EVENT ★ LABYRINTH II

[futurologists]

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.

Comments

lizards

[mistruths]

[ Three bolts of magic stab into the back of the lizard's neck, severing one head, and as it hisses and retreats back into the jungle, Loki steps out from the shadows--not entirely unlike the way the lizards seem to melt out of the trees.

He frowns at the lizard's retreat, having hoped it would stay long enough for him to properly kill and study, but then turns to face Sakura, gaze pausing curiously at her wand-sword. ]

Was your magic not enough to protect you?

[keystaff]

It...That's never happened before....

[And the sword is technically magic, as it is her staff itself just changed form. But then, she's never faced something like this. Sakura isn't sure what to make of it. It scares and worries her, even as the magic seems to have distracted the creature from going after her while she was unarmed in the sense of her sword. If she weren't so distracted with this, she would have probably started more than she did at his sudden appearance.]

[mistruths]

Well, that's certainly inconvenient.

[ He would love a chance to properly study her magic, but it's obviously not the right time to do so. Even if one lizard has fled, they'll draw the attention of more relatively quickly. ]

We should rejoin the others, find safety in numbers.

[keystaff]

I hope I can get it back.....

[After all, the staff and cards are magical. Perhaps next time she summons it, activates her staff, it would be as if this never happened, for all she knows. But it does make her unsure, more cautious and thus more inclined to take him up on that suggestion.]

Alright. We should.

[She gives a nod, though her head is still lowered, as she closes her eyes and dismisses the Sword, and her staff itself, making it revert back to the default necklace form.]

[mistruths]

[ One eyebrow arches as he watches the sword shiver back into a staff, but Loki doesn't say anything--just yet. ]

Might I ask what you were expecting to happen? You look a rather...disappointed.

[keystaff]

Hm? Ah, Sword hasn't been damaged or anything before, is all. And it is one of the two cards that can or did change my staff itself. I just hope the staff is alright.

[Since she kind of needs that to activate the cards themselves. The staff is kind of important. Still, she tucks the now tinier staff formed necklace into her dress, glancing around.]

Which way, do you think?

[mistruths]

Mm. That way.

[ He gestures in one direction, and starts walking. ]

How is it your magic works, then? It isn't quite like anything I've seen before.

[keystaff]

My magic? Ah, well, it's mostly the cards. But I can also...sometimes my dreams show the future. The cards themselves are magic, and that's how I've managed so far with the missions, really. Using them to help out where I can.

[She moves, pulling out the cards to show him. They're pink, named for her as the owner and resemble tarot cards. It'd be easy to dismiss them as some child's collection. Though some might sense the magic inherent in them, and in Sakura herself.]