2021-03-30: Poetry and Shovels
- Log: Poetry and Shovels
- Cast: Xander Lovell, Riley Arwell, Dean Stark, Avril Vent Fleur, Rebecca Streisand
- Where: Gemstone Cave
- Date: March 30, 2021
- Summary: Dean, Rebecca, and Avril encounter a pair who are Totally Not Murderers and bond over commonalities, by which we mean there are too many evil shovels in the world.
=============================<* Gemstone Cave *>============================== The Gemstone Cave is an ancient cavern buried deep within the Sylvara Great Woods. The cavern is nestled into a hillside and well-hidden. The interior, however, is stunning: huge, immense gemstones fill it, providing a natural light... though in so many shades that it can make the light play tricks. The upper levels are sometimes visited by adventurous townsfolk, but the lower levels are known to be filled with monsters and quite dangerous. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xVmoBV6N40 DG: A party led by Xander Lovell is now entering Gemstone Cavern. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>==============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Ducking the Tour Guide *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"The Gemstone Cavern is a natural wonder of Sylvaland. For almost a century,
our people have come here for commerce... for solace... and to find rare
pieces of crystal that are critical to power the technology of the
now-extinct Elw species. These caverns have a myriad of vibrant colors..."
So it goes.
The first part of the Gemstone Cavern is completely safe. It is completely
without danger. It is, in fact, a tourist destination. It is the deeper
places that you wish to travel to... but it can only be entered via a tour,
which costs 50 gella a person.
Somehow, you need to shake off the young Sylvaland College undergraduate
working part-time as a tour guide, and slip deeper into the cavern.
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
"I'm sorry," Xander says with a sigh, far more exasperated than apologetic. "But 'summer romance' and 'bleeding heart' are the names of plants -- it was a recipe, not poetry." It was his fault for leaving his normally locked notebook out in the open for Riley to see, but... why exactly does he feel guilty about not having been secretly writing poems anyway?!
But, frankly, having the argument in low and hushed voices is more entertaining than listening to the tour guide go on and on. Xander pulls out pocketwatch -- briefly and discreetly -- as if to check the time in impatience. That would be fine, if it told time at all. But this is an object that will never know what time it is.
It points off, whimsically as ever, and his eye follows it. He notices another path they can sneak off on, and maybe the guide isn't looking...? "Wait, shut up," he says, whether Riley is speaking or not. He grabs Riley by the arm and tries to drag him off in blatant disregard for any rules or warnings to find more interesting parts of the cavern to explore.
And quite possibly running into anyone else with potentially similar ideas...!
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Not Exactly Broken Pocketwatch toward his party's challenge, Ducking the Tour Guide.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
"If it was a recipe, you should have no problem letting me read the rest of it," Riley argues. "And if it was a poem, you should let me read it anyway so I can set it to music."
As Xander drags him deeper cavernwards, he shifts his guitar from his back into his arms, and begins to strum and sing.
"Summer love... my heart is bleeding~ won't you tell me the rest, I'm right here pleading...?"
It's not what you might call stealthy, but with any luck they've already slipped out of eyeshot and earshot from the guide.
DG: Riley Arwell has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Ducking the Tour Guide.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
It sounds like Xander is having the opposite problem that Rebecca has had in the past. Dean does not comment on this because if he pointed this out aloud, he's certain Rebecca would string him up by his toes. So to speak. Probably.
The tour guide *is* kind of boring--he'd thought it a good idea to hire one since, obviously a professional guide would know what they're doing, right? But they're only staying up in the well-explored, safe parts of the cave. Not their fault, and it makes sense when he thinks about it, but... it's not the experience Dean was hoping to have.
So at one point, Dean simply stops. "Okay, no offense, but--" He gestures to his best friends. "We're all experienced drifters, so we're just gonna go ahead and explore the rest on our own, okay?" He waves to the tour guide and smiles brightly with the confidence and lack of regrets of one who's already paid for the tour and has been fighting monsters professionally for almost four years now. "Don't worry about us, and have a safe trip back!"
And with that, he simply turns around and walks towards the nearest ladder and/or pit leading deeper into the cave. From the sounds of a guitar and some sung lyrics, it looks like another group had the same idea.
DG: Dean Stark has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Ducking the Tour Guide.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Avril is...
Avril, to the tour guide's point of view, was there one moment ago just before they round a bend and then isn't.
She, similar to and yet unlike Dean, has apparently opted to just walk right on off away from the tour group at a particular moment, her mirror in hand. The only real difference is that she does so more or less quietly, if with a similar nonchalance as her blue-haired friend.
No, her real interest is in the strange feeling she has about this place. Shimmering lights stream up off the mirror's surface as she walks, slowly putting one foot ahead of the other as she searches her feelings with the mirror's aid.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Mirror of De Soto toward her party's challenge, Ducking the Tour Guide.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
Rebecca isn't one to eavesdrop! Certainly not, except... all the hushed talk about 'not poetry but cooking' has piqued her interest...
And she doesn't know of any plants that are named 'summer romance' and 'bleeding heart'.
... so she thinks she knows what's going on. She thinks that someone on this tour is a secret romantic and is just embarrassed about it.
And thus, Rebecca wonders what kind of a love poetry this man writes... for... purely academic reasons...
... Riley may catch a glance his way though like Rebecca is aghast... shrivelling on the spot on the inside at the thought of anyone reciting her poetry like that aloud and making fun of it.
I mean there's nothing unusual about local herbs having regional names... like that. I use summer romance and bleeding heart in my cooking all the time.
Is... what she imagines herself saying, only she doesn't, because she buries her face in her hands thinking she'd sound like a total goof if she said that.
It's thus that she notices that the two are sneaking off on a path... and then Dean stops. And...
"Dean that's..." Rebecca pauses, as she considers that pair going off on their own, and flips the guide a single gella coin. "... exactly right. For your troubles! Take care!"
And follows off alongside Avril... if she's got her mirror out, Rebecca figures that... well... Avril's instincts have always led them to rather interesting situations, so she'll trust them right now.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Ducking the Tour Guide.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>==============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Ducking the Tour Guide *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"The Gemstone Cavern is a natural wonder of Sylvaland. For almost a century,
our people have come here for commerce... for solace... and to find rare
pieces of crystal that are critical to power the technology of the
now-extinct Elw species. These caverns have a myriad of vibrant colors..."
So it goes.
The first part of the Gemstone Cavern is completely safe. It is completely
without danger. It is, in fact, a tourist destination. It is the deeper
places that you wish to travel to... but it can only be entered via a tour,
which costs 50 gella a person.
Somehow, you need to shake off the young Sylvaland College undergraduate
working part-time as a tour guide, and slip deeper into the cavern.
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>==============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Ducking the Tour Guide *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"The Gemstone Cavern is a natural wonder of Sylvaland. For almost a century,
our people have come here for commerce... for solace... and to find rare
pieces of crystal that are critical to power the technology of the
now-extinct Elw species. These caverns have a myriad of vibrant colors..."
So it goes.
The first part of the Gemstone Cavern is completely safe. It is completely
without danger. It is, in fact, a tourist destination. It is the deeper
places that you wish to travel to... but it can only be entered via a tour,
which costs 50 gella a person.
Somehow, you need to shake off the young Sylvaland College undergraduate
working part-time as a tour guide, and slip deeper into the cavern.
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
========================<* Gemstone Cavern - Round 1 *>========================= ======================< Results - Ducking the Tour Guide >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Not Exactly Broken Pocketwatch 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca Streisand 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean Stark 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Mirror of De Soto 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Xander Lovell 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Tire(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Xander Lovell 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: Riley Arwell has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - The Maze of Gems *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You come to a room that hasn't been mined before. Here, countless gemstones grow up from the ground -- and the glowing, multi-colored gems have many sharp edges. Even brushing one will cut you. There are precarious, narrow paths through the crystals -- forming a maze. At times, you have to squeeze; with a few wrong movements, you can injure yourself badly. =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Xander's eyebrow twitches as Riley manages to string the recipe together into a song, his jaw set with a new kind of frustration. "...That's probably better than what I'd have come up with." Is he charmed? No, shut up. Wait, that part needs to be out loud. "I said shut up," he hisses urgently.
"The caverns have a myriad of vibrant colors..." the tour guide drones on. "...And --" She stops, squinting and adjusting her glasses. Wait, why is there music? She glances away, then back, and Avril's gone. She doesn't know it's an Avril she's missing, but definitely someone's gone. "And I think it might be haunted?!"
Then Dean announces he's leaving and off he goes, and Rebecca with him. "Excuse me, sir, ma'am, you can't just --! Um!" She catches the extra gella in a clumsy fumble, left stammering as she loses a chunk of her tour group.
Successfully fled, Xander looks back to see if they've been caught or followed. They... have? Xander stares blankly at the others who now seem to be in the same cavern with them.
"Er. Hi."
The picture of social competence: Xander.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
"Where are we going, by the way?" Riley asks, because he was too distracted by trying to nudge Xander's secret poem out of him to be paying attention to being dragged deeper into the cavern.
"Oh, shit, we've drawn a crowd. See, Xander? Everyone wants to hear the rest of your poem. You need to give the people what they want!"
Riley, that is not why they are here. Also, why do you do these things to Xander?
Everyone finds out pretty much immediately why this is not a sanctioned part of the tour route. The gemstones here -- while beautiful -- are razor sharp, tall as a person, and densely packed. As they make their way through them, Riley has to angle himself sideways and hold his breath, holding the guitar out to one side as he scooches in between two jagged rows. "My heart's about to be bleeding for real," he comments.
DG: Riley Arwell has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Maze of Gems.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
"Don't worry, we'll find our own way back!" Dean reassures the tour guide as he's walking off. If people get fired for letting this kind of thing happen, he doesn't know about it. Hopefully she won't get into too much trouble... but let's be frank, this is definitely not the first group that has done this kind of thing. She'll be all right, probably.
So as he and Avril and Rebecca stroll deeper into the cave, led by Avril's mirror, they happen to run into that pair that had been talking about plants and poems. Xanders stares at them like a deer in headlights. The headlights are Dean's bright and friendly smile.
"Hi!" he replies, waving to his two new friends, because every person Dean meets is a friend. Except for JANUS CASCADE OF THE CASCADE GANG. (He knows what he did.) "So you guys're here to explore the deeper parts too, huh?" He thumbs over his shoulder at his friends. "You wanna come with us? The more, the merrier!" He nods to his companions in turns and adds, "That's Avril, by the way--that's Rebecca--and I'm Dean!" And he pins Xander again under the highbeam of his smile. And Riley, too, but Riley is probably experiencing it differently. "What're your names?"
He doesn't comment on the poem, even though Riley practically begs them all to. He knows better than that.
It's not far to go to reach places previously unexplored by--anyone, really. As they descend into deeper parts, they find a room full of sharp crystals jutting up from the ground. It's definitely going to be tough to get through this part... Dean uses his scarf to tie his coat tighter around himself, then inches sideways through the path available. "Everybody be careful! It'd suck if that happened," he comments, jumping off Riley's quip.
DG: Dean Stark has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Maze of Gems.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Why do you do these things to Xander, Riley!
Xander brings his hand to his forehead with a sigh. "No one wants to hear a poem I didn't write." He visibly begins to wilt under the blinding brilliance of Dean's smile. It is physically painful, too powerful to behold.
"It's, uh, it's Xander," he manages. He gestures to Riley. "The loudmouth over there is Riley. We're --" Xander's eye glances aside. Riley why are you making him give the introduction? (Riley isn't making you do anything right now, Xander.) "-- partners?"
He shakes his head with a heavy sigh. "I... guess that's what we're doing," he says of joining together. It has been 36 hours since he demanded Riley not subject him to teaming up with other Drifters. (This one isn't Riley's fault either...!)
As the gemstone caverns turn aggressive -- or aggressive as rocks can get without moving -- Xander gives a spritz of a subtle fragrance before trying to squeeze through. As alchemy, the scent inspires a degree of invigorated focus that may help the others keep a sharp awareness of their surroundings and steady enough to navigate the more precarious angles.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Autumn Mist toward his party's challenge, The Maze of Gems.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Rebecca: the only one of the three of them that has any common sense.
It takes a few moments before Avril glances up from her mirror, but when she does, she discovers she isn't alone. ...Not with her friends, that is.
"Hello," she says to Xander, mirror still streaming pale streamers of light for a moment more. "We have not met before, have we?" she says, which is fortunately the moment at which Dean, who is better at things like 'being a people person' and 'making even relatively normal conversation' enters.
Introductions ensue. Avril ducks her head in a bow. "It is good to meet you," she says.
"Poetry...? I see. Poems have the power to calm the heart and the mind," she says to their new friends (?). "Would you care to share one or two of them with us? I feel that..." She hesitates a moment, then frowns, only to shake her head. "...I felt, nearly, as if I could remember something. But it is gone," she says, turning towards Dean and Rebecca.
With introductions out of the way, it's onwards into the caves.
"..." Avril clutches her gown that much more tightly with her free hand, the other holding an odd octagonal piece of metal to her chest. It shimmers with a soft white light.
"Lucadia... if you would grant us your grace," she murmurs.
Hopefully it's just the agility of the Sea Guardian and not the power of Jump.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, The Maze of Gems.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
"Fancy running into the two of you..."
However Riley teases Xander continuously about the poem.
"Poem?"
Rebecca tries to play off what Riley says, as she coughs into the side of her fist, "And here I thought you two were exchanging recipes... Hey if he's a poet. There's nothing wrong with that... means he must have a rich and complex inner life. Not that that's any of my business."
Though Rebecca seems... taken aback, as Avril says that she felt as if she could nearly remember something, but it's gone. "Wait... really? That... sort of thing almost triggered a memory Avril?" Rebecca feels like she's potentially ... reassessing... something...
Rebecca appreciates Dean introducing her at this point, so she doesn't have to seem... enthusiastic about running into this pair, in particular one of them.
"Nice to meet you both." She responds, "Guess if we're going the same way..."
She tries to wait until Riley isn't looking, to wink Xander's way, not flirtatiously or anything, but just to try to communicate that she's got his back on this.
She's feeling instant sympathy for someone that writes... and hides such things from the eyes of others.
Unfortunately the same way involves razor sharp gemstones. Rebecca finds herself twisting and contorting herself in strange poses to avoid things with the aid of Lucadia's grace and Xander's alchemy. Until... she unholsters this strange looking gun, and points it in the distance through a gap in the craggy gemstones. "Well we can't have that..."
Rebecca fires a strange blue light into the distance, then points it at their feet for another... orange oval portal. And just drops through it.
Then her voice calls back in the distance, "It's safe on the other side!"
Then she amends... "... Pretty safe... uh... there's a bit of a landing to thread?" ... as she had forgotten in the adrenaline rush of the moment that not everyone trains to stick the landing.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has used her Tool Portal Guns toward her party's challenge, The Maze of Gems.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================== =======================<* CHALLENGE - The Maze of Gems *>======================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- You come to a room that hasn't been mined before. Here, countless gemstones grow up from the ground -- and the glowing, multi-colored gems have many sharp edges. Even brushing one will cut you. There are precarious, narrow paths through the crystals -- forming a maze. At times, you have to squeeze; with a few wrong movements, you can injure yourself badly. =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
========================<* Gemstone Cavern - Round 2 *>========================= =========================< Results - The Maze of Gems >========================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Autumn Mist 1 Agility Effects: Quicken and Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca Streisand 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Portal Guns 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean Stark 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 5 --(13)--> 18 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Sea Medium 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Xander Lovell 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Injure(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Xander Lovell 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.
So you guys're here to explore the deeper parts too, huh?
"Is that what we're doing?" Riley looks at Xander for confirmation. "Yes, probably! We'd--" For what may seem like inexplicable reasons, he mouths the words '36 hours' at Xander, and then continues, "...love to join up with you!" He grins, showing a bit of fang. Then Xander introduces them and calls them partners which causes him to gape at him delightedly, even though this will probably only discourage him from ever doing it again.
Dean doesn't bite when it comes to the poem, but Avril does ask to hear it, which Riley backs up by giving him plaintive puppy eyes.
Avril is a bit more concerned that Riley's teasing is meant to make him feel bad about his poetry.
Hey if he's a poet. There's nothing wrong with that...
"I know! But that's exactly why I want to hear it," he protests.
The group shimmies their way through the crystals -- Xander contributes an alchemical perfume to sharpen their focus, while Avril gives a small prayer for grace. Rebecca, on the other hand, takes the express route, opening a portal beneath their feet and jumping through.
"...That's amazing and I have to do it," says Riley, leaping in after her. This is followed shortly by "AAH!" and THUD because somehow, despite leaping into a hole and getting a verbal warning, he wasn't expecting the drop.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================== ===============<* CHALLENGE - Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels *>================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The cave path that you enter is narrow -- only two people could walk shoulder to shoulder -- and there are fewer large gem formations in the walls here. The gems glow, providing light. As you walk, though, you realize: each word, each footstep, every last sound echoes. This hallway has, unfortunately, excellent acoustics... which could give you away to some monster. You need to find a way to move quietly, to not draw them to you. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
She nods, soberly, when Rebecca asks after her comment about 'nearly remembering'. "Yes. It felt for a moment as if I were on the verge of recalling something. Something to do with... poetry?" She tilts her head slightly to the left, as if to think it over. "It felt... almost as if it were a 'warm' memory. I wonder... whatever it might have been..."
But it's gone now, slipping away like a fish into the depths of the abyss.
"I wonder if it might be possible to beckon it once again."
Even if she knows that the more she struggles for her memories, the more they slip away. Perhaps it will be the case that some day, she will simply remember. Right out of the blue.
But it feels like a possible day such as that is still very far from her.
With Lucadia's aid, she's able to slip through the tight confines of the corridor, without running afoul of the crystals. "--Oh, are you alright?" Avril asks of Riley, once she's managed to slip through to the other side.
Not that it's all that much wider out here. Or in the path that continues on to the left. In fact, it's just about given them the space to walk two abreast along that path, the entrance positioned just behind where Avril has positioned herself--
And then there's the matter of the echo.
"Are you alright?"
"you alright?"
"alright?..."
"alright..."
"right..."
Avril slowly lifts a hand to cup over her mouth, her gaze first behind herself at the glimmering path then back at the rest of them.
With an echo like that, they're going to have to be really, really quiet. She pauses for a moment, regarding all of them critically, her gaze settling finally on Dean's... spurs.
As quietly as she can, she draws out her mirror and, taking a quiet breath, begins to walk ahead of the rest of them, light streaming off the mirror as she tries to draw upon (what she thinks is) the power of the Ley.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Mirror of De Soto toward her party's challenge, Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Now Riley also has a blinding smile, and everyone is smiling and being cheerful about this. What is this atmosphere?! The other Drifters had been friendly, but this is a strange new level of it. And that delighted gape gets a Look back that confirms for Riley that he has Ruined It.
Rebecca's wink makes Xander flinch. He senses the secret message in its camaraderie, and, but, why? It's making him feel guilty again! Avril asks for poems on account of something that sounds rather serious and important to her, and Xander sighs. "It was really just --" He shakes his head and gestures to Riley. "Ask him if you want words strung up in rhyme and metaphor." But puppy eyes get involved and Xander clenches his jaw, making a low almost sort of growl sound of frustration.
"I wonder if it might be possible to beckon it once again."
Great. Now he's going to have to come up with something.
When there's a portal, Xander only manages to say, "Riley, do not even--" before Riley is already gone. He hurries to where Riley fell, helping him up carefully. Avril's echo warns them of the problem with this cave, and Xander opts not to say anything further. Maybe it'll give him time to... think of... a poem. Or. Whatever.
He makes his way forward, feeling the impatience seep in already, and takes up his pocketwatch again to look at it. It seems to calm his nerves, though he also seems to stuff it away the second anyone tries to look at him.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Not Exactly Broken Pocketwatch toward his party's challenge, Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
'We're -- partners?'
"Oh," Dean says. And then: "Romantic partners?"
There is not a whit of teasing or ill will in his voice or expression. It is a simple, straightforward question, borne of a simple, straightfoward curiosity. It's the same type of guilelessness that no doubt prompts Avril to ask to hear more of those poems of Xander's. One can see how and why these two might be such close friends. Partners, even.
Not romantic partners, though. Such positions are reserved for other people. And Dean still doesn't comment on the poetry, though he does grimace a bit when Rebecca gets in on that too. Fortunately, there are *portals* to step through, making the trip through the razor-sharp jewels much, much either.
There is Avril's comment about almost remembering, though, and Dean looks at her with interest. "A memory, huh? Maybe we could work on it later. Um... Rebecca could help you with it, maybe!" He braces momentarily for Rebecca to deny that she would ever be of any help with poetry. In that moment of silence, he realizes that--wow, this part of the cavern has SUCH an echo. Which would be fine if there weren't also monster shadows lurking around at the edges of the cave. He looks over at Avril, who stares down at the spurs on his boots.
...they do kinda clink a lot, don't they...
Stealth is not really Dean's forte, but he *does* have a bullet on his ARMS that allows him and others to see hidden things. Maybe they'll find a shortcut through this part of the cave that'll let them avoid noise-sensitive monsters. Barring that, maybe they'll find some treasure that'll make dealing with a convergence of monsters worthwhile.
DG: Dean Stark has used his Tool Detector toward his party's challenge, Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Romantic partners?
"Yes!" says Riley, but not without a look at Xander to see if he's going to contradict him. Or maybe just to see how he reacts to it.
And a bit later... there's a portal. And a thud. "I just got a little spooked, I'm fine!" Riley accepts Xander's help in getting up; he's not above relishing the attention of it, and dusts himself off. "It was worth it." He realizes their voices are reverberating. And their words seem to be followed by a scuttling, like maybe they've gotten the attention of something trying to find them.
He frowns. Quiet is not... a specialty of Riley's. Couldn't they just fight the monster? But everyone else is being so quiet, and careful.
But the delicious reverb in here just makes him want to sing. His fingers twitch toward his guitar. He must be strong...!
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Musical Interlude toward his party's challenge, Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
Rebecca suddenly becomes real quiet on the idea of poetry jarring Avril's memory again. She doesn't say anything else, just gives Avril this look of... wonder.
Maybe some things might be worth fielding embarrassment.
... well she has more immediate things to deal with.
Rebecca's stammers as Dean asks if they're romantic partners. "W-Why would you think that first!?" Before she then squints at Riley confirming it, as if perhaps... while startled, not so quick to instantly believe it.
But... after the portal leap.
"Ah! Sorry! That one's on me." Rebecca feels somewhat aghast as she tries to help Riley up, though Xander beats her to it, "Forgot for a second that not everyone can do a round off on a dime."
Between that and his correction from before, her opinion of him may be quickly on the recovery.
"What... Dean!?"
As he suggests that she might help her on it. "O-Of course I'll help just... why would you even think I could help... with that?"
Rebecca tries to recover, awkwardly, before giving Dean a longgggg look, "You're not looking at things you're not supposed to be, right?"
As the corridor has this... strange reverb, Rebecca looks at the others, instantly trying to shush herself up, and taking out a strange looking badge. And wraps it in a handkerchief, folding it over several times... and taking it with them.
Every so often, there's a buzz from it, a vibration, and a muffled tone...
... usually at a certain critical juncture, that might help guide them a bit.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has used her Tool Treasure Tone toward her party's challenge, Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================== ===============<* CHALLENGE - Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels *>================ |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The cave path that you enter is narrow -- only two people could walk shoulder to shoulder -- and there are fewer large gem formations in the walls here. The gems glow, providing light. As you walk, though, you realize: each word, each footstep, every last sound echoes. This hallway has, unfortunately, excellent acoustics... which could give you away to some monster. You need to find a way to move quietly, to not draw them to you. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
========================<* Gemstone Cavern - Round 3 *>========================= =================< Results - Sound Carries Down Dark Tunnels >================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Not Exactly Broken Pocketwatch 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca Streisand 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Treasure Tone 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean Stark 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Detector 2 Wits Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 18 --(0)--> 18 Pass Musical Interlude 2 Wits Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Mirror of De Soto 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Xander Lovell 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Injure(1)|Stupify(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Xander Lovell has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Yes, perhaps so?" Avril does not sound entirely certain about this, frowning faintly as she makes the comment, but neither does she sound like she's unwilling to try. Stranger things have happened in this world. "In that case, might I trouble you again later, Riley?" she says, when Xander says to direct such inquiries over towards his partner. Which, speaking of--
Dean asks if Riley and Xander are romantic partners. Avril sort of regards the two of them for a moment -- more quietly inquisitive, as if she were instead watching a rare pair of birds in a tree.
"Oh? I see. Please accept my congratulations," she says when Riley response in the enthusiastic affirmative, and this response from her too is... not cold, precisely, but quite formal. But at least she isn't making a fuss?
Speaking of Riley, he seems to be doing alright! Which is a good thing.
Of course their nexxt obstacle is that particular stretch of cavern that might make the sounds of their advance carry just that much more. After all, Dean's spurs do in fact tend to go jingle jangle jingle. But this time as they stroll (perhaps not quite merrily) along, there is no sound of note to carry down the cavern ahead of them. Between Avril's mirror (and the focus for her powers that have been channeled through it), Xander's careful approach, Riley's self-restraint, they make their way forward in at least relative silence. A shortcut, that they find courtesy of Dean's Tool Detector and Rebecca's badge, provides a perhaps much-needed early departure from the echoing path.
DG: Dean Stark has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Inconvenient Boulders *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Huge boulders have fallen down from higher up. This appears to have happened in the past -- dust has long since settled, and a grime is across the boulders. Gemstone Cavern was mined actively, in the past. Miners likely caused boulders to come falling down, which now rest here... in front of the entrance to the next chamber. The two boulders have piled up -- and will need to be broken or pushed aside. =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Tire========================================
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
'Yes!' Riley instantly replies. Dean nods. "Oh, I thought so!" he says. He pauses and blinks at Rebecca when she starts spazzing out about it. "Why wouldn't I? Riley's kind of obvious about it," he replies, confused. "I'm surprised *you* didn't go there first, Rebecca. You love that kind of stuff." Poor Xander; it seems like the conversation is rapidly progressing without him. At least Avril isn't making a big deal out of it...?
Of course, then Rebecca has to Suspect Dean of certain things, which is exactly what he *didn't* want, so at least there's a new distraction in the form of him sputtering and going wide-eyed in panic. "N-no, I'm not!! I haven't since we left Capo Bronco! It's just, you know..."
More awkward silences!! Good for everyone else, there's a sudden roadblock in the form of boulders in the road, the dust around them settled into a fine layer of, well... dirt. "O-oh, hey! Will you look at that, the path's blocked! We're gonna have to move all these rocks to get it unblocked! Let's get to it!!" Rather than get out a shovel, though, Dean pulls out a hexagonal, metallic disc--much like the one Avril had brought out earlier--and holds it up in front of his chest. "C'mon, Dinoginos! Help us out here!"
Upon calling upon the power of the Mountain Guardian, a whorl of magic power rises around the group. It won't last more than a few moments, and it would be even less time if they were in the middle of combat, but it'll leave them all temporarily invincible. That means they won't get hurt if they use any explosives and they won't tire out if they use an excess of brute force. For his part, Dean puts the Original Artificial Medium away and demonstrates the magic he just used by pulling rocks out with his bare hands. A solution where he literally can just throw himself at the problem!
DG: Dean Stark has used his Tool Mountain Medium toward his party's challenge, Inconvenient Boulders.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
It isn't that Xander's unaware of the possible interpretations, but he did assume partners was going to be taken to mean Drifter partners or business partners. Hell, even partners in crime, but not what Dean just let fall out of his mouth. Xander thought Dean was the innocent one here, all smiles and friendliness and not getting on his case about poems!
He stares at Dean for it, then spins around to stare at Riley's quickly delivered confirmation, realizing this has been Riley's explicit intention with every introduction to this point. Avril and Dean go right along with it -- and Avril's response worse with the formality implying a more official sort of union. He can't find his voice, and ultimately ends up denying nothing while desperately trying not to look anyone in the eye.
The forced quiet in the next cavern gives Xander time to gnaw on the concept of poetry, and he gains new appreciation for the way Riley can so rapidly throw together even his most absurd verses. Once they've left the echoes and the scuttling behind, he turns to Avril. "Poetry for lost memories, right? I've heard of stranger treatments." He takes a moment to mentally recite what he's come up with before launching dryly into it.
"Summer romance for springtime's bloom;
Pruned away by winter's gloom.
Autumn thorns into stem embed;
Sutures stitched with vine as thread.
Entwined to mend a bleeding heart;
Until death do they part."
Xander throws a glare toward Riley as a preemptive threat, then shrugs back at Avril. "...Help with anything?" Probably not, he figures. She mentioned a warm memory, not an unapologetically gothic one. "It may, in fact, work better coming from your friend." He gestures toward Rebecca with a toss of his head. But he doesn't mean to throw Rebecca to the wolves no matter how obvious her protests, and she has been on his side until now, so he looks to her and adds: "Experience or not, you just seem like someone better suited to warmth."
At the sight of boulders, the hair on the back of Xander's neck goes up. Xander can already sense it. He snaps another glare to Riley, making a cutting gesture with his hand. He knows this is useless, but he likes to pretend. Really, he shouldn't judge, because his plan is to start shoving and grabbing them alongside Dean. At least the Mountain Guardian might make him less likely to overexert himself if he gets frustrated enough to pick a fight with a rock he can't win.
DG: Xander Lovell has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Inconvenient Boulders. All channels have been gagged.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
There's a small disagreement between Rebecca and Dean over whether you should go around assuming people who say they're partners are romantic partners. Riley contemplates this for a moment. "Is that not what you think of first? We're still kind of trying the word out." Until just now, Riley was the only one trying the word out. "Maybe it's not direct enough? But 'boyfriend' sounds so... temporary."
And then there's portal mishap. Ah! Sorry! That one's on me.
"Don't be, that was great, I want to do it again! ...Can you make one that's a little less vertical, though?"
Dean suggests that Rebecca might be able to help Avril jog her memory. It seems she has some sort of amnesia?
Avril asks Riley if he could assist.
"Hm? I could sing you a song... or... speak you a song, if that would make it more like poetry." He pauses, thinking of Dean's comment. "Are you a poet too?" he asks Rebecca. "Don't worry, I won't pester you for your poems, that's a special torture I reserve for Xander."
But this doesn't mean he is immune to curiosity about their temporary party members. "Wait, what happened in Capo Bronco...?"
A silent corridor is endured, and as they emerge, Xander reveals... his poem(!!!!) Riley freezes, his head turned toward Xander with a silent, smiling gasp. He puts a hand to his heart and gestures to Xander excitedly. Why is he still miming? He seems to have interpreted Xander's glare as 'don't say a word.'
Then they come to an area blocked by boulders. Riley gives Xander a shrug as if to say 'it can't be helped,' and holds out a hand in front of himself.
The ground stirs as a polearm emerges, dark but scrawled with patterns that pulse with magenta light. It gives off an energy that is... unpleasant. It sends a chill down one's spine and puts them in mind of the inevitability of the grave.
It emerges fully, and Riley grabs it up with gusto, giving it a spin. It's a shovel. A palpably evil.. shovel. He starts using it to dig up rocks.
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Shovel of Valmar toward his party's challenge, Inconvenient Boulders.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
"Because Xander hasn't given me a reason to think their relationship is anything but professional!" Rebecca retorts, suddenly feeling like she's in an alternate reality where Dean Stark is theorizing on someone being in a committed romantic relationship. "I'm surprised you went there. You've never been interested in that kind of stuff."
Riley though confirms it though, and it... well, his tone is different enough, serious enough, that maybe Rebecca actually starts to believe it, "Huh... well... that's a pretty mature way of... looking at it." She concedes to Riley... like her opinion of him has become like a work in progress.
Rebecca's stare on Dean becomes intense though when it comes to the idea of him reading her travel diary/poetry journal. And Dean may view any number of scenarios where there are freakouts based on the one he's likely thinking about back in Capo Bronco... but Rebecca surprisingly manages to keep her cool... maybe because there's people outside their little circle present... especially when Riley shows curiosity, "Oh it was just some little... you know, quarrel over nothing." Before she then refocuses on Dean, demonstrating how 'nothing' it was, "You really didn't-? Hey don't change the subject-!"
Xander's silence though has been striking, which is why Rebecca is taken off guard when he launches into poetry for the cause of Avril's lost memory...
... as if shocked by his courage. Then looking at Avril for confirmation... her cheeks becoming a bit pink at the idea of it coming from her, stuttering like her brain was actively short-circuiting. "Aha... ha... um..." Before she then clears her throat, "I think poetry- like people- has different sides." Rebecca says conversationally as if to distract from the fact that even her words keep coming back to Avril, "I appreciate you showing yours to Avril."
Tipping a hand by her red hair as if in salute, she back peddles after Dean towards the boulders. And...
Rebecca has pulled out a Medium. But then, as Riley pulls out a palpably evil shovel, Rebecca actually gasps...
... and then lets out the bigggeesssttt groannnn...
"There's another shovel like that!?"
Rebecca starts silently hoping that Riley didn't commit pun crimes in this. She'll be too distracted by despair to put too much effort in clearing the boulders.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Inconvenient Boulders.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Inconvenient Boulders *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Huge boulders have fallen down from higher up. This appears to have happened in the past -- dust has long since settled, and a grime is across the boulders. Gemstone Cavern was mined actively, in the past. Miners likely caused boulders to come falling down, which now rest here... in front of the entrance to the next chamber. The two boulders have piled up -- and will need to be broken or pushed aside. =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Tire========================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
Perhaps in a sense that long enforced moment of silence did them all more good than anyone realized...
They duck down that side route (that takes them away from the echoing hallway which they were roaming) and immediately run into a problem that threatens to cut their journey down this particular pathway rather short-- there's a boulder in the way!
"A spoken song? Is that... what poetry is? Hmm, I had not thought of it as such," Avril remarks, when Riley makes his own offer.
"...Xander?"
She turns then, tilting her head inquisitively to one side as she regards the young man for a moment. "Yes. I cannot say that it will not work," she says to him.
Before he launches into a poem.
"..."
Slowly, she clasps her hands against her chest, her fingers entwined. Her gaze turns downward for a moment; the look in her eyes is a distant one.
"The seasons..." she murmurs at last. "Mending... a bleeding heart..."
At length she inclines her head in a slow nod. "Thank you, Xander. That was a lovely poem. I feel..." Avril shakes her head. "It is not 'a memory', but a feeling, I suppose. I feel... a little bit sad," she continues after a moment more. "Though... it is not a terrible way to feel. 'Time moves on, and eventually, takes all along with it...'" she seemingly quotes, turning back towards their obstacle and regarding it in silence for a long moment.
A poem from Rebecca instead...
"...I would like to hear one of your poems, too, Rebecca."
This probably doesn't help anything at all right now. ...For Rebecca, at least.
When Avril moves, she moves quickly, pulling out her sword-- or rather, it would have been her sword if it still had a blade in it. Instead, one finger hooks about the trigger embedded in Absolute Zero's hilt and she lashes out with the beam whip for the rock, again and again.
"Oh," she says at a remove. "Is that not like Dean's own shovel?"
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Absolute Zero Beam toward her party's challenge, Inconvenient Boulders.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================== ====================<* CHALLENGE - Inconvenient Boulders *>===================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Huge boulders have fallen down from higher up. This appears to have happened in the past -- dust has long since settled, and a grime is across the boulders. Gemstone Cavern was mined actively, in the past. Miners likely caused boulders to come falling down, which now rest here... in front of the entrance to the next chamber. The two boulders have piled up -- and will need to be broken or pushed aside. =Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Tire========================================
========================<* Gemstone Cavern - Round 4 *>========================= ======================< Results - Inconvenient Boulders >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 5 --(16)--> 21 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca Streisand 5 --(8)--> 13 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean Stark 5 --(8)--> 13 Pass Mountain Medium 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 18 --(8)--> 26 Pass Shovel of Valmar 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avril Vent Fleur 5 --(8)--> 13 Pass Absolute Zero Beam 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Xander Lovell 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Overzealous(2)|Tire(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Xander Lovell 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> Dean Stark has posed.
Riley re-confirms that he and Xander are totally dating, and Xander says nothing to the contrary, so this state of affairs continues. "Oh, did you two just recently start dating? It must be nice," Dean says, continue to smile and be friendly. (Sorry, Xander.) "There *are* a lot of different types of partners so I guess it could be confusing, yeah." 'Boyfriend' sounds temporary, though? "Does it? I guess I never really thought about that kind of thing," Dean admits, scratching his head. "What other words are you guys thinking of using?"
...What other words *are* there? That's another thing Dean's never really thought about, which Rebecca points out. Dean frowns at her in confusion. "Sure, I'm not that interested, but it was just so obvious. And Xander's clearly the shy type! Of course he wouldn't be loud about it like Riley," he points out. A look of confusion crosses his face. "Wait. This can't be right; *Rebecca* notices stuff and *I'm* the dense one." He pauses to chew on that fact; then he looks back at Riley. "Were you joking about being romantic partners??" He then looks at Xander for confirmation. "Was he joking?"
As for poems and Capo Bronco, Dean will absolutely leave both of those things to Rebecca. He doesn't dare mention that she had (has?) a poetry journal, and he sure isn't going to let her change the subject *back*. Maybe Xander sharing his will make it less awkward...
"That's nice!" he comments on it, possibly demonstrating at the same time that he didn't understand it at all.
But then Riley summons up a *shovel*, and Dean lights up. It doesn't matter that it's palpably evil. It's a shovel. "Oh wow, where'd you get that shovel?! It's so edgy! How'd you summon it like that?? I still have to carry mine around!" Speaking of, when Rebecca and Avril bring up *his* shovel, and in excitement, he pulls it out from under his coat: Ace of Spades. "Here, check it out!" he declares cheerfully, a *stark* contrast to Ace of Spades itself. It's a more broody and sinister (as opposed to outright evil) piece of work than Riley's partner, but nonetheless streaked with black and indigo and violet. Its shaft is inset with eight indentations, one of which is filled by a round, sparkling gem. The blade is both curved and pointed, the handle is so black it seems like it might suck in all light, and in the crosshaft there is an eye, widely open and bulging, looking desperately in all directions in rapid, twitching motions as if searching for an escape... or a victim.
It's all aesthetic though. It's fiiiiine.
Xander comments to Rebecca, though, that, 'Experience or not, you just seem like someone better suited to warmth.' Dean beams at her and Avril. "That's true! The two've you are a really good match that way," he remarks, absolutely unaware that the two of them are anything more than good friends, just as he is with both of them.
Regardless, between the five of them, they make short work of the pile of boulders. Soon they're *two* piles of *smaller* boulders, each on either side of the path to the next hollow in the cave. It's a bit narrow, but as long as they all walk single file, they'll make it through just fine.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>=============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Controlled Collapse *>=====================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You come down to the lowest layer of the Gemstone Cavern. Countless
gemstones are here, reaching up from nearly floor to ceiling, with many
colors. Some sparkle; some are valuable gems and rare stones, sure to sell
for a great deal of money.
Unfortunately, the pathway near you is blocked. A series of large stone
pillars rise from the cave's floor, all the way to the ceiling. They are
almost like jail bars. Behind them are tantalizing gems, ready for grasping.
But, you will need to break through a series of rock pillars -- and when you
do, part of the ceiling will collapse down. You will need to break
through... and do it without crushing yourself or trapping yourself out of
that chamber.
At least you can see other tunnels lead back out from the gem-filled
chamber, once you're inside it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overzealous======================================
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
Rebecca looks something like a deer in the proverbial headlights as Avril suggests that she would like to hear one of her poems. "You..."
All of her worst fears and insecurities tend to swirl about the idea of people reading her secret thoughts, and writing... and thinking less of her...
...but... Xander... despite keeping his poems to himself, was willing to share it for Avril's sake.
And despite how much some side of her still resists this idea, when Avril asks... she suddenly just can't imagine that scenario where Avril...
"... I'd..." Rebecca dips her head, and allows this small smile, that seems just a bit shy, "Do you mind giving me a little time... before I answer that request?" Then even quieter. "Just a little."
Fortunately the rocks are made short work of. And Rebecca gives Xander a look of camaraderie of an ... unusual sort as Dean shows off the Ace of Spades to Riley and geeks out over their shovels. "He gets like that over shovels... sorry. Just count yourself lucky he's not showing off how to do the Meteo Drive to him."
As they head through the glittering caverns, eventually the descent leads to a chamber that abruptly widens up. Piles and piles of raw gems are present here. Some of the uncut stones look as large as a person's head, and assuredly worth quite a lot.
Unfortunately... ... ... ...
... their view of them is blocked by enormous stone pillars that pattern the area like bars to a cell, or a vault. Small gaps in-between them far too narrow to reach through. And Rebecca just gawks at the piles upon piles of visible stones just beyond them, "What the... this place seems almost too good to be true..." She scratches her head, "... I doubt we'd ever find a place like this following some tour guide."
It's certainly a suspicious place, but she's not about to try and dissuade them from taking this kind of prize.
Rebecca looks at Riley, and Dean...
... and asks oh so tiredly, in a way that assuredly damages her soul...
"You boys up for some more digging?"
She'll take a moment to find an Earth Ley Line before invoking her medium to join in.
DG: Rebecca Streisand has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Controlled Collapse.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
What other words are you guys thinking of using?
"You know, I have no idea. Maybe I need to make a word up...?" That probably won't end well. Dean asks if he was joking about being romantic partners. "Absolutely not. This relationship is very hard won." Though it's true he can be so over-the-top sometimes that it comes out seeming like it could be sarcasm.
I appreciate you showing yours to Avril.
Riley gives Xander a nudge with Rebecca's thanks. "Aww, Xander, you're so softhearted!" ...Case in point. It doesn't seem that the poem has jogged Avril's memory, unfortunately. Instead it evoked sadness, but she doesn't seem to mind, at least. She asks Riley if a poem is a spoken song. "I could be underestimating the art of poetry, here, but it seems that way to me."
An interesting exchange occurs between a flustered Rebecca and an earnest Avril, concerning the possibility of Rebecca sharing a poem with her, too. Riley takes this in with a somewhat catlike smile and glances to Xander to see if he noticed it, too.
There's another shovel like that!?
Riley blinks, his face going a bit blank and guarded, given the larger context of the shovel in his hands. "Another...?"
That's when Dean begins to pepper Riley with shovel-related questions and pulls out his own unsettling shovel, complete with its wildly searching eye. That thing... doesn't seem to be cursed by Valmar, but it sure is a sinister shovel in the hands of an genuine, bright-eyed, presumably non-murderous Drifter.
"Shovel twins?!" Riley gasps, with baffled wonder. He is soon laughing too hard to answer any of Dean's questions. "I... I can tell you all about it later...!" As soon as he thinks up some lies.
They arrive at a chamber filled with gemstones, barred by large stone pillars.
You boys up for some more digging?
"Apparently you brought just the right people for the job!" Riley announces, and starts in.
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Shovel of Valmar toward his party's challenge, Controlled Collapse.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Professional. Right. Because that's how Xander's acting. Meanwhile Riley, evidently, is obvious. Xander tries to ignore the stab of guilt. Dean asks if Riley was joking. Caught in this spotlight, Xander tenses and averts his eye again. "...He wasn't joking," he says after what feels like an eternity. (For him. Probably not for anyone else.) "We're --" Xander gestures vaguely between the two of them before giving up. If nothing else, he shares Riley's sentiments on the uncertainty of words, it seems.
Once again, Riley understands Xander speak, but he follows the letter of the law and not the spirit with his wild gesturing, making Xander scowl at him. His fangs are bared, and maybe that's weird, though they wouldn't be the only Drifters with fangs. Drifters are weird. But Rebecca gets a more relaxed nonchalance for her commentary. "It's fine. I don't know the affliction, but if it helps..." He shrugs at her and Dean both. It's not like he thinks it was a particularly ground breaking poem. Which makes Avril's reaction startle him a little. "Uh, yeah. Sure." He frowns. A little bit sad... Well, maybe that is where it came from.
He does see how Avril and Rebecca follow up together, and immediately shares a look with Riley. No smile from him, though. Just a knowing nod.
Then Xander looks uneasily to Rebecca. "What do you mean another?!" His growing terror is two-fold: 1) once again, no one thinks the shovel is worthy of scrutiny, and 2) THERE'S ANOTHER? Xander looks to Dean in newfound horror, and when Dean does presents the shovel in question... "Shovel twins?!" This can't be happening. He looks to Rebecca hopelessly. She can't save him.
The pillars. Xander sighs heavily. Rebecca already suggests digging, and they're all pawns of shovely fate. "I refuse this." But reality does not change. Xander sighs heavily. He'll let the shovel twins take the lead on this.
DG: Xander Lovell has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Controlled Collapse.
=============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>==============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Controlled Collapse *>======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
You come down to the lowest layer of the Gemstone Cavern. Countless
gemstones are here, reaching up from nearly floor to ceiling, with many
colors. Some sparkle; some are valuable gems and rare stones, sure to sell
for a great deal of money.
Unfortunately, the pathway near you is blocked. A series of large stone
pillars rise from the cave's floor, all the way to the ceiling. They are
almost like jail bars. Behind them are tantalizing gems, ready for grasping.
But, you will need to break through a series of rock pillars -- and when you
do, part of the ceiling will collapse down. You will need to break
through... and do it without crushing yourself or trapping yourself out of
that chamber.
At least you can see other tunnels lead back out from the gem-filled
chamber, once you're inside it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overzealous======================================
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
Riley says he wasn't joking; Xander confirms it. "So I *was* right!" Dean exclaims in wonder. His eyebrows furrow. "Wait, I was *right*? What kind of messed-up world are we living in??"
It sounds like a joke, but it isn't. Dean is too used to being 'the dense one' to really give himself credit on things like this.
Regardless.
"Shovel twins!!!" Dean enthuses in whole-hearted, *pure*-hearted delight. No, Xander. He absolutely doesn't see anything wrong with the plainly evil shovel. It just means Ace of Spades has a friend now. Who could think ill of that? So when it's time for them to unblock *more* of a pathway down to glittering jewels and other pretty things, Dean is all about joining Riley in Shovel Heaven, the power of Dinoginos--or maybe just the sheer euphoria of finding what appears to be a kindred spirit--still lingering enough to rob him of any pain or injury.
"You know it!" he says cheerfully to Rebecca and Riley both as he digs. "Man, you said it, though, Rebecca! Leaving the tour guide was definitely the right choice!" ...At least he's so enthused about shoveling that he didn't hear Rebecca's comment to Xander. Or, perhaps, Rebecca's to Avril's...
DG: Dean Stark has used his Tool Mountain Medium toward his party's challenge, Controlled Collapse.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"A spoken song... hmm. Then, if I were to set a poem to music... it would change into a song."
She sounds... very earnest about this. Almost overwhelmingly so. Is she going to try to sing poetry next?!
Avril tilts her head to one side as Xander replies, almost as if she were curious about his reaction. "Do you not think so?" she asks, ever the bold (or at least blunt) one.
But it's Rebecca's own remark that, as Avril sizes up that stone, gives the young woman pause.
'Do you mind giving me a little time... before I answer that request?'
Avril turns to look over at Rebecca after she says that, gazing at her almost as if a little bit taken aback.
But then she smiles.
"Of course. Please, take all the time that you need, Rebecca. After all... poetry cannot be rushed."
And then (thanks to shovels! a pair of them!) the blockage is cleared to reveal a glittering expanse--
Which is blocked by some pillars.
"Shovels... Rebecca, do you think that they will be enough?"
She strides ahead towards the pillars, Absolute Zero in hand. It doesn't seem right to call upon The Button for this precisely, at least to prevent the gems beyond the pillars from being so crushed, but...
She has plenty of other (destructive) options at her disposal.
Light gleaming in her right hand in a sense, she lashes Absolute Zero's beam whip for the obstacle in their way.
DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Absolute Zero Beam toward her party's challenge, Controlled Collapse.
============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>=============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Controlled Collapse *>=====================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
You come down to the lowest layer of the Gemstone Cavern. Countless
gemstones are here, reaching up from nearly floor to ceiling, with many
colors. Some sparkle; some are valuable gems and rare stones, sure to sell
for a great deal of money.
Unfortunately, the pathway near you is blocked. A series of large stone
pillars rise from the cave's floor, all the way to the ceiling. They are
almost like jail bars. Behind them are tantalizing gems, ready for grasping.
But, you will need to break through a series of rock pillars -- and when you
do, part of the ceiling will collapse down. You will need to break
through... and do it without crushing yourself or trapping yourself out of
that chamber.
At least you can see other tunnels lead back out from the gem-filled
chamber, once you're inside it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overzealous======================================
=======================<* Gemstone Cavern - Round 5 *>======================== ======================< Results - Controlled Collapse >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Xander Lovell 21 --(16)--> 37 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rebecca Streisand 13 --(16)--> 29 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dean Stark 13 --(8)--> 21 Pass Mountain Medium 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riley Arwell 26 --(8)--> 34 Pass Shovel of Valmar 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avril Vent Fleur 13 --(8)--> 21 Pass Absolute Zero Beam 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Xander Lovell 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Overzealous(2)|Tire(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Xander Lovell has successfully explored Gemstone Cavern!
============================<* Gemstone Cavern *>============================= =====================<* CHALLENGE - Elw Power Crystal *>====================== |Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- One of the large crystals among so many in the cavern stands out. It has a faint blue hew -- and it is large, glowing, and uncut. But, you recognize it as an Elw crystal (unless you do not). Though uncut, it could be shaved down and prepared to power Elw technology... or human technology, modified to use it as a power source. Whether you use it or sell it, it could prove very valuable. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.
As Xander confirms it, Rebecca feels strange about a world in which Dean was correct about someone's romantic relationship, but not for too long. The clarification puts a lot of things into perspective.
Rebecca finds herself looking at Riley for a moment, before returning her gaze to Xander, "He's a much more sincere guy than I thought." She indicates, as if perhaps, trying to be validating of whatever he's feeling but can't quite put into words... though she's likely more projecting what she thinks he's feeling.
As Dean actually considers what kind of alternate, messed up world they must be in... Rebecca though actually gives him credit... "Maybe you're just becoming a bit more worldwise Dean. It's nothing unusual after all we've seen and done... right?"
Avril singing poetry in order to change the image is a pretty compelling image to Rebecca. Avril singing at all is a pretty compelling thought. However, what she's focused on...
... is how Avril answers her own request for time. Rebecca is still in a state of shock that she went forward with... suggesting that. Her relief when she's granted the time she wanted palpable. "All the same... I'll try not to be too long..."
Before she jogs on ahead... ... ...
... plenty of time for hyperventilation later, as you do.
For now, they must get over this barrier! Or rather through it.
Avril asks whether she thinks they'll be enough... "Maybe. But can't hurt to have you tip the odds."
It's a good thing that Riley and Dean are so eager as the shovel twins. That Avril is so willing to back them up with her strong and steady ARM.
Rebecca's efforts to try and move the earth have little effect on the strong and sturdy pillars, and in the end she just resigns herself to blasting whatever the trio at the fore dig through.
Xander refuses this shovely fate...
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/044/502/c4a.jpg
Once the three have carved a path to the other side... a particularly large crystal stands out. Familiar to those who have been in Elw teleporter rooms.
"Oh hey... now there's something you don't see every day."
Rebecca blanks for a moment though as she realizes that something fundamental has changed.
"...except... I guess we kind of do now... that we have a way back and forth between worlds..."
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Then, if I were to set a poem to music... it would change into a song.
"I'm always in favor of turning things into songs," Riley says, nodding encouragingly at the idea.
He's a much more sincere guy than I thought.
Riley smiles at Rebecca with a question mark as she voices this aloud. Doesn't he sound sincere to people...?
Riley is just as cheerful -- if not nearly as purehearted -- as Dean when it comes to digging a path to the treasure. He, too, is enjoying the bizarre confluence of shovel fate that brought them to this moment, especially the part where he got to watch Xander balk at the outrageousness of it and bargain with the universe.
On the other side of the pillars, a very large crystal awaits them. "...This seems hard to split, but we'll figure something out..."
And then another fateful statement. ...except... I guess we kind of do now... that we have a way back and forth between worlds...
"Is everybody traveling to other worlds except us, these days?"
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Xander sighs. "No," he says to Avril. "I think you're right." Sadness, time, and not a terrible way to feel... The group acts like it's Rebecca who should be noticing anything, so why does it feel like Dean and Avril are the ones staring straight through him? Maybe Xander's just the right kind of broken that common sense stopped applying to him.
While hating shovels away from the digging, Xander glances back to Rebecca. It isn't as if he hasn't had his own doubts to Riley's sincerity. "Mm." Then he lowers his voice. "Don't wait too long," he says to her while his gaze trails pointedly to Avril. Judging by their interactions, they probably don't need interference. But, well, just in case. ...Not that it's his business.
The shovels win them their prize because fate has to validate every decision Riley makes. Xander isn't going to hear the end of this... but he can't help smiling, however faintly, while Riley seems to thoroughly enjoy his digging.
His face is back to its default dour as he inspects the Elw crystal. But then Rebecca mentions worlds. Plural.
"And pray tell... what way is that?"
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Oh..." She, just a little, seems a bit more pensive than before. "...I understand," she says to Xander.
"Very well. Then, I shall transform more poems into songs! ...Perhaps I should transform some songs into poems to ensure balance?" avril why are you so weird
Avril, for her part...
Appears to be blithely unaware of Rebecca's distress. Or perhaps, is Rebecca just that talented in maintaining a strong and brave front to the world (or at least to Avril's point of view)?
Still, then there is a beam of light cutting the distance, followed by the hard and hearty work of two strong shovels--
And the way is clear!
There are a number of glittering gems, but many of these are not worth more than a second glance regardless of how they catch the light. On the other hand, the one that Rebecca has found is...
"Is this an Elw crystal?" Avril wonders aloud.
At which point Xander and Riley wonder in their own right about how it's even possible to walk between worlds.
"Are you not aware? It is not very difficult," Avril says, and here she pulls out her own key...
...which is followed by an explanation about it. Likely at length!
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
Dean smiles warmly over at Avril and Rebecca as they talk about poems and songs. It really did work out! He's so happy for both of them. He hopes whatever poem or song Rebecca makes for Avril makes some *good* memories return.
When Rebecca suggests he's getting more worldwise, he beams at her and rubs a finger under his nose. "You think so? Hehehe. We *are* turning twenty this year!"
But the group makes it through, and on the other side is a glowing blue Elw crystal! "Wow. Yeah, I've never seen one this size before," he says admiringly. Riley and Xander ask about traveling across worlds, and he looks over at them. "Oh, yeah, there're these ruins you can travel to that'll send you to other worlds if you have the right key." He nods to Avril as she pulls hers out. "Like what she's got!"
And so it may come to pass that the trio gets the Elw crystal while the duo gets a key to travel across worlds and an explanation on how to use it. A totally fair and reasonable trade that no one will come to regret later!