2021-05-07: Necessity Makes Strange Bedfellows
- Log: Necessity Makes Strange Bedfellows
- Cast: Josephine Lovelace, Ashley Winchester, Eleanor Klein, Zhang Xiumei
- Where: Lunatic Garden
- Date: May 07, 2021
- Summary: ARMS happens across Josie, attempting to access the labyrinthine ruin of Lunatic Garden; she claims she's not the least bit interested in causing them trouble today and so a cautious partnership is formed. The ruin proves more dangerous to them, though, than any antagonism from either side.
DG: A party led by Josephine Lovelace is now entering Lunatic Garden. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
==============================<* 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> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"Damn! Are you kiddin' me--"
Josie's first interaction with the (very sealed) door she's found leading into the ruin is to kick at it with a booted foot. This, naturally, does nothing.
"Goddamnit! I swear, if it's that Seraph that's done it..."
Huffing out an irritated breath, the archaeologist delivers a glare at the door which has something crusty puffing out between it and the doorframe. It's been well and truly glued shut, and likely by some (recent) visitor, no doubt to prevent another from getting the prizes left within. Normally, this would be just another obstacle to the archaeologist, but the timing on this one strikes her as (very, very incorrectly) being a little off. Has Yvaine actually beat her to this one?! She didn't even tell him which one of the excavation locations she was going to investigate first.
"Never can trust a smilin' face," she mutters, dropping her kit and rooting about for her trusty mattock within.
"Well, two can play at that game, Yvaine."
The flame within her, at least, has been lit. Even if it was lit by her own redirected frustrations...
DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Well-Used Mattock toward her party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well.
<Pose Tracker> Ashley Winchester has posed.
Ashley Winchester is in a place with friends! This is already a good day. It's a rare thing to have the spare time to go off exploring with the rest of ARMS without a sword of damocles hanging over their heads, ready to make everything SO MUCH WORSE at the drop of a hat. Why, the last time he went on a nice, easy ruin exploration like this...
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO
ASHLEY WINCHESTER DISCOVERS THAT THERE ARE ALIENS!?!?!?
NOW
Yeah... yeah.
"Everybody ready?" Ashley asks as he rounds the corner, adjusting the pack of supplies slung over his shoulder. It's probably not just full of day-old baked goods. "It's a great day to be dungeon diving...!"
And then he sees Josephine.
There's a beat while Ashley's mouth hangs open as he considers the fate of the week's most absolutely unfortunate Odessa member. He looks to his left. He looks to his right. Xiumei, Eleanor, what do!??!
(He already has a grenade in his hands. Is he planning on chucking it at Josephine, or at the locked door!?)
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
A certain Seraph is not here. But if he were here, this would be great. Instead, there is a certain Eleanor Klein... Who happens to be with Ashley, walking along amiably towards the ruin and not at all awkwardly considering her best friend is here and they've been working on her wedding! No, it's fine. Super fine.
"Ready!" Eleanor agrees, and then suddenly--suddenly there is Josie. "A smiling face, is it?" So that explains whose the voice was. She couldn't quite make it out except those words. And now...
"Well," she says, "Whoever this 'Yvaine' is, we do need to get in. I trust you won't mind if I give this a try," Eleanor suggests to Josie, flexing her wrist a little to activate the magic of her Power Bracelet in an effort to get ready to shove the door straiht off.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well. DG: Ashley Winchester has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Doors Resealed Too Well.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"I am! Thank you, Mister Winchester," Xiumei says, with characteristic politeness. Her and Ashley may be friends -- but Xiumei considers the polite use of 'Mister' or 'Miss' and a last name to be friendly. This is what growing up in a large family with a large business can do to one's mindset.
It stands at odds with gleaming white-and-green armor, crystals aglow with a bright green light, and her eyes alight with the same. She glances from Ashley to Eleanor. There is, for some reason, an awkward glance at the elf.
And then she looks at Josie. She blinks. "An Odessa operative," she says. "Ah, a newer recruit, and--mm, yes. Let's see what we can do."
She lifts back a foot -- and then kicks her armored boot into it.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has contributed a Brute Basic Action 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Josephine Lovelace 0 --(34)--> 34 Fail Well-Used Mattock 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ashley Winchester 0 --(22)--> 22 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(22)--> 22 Pass Power Bracelet 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zhang Xiumei 0 --(34)--> 34 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Josephine Lovelace 0 --(15)--> 15 Fail Conditions: Overwhelm|Weaken(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has failed this challenge! The party gained 15 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> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Josie, busy trying to chip away at the glue holding the door in place (it's not going well), stands up in a hurry at Eleanor's voice.
"Well! If it ain't... Eleanor, right?" She turns about slowly enough, mattock in one hand, the other noticably devoid of any weaponry. ...Well, there's a small sidearm at her hip and a shotgun across her back and who knows what else hidden on her person, but generally devoid of weaponry. Her gaze settles on Ashley, grenade at the ready. "There ain't no need for that," she drawls in his direction before taking a step to one side as Xiumei approaches--
Well, the door.
"Already tried that. It's good and stuck, innit?" She sighs, glances one more time at Ashley and then back at Xiumei.
"Might wanna clear on out. I dare say the boy over there's got the right idea."
An explosion likely ensues, once they're free of the door. But there's an awful lot of debris left behind... which is where Eleanor's bracelet comes in hand.
"So, what're you lot doing here?" Josie asks, gesturing towards the ruins proper with the mattock as the rubble's getting clear. Her lips twitch into a grin. "Heh. Don't you worry 'bout me none. If I'd been waitin' to take you all out in an ambush... well, I'd've already done. Nah, I've my own business here."
DG: Zhang Xiumei has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Oak Golems *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- When you enter the next room, there are a few patches of grass on the white stone. Growing in the center of each is a person-sized, still young oak tree. This might seem odd but harmless, until you enter... and then the trees make two legs unfold, and arms reach out. An angry face appears on each, with black eyes. They strike at you with huge, log-thick arms as they come rushing in to do battle. =Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"It is," Xiumei answers Josephine with a sigh.
They get through, eventually. It is slow going -- and their entry made no small amount of noise. This, of course, could be a problem in a moment. Xiumei's eyes turn, glaning towards Josie. She hesitates for a moment. "Well..." She trails off. "Exploring ruins is in our job description."
She says it so pleasantly, even. She looks ahead, then -- and starts to lead the way. Her armor casts enough light to see by. The hallway leads to a room that, along the stone floor, has patches of grass. A small oak tree is in the center of each.
Until limbs unfurl -- and the oak trees rise, faces forming and glowering angrily. One swings a punch down at Xiumei, splitting the flagstones -- and another couple come rushing, one for Josie and one for Ashley. A final one picks up a piece of broken stone, and hurls it for Eleanor.
Xiumei holds a hand out; cubes of data flash into existence. Then, a beam saber appears. With a brilliant white-green flash, she tries to strike through the oak golem.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has used her Tool Pulse Saber toward her party's challenge, Oak Golems.
<Pose Tracker> Ashley Winchester has posed.
The others are just going to... go with it? Uh. Hm. Ashley scratches awkwardly at the nape of his neck, the smoke from his hucked grenade clearing slowly. It might take them a bit to clear out all the rubble, but surely it's better than spending the entire day trying to get the door open, right?
...Right.
Even if it does mean that they've all but certainly roused the ire of whatever guardian spirits might inhabit this place (hopefully not a Guardian spirit, Ashley thinks to himself). "And this is a pretty unique ruin," Ashley confirms to Xiumei. This is a Metal Demon War-era structure after all. And based on the architecture, it's probably Elw at that...!
Not that Ashley knows anything about that. He's too preoccupied with the ANGRY OAK TREES that rise to strike them all against the flagstones...!
"I think we made them angry!" Ashley says, before getting an idea. He reaches back and retrieves... A perfectly ordinary pastry? No! It's a MAPLE-CINNAMON ROLL! Stuffed with WALNUTS! Ashley fixes the trees with a long stare before popping the roll into his mouth and chewing... provocatively!?
Is he... trying to taunt the trees into focusing their attacks on him!?
He races to the far side of the arena, fending off hammer-blows and branch-strikes with his bayonet. He'll be on the defensive, but it's probably better than throwing napalm at these things and risking setting the entire ruin ablaze.
DG: Ashley Winchester has used his Tool Portable Pastries toward his party's challenge, Oak Golems.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
It is indeed Eleanor! She is here. She has a few weapons herself but she does not immediately draw then on Josie; quite the opposite she listens to Xiumei's assessment and then about the grenade, well... It's fine. It's all fine. But she does get to help with the grenade.
"As she says," Eleanor motions to Xiumei. Exploring is something they do. "And it's true, if you wanted to ambush us you could have. But we'll keep a mutual eye on one another, yes?"
But as combat breaks out, Eleanor blinks suddenly as the treees rise, and throw stone--at her! Eleanor dives to the side to get out of the way, rolling when she hits the ground and pulling her strange flute in order to do something for the group as a whole. "Then we'd best calm them down!"
Eleanor starts to play a strange melody, haunting and quiet, that strengthens the group and weakens the enemy. She is.. going to go with it. It's fine.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Eerie Flute toward her party's challenge, Oak Golems.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"Got it in one, kiddo," Josie says, going so far as to give Xiumei a saucy wink. "Same reason I'm here, right? Don't get it wrong or none -- I'm with Odessa through and through. But... that doesn't mean I ain't got my own interests. I'm still an archaeologist, right?"
And if Yvaine has beaten her here, then she's definitely not going to back down. Though the same also applies if he hasn't.
She grins, brightly, when Eleanor says that they'll keep an eye on one another. "That's what I like to hear! I'd be worried if you lot trusted me, yeah?"
And with that, she strolls on on in after the way is clear.
They all get maybe the span of a few moments before there's a problem within.
"Trees?" Josie says, hanging back near the entrance. She already has a hip flask in hand even as one of the trees comes rushing for her. Not to be disuaded, she takes a drink from it before slinging it away in a pocket on the inside of her coat.
"Don't think I've shot up an oak tree in a dog's year!"
Her answer after all to the tree is a blast from her shotgun.
"You got any more of those, kid?" she calls over to Ashley. What? Exploring is hard work, and it probably tastes better than what she's got on her. ...Alcohol included.
DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Liquid Courage toward her party's challenge, Oak Golems.
=============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================= =========================<* CHALLENGE - Oak Golems *>========================= |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- When you enter the next room, there are a few patches of grass on the white stone. Growing in the center of each is a person-sized, still young oak tree. This might seem odd but harmless, until you enter... and then the trees make two legs unfold, and arms reach out. An angry face appears on each, with black eyes. They strike at you with huge, log-thick arms as they come rushing in to do battle. =Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 2 *>======================== ===========================< Results - Oak Golems >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Josephine Lovelace 34 --(5)--> 39 Pass Liquid Courage 3 Combat Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ashley Winchester 22 --(5)--> 27 Pass Portable Pastries 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 22 --(5)--> 27 Pass Eerie Flute 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zhang Xiumei 34 --(5)--> 39 Pass Pulse Saber 3 Combat Effects: Rally ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Josephine Lovelace 15 --(20)--> 35 Pass Conditions: Overwhelm|Save Point(1)|Weaken(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace 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> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
One tree looks to the other. <BRBRBRBRKSSSTKSST.>*
The other oak golem nods -- and then makes an angry face. <KBTKBTKBTTSSSKKRRRMP!>**
And ones that were rushing the others all charge in towards Ashley at once. Even if they're more sluggish, from Eleanor's strange, haunting flute melody. That lets them get the best of the oak golems, with gunshots and a Pulse Saber.
They crumple in a heap.
Xiumei sighs, with relief, and wipes at her brow. "Well... that's handled. I was a little worried," she says. "We'll need to keep an eye out for more."
* "Hey! That cinnamon looks like my cousin!"
** "Oh shit, you're right! SMOKE THAT ASSHOLE!"
DG: Ashley Winchester has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================= =============<* CHALLENGE - Strange Dolls and Hidden Switches *>============== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The next white stone room you enter seems empty, at first. There is only a single, sealed stone door at the end (which it does not open) and a pedestal in the center of the room. It has a cluster of strange, handmade clay dolls there. Their limbs are articulated. When you touch one of them, your body falls to the floor and your spirit is inside the now-animated doll. There are small slots along the floor -- at the base of the walls -- and inside of those are well-hidden switches. If you can arrange to touch each switch simultaneously, this will open the door. However, you cannot speak as a terrible doll. Touching your body will allow you to transfer your consciousness back into it. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Exhaust=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Ashley Winchester has posed.
Truly, Ashley is an enemy to all things arboreal, even if he, himself, may be named after a tree. The oaks all fall together, and the musketeer is left feeling just the slightest bit conflicted about the whole situation. Trees are rare in some parts of Filgaia, after all. But he reasons that they'll probably just regenerate after a little bit anyway, and consoles himself...
"Looks like their bark was worse than their bite...!"
...With a pun.
Truly, none are more fit to carry the <<BLAZE OF DISASTER>> within them than this blue-haired musketeer.
Josephine wants a cinnamon roll. Ashley gives her a suspicious look, but relents after brief consideration. But only after supplying everyone with similar rolls. "Sure," he says after a moment. "I guess that's fine." They're not even poisoned! What a considerate ARCHFOE this one is.
The party arrives in a curious chamber. There's nothing in it save for a handful of strange clay dolls. Touching one...
Ashley collapses! He is trapped in an adorable clay doll! Limbs flailing, he slaps his body and pushes himself back up off the floor. "Nope, nope I did not like that." Given CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES it may be best that he does not actually inhabit a clay doll for this particular trial... But he will if he must...! "What are we even supposed to find in here...?" Ashley mutters, "This looks like a job for...!"
A MYSTERIOUS BAKELITE-ENCASED BOX!?
"THE BOOTY CALL!" Ashley declares, pressing a button on the front of the device with a triumphant POKE. It goes ping, and detects a handful of mysterious signals within the walls. Unfortunately, the only way that they're going to get to them is with those clay dolls-- unless people can shrink down or something. Who knows? There might just be treasure hidden within. Ashley marks each of the locations with a lump of charcoal. At least that way they'll be able to find the signals even in doll-form!
DG: Ashley Winchester has used his Tool Booty Call toward his party's challenge, Strange Dolls and Hidden Switches.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"Ahahaha," Eleanor replies to the pun. "That's terrible." She shakes her head. However, of course, Josie wants a roll, and... Well. Ashley is the kind of guy who would allow it. Eleanor can accept that. "Yes, we will," Eleanor agrees with Xiumei, and then looks over Josephine. She is going to keep her eye on her, just as indicated. Buuut...
These dolls! Eleanor remembers these, from a time she was here before. "...Yes," she says, "Maybe it's better if you... don't," Eleanor says to Ashley, thinking along the same lines. But as he brings out the BOOTY CALL, Eleanor says, "Besides; you can guard us while we handle this. Since you're not the type to stab someone in the back." She glances to Josie with a lopsided smile, and--
Doll time!! It's a rather fascinating magic.
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Strange Dolls and Hidden Switches.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
Xiumei has been through here, many months ago. She steps in, and she glances down at the dolls. She sighs once -- and touches one. Her body falls over.
It leaps up, under Varius's control a moment later. "I hate -- hate, hate, HATE -- this fucking place, Winchester," Varius says, with Xiumei's voice. "This is beyond fucked up."
Xiumei the doll scurries after Eleanor. Varius does help, though -- joining the Booty Call is a sensor, flashing from the gem in Model AV's chest. It sweeps over the spots that Ashley lights up.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has used her Tool Recon Scanner toward her party's challenge, Strange Dolls and Hidden Switches.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
To be fair, Josie grew up near what is probably one of the last stands of actual forest in Ignas; she has her own feelings about trees. Still, sentiment or not, some things get set aside immediately when the trees are trying to kill you dead.
"Heh, not bad, kid," she remarks, swinging that shotgun of hers onto her shoulder for a moment or two before going to slip it back into its harness.
One might even think that they are not (by dint of their allegiances) technically mortal (semi-mortal?) enemies.
"Hey, thanks." See what asking nicely gets you?
It gets you a free cinnamon bun, is what it gets you.
Lingering towards the back, she finishes her roll as she watches Ashley and Xiumei experiment with the dolls.
"That looked messed up," she remarks, wiping off her fingertips on her coat (gross). "So, looks like we need to get ourselves over thattaway, right? Well, if you lot are goin' over there..."
She fishes out a cigarette and lights up. Leaning against the wall, she flashes a grin at Eleanor.
DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Pack of Cigarettes toward her party's challenge, Strange Dolls and Hidden Switches.
=============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================= =============<* CHALLENGE - Strange Dolls and Hidden Switches *>============== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The next white stone room you enter seems empty, at first. There is only a single, sealed stone door at the end (which it does not open) and a pedestal in the center of the room. It has a cluster of strange, handmade clay dolls there. Their limbs are articulated. When you touch one of them, your body falls to the floor and your spirit is inside the now-animated doll. There are small slots along the floor -- at the base of the walls -- and inside of those are well-hidden switches. If you can arrange to touch each switch simultaneously, this will open the door. However, you cannot speak as a terrible doll. Touching your body will allow you to transfer your consciousness back into it. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Exhaust=========================================
========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 3 *>======================== ===============< Results - Strange Dolls and Hidden Switches >================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Josephine Lovelace 39 --(25)--> 64 Fail Pack of Cigarettes 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ashley Winchester 27 --(5)--> 32 Pass Booty Call 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 27 --(5)--> 32 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zhang Xiumei 39 --(5)--> 44 Pass Recon Scanner 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Josephine Lovelace 35 --(20)--> 55 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Stupify(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace 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: Ashley Winchester 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> Ashley Winchester has posed.
For VARIOUS REASONS, it is probably best that Ashley's soul not leave his body or otherwise be tampered with for any reason. At least ARMS is all in agreement on this. The others can handle the dolls! Or at least, Eleanor and Xiumei do. Josephine just sort of takes a smoke break, which is fine!
"This is really creepy," Ashley agrees to Varius as Xiumei-doll and Eleanor-doll scurry around into the dark corners of the room to do the actual legwork of this particular challenge. "Dolls already give me the creeps as-is, but... soul-transferring dolls...?" Thanks to Ashley and Varius' guidance, the two get done in record time AND find a handful of useful miscellaneous treasures hidden within the walls.
Josephine finishes her smoke break. Unfortunately, she becomes significantly more likely to suffer from various forms of smoking-related illnesses later in life as a result. Did she really gain anything...?
The door opens as Eleanor and Xiumei return to their bodies, revealing a long hallway... And another doorway.
...One sealed by a pale, white barrier. Ashley frowns and gives it a solid whack with his gun, but recoils in pain as an equal and opposite impact slams into his shoulder. "Ugh. What the heck? Some kind of... counter-force field?" They'll probably be able to get through, but... It's going to hurt. Badly.
DG: Ashley Winchester has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Light Shield.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor, when she returns, beams to the group. "I like this ruin," she says, rolling her shoulders a little as she re-acclimates to her body. "The dolls are adorable, and the magic that must make it possible to control them is fascinating!" Pause. "...Though I could do without the soreness," she says, of falling over.
Then a pause. She peers over at the hallway and the doorway... and considers. She eyes Josephine and her cigarette habit. She eyes Ashley. She eyes Xiumei. ANd in the end...
Eleanor activates her Power Bracelet again, but does not move to strike directly at the barrier. Instead, she picks up a loose part of wall, and swings it at an angle such that the force will be directed away from her. In theory.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, Light Shield.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"Yeah. This shit is messed up," Varius says, with a shake of his head. He glances warily at Josephine -- considers for a second how angry Xiumei and Avile would be if he started shooting her -- and then Xiumei-in-a-doll taps him before he finishes that. The doll falls over; Xiumei's eyes blink a couple of times, and then she sighs once. "Ah, I'm glade that's done with..."
She turns her head -- and she blinks at the barrier. She sees the way that Ashley is bounced backward. That makes her think twice about hitting it with her Pulse Saber. Instead, she watches as Eleanor strikes at an angle.
"Ah!" she calls out. "That's a good idea!"
She goes forward. She then swings the Pulse Saber at the wall, and then tries to kick part of the cut-apart wall into the barrier.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Light Shield.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"Huh. You got someone else in there, too, kiddo," she muses lazily, not even going for her weapon when Varius-in-Xiumei's body regards her like that. But before that can get anywhere--
Break time over, Josie drops the still lit cigarette and grinds it out under one heel till it's not even embers. Safety first: she prefers to leave her ancient ruins more or less as she found them (just in case she needs to come back later).
"Pretty weird stuff," she agrees with Ashley, rolling her shoulders in a lazy stretch as she pulls away from the wall. "So, know anything about this place?" ...And she doesn't? Isn't she supposed to be the archaeologist here??
"Adorable, huh. Reminds me of my big sister, there," Josie remarks, her smile as equally flippant as it is bitter. "Always liked... weird stuff, like all that."
There's another barrier in their path, here.
"Ain't this a pretty mess," Josie muses, rubbing at her chin. "Well, let's see how this--"
And she's charging at the barrier with a mattock. This is going to go one of two ways for her.
DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Well-Used Mattock 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===========================================
========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 4 *>======================== ==========================< Results - Light Shield >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Josephine Lovelace 64 --(37)--> 101 Fail Well-Used Mattock 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ashley Winchester 32 --(37)--> 69 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 32 --(37)--> 69 Fail Power Bracelet 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zhang Xiumei 44 --(37)--> 81 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Josephine Lovelace 55 --(15)--> 70 Fail Conditions: Suffer(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: Josephine Lovelace is too exhausted to continue! DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has failed this challenge! The party gained 15 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> Ashley Winchester has posed.
It's a common saying among the digger community that there are no greater threats in all the world than a locked door. Apparently, there's a reason that this is generally accepted across both Filgaia AND Lunar.
Because this door-- this door absolutely wrecks their asses. A band of special forces agents and one hardened terrorist are no match... when their own strength is turned back against them! Or rather, on Josephine. Sure, everyone gets some awful feedback, but because of Xiumei and Eleanor striking the barrier at an odd angle, they each end up hitting one another with a small portion of their respective attacks...
...While the rest ends up recoiling and combining with Josephine's own mattock-whack... And blasts her bodily into Ashley, and the two of them directly into the floor.
"Ow," Ashley Winchester groans as, somewhere in Meria, Marina Irington feels a distinct disturbance in the force and a souffle collapses nearby. "Everyone... okay?
(Josephine, having received THREE ATTACKS TO THE FACE probably is not.)
The good news, at least, is that the wall has collapsed! Hooray!!
DG: Josephine Lovelace has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Marid Pack *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The next room has a few patches of grass on the floor. As you enter, figures rise from the grass: small, round-bodied things with arms, legs, and solid black eyes. They chitter at you -- and then dance in a circle -- and a wave of water, waist high, floods through the room. The Marids surf it, rather than being drowned by it. They come crashing at you, trying to bowl you over; they also send powerful, magical jets of water in your direction. You have to fight not only the tiny plant creatures and their spells, but the rapidly flooding room! =Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Stupify, Injure==================================
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
It is not, as it were, the greatest of moments in Josephine Lovelace's career. She takes no less than a good part (if not all of same) the hits from everyone else's attempt on the barrier and, sent careening back, only has her otherwise certain-to-be-terrible collision softened when she hits Ashley instead.
She rolls off of him after a moment, flat on her back, and gestures vaguely towards the ceiling.
"I'll... give me five minutes..."
Her hand drops back towards the floor. She's not making any further movements.
She'll... probably be fine.
Eventually.
For those among them who can still stand, though--
It's not long until the passageway breaks into a small circular chamber. There are patches of grass on the floor and beams of sunlight coming in from above.
There are also small round-bodied things with big solid black eyes. They chitter at the still-standing members of ARMS:
":D :D :D :D"
And then dance about in a circle. It's adorable! ...Rather less adorable is the tsunami that follows. The little round-bodied things drift cheerfully atop the waves, which, admittedly, would be cute if they didn't follow it up with body-slams and further incantations of aquatic might. This is not a great moment for anyone involved, probably!
Except the Marid. This is the best day ever, as far as they're concerned.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor too ends up staring up at the ceiling a little, though she does not need as much time as Josie. "Oogh..." The young elf starts to shift, standing up again and glacning at Josie. "...She'll be fine," Eleanor suggests, and peers into the next chamber. Then, it is lovely in here. It is... It is adorable. It is...
"Aaah!"
Water everywhere! Eleanor doesn't mind a swim but all the danger that happens next is not great! Not for her! Maybe for them. With a cough as she pushes up from out of the water again, Eleanor pulls her flute and starts to try to distract or disturb them enough that they stop with all the watery violence. Just enough.
"!"
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Eerie Flute toward her party's challenge, Marid Pack.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
Xiumei groans from the impact, rubbing at her head. She glances back at Ashley and Eleanor, both, and then at Josephine. Her eyes widen -- but she nods. 'Just five minutes' may be a bit of an excuse, but she won't push that.
She walks, instead, and pauses -- peering up at the sunlight -- and then down at the smaller things. The tsunami that follows catches her, washing her backward. She slams into the wall, pushing off it with her feet. Strange music fills her ears. Her eyes narrow, and she leaps out of the water.
The pulse saber explodes to life again, flashing brilliantly. Xiumei cleaves down at the first Marid she lands towards, before sinking, and trying to slash into another on the backswing.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has used her Tool Pulse Saber toward her party's challenge, Marid Pack.
<Pose Tracker> Ashley Winchester has posed.
"Uhhhh," Ashley looks to the... unconscious? Body of Josephine Lovelace. "Is she..." Nope, not dead. She's just absolutely w r e c k e d. "...Okay then," he answers Eleanor and... sort of staggers on after her. Today is turning out to be a painful day indeed!
Not painful: these cute little round friends. "Aw," Ashley coos, "They're adorable."
They dance! That's even cuter! Not so much cuter: the fact that the water is rising and the little blobs are FULL OF AQUATIC VIOLENCE. Or maybe just excitement? It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes. "Wait. Wait!!" Ashley pleads, holding up... bags of baked goods!? "If you guys keep pushing the water higher, all these treats are going to get soggy*! Wouldn't you like to eat them with us instead!?"
Is he... bribing them!?
Yes, yes he is.
(*Fortunately, the treats are actually sealed in air-tight containers for freshness, so they're all safe! The Marids may not realize that, though-- or may not care!)
DG: Ashley Winchester has used his Tool Portable Pastries toward his party's challenge, Marid Pack.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Marid Pack *>========================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- The next room has a few patches of grass on the floor. As you enter, figures rise from the grass: small, round-bodied things with arms, legs, and solid black eyes. They chitter at you -- and then dance in a circle -- and a wave of water, waist high, floods through the room. The Marids surf it, rather than being drowned by it. They come crashing at you, trying to bowl you over; they also send powerful, magical jets of water in your direction. You have to fight not only the tiny plant creatures and their spells, but the rapidly flooding room! =Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Stupify, Injure==================================
=========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 5 *>=========================
============================< Results - Marid Pack >============================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josephine Lovelace 101 --(X)--> X
Effects:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashley Winchester 69 --(5)--> 74 Pass
Portable Pastries 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eleanor Klein 69 --(5)--> 74 Pass
Eerie Flute 2 Combat Effects: Embolden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zhang Xiumei 81 --(5)--> 86 Pass
Pulse Saber 3 Combat Effects: Rally
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Josephine Lovelace 70 --(20)--> 90 Pass
Conditions: Fright(2)|Injure(2)|Stupify(2)|Weaken(1)
Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace 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> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
One Marid goes down when struck; the rest of them continue their assault undeterred -- or, for that matter, unconcerned about their companion's demise. Then again, who can fathom the mind of a Marid? With such tenacity on display, surely there is no result here but for the violent one -- they will fight to the bitter end!
Or... will they.
A flute song lilts softly through the air, slowly catching the attention of the bobbing Marid. This causes them to cease their attacks for just long enough that...
That they watch as Ashley explains the dire, dire situation that they're causing for his pastries.
"D: D: D:"
(there's one less of them after all...)
And they clambor around Ashley soon after. ...Marid like pastries.
Who knew??
DG: Zhang Xiumei has drawn a new Challenge.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ===========<* CHALLENGE - Strange Dolls and the Great Prayer Wheel *>=========== |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Your path leads you to a room deep within the Lunatic Garden. At the end, you find an ancient altar to Celesdue, the Guardian of the Moon. The altar is, however, behind a massive shield of light -- save for tiny holes along the bottom -- as are the doors behind it. On the side of the room that you enter, though, is a perhaps familiar pedestal. It has a cluster of strange, handmade clay dolls there. Their limbs are articulated. When you touch one of them, your body falls to the floor and your spirit is inside the now-animated doll. As a doll, you and your friends can move through the tiny holes. There, behind the altar, is a massive prayer wheel. You will need to find a way, as a doll, to reach up and spin it. Doing so, though, could let down the barrier. Touching your body will allow you to transfer your consciousness back into it. =Dungeon Conditions: Madness, Reckless========================================
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"Pastries... seemed to do it?" Xiumei observers.
That lets them progress along -- walking through the hallway into the final room. There, inside, they see a sealed off altar; they also see a pedestal, with the dolls resting upon it. Inside of Xiumei's mind, Varius groans again. She looks about -- and then notes the holes.
"There," she says. "Mister Winchester, can you see if you can find where we need to go?"
She waits a moment -- then touches a doll. Xiumei's body sways, before coming upright. She speaks -- but it's different than Varius's grumbling. (Or, for that matter, Xiumei's politeness.) "Aaaaah," Avile says, "I didn't want to hear him whine, so I took over! I can help, Ashley."
The recon scanner begins sweeping over the wall.
Xiumei, in the doll, ambles forward towards one of the holes... and emerges a little while later on the other side, towards the great prayer wheel.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has used her Tool Recon Scanner toward her party's challenge, Strange Dolls and the Great Prayer Wheel.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"Pastries can solve a lot of problems," Eleanor has found in her life thus far. "Particularly disagreements." She will, of course, want to have one of those herself. But that's another matter. Instead in the final room, pastries will probably not solve this particular problem. The young elf finds herself looking thoughtfully at the altar and the pedestal. "Yes, I think we can handle this," she says, and pauses, looking to Avile-in-Xiumei. "...Ahahah," Eleanor says, and calmly takes a seat before poking a doll. Just so that she doesn't fall over and bang up her knee or something this time.
In short order, Eleanor-doll is also ambling forward, emerging close to Xiumei. She pantomimes a little with the plan to give her a boost!!
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Strange Dolls and the Great Prayer Wheel.
<Pose Tracker> Ashley Winchester has posed.
It's okay! Everyone gets pastries. Especially the Marids, who get a whole monogrammed bag (pre-opened) to themselves, and a trio of headpats for the three that survived. Such good little round friends!
(And so the Irington Bakery's clientele grows to encompass random elemental spirits)
Before they proceed, Ashley would in fact double back to haul a certain unconscious Odessan in after them, because he's pretty sure just leaving her there isn't a good idea!?
...But then they come to another one of Those rooms. The sight of the dolls has Ashley wincing. "I probably shouldn't.. yeah." The others seem to catch on quick and Ashley breathes a sigh of relief. "Right. Oh, hi miss Avile! Good to see you! It's been a-vile."
Beat.
"I'll see if I can't find them a route," the musketeer says, once more unleashing the full might of Ashley Winchester's BOOTY CALL.
DG: Ashley Winchester has used his Tool Booty Call toward his party's challenge, Strange Dolls and the Great Prayer Wheel.
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== ===========<* CHALLENGE - Strange Dolls and the Great Prayer Wheel *>=========== |Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 3 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- Your path leads you to a room deep within the Lunatic Garden. At the end, you find an ancient altar to Celesdue, the Guardian of the Moon. The altar is, however, behind a massive shield of light -- save for tiny holes along the bottom -- as are the doors behind it. On the side of the room that you enter, though, is a perhaps familiar pedestal. It has a cluster of strange, handmade clay dolls there. Their limbs are articulated. When you touch one of them, your body falls to the floor and your spirit is inside the now-animated doll. As a doll, you and your friends can move through the tiny holes. There, behind the altar, is a massive prayer wheel. You will need to find a way, as a doll, to reach up and spin it. Doing so, though, could let down the barrier. Touching your body will allow you to transfer your consciousness back into it. =Dungeon Conditions: Madness, Reckless========================================
=========================<* Lunatic Garden - Round 6 *>=========================
=============< Results - Strange Dolls and the Great Prayer Wheel >=============
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josephine Lovelace 101 --(X)--> X
Effects:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashley Winchester 74 --(5)--> 79 Pass
Booty Call 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eleanor Klein 74 --(5)--> 79 Pass
Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zhang Xiumei 86 --(5)--> 91 Pass
Recon Scanner 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Josephine Lovelace 90 --(30)--> 120 Pass
Conditions: Fright(1)|Madness|Reckless(2)
Effects: Enlighten(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has successfully explored Lunatic Garden!
==============================<* Lunatic Garden *>============================== =========================<* CHALLENGE - Secret Doll *>========================== |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 pedestal, with an articulated doll upon it. Unlike the Secret Dolls found before, this one does not transfer your consciousness to it when touching it. However, it has a little pin on the back. Prick it, draw your blood, and you will be inside of it. This strange device could trade for a great deal of gella. It could also serve as an excellent Wits tool. =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
The two dolls manage to work the prayer wheel -- with help from the Booty Call and the scanner. The wheel turns and turns... and the barrier comes down.
After that, it is easy enough for Xiumei and Eleanor to return to their bodies. Xiumei lets out a sigh, as she stands up. She dusts herself off, and then she looks around -- left and right -- and then at thae altar. "That... seems to be it," she says.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor, at the treasure room, remarks only one thing:
"Oh, it's so cute!"
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Josie, as it happens, won't be there once they do head on back. The only sign of her presence is, in fact, a trod-upon cigarette. It looks fairly fresh.
OUTSIDE
"You win this round, Yvaine," says Josie, smoking a cigarette as she stares up at the blue sky.
<Pose Tracker> Ashley Winchester has posed.
Ashley blanches at the sight of the doll.
then at eleanor, because n o