View source for 2017-07-05: So We Meet Again For The Last Time, Door

*'''Log: So We Meet For The Last Time, Door'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Character :: Josephine Lovelace]], [[Character :: Morgan Newkirk]], [[Character :: Gwen Whitlock]], [[Character :: Rudy Roughnight]]
*'''Where:''' Ruins of Memory
*'''Date:''' July 5th 2017
*'''Summary''': ''Borrowing a few people, Josie heads to the Ruins of Memory to give the place that's thwarted her twice already one more good try.''

----

 DG: A party led by Josephine Lovelace is now entering Ruins of Memory.
 DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.

 =====================<* CHALLENGE - Entering the Depths *>======================
 |Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  The exterior of the Ruins of Memory has been well-combed. Drifters have
  cleaned out the huge ground level, which is easily moved through. However,
  as you approach the deeper parts, you can find a great hole leading into the
  depths of the ruins. It will require caution to enter the depths in one
  piece, but the rewards may be worth it.
 =Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	A LITTLE BIT AGO:

	'Make sure you've completed any unfinished business' had been the gist of the comment from both Noah and Morgan.

	Well. After two attempts at this place and no success to show for it, this counted as 'unfinished business' as far as Josie was concerned. Morgan ''had'' made an offer, back before the archaeologist had recieved an unfortunate run-in with a man with a sword, and now that time was drawing short -- and more importantly, now that she no longer had a hole in her guts -- Josie had intended to collect.

	It's the principle of the thing.

	Of course, one doesn't just walk into ruins without suitable backup (well, unless you're Josie, which... yes), so she had of course asked around.

	NOW:

	Josie stands by the lip of a familiar hole in the floor of the ruins, gazing down into the depths. "Everyone ready?" She grins, if briefly, as she turns to face the others. Gwen's a familiar face, and of course she knows Morgan by now. That Drifter kid, Rudy, had come along on the job, too. Time to see what they're all capable of. "Let's show this place what we're made of, shall we~?"

	And with a short salute, she turns and hops right over the edge.

	She felt like showing off, a little bit.

	Penelope does not join her on the way down, opting to fly like a sane bird instead.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Entering the Depths.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

More like Rudy had been dragged along by one fox eared Scoundrel.

Thats usually how its been working with Morgan and Rudy at least!

The fox though stands with a hand braced against the edge of the hole. Glancing down into the black abyss leading into the bowels of the earth. "Lemme guess..." Comes the drawl. "...no elevator eh?" The fox asks with amusement as he angles a glance up towards Josie.

"Darlin, you bring me to all the best places." He adds after a moment. Eyes crinkling with amusement even as she leaps over the edge. A slight shake of his head. "Never a dull moment..." He murmurs. "Guess thats what makes it fun right?" This angled towards Gwen before the fox eared man just shrugs and....

Steps right over into the dark.

He hasn't done this before! What is he thinking?!

Gwen and Rudy might know at least, as the blue-white energy of the grapel-gauntlet catches onto the ledge to help him right down. Safe and sound.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has used his Tool Force Lash toward his party's challenge, Entering the Depths.

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	 	 "We meet again." Gwen squints dramatically into the deeper parts of the ruins of memory as she and her companions assemble. She's not talking to her comrades, as she mostly gave the cheery waves and greetings that was more her usual mode of socialization. No, she's talking to the hole.

	She's been here before. What, two, maybe three times? And every time, she's had trouble scaling down this damn hole.

	 But ah, she's prepared this time, taking out a length of rope, which she ties to a jutting rock with a secure knot. As she ties the rope, she looks over at her companions, especially Josephine, who just-

	 -jump down. Gwen's mouth opens in a shocked squeak of surprise, slowly turning her head to the fox-eared Morgan. "Y-yeah... I suppose..."

	 And then he simply steps out over the dark hole, using the miraculous abilities of his gauntlet to lower himself down.

	 She looks next to Rudy, and shrugs with a grin, following down on her rope.

	 If she fails a few seconds later, it's probably because that rock is beginning to crack at the base.

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Entering the Depths.

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

"Sure."

As expected, the blue haired boy seems verbose when asked questions. Still, Rudy is an agreeable sort more often than not, which makes it a rather easy thing to have friends to convince him to do things, such as going down holes to look for who knows what.

When Gwen passes by with a grin, the boy offers a soft and kind smile in return as he moves toward the lip of the hole. He moves to start scaling his way down. Eventually, the rock will give way, but he kicks off. The intent is to do what true heroes do:

THREE POINT LANDING.

Of course, if Rudy drops from higher than he planned on, might be a bit painful.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Entering the Depths.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has failed this challenge! The party gained 2 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.

	"Only the best holes in the ground~" Josie teases, right before she salutes and leaps.

	Josie has done this before! It should be fine!

	Spoilers: IT'S NOT FINE

	Some of the lip of the hole must have caved in, their fall masked by the shadows below. Suffice to say: the actual landing is somewhat more difficult than anticipated, given that there are a lot of rocks underfoot rather than a mostly-smooth rock floor.

	Josie, for her part, flails, stumbles, and falls forward ungracefully. From her position on the floor, though, she waves a hand through the air. "Doing fine!"

	Penelope lands on her head.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has drawn a new Challenge.

 ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Annaberge *>===========================
 |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 2          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  Of the creatures that prowl the Ruins of Memory, these may be the strongest.
  Four-legged creatures the size of a horse, but with a fang-filled head, and
  a body rimmed with terrible spikes of bone, an Annaberge is a powerful foe
  indeed. They can gallop down the many straight hallways and have a powerful
  roar that might shock any who hear it unaware.
 =Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


So this isn't the best of starts, but its a start! Thats something!

The landing of the little group leaves much to be desired. What is does have in spades though is ''echos''.

The crashing sounds reverabte down the corridors and soon enough and unfortunately enough they are answered.

By roars.

And growling.

And other assorted problems.

Specificly a problem studded in bone spikes and charging down the hall towards the cacophany called up by the entrence.

"Scatter!" Morgan calls as he hears the drumroll of the hoofbeats. His shiles spring into existance as he tries to give his companions cover, even as he offers a hand down to Josie to help her up and out of the way.

Yup. This is going quite well really.

...he means that seriously.

...this should scare people.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has used his Tool Shield Gauntlet toward his party's challenge, Annaberge.

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	There have been better starts to an expedition.

	There have also been worse starts! Like the time she got jumped by a bunch of Malevolence-addled animals while in the middle of setting up a shot.

	Everyone's largely in one piece and conscious, so Josie considers this a general win.

	Which, um, speaking about getting jumped by a bunch of animals...

	"Looks like we've got company," the archaeologist says against the sound of hoofbeats as something comes charging down the ancient halls as she works her way up off the floor. She takes that hand from Morgan once it's offered, Penelope scattering for higher ground as she does so.

	Josie will scatter, herself.

	It's coming in fast, without enough time for her to go for her rifle. So. Josie does the next best thing as she ducks back behind some of the fallen-in debris:

	A mutter, a gesture. Lightning briefly coils about her left hand as she invokes one of the tattoos etched on her back. Briefly, this shadowy hollow of a floor is set alight from the electrical glow.

	"Eat this!" she shouts, hurling the electrical charge overhead at the monster like someone might toss a javelin.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Annaberge.

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	Gwen's rope was secure.

	Gwen's knot was secure.

	Gwen's hold was secure.

	It was the damn rock that was not, in fact, secure, a factor that would not have come into play if Gwen had scaled down the rope like a care-free rock climber. Instead, she took her time, having learned from her previous mistakes. Rudy manages to scale past her, causing Gwen's lips to twist. "Man, hold on guys, don't leave me behin-"

	That was the moment the rock, having had to deal with her weight for longer than gravity was willing to overlook, gave way with a soft, but no less sinister cracking noise above her. With a cry, Gwen falls the rest of the way down, heavy ledge rock in tow, which, thankfully, is whipped to one angle by Gwen's flailing, falling on one of the massive equine beasts.

	Gwen, meanwhile, lands on something softer than she was expecting. Moss, maybe?

	She sees Josephine. She sees Morgan.

	".... Rudy...?"

	Please be over in the corner, Rudy.

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

The drop was longer than Rudy anticipated and the three point landing is hard enough that Roughnight doesn't really get up from the landing at first. But then he hears the falling rock and then he sees the woman fall. The young man attempts to try and heroically catch her, but he's a little too early and ends up being the cushion she feared she had become. The boy's skull smashes into the ground, but even in suffering, he can be silent. The smile is still kind, even as he moves to try and get up, helping Gwen as he does. "Sorry" is all he offers, as if it was his fault that she landed on him.

But the apology is short, but considering the incoming threat, it needs to be. The Hand Cannon is soon brought out, a few shots blasting out as the young man moves to stand by Lovelace, letting Newkirk do his thing with his shield and take the foreground.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Annaberge.
 DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Annaberge.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has passed this challenge! The party gained 11 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> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

The roaring beast bears down on them. Is this the end of the party? Is the expidition doomed before it even begins?! COULD THIS BE THE HAND OF FATE AT WORK?!

...no not really.

The flung bolt of lightning smacks the creature square in the face causing it to see stars as Rudy and Gwen roll out of the way and come up shooting. So incensed is the creature by the stinging bullets and strange blue light that it decides to ''charge''...

...but the bolt to the face means that it chooses an empty corridor to charge down. With a roar it takes off, seeing double and chasing phantoms at it careens away from the little group.

Morgan's shields slowly fade before he takes a deep breath. "...so...that happened." A pause. "Where too next?"

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has drawn a new Challenge.

 =======================<* CHALLENGE - Distant Switch *>=======================
 |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          |
 --------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
  A large stone door has slid down the entrance at the end of this hallway. To
  make matters worse, the hallway has deep pits between the path to the door
  and the walls. The door may be opened by a switch on the wall, but one of
  those pits blocks easy access to the switch. Some clever thinking may be
  required.
 =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

Morgan's question seems answered as the hallway toward their goal seems to have a very important looking door, as there is a slab of stone that has various writings that are hard to make out from far away, but once close they would definitely suggest to those with digger backgrounds to have all the signs of 'right path'. However, the way past there, is not so clear. In the darkness around the hallway, however, there are pits that seem rather not fun, filled with the remains of an ancient civilization as well as perhaps the remains of those people eaten by freakish horse creatures.

Just beyond these pits, a large and seemingly important switch seems to tempt those involved.

Without hesitation, despite his seemingly bad luck for this dig, Rudy places his ARM away and proceeds to try and long jump across the pits, using brute strength in place of any sort of grace or skill.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Distant Switch.

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	When Rudy and Gwen make a crash landing, Josie briefly winces.

	But hey, they got up again so they're probably fine, right?

	Right.

	The remaining Annaberge, perhaps knowing when it's licked, flees into a different part of the ruins. Josie briefly goes for her rifle, only to pause and relent at the last moment. "Eh, let it go," she says aloud, instead raising her hand and giving out a loud whistle.

	Penelope returns, swooping down in a black and white blur.

	Her right hand plants lightly on her hip. "Onwards and inwards, I think. The last time I got to the heart of this place, there was a large door that we couldn't break down. Let's hope we have a little more luck this time!" She pauses a moment, then heads off with the rest.

	"Hmm. Let's try not to fall down here, huh, kid--"

	Josie turns from her evaluation of the holes towards Rudy as...

	There might be a blinking space where Rudy was.

	"Huh," Josie says, watching him go.

	And then one shrug later, she follows, opting to similarly make a break for it. When in Kislev, or so they say.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Distant Switch.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

Huh. A switch. Well thats not too bad. The pits though are not to Morgan's liking. He glances down into the darkness with a frown. "That seems like a long way down..." His voice thoughtful. "...maybe we should use a rope. Or I might can hit it from here with my grapel..."

And he turns as he says this towards Rudy only to watch him leap away.

A pause where he opens his mouth to say something and...

And there goes Josie too.

"...or that. We can try that too." The fox continues, almost without missing a beat as he unspools his grapel to try to at least give them an anchor to catch if needed.

"At least he's enthuastic!" He adds towards Gwen as he launches the glimering energy rope across the chasm.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has used his Tool Force Lash toward his party's challenge, Distant Switch.

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	 Rudy was not in the corner. "OhguardiansI'msosorry," Gwen exclaims, her words almost managing to obscure Rudy's own apology... to her. Still, she accepts the help to get up, taking the moment to visually examine the young Drifter. Well, he's standing, talking, and now moving, so that must mean he didn't get a concussion!

	 Gwen is not a doctor.

	 The party arrives at a large stone door. Gwen, sensing that advancement may be gained through the applying of blunt force, raises her fist, then realizes there's a deep pit between them and the door, making her usual solution moot, for now. Watching as Rudy makes an epic leap to the switch. "The kid's a natural," Gwen offers to Josephine with a wide grin.

	 There's still the matter of getting across, however. Gwen watches Josephine leap over as well, and backs up. "Hey Morgan." She throws one end of what remains of the rope to the fox-eared Drifter. "Could ya do me a solid and, uh, take that end to the other side? You're more springy that I am. Just tie it to something and we'll be solid." Pause. "Ish. I don't trust myself to make that jump." But Morgan, thankfully, has an even better idea. "That works too!"

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Distant Switch.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has passed this challenge! The party gained 7 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> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

While Rudy and Josephine took the hard way and Gwen and Morgan take the 'sensible' way, in the end, the group is able to move to the switch, then back toward the door they were supposed to go on. While the door takes forever and a half to move up, by the time the group has made their way toward the door proper. They might even get there in time to listen to the wind blowing in a way that is certainly not elevator music. TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE.

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has drawn a new Challenge.

 =========================<* CHALLENGE - Rubble Pile *>==========================
 |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 1          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  A massive pile of rubble, consisting of small rocks and crushed pieces of
  wall, has fallen into the way ahead. Some work to clear it may be the only
  option!
 =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	 The door, once opened, leads to...

	 ... a mass of rocks.

	 Whatever grand vision was meant to greet people as they strolled in is now gone, leaving only the wrecked remains of what was.

	 And they're going to have to further destroy things in order to get through.

	 "Welp, time to get dirty!" Gwen, unfortunately, has not quite inherited the meticulous nature of her adopted 'auntie', as shown when she just begins punching some rocks, and hefting the smaller (but still heavy) pieces to the size. "This shouldn't take too long, right?"

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool Armored Fist toward her party's challenge, Rubble Pile.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

Morgan carried rope, and caught people that slipped. Which is what the agile fox tends to do in situations like this. That door starts to creep open though and his grin slowly widens. He can't wait to see whats on the other side of these ancient doors. Its always something new and exciting.

A damaged gear?

Anciet tech left over from some forgotten empire?

Gun wielding Goblins itching for a fight?!

What could it be?!?!?!

...rocks. It could also defintally be rocks.

The fox just stares at the pile with a sigh before he moves forwards to start moving the rubble out of the way as Gwen creates smaller rocks out of bigger rocks. She's better equipped than he is when it comes to pulverising things.

"...this reminds me. Grenades. I always need to keep a few grenades around..." He says as he starts moving skree out of the way for people to get through. "I always forget the grenades..."

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Rubble Pile.

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	'He's a natural', Gwen says, in those moments before Josie sprints after Rudy and takes a few leaps of her own.

	No kidding. Despite his age, he's handling this pretty dang well. "Guess you're the real thing after all," she comments to him, alighting on the side of the platform with the switch. "So, you want to do the honors?"

	Penelope for her part remains hunched on Josie's shoulder, blinking blearily at whoever lands here next.

	And continues to stare, while the door opens.

	And reveals, naturally, a whole lot of rocks. "Well, huh," Josie says, planting one hand on her hip as she gazes upon the mess that awaits them. "Sounds like our only option, unless we want to turn back?" She smiles -- more of a grin, really -- before sliding off her pack and kneeling to root inside it.

	"Heh heh, didn't think so. A little mess isn't going to stop us!"

	It's the mattock that comes out, the archaeologist's helper. "Give me a little space -- I'll loosen these up before we bring in the explosives!"

	Bracing herself, she swings it overhead at the rock pile. Once, twice.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Well-Used Mattock toward her party's challenge, Rubble Pile.

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

The fist flies, the mattock swings.

It seems the boys aren't doing much as the two lovely ladies offer pure strength. That's because when they look to Rudy, they will see that he's liberally applying explosions to the piles with a calm whistle. "You should likely get back," he states to the women before he gets up, making sure that the charges pair well with Newkirk's addition. As the people clear away, Rudy turns back and just starts calmly walking away. The blast is massive, but there is one thing that Zepet did instilled with his grandfatherly advice:

Never look at the explosion if you can help it.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has used his Tool Excavation Charges toward his party's challenge, Rubble Pile.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has passed this challenge! The party gained 12 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> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	No, Morgan. It's none of those things.

	Gwen, Josephine, and Morgan apply Fist, Mattock, and Reluctant Moving. It's super effective!

	Gwen, Josephine, and Morgan are withdrawn!

	Rudy is summoned! Rudy applies Bomb! It's super effective!

	Team Josephine has won the battle against Trainer Rocks!

	(The way forward is now clear.)

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has drawn a new Challenge.

 ==========================<* CHALLENGE - Arrow Trap *>==========================
 |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  As you enter this room, a few slits on the wall open up. Arrows fire out -
  and though they may be ancient, they are still sharp and fast as ever!
 =Dungeon Conditions: Wound====================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	Stepping back -- right hand aching -- Josie ducks to grab her bag before making room. "All yours, kid." It's a good idea to make room when explosives are involved.

	She can feel the rush of heat behind her as she makes way. Penelope launches from her shoulder, a few feathers falling slowly as the explosion ripples forth behind her. And Josie glances back over her shoulder.

	...There's a reason why you shouldn't look at the explosion. "Ow," Josie comments, wincing as debris goes flying, catching her across the cheek.

	It's just a scratch.

	Once the dust ''actually'' settles, it's time to move onwards through the doorway they cleared!

	It's a hallway.

	A very inconspicuous hallway. "Looks like it's straight ahead," Josie comments, taking a step forward.

	And then she hears it. Ka-chunk.

	Click.

	"Fengalon's balls."

	Grabbing the nearest person to her -- Gwen, as it happens -- the archaeologist books it, pigeon following at a safe distance. "RUN!"

	Because this is an arrow trap, and it's about to unload arrows.

	Yes, it still has arrows loaded and ready. Even after hundreds of years.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Arrow Trap.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

Morgan also did not pay attention to Rudy's Grandpa's advice. He looked into the light, mostly because the light was pretty. Then there was an explosion, and his eyes are flooded with light and fire and...

...well that was a bad idea.

When he can blink the light out of his eyes he realises that he has a cut over one eye. Which looks much worse than it is.

Reaching up to try to dab some of the blood away the man looks towards Josie and smirks just slightly as he realises she's recieved similar treatment. "Got a little red on you," He comments towards her as he starts down the hallway....

...and then hears that click.

"What she said."

Then he takes off at a sprint, following after the pair of ladies as he flees from the arrow trap as fast as possible.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Arrow Trap.

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	 The next obstacle in sight, the redhead blinks, then slowly grins. "Oh hey, I remember this hallway!" Gwen chirps up, raising a finger. "This is where those arrows shoot out of the-"

	 One can just hear the Doppler effect as Josie, with a newly panicked Gwen in tow, just sprints down the hallway at full speed.

	 Gwen tries her damnedest to use her metal ARM as an impromptu shield against the arrows whizzing by, but she's not exactly moving at a slower pace, making some arrows sail dangerously close to her head. "T-this is too close for comfort!"

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Arrow Trap.

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

Rudy Roughnight knows what he must do what he sees the pointy trap in action. The perhaps poisonous projectiles fly and wizz past, but he's seem some diggers do some smooth moves. Time for me to follow suit.

Running straight for the trap, he wait until the last second and slides underneth them. Or at least he tries and gets about a third of the way through. With the arrows still flying and gritting his teeth, Rudy doggie crawls with the upmost speed in a desperate attempt to avoid being filled full of arrows.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Arrow Trap.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has passed this challenge! The party gained 12 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.

	It's best to seperate things into two worlds: before arrows, and after arrows.

	BEFORE ARROWS:

	"Same to you," Josie says to Morgan, though not without a lopsided smile. She makes a cursory attempt to wipe it away but really, it looks worse than it really is.

	AFTER ARROWS:

	Gwen barely gets a chance to explain the current stage hazard before Josie grabs her arm and books it.

	Arrows fly free and heavily -- who made this trap and why?? -- peppering the opposing walls with projectiles. They bounce off, too.

	Still, it's a race the group was made to run, and they might even cross the distance with minimal arrow-related injuries.

	Moments after everyone's crossed the finish line, the mechanism creaks and with another audible ka-chunk, slows to a halt. Did it run out, or did it just shut down for now?

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has drawn a new Challenge.

 ========================<* CHALLENGE - Cracked Wall *>========================
 |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 1          |
 --------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
  One of the walls in this room has a few faint cracks in it. The wall is
  sturdy, but not as sturdy as it could be - and a small hole through it
  reveals a small room kept secret. Inside is an old wooden chest, which holds
  some ancient coin and much needed supplies... if you can force your way to
  them.
 =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As the group proceeds on and the arrows seem done, the hallway seems to have a rather normal progression. There is likely challenges to be had, spoils to be found and enemies taken down, but there seems to be an area of wall that seems to be a bit weaker. Rudy doesn't seem to notice this, but once another person does, he is more than willing to offer his explosives, merely ready to place his good old fashioned 'problem solvers' wherever they need to be.

Unaware or uncaring of jinxes, Rudy shrugs as people prepare to handle the next challenge. "This doesn't seem so bad," he muses softly to himself.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has used his Tool Excavation Charges toward his party's challenge, Cracked Wall.

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	At least it's peaceful after that.

	Heading down a corridor that just doesn't seem familiar, Josie glances this way and that. Perhaps she's checking for traps this time?

	It's not a trap that she finds, but something more interesting. "Hey, there's a crack here--"

	She inspects it more closely, then raps a hand against the wall.

	Hollow.

	"Hey, kid," and she means Rudy, as she gestures for him to come hither, "I'll take a crack at this first, and then you can set those explosives. Sound like a plan?"

	'Take a crack' apparently means 'get out the mattock and take a few swings at the wall' in Josie-speak. Well, at least it might direct the charge better.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Well-Used Mattock toward her party's challenge, Cracked Wall.

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	If Josie hadn't pointed it out, Gwen would have likely continued on, like Rudy, content to continue forwards to the next destination. "Oh? You think there's some stuff behind there? Hey, I could-" Then Josie, ever the one to solve problems with her own two hands, gets out that mattock and begins swinging. Gwen gives her a thumbs up. "That works too!"

	 Interlacing the finger behind her head, the courier then goes to lean against another wall, urging their efforts of destruction with a gentle motion of one hand, then a thumbs up. "You guys go get that wall, I'm gonna have a breather~"

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Cracked Wall.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

Well now its a wall.

Morgan seems to have made it though the arrows without a problem. Most either missing or deflected off his gauntlet. He skids to a stop at the wall as the others start to figure out how to best remove it as an obsticle.

"I'll see if I can peel out some of the bigger chunks once you break em up then, Josie. Might help with the explosion." A beatpause. "You swing a mean mattock." He adds with a smirk towards her.

Then a glance at the rest of them. "Rudy, Gwen, you two alright after that run?" He adds as he starts using his grappel line to pull out chunks of stone. Since getting in the way of a heavy mattock is not the best of ideas.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Cracked Wall.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has passed this challenge! The party gained 17 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> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

The boy with the blue hair is once again following the sage advice of Zepet, but it seems that with the help of his peers, the explosion sends rocks flying. In the wake of the blast, there is definately things that are in the chest that might help them. Various junk that can be fashioned into handy tools, random maps, and of course, some money here and there. Rudy doesn't look within, figuring there are many more interested in the looting side of things. "I'm fine" comes the swift response when asked about his state, looking toward Gwen for comfirmation on her end before being willing to press on.

DG: Gwen Whitlock has drawn a new Challenge.

 ======================<* CHALLENGE - Mirrored Sunlight *>=======================
 |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 1          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  The sun can reach even deep places, when it has a channel to do so. A single
  sunbeam shines down on the floor - which is well and good, but the doorway
  at the other end of the hall has slid shut. The way forward may not be
  clear, at first. However, upon closer inspection, there is a small hole in
  the center of the door in the shape of the crescent moon.
 =Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	 Once people's attentions are taken off her, Gwen winces. Oh. Right. Arrows. Poisonous ones, at that. Searching for where that arrow skimmed her knee and leg, she sighs at the gashes. It's too minor in Gwen's world to draw attention to it, but major enough to cause a bit of pain, especially once the adrenaline had worn off. Morgan's question prompts Gwen to turn her head up to look at him as she cleans her wounds. "What, y'think I can't carry my own weight?" she throws at Morgan, a playful wink. "Rudy's the one that tried to catch me when we fell earlier. A real gentleman!" Unlike a CERTAIN archaeologist who dragged her through those arrows.

	 .... though the arrows managing to hit Gwen is probably a testament to how many more would have hit if Josephine hadn't grabbed her hand.

	 The next room causes Gwen top go to the side again and finish her bandaging. She points to the sunbeam. "Last time I had to deal with this, we just had to try to reflect the beam to some other spot- I think, over there? Or over here?" She frowns, and shrugs. "While I got this kit out, anyone need some first aid? Those arrows are nasty."

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool Medical Kit toward her party's challenge, Mirrored Sunlight.

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	Josie is always ready to oblige, Gwen.

	"Eeesh..." Josie hisses, shaking out her right hand. "I've got to find a better way of doing that..." Still, in spite of her aching hand, she flashes a smile Morgan's way. "I try. Want to give it a go yourself, sometime?" She swings the tool absently in her left hand, before unceremoniously pitching it back into her pack.

	And then the bombs go off.

	Their reward is: various bits of potentially useful junk!

	"I wonder if this was important to someone," she wonders aloud, leaning over Rudy's shoulder. A glinting bit of 'something' near the bottom of the cache catches her eye, and she reaches for it.

	A chunk of mirrored glass. Almost, Josie moves to chuck it, but...

	Wait.

	She stuffs it, without explanation, in her pocket. Her gaze, then, slides over to Gwen as the younger girl breaks out the medical kit. "You ok there, kiddo?" Gwen ''sure does'' seem to be mysteriously banged up.

	How mysterious.

	"I'm sure she's doing fine~" she says cheerfully, as they head into the next room.

	Which earns a, "I knew it!" from Josie.

	She remembers this one!

	"Yeah, that's the one. Lucky us, we've already got a mirror. Hey, Penelope? Do me a favor," she says, punctuating the request with a whistle as she pulls the mirror shard back out again. "Careful," she cautions the bird as the pigeon swoops in to pluck the shiny shard from her grasp.

	"Let's see... what do you think?" she says, taking a step back to eye the door as Penelope, mirror glinting, swoops overhead. "To the right?"

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Penelope toward her party's challenge, Mirrored Sunlight.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

"I wouldn't mind it," Morgan's reply comes with a grin towards Josie. "Though fair warnin, I'm more likely to hurt myself with a piece like that than I am ta hurt a wall." A flash of a grin. "The higher the tech tools the better I seem ta be able to use em. I'm just odd like that I suppose."

A glance then towards Gwen even as he starts to step over the cache of exploded treasures and into the odd chamber. "Well glad we brought you along!" Again towards Josie. "Always good to have relible intel about whats ahead."

Gwen gets a second glance though, just a once over to make sure she's handling the med pack well enough and she's not moving ''too'' poorly. I mean, she ''did'' take some arrows. "I'm fine darlin, you just take care of yourself. And Rudy." A glance at the younger Digger with a grin. "This here cut is just looks worse than it actually is."

The trick with the mirror gets the light going in the right direction. But...

"Huh, moon symbol on the door. Try gettin it in the crecent?" He calls out. "A bit right and down, and we should have it..."

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Mirrored Sunlight.

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

A faint blush is given toward Gwen as she talks of Rudy's virtue, even if the comment was in jest, it still manages to get a reaction from the teen. But it seems that everyone is able to move on, manners or no and it seems that Morgan and Josphine are already working on the new puzzle. In response, the seemingly far too experienced youth pulls out a small device and takes a knee, triggering a small pulse of energy that brings back handy information. "By a little bit," Roughnight advices the woman and her faithful bird pet. "...From what the readings are saying, so you can trigger that." A finger points out a small hole, one that would normally be hard to see, but well, yeah for technology?

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has used his Tool Portable Radar toward his party's challenge, Mirrored Sunlight.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has passed this challenge! The party gained 22 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> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	 "Eh, this is nothing!" Gwen brags, lending come credence to Josephine's comment that she's just fine.

	 Solving the puzzle, thanks to Rudy's radar, Josie's very patient pigeon, a mirror, and Morgan's advice, directs the beam to the correct location. With a rumble, the door opens, revealing...

DG: Morgan Newkirk has drawn a new Challenge.

 ========================<* CHALLENGE - Sealed Doorway *>========================
 |Type: Climax      |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 2          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  The door at the end of this hall has a great lock on it. Unfortunately, no
  key was ever to be found inside of the ruins to this point. Perhaps it was
  stolen or perhaps it was lost. It is no matter - the door must be broken
  down through other means.
 =Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

The door starts to rumble and slide upwards into the ceiling. Ancient stone moving at the urging of some hidden set of machinery. Gears clank against each other as the door ratchets its way up into the ceiling to reveal...

...yet. One. More. Door.

Morgan just stares for a moment at the new problem. Its at the end of a short hallway, decoration matching the newly opened one. Obviously it was at one point ornate and important. Built to impress more than protect. Both doors were ''supposed'' too open at the same time.

...but that part of the mechanism doesn't seem to be working at all anymore.

So Morgan just stares at the door before glancing back towards the rest of the crew and giving them a touch of a smirk.

"So. Think we can share the mattock?"

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	Gwen squints at the door. "We meet again."

	She knows this door.

	She's lost blood to this door.

	She's weep at the Metal Demon erotica she's sometimes found behind similar doors, and, just maybe, she'll probably find that behind this door as well.

	So, without much prompting, she just walks up and begins punching with her right fist. "Let's just soften this up! Rudy, you got anymore bombs?"

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has used her Tool Armored Fist toward her party's challenge, Sealed Doorway.

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	"Right, go right! And down!" Josie urges the bird, gesturing wildly with her hands.

	Penelope is being unusually cooperative today! Particularly since, unlike a hummingbird, a pigeon can't hover in place.

	So to say this takes some coordination and QUITE some doing is... absolutely accurate.

	Team effort wins again. The door opens to reveal--

	Another door.

	"So, what's up with this one?" Josie asks, ambling on up to the mechanism. There's a faint clink somewhere in the background as Penelope drops the mirror glass... and immediately swoops down to investigate the shiny object.

	The sharp shiny object.

	"...Not working?" Josie rests a hand against her cheek as she inspects the mechanism herself. "...Yep. It's busted. This must be it!" It's THAT DOOR. Josie grins. She grins brightly.

	A little too brightly.

	And she's not the only one who has had a good time with this door.

	This time she drops her pack. This time, she strides up to the door with the mattock in hand like a batter strides up to the plate.

	"Tell you what, I'll take a crack at it first, and then you can do whatever you want with the mattock, Morg~"

	And like a batter, she grips it with both hands, sizing up the door.

	Hey batter batter--

	SWING.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has used her Tool Well-Used Mattock toward her party's challenge, Sealed Doorway.

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

A mere smirk is given as Rudy moves to reach a hand behind back at Gwen's request, reaching to where the small of his back is. And sure enough, there is more than enough bombs to properly place around the door. Of course, he allows Gwen and Josephine to do their work, making structual weakness that he can capitalize on. While the others talk, Rudy merely gets to work, the only sound he makes is a eerie whistling, a slow tune that might almost be creepy if it was from anyone else. But it seems that after this, that's all the bombs he's got so if there is ANOTHER door like this behind this one, well, Rudy won't be too pleased about it, that's for sure.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has used his Tool Excavation Charges toward his party's challenge, Sealed Doorway.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

The Fox smirks slightly as he backs away to let Josie have a go at it. Even as Gwen also steps up to crack at it, eager to extract vengence against this blockage of stone, the fox will step back.

Out of the way.

He doesn't want to get in the middle of the two ladies venting fustrations.

What he does notice though is the whistling. And slowly his eyes slant upwards and away from the mess the pair are making to see the bombs.

So many bombs.

He didn't think Rudy had that many bombs left.

Sloowly the fox reaches for the pair of workers. "Sooo...I think this is wear we take cover..." He says as he reachs for their shoulders to pull them back. Before Rudy unleashes hell.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Sealed Doorway.
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has failed 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.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

Between a fist, a mattock, and a whole lot of bombs...well the door didn't stand much of a change.

It ''does'' though extract its vengence in the way of a lot of thrown shrapnel. So Gwen has more blood to blame on the door. But at least this one is gone. Leaving a giant gapeing hole standing opened before them.

Morgan though can't hear a thing.

Too close to the boom.

"I THINK ITS OPEN! WHAT DO YOU THINK?"

Yes. He's shouting.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has drawn a new Challenge.

 =======================<* CHALLENGE - Rolling Boulder *>========================
 |Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  One massive, final hallway awaits. It may seem deceptively simple, as it
  leads to an open doorway. Through there is a suggestive glitter of something
  -- perhaps treasure, perhaps somehting else - and it might seem that you
  only have to walk to your prize. Until, of course, you hear a click and then
  a thundering crash. A massive round boulder drops down from above you - and
  starts rolling, ready to crush you under it!
 =Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	For the record, hitting the door like that really hurt. Wincing and cradling her right hand against her stomach, Josie hands the mattock over to Morgan, apparently willing to let him take a crack at it next.

	It especially hurts when Rudy's bombs go off and -- in spite of the precautions taken -- kick up a lot of shrapnel.

	"Well," she says, as the dust settles, "I guess that's mission accomplished."

	On cue, Penelope comes swooping in to land on Josie's shoulder. She's ''got the piece of glass in her beak''.

	Apparently it belongs to her now.

	Stooping, Josie grabs her pack. "Good job, guys! Let's go and see what's inside--"

	From above, there is an ominous grinding sound. Rock on rock, as if something very large and very heavy were falling down

	from a great distance.

	Slowly, Josie looks up.

	She says something unprintable.

	The roof's coming in. And guess why?!

	BECAUSE THERE'S A GIANT BOULDER COMING THROUGH IT, THAT'S WHY

	"Run like hell!" Josie screams, already booking it.

 DG: Josephine Lovelace has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rolling Boulder.

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

Thankfully, Gwen's ARM... doesn't actually leave blood, despite her *thinking* it should for the amount of effort she puts into punching solid boulder doors. Though, watching Josie cradle her hand does make Gwen feel just a tad more proud for being able to have the equipment to handle this. At least in her right arm. If Gwen tried this with her left arm, she'd probably double over in absolute pain.

	It's one of those satisfying advantages for having a metal arm.

	What's a downside to having one? You're not exactly the fastest person, and in Gwen's case, you're also lopsided. It took years to correct her posture and walk to compensate for this, but that'd be the *second* time she's had to do in her entire lifetime.

	The second? Hearing loss. Well, okay, no, that has nothing to do with having a metal arm and more to do with having EARS. It probably sucks to be Morgan right now, though, as his are of the fox variety.

	Gwen sees Josie run by, shouting something. Putting a hand to her ear, Gwen shouts, "What did you say?!" Wait. Ohhhh.

	"Yeah, this is where the boulder usually happened! I always forget that part!"

	So. Downsides. It's taking her a bit longer to gain speed that it should for an average Drifter, but she's still looking behind her to make sure no one else is stunned by the blast from earlier. "Run!" If anyone lags behind, she'll slow down, trying to drag them along. If she needs to, she'll try to carry them.

	 Hopefully it won't come to that.

 DG: Gwen Whitlock has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Rolling Boulder.

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

"WAIT THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?!" Morgan's hearing was apparently good enough that he caught that part Gwen. "How do you forget about a giant boulder?!" He adds as he pivots and starts to turn and run, long legs, natural agility, he's good at running.

...he's had way too much in the way of experiance.

The grapel of his lashes out further ahead before he sighs. He hates doing this. "Alright you three. Grab on!" And he'll hold out his hand, though obviously with three people. This is gonna get cosy.

The fox though? Seems to be quite a bit stronger than he lets on. Espicially if he can do what he intends to do. Which would be use himself and his grapel to help the other three all go faster.

...because faster is good.

 DG: Morgan Newkirk has used his Tool Force Lash toward his party's challenge, Rolling Boulder.

 <Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

"Huh?"

The simple word is all Rudy gives in the wake of Morgan's shouting and the warning from Josephine. He glanes from the people unsure why they are booking it and then A slight head tilt. Yeah, that's definitely a boulder behind the door. The confusion turns swiftly to concern as everyone races past him.

As Morgan asks everyone to grab on, Rudy does something quite the opposte. Instead, he waits until the two women and the man are secure and then just shoves the trio as hard as he can, hoping that the three of them will be more than pulled out of harm's way from the rock as Rudy merely tries to run on his own power with the speed that comes from desperation.

Roughnight's pretty sure it will all work out for all parties concerned.

Well, kinda sure.

 DG: Rudy Roughnight has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Rolling Boulder.
 DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success!
 DG: The party led by Josephine Lovelace has successfully explored Ruins of Memory!

 ========================<* CHALLENGE - Dragon Fossil *>=========================
 |Type: Discovery   |Dungeon Ability: Discovery |Challenge Rating: 1          |
 ---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
  The first treasure room that you find is empty, but then you notice a tile
  ajar. With a firm movement, it is slid aside, and you find a room
  underneath. There, you can see two great mechanical talons - Dragon Fossils,
  remains of the rumored and terrible Metal Dragons. A little circuitry can be
  seen if you peer closely. These could catch quite a price, if sold to an
  experienced ARMsmith.
 =Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================

 <Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

	Gwen's going to receive a bit of a chorus here, as Josie books it down the hallway.

	"What do you mean, this is where the boulder usually happened!?"

	Granted the last time they couldn't even get the door open, so it's unsurprising she wouldn't know about this part either.

	A glance back over her shoulder reveals that the boulder's ''gaining''.

	Also that Penelope has a very sharp piece of glass on her.

	In a matter of moments, it might just catch up to them--

	Josie's lungs burn, and she tries to put everything she has into the last leg of this sprint--

	And Morgan catches up to her, grappling hook and all. He probably catches up to Gwen, too, honestly.

	All together like this, it's an easy feat to give them all a push to send the trio swinging to the side and out of harm's way as the boulder rolls along.

	Rudy will meanwhile spot an handy alcove as the rock catches up to him.

	And there it goes, speeding off into the unknown.

	Or, about a few yards ahead, anyway. Where it falls into a pit and forms a handy bridge. That can happen, too.

	Distressingly, the treasure room ahead is empty!

	Less distressingly, there's a loose tile!

	Extremely undistressingly, there's a couple Dragon Fossils in the tiny room below.

	Josie, once down here, sucks in a breath, transfixed by the sight. "They're... really..."

	As if in reverence, she reaches out to touch one of them. "They're the real thing. Fengalon's teeth, they're Dragon Fossils."

 <Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.

Swinging out of the way with people in tow seems to be just what whoever guilt that Gauntlet of Morgan's had in mind. Since it seems to find that little nook with ease on his last swing.

Then the fox just watches as the boulder rolls into a chasm to become a bridge.

And that bridge leads to a new room.

Which leads to a smaller room.

Which leads too...

"Woah," If he had a hat he'd take it off in the presense of this little prize. It would just be the right thing to do. "Damn, Josie." Slowly a grin starts to work his way across his face. "Damn, I'm glad you decided ta give this damnable underground murder hall one more go."

 <Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

	"Look, I just keep thinking that the door'll be the final obstacle!" Gwen shouts, a bit louder than she needs to. Morgan calls for her to grab on, and Gwen obliges, just before Rudy gives them the needed push to get out of the way, but not without a shout from Gwen. "Rudy!!" His name is shouted with a mixture of surprise, concern, and anger. Morgan can probably feel her seize until she sees the younger Drifter find his way out of danger.

	Breaking from Morgan's hold, she's about to walk towards Rudy when Josephine shouts over a find. Walking over, the courier looks over the opening, overhearing Josie's words.

	Dragon fossils.

	She slips down into the opening with Josie, unable to keep her curiosity in check. Whether through an unconscious urge or just a whim, Gwen takes off the glove on her right hand, placing it against the surface of one of the fossils, the ARM's 'nerves' sending a facsimile of sensation to her brain.

	It's an odd feeling.

	The redhead's face clinches in a pained expression. "A couple of friends of mine found some of these. Nearly drove everyone apart over how to handle them. Didn't help there were outside parties trying to make things worse." Gwen's voice is quiet. "Fossils like this could used for good, but they can be used for bad, too."

	Aunt Frea would have told her of all the times such fossils were wasted on those who didn't appreciate their value, or were too stupid to use them wisely, or notice they had power at all. Yet, looking at her fingers as they feel atop the surface, she wonders.

	Isn't she an example of something that went right?

	Or is she just one of the people too dumb to understand her ARM's power?

	 She knows someone who'd know. But they're a Metal Demon. ".... Damn it..."

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Chapter 1]]
[[Category:Chapter 1, Act 1]]