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

[dbag]

Huh, wow, no one's ever had to protect anything from me before.

[ Unless you count all those people he accidentally mass-murdered, but he tries not to think about that. He scratches his chin with his real hand for a moment, thoughtful, then says, ] I mean, it's not like I can stop you from standing next to me anyway. [ It's the closest he can let himself get to accepting help from Keith. ]

Don't worry, I can... almost promise it won't blow up. The worst it's ever done is short out.

[secondnature]

If there's anything I know about explosions, it's that stuff shorting out can definitely cause them. [And like he just said, he knows how to set up explosions. He just hasn't had cause for it in a while. What he did at the time was a little more complicated than a blown circuit breaker turning into something bigger—mostly because he didn't want anyone hurt—he knew that there were other ways to go about it. Leave it to Keith to decide that it would happen here.]

If it blows up, I can handle it. I know you won't risk getting yourself killed.

[Rhys is too selfish to do that.]

[dbag]

Whoa, whoa. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[ Not that it's entirely untrue; the vast majority of his life has been about saving his own ass, and no one would describe him as an altruist. Still, it stings, especially coming from some bratty kid. He might have no self-respect, but he's got a hell of a lot of pride, and he doesn't appreciate potshots at it. ]

For your information, I would. And have, okay. Just because I don't play superhero doesn't mean I'm a total coward. [ The key word is 'total.' ]

I've done all kinds of things you don't even know about, so you can just— so you should... you should watch your tone, mister, because. You never know, um, what I'll do. Because I'm just— I'm so— [ He rubs his temple, having run out of steam. ] Goddammit. You get my point.

[secondnature]

I didn't say you were a coward. [Except that Keith definitely thinks that he's a total coward. No offense, Rhys, but there are braver guys in the world. Keith knows a lot of them. He wouldn't expect Rhys, who comes up with unnecessarily convoluted plans to get out of trouble, to really throw himself into the heat of the fire. It's just how he is.]

You just wouldn't risk your life without a good reason. This isn't one, right? [Come to think of it, it might be. That gives Keith more reason to shield him on the way out the door.]

[dbag]

Uh, well, I'm hoping it won't be, yeah. Like I said, it... probably won't be a problem.

[ 'Probably' isn't too reassuring when it involves explosions, he knows. He sighs, frustrated, then crosses his arms before uncrossing them again when he realizes the robotic one is still sparking. ]

Look, I'm not going to let anything bad happen, okay? If something goes wrong, I'll— I don't know, I'll fix it. My girlfriend's here, my friends are here, I'm not just going to let them blow up, or... whatever you think is going to happen.

[ ... ]

And yes, before you ask, I do have a girlfriend and she's totally real.

[secondnature]

[At that last part, Keith gives him a Look. It's the kind of look he gives Lance when Lance is being particularly annoying. He hasn't given it to him much lately, but Lance still has his bad days. As it is, that Look is a good mixture of "Why are you telling me this?" and "Why do you think I care?" But it will probably explain his conversation with Fiona about Rhys once he pauses to think about it.

(Will he pause to think about it? It's Keith. He might not.)]

All the more reason to be shielded, [he says, decisive.] Let's go through now. [Less arguing, more doing. And this way, he doesn't have to hear about Rhys' girlfriend, because he still doesn't care.]