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

They're a big plump bird from my world. Got lots of meat on the legs. Thighs are the best part, though.

[ Fishing with Maya's commentary is actually somewhat better than fishing with his friends. For one, she doesn't yell at him every couple of seconds to replace his line or avoid tugging too hard because the line could snap at any second!!! Besides, Maya actually thinks he's cool. She can follow him around anywhere just for that alone.

His expression scrunches up with distaste at the mention of tough and leathery food. Not exactly his favorite texture when it comes to meat, but Noctis is toeing the line of desperation. Pretty soon, he'll actually start scouring the land for vegetables, and that's when everyone will know he's finally lost his mind. ]

Only one way to really find out. You'd have to do the honors since I caught the lizard and all.

[ It's only fair. ]

Like a giant chicken? [Or those giant birds you can ride that Eight told her about!!! She wouldn't have guessed "bird" from the word cockatrice, but her stomach growls instinctively at the description]

[Desperate times call for desperate measures.... but in time, Maya will find fish, so hopefully he'll never have to sink to that level.]

I can cook it, but there's no way I'm taking the first bite! [Her stomach growls again, as if to object at her]

...Well, if you can't get any fish, there might be some way, I guess.

[Pressure's on, Noct!!]

Don't look at me. I'm not doing it either.

[ Does he look that enthusiastic about eating lizard? The pressure really is on to catch a fish now as he re-casts the fishing line and waits as patiently as he can manage, considering his level of hunger and how hot and humid the temperature is. The line finally gives a mighty tug as he starts praying in the back of his mind for it not to be lizard. The chances aren't very much in his favor, but Noctis likes to prove the odds wrong.

With another tug, he finally manages to reel in a fish. It's not that big, but still, there's enough meat on it as a snack for two people. Or one very hungry Maya, but he's not letting her get away with devouring all the goods on her own. Speaking of which- he holds his hand out for a celebratory hi-five. ]

Hah! You really are lucky, Maya. Put it here.

I guess we'll have to find ourselves a taste-tester, then... someone who will try anything.

[It's an exciting half a minute as Zelda fishing music plays in the background and Noct wrestles with it. Maya watches on the edge of her.... wherever she's sitting, hands clasped together, like this is the most exciting thing happening right now. It kind of is. Also, she's starving.]

[When he reels it in, she cheers, and gives him an enthusiastic high-five back]

[most people she knows don't even know what it is, so four for you, Dave Coco] Woo! I sure am! Good job, Prompto, we're eating real food today!

Edited 2017-08-21 23:07 (UTC)

[ Oh yeah, that's right... she still think he's Prompto. How many times does he keep forgetting to correct that misconception especially now that actual Prompto is here. He can't help but shift a little awkwardly before murmuring- ]

Noctis... It's Noctis, not Prompto.

[ But now that she's brought him up-! ]

I mean, the real Prompto is around here... somewhere. Blond guy, about my height, has a camera, would probably try and flirt with you. Come to think of it, he'd make a good taste-tester.

[ It's not like he's doing anything useful right now, so yes, Noctis will throw him under the bus. That's what friends are for. Besides, it takes the heat off of him for lying about his name, but it's not like he had much of a choice. When he got here, he didn't have his royal entourage with him and didn't know who had taken him or why. It's only logical his eagerness to trust strangers from other dimensions would be kind of low. ]

[At least he didn't introduce himself before Noctis corrected her, that would have been really awkward

Wait, what? Your name was Noctis all along?!

[But they're equally stupid names... why would he keep it a secret]

Heeey, I think I met him. There was a guy with weird blonde hair who tried to take a picture of me! He was pretty nice.

[He did compliment her dress a lot... In any case, she's pretty content to throw the real Prompto under the bus along with him, but he might not be able to escape the name lie of 2017 so easily]

...yeah, guess you caught me red-handed.

[ He puts his hands up in mock-defeat, though it had been Eight who had figured it out first. He's just catching everyone else up to speed, albeit slowly. It all would have come out anyway, but he hadn't thought when he'd arrived here that he would have been trapped in this place so long, thus giving him ample time to stick his foot in his mouth repeatedly.

Basically, everything he's done since his initial arrival could have been done with more decor and panache, but since Noctis is Noctis, he definitely screwed up a lot. ]

Just try not to advertise it too much.

[ Being the most wanted on Niflheim's hit list does put him in an unfortunately precarious position, but luckily, he hasn't run into any MTs or Niflheim soldiers yet. ]

And sounds like something he'd do. Is there anything he said that I have to apologize for?

[Well, she didn't really catch him, he more just explained himself at last. But sure, she'll take the credit]

Are you on the run or something? Are you an intergalactic fishing criminal, having recently broken out of prison and fleeing fishing law?

[She doesn't seem upset that he kept his real name from her..... yet. Right now, she's more curious. But that could change]

Nah, he just flattered me and my giant dress! But if it was fake, then yeah.

EVENT ★ LABYRINTH II

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