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

[Ban had been watching Sakura for awhile, silently assessing how she handled herself. He was fairly certain at least a few people could have flown, so getting up that high just seemed like a bad idea--but he was the last person in the world to warn others regarding upcoming mistakes.

So, he just watched in silence until it got really bad. Then, he chimed in.]

...Need a hand?

[She has Fly. Or even using Jump might have helped lessen her contact with the vines in avoiding getting herself entangled. But she had managed fine enough initially. So she had just kept going that same way. Only to find that wasn't actually quite working.

She can't even quite manage to turn to see him. But Sakura does hear the familiar voice. And isn't so proud that she wouldn't let him help.]

E-eh? Ban-san? Um, yes....

[With a little hop, Ban jumped straight into the air and drifted up--catching his heel on one of the vines close to Sakura that had its own support. While Ban wasn't really familiar with jungles, he could still tell where weight was supported and which vines looked healthier. With a few swipes of one hand, he tore up some of the vines clogging Sakura's forward movement.]

Here, try movin' a bit.

[Sakura isn't able to move to help much yet, so she waits and watches him jump and head over to her, waiting for him to free her. Once he does, she shifts slightly, tentative though more reassured with him being right there helping her.

She straightens, using her now free hands to activate the Jump card to thus help get herself out of the vines, encouraging Ban not to linger or else he might get caught like she had.]

Y'know, it's all about putting your feet in the right place and angling them the right way.

[They had a lull in time, so it didn't seem like too bad a time to give some advice. Ban took note of the magic Sakura used, keeping his gaze set on the ground to make sure the inmates hadn't seen it. Some inmates survived for the worst of reasons--so, he didn't feel like any of them getting the impression that Sakura was going unguarded.

Ban demonstrated his advice by taking a few slow steps from one hanging vine to another, lowering himself so he could slip between overhanging vines at the same time. He moved using the center of his feet, straightening them and bending them while he moved.]

You're real scary with magic but you'd be unstoppable if you got a good grasp of proper footing, missy~.

I -- I manage! I don't trip over all the time or always get stuck like that! I didn't expect the vines to sort of trap me like that, is all.

[Didn't expect them to literally curl around her to restrict her movement like that. Still, she isn't exactly the most subtle, or her magic isn't, given the slight gust of wind and light from the magic circle that appears at her feet each time she uses it to activate a card or her staff. She does watches him though, noting his footing, in case she comes across the vines again.]

Kahaha. Don't worry so much about me bein' a meanie, missy~. [Ban reached up to pat his cheek, choking out a hoarse little chuckle. He moved from vine to vine without pausing too much, ensuring that he wouldn't bend too much and allow anything to entangle him.]

I'm bein' serious. It wouldn't hurt if you took lessons as a swordsman. It could really help you as a sorceress.

I took lessons from Pearl. But...

[But. Well. She left, the same way so many others had thus far in their time with ALASTAIR. So that hadn't been for long. Sword made her an expert anyway when she used the card itself and not a practice weapon, so she never figured it to be an issue. Even if at times she might slip into it almost seeming more like dance moves considering who trainer her.]

Hmmm~. [Vague recollections of that one haggard and listless woman fell into mind and Ban gave Sakura a little bit of a pause.]

Most of being a swordsman is having good footwork and skill in the wrist. You've already got some skill in the latter, seein' as you've gotta be quick to draw your cards, but...

[He followed after Sakura at a fairly lazy pace yet somehow kept in line with her. He didn't have to look down or focus all that much. When it came to nimble footing, Ban's usual demeanor betrayed just how precise he could be.]

Footing saves your life in every situation ♪.

Footwork....I'm okay with athletics but I still sometimes have some clumsy moments.

[But perhaps with more training and practice. She might improve on it. Ban definitely seems a natural in spite of how careless he usually seems in whether or not he might get hurt, because of his healing. She can't help but to note that.]

Sorceresses don't tend to nail that kinda thing straight away~. You just gotta practiiice.

[Even Merlin wasn't one for fancy footwork. She had spells to fly and balance herself out--so, she never cared for acting like someone who should have been concerned about a melee fight.

Though, not everyone had the benefit on a literally bottomless pit of magical capacity.]

It's a guarantee you learned how to use your feet before you learned spells, right?

My feet? Well, I didn't learn about my magic until I was ten? So. I guess.

[He isn't wrong there. Obviously she wasn't aware of her magic until finding the book. Once she was already in school and all, old enough to take on the task set before her. As she was supposed to. As Clow guessed and prepared for.

It's a relief though. Once they make it to the other side.]

EVENT ★ LABYRINTH III: THE ESCAPE

Vines;

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whoops i forgot we had a whole arc dedicated to that... /brains self

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