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

Well, dragons have wings, so really a wingless dragon.

[ Now, how would dragon wings taste like? Again, he's not exactly bursting at the seams to find out. Chances are if they run into a dragon here, they're the ones more at risk of being barbecued.

His hands busily prepare his lure before casting his line once again and watching it. Watching it some more. Watching it for a long time... watching and waiting. ]

Argh, I swear it's not me. It's the lake.

[ Maybe the lizards ate all the fish before they got there, but it doesn't make Noctis feel any less frustrated. ]

I've never seen one. They don't exist where I come from.

[At least not outside stories. His home world seems kind of boring when he compares it to the places some of his other teammates come from.

Despite his hunger he can't help but grin a little at the other man's reaction to his lack of success.]

Are you sure?

'course I'm sure. There's not a single fish a pro like me can't catch.

[ Aside from alien fish apparently, but he's not ready to admit defeat. ]

Probably just need to change up the bait and use some of the local stuff. Mind grabbing a fresh worm for me?

[ Because Noctis doesn't want to dig around in the dirt for one, and if this guy is going to be making comments through this whole venture, he can at least pitch in a bit. ]

[He pauses, grimacing a little at the request. He's not too keen to start digging through the dirt either.]

...will that really make a difference?

[ One of them is going to have to do it, and Noctis isn't volunteering. He's doing all the leg-work in actually trying to catch the fish here. He expects all his onlookers to pitch in -just no obnoxious backseat fishing allowed. He gets enough of that at home from his friends. ]

Only one way to find out. Just stick your fingers in and see what comes out. Then I'll stab it with the hook.

[ Or try to anyway. This is why he prefers his fancy lures over live bait.

Just. Ew. ]

[Oliver sighs in resignation, crouching down to dig around in the soft dirt. It's unpleasant beneath his fingers, and it takes a while to find anything despite the moist environment seeming like it should be ideal for finding worms.

When he does find one he holds it out between two fingers, not hiding the disgust he feels at the feel of the slimy creature.]

Will this work?

[Please hurry up and take it from him...]

[ There's a shared feeling of disgust as he stares at the worm, not wanting to touch it either. He's sure he's touched worse things, but it's so slimy and unpleasant. ]

Yeah, just keep it away from my face.

[ Far away from his face.

He positions the hook for him, ready to impale the writhing creature before casting his line into the water anew. ]

Now, for more waiting. Got any portable games on you?

I thought you liked fishing. Shouldn't you be used to these things?

[It kind of irks him a little that he dislikes worms just as much apparently. He feels even more like he's just been doing his dirty work. But if the end result is decent food... well, maybe a little slime is worth it. He even puts the worm on the hook for him, trying not to think too much about its flesh being penetrated by the sharp metal.

He still ends up shuddering once it's done, holding his hands out in an awkward angle as he looks for somewhere to wipe the unpleasantly moist soil. He settles on using a damp patch of grass. It's not great, but at least it's getting the bulk of it off.]

Here? No. Sorry. But when we get back to Oska we should fix something up. We deserve something fun after this.

Yeah, but I use lures. No icky live bait.

[ Got to avoid all the gross stuff, hence why he gave the job over to Oliver. Turns out, Oliver's pretty good at it anyway, so there's nothing to complain about. ]

I could go for burgers and more of that cod-game right about now.

[ Anything's better than starving and catching lizards all day. He feels like he could just faint right there, though he does feel a tug at last. Here's to hoping as he starts reeling it in fast. When he finally brings his catch close enough to the edge of the small lake that he can actually see it, he's relieved that it's covered in scales and not lizard skin. Now to hope it's not poisonous when they eat it. ]

Almost got it! Quick bring something to put it in!

EVENT ★ LABYRINTH II

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