2022-03-13: Ratatoskr History Mystery - Were Xander and Riley at the Photosphere?
- Log: 2022-03-13: Ratatoskr History Mystery - Were Xander and Riley at the Photosphere?
- Cast: Ratatoskr (narrator), Ethius Hesiod, Xander Lovell, Riley Arwell
- Where: Ratatoskr's Imagination
- Date: March 13, 2022
- Summary: Ratatoskr, with only an Odessa-owned tank full of eels for (inquisitive and disruptive) company, tries to figure out if two noteworthy figures of today fought at the Photosphere through his unorganized notes and accounts alongside someone who was known to be present. A special Dig replay of the climax of Chapter 1, Act 4!
================================<* Great Sea *>================================= The Great Sea lies at the very heart of northern Aquvy. The islands, great and small, of the continent are clustered around it. This is one of the most active trading regions on Filgaia. Ships come and go frequently. There are numerous small islands throughout the Great Sea. These offer both places of respite and promises of riches. Small villages offer a place away from the hustle and bustle of great cities like Meria Boule. Diggers flock to the many ruins -- and yet-to-be-found ruins -- scattered across uninhabited islands. Sometimes peaceful, sometimes fraught, the Great Sea is never without adventure to be found. BGM: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - The Great Sea
DG: A party led by Ethius Hesiod is now entering Photosphere - Alien Catacombs. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>=======================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Running the Gauntlet *>=====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
The entrance to the Photosphere has been carved, rather than created. A
massive blast from the Dragonship Destiny's cannon has tore a hole through
the outer shell of the Photosphere. The wall has been carved open, leading
to the tunnels on the inside. However, crossing that ground is no easy
thing: a veritable swarm of Metal Demons is clashing with representatives of
Althena's Guard, the surviving guard members of New Arctica, and some
Drifters.
The result is a fierce, violent melee outside of the Photosphere. Blasts of
energy from Metal Beasts, shots from gunsmoke ARMs, and sorcerous fire and
lightning criss-cross that space. To get inside the Photosphere, one must
run through the crossfire.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ratatoskr, in a moment of downtime in another Odessa safehouse, finds his thoughts drifting towards a place he generally avoided thinking about. Whether he was conscious of that he was traumatized by those series of events or not, a recent bout of callousness by an Odessa Sergeant following the deaths of another squad had him reaffirm what he wanted to do. He was a historian, here during the most turbulent (and best ever) time in Filgaian history. This time, no one was going to be forgotten.
It struck him that there were a few names he had yet to confirm were or were not there, and there was talk about one really weird fellow who kept trying to cover his face with his hand while surrounded by death and destruction on all sides. Incidentally, a tank of live eels - who knows why Odessa had one of those - leapt out to pick a fight, and it was a lot of fun!
But his work was important. Even if he wanted to fight the rest of the eels in that tank.
Althena's Guard lent their might to this charge, the Dragonship Destiny having blown open the hole of the hull. Riesenlied, forcefully transformed into an enormous Ley Dragon by the nefarious Alhazred (one of the Quarter Knights and... prolific scientist to put it mildly), retreated within. Mother - a terrible creature who used the Hyadean people as a means in order to consume the lifeblood of Filgaia - all but gloated.
The corridors within the Photosphere are sterile, made of so much light blue, cold metal thrumming with alien energy throughout. Getting there is an immense challenge. Metal Beasts - the mindless shock troopers of Living Metal beasts - fire blasts of energy and bowl into would-be intruders. Gunsmoke ARMs, sorcerous blasts, and other things of that ilk barred the path of many. Not everyone lived to get inside, but many legends were born that day.
As of the 'present,' there is a strange man trying to drift above all of it with an almost humorous means of conveyance - a single person scale handheld hot air balloon - while covering his face with his hand. It's weird! History is weird when it's being made.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Hot Air Sack toward his party's challenge, Running the Gauntlet.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
While there is much about history to get wrong, one thing that is correct is that, at this point in time, the Fangs were not, well, the Fangs. Xander also had both eyes, and they sparkled with life on default instead of that glimmer having to be dragged out of him like a horse with three broken legs through the mud. He also cared about his hair or whatever, and instead of resembling a wild mane, a braid along his scalp helped tame it into a ponytail, out of his vision.
All the better to fight metal demons with, definitely a thing he absolutely did, completely accurately. An adventure with battles and dragons and trying to save the world. Of course Xander is here. Why wouldn't he be!
A battlefield is an overwhelming place, and smell is a part of that. Xander gives an extra spritz of alchemical perfume meant to calm the nerves, and also to block out the smell of gunsmoke and smoke smoke. And blood.
He staggers a step when he spots someone injured, stumbling to a kneel to take their vitals. It's too late, and he breathes out, shaken, but getting back up whirl around and look in the chaos.
"Riley? Riley, are you still with me?"
He spots Ethius, another familiar(?) face, and tries to keep track of him as a guide through the battlefield. Ethius, afterall, has a bird's eye view.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Autumn Mist toward his party's challenge, Running the Gauntlet.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Riley was also absolutely, totally at this battle, though he didn't need any revisionist history to make his eyes sparkle with life, especially when the world has bizarre sights in it such as that of Ethius inexplicably riding a one-man hot air balloon overhead.
"Xander, look, that guy has a hot air balloon!?" Riley stares momentarily wonderstruck at this sight amidst the melee -- until a bullet whizzing past his ear wakes him back up to the danger and chaos.
"I mean, no, ignore that! Focus on staying alive!" He looks back and forth, trying to try to find his way back to Xander in the chaos. "Where are you!"
DG: Riley Arwell has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Running the Gauntlet.
=================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs - Round 1 *>================== =======================< Results - Running the Gauntlet >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Hot Air Sack 2 Agility Effects: Resilient -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 0 --(22)--> 22 Fail Autumn Mist 1 Agility Effects: Quicken and Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 0 --(22)--> 22 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ethius Hesiod 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Injure(2)|Slow(2) Effects: Quicken(1)|Resilient(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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: Ethius Hesiod has drawn a new Challenge.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>======================= =======================<* CHALLENGE - Automated Doors *>======================== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 | ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------- When you enter the next room, there is a shudder from the door behind you -- and the door in front of you. Then, both of them slam shut, descending from the ceiling. This leaves you trapped inside of the room. The good news is that the expected flood of poison gas, sand, or some other terror does not come. The bad news, however, is that the doors do not just slide back open. A few consoles on the wall may offer one way to open the sealed doors. =Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Slow============================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ratatoskr scratches the side of his head. Were two people like that there? It seems like it should fit, based on some accounts. Outside, there's a case for it, but it gets murkier when thinking about what they did inside when they got there. The odd man unquestionably got in there (another eel flopping its top out of the nearby tank agrees), and he knows there was a major two-way split at some juncture around the same time a certain someone else fell in battle. When was that? He keeps thinking about it.
"This way," the odd man signals to Xander and Riley as he touches down into the open corridors. "Unlike most humans, I have an educated guess as to the manner in which some of these security measures operate." (There was a human who could definitively say so due to their contacts - Ida Everstead-Rey, courtesy of Kalve. This guy was an anomaly, so much so it's an honest mistake to attribute that level of openness to his insight.)
Helpfully, aside from hiding the lower half of his face, he guides Xander and Riley in towards the only path any of them could have possibly taken if they were all here, as the doors slam shut every which way forward and back. Eerie uniform lights of an unknown and/or unfamiliar method - even if one visited the likes of November City - start to blink and flicker.
"Structural damage from the Dragonship Destiny must have put stress on the power generation grid throughout the Photosphere," an incorrect estimation of Ethius intones, very helpfully and openly, "but it operation should remain possible based on my contacts," which he didn't have to this degree, as he looks to the consoles. "These consoles hold the key. I believe security measures that would have fatal consequences are off-line. If you do not understand the text, go by colors following input. We are looking for a green or cyan color." He inspects them with a weird glowing eyeglass of some kind.
How does Xander or Riley resolve this? If they were here, they survived, and that implies they figure out a way through... their own ways.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Spectral Lens toward his party's challenge, Automated Doors.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
These two people existed! Probably they were there! Don't worry about it.
And they only survive thanks to Ethius helping lead through the chaos, which Xander only barely manages to find Riley in, stopping only once they find the safety of the next chamber. And Ethius definitely has knowledge more than most humans, and states that in a very convincingly human way. Xander is convinced. Obviously!
He pants to catch his breath. "Is everyone... Is anyone hurt...?" he asks, mixing up two questions at once and shakily going through his bags. "I have plenty of medicine."
No one's bleeding or dying. Riley gets medicine anyway, because the medicine is also candy and Xander's learned it's always too late once he's offered it.
Ethius explains, and Xander looks over the consoles as he tries to follow the explanation. He chews his lip nervously. "I hope you're right about the off-line part." He swallows, idly reaching into his pocket to run his thumb over his pocketwatch. Maybe the steady ticking soothes him! If it were steady. It is not.
"No, I can read this," he asserts. History says he can, apparently. "...S-Some of it. Let me see..."
He begins to make his attempt to operate the console, using green, cyan, and an understanding of the sigils that is totally not questionable, what are you talking about.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Not Exactly Broken Pocketwatch toward his party's challenge, Automated Doors.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
The hot air balloon man saves them! And equally important, reunites them. Xander's main assurance of Riley's safety is the fact that he is squashed in a hug by Riley once they make it to the next chamber.
"Thank you for helping us, flying stranger," Riley says, looking to Ethius. Although it does not seem that their situation could be called 'safe' per se, given the reference to potentially fatal security features which are only possibly offline and the fact that they are now trapped in this room.
He glances toward the panel as the others do, squinting with the explanation. He begins to hum to calm his own nerves, and Xander's, too, and maybe even Ethius's if he happens to like the tune or ... has nerves. He is quite a mysterious character after all and one shouldn't make assumptions.
Riley isn't going to press any buttons himself because he does not trust himself to correctly operate such an apparatus, but he might suggest some to Xander if he thinks they look likely.
DG: Riley Arwell has used his Tool Musical Interlude toward his party's challenge, Automated Doors.
=================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs - Round 2 *>================== =========================< Results - Automated Doors >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 5 --(21)--> 26 Fail Spectral Lens 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 22 --(21)--> 43 Fail Not Exactly Broken Pocketwatch 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 22 --(4)--> 26 Pass Musical Interlude 2 Wits Effects: Stalwart -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ethius Hesiod 20 --(15)--> 35 Fail Conditions: Injure(1)|Slow(2)|Stupify(2) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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. DG: Ethius Hesiod has drawn a new Challenge.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>=======================
========================<* CHALLENGE - Homing Lasers *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
When you enter this room, you find yourself in a ring-shaped room. A catwalk
moves around the edge of the room, while a pit fills the center, save for a
single sheer column. A blinking red gem is mounted into the column. The exit
from this room is on the other side.
When you enter, there is a pulse of light from the gem in the center.
Then, nozzles in wall swivel, and beams of light fire into the room. The
lasers burn when they touch, but to make matters worse, they reflect off the
wall. Beams of light ricochet across the room, making passing it very
dangerous. However, the red gem may pose a way to stop the beams -- and it
may offer a treasure.
=Dungeon Conditions: Suffer, Treasure=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Having lived on the Photosphere for years, Ratatoskr might be ashamed to admit he doesn't have a perfect floorplan in his head, which... he didn't know at the time one day it'd be important for someone to remember all of it. Did they go in that way he's thinking of? He knows that was one exit path though, after... the incident. He was in a hurry in a stressful time but he does remember some unique damage markings along the corridors, maybe it's something they did...? The result of a defensive mechanism firing off? He taps away to try and recall.
------
Riley doesn't press any buttons, and this seems to be a good thing, as the colors come up... more violet, and the 'flying stranger' has widened eyes. While still covering his face, that much is an indisputable fact of what he did there.
"Remote action," he recoils, "someone has assumed direct control." This is bad news for anyone whose job it is to herd sheep... isn't it? (what)
The stranger urges everyone down as a door opens and a reflective laser shoots across the hallway. The opening door is a narrow opportunity to go somewhere else, which is taken into a ring-shaped room with a catwalk that goes around the edge about a pit... aside from a single column, with a blinking red gem. There's another way forward, through there - but that gem keeps pulsing, and with it, beams of light fill the place. They burn! They're not fatal, thankfully of far lower potency than most defenses as it's made to operate in times of strained power. But they are numerous, they reflect off the walls, and maybe...
"The red light," Ethius points out, "that's the source. If one of us can get there I'll tell you what needs be done to disable it." One of them has to. It may not be him, but again he has that weird floating bag in one hand while covering his mouth with the other hand. Hey. How is he expected to tell them while covering his face with a hand?
Xander may have noticed there's a rhythm going by the pocketwatch he's holding, like clockwork.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Hot Air Sack toward his party's challenge, Homing Lasers.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Xander smiles at Riley and relaxes with the gesture of affection, not squirming or shoving him off in any way, shape, or form. "Thank goodness." Reality! Definitely!
But all of his efforts with the console are not good, and Ethius explains what's going on. Xander flinches. This hurts him.
He grabs Riley and chases Ethius into the next chamber only to come to a panicked halt with the laser fire. He looks to the red light as Ethius explains again and balks. "Th-That? Over there?" It would, of course, not be any right light over here.
Deep breathes. Okay. He steels himself, getting a determined look as he watches that rhythm. He glances to both of them. "...I'm going."
And then he goes, rushing in, praying he has the pattern right and the only thing to defend him being the glint of a scalpel that he intends to use to reflect a laser at a critical junction to give him the time and space he needs to reach the power source.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Favorite Dagger toward his party's challenge, Homing Lasers.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
A door opens, but a wild laser storm has been activated!
The helpful stranger indicates that there may be a way to disable it, but only if that storm is traversed by someone to reach the red light on the far side. And Xander volunteers.
"Xander--...!" But he's already rushing in, armed with only a scalpel for defense!
Riley's pocketwatch isn't as much help as most pocketwatches might be in this situation, given that it is an abomination against both time and reason, but that doesn't mean Riley can't be useful, himself.
He has caught on to the rhythm of the laser beams, and when Xander races on ahead, he drums that rhythm out on the wall to help him with his timing.
DG: Riley Arwell has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Homing Lasers.
=================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs - Round 3 *>================== ==========================< Results - Homing Lasers >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 26 --(37)--> 63 Fail Hot Air Sack 2 Agility Effects: Resilient -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 43 --(25)--> 68 Pass Favorite Dagger 4 Agility Effects: None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 26 --(37)--> 63 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ethius Hesiod 35 --(15)--> 50 Fail Conditions: Slow(1)|Stupify(1)|Suffer(1)|Treasure(1) Effects: Resilient(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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. DG: Ethius Hesiod has drawn a new Challenge.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>=======================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Cut a Path and Rally *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
When you enter this room, you hear some murmuring through an air vent:
"Yo, I think we got enough berries to help them rest up."
"Yeah, yeah... keep it down, Gallows."
"Gentleman. This is no time to argue. Hopefully Virginia catches up soon..."
Gallows Carradine, Jet Enduro, and Clive Winslet appear to be on the other
side of that wall -- and with the promise of refreshment for the troubles
and tribulations to come. While the door to your left may look tempting, the
door that does not yet exist is the true way.
Time to do something about that.
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Gaaaaaahhh!" Ratatoskr grinds his teeth. This isn't coming together! Dimming eyes go over the records on his battered Hyadean datapad, tapping along with irritation, at which point he starts to think. He can't figure out if they all went that way! Too many people talk about remembering the one covering their face that he doesn't know who went with them, when, or in what direction...
...Maybe he should work backwards. He has three definite names that were together, with a prospective fourth. Did they meet them? (An eel bashes their head against the datapad in some sort of greement. Whether it is disa- or a-, we'll never know.)
Xander's dagger does deflect a shot, successfully... into another panel, slamming a new set of security doors to trap them all within that ring chamber and a pit ahead of them, but there's no clean line of sight from the red gem any more. They have a breather. They also had themselves an opt-in coffin, once they were done taking a breather and/or wrestled with the lack of available sustenance.
There's some murmuring over a nearby air vent.
"Yo, I think we got enough berries to help rest them up."
"Yeah, yeah... keep it down, Gallows."
"Gentlemen. This is no time to argue. Hopefully Virginia catches up soon..."
A verifiable conversation that was had, overheard by others, involving known Drifters Gallows Carradine, Jet Enduro, and Clive Winslet. They're on the other side of the wall, and it seems more hollow and less armored than some of the surrounding environs.
Ethius, seemingly ready to accept help and assistance from all sources and contexts, looks to the others.
"We have enough ventilation. I will attempt to melt the wall and allow it to drain down the pit." An argument could be made to try to go through the security door to their left which appears a bit more damaged from some of the reflecting lasers (thanks to being baited, somewhat, by Riley's habitual finger drumming) - but with all they've had to go through getting here, it'd be an excellent idea to rendezvous.
Walls and doors alike were often destroyed by unconventional, even desperate means. 'When' Riley and Xander were here, how might have they accomplished it? Ethius chants and gesticulates - still hiding his face - to apply a higher-yield heat spell to try and create the opening.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Cut a Path and Rally.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
Sorry, Ratatoskr, maybe the Fangs are just too fated to be evil to logically work as saviors of any part of Filgaia. Well, it's nice to keep trying.
Xander's reckless plan does not go quite as planned, and he gives a yelp as he slams into a wall, trapped in the room. He slams his fist to the wall in a futile effort to demand it open, then sighs, sliding down.
He jumps again at the first sign of voices. Friendly voices! That is much better than enemy voices. Xander looks hopefully to Ethius and Riley both, finally looking back to Ethius with a nod. "I think that's a good idea. And they might need our help, too." Less likely, but one can never be sure.
But Xander doesn't have much in the way of addressing the current problem. All he can do is try to work with Ethius' burning to try and help moves pieces as they're melted away.
DG: Xander Lovell has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Cut a Path and Rally.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
"At least you weren't carved into Xander pieces," Riley attempts by way of reassurance, as they are trapped once again. He may have apprehensively imagined Xander being carved into Xander pieces (and may have also been overestimating the carving power of the lasers).
But, still, this is the situation they got. It sounds like whoever in the next room over is having a better time of it...?
"They said something about berries," Riley adds, as an additional vote for reaching these new strangers they can hear through the wall.
Ethius has a plan, and that plan involves melting the entire wall down. "You have a lot of amazing skills, flying stranger," he says, as he helps Xander clear away the melted pieces. If only he had some large, heavy tool that would help with his job... like a shovel! But alas, nobody answers his whims for such a thing, certainly not a dark god.
DG: Riley Arwell has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Cut a Path and Rally.
=================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs - Round 4 *>================== =======================< Results - Cut a Path and Rally >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 63 --(9)--> 72 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 68 --(21)--> 89 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 63 --(21)--> 84 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ethius Hesiod 50 --(15)--> 65 Fail Conditions: Save Point(1) Effects: ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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. DG: Ethius Hesiod has drawn a new Challenge.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>=======================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Collapsing Roof *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
As you make your way into the Photosphere, you find that the battle outside
has caused some damage to the structure to the Photosphere. More worryingly,
though, is the fact that the Photosphere periodically shows intense signs of
damage: when it crashed a millennium ago, the damage has made some tunnels
buckle and shift. That includes the narrow tunnel that you enter.
A loud 'boom' from outside, likely from an ARM blast striking true, causes
the tunnel around you to shift. Then, huge pieces of the roof begin crashing
down around you. Plates and the occasional structural beam rip through the
ceiling, and smash down towards you!
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Injure=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Wait... wait... they never talked about him..." Ratatoskr flinches. He can't link these sets of Drifters together, and he doesn't think that trio (or rather, quartet) would have been quiet about meeting such distinctive people. He taps back on the datapad a few times. Hm, come to think of it, he does know of one of their number who was sighted in several different places throughout the Photosphere at the time. Someone he'd rather not think about, after what little happened between them--
Now there are two (2) eels reaching out and biting down on the datapad. Why is he doing delicate history work next to a tank full of eels, of nebulous purpose to Odessa? Maybe someone should ask Seraph Lanval. (Three eels, now.)
"Fu fu fu!" Comes a... voice. It's a voice, all right. It sounds awful, and three pairs of boots are beating it before they can punch through all of that. Ethius is able to melt away the wall, and anything not molten Xander and Riley can move. Both of them manage to pull down a piece of loose overhead plating, and from within...
...There's a goopy, slug-snake-blob thing, one arm completely turned to mush. Another in the form of any number of imbalanced, sharp, deadly-looking weaponry. They ooze an ochre-hued trail of... yuck. They don't look like they are in good shape. Nor smell. Nor hear. (Taste and touch, no comment, please do not find out.)
"Surprise! That is a twisted ending by yours!" They turn their head down to the trio. "What!! The ^Sour Tooth^ and the ^Bitter Tooth^ is behind the clock? I see two ducks! It is a ^Pair of Ducks^. No no no. No! Yaroeleedt will not quack up, quit quick!!"
Ethius stops and stares at the other two, as if bewildered and bereft of any usable context for what is going on. He turns to raise a palm to them as if to fry them on the spot with a sorcerous incantation.
There's a loud boom and horrible screeching. "Not for cannon! It is not for cannon, do not fire!!!" Yarobeleedt oozes away, but before they can all come to grips with any of this.
The ceiling to the opened tunnel passage where the other Drifters were suddenly starts to buckle, at which point Ethius just places his quarterstaff just so as if it will hold it up and forms the extent of how much he intends to dedicate any sort of attention to what's going on.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Staff of Audience toward his party's challenge, Collapsing Roof. DG: Riley Arwell has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Collapsing Roof.
<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.
There is a something. A definite something. A terrifying, unidentified something.
Xander panics and sprays perfume directly at Yaroeleedt, though whether it hits him or just the goopy space he once was is not for him to know.
Because grabs Riley by the shirt and books it.
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Autumn Mist toward his party's challenge, Collapsing Roof.
=================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs - Round 5 *>================== =========================< Results - Collapsing Roof >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 72 --(5)--> 77 Pass Staff of Audience 4 Agility Effects: nothing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander Lovell 89 --(5)--> 94 Pass Autumn Mist 1 Agility Effects: Quicken and Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riley Arwell 84 --(22)--> 106 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ethius Hesiod 65 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Injure(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: Riley Arwell is too exhausted to continue! DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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: Ethius Hesiod has drawn a new Challenge.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>=======================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Golem Lolithia - Phase 1 *>===================
|Type: Climax |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Deep within the Photosphere, Mother has a sentinel.
A cavernous chamber stretches out, providing a final choke point before the
control center of the Photosphere can be reached. Filling the chamber is the
same Golem stolen by the Metal Demons during the Battle of Adlehyde:
Lolithia. This dark blue, armored Golem towers over the room and the many
Drifters engaging it in combat. Indeed, as you enter the room, the sound of
battle greets you: blasts of energy, gunshots, and flashes of swords all
meet the mighty armor of the Elw Golem.
The Golem's eyes flash with golden light. Then, it rears back a huge claw,
and slams it down into the ground. A moment later, blasts of energy come
raining down... and the battle is joined!
(NOTE: This card assumes that all of the people running the Dig, and
possibly a few named NPCs, are in a massive brawl against a Gear-sized
enemy. If you pass this card, you will have Quick and Shield for the final
battles. If you fail, you will have Slow and Break.)
=Dungeon Conditions: Suffer, Exhaust==========================================
DG: Xander Lovell has used his Tool Candied Medicine toward his party's challenge, Golem Lolithia - Phase 1. DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Powder Grenade toward his party's challenge, Golem Lolithia - Phase 1.
=================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs - Round 6 *>==================
=====================< Results - Golem Lolithia - Phase 1 >=====================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethius Hesiod 77 --(5)--> 82 Pass
Powder Grenade 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xander Lovell 94 --(25)--> 119 Fail
Candied Medicine 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riley Arwell 106 --(X)--> X
Effects:
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Ethius Hesiod 80 --(0)--> 80 Pass
Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Hesitate(1)|Injure(1)|Suffer(1)
Effects: Cleanse
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: Xander Lovell is too exhausted to continue! DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod has passed this challenge! The party gained 0 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: Ethius Hesiod has drawn a new Challenge.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>=======================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Golem Lolithia - Phase 2 *>===================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
After some time, the battle against Lolithia finally strikes a blow that
makes the Golem wheel backward. Lightning explodes and shoots up and down
the length of the Golem's body. Then, its shsoulders shudder. The massive
blie Golem lists forward. It leans over, without falling over entirely, and
it does not stir.
A precious opportunity has been bought: the chance to strike at the Golem,
and do no small amount of damage to it. Lolithia can be potentially
disabled, if everyone strikes now... and with all of the might they have!
(NOTE: Lolithia will not be destroyed by this attack, but it will be
disabled. If you pass this card, you will have Hyper and a Hi-Heal for the
final battles. If you fail this card, you will have Weaken and Disease.)
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
DG: Ethius Hesiod has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Golem Lolithia - Phase 2.
=================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs - Round 7 *>==================
=====================< Results - Golem Lolithia - Phase 2 >=====================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethius Hesiod 82 --(101)--> 183 Fail
Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xander Lovell 119 --(X)--> X
Effects:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riley Arwell 106 --(X)--> X
Effects:
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Ethius Hesiod 80 --(15)--> 95 Fail
Conditions: Weaken(2)
Effects:
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: Ethius Hesiod is too exhausted to continue! DG: The party has failed this challenge! All party members are now Exhausted. This attempt is over. DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod has been fully Exhausted by Photosphere - Alien Catacombs! DG: The party will now draw a conclusion.
======================<* Photosphere - Alien Catacombs *>=======================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Lolithia's Fall *>========================
|Type: Landmark |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Lolithia teeters under the final assault. With a groan, Lolithia comes
crashing down and slams against the ground. Chunks of armor plating pop off;
a loud crack of the interior crystal sounds. The machine lays there, still
and terrible, in the wake.
...unfortunately for you, you were among the Drifters in its path. It comes
crashing down at you -- and you must run away, lest you be squished like a
bug underneath it.
However, after the dust clears, the way ahead awaits: the inner sanctum of
the Photosphere, and what dangers await.
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ratatoskr stares blankly at the pad with the tiniest smile he can manage, which is about as close to a frown as he can anatomically achieve. The eels stop and stare at the contents. There seems to be a collective agreement between beast and bioengineered super soldier that this did not happen.
WHAT DID HAPPEN
Everyone eventually did converge upon the stolen Golem Lolithia, an Elw Golem once turned against the Metal Demons in time of antiquity. Ethius threw down a smoke cover of some kind, as is his wont, to disrupt the Golem's ability to target the masses as a huge claw slammed down upon the chamber. It was as much a threat to the structural integrity of the Photosphere - a crashed, derelict craft as it was no matter its surprising level of functionality in other facets - as it was to those converging upon Mother.
WHAT ISN'T CERTAIN TO HAVE HAVE HAPPENED
Side by side, Xander and Riley bravely fight together (after seeing Yarobeleedt off with perfume, earning a scream of 'HEX'), in increasingly intimiate contexts as to the level of teamwork the life partners can muster against all odds, even in the face of inevitability and ruin, and as the Golem was put on the disadvantage by everyone's efforts...
Ratatoskr stops and realizes he's on the verge of writing romantic fanfiction of living, breathing people. That's against his creed, he sneers as his tail flares up... but from all he's heard off-handedly by other accounts (which are themselves off-hand, that's multiple degrees of telephone game hearsay), the two individuals he's thinking of really must be that close.
...
Almost no one really gives him the time of day with his interests and studies, he realizes as he holds the datapad close. He's been doing so much of this by himself, over the years, even as some like Fei taunted him about how he'd go crazy trying to care so much to keep as many as he could by himself. It'd be great if he had someone else with him for all of this, another guy like him.
The Odessa detachment he's presently with do not call for him to follow as they embark on another risky mission, as if deciding it's all right to just leave him in the dust to his own devices. It is, for all his interest in the myriad warriors of this era and the previous... really kind of lonesome.