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

[armigers]

[ He gets that impulse, and he's trying to help too, but he still doesn't think it's the best place for her to be. Nothing is even denting the minotaur, and Noctis is hesitant to use his magic with so many other people in range. He doesn't want to risk injuring them at all.

The axe swings in their direction once more before Noctis drags Sakura out of its way. His shield then appears in his hand, using that to cover the two of them before glancing around. ]

That guy took the brunt of the damage for us.

[ For Mahavari specifically. ]

Better if you stay on standby for any other injuries.

[ The hammer connects loudly and powerfully with his shield, the sound reverberating loudly and making Noctis wince in pain. ]

Ow, shit-!

[ He probably shouldn't have cursed in front of a kid, and he throws her a quick guilty look over his shoulder. ]

You didn't hear that just now.

[keystaff]

You say that like I haven't heard swears before.

[Noct, plz. As a teenager now, she isn't so innocent. She knows the likes of Ban. And being involved with missions as chaotic as this and then some, she's heard things slip even when those around her might not want her to, or mean to come out with it around her.

Still, Sakura doesn't hesitate in stepping forward to hover her hands over his arm with the shield. Emitting a light glow, more soft than blinding, as she closes her eyes to heal him.]

Better?

[armigers]

A bit. Think we can hold out.

[ Especially since they're not the only ones beating up on that minotaur. It's just a matter of finding its weakest points, assuming it even has any. He doesn't quite know how to find out.

He'd gladly volunteer himself to try, but he doesn't think it's a good idea to leave Sakura's side just yet. Better to leave it to someone else for the time being as he continues to dodge blow after blow. The next one knocks him firmly off balance, sending him crashing backwards in a pile of limbs, the shield dissolving into blue particles. His back takes the brunt of the wall, old injuries rendering him breathless and on his knees before he tries to hail Sakura over. ]

Could use that healing right about now...

[ In fact, he's pretty sure he's seconds away from coughing up a rib bone, but he tries to joke his way through that so he doesn't worry her too much. ]

[keystaff]

[Sakura doesn't really get a chance to respond beyond a nod of agreement as she watches him dodge. And then get hit. She winces, quickly rushing over almost the same time he tries to summon her over in requesting that healing. Luckily for him, whatever he is injured with, she has the highest level of ALASTAIR's healing magic.

She kneels next to him after ensuring they would be protected by her Shield card creating a barrier in defending them from the creature while she heals him. Sakura's hands hover over him as she closes her eyes and a soft glow emits where the healing magic activates at his body. After a moment, she opens her eyes, biting her lip as she looks to him.]

Better?

[armigers]

[ Grateful to have some form of healing that isn't just smashing a potion on himself, Noctis manages to look relieved as he sits up. His stamina is down for the time being, but at least it doesn't feel like he's breathing in shards of glass any more. ]

Guess we're even now.

[ He gives her a small smile before climbing shakily on his feet and summoning a light sword this time. ]

Something tells me staying on the defense side isn't going to do much good. You didn't happen to see him get hurt by anything, did you?

[ Ignis' quick thinking could be of great use to him right now, especially when Noctis doesn't have the faintest clue what to try next short of just hitting with everything he's got and seeing what works. He just wishes he could do all that from a comfortably safe distance. ]

[keystaff]

Hm. I'm not sure. But all this -- it's different from when I was just collecting the cards.

[So she's still a little overwhelmed even after doing this for over a year now. Almost two, actually. But Sakura tries her best to help where she can, finding the cards rather versatile at least. She glances to the creature, tilting her head for a moment.]

....Is he hurt where someone stabbed him with a sword?