Krill steps into @interdimensional-inconvenience . She unwinds the adapter she created to interface with the console. Once @hvk-jenkins and @xxxsoulreapergoddessxxx get here, she'll be able to get them inside the game and hold the door so to speak. Well... that's the hope at least. As they say, no plan survives first contact.
My, what a predicament.
They go to inspect the screen after snagging a cereal bar.
"Oh, Krill! Hey I saw the messages, the console is in the back office... I should warn you though, I think the loop just reset so you have maybe an hour to get them out. I'm worried if you guys are still inside when time resets you'll be stuck in here with me... Think you can do it?"
I suppose we'll find out heh,, I imagine I'll have my work cut out for me, keeping it from sucking us in anyway, so an hour sounds good. *She joins Dr. Batpriest over at the screen* Are you ready for this?
@xxxsoulreapergoddessxxx
Absolutely, darling.
It starts to chant in batspeak. Then, without warning, they start hissing and chittering in possum.
As they chant, they reach into the screen with its tail.
Oh woah, I didn't know you meant now! Hang on!
*She plugs the one end of the adapter into the console and pulls the other end over to the break room couch. She lays across it and it becomes obvious why, as soon as she plugs the other side into the base of her head, she goes limp. Meanwhile on the screen*
Server hosted on port %£@#+
Server: Ok, now go^_^
Apologies, I was distracted by this box set of old musicals.
-Jenkins
He takes a seat and holds out a hand at the monitor, a faint purple light shining from his hand as he focuses.
The screen shows a poorly rendered Minecraft landscape and seems to be looking slightly down at a square platform of stone bricks in the ground. As each of the 'players' hook themself into the game they spawn on this square. The surroundings seem empty with no mobs passive or otherwise. A crafting table leads to a half destroyed Forrest. The path of placed and broken blocks lead to the coast where a boat with no oars sits aside a sign with nothing on it but an arrow pointing towards the horizon...
*Krill doesn't spawn in the world instead more text appears*
Server: This is bizarre... It's really hard to describe what this thing is like.
I think I can still get y'all back out again though. Just be quick, we have less than an hour to find Tool and get out
On it! Jenkins, do you know location magic?
I can try, the energy here isn't the same as in Hell or on Earth, so it might not be exact.
He holds out both hands, focusing the purple energy in front of him as he concentrates
Wisteria focuses on channeling its power to Jenkins.
Here, some help.
He nods to it, taking the energy it's giving and focusing a bit harder.
I... think we need some kind of apparatus to focus our output. Like some kind of... station or book.
-Jenkins
I have… this?
They pull out an enchanted book.
You know, I didn't expect that, but I feel like I should've.
... Is this Gothic magic?
-Jenkins
He opens the book and thumbs through a few pages, getting to one with a specific symbol on it that's associated with Neo Darkwave Gothic abilities.
Hehe yeah it’s my study diary.
. . . I can summon it whenever.
You’re gonna want to pick this one, it symbolizes home and finding a target to call home. It’s in the hieroglyphics.
They begin to cast, showing Jenkins what to do.
Jenkins nods, his fingers already combing over the correct hieroglyphics, but he still listens to Dr. Wisteria's advice on how to use it's diary.
It's been a while since I've used Gothic Magicks, so I appreciate this immensely.
-Jenkins
The console shudders and tremors at the casting. Hands laid on the screen cause the colors to move in waves, warping and bending as the scene on the screen spreads away from the digits touching the television. Distorted music begins to play as seams split removing the separation between the game and reality, the console buzzing and fans whirring as it's pushed to its limits
There! A connection! Now we just follow this path.
Good eyes! Let's go.
-Jenkins
*Feeling the strain on the console, Krill carefully lends some of her own processing power, keeping the rest of her brain partitioned off*
Server: Whatever y'all did
Server: be careful
Server: used a lot of the memory
Server: better now
Server: Lilly? Pour water on "shirt"
*Lilly who's one squeaky wheel had been signalling her anxiously going from the front of the store to the office and back again, quickly nods to krill before wheeling back out*
Oh yeah yeah one second!
*she comes back a moment later, slowly pouring a cold bottle of water over krills shoulders while staring intently at the TV screen as it seems to warp*
So um... What's the plan, folks? -lilly 💮
Follow the trail until we find tool. I- hold on there’s something over there!
The trail leads to the coast with a boat and a sign pointing up. The ps1s limited memory causes to render distance to be short and sailing off into the ocean seems impossible to navigate. However looking up into the sky reveals some far up wood structure. As the sun sets in the digital world the group has two options.
Venture into the ocean or climb up to the sky bridge?
Jenkins looks at both paths, then back to Dr. Wisteria.
It might be best, to try and get a birds eye view, but considering we have an oceanic lifeform helping us through the system, the sea might be safer?
What do you all think?
-Jenkins
I can fly, so I can easily get you up there. Hold on tight!
It grabs Jenkins by the shoulders and starts to fly towards the wooden building.
Server: Thank you Lilly! Server: Good call y'all. I can't Server: give y'all water breathing hehe Server: no potion effects yet
The bridge is precariously floating hundreds of blocks in the air and, as the sun gets lower, is only illuminated by the occasional torch. The bridge spans in only two directions, one way leading out over the ocean that seems to be littered with blue signs while the other direction back towards spawn seems empty. Roughly 30 minutes remain until the stores time loop resets and tools location is still unknown.
Jenkins focuses on the book, turning towards the path marked with signs as he runs his fingers over the pages.
I'm getting something from this way, and I doubt Tool wouldn't have seen us and called out of her was on the other path.
-Jenkins
Sounds great! Let’s go! What’s the fastest way to travel?
Jenkins checks the around them, before he notices a pair if steel minecarts on a track.
Could try that...
-Jenkins
Alright, fasten your seatbelts.
They climb in and push the button next to the track.
Woah! This is fast!
The minecart shoots down the track, the world silent and the fog swallowing up the ground as they fly across the bridge passing torches like they were standing still. The world was silent aside for the sounds of their carts... And one far off behind them. They had gone far in the opposite direction of spawn by the time the minecart changed directions, taking a hard left before the tracks suddenly end leaving the group plummeting onto a mushroom covered island
Brace of impact!
-Jenkins
Jenkins quickly runs his fingers over a page in the diary and quickly pulls out what looks like a green, glass orb. As he tosses it, it teleports him out of the cart and to the top of a large mushroom.
That flies out of the minecart before landing next to Jenkins.
Whew that was close! Let’s continue to follow the location spell.
Venturing through the mushroomy biome, the crew comes across a ravine and just across it is some sort of structure. As they get closer it becomes clear what they are looking at: a one to one recreation if the Inconvenience Store
Huh... Very well made. I suppose we should fly to the other end, if you don't mind good doctor.
-Jenkins
Of course! Here you go. And………. In you’re going!
They toss Jenkins into the mineveinience store. It follows through more eloquently.
The Mineveince store is shockingly accurate to the real store, even manequin behind the counter and one in front. The air here smells like static electricity and a soft humming buzz fills the air. Going back into the storage room, it seems this store like the real one is bigger on the inside. Going the the office, the buzzing is even louder and inside were three more mannequins crowded around where the console would be. Instead there is something else, at one angle it appears to be a player model crouching, but from another Tool seems to be sitting on the ground in fetal position, eyes closed and breathing slowly...
Hello there...
-Jenkins
He approaches slowly, carefully as he reaches out for Tool. Before he can touch the odd player model, he pulls his hand back and stays at a safe distance.
Krill? Any readings on what's going on with him?
-Jenkins
Server: I'm assuming this is
Server: Tool? ...
Server: something is weird. But I'm
Server: not sure what
Server: sorry I don't know
Server: more
Server: ignore previous message
Server: this is Tool
Server: Retrieve him. Now
Don’t have to ask me twice! Come on, up we go!
They pick Tool up with bat’s tail. Turning to Jenkins to see what to do next.
So, what now?
I'm... not sure. This feels like it's a bit too easy, and that other server text color...
-Jenkins
He runs his hand over the pages of the book, his fingers pushing into the spine and pulling out a small, strange looking doll. He then takes a step towards Tool and pushes it into his hand.
Tool stays slumped over as they're lifted by the good doctors tail. As that doll is pushed into their palm their hand clasps around it, squeezing intensely.
Server: för mig till punkten för nollentropi
Server: Entropy is
Server: natural. Let
Server: them go
Tool begins to convulse, as do the armor stands filling the small back room
Server: och ändå är du här vid källan.
Server: Verktyget trotsar entropin.
Server: Det är därför jag har kommit
Server: för att hämta dem.
Server: Om du vill ha tillbaka honom
Server: måste du ta mig också.
Server: it says...
Server: one sec
Server: "and yet you are here at the source. The tool defies entropy. That is why I have come to retrieve them. If you want him back you must you take me too"
Server: running out
Server: of time and
Server: focus. up to
Server: y'all
We can bring you with, i have plenty of room in my cathedral for spirits. Let us take the both of you and get out.
Tools weak body nods, then goes limp. The armor stands follow suit and the strange energy seems to channel, focusing itself into the doll still grasped in tools hand. Tool was released and they were able to leave, with 7 minutes left before the store reset again.