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

unbelievable

[gutpunching]

[If he notices the hesitation (he does) he doesn't remark on it. This is her initiative, after all.]

"Chooses," huh?

[Though he's rarely seen her without it, it's the first time she's ever allowed it out of her hands. He takes the blade and hefts it in hand to test the weight. It's hefty, but balanced. Might take a little getting used to. He hadn't been lying when he told her he's familiar with swordplay, but he's more of a katana kind of guy.

As if taking her claim as a challenge, he lifts a hand and runs the thumb of his free hand over the cutting edge of the blade. Carefully at first, then with a little more experimental pressure as her claim proves true. It comes through unscathed, of course. He holds it up for a look, as if to be sure of it.]

That's pretty convenient.

[Or inconvenient, depending on how you look at it.]

[tolight]

It's an enchanted sword. A rather picky one. [ As an explanation. The wielder has to have the right blood and the approval from an inanimate object. It's complicated. Forged out of Naga's fang, passed down from generation to generation ( a treasure, the only heirloom from her father, and a powerful weapon ).

But none of those things really affect them at this moment, so none of them get voiced. Her eyes remain on the sword for a moment longer, watching him test it, head tilting to the side as she watches him run his finger over it. It might be sharp enough to cut an apple, maybe, but not much more than that. Thanks, Inigo.

But eventually, her impatience gets the better of her, excitement refusing to slow down. ] Well? [ Fight her, Jason!! ]

[gutpunching]

[Let him get a feel for it, Lucina, do you want him to put in a good showing or not. He can see her getting impatient, which is also kind of a funny look on her.]

You're not used to people keeping you waiting, are you?

[But sure. This is a dead end, and they can spare some of their time to get a workout in. He steps away from her to raise the blade, but his eyes are on the terrain—committing it to memory before they start, rather than rely on the cursory once-over he'd given it already.]

Go easy on me, I'm starting to owe Aqua a whole lot of favors.

[Is he joking or not, who knows.]

[tolight]

[ What kind of question is that — her eyebrows raise ( maybe if he wasn't deliberately avoiding the answer until the last possible second— ), though her posture shifts when he raises the sword. The agreement brings about a nod of her own, bent knees as she points the lance in his direction ( shoulder hunch just so, her arms wide on the lance for balance — ) ]

I'll keep that in mind. [ She says — and she does. She takes the request as a cue to start, closing the distance he's taken the effort to make; still too far for him to reach, but that's the whole point of a lance.

Starting easy, then— she swings the weapon at a wide, horizontal arc, across his waist. With purpose, but still slow enough for him to dodge. ]

[gutpunching]

[He's been evasive the whole time you've known him, Lucina, I don't know why you're surprised, now.

He'd stepped back to get the chance to watch her swing. Get a feel for her range. But he wastes no time in closing the distance, after he dodges the initial softball she'd thrown him—trying to take her biggest advantage away from her. He ducks forward forcefully with a swing at her shins—aimed more to force her to move, to keep her from getting grounded, than it is to really hit.

(But the blade swings slower than he'd like. He marks it.)]

Not that easy. C'mon, Princess, I'm not made of glass.

[tolight]

[ She's out of practice — her muscles too used to holding a weapon with more weight behind it, less length. It'll take some work before she's back to a level she's comfortable with, let alone satisfied, but for now, there's sheer enjoyment in simply sparring.

At the swings, she hops back — recreates the distance that he closes, mindful of the distance she has left behind her. ] I never claimed you were. [ She responds, all with a single exhale. Teeth gritting as she rights the grip again, stops her momentum back to push forward again, tip pointed towards his sides for a strike.

Then another, and another. Three, in rapid succession, all aiming for the same spot ( still out of balance and not as quickly as she'd like it to be, but better. ) ]