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

zircons are gems right lawyers are a profession!!! a kinda nerdy one if you ask me if zircons are gems like you i bet they're a lot cooler

[That's... a compliment??]

[actually they're giant nerds.]

"Cool" is not the word that comes to mind when I think of zircons. They're not really that impressive.

well i mean it's the same for lawyers!! i guess nick can be a little cool though sometimes maybe

I think I've made my point. All they do is argue each other into submission until the Diamonds decide who argued the point better. I assume lawyers are just as dull.

[what is a jury of your peers. more like a jury of your fascist dictators.]

even duller! but wait don't tell me are Diamonds the JUDGE gems?

They're the gem matriarchs.

But they're very good at judging everything that doesn't fit in their society.

oooh like they're the head of gem society? isn't it kind of a demotion to judge trials?

I don't think they want anyone else to be responsible for whether a gem isn't fit for society anymore. Since gems are made to serve their diamonds, it only makes sense that they're the only ones who can deem a gem unworthy.

[follow homeworld for more soft fascism.]

geez that sounds really nasty actually.... i wouldn't want those guys to judge anything!! how the heck can they decide who fits and who doesn't?!

Because every gem was made specifically to serve them.

so who made them

I have no idea.

[ARE YOU OKAY, PERIDOT....]

[this conversation is So Deep]

Do you think there's another alien race out there a miner race????

Maybe they just sprang up from the ground because the conditions were right and that's all it is. No one actually made them. It was a geographical anomaly that produced four Diamonds.

[It's text and yet you can hear her Panicking about her world view crashing down.]

[MAYA MADE A MISTAKE]

Sure!! I bet that's it! Mystery solved!! Good job Peridot!!

EVENT ★ LABYRINTH II

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1/ ???

2/ this is gonna get obnoxious

3/ but 100% necessary

4/ this is a gem completely losing control of her life

5/ I'm almost there don't worry.

6/ maybe one more

DONE

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