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

Ban | OTA

[perma_banned]

Beetles and Benevolent Old Men

[For a moment, Ban was surprised to see new faces come in out of nowhere. He had gotten used to the sour-faced inmates and the apprehensive correctional officers, each with their various concerns and desires which had no obligation to benefit Audentes. Having new folks coming in looking to help the group was a breath of relief but, as far as gestures of thanks went, Ban was terrible in terms of reciprocation. Instead of pushing himself to help solve the problem as swiftly as possible, he slowed down to a relaxing pace and settled in with his flask and the stolen liquor still held in his bag of holding.

More equipped for laziness and a blase disposition, Ban sidled up next to new recruits and old recruits, pointedly stroking his beard while making a few simple observations. Unlike the entire crowd around them, he was the only one who actually managed to stink of liquor. He would keep the bag of holding as a nice little secret--enjoying the nature of the mystery behind the rude drunk.]

Why do you think they sent everybody down to us, directly? Figure we're short on time but reconnaissance seems like somethin' you should invest in.

'Course, I'm just a wise old man--what do I know~? [More importantly, he was just mostly a mean drunk.]

-

Minotaurs and Port-holes

[The moment the group came into the room, Ban had been wearing his usual slackened expression with a mixture of boredom and emotional displacement--up to a point. When he took the time to evaluate the gigantic figure in the middle of the room, throwing fire and acid and swinging a massive axe around in wide, destructive arcs, he couldn't help but light up with excitement. Out of nowhere, he screamed:]

Woah! That guy's mine! Dibs on that guy!

[So, he bum rushed the thing with his explosively wide grin ripping across his face as a stark contrast to the dull mood he had earlier. With a solid thud, Ban jumped up and punched the minotaur in the middle of one of its swings, sending the creature careening into the ground, shaking the room with the rough equivalent of a sonic boom. Excitement dwindled to disappointment as Ban landed on the ground, figuring the fight was over before it already began. He turned back to the crowd and leveled a sigh, giving one bicep a gentle little tap before he opened his mouth to gloat--]

Ahhhhn, nevermiiiind. ♪ I guess this guy was actually just a pushover. Here I was, getting excited over--

[As if summoning a counterpoint from thin air, Ban realized suddenly that he was airborne a split hair before he smashed headlong into a wall. A trail of blood followed him as the minotaur hammered into him from the side, almost completely imitating Ban's sucker punch from before. Broken bones repaired themselves as skin and muscle grafted back together, forcing Ban's body back into the shape it was before. The surprised expression he wore from just after he had gotten knocked across the portal room dulled into an irritable frown once he was back on his feet. The lovely prisoner jumpsuit he had been wearing was in tatters.]

Way to make my eat my own wo-- [A flashing console at his side stopped Ban mid-sentence, though not as harshly as the minotaur's charge. The presence of what looked to be a digital dial with a series of puzzles on its surface prompted him to brief silence before, unfortunately, he continued speaking.]

Wait.

...Is this a game room or something? I thought this was the portal room.

[He looked up from the console at the last possible moment--just as the butt of a gigantic axe sent him to the other side of the room in a very unoriginal sequel to the first swing. Ban sat up, cursing out at the minotaur as his body stitched itself back up.] Give me a second, asshole!

Minotaurs

[scarredhorns]

[Nyuu had scrambled to find cover as soon as all hell broke lose, only to quickly discover that there was none. There were no rocks or plants to duck behind here, just the bright lights coming from all the control panels and the rampaging beast.

She had her back pressed flat against the wall and was grasping the hilt of her sword with both hands when Ban was knocked into the wall a few feet away. She flinched from the loud noise and slowly took a glance at the freshly made crater. As Ban arises, she nearly fails to recognize him due to the beard, but when she does, she gasps.

She's not complaining, but how could he survive such a blow?

And then her eyes latch onto a part of his body that's... healing itself?

Still unable to speak, Nyuu rushes over to see if he was really okay, eyes full of worry.]

[perma_banned]

Hmmmm ♪. [When Ban sat up, he began humming. The presence of a jovial tone, a stark contrast to the monstrosity going berserk in the background, came as soon as Ban's lungs were no longer filled with blood. His face fell into a little grin as he focused in on the beast, cut off when he realized someone was running towards him.

He knew looks of concern and Nyuu had no real reason to conceal it but Ban had gotten so used to his immortality that the idea of someone worrying over him was still foreign.]

Ahn~? Hey, missy--you sure you should be taking your eyes off the big guy? Orrrr, did you need me for somethin'?

[A lazy smile came over him, showing he had not shared Nyuu's same concern for his own well-being. He was also acutely unaware of the cause behind her muted silence and gestures.]

[scarredhorns]

[For a guy who just got pummeled into a wall, Ban looks pretty nonchalant compared to Nyuu, who was still visibly trembling from the noise of the mechanical monstrosity. And she wasn't even the one who got punched.]

Nyuu?

[The fruit may have reverted her speech to what it was before, but the concern was as clear in her voice as it was in her eyes. One of her small hands gingerly plants itself on a part of Ban's arm that had been bleeding seconds ago.

She's already sending a text via magitek (and thank goodness she didn't have to use her hands to do so).]

Are you alright, Ban-san? There's so much blood on your clothes... but you look okay?

[perma_banned]

[Clear and selfless signs of sympathy were an unfamiliar territory for Ban. He could only really stare at Nyuu, wondering where in the world she had come from that she would turn away from the giant monster to worry about someone else.

It was a surprise that didn't last very long. Come to think of it--he had been meeting a lot of people like that, lately.]

Huh? [Ban looked away from Nyuu's eyes to the side when he felt the familiar 'ring' in his head associated with Magitek. He didn't have to guess at her username. While he didn't think about the reasoning, his first assumption was that it was her.

He answered out loud.]

Uh--yeah, I'm fine. Actually, I'm probably the least of your concerns, missy.

[He redirected his gaze to the minotaur, who had been swinging its gigantic axe at members of Audentes, who battered it with magic, weapons, and the like to little or no avail.]

[scarredhorns]

[Her head also turns to glance at the minotaur, most of the color draining from her face, making her look like a sakura petal. The deafening roars reverberate through her entire being, vibrating against her spine. Little trails of smoke rise from where the acid dripped onto the ground, hissing upon impact.

For a moment, Nyuu's grip on Ban's arm becomes more like a vice. Despite the lack of color, there's a sudden determination on her face, even as she worries at her lower lip.

She looks back up at Ban, continuing to communicate by text. She would have explained why she couldn't just talk--if it wasn't for the monster.]

Ban-san, I have an idea!

[perma_banned]

[Huffing, Ban stood up straight and stretched his arms out over his head. He looked over the minotaur, failing to make heads or tails of the substance it was dripping out. Having never really taken a chemistry class or worked as an engineer, Ban assumed it was just hot oil dripping out of the creature. That stuff, he could deal with easily.]

Ah? [But, when he tried to straighten himself, Nyuu's weight was on his arm and it kept him at a weird angle when he decided not to lift her up with him. Bent at that weird angle, Ban gave her a cross look. Had she been wearing Lucy's look, Ban wouldn't have thought twice about it when she said something like that. Instead, he had to come at it with a modicum of scrutiny, since Nyuu didn't seem to have anything at all in common with Lucy's natural drive to fight.]

What sort of idea?

[scarredhorns]

[Nyuu finally releases him and stands up straight, stiffening her body and screwing her eyes shut as though bracing for a blow.]

Please hit me. It might wake up Lucy so she can help.

[As much as Nyuu hates to rely on Lucy for these sort of situations, she didn't have any better ideas. She still couldn't summon the vectors despite her desperate efforts and she didn't know how to properly use the sword she found.]

[perma_banned]

[The sentence made perfect sense when he read it back to himself a few times--even in the midst of the chaos malingering in the background. Ban had himself bent at the back a little, his hands placed on his knees for the sake of balance. When he finally came to understand what Lucy meant, Ban also honed his conclusion to a fine point.]

Nope.

[He had no idea what her pain threshold was but Ban knew that, without a doubt, what he assumed would probably put Nyuu at a huge disadvantage in a fight with that creature. Instead, he went with the spirit of her request rather than the actual letter of it.

He fixed his eyes on Nyuu, fixing his 'killing intent' on her without any effort at all. The natural weight of his magical power flowed down around her like a freezing fog, daring her to open her eyes. If she did, she would see the incarnation of a grim reaper hanging over Ban's shoulders, scythe poised in front of him--]

I'd kill ya'.