Well, the most reasonable location for a security room would be in a secure area... like behind a locked security door that has a guard stationed nearby.
Also, you want to go outside? What exit will you take? The same one you used to come in?
As for useful information, let's see...
Many people are idly wasting their time on slot machines. One of them is cursing his machine quite harshly, accusing it of cheating but continues playing on it nevertheless.
Someone is trying to cash in an enormous amount of chips. The girl in the booth is apologizing, saying that they don't have that much cash in the booth but the man insists that he be paid in cash instead of a cheque. You'd guess money laundering.
Many people are congregating around the bar. They seem excited for tonight's big event, which should be starting pretty soon. From what you gather there's going to be a boxing match that's expected to be quite the show. Some are bragging about their exorbitant bets, others are merely looking forward to it.
Someone in a tacky leather jacket and cowboy hat is bragging about his new enormous hunting revolver, custom made to look just like the one he had in his last movie. He sounds so excited about it you'd think he'd marry it.
A posh old woman is asking her assistant for her eye drops but she says she left them on her coat which is with the receptionist. The old woman is berating her quite severely.
♚The Doll Prince: A Dollish Frenchman, A Card-Carrying Man, A Particularly Risky Plan♚
"Hmm, so there's a boxing match that's about to happen," Napoleon muttered as he unsummoned his dolls. He then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "During such a supposingly spectacular event, it's extremely likely that a sizable number of guards will be stationed out here to maintain order, meaning that we won't have to deal with that much security inside the secured area."
Glancing around the casino's main floor, Napoleon continued, "If some sort of large scale event like, say a power outage or fire drill, was to occur then those guards will have to evacuate the patrons out of the casino, allowing a pair of messeigneurs to make their move... "
Napoleon begin to lay out a plan which roughly goes like this:
- Wait until the boxing match goes into full swing and enough security guards are on the floor.
- Enter the secured area by having Jack do his 'Ace' ability on the guard posted at the door. If he somehow refuses entry, causing one of the distractions mentioned above, hopefully just the power outage for now, and locate the button while he's distracted.
- Cause the aforementioned distraction if it haven't already been activated.
- Search for the vault and its combination. If possible, search for the armory as well just in case they have to blow the vault with explosives, fight their way out, or most likely both.
- Leave the secured area and either escape through the garage behind the service area or through some sort of exit inside the area itself.
Satisfied with his magnificent plan, at least for now, Napoleon will prepare for it by:
Searching for a power maintenance room. If he manages to locate one, he will slip a doll inside and position it near its main wires. This doll will chew through the wires to cause the power outage when the time comes. Whether he locates the room first or not, Napoleon will also locate the nearest fire alarm and place a doll nearby, just out of sight. Once the preparations are made, Napoleon will regroup with Jack and fill him in on what he scouted out so far and the plan itself. If Jack has no objections to the plan, Napoleon and Co will execute it when the time comes.
You don't see any power maintanence room. But you do see power lines. Maybe if you sent a doll to follow them...
You send a doll through a vent to follow the powerlines. As the doll walks forward, you get distracted by someone yelling that the match is about to begin. Next thing you know your doll participates in an impromptu 'Will it blend?' episode by walking on a fan.
You try to send a doll to a nearby fire alarm. It does pretty well and makes it to the fire alarm. Almost. I mean, it would had made it if it had eyes on its back. Then it would had seen the giant foot of that fat lady coming. Next thing you know she's yelling for security to find that filthy rascal leaving dolls all over the place.
You approach the location you last saw Jack in. There's some sort of commotion there. You shove your way through the crowd just in time for you to see a couple of security guards dragging Jack away, towards the staff-only section.
"Look, I'm sure that if you watch the security footage-"
One of the guards elbows Jack to the gut.
"Shut up. We'll settle this outside."
"I said I'll come quietly, no need to get physical on me." Jack says, more annoyed than hurt.
((I've never seen a plan fall apart so quickly before.))
Campaign: On Road
<Ike, Zech, you're back! Find our missing comrade?"
<Just his eyeballs, but that's all that's left. Seems like he dissolved into some watery bullshit and now we have to conjure him out of it. I'll catch you up on the exact components we need in a bit.>
Get me a new sword! Also consider where exactly we might be able to find a magical water source that isn't within a town, maybe my encyclopedic knowledge will flare up in response.
Hmm... Most great water sources you can think of are supposed to be South.
You remember there's a great aqueduct bringing water into Kodromota from a small lake a small distance south of Kodromota, on the edge of the Gugol mountain range.
You remember there are several small lakes towards the south and a river to the southeastern corner of the Kingdom that snakes around the south before falling into the Scar.
Neither of those are of great help. You focus, trying to remember any obscure fact you can.
You remember an old story (in fact, it was part of a collection of bar songs) about a hero who fought a great Leviathan (a mythical water monster) in a great cavern. The story says the location that their fight took place in is somewhere to the east, possibly close to where you are, but as with most stories no exact location is given. The stories say this is a wretched cursed place, with no ancient ruins or riches to be gained from going there, so finding that location and verifying the story hasn't been a popular quest for adventurers. Still, if that place really exists, then it would probably be a place of powerful Water magic and maybe even Dark magic. Maybe you could talk to others to try to figure out where exactly it is or maybe you could have the Water mages send a message to ask the Headwater to put his Librarians to research it.
I decline any offered alcohol, but do attend the festivities, though only participating in a limited fashion. I'm still cleaning up after the attack earlier and need to stay on top of that.
<Hey, Triplesword? Could you help me re-analyze an old memory?>
Campaign
((no longer pfp))
Irine, Campaign
<ohoh? okaaaaaayyyyyyy.>
CHASE HIM! If I catch up to him, mouth his leg or side or whatever without biting down, then hop away from him and start running in the general direction of the volcano. When he gets close to me in pursuit, I start dashing sideways and changing direction a lot, making myself a tough target. If I get a really large lead, then spin around to face River and lean forward, my forepaws spread wide while I pant and catch my breath. If he catches me, then it's back to me chasing him again.
each time that I catch him: <TAG!>
If I get tired or am having too much trouble catching him: I ask River what element someone is, starting with the people that our dead players are asking about in OOC chat. then use the time while he's distracted to rest / catch up. but I do not actually tag him while he's talking, waiting until he's done before resuming the game. the last person I'll ask about is myself: <annnnnnd what about me? I'm fire, right?>
when I get completely tired out, and really really need to rest, then I flop down and roll over on to my back. <I give up! you win!>
later, after the game is over, I'lll mention:
<I really like it here too, you know? lots of variety. It kinda reminds me of home. It's one of those places that could be desolate, but really isn't. I mean, the little floaty glowballs, the scorched buildings, the holes and the lava and lil moles and all kinds of neat things are out here. I like it.>
Also, when we get near some glowballs, I'll try to see if they're firey enough for me to tug on them, and to see what they do when I mess with them a lil bit. No real harm intended towards them, mostly curiosity. I wana poke it. not touching them physically though.
You run at full speed after River, trying to catch up to him. He stops to smell something in his way, giving you time to catch up. He hears you coming a few moments before you reach him, but he is not quick enough to do anything more than look at you in surprise as you mouth his hind leg jump, exclaim <TAG!> and run away.
<Tag?>
He watches you run away, turn around and look at him expectantly, leaning forward. His ears perk up and he starts wagging his tail as he witnesses your play bow.
<Tag!> he exclaims as he runs after you, accompanying his words with an excited bark.
...
The game goes on for some time. He's a lot larger than you and from the way he half-runs half-leaps you'd guess he is also much stronger, so he can easily catch up to you. Yet he seems to be having trouble with following your changes in direction, which gives you a small advantage when you are being chased. Despite that, he is able to catch you a couple of times, giving you a playful bite before running away. On the other hand his speed means you have to struggle to catch up to him, but he seems willing to move slower or outright wait for you whenever he gets carried away and runs too quickly, so that you have a chance to catch up.
During that time spent waiting for you, he finds the opportunity to answer some of your questions.
<What element is Alan?>
<Oh, Alan is mostly of an element that I can see everywhere in this place. The cracks in the stone and the tumbling of rocks and the movement of the air above fire. The ground itself is full of threads of it, the stones here imbued with its tint. The portal used much of that element.>
He moves his head around a bit as he says so, like he can actually see the things he is describing. Combined with the fact that he is panting and swishing his tail, it makes him look a bit funny.
<It is fitting of Alan. It feeds on change, on creation and destruction. Even the way it looks and moves, it is as if without something to help keep it the same, it sets rules only to later break them. Alan also has a very small part of an element I have not seen anywhere else. Not in a great amount. I have seen glimpses of it, most of them flowing from those mountains in the east, but not enough to know what it is. I think it helps give some structure to the energy within him.>
...
<And Nikolai?>
<Nikolai is interesting. He is mostly of the same element as Alan, but much more... balanced. He has another element in great amount that helps with that. It is very rare though. I have not seen it anywhere else. I think I caught glimpses of it once, but no more than that.>
He suddenly stops moving his tail and looks around, as if he is expecting something to appear, but nothing happens. He continues normally a second later.
<It looks... abstract. It has a general arrangement, but it also feels free to move and change, even though it does so very slowly. It changes like the branches of a tree moving under a light but constant wind. Perhaps if I see him use his abilities I will be able to understand it better.>
...
<What about Zechariah?>
<His is a also interesting. I have seen it in some living things, few not living things, even in the volcano. But never in great amount. It seems capable of change but in a controlled, balanced manner. It takes aspects of other elements. Most of the ones I've seen take the aspect of the elements closer to it, the one it forms the most connections to. I think that is why the orbs look like they are made of fire.>
...
<Annnnnnd what about me? I'm fire, right?>
<Yes, fire!>
He starts walking towards you.
<Bright, wavy fire moving around, full of heat and light and power. Fire flows through everything here. The air, the ground, the tunnels below. It tints the stones and the wood and the people. And all the connections lead to the volcano. It is so bright and always pulsing, as if it is alive. Threads lead away from it towards everywhere, every direction of the horizon, with the biggest one following the river of lava. Now that the threads are mostly free from the Resonance, I believe...>
His eyes turn black. You feel uneasy, like someone is about to poke you with a needle. There's a buzzing in your ears. You try to ignore it, to not resist. It passes a moment later as his eyes return to normal.
<Yes, I can see many threads have connected with you. They flow through you. They make you burn even brighter. It must be a good feeling.>
<I can also see another element. Much less than fire. One that is grey, full of right angles and patterns and symmetry. I can tell that it must have been here once. A very powerful thread. But no more. Old things are tinted by it, the ground is tinted by it, but new things are not. The tint has started to fade, being replaced. The flow must have stopped a long time ago.>
He stops walking once you're close to each other and lowers his head and ears a bit, although he is still wagging his tail a bit.
<I also saw something... unexpected in you. The first time I looked at you, in the Relay World. I thought she would have healed that by now. Replaced it. You have a piece of darkness in you. A piece of me.>
He keeps hhis head low but he raises his eyes to look into yours. Then he jumps.
<Which makes me wonder how you can be so slow!> he says playfully as he quickly pushes you with his front legs, turns around and starts running in the opposite direction.
...
Eventually you start getting really tired. You lie down on your back and declare <I give up! You win!>
River shows no signs of slowing down. He too has started to look a bit more tired, although his enthusiasm doesn't diminish one bit. He quickly walks towards you. He stands over you and mouths you on the neck and snout.
<Of course I win!> he exclaims playfully as he does so. <I am best hunter!> he adds with something between a bark and a howl.
He continues standing over you, looking you in the eyes. He looks a bit calmer now. His tail is moving less quickly and his ears aren't completely perked up, although he is still panting.
<We had fun. We both win.> he says with a little less excitement. He gives your snout a couple of licks and then starts briskly walking away.
...
River spends some time to quickly walk in a wide circle around your home, looking around and occasionally sniffing the ground. From what you can smell there's nothing interesting around, just an unfamiliar human scent that smells a couple of days old. He seems to concur, for after the circle is complete he takes off again, walking in the direction of the volcano. He moves quickly, but he makes sure to stays close. He looks back from time to time, slowing down or waiting for you to catch up when necessary.
<I really like it here too, you know? lots of variety. It kinda reminds me of home. It's one of those places that could be desolate, but really isn't. I mean, the little floaty glowballs, the scorched buildings, the holes and the lava and lil moles and all kinds of neat things are out here. I like it.>
<I- I am happy you do. It is these places I like to go. I can not wait to wake the others to show them! And there is so much more to explore. Maybe we can stay some time after we finish, like I wanted!>
<I hope they like it too. Zechariah is so easily upset. I think it is because he is missing his bond-mate. I would understand that. I should have someone good with talking like Ike talk to him first.>
<And Theri...>
He looks down and starts walking forward more quickly.
...
After some walking, you come across one of those small glowballs. River stops and watches it.
You attempt to tug on it. For a moment it seems to work. It starts emitting a sound similar to high pitched notes coming out of a church organ. Even though it resists your efforts, it starts moving in your direction, not strong enough to escape. But then its glow changes. It becomes cyan for a second before it goes silent, becoming brown and dropping to the ground, bouncing like a rock, now glowing significantly less, so much so that you could confuse it for a rock.
River approaches it cautiously, sniffs it and then raises his paw to try and touch it. The moment he touches it the rock distorts and the sound returns. River quickly pulls his paw back, as if burnt. The ball turns cyan for a moment and then back to red, quickly floating away, as if it is being carried away by a strong wind.
He barks excitedly and starts running after it.
<Catch it! Try that again Irine! I think I know what to do!>
Campaign, Ike!
"Thunder! And mushrooms! Yeah! That arbitrarily makes me feel good!"
"Side note - will need a debriefing on all this shit when I get back to Staging Area," Ike adds as an aside.
Follow River and mentally sing a hunting song of some sort to him. If I can't think of any hunting songs, amuse him with dirty limericks.
You follow the two around, trying your best to be entertaining while ignoring the constant clicking of claws against stone. You don't think they appreciate your artistic assistance very much. Philistines.
You notice there has been some movement in the refugee camp furthest away from the city, it looks slightly different. You think you saw something moving there but it might have been the wind.
You also think you see a small group of people very far away, in the road leading towards the east, but you aren't sure.
You get the feeling that you're forgetting something.
OOC
Have I ever told you that you are great? Well, you are. Everyone in the forums, but the people here especially.
Too tired to write now. I will continue with Survival tomorrow. Just wanted to mention that I decided I'll pay the standard reward to people in Survival no matter what happens because of how it turned out (originally it was meant to have a very low base pay with potential for very high payout based on bonus objectives completed) and I'll just give whoever wins a small extra reward. So just enjoy that final fight.
Question for Triplesword.
Hm. I was certain I had given you this information in the past. Basically it's like this (CAPS are primary)
Irine: FIRE order
Ike: wind life/growth
Alan: CHAOS death/motion
Nikolai: chaos space
Theri: LIGHT
River: DARK void
Zechariah: BALANCE/SOUL
And the elements for good measure:
Elements were not exactly what their name implied, Fire was not just Fire but everything related to it, which is why some of them have many names. There are the Primary Material elements (Fire vs Water, Wind vs Earth) that are further divided to Positive (Fire, Wind) and Negative (Water, Earth). Then there are the Secondary Material elements (Life vs Death, also known as Growth vs Motion). There are also the four Primary Conceptual elements (Order vs Chaos, Light vs Dark) that are further divided to Positive (Chaos, Dark) and Negative (Order, Light). The elusive Secondary Conceptual elements (Time and Space) were so rare that few knew about them, as were the two Combined elements. Not quite Material, not quite Conceptual but a mix of the two, volatile and malleable and resistant to change at the same time, there was little known about them except for their ability to be used to emulate other elements. That is how magical beings like Baubles were able to feed on multiple elements and camouflage themselves to fit their surroundings, though few understood how they did that. In fact, there was so little definitively known about the Combined Elements that they went by many names (Mind vs Soul, Potential vs Energy, Balance vs Imbalance, Drive vs Imagination). And finally, there were the two Primordial Elements that again went by many names (Creation vs Destruction, Existence vs Nonexistence, Essence vs Void), those at the center of creation and the ones from which all elements, all creation and destruction sprung from, the most powerful and the most rare. It was unheard of (except perhaps in myths) for someone to have a Primordial Element as their Primary element, that one element that was most prominent in their being, the one that most closely describes them and the one that is easiest for them to understand. Instead, the only manipulation of those energies the mages of the Fire Tower could achieve was through Light and Dark magic, since Light was directly connected with Essence while Dark was directly connected with Void. At least that's what they thought, until examination of the Parasites coming through the Portal revealed that they were actually creatures of Void magic.
The Sword says that it is unsure about whether you could cast Creation magic, since you don't have an obvious affinity for Light or Creation. Then again, your chances are better than most since the mindset required for creation magic is quite alien to most humans.
((Isn't Zech a powerful but reluctant dark mage?
Nik can tsar that water crystal to make it more powerful. Or maybe Alan's eyes or Irene's sword. Something tsar can definitely boost the ritual. Especially since tsar's chaos element just like Alan.))
<Ike, Zech, you're back! Find our missing comrade?"
After the celebrations and some napping Nik gets to work with preparations and craftings.
Get that lightning cannon mobile. Give it a makeshift gun carriage, or if that doesn't work just stick it on the front of a wagon. With some recruits to help of course. Maybe include a built in wooden shield to protect the gunners from arrows and shrapnel.
Get my melchior's mystifying mirage and sleeping gas bolts back from Ike.
Take my signallers to Irene and politely ask her to recharge them when she has the time and energy.
Add some padding to the stock of my crossbow. Protect from recoil.
Try to add some small spikes to my armour. Maybe use blood vulture talons, that would be badass. Or just normal carpentry nails. To provide offense/defense when grappled or swarmed, especially when Tsared.
Find something to wear as a lightweight and breathable cloak. Mainly to hide how many weapons and magical items I have. And to look cool.
The cannon already had a gun carriage, the issue was that it was on very rough terrain. You get some recruits to build a shield in front of it to help protect those operating it from ranged attacks. Hopefully they'll never have to use it.
I assume Ike would have no problem giving it to you.
You plug your Signaller into Irine to recharge it after finding the right cable.
Some padding might help, if it isn't too affected by Tsaring. Maybe it will become too soft or hard as sand. Maybe it will become gigantic and smother you. Who knows?
I'm assuming you want that in your normal armor, not the magic water armour pieces, right? And you're wearing the pieces that generate the water armour over your normal armor?
You've got a cloak to use during night time (when the temperature drops) or if the wind picks up (so that you don't get dirt and sand everywhere). During the day I assume you are not constantly in full armor/clothing/equipment but just keep them nearby, otherwise I need to start making endurance rolls against heatstroke. So unless you want to make it really light weight, like some sort of camo net...
I have no problem with recharging Nik's signalers on the spot when asked, but I'll warn him to stand clear of them first and ask Triplesword to monitor and guide me while I do it. Hopefully I wont blow them up.
You cast the necessary spell and spend some time recharging Nikolai's Signaller, the Sword helping to ensure the Fire Power Stone inside it remains stable as you saturate it with Fire.
<Oh no how did that happen!?>
<We should at least put him somewhere with a good view.>
<Well, if you don't mind periodical chaotic discharges of power I can just hand his eyeballs to you. As for what happened, who even knows. Some kinda magic bullshit, so the answer's gonna be gibberish no matter which way you look at it.>
Give Nik the eyeballs if he wants them.
You tell Nikolai you have eyes only for him.
Zechariah, to Nik: <Nikolai! How is the group doing? Did anything happen while we were away?>
<We are doing good. Very good! Theri scouted group of sovereign assholes trying to ambush us with cannons so we exploded most of them and captured the rest. Irene did something about purifying the area from dark magic? Don't know much about that, ask her if you're interested.
Other than that, just normal traveling. The recruit training's going good, they're learning fast and gaining morale.>
<Oh no how did that happen!?>
<We should at least put him somewhere with a good view.>
<Well, if you don't mind periodical chaotic discharges of power I can just hand his eyeballs to you. As for what happened, who even knows. Some kinda magic bullshit, so the answer's gonna be gibberish no matter which way you look at it.>
Give Nik the eyeballs if he wants them.
<I only like periodic discharges of chaotic energy when they're caused by me and aimed at my enemies. No thank you.>
Do not want.
You hiss and bat Ike's hand away.
Campaign: Nether Pass
Alan, Friendmaker
"Oh hey, new friends! This place is the best."
Go introduce myself in Alan fashion to the new friends. Learn their names and all that, introduce them to myself, be amusing. What's Ammie planning to do with them? I'm sure I can help make it fun for everyone.
The Skeletal Servants bring the new Friends towards Ammie. They are scared, but that's just because they don't understand that she only wants to make them better.
"Little girl! Run! You have to get out of here!" one of them warns you.
"Hello Friends!" you say while approaching your Friends.
"Please! Leave! What are you doing? Can't you see the danger?"
"Don't worry Friend! I'm a magical girl!" you reassure the Friend that addressed you, coming closer to him.
The limbs on your chest grasp towards your Friend, eager to get their claws in them.
"What are you saying? Are you under a spell?"
"Mammie made me like this. I can float like a balloon, climb like a spider...""Oh no."
"And soon, you'll be like me too! And we can have fun together!""Nonono"
"So! What's your name, Friend?""Please! No!"
They're not that talkative, unless his name really is 'Pleaseohgodsnonottherepleasehelppleasepleaseaaaaaaaa'. Maybe you should come back later, when Ammie has time to unscramble their brain-noodles so that they are no longer stuck on a single track. Besides, Ammie would be quite happy if you went and took care of some Magical Girl business for her while she's busy helping your Friends.
((EDIT: Just realized I missed making this reference: "We all float down here. And when she changes you, you'll float too! You'll float too! You'll float too!" ))
Maximus: Central Fore Way Station
Brian Hoss, Maximus: Central Fore Way Station
Keep watching its gun.
You watch the gun and the carnage unfolding around it while hidden behind a sturdy-looking piece of wall that keeps you safe during the action.
<Svajoklis, Maximus>
((As I understand, Kosak is sorta behind the robot, making it sorta safe to shoot.))
Shoot the bot in the gun.
Your understanding is correct.
You carefully take aim as the exoskeleton passes by. At the right moment you shoot, aiming for its gun. The slug hits the strap the gun is hanging from, shredding it to pieces. Now it dangles from its power cable, out of reach of the exoskeleton's arms.
You don't shoot more, instead opting to take cover behind a nearby wall segment from the rain of small but somewhat sharp pieces of metal kicked up by the container passing through the debris field.
John, inside the Maximus
<<Kosak, I'm coming!>>
Wait for it to get close and try to jump on! Use my technomancy to lock joints, shut down systems/thrusters, blank faceplates, and generally rend the exoskeleton combat inoperable. Watch out for its weapon. Failing the rest of that, disabling it might be wise.
If it's shooting at me, prioritize not getting hit.
You jump straight into the path of the container, eager to help Kosak out of his predicament. A moment after you jump you realize why this might be a bad idea, but by then Newton's first law prevents you from changing your course. You brace yourself and prepare for the impact. The container slams into you, knocking the breath out of you. You roll against the container's surface, dragging your boots and hands against its surface, somehow managing to slow yourself down without breaking anything.
It's hard to focus on the world through your eyes but you can feel it through your other senses. You can't influence the suit inside the exoskeleton, it's too... ethereal for you to do anything to it in such limited time. You can barely sense it, it's more like you can sense a void where something should be. But the exoskeleton itself is within your grasp. You focus on its joints, locking them in place, rendering it immobile.
The container passes through a cloud of small but somewhat sharp pieces of debris. They cut and stab you, filling your back with pain and the warmth of blood. You lose your grip, get flung away from spinning container and smash into a wall. You feel incredible pain from your arm amidst the confusion. You lose consciousness.
Kosak Durar:
"RAAAAGH!"
Kosak focuses on solidifying his grip on the leg, and if he manages that, climbs up the leg to the center of the metal man and attempts to disarm it of its strange weapon.
You slip further down as the exoskeleton tries to shake you off while simultaneously using its single thruster to try to stabilize the container. Seeing its efforts are fruitless, it tries to burn you with the thruster's flame, but before it can do so it stops moving, allowing you to solidify your grip somewhat. A moment later its gun falls towards you and passes by you, its strap broken by something. Now the gun is dangling by its power cord.
EveryoneYou are not sure if it's dumb luck or incredible skill, but the container's path doesn't interesect any major pieces of debris. The few that hit it make a few dents and manage to slow it down somewhat but don't knock it off course. It keeps sailing through the debris field, moving on at a much slower pace.
Those of you still conscious watch John get flung off the container and into a wall. That looked painful. He is floating around like a ragdoll, his arm bending in a way it is not supposed to.
Poll
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Topic: Special People: Mechanical Syndrome (Read 1126949 times)