epidemiology | EVENT ★ LABYRINTH III: THE ESCAPE

LABYRINTH III

The correct passageway to the inner ring of the maze is hidden behind a thick wall of vines. After cutting through the plants, the structure of the maze is noticeably different: the overgrown plants continue creeping up the walls, but the walls are no longer brick and stone, composed instead of some sort of blue metal with holes and divots carved elaborately into the surface. From some holes gush forth pure, clean water; from others, acidic liquid. The air is cool and crisp, the plants creating a lush, dim environment lit by eerie blue lights spread throughout this section.

The lizards, rats, and other monstrous creatures seem to be absent from this area of the maze, replaced instead by rhinoceros-sized beetles. The beetles each have a single horn protruding from the head, and their hard carapaces make them difficult to kill -- a better method might be to simply climb somewhere high and wait for the beetle to get bored. But unlike the other monsters encountered in the maze, the beetles seem to have something else on their mind beyond wanton violence: they can sometimes be found rolling massive balls of dung throughout the corridors of the labyrinth. (This might explain why the plants are so lush closer to the center.)

There is little time to explore this section of the labyrinth before there's a flicker of light all around and more ALASTAIR recruits suddenly appear, most dressed in a freshly pressed uniform and carrying extra food and supplies. They have been told that the cloaking surrounding Asterion Labyrinth is so strong and complex that Oska was only able to send in a handful of recruits at once for a relief effort.

In order to leave, they'll have to locate the escape mechanism that lies deep within the labyrinth; the remaining Asterion Prison correctional officers know its general location, but not precisely what it entails. All they know is that it will require technological cunning to operate and that it's heavily guarded.

After five days, the portal room is found.

THE PORTAL ROOM

The center of the labyrinth is a large, circular room with a raised platform in the middle. On this platform rests a circle of computer consoles surrounding another platform, on which sits an empty circular frame 2.5m (8') in diameter. This is the dormant portal, and it is now Audentes's task to turn it on and find their way back to Oska.

Because the portal is not made for interdimensional travel, it must be overclocked, which will cause it to burn out and explode once it is used. In order to override the safety protocols in place to prevent such dangerous tampering, the control panels must be unlocked -- and unfortunately, the locks are all complicated puzzles, ranging from the numerical to sliding pieces into place to complete a pattern. There are many of these puzzled scattered around the portal room, and once they are all unlocked, it's a simple matter of flipping the power override switches. Ignore the dangerous humming sound and the way the frame suddenly fills with violent purple energy. That's probably normal.

The new recruits have the correct coordinates to locate Oska, which has temporarily lowered its cloaking shield to allow Audentes to return. So there is a bit of a time crunch.

Adding more to the difficulty of the situation is the presence of a monster lumbering around the circular portal room. Six meters (20') high, the beast is best described as a minotaur, but perhaps not in the traditional sense: while it resembles a bipedal bull, it is an amalgamation of flesh and machine with its body covered in pistons and glowing lights. One of its hands is an enormous axe and it belches fire and acid. Despite its head resembling an herbivore, the piles of desiccated bones scattered throughout the portal room tell a different story.

Upon seeing the group, the minotaur charges. Mavahari, the Zymandis recruit, rushes to meet it with her sword drawn. Inmates and correctional officers do their best to fight it as well, but something becomes quickly apparent: it cannot be harmed by projectile weapons. The machinery of the beast keeps it protected from most attacks, though electricity will stun it and acid will corrode its metal. But in order to injure the minotaur, it must be stabbed between the metal plates where its vulnerable flesh remains.

During the battle, the minotaur fights viciously and without regard for its own safety. The first casualty comes early: the minotaur swings its axe toward Mavahari, who is pushed out of the way by George. The axe connects with him solidly, sending him flying into the wall with a shuddering impact. George lies there still, but there's no time to mourn. The beast continues its rampage.

Once the minotaur is defeated, you'll have to quickly decide what to do with the correctional officers and inmates who have followed Audentes through the Asterion Labyrinth. The overclocked portal won't hold forever, and the longer Oska leaves its cloak down, the better chance they have of being found by their enemies.

OOC NOTES

This log will last for six IC days: five days for exploration and one day at the center of the maze. We have also recently altered the calendar this month, so make sure you review it!

IMPORTANT: Participation in the solution poll is mandatory for August AC. Failure to participate will result in an automatic strike. The only exception is for those who are exempt from August AC. The poll will close on 11 August 23:59 UTC.

If you have any questions about the labyrinth that aren't answered here, please direct them to the Leramzen dossier.

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

Oh.

[ He furrows his brow, unsure if she's joking or simply ignorant; he'd assume joking if not for his excessive experience with some of their ridiculously naive teammates. Biting his lip, he glances down at his feet, unsure how to respond. ]

That's not... rrreeeaaally how it works.

[It was meant as a sarcastic remark more than anything, but too many days in the maze had left her a little irritable and not entirely in the mood to play games.

She sighs.]

I know it's not.

Oh.

[ God, this is so awkward. It's like the discomfort is palpable. He almost wants to take his chances with the giant bug. Almost. ]

Haha, I wasn't sure, you... sure did make it hard to tell, [ he says, trying to be lighthearted and friendly despite how futile it feels. ] Okay, then, um. Should I go, or...?

[So she might actually feel kind of bad for being such a stick in the mud as she is. Default behavior on missions or not -- she heaves another sigh, expression smoothing out to something a little less harsh.]

No, you don't need to go. This....sentence has been hard on all of us.

Haha. Doooeees... it count as a sentence if we technically took ourselves here?

[ They did crash the ship, after all. He bites his lip, trying to think of a way to interact with her that won't be terrifying. ]

So, no Twenty Questions then, no I Spy. That's cool, that's fine, I didn't even want to play those anyway. [ A lie. ] What do you think we should do.

[She huffs out a laugh at that.]

Self-imposed. [And boy did she keep a lot of her thoughts to herself when they crashed here.]

Normally I would sit and wait. [She casts him a sideways glance again.] But I suppose I could humor you.

[ He lets out a sigh of relief. ]

Okay, great, humoring is good, humoring is adequate. Soooo... I Spy, Twenty Questions, a game of your own devising? Or we could just, like. Hang out. I guess. [ Is that what normal people do??? ]

[She wings 'hanging out' most of the time since everyone seems to have a different definition of it. Instead she looks thoughtful, shifting her position to prop her chin up against the palm of her hand as she overlooks the scenery in front of them.]

I Spy.

[Even if everything kind of looks similar, there was enough to at least hold a few rounds.]

Okay, um, I'll go first. I'm just assuming you don't play a lot of games.

[ He purses his lips, squinting as he looks out at the labyrinth. ]

...Wow, there is just not a lot to spy at besides, like, dead people and bugs rolling crap balls, huh.

My experience tends to lean more towards card games, so you would be correct.

[She's quiet while he decides, her eyes tracking the movement of the bug still milling about underneath their hiding spot.]

So I suppose we're left with twenty questions, then.

Okay. You go, then. I'll ask the questions.

[ He pauses, glancing down at the roach, then back up at her. ]

Is... it a bug? Please say no.

[She follows his attention back down a second time, sitting back more on her heels as he speaks.

Well, if he wants her to say no...]

Saying it's a mutant wouldn't be much better.

[A Mutant bug.]

—Oh, my god, no, I meant...

[ God, this is embarrassing. ]

For Twenty Questions. Um, that's my first question. Is it a bug.

[She actually laughs, sorry Rhys. At this point she might just be messing with you a little.]

No. No it's not a bug.

EVENT ★ LABYRINTH III: THE ESCAPE

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