EVENT ★ LABYRINTH III: THE ESCAPE

[futurologists]

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.

Comments

[ex_mettacrusher33]

...

.........

[The strangers gets as far as his name before the smug look on Mettaton's face crumples into shock and disbelief. He opens his mouth, ready to say something. Hans Christian Andersen. That. That's too on-the-nose to be a coincidence, isn't it? That's too... What? That's his name? That's his name and he's an author and he wrote the Little Mermaid and he's talking to Mettaton and

...the noise that comes out of Mettaton's speaker can most accurately be described as an ungreased hinge being forced to open a long-rusted door. It's an offended and pained shrill note that lacks any sort of coherency or reason.]

.........................

[..........

He reaches forward and pats Mr. Andersen on the head. Thank you.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[It's too late. He's already excited. He's fanning his hands in front of himself like he's trying to dry something off of him, too filled with nervous energy to consider that that's a terrible look on him.

This man's work inspired him!! Well... he inspired the people who made the cartoon that survived to fall Underground and THEN inspired him, but!! Without Mr. Andersen, there wouldn't have been the musical! Mettaton never would have felt that visceral connection of understanding, that he knew what Ariel was feeling and how he wanted so badly what she wanted and--]

Exact- But that's- Yes!! Yes, exactly, that's the entire point of ART!! To- to transform your chosen media and allow your work to transcend into something even GREATER than yourself! It create something so touching, so moving and powerful than it'll be remembered far longer than your own life, it's-- It's about living! Not through your own life, but through the lives of everyone you have ever touched, it's--

[He clasps his hands together and places them to his mouth, then takes a breath he cannot possibly need or have any use of.]

I love you.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Everything.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Oh! [A specialty? Well, he's obviously special and talented and amazing at everything, but--

Well, the opportunity to talk about himself finally snaps him out of his reverence, at least a little. He collapses back into the wall, one arm draped over his forehead and one leg pointing toward the sky.]

I'm a preforming artist, darling. Singing, dancing, acting, writing, directing, composing, dreamweaving - if there's a stage, I'm the star of it.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Four, [he corrects, excited, before correcting himself in a more confused tone:] Five...?

[He's wiggling his hand back and forth now, debating these people's merits.]

There's Olivia, who's a stunning dancer - absolutely beautiful. She's preformed for me once and literally hypnotized the entire audience with her grace. It was spectacular.

Then there's Keats, who is, technically, a writer, but I've been stuck with him for half a year and I've still never seen a single piece of paper with his name attached to it.

And there's Maya, who's been studying so dutifully under my tutelage! She's... not the best at dramatic works, but I can see a comedian in her yet--

Oh! And there's Sans.

[...

He just lets that one hang there.]

...

Oh, but it's such an honor to be in the presence of such an esteemed artist!! I can't even begin to go on about how much your work has inspired me!!

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[There's a certain sparkle in the robot's eyes at the compliments. If he had tear-ducts in this form, he might actually start crying...!

Anyway...]

You could certainly look at it that way, yes. I prefer to think of it as a career... [He trails his hands in the air in an arch, the next word projecting in their wake in intangible gray text,] expansion. We're constantly traveling universe to universe, timeline to timeline - we have no end to our audience now!! Our careers have never had an opportunity to be this big!

[ex_mettacrusher33]

So to speak. Of course, there's always a pitfall somewhere or another, [see: being imprisoned, then trapped in a maze for an entire month,] but what artist doesn't suffer for their craft? You take the good with the horrendous. [Practiced shrug.]

Everyone in time will hear my voice... that's worth a few hiccups, don't you think?

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[He sees the interest. It only makes Mettaton preen more.]

Sweetheart, my act is whatever people need it to be! [He's tossing glitter into the air. Don't worry about where he grabbed it from.] I was the sole source of entertainment back home - I've done it ALL.

...Why? You wouldn't be hoping for a sample, would you? [He winks. Considering the hair completely covering his right eye, it may as well just be a blink.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[...would he be willing?

Would he be WILLING? To PERFORM? To perform for a childhood IDOL?]

Hansy. Darling. Light of my life.

[Mettaton's arm stretches out and snatches the microphone back out of his new friend's (!!) hand. He lifts himself up so he's standing on the outcropping now, and he poses. Dear god, is he posing - hip cocked, one arm draped over the top of his head and framing his face, the other clutching the microphone to his lips.]

I was built for it.

[More confetti appears, this time gray and intangible, like the earlier text. A disco ball summons over his head. Catchy synths are filtering out of his speakers.

Iiiiiiiiiit's SHOWTIME!!]

It's my own desire
It's my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help me make the most of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

[He's dancing and singing as if he were performing to millions, not just one (albeit very important) person. Mettaton may have "fake" written on every single one of his actions, but if there were anything that was ever truthful or transparent about him, it is this: he lives to be on a stage.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Oh! Applause!! How he's missed you!

Mettaton spins on the tip of his boot (...as he's discovered, technically, this form has no toes) as one final flourish before he takes a bow. And then another. Just to be on the safe side.

...okay, he'll toss out one more handful of glitter, this time the actual stuff. What's the point of hording it in his storage if he isn't going to use it?]

Of COURSE it's not bad! It's ME!

[He hops off his "stage" then, beaming at Mr. Andersen with his hands clasped behind his back. He hasn't been this giddy about anything in a long time!]

So!

[So.]

...you aren't at all what I imagined!

[ex_mettacrusher33]

...

[There's a lot of words being said at once there. Mettaton's giddy expression falters for a moment as he tries process it.]

...

[ex_mettacrusher33]

...you're a genie.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

You said you had no control over the way you were summoned. This implies that 1) you're magical by nature and 2) you can be summoned.

...

[He pauses, eyes staring off into some far, far distance as he whispers to himself.] (That's why he's so small - he needs to fit in his bottle.)