epidemiology | EVENT ★ LABYRINTH II

DEEPER

Following the marked path near the lake leads Audentes (and George) further into the maze, closer to the goal found at the center. Some other inmates (including Zymandis agent Mavahari) and correctional officers follow along, having picked up on the organized manner of Audentes and figuring it’s their best bet on getting out of here alive.

Unlike the dry stone and sand in the outer ring of the maze, this next section is overflowing with flora. Jungle vines cling to the walls to the point where seeing the stone underneath is a difficult task; trees sprout from between cracked tiles, bearing alien-looking fruit; branches and brambles cross certain parts of the maze, and will need to be hacked through unless you want to find another way around.

Water is more plentiful now as well, since obviously the plants need it to flourish. For the first time since setting foot in the labyrinth, a rain begins to fall, drizzling and gentle. This can be a respite or an annoyance, depending on how you look at it: while it’s soothing and can make collection of fresh, clean water easier, walking around in wet clothes is probably not that pleasant.

Your fellow ALASTAIR recruit George has inexplicably struck up a friendship with the Zymandis agent Mavahari, and they can often be found exploring the maze together, with Mavahari helping him due to his broken arm. They seem to be getting along well enough, but maybe checking in with George is in order.

Otherwise, survival is the name of the game; though the center of the labyrinth is closer, it’s impossible to tell how close, and how long to expect to be here. Collecting water is simple enough, but food is growing scarce. The tree fruits may be a good solution, but it seems as though some have unfortunate reactions to them, ranging from stomach cramps to rashes to fever and temporary blindness.

But an allergic reaction may just be the least of your worries.

LOVE ME LIKE A REPTILE

The monsters seen so infrequently in the outer ring of the maze are now a common nuisance. Giant insects and rats scurry about, hungry for whatever flesh they can find, but they’re easily defeated, particularly if encountered as a group. But with new terrain comes new, adaptive animals, and the labyrinth is no different.

Lizards are now the main threat: enormous and camouflaged, they stalk their prey and take their time, looking for the perfect opportunity to ambush. The lizards are three-headed, with each head containing fangs dripping with venom, capable of rendering its victims paralyzed within five seconds flat. Their blood is also poisonous, capable of burning through metal, not to mention flesh.

If a head is severed, the lizard will retreat back into the jungle, presumably to nurse its wounds but possibly to grow another head -- no lizard will ever be encountered with less than three heads, so it’s possible they have regenerative abilities. The best way to defeat one is to remove all three heads at once, or simply kill it in whatever way possible. The lizards are quick and mean, but not invincible.

Now more than ever, it’s important to take care in exploring the maze. Stray too far from the group or try to make it alone, and you might not survive.

OOC NOTES

Once again, we have a plotting post here and search requests for the next ring of the maze.

Please note: during the labyrinth event, all drops are ICly delayed. What this means is that characters who drop will be handwaved to still be around on auto-pilot until connection with Oska is resumed, at which point they will be transferred to a different team as usual.

If you have any questions about the labyrinth that aren't answered here, please direct them to the Leramzen dossier. If you have questions for any NPCs, please direct them there as well!

Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ and you may submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( presumably standing in waterfalls is not a permanent situation, and she had some preparation and plan for recovery after. unfortunately there's not really any escape from the cold, even if they have the smallest campfire in the universe trying desperately to give off a little heat. it's not much he can offer, body heat, yet if it helps Maya warm up even a little it's worth offering.

Peter considers taking off his sweatshirt to offer her, but he isn't sure Maya will take it. maybe after she falls asleep. )

Organza sleeping bags. At least it'd be glamorous, ( he says with a mumble of a laugh, and with Maya as close as she is she'll feel it more than hear it. ) You should try and get some sleep. ( he's got this even if he falls asleep; his dumb spider senses will wake him up at any noise that seems even mildly concerning. )

[That and she's kind of just a skinny little weenie. She hides it well, though (no she doesn't)]

[She burrows closer against him for that sweet, sweet warmth. And just maybe the physical contact is welcome, too. She doesn't often get it, here, (not that she really did back home, after Mia died) and despite her dedication to remaining peppy and loud and cheerful through it all, their situation has done nothing but amplify the loneliness she'd already been feeling before Audentes picked her up]

It's too bad. I wonder if the dress is still around, in the ship.... maybe the guards wanted to wear it when they confiscated it.

[They could save Audentes with so much fabric]

Mmm.... what about you, Peter? Spiders need to sleep too, don't they?

( no, she doesn't

Peter isn't great with this sort of thing. even before he had decided his hands were murder weapons waiting to happen, which he still low-key thinks. that makes it even more remarkable that he somehow has more experience with this sort of thing than Maya does.

he wouldn't guess it, though, the way she steals closer. Peter rubs a hand over her shoulder, offering a bit of friction in hopes that'll be warmer than their pathetic fire. seriously, is this the world's coldest fire or what? )

The monsters. They aren't worthy of that kind of fashion. ( rip all the fabric they lost though, imagine all the missions that could have been resolved...

as for whether spiders sleep, he lies admirably. ) No way. Never. They just wait. Lurk. I'm not even— ( he yawns, as if his own body is playing lie detector to call his bluff. ) —okay, I'm a little tired. I'm blaming you, tiredness is catching. Like... colds. And sneezes.

[It's nothing like the movies, where even a tiny fire would have warmed the entire camp up and even allowed for meat or s'mores to be cooked. With the friction from his hands, she warms a little, but she doesn't make any move to pull back, leaving her head against him. Maybe she thinks he needs this as much as she does. Or maybe she's just too tired not to be a little selfish.]

I bet the lizzies would stretch it. [Thanks to Asher, she's saying lizzies now.] If I was contagious, you'd be cuter. [But she yawns shortly after he does] Maybe we can both nap a little.

( yeah, it's definitely not a movie fire. it hasn't perfectly lit their entire camp, and nobody around here is looking like tom cruise. well maybe Maya, they're about the same size.

Peter is not Hip and Happening, so he has no idea what a Lizzie is. it makes him think Lizzie McGuire. probably close. still, whatever that means, it isn't that important — if agreeing to nap means Maya will attempt it, then, he'll be heroic and give it a shot. ) Okay, we can give it a shot. But if you start snoring, I am leaving.

( that's a joke... right? who knows. it's only with the agreement that he actually releases her, though that doesn't mean he'll do it for long. it just makes it easier to lay down if they're separated. ) You stay closer to the fire, Coach.

[excuse me, Maya is shorter than Tom Cruise]

[But gosh, can't he guess from context. He can probably feel her slowly relaxing the more they speak, like she was on edge before and his presence is calming her and making her feel safe.] Please, if anyone's gonna snore, it's gonna be you.

[She seems reluctant to part from him when he lets her go, still leaning against his shoulder, and making no move closer to the fire]

You're... you're warmer than it is, you know. Must be the burning feeling of spider justice in your heart.

[She's already starting to doze off, she's spouting even more nonsense than usual]

( is she though ... tom cruise might be the only person shorter than she is

he laughs at her weary nonsense, though it's more of a muttered one than usual. he's not quite as far gone as Maya, but weariness is wearing on him. beyond stiles occasionally scaring him down out of his self induced isolations, Peter hasn't been sleeping much either. Maya is right that he needs this as much as she does.

he lets go, expecting her to lie down, but she doesn't. he probably would have put distance in again if she'd followed his lead, though when she doesn't... he's not really upset. if he's careful, then she'll be fine. he will just have to stay awake to make sure nothing happens, that's all. that's a lie he tells himself, chances are he will fall asleep almost as fast as she does.

Peter gingerly pulls back only long enough to flop down near the fire, before tugging lightly at her sleeve. ) Come on, before you fall asleep sitting up. ( she looks like she's about to. )

....You know... you're kinda bony, but you make a good spiderpillow. [He should have never told her his secret identity, now she's just going to add spider to random words to describe him forever. Still, she's easy enough to tug down, curling up against him as he flops on the ground and closing her eyes]

Just wake up if you see any liz.... leezers.

[she's barely holding onto consciousness at this point]

I don't think that's a thing. ( spiderpillows, that is. peter tucks an arm around her, using the extra 8 square feet of his oversized hoodie to tuck around her while he's at it.

he's not proved to be terribly useful in this whole, camping and roughing it labyrinth stay. it's one of those things that pushes him out of his element, whether he wants to be or not. still, if he can help Maya stay warm and convincing her to sleep a little? he'll chalk it up as a success.

liz leezers, huh? well, now he knows what lizzes are. he nods, mostly into her hair, though he does answer with his voice about ten seconds late. ) I will. ( he totally won't, unless it's close enough to try and maim them. he's not even sorry.

she's probably asleep by the time he drops a kiss to her hair. which is for the best — it's too hideously fond for anyone to have to experience in a conscious manner. it's fine, though, because despite all his intentions not to? peter nods off not long after. they'll both get some sleep, even if it won't be long-lived.

nothing ever seems to be, in Audentes. )

EVENT ★ LABYRINTH II

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject