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

[sadgay]

[He at least knows that he is acting like a total basket case - and that this won't be what helps him survive the present ordeal. Shaking his head wordlessly, he gulps in a deep shuddering breath and slowly lets it escape his lips. His voice comes thinly like sunshine through a small, dirty window.]

No, I'm fine.

[Aside from the fact that he's completely falling apart. Aside from the fact that he's half certain they'll all be annihilated. He swallows hard.]

I can walk.

[And as if to prove his point, he sets to climbing to his feet.]

[keeper]

[ She nods wordlessly, choosing not to comment further on his current condition. (No need to plant any additional doubt in his mind... It seems like he's giving it his all just to stay mentally afloat in this situation.)

There are enough recruits currently engaging the labyrinth sentinel that they're able to cross without much interruption—until they reach halfway, and the monster sudden fixes its angry gaze on the two of them. Aqua immediately gives Connor a firm nudge toward their destination. ]

Go. I'll keep it occupied.

[ Which she does. Several magical explosions and loud claps of thunder later, she pulls up next to Connor, breathing heavily. A trickle of blood runs down her arm where her shoulder's been clipped, but she brushes the injury away with another spell.

As if this were all Completely Normal, she calmly gestures to one of the strange puzzles near their feet. ]

...Do you think you can figure this out?

[sadgay]

[If he thinks too hard on where he is (an alien labyrinth millions of lightyears away from anything remotely familiar) and what is happening around him (a monster rampaging, a man lying dead) then the sheer weight of it would render him completely immobile. It is not the first time he as had to turn off his brain in order to function, but the weight of all that he is staving off is heavier than even murder. And just as before, when the realization catches up with him afterward, he will be crushed beneath it. But for now, he runs. As his feet pound the ground and his heart drums in his ears, he tries to blot out the cacophony of battle to pretend that he is only sprinting around a track. When Aqua nudges him onward, it takes every sinew of his self-control not to snap his gaze in the minotaur's direction. When she reunites with him, his breath still spills from him as if it too is trying to escape. He then watches with wide eyes as she vanishes her wound with a flick of her wrist. With a shaky finger he points to her suddenly smooth skin, her question forgotten.] How...did you do that?

[keeper]

[ Aqua's had to explain her abilities a number of times since her arrival, so it at least prepares her for his bafflement. (She offers as much of an understanding, reassuring smile as she can manage.) ]

I'm... aware this isn't common to all worlds, but this is magic.

[ She'll let him attempt to process that for a moment before she continues, carefully and slowly, ]

If you have any injuries, I can heal those as well. It doesn't have any ill-effects.

[ (...She has to wonder if he might not inadvertently direct some of his fear toward her instead, though if the thought bothers her, she doesn't let it show.) ]

[sadgay]

[It isn't quite fear that shapes his expression, but its lesser cousin uncertainty. Despite all that he has witnessed, his brain cannot assimilate magic into the ordinary framework of his world, and so, as with most things that escape comprehension, he holds his distance.]

Thanks, but...I'm fine. The bandages are doing the trick good enough.

[He quickly turns his attention to the metal dais before them, on which a series of tiles bearing different symbols are arranged in a grid.]

So what are we supposed to do with this?