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

[feytality]

Yeesh. That's a problem.

[Andersen... no... please learn to dress yourself]

Geez, you must really need those glasses if you can't see how adorable and well-proportioned I am! [and currently malnourished, but still cute, thanks!!!]

[feytality]

All metrics! [that's not how that works Maya but okay]

[Maya finally remembers the sword and gestures to it]

Sooo... what are we gonna do about this bad boy? Just leave it here? Or maybe we can stick it in front of the giant bull and it'll trip, or something.

[feytality]

Master? Fade out? Enchanting? What the heck are you talking about?!

[look, Lancer was a useless beefcake, she didn't know spirits could do all this hot shit]

You sure do complain a lot..... is this a writer thing?

[feytality]

Fair enough. [At least he admits it!! She looks mildly annoyed about the 'girl', but if she's understanding this right, he can't manifest himself without magical energy, which is.... a problem]

So, wait--- you'll fade out without it, and they didn't give you any? That's messed up! If you run out--- what's going to happen to you?

[And for that matter--] Where can you even get it? Do people have to cast spells on you or something?!

[feytality]

Hey-- don't say that! [only Maya is allowed to call herself useless, thanks] You just said you could cast all those spells! And you can write! And be sarcastic! [is this a skill] You're not useless!

[Also the answer to why she cares is pretty simple, and he said it himself: she's the stupidly optimistic type]

[or maybe just the stupid type]

I'm not gonna let you disintegrate! What is it, magic spells? Magic rocks? Magic potions?!

[feytality]

[That takes the air out of her sails --- at least, temporarily. It'd be a lot simpler if it were casting spells or throwing magic potions at him, but s much as she wants to help, well -- she's not a magus. Are spiritual power and magical power interchangeable?]

What.... kind of contract? And what counts as magical energy?

[she's already weak (she thinks) so being tired wouldn't be a problem, BUT...]

[feytality]

I mean... I am a spirit medium.... in training.

[But he'd called it magical energy, earlier, and she had some kind of ALASATAIR given magic, or something.... maybe she can just get replenished, or something] Does that count?

[And for that matter--] Sooo... lemme get this straight..... If I say I want to contract with you, you'll like... jump on me and suck out some of my power, and then you won't disintegrate?

[Maya he's not a mosquito]

[feytality]

Eh....? [Tilts her head, she's dense af so she was really just thinking about a mosquito]

[listen she's like 5' she's not exactly tall. She's still pretty staunch about opposing his idea that he's useless, so if anything, the self-deprecation makes her more! determined!!]

I dunno, I think there's plenty of benefit. If you don't disintegrate, then I won't get bored! And you can write me a story to make up for it. And enchant... a burger? You can do that stuff, right?

[time for Andersen to write Steel Samurai fanfiction]

[feytality]

[but does Andersen know what HE'S getting into]

It'd be magically delicious! [that's definitely how enchanting works]

Okay, so it's settled! We contract! You stay on this plane! And... if you find a better master or well o' magic or whatever, you can take them instead.

[her spiritual power should be enough to tide him over until then, at least, thinks the idiot with a ton of spiritual power]

[feytality]

[It's okay mosquito Andersen.... just drain her dry and move onto Aqua or something, then die of Disney]

I'm used to grouchy old men [she's just gonna assume that's what he is] so I can handle it! Let's do this! Abra Contracta! Contracticus... Contract!

[stop]

1/3

[feytality]

Wow, that was a lot more straightforward than I--

[and here comes the sensation and the slight pain, which Maya, the weenie that she is, is not expecting]

Ouch!

[what the heck, she wasn't being literal about the mosquito thing, Andersen!!]

[feytality]

[and it's accompanied by this mark appearing on her hand. IS SHE COOL NOW???]

[But, if anything, she seems more alarmed upon seeing those than the lil mosquito bite or warm feeling.]

...

Ah.

[She actually sobers up for a second, staring at them and turning her hands over and looking at her sweet tats uncomfortably]

[feytality]

[Then it's over, and she tugs her jumpsuit over the seals, turning back to huff at Andersen]

How could you warned me about you being dramatic, but not about all this? Are these... permanent?

[feytality]

I didn't realize this "Master" thing would be so literal... [this is kind of half-muttered]

[But, oh, well, it's not like anyone is going to know what it means unless Morgan or Pearl shows up here]

That's what you should have led with, you know, not "I'm a useless mosquito, bla bla writer speech!"

[she's pretty quick to get over it, though] Okay, so that's it? You're not gonna fade anymore? And I have more magical tattoos now?