his hands while Riley assaults the door with an evil, cursed shovel in front of their new Drifter 'friends'. In his exasperation, his only contribution will be to go and kick the door later -- if it's even necessary.
DG: Xander Lovell has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor has no intention of letting Ethius stay out of the picture indefinitely, of course. He just needs someone to include him, clearly! But not too overtly.
"Indeed, no complaints at all," Eleanor remarks, and she beams pleasantly at Riley as he mentions travelling together. It does seem a lot more interesting to meet these new people. But the quiet one...
"This is Mister Hesiod," Eleanor introduces him. "He's quiet but very good at what he does." A beat, "Xander it is! It's nice to meet you."
Then there is...
Yeah that's a very evil shovel. This puzzles Eleanor, who lifts an eyebrow at it, and looks to Jay for a moment as if to share 'what?' before looking back to Rilehy. On the other hand...
She is friends with Marivel. It might just be an aesthetic thing.
"...That's a very... interesting tool," Eleanor comments, and rolls her shoulders, drawing on the power of her Bracelet in order to step in front of a very big rock (roughly Ethius-sized) and lift it all of a sudden. Hup!
She picks up the rock, turns, and throws it at the door, hoping to break it outright.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius is afraid to approach the door at first, because he remembers what happened the last time he did and he is not keen to revisit the pure comedy involved in that - as Eleanor handles introducing him, he does not confirm or deny the identification. It just is, he's a quiet 'Mister Hesiod' who happens to linger like some sort of barely living prop and that's that.
He stands aside as Eleanor goes to throw a huge ol' rock at the door (covering his head even though he's not in throwing range, because he knows how this sort of thing typically ends).
Riley gets out a shovel that has a disturbing air and character to it - he can't quite put a finger on it just yet as to what it is, but...
"...I would offer to melt the adhesive." His tone of speaking is weird. The accent cannot be placed anywhere, it's almost monotone and devoid of much emotion, there's a specific tempo... his strangely roundabout vocabulary at odds with his appearance of being a typical local area ruffian...
...but once given the opening, he does start to Symbologically cast the appropriate yield of heat spell to... melt the adhesive. (The very moment it looks like the door might come loose and flop on them he backs the hell out of there.)
DG: Ethius Hesiod has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>==============================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Doors Resealed Too Well *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
There are multiple doors into Lunatic Garden. Some of them have been opened
before.
Unfortunately, some of those who entered hoped to deter those who might come
after -- perhaps to find something they left behind. When you approach this
door, you find that the stone door has some sort of dark grey crust on it.
This appears to be some sort of ancient, powerful glue -- which has sealed
the entire door into the stone. Getting in will require undoing the sealant.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overwhelm========================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"Then welcome aboard Riley, Xander!" Jacqueline replies - mercifully, not pronouncing it as 'Xahnder'. And with that, she turns her attention back to the door... though, not without taking note of Riley's shovel. Riley's Evil shovel. As someone with a refined sense for the sorcerous and mystical, it catches her attention immediately... and it looks like Eleanor is feeling the same way. She meets her eye, and though the smile doesn't leave her face her expression reads much the same.
It's true, though - she can't really judge, considering that she's carrying her own Artifact of Evil around. In this case, a rather clingy book that always seems to show up again any time it's removed from her person.
With that said though Jacqueline approaches.
"Hm... it wasn't like this the last time I was here. If I knew, I would've prepared an appropriate solvent..." She murmurs, leaning down to pick up a chip as its removed by Riley's shovel. She studies it for a moment and then moves away as Eleanor hurls a boulder and Ethius moves to melt it.
"Well, in this case... I'll just have to lend a hand." She says, drawing out a bottle of red liquid. With a mystic touch the contents evaporate into a cloud of red glimmers, settling over the party and enhancing their strength and stamina for the task ahead.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Brewte Force toward her party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>==============================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Doors Resealed Too Well *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
There are multiple doors into Lunatic Garden. Some of them have been opened
before.
Unfortunately, some of those who entered hoped to deter those who might come
after -- perhaps to find something they left behind. When you approach this
door, you find that the stone door has some sort of dark grey crust on it.
This appears to be some sort of ancient, powerful glue -- which has sealed
the entire door into the stone. Getting in will require undoing the sealant.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overwhelm========================================
=========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 1 *>========================= =====================< Results - Doors Resealed Too Well >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Shovel of Valmar 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(22)--> 22 Fail Power Bracelet 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 0 --(22)--> 22 Fail Brewte Force 1 Brute Effects: Fanfare and Strengthe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 0 --(10)--> 10 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Riley Arwell 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Overwhelm|Weaken(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Riley Arwell 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> Riley Arwell has posed.
It's totally an aesthetic thing! Sometimes people have evil shovels. No big deal.
...That's a very... interesting tool.
"It's a long story," says Riley, and that much is true. He shrugs at Xander, giving him a look of 'can't stop me now, can you?'
It's hard to say whether Riley does more than soften up the door with the shovel before he needs to make way for Eleanor to hurl a boulder at it.
"Whoa! That's some strength."
Unfortunately, while the door cracks a little, it doesn't give way. Then it's Ethus's turn to step forward and make a careful application of heat.
Riley blinks as "Mr. Hesiod" finally speaks, only to do so in an oddly measured monotone.
"Well, it looks like that's working, anyway..." Riley says, unsure what to make of the individual.
Jacqueline, meanwhile, offers an invigorating mist to the party.
"Oh, hey --" a glance from her to Xander. "Another alchemist?"
The door gives way, crashing down with a great bang. Ethius is able to avoid getting flattened, thankfully.
DG: Xander Lovell has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ===========================<* CHALLENGE - Okypete *>============================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- When you enter the next room, the normally well-lit dungeon proves dark. A few gemstones mounted in the upper wall flicker -- and there are cracks, suggesting that the gems that often provided light to these halls were damaged. Then, you hear the beating of leathery wings. A pair of okypetes -- vaguely feminine, fanged creatures with dark black bat wings and long, wicked claws -- sweep down, striking at you in the dark. =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Tire==============================================
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
It's totally an aesthetic thing! Sometimes people have evil shovels. No big deal.
...That's a very... interesting tool.
"It's a long story," says Riley, and that much is true. He shrugs at Xander, giving him a look of 'can't stop me now, can you?'
It's hard to say whether Riley does more than soften up the door with the shovel before he needs to make way for Eleanor to hurl a boulder at it.
"Whoa! That's some strength."
Unfortunately, while the door cracks a little, it doesn't give way. Then it's Ethus's turn to step forward and make a careful application of heat.
Riley blinks as "Mr. Hesiod" finally speaks, only to do so in an oddly measured monotone.
"Well, it looks like that's working, anyway..." Riley says, unsure what to make of the individual.
Jacqueline, meanwhile, offers an invigorating mist to the party.
"Oh, hey --" a glance from her to Xander. "Another alchemist?"
The door gives way, crashing down with a great bang. Ethius is able to avoid getting flattened, thankfully.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Oh, good, they actually decide to go with the correct pronunciation and one of them doesn't say anything about his name at all. This might not be so bad, assuming Riley does not get them put under suspicion with a shovel granted to him by the dark powers of an evil god. Luckily, they don't appear to be judgmental. ... Wait a minute, why aren't any of them being judgmental?!
Riley looks at him and Xander sags in defeat.
Whatever! Take it and go! It's a somewhat belated reaction that he glances to Jacqueline on the way in. "Is that a recipe of your own?" But as they traverse forward, and at first Xander is surprised by how well lit it is until, one hall into the next, it suddenly isn't. Cracked gemstones flicker, trying and failing to provide the explorers with any useful light.
Xander taps at one with a gloved finger to see if he can force it back on. Then, the sound of beating wings fills the dark halls.
"... I don't like the sound of that."
An okypete, with her bat-like, harpyish visage, sweeps down from the darkness to claw her talons into Xander's face. Xander barely pivoting away before one claws him across him. Rude! He's only got the one eye as it is!
But as it passes by, he whips out a dagger to stab it in the back, though it won't be enough as she whips around for the next attack. And there's a second beating of wings swooping down as the pair makes repeated dives to claw at the group below in what seems to be a strategy of a death by a thousand cuts.
He's got healing supplies he can provide, in case this gets ugly.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Candied Medicine toward his party's challenge, Okypete.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
A long story. "I'm sure," Eleanor replies, and that is also true. She will just have to file away that information with Jay for the moment, and instead, she throws a boulder, which maybe says a lot on its own that might be helpful. Particularly when her response to comment on it is to beam another smile Riley's way. "I try."
But the adhesive tricks work. That's good enough for her for now.
"Mm!" Eleanor answers about alchemy, but she doesn't have to speak for Jay like she kind of does for Ethius, who would probably let questions go entirely unanswered given his choice. For some reason. But the young elf does walk along with the others, and suddenly it's dark, and--
"Ah?"
Wings. Eleanor ducks down and hops out of the way, recoiling back and pulling her flute. She sets it to her lips and, rather than commenting, begins a tune that should shield the others from the knives in the dark, as it were.
No matter how many cuts they're going for.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Eerie Flute toward her party's challenge, Okypete.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The odd man's gaze tracks Riley and his shovel for a bit as they journey into the depths, now confident that a door is not about to fall over on top of his head or anything of that sort.
"The crystals are damaged," Ethius remarks matter-of-factly to the tune of why-did-he-even-say-that, it-is-so-obvious. He's about to suggest it's because something might have been standing on it, but that point is moot as there are now the heavy beating of leathery wings and something that doesn't want to be blunt force that falls upon his face but razor-sharp claws that would like to tear it off. (If he had to pick between the both of them he'd probably stab whoever asked him to pick, but shh.)
That fate is narrowly avoided for the moment as those claws carve into his right sleeve, a momentary struggle to have his arm released which he seems to be losing... so he makes the most of it. He makes the gesticulations from a hand that is currently in significant pain with flawless execution, mouthing the chanted aspect of the spell as one of the satchels are activated by this spellcast.
From there, it's a matter of taking his more free left hand and slamming it into the offending okypete.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Powder Grenade toward his party's challenge, Okypete.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
'A long story'... Jacqueline nods. For now, she won't pry, though it's something she'll think about.
"I am, yes - it's something of a specialty of mine. I work as an apothecary when I'm not out adventuring." She confirms with a nod toward Riley as she follows the others into the ruin. She looks toward Xander with a smile, then, at his question. "It is! I formulate and prepare all of my mixtures myself. I take it you're an alchemist, as well?"
She walks and talks, but soon enough they find the hallway grows darker. Jacqueline frowns at the sound of beating wings approaching... and as one dives in, she backs up. She rummages through her bags, drawing out a specific ancient grimoire - the Lifeweaver's Grimoire - and flipping through the pages. It's too dark to see, though, so she raises her left hand and, with a gesture a sphere of light appears to brighten up the area.
"Ah, as I thought... these are Okypetes! They like to attack their prey in the dark... they must have damaged the gems to make the environment more favorable to themselves. Be on your guard - they're rather quick, and they've been known to steal loose objects off of travelers!" Jacqueline warns. "One is bad enough, but more than that and you can be easily overwhelmed... if you can't take them both down at once, I recommend focusing on one at a time!"
With that said she shuts the book. While still maintaining the light spell in her left hand to provide illumination she gestures with her right, causing bits and pieces of rubble to lift up and launch themselves at the okypetes!
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool The Lifeweaver's Codex toward her party's challenge, Okypete.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ===========================<* CHALLENGE - Okypete *>============================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- When you enter the next room, the normally well-lit dungeon proves dark. A few gemstones mounted in the upper wall flicker -- and there are cracks, suggesting that the gems that often provided light to these halls were damaged. Then, you hear the beating of leathery wings. A pair of okypetes -- vaguely feminine, fanged creatures with dark black bat wings and long, wicked claws -- sweep down, striking at you in the dark. =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Tire==============================================
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
I try.
"Is it some kind of magic, or just a million pushups?" Riley asks Eleanor, as they head into the ruin.
Jacqueline confirms she is an alchemist.
"Xander's an alchemist, too, he makes medicines!" Has he found Xander a new friend?? ...has he... forgotten that's not really a thing they can do? Possibly. Seemingly.
He walks along casually, balancing the shovel on a shoulder as it continues to give off unpleasant vibes, pausing only when they step unexpectedly into darkness.
The crystals are damaged.
"Seems like the glue was kind of wasted on the door, then..." Riley says, apparently imagining that sealing up the cracks might make the lights switch back on.
A sound of rushing wings surrounds them. He hears a vocalization from Xander that sounds like he was the first one to get strafed.
"Xander, you all right? Hey, be careful with him!" Riley calls after the monster. He seems to have also forgotten to call him Xahnder by now. Perhaps Xander has escaped the curse.
Riley, for his part, hasn't been targeted yet, which unfortunately also means he hasn't got a good idea of where the blasted things are.
Rather than swinging a cursed shovel wildly into the darkness containing their party, he sets it aside -- it kind of floats there, waiting -- and reaches for his bow, summoning a shadowy arrow and letting it fly. This happens to be a homing arrow, and once loosed, it will seek out and pursue its target -- in this case assigned loosely to 'whatever attacked Xander.'
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Dark Bow toward his party's challenge, Okypete.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ===========================<* CHALLENGE - Okypete *>============================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- When you enter the next room, the normally well-lit dungeon proves dark. A few gemstones mounted in the upper wall flicker -- and there are cracks, suggesting that the gems that often provided light to these halls were damaged. Then, you hear the beating of leathery wings. A pair of okypetes -- vaguely feminine, fanged creatures with dark black bat wings and long, wicked claws -- sweep down, striking at you in the dark. =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Tire==============================================
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ===========================<* CHALLENGE - Okypete *>============================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- When you enter the next room, the normally well-lit dungeon proves dark. A few gemstones mounted in the upper wall flicker -- and there are cracks, suggesting that the gems that often provided light to these halls were damaged. Then, you hear the beating of leathery wings. A pair of okypetes -- vaguely feminine, fanged creatures with dark black bat wings and long, wicked claws -- sweep down, striking at you in the dark. =Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Tire==============================================
=========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 2 *>========================= =============================< Results - Okypete >============================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Dark Bow 3 Combat Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 22 --(5)--> 27 Pass Eerie Flute 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 22 --(5)--> 27 Pass The Lifeweaver's Codex 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Powder Grenade 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 10 --(17)--> 27 Fail Candied Medicine 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Riley Arwell 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Overwhelm|Tire(2)|Weaken(1)|Wound(2) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Riley Arwell 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> Xander Lovell has posed.
An apothecary... Xander always looks gloomy, so a little more on his general demeanor isn't much of a change. But where Xander intends a brief response, Riley goes and offers more words in his place. Ugh. "At least I was training to be, before we took to traveling," he says.
Okypetes don't leave much room for further conversation, unfortunately, and Xander's attempt to backstab one fails to land before it swoops away, leaving him open to be assaulted by the second with a claw in his shoulder. "Worry about yourself!" he shouts to Riley through a wince.
Eleanor's music fills the room, and the sound-based okypetes do not enjoy this at all. They shriek in response, disoriented on top of contending with the music's protection. Jacqueline's light is as helpful as her advice, giving a point the okypetes don't want to be near, with her weaponization of rubble knocking them off balance. Unable to so quickly flee now, Ethius' point blank detonates one of them, sending it to the ground while Riley's arrow pierces through the second.
Once the fight is over, Xander offers out what look like round, bright red pieces of candy to everyone, the collection laid out in a kerchief in his hand so you know they're probably clean. He takes one to eat for himself. "These should slow bleeding and help accelerate healing," he says, as if he isn't the one who got the worst of it.
There's no hint of medicinal flavor at all: they taste just like candy. ...Citrus flavored today. Sorry, Riley. He warned he wasn't going to get the taste quite right.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - Light Shield *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The long, white-walled hallway before you ends in another door. However, from ceiling to wall, there is a barrier of shimmering white light. It gleams, and it proves as hard as glass. Worse than that, it casts back any strike that you make -- directing that force back at the one who did so. Breaking through this barrier will be dangerous in the extreme. =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Suffer===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius does get nicked in the arm... but as candied medicine is handed out, he doesn't take it immediately. (This is normal Ethius behavior to those aware of his, uh, peculiarities about what he prefers to put in his mouth.) "The gesture is appreciated," he says as he pockets the candy instead. He keeps staring at that shovel for a while before he ends up taking point (more because he doesn't like the faint humming he's picking up).
He steps out to a long, white-walled hallway that ends in another door... but there's an obvious barrier of shimmering white light. There's no attempt by the architecture to hide this passage away, as it gleams every so often to reassure the people of the future that those of the past did not want anyone to come inside. (That or the previous occupants left their keys somewhere and were stuck with this security system with no way to turn it off.)
Ethius at least has the empty satchel from the previous encounter, which he tosses at the forcefield. It emits a soft 'paf' noise as it doesn't so much bounce off as... just flop on the ground.
"It will not disintegrate anything on touch," Ethius remarks as he gets out his quarterstaff and strikes at it with the tip. It's a fine hit... that reflects the force back and sends him flying back several feet onto his seat.
"...It appears it returns the force inflicted upon it back to the one who dealt it." He quietly considers the next course of action, as those around him can do with the information as they will (or won't). A force strong enough to break it... what would happen if it reflected back?
DG: Ethius Hesiod has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Light Shield.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
With a laugh Eleanor answers, "Definitely magic. I try to avoid too much exercise."
Evil shovel aside... Jay has theories! "Well, I certainly don't want them stealing things from me," Eleanor remarks, since she tends to have rather a lot of loose objects because she carries around an inventory of minor magical items. She says it between phrases on her flute, of course, continuing until she's sure the magic catches. She can help another way after that, of course, but--
Well, healing between battles is healing between battles.
For now though, Eleanor takes note of the magic bow and the way the shovel hovers. Playing a flute gives her a little time to look around the battlefield and tr to avoid being hit herself.
"Ooh, candy." Eleanor accepts candy from a stranger.
"That's pretty good!" she reflects.
And then there is... this. The barrier in shimmering white light. It's not ideal. Eleanor frowns thoughtfully at it. "Are you all right, mister Hesiod?" she inquires,k and then... hrm. Force... Reflected back. Any strike...
"So," Eleanor says, "If we strike it indirectly, or perhaps pull on it instead, then the force redirected will redirect into the barrier itself!"
The theory seems sound--Eleanor steps up, and rather than pushing, focuses magic through her bracelet and pulls.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, Light Shield.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Xander hands out medicine. "Do I get one even though I wasn't hurt?" Riley asks, hopefully, then pops it into his mouth regardless, just in case Xander was going to tell him no.
Citrus is... well, pretty close behind his favored cherry flavor, and he eats it with relish. "...this is still really good even though you had to use the sad plants for it!"
He watches Ethius pocket it. "Ah, you're missing out!" Maybe he's waiting for serious injuries, Riley.
They arrive at a strange barrier, and Ethius identifies it as able to bounce back the hits it takes. Eleanor suggests pulling on the barrier instead of pushing.
Riley ponders his shovel and whether it is capable of that, before having an idea. He plunges the shovel down into the ground in front of the bottom of the barrier and tries to edge it underneath so that he can pry from the opposite side. Won't do much good if it extends into the ground, of course.
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Shovel of Valmar toward his party's challenge, Light Shield.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"I see..." Jacqueline murmurs, as Xander explains he was training to be one. She nods. "Have you considered selling them on the go? I find it's a great way to keep the traveling funds doing strong. It might be difficult to work up a customer base at first, but just keep at it."
As for Eleanor's remark, Jacqueline smiles.
"Working together the okypetes are dealt with and Jacqueline smiles. She accepts the candy from Xander and gives it a quick look-over. It seems to pass her assessment, though, as she soon pops it into her mouth.
"Ah, citrus! I approve." She remarks, moving on along with the others. They come across a white-walled hallway, protected by a barrier of shimmering light. Ethius experiments with it and Jacqueline frowns, studying it curiously.
"Hm... I imagine that the source is likely on the other side... it'd be too easy if we could just dispel the barrier from here..." She says consideringly, then looks between Ethius and Eleanor as they sum up the nature of the barrier.
"Indirectly, hm? I think I can work with that. Stand clear for a moment, please!" She warns, gesturing with her left hand. The floor around them shifts... and then, suddenly, a pillar of earth launches out, slamming into the the barrier! There's a pulse of light and the earth pillar is pulverized into rubble by the backlash... but, did it have an effect on the barrier itself...?
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Landscaper Crest toward her party's challenge, Light Shield.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - Light Shield *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The long, white-walled hallway before you ends in another door. However, from ceiling to wall, there is a barrier of shimmering white light. It gleams, and it proves as hard as glass. Worse than that, it casts back any strike that you make -- directing that force back at the one who did so. Breaking through this barrier will be dangerous in the extreme. =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Suffer===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
"Yes," Xander says with a sigh, but Riley already has the candy in his mouth. With Eleanor and Jacqueline's praise for the flavor, he averts his gaze. "... Thanks."
At the talk of alchemy, Xander shakes his head. "I... hadn't thought of it before." Would he even have the energy for that, these days? "Do you find it difficult? Doing both?" he asks Jacqueline, not even knowing why he's daring to pick at all wounds and dead possibilities.
Mister Hesoid, as Xander now only knows him to be, explains the nature of the terrible barrier in front of them. So no forcing his way through in stubborn relentlessness without breaking every bone in his body, huh? What's he even supposed to do then?
Xander reaches to his belt, then stops. One of his vials is missing. ... "Those stupid winged little thieves...!" Xander, you were explicitly warned! But it's too late to go back now. Great. There goes that idea.
How much does Xander need his bones right now, really. (He needs them very badly.) With a heavy sigh, Xander watches Riley again use his evil shove and you know what, fine, no one thinks this is that weird. Maybe he'll just prepare something in case someone else breaks a bone.
DG: Xander Lovell has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Light Shield.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - Light Shield *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The long, white-walled hallway before you ends in another door. However, from ceiling to wall, there is a barrier of shimmering white light. It gleams, and it proves as hard as glass. Worse than that, it casts back any strike that you make -- directing that force back at the one who did so. Breaking through this barrier will be dangerous in the extreme. =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Suffer===========================================
=========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 3 *>========================= ===========================< Results - Light Shield >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 15 --(13)--> 28 Pass Shovel of Valmar 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 27 --(25)--> 52 Fail Power Bracelet 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 27 --(13)--> 40 Pass Landscaper Crest 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 15 --(25)--> 40 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 27 --(13)--> 40 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Riley Arwell 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Suffer(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Riley Arwell 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> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Xander wins by not doing anything. No bone breaking, or anything. He needs all his bones, he can keep them, and that is the greatest possible reward of them all.
Eleanor goes forth and puts into practice an interesting theory - can she focus the energies inward so that it pulls, instead of pushes? She puts her magically enhanced strength to the test, but it runs into a snag - the power that runs through her arms as she tries to pull starts to feel like... exercise oh no this is bad disengage before you lose nerd cred aaaaaaaaa
(Actually no, it's more 'it eventually ejects her with equivalent force she's pulling from.')
Jay takes an indirect approach as she summons earthen pillars to do the work for her, and... let's say she can feel the vibrations from over there as she pounds at that shield, and the way the rubble falls apart is a great way to say 'yeah, glad you're not doing this directly.' It doesn't seem like it'll take much more than that, as there's some stress in the way the screen is presented...
...Then a shovel is applied directly underneath, and the barrier of light warps strangely and eerily into shimmering colors before simply giving out. (Riley may be mystified by this, because the spade of the Shovel of Valmar doesn't even get anywhere under there. But it works! He can pretend that he dug under and hit something.)
"...I am fine, Miss Eleanor," Ethius remarks belatedly as he gets up to see that the barrier is in fact down and the way forward is there. (He'll offer a hand to Eleanor to help her up if she needs it.)
DG: Jacqueline Barber has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Lunatic Garden *>=============================
=================<* CHALLENGE - Hidden Gems in the Garden *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You make your way through the white stone halls of Lunatic Garden, until you
emerge into one of the exterior portions. Here, some ancient science or
magic keeps sections of grass-covered surface alive and vibrant. There are
many terraces, some of which are high. There are also gaps between the
terraces.
The green-covered path leads to another door. However, that stone door is
locked -- and on a terrace opposite yours is a large, pyramid-shaped gem on
a stone pedestal. If you can strike the gem, it may open the door... but
that will require careful aim.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Treasure===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Does she find it difficult? Jacqueline 'hm's, frowning pensively as she considers the question.
"I don't, but... I've been at this for a while, so I have a lot of experience." Jacqueline replies. "It's something that takes some getting used to, but I find it can be quite fulfilling once you do."
Indeed, Jacqueline finds herself quite glad she hadn't struck the barrier. Even those vibrations feel pretty intense - if she had contacted it directly...
...Well, let's not dwell on that!
The moment the door is opened, sunlight begins flooding through. It appears they've stepped outside, into one of the exterior sections. It's quite beautiful, actually, featuring vibrantly green grass strewn across a series of terraces - one might start to get an idea on why it's called a 'garden'. Jacqueline looks it over, awe.
"It's beautiful..." She remarks, before looking back at the door they just came through. "I wonder... was it sealed to keep people from getting in, or out?"
From here, they can get a good view of the scale of the ruin... as well as the way forward - a large, stone door. It doesn't budge, but on a neighboring terrace, there's a pyramid-shaped gem.
"I guess we have to hit that..." She says consideringly. It's a long ways away, though, and its rather windy which may send projectiles off-course. It'll take careful aim.
For her part, Jacqueline draws out another bottle - this one filled with a pale-green liquid. Once more, a mystic touch spreads its effects across the whole party. Rather imparting strength, though, this one helps the party loosen up, aiding in freeing them of any binds that might be hindering their movement.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Rapid Remedy toward her party's challenge, Hidden Gems in the Garden.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
If you haven't got your bones, you haven't got anything!
"Experience, huh..." Xander muses. But he leaves it at that, lost in his own thoughts for a moment.
As they step out into the exterior and onto high terraces, Xander sucks in a sharp breath and glances immediately to Riley. Discreetly, he pulls out a vial from his belt to spritz into the air. A... perfume? The scent is subtle, one of warm spices mixed with oranges, and with an alchemical effect of assisting alertness and preventing dizziness.
He moves a little ahead of Riley, offering his hand back to him when it comes to the gabs and the areas where it's easier to see exactly how far they might drop if they slipped. He doesn't call any further special attention it to, though.
Seeing the gem at the end, he puts an extra dab of the mixture on his finger and rubs it at the inside of Riley's collar before slapping his hand to Riley's shoulder and giving him a flat look. "I believe in you."
Inspiring(?).
With the addition of Jacqueline's alchemy effects, he pauses, considering the changes he feels and her unique touches as a fellow alchemist.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Autumn Mist toward his party's challenge, Hidden Gems in the Garden.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Dispelling the barrier would have been nice. But they do get through it, and that counts--even if, apparently, there's something missing now. Eleanor gives Xander a sympathetic look. She shakes out her arms once her approach doesn't quite work, and is glad to ahv at least tried, but gladder that it worked after all. She does need the hand up after all that, and she accepts it.
"Interesting," Eleanor comments of the various colors. And then...
"Good question," Eleanor says to Jay about in or out--and she agrees how pretty it is. But... Hmm. "If I can get to the edge..." Eleanor makes use of another little bit of magic to keep her balance, and then pulls the greatest power of all: a very large rifle.
As she feels that much more loosneed up thanks to Jay, noting the perfume... Hmmm.
Well that's all very interesting but Eleanor aims her large gun and fires it straight for the gem. It should work.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Blue Anklet toward her party's challenge, Hidden Gems in the Garden.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius brings a hand over his eyes as he comes outside with the rest to take in the view. It is quite the view, but it also lets him better take a look at where any problematic things may be piped towards where they're going. (He doesn't internally - let alone externally - specify what such a thing might entail.)
When Jay mentions 'we have to hit that,' he gets out a strange eyeglass-looking thing and gives it a zap of Symbologically conjured electricity... and nods once in confirmation, the door and the gem are connected.
"I may be able to drift over and strike it," he remarks even noting the wind as he takes a harness, ties it around one wrist, and... Symbologically conjures hot air to turn a funny, patchy-lookin' sack into a one-person hot air balloon to try and drift over at a sluggish speed that may not overtake the natural wind going through there. If he can compensate for it correctly, he'll tap the crystal with his foot.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Riley gives Xander a little nudge. "Do you think you want to set up a traveling potions shop?" But the question is delivered a little more gently than some of the earlier ribbing.
They reach an area that is lush and beautiful, but does come with some... precarious drops. Xander starts to take some extra care with Riley, who is admittedly getting a little tense.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm not looking down... ... well, I'm looking down a little so I don't step into a chasm..."
He'll take that offered hand, though.
He can't help but smile when Xander offers his uninspiring inspiration. "Thank you for your belief..."
Jacqueline offers a potion with a calming effect, mixing with Xander's focus-sharpening blend. "We're really getting spoiled with all this alchemy..!" he says.
Around the same time Eleanor fires her gun at the gem, Riley looses another shadow arrow -- this one splits into three parts to increase his chances of a hit. The bullet's surely going to get there first, but if she should miss, maybe he'll get it.
DG: Riley Arwell has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Hidden Gems in the Garden. DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Hot Air Sack toward his party's challenge, Hidden Gems in the Garden.
=============================<* Lunatic Garden *>=============================
=================<* CHALLENGE - Hidden Gems in the Garden *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You make your way through the white stone halls of Lunatic Garden, until you
emerge into one of the exterior portions. Here, some ancient science or
magic keeps sections of grass-covered surface alive and vibrant. There are
many terraces, some of which are high. There are also gaps between the
terraces.
The green-covered path leads to another door. However, that stone door is
locked -- and on a terrace opposite yours is a large, pyramid-shaped gem on
a stone pedestal. If you can strike the gem, it may open the door... but
that will require careful aim.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Treasure===========================================
========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 4 *>======================== ===================< Results - Hidden Gems in the Garden >==================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riley Arwell 28 --(12)--> 40 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 52 --(0)--> 52 Pass Blue Anklet 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 40 --(0)--> 40 Pass Rapid Remedy 1 Agility Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ethius Hesiod 40 --(12)--> 52 Fail Hot Air Sack 2 Agility Effects: Resilient ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Xander Lovell 40 --(0)--> 40 Pass Autumn Mist 1 Agility Effects: Quicken and Fanfare ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Riley Arwell 60 --(25)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Slow(2)|Treasure(1)|Weaken(1) Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1)|Resilient(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riley Arwell 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. DG: Riley Arwell has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>==============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Jack of Angolmois *>=======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Your path leads you to a room deep within the Lunatic Garden. Here, it comes
to an end: at a large facility that hosts a deactivated generator with Elw
crystals, and doors leading onward. There is a large pit in the center. When
you enter, something begins to lift -- stone grinding against stone -- and
it proves to be an elevator.
A massive blue Metal Beast is on the stone elevator, which now fills the
pit. The Jack of Angolmois is a large, armored Metal Beast; blue steel hide
and a vaguely draconic-like structure, with huge forearms that end in clawed
fingers. It turns its head and snarls. It attacks with a powerful beam of
light, its massive claws, and the sheer physical force of its body.
=Dungeon Conditions: Maim, Fright=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
A perfume, with hints of spices and oranges... Jacqueline regards it appreciatively. It's really quite pleasant, and definitely helps clear the mind. She smiles slightly, too, as she notes the interactions between Riley and Xander.
Riley and Eleanor take aim with their respective ranged weapons. With the aid of Xander's alchemic perfume, it's a lot easier to shake off the dizziness that naturally occurs from such heights. They both fire and, indeed - Eleanor's bullet strikes the pyramid first, followed by one of Riley's arrows. The others are blown off course before they can reach it, but one is enough - the stone door leading onward opens up.
Ethius reaches the stone pyramid not long after their shots land, a little too late. He'll have to hover all the way back - but he can at least confirm that the door's not about to slam shut on them.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
"Looks like you won the quickdraw," Riley says to Eleanor. That will teach him to bring a bow to a gunfight.
"Cool balloon," Riley tells Ethius, when he finally drifts back, although he's beginning to despair of getting a reaction out of him.
They continue on their way, discovering a disused facility where an Elw-crystal generator can be found.
"Wow, look at that-- what do you think it was for?"
Something beneath them begins to gind and vibrate, and the recessed space in which they're standing starts to lift up -- an elevator?
That's when they realize they aren't alone. A huge, metal-armored creature lunges forward, raking with a claw that tosses Riley aside before it unleashes a white-hot beam of light toward the party and then charges toward the group.
Riley pushes himself up and grabs for his bow, shooting an arrow upward -- it vanishes, and a barrage of shadow arrows rains down over the creature.
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Dark Bow toward his party's challenge, Jack of Angolmois.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Riley's despair as to whether or not he can get a spoken reaction out of Ethius is--!
"...The fabric scraps are locally sourced," Ethius remarks, almost as if defensive about the character of the repurposed loot sack which is a very strange thing to potentially be hung up over, "if such appeals, you won't need to look too far for the patterns involved."
Jay may have noticed that every time they cross regions, Ethius is adamant about making sure the fabric scraps match the local environs. It's... attention to detail? Also kind of needless, but that's Ethius, he's like that.
When they come into what lies beyond, the odd man recognizes a similar thing that happened prior, throwing his forearm inward to slurred syllables to form a Symbological shield invisible to the eye. It is way less invisible (and far more noisy) once the white-hot beam of light flies towards them, deflecting much of it in loud, bright electrical noises and sparks respectively. (He gets a weird shiver down his back when an arrow strikes at the ground behind him.)
The next opportunity he has, Ethius grabs the second satchel and Symbologically casts the spell to activate it before tossing it into the big frowning face of the metal-armored creature.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Powder Grenade toward his party's challenge, Jack of Angolmois.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"Heh. I suppose so! Still, that's a very interesting bow you have!"
Stowing her gun, Eleanor waves Ethius's way as he comes back and then prepares to move on. She is in good spirits considering how well the expedition is going, but she notices--tension about heights? Well, that's fair. Eleanor doesn't have that problem, but she is sympathetic to it, on account of having grown up around the v o i d that is on the edges of Sielje Academy.
But soon there is the void of 'a monster' and Eleanor ducks to the side as she sees a shadow barrage start, pulling her flute but first holding up a Crest to shield herself so she can get off a song without being attacked.
"Be careful!" the elf calls, and begins to play an eerie set of notes, uncomfortable and strange but effective at weakening a foe.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Eerie Flute toward her party's challenge, Jack of Angolmois.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
"You know that wouldn't work," Xander says to Riley of potion businesses, although on what level he believes it destined to fail goes unspoken.
Eleanor gets the shot, but that Riley was able to keep himself steady enough for any of the arrows to hit wins him a small pat on the back from Xander as he passes by to continue to the stone door... with a little lingering for Ethius to come back around with his balloon. Jacqueline's alchemy prods at his mind a little longer. The effects are apparent enough, but there's also the manner of how she's able to apply them and at such range. Maybe there would be time to ask --
-- if not for the elevator delivering some armored monster?
"Riley!" he calls out in total and complete hypocrisy to protests in combat challenges prior. He puts one of his own candied medicines in his mouth, between his teeth, and charges the monster, apparently unarmed until, with a flash of steel, he isn't, trying to pierce directly between the plates into the monster's softer tissue, hoping he's right about where it might be keeping its vital organs.
He'll bite down on the medicine to keep him going through any claws -- or friendly fire -- he might be charging directly into.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Candied Medicine toward his party's challenge, Jack of Angolmois.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Indeed, Jacqueline has noticed. It's something she's since gotten used, catalogued in her internal Ethius Files.
They proceed inside, to a room that looks... very familiar. Jacqueline gets a chill down her spine. If it happens anything like last time, then... something's bound to come out of that elevator. But as for the crystal generator, though...
"No idea... we didn't see anything it might be connected to last time we were here." Jacqueline replies, shaking her head. "Maybe it powered something somewhere else...?"
Further theorizing will have to wait, though, as the grinding of stone heralds the rising of elevator, and on it... a rather dangerous foe. With a gesture of her left hand Jacqueline brings up a pillar of earth and ducks behind it. The beam of light carves right through it but otherwise leaves her safe, giving her time to draw the Codex out once more and flip through its pages.
"This is the Jack of Angolmois, named after a beast of Zortroan legend... it might not be as powerful as the King of the stories, but it's still a force to be reckoned with. Its sheer physical power would be bad enough on its own, but that beam of light is a real problem. The area around its mouth starts lighting up once it's getting ready to fire it, so keep a close eye on it!" Jacqueline warns. "It has no notable weaknesses, so just throw everything you have at it!"
With that she shuts her book and stands up. With a gesture of her right hand she invokes a Crest, bringing a bolt of lightning crashing down on the Jack of Angolmois from above.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool The Lifeweaver's Codex toward her party's challenge, Jack of Angolmois.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>==============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Jack of Angolmois *>=======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Your path leads you to a room deep within the Lunatic Garden. Here, it comes
to an end: at a large facility that hosts a deactivated generator with Elw
crystals, and doors leading onward. There is a large pit in the center. When
you enter, something begins to lift -- stone grinding against stone -- and
it proves to be an elevator.
A massive blue Metal Beast is on the stone elevator, which now fills the
pit. The Jack of Angolmois is a large, armored Metal Beast; blue steel hide
and a vaguely draconic-like structure, with huge forearms that end in clawed
fingers. It turns its head and snarls. It attacks with a powerful beam of
light, its massive claws, and the sheer physical force of its body.
=Dungeon Conditions: Maim, Fright=============================================
=========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 5 *>========================= ========================< Results - Jack of Angolmois >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 40 --(0)--> 40 Pass Dark Bow 3 Combat Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 52 --(0)--> 52 Pass Eerie Flute 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 40 --(0)--> 40 Pass The Lifeweaver's Codex 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 52 --(0)--> 52 Pass Powder Grenade 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 40 --(0)--> 40 Pass Candied Medicine 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Riley Arwell 85 --(35)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Maim Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Riley Arwell has successfully explored Lunatic Garden!
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Ancient Baskar Scrolls *>==================== |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- As the final trial is vanquished, a door slides open to reveal a treasure room. Inside is a shelf, which has scrolls stored on it. These are scrolls written in the Baskar language, derived from Elw, and contain information about Baskar rituals and the like from the past. These could be valued by the Baskar -- or worth money to a museum or scholarly institution. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Though he wasn't the first to hit the target, Riley is rewarded with a small Pat on the Back from Xander, and grins at him.
Still, that's a very interesting bow you have!
"Thanks! It's got a few helpful tricks to it..."
Ethius... responds(!) Riley takes a moment to consider the locally sourced nature of the balloon and the suggestion to try to make his own version.
"Is it... important for it to be local? I'm not sure where I'd get the hot air, but I'll keep that in mind if the right circumstances ever arise..."
Jacqueline speculates on the generator. Maybe it powered something somewhere else...?
"Yeah, it seems too special to be just for the lights..."
Alas, they are interrupted by the Jack of Angolmois!!
Jacqueline is able to identify it for them, warning of some of its capabilities before bringing a crashing bolt of lightning down onto it. The jolt interrupts its frenzied attack and it freezes and shudders in place for a moment, making it an easier target for Xander's knife to find its pinpoint targets.
The haunting notes of Eleanor's flute prevent it from recovering too quickly, buying Xander some time to consider escape before Ethius's grenade enters the mix.
KABLAM!!!
The creature shudders again, and finally slumps in place.
Riley claps for everyone. "Look at that! Are we all okay? I can't believe you ran right at it like that, Xander, did it get you?" It got Riley a bit, with a cut across his shoulder, but not enough to dampen his spirits, evidently.
A door behind them slides open, then, revealing an enticing treasure box.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
"You don't have to humor him," Xander tells Ethius when it comes to balloon materials.
But that was then and this is now. Somehow even further disheveled, but not visibly injured for his reckless tactics, Xander returns to the group with more of his medicine ready if anyone needs it. It seems mostly Riley does, so Xander shoves the healing candy into his mouth to cease his questioning. "I'm fine."
He glances over the others. "... Thanks," he says, quiet and begrudging. "For letting us tag along." Riley seemed to enjoy it, and the company really wasn't that bad, so whatever.
Treasure, though.
Xander opens the box with a small kick, apparently unaware you're only supposed to use that animation when interacting with a treasure chest from its side.
"My Baskar's rusty," he says as he discovers scrolls, by which he means he doesn't speak it at all. He just recognizes it. He glances back to the others. "Do we split this or is that sacrilege?" Look just because he's secretly harboring a piece of Valmar doesn't mean he wants to collect more cosmic fights to pick.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Yes," Ethius responds flatly but also insistently at the same time! ...And then provides no context as to why locally sourced fabrics are so important. He is a strange one! Who sources fabric scraps locally, which is sure to be heartwarming to... those who have discarded old, useless fabrics to be unwittingly made into strange Symbologically empowered single-person hot air balloons, because JRPGs do not care over-much how envelopes actually work sometimes!
"...I will take that advice into consideration," he responds to Xander moments later, and as such, there will be no further elaboration on this subject! He is a strange man and that is a strange priority to have.
They fight! They win. Some time later, Ethius comes along behind them and... is decidedly neutral about matters of gratitude for letting others come along.
As Xander looks back... Ethius does at least look like he might hail from the Badlands? His skin tone is about right for someone from the Baskar Colonies, but his accent does not match that part of the world at all. (Or... any part? He speaks funny.)
"...The matter of division or how it relates to your beliefs in the matter are of your concern." That's... him saying 'yeah sure whatever' in a roundabout way, isn't it?
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Through teamwork, the foe is defeated! Jacqueline breathes a sigh of relief. She tenses up again as something begins to move nearby, but relaxes when she realises it's just a door.
"It looks like we're all okay..." Jacqueline says, looking around. She glances toward Riley and Xander, then. "You two are quite talented... we're lucky we ran into you, we might've had trouble otherwise. You two make a good team!"
She beams, pleased, as Xander thanks them.
"You're welcome! I'd consider this a successful outing. And to meet new people on the way... that's even better!" She concludes.
Xander addresses the matter of the treasure, then. Baskar scrolls... her interest is piqued. Partially because she just enjoys scrolls, books, and other such things on principle, but she has another reason, too.
"Hm... actually, I have some Baskar friends who'd probably be interested in those. If you'd like, I could take them off your hands? Not for nothing, of course, I could give you a good price for them." She offers. "Of course, I won't object if you'd prefer to hold onto them."