((All rolls this turn were <=4, most being 1s and 2s))
Team B: H4zardZ1, Wolfkit, IllgeoTeam B.
"Hmm... And what is that?"
Check mannequin for abnormalities. From a distance.
Oh dear. That thing is certainly not normal. What is this hellish thing? It should not exist on this earth. It is an abomination that should be put to the sword, burned and destroyed immediately. These things went out of style decades ago. I mean frills? Really? Not to mention the general tastelessness and bad design of the thing.
Team C: akkudakku, FallacyOfUrist, mydjet"... okay, that's it. No more lack of movement. Point me!"
Be pointed in a direction, then charge in that direction and punch through any walls and doors in my path.
Uhhh... I see no pointing... Wanna go use the stairs to go up a level instead?
Team A: DreamerGhost, Beirus, AlarithTeam A
"That's a problem."
<I'm going to try to push it away.>
Use telekinesis to push the thing away. Keep trying to figure out more about its mind.
Figuring out about is mind will probably be impossible. It remains a void to your ability and no amount of psychic energy you send its way seems capable of changing that. Furthermore, it seems to be emitting no psychic energy of its own, nothing you can pick up. Instead it looks like it's absorbing the psychic energy of others, the area it occupies being completely devoid of the energy of your teammates.
Even influencing its mind would be hard, assuming your psychic influence can even reach it. Your skill relies at least partly on feedback. You influencing the mind of someone and from its reaction readjusting your approach as you figure out more about how their mind works, how it reacts to stimuli. It's like pushing the buttons of a machine to figure out what they do and how to use them to do what you want, only now you can see neither the machine nor the buttons. Even if your psychic energy reaches that being's mind, it will be impossible to gauge its reactions to it or use it to do something complex.
But of course.
If I still have bulets in my pistol, shot the thing. In its eyes. If not, then reload and shoot it. In its eyes.
Svajoklis' flash-light fails, once more plunging the room in darkness, but not in silence. The officer screams. There are gunshots, the burning gunpowder briefly illuminating the room, burning images into the team's eyes, while the bangs drown out all other noise. The team catches glimpses of claws slashing a torso, beak striking an eye, blood and bits of flesh sent flying.
By the time Bryan manages to concentrate enough to use his ability, the screaming has stopped and the psychic void that is the creatures has started spreading out once more like a cloud, his telekinetic shove not affecting it very much. It starts moving back towards the ceiling and towards their direction. There's only silence.
A few moments later your flash-lights flicker on, providing weak illumination, barely enough to reach one of the walls of the room. Where the injured officer was standing, now there's only a pool of blood and a few pieces of flesh. A quick inspection of nearby furniture shows that Svajoklis' aim was off. None of the three shots were even close to the target. He has now expended all ammo in his pistol.
Staging Area
<character>
You wake up.
You're laying face first on something hard, cold and smooth. Feels like your face should be bruised from sleeping on something like that, but it isn't.
It's not very dark, but it's not very bright either. What it is, is very damp. Too much humidity.
You can hear large amounts of water falling somewhere nearby. The area you are in is distorting the sound, creating quiet echoes.
Ugh...huh? Where am I now?
George sighs as he stands up, looking around at his surroundings.
Well....of course. Shame on me for thinking I could just take a nice nap without being disturbed. What was I thinking? No, no, don't worry about me, mister scientists, I love waking up in random places with my face to the ground. It's like high school all over again. Now I just have to wait for the constant prodding and sharp instruments and then the experience will be complete.
"Uh...Hello? Anybody here? This is some kind of experiment, right?"
Look around. Try to figure out where I am.
You raise your head and look around. Looks like you were laying with your face on a smooth rock surface.
Looking around, you see more rock, although less smooth and more jagged and natural-looking. Looks like some sort of natural cave, not very large but not very small either. It's much like a long yet wide corridor, with a narrower section separating it into two "rooms", with you being in the room closest to the entrance.
The entrance of the cave (just large enough to comfortably fit one person) sits behind a waterfall, the particles that escape from it creating small puddles in front of it, with ripples crossing their surface with each water drop added. Beyond the waterfall, you can barely make out reflections in a small stream, foam and grey rocks.
On the other room you can see a desk with a strange machine extending from it, like a mix of a personal computer, a multi-limbed clawed robot and a multi-pipette, with a few glass tubes sticking out for good measure.
<Right. An experiment of some kind.> you hear a voice responding from nowhere in particular.
You'd say it would be like it was coming from headphones if it wasn't for its high quality and the lack of interference from the sound of the waterfall.
<You could say that. And you wouldn't be wrong.>She sounds like she's trying to remain serious but can't really keep herself from smiling, can't stop the bit of excitement from slipping into her voice.
Final Round
Yes, that's what I meant; just disconnect the easy bits.
Also, summon/shoot a grenade straight at his palm first, then disconnect and DOOOOOOOOODGE
Hope I'm not trying too much here!
Same plan as before, just don't hit myself in the head this time
You both move simultaneously, John assembling and firing his explosive towards Ron's palm while Ron fires his firebolt straight at John. The result is a large fiery explosion between them as the two projectiles collide.
Ron is having none of that. Out of ammo and with his opponent attempting to run away, he picks up a giant piece of concrete nearby (while hobbling on one leg, no less) and throws it towards John at incredible speeds. His aim is off, but the tremor the piece of concrete causes as it hits the ground is enough to cause John to lose his footing and fall. The resulting concrete shrapnel proceed to pelt a nearby building like pellets from a giant shotgun blast and cause its façade to crumble.
Okay, initial wave of excitement at finally finding him is gone. No more all-caps. Since he's a slime I guess that I'll have to break him apart or something. Let's summon a large hammer and smash him with that a few times.
Quickly repair any damage done to myself, then evolve the ocular devices. I can't attack him if I can't see him.
You do your best to stop your brain from melting and then try to make some eyes. You succeed. Sort of. You can now see blurry shapes and colours around you. Enough to see a knight in glowing armour charging at you with a giant hammer.
Saevus tries to use his giant warhammer to smash Rune. He misses completely.
Rune tries to dodge but only ends up somehow getting stuck inside a hole in the ground.
Quality.
Campaign
((Yay, made it in my last few hours! Last-second triggered action: if we end up going near the river of fire or another flame source, I'm going to want to take it with me.))
continue previous action
Campaign, Ike!
To entire team if possible: <Ike to whoever can hear, we seem to be clear of the Imperial Guard for now. Maybe a scout might be following us, but I wouldn't necessarily count on it.>
See if I can rendezvous with the others some way down the road. Shouldn't be too hard to find, considering Alan's singing.
And if not, find a quieter spot to stop for a bit and listen to the sounds in the air for a few minutes, check if anyone's walking around here.
<Don't think we're followed. Let's regroup.>
Attempt to regroupify. Still head away from the centurions and towards where we are supposed to go.
With a bit of shouting, comm-wire directions and the help of Ike's enhanced senses, your two groups manage to regroup with nothing horrible happening to you. Where are you headed next? Going to meet up with River or is there anywhere else you wish to go? Maybe some part of the city you'd like to explore?
Theri pondered. She pondered on the many ideas River mentioned and pondered on how vast the knowledge he was entrusting to her was. She pondered, but she caught herself to take priorities with initiative.
"You'll show yourself when you're comfortable with it River. I'm happy with knowing you is all." She gave him a nod before focusing on the idea of Irine.
"But, if you're alright, I can support you when we go. I surprisingly feel alright--and...that note with Irine. I want to know how everyone else is doing. Is there anyway I can help while you rest?"
Theri shuddered as if a cold wind passed her. She remarked on how deep River's words to her were. It was like the creation reflecting on the will of its creator. It was an enigma and an answer.
She gave him a smile. "Because we have a long way to go it seems."
"Thank you, I... I am too. You and the others." he says smiling as he closes his eyes again, his body relaxing.
"I am glad you understand. I... I just want to... just stay safe. The others should be close. I promise I will...""I do not feel it is safe yet. I will show you, when I feel... I will explain. When I feel you are ready to face it...""I will show you the world. The way I see it. I will show you yourself. The way I see you. I... I will... I should take you to fly... You should fly with me. Flying is so much fun... We will have fun... time to have fun. If I protect you...""I do not want you to get hurt again... I do not want to fail... to break my promise again... I do not want you to leave..."He speech becomes slower and quieter until he stops talking completely, his breathing slowing down as his body relaxes further.
Looks like he's sleeping. His exhaustion must have finally caught up with him.
OOC
(Heh, it's neat how each character has an entity that corresponds with their powers, personality, backstory, etc. I'm curious, do any of the players here share the same entity? I checked the first post, but I don't think that part has been updated lately)
No, they don't. I considered it, since it would make things easier gameplay wise (less things for me to think of and keep track of) but I think it wouldn't make as much sense story wise.
And yes, I really need to update that sometime...
(Heh, it's neat how each character has an entity that corresponds with their powers, personality, backstory, etc. I'm curious, do any of the players here share the same entity? I checked the first post, but I don't think that part has been updated lately)
((Yeah, it seems pretty unique, and I like the entities. I don't know how much their personalities match up to our characters though. Hey Paris, how much are our entities personalities influenced by the way we play our characters?))
In an OOC sense, I try to make interesting pairs that would be an interesting match with the personality and the various possible stories/motivations/avatars I have for each entity. That rarely means exact pairings, but sometimes they are pretty close, if I think it makes sense. But a good mix of differences and similarities are what make good pairings I think. Need a bit of conflict.
That's a bit of a headache on its own, because sometimes you have people that feel like they could fit well with multiple entities depending on which angle you take on their entity and their personality (I believe I've mentioned me considering Irine for Darkstar in the past. I was also considering having Ike with one of the more murder-happy entities or Zech with one of the more... morally questionable entities.) So you have to decide which pairing is best. I think I've done an OK job thus far. I'm happy with the original pairings, still seeing how the rest are working out.
In an IC sense, most of them have a reason for choosing you, be it an ulterior motive or just because they liked you or the way you fought or thought you were fun. And their avatars are still people, so they can be influenced and changed by you and others, although doing so is not very easy.
Both of those (IC and OOC) is why I sometimes create new entities instead of choosing an old one. And why I sometimes may try to wait until after someone's first mission to let them know which entity they have if they haven't given me enough hints about their character's personality and playstyle, in case the choice I originally made was a mistake.
Haven't had much time to do proper introductions lately, been focusing more on making turns...
You totally need to updoot the OP ;3
Also I love how close you're able to characterize River with my character! He's himself, and he's very relatable! ^ ^
Theri smiled at how River droned off into unconsciousness and walked over to pat him on the shoulder as he slept, taking the time to ponder over his words. In a way, she could really understand where he's coming from, and in another way, she wondered if she could help him understand a lot more.
"Your promise is all there is fulfilled. And its being my friend. Thanks River. ...Although I still wonder why I was whisked away to this world while I was busy with whatever I was doing back there."
She made sure to add the latter part with sarcastic confusion. In all reason, she did care about being swept away, but she put aside that thought just as casual musing--she'd do the best she can here, and worrying about how long she'd have been gone would come afterwards.
"But that promise..."
Who did you make it to? It's already fulfilled with me. I am safe if others around me are safe. If I can teach them to be safe. If they teach me to be safe. I can be safe in the face of danger. I can be unhurt despite being wounded.
You're interesting River. I won't ever leave.
...Not helping that I didn't leave in the first place but that's me just being silly. Oh hello thoughts!
Theri rolled her eyes at her own silliness, glad that nobody else would be present to judge her but herself. Maybe that was the best that could occur--her own thoughts were at peace with her despite how silly she could ever be. She wondered why others didn't feel the same when interacting with others.
She wondered why she kept repeating a word many times over, and thus decided to explore this place instead, lest her thoughts turn to loquacious musing and dry humor.
This place wasn't made by him though...so I wonder where or what this place is?
Thoroughly inspect this place for any semblance of an identity that I can get about this area or location, or anyone who visited/lived here.
Also examine River's fur. Is it soft or is it rough?
A quick inspection of the place shows it must have stopped working some time ago. The storage areas below are empty and have began accumulating a thin coating of dust. There is no food or drink in the drawers, boxes and barrels. Only thing you find are a few chips of plant fibre, too brown and dry for you to tell what they originally belonged to. There's also a few eating utensils and broken glasses inside the empty storage areas. Were they forgotten there or did they fell as whoever was emptying this place left in a hurry? Yet there are sings that people have returned here recently, searching the place. There's marks of footsteps in the dust, marks that couldn't had been left by you or River (not the right shape and size). And spots with no dust that show that something was removed, probably boxes or chairs.
You slowly remove the improvised lock River has put on the door and carefully open it as quietly as you can. It takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the bright light outside. The area outside looks clear. Abandoned. You open the door a bit further and take a few steps on the hot and dry earth. The sun has began to set, moving closer towards the western edge of the sky. There's a cool gentle wind blowing from the east. It helps make the heat more bearable, but it gives the area around you a haunted feeling, the air creating strange, life-like sounds as it passes through the empty buildings.
You take a look around, quietly and carefully moving through the buildings. It seems like the building you were in is part of a small group of buildings of similar construction, mostly stone but also wood. There must be about a couple of dozen of them. Most of them look like small and simple houses. Few windows, a fireplace with a hole above it and that's it. A few have a bed or some form of storage, but not much else. Many of the buildings around you have pieces of them missing. It doesn't look like they were damaged, there are no debris around, it looks more as if those pieces were taken.
The cluster of building exists beyond the edge of an empty moat made out of stone blocks, like a giant artificial river bed or swimming pool, beyond which is a truly gigantic wall. The fortification appears to have been damaged slightly, since it has cracked in places and some stone blocks have fallen off of it. But it (or at least the section of it you can see) still looks very strong. Beyond the wall, somewhere far away, you can just make out the tip of a volcano, a rocky mountain with a bit smoke coming out of its top, smoke that is filling the sky with a thin layer of smog. There is a river of glowing lava coming out of it and rolling down. You can't see exactly where it goes from there because the wall is in the way.
On the opposite side of the wall, towards the east, some great distance away are two very different camps on opposite sides of a road.
One of them is larger but it looks still, devoid of activity. It appears to have been cobbled together from various materials, mostly stone, wood, tarp and pieces of dead shrubs. It also appears to have suffered from fire damage.
The other is smaller but in pristine condition, made out of brown tents matching the colour of the dirt on the ground. There are a few shiny bronze-coloured humanoid shapes around it. They are too far away to make out any details at this distance.
As for River, from what you remember, his fur is a bit soft and silky, not too much. Maybe equal to or a bit rougher than a sheep's hide, you'd say, but still pleasant to the touch. What you'd normally expect from a well groomed and healthy dog. However a visual inspection accompanied by gentle rubbing of the fur close to his neck (which causes him to smile and twist his head in his sleep) shows that his fur is not as shiny or as soft as it used to be. Isn't that usually a sign that an animal is sick or not eating properly, usually not enough meat when carnivores are concerned? Then again River is at least partly a magical creature, so it's not certain if the same applies to him.
Poll
15 (42.9%)
Author
Topic: Special People: Mechanical Syndrome (Read 1140791 times)