[REDSTAR CARTEL] Redstar Supernova Hypnotic Funky Fresh (Part 1 of 4)
In which Wylion and Nika are both in serious danger, and Team Justice goes to destroy the Redstar Cartel once and for all.
Note: This event takes place in a maze so the chatlog is very confusing.
== THE FACILITY - EXTERIOR == //Nika has been suspiciously missing pretty much ever since she talked with Jules. Where she went or why is anyone's guess. Woman's mercurial as hell and doesn't abide by no man, woman, or child. Wylion has been infiltrating one of Ferrymoore's sites for a few weeks now and everything has been going smooth as silk. Until tonight. //A frantic voice message is sent to the reamining members of Team Justice from Wylion herself. CUE IC MODE: "Please tell me you have some elaborate plan involving using Nika as zombie bait. Please say this is a thing because boy oh boy do I hate surprises." Arthur Kinlay frowned down at his datachron. ".....why? What did you learn?" The Datachron Breeps merrily: "LEARN IS KIND OF A STRONG WORD IN THIS CASE, ARTHUR! Yeugh, she looks awful. No, stop looking at me like that. It's not /my/ fault you're in there." Adessa Cypersong is positively alarmed by all the datachrons going in mad stereo. "ZOMbie bait?" Arthur Kinlay pulled the chron away from him at Wyl's yelling. "Details, please." Quinn Bayhill reaches up and facep/e facepalms hard and mutters to herself. "And here Ah though this was gon' be nice an' easy. Started as such a good day too." Wylion Glittergale's voice lowers into a whisper, the sound of some shuffling and bleep-bleeping heard distantly in the background. "Okay, look. I'm just minding my business and what not and I came down here to drop a package off and Nika's in a /tube/. WeaVE WHERE'D YOUR EYE GO? No, ahh--shit! Okay. Okay-okay. Heeeeeeeeeeeey, buddy! Yeah, no. Just-uh. Calling Mom. You know how moms are, hah. Hah." Adessa Cypersong's eyes get HUGE. "WHAT." Ravil Raindance: "Take heart, dearest Quinn. If 'tis somnolent simplicity we seek, mayhap we would be better served scouring the Wilderness for a /smaller/ slaver citadel." Arthur Kinlay blinked at his chron. "She's WHAT" Quinn Bayhill casts Ravil a -look- before just smiling wide. "Nope. Ah ain't lettin nothin' ruin mah mood. This is gon' be ok. There's a kink, sure, but its ok. We ain't fucked up too bad yet and we aint bout ta start now." Adessa Cypersong pulls her ears down and makes a strangled sort of noise, tail lashing. "NNNGGHGGHGHOKAY." She takes a deep breath. "Okay. So. Now what we is doing. How we is getting them out." Wylion Glittergale's voice comes across as a muffled smattering of some conversation. After a bout five minutes she comes back on, breathing over the reciever like an animal. "I can't stay on the line. Look, just get down here with a drop shuttle. I'm gonna try and get her out. And, uh -- Bring some vitalus," she adds after an after thought before the line goes dead. //Deep within the Wilderrun jungle lies a bordered facility. Shielded by towering walls and defense turrets, the compound itself towers high above - nearly blending with its dark stone and gleaming Osun carvings. It is undoubtedly repurposed - Like those that are unfortunate enough to be caught within. Arthur Kinlay drags his hand slowly across his face. "Shiiiiiit.... okay." Arthur Kinlay: Alright.. fuck.. so we need to get Nika and Wyl out of there. Adessa Cypersong stares up at the deathtrap. "This is not to be my fault." Ravil Raindance: "A more brooding edifice this bard has seldom seen. 'Tis perversely poetic, perhaps - that walls stained black with the blood of slaves serving a fallen empire now cradle further depravities." //Two guards are positioned over what must be the front doors. Down the right corridor is another door haloed in a flood light, with not a single guard in sight. Arthur Kinlay blinks at Adessa. "What? No, this is noone'S fault right now, we just need to do this... right." Arthur Kinlay peers at the two entrances. "Well... looks like we got a choice." Quinn Bayhill pops her lips together a few times. Pop...pop pop...pop pop pop. "OK! Plan formin or we gonna wing it like we seem ta end up doin? Cause Ah'm good with either at this point." Adessa Cypersong looks between the front door and the back one. "Mmmaybe not going by the big light, it is a better idea." Ravil Raindance: "How would a plan prevail, without knowing what lies within? This bard prefers to leap forth and take wing - and let the winds of fortune steer him where they will." Adessa Cypersong wraps her arms around herself. "Winds, this is not good enough tonight." Arthur Kinlay nods slowly. "I doubt that unguarded door is like that for no reason... maybe, just maybe, if we take those two guards out fast enough we can get in before they set off an alarm." Ravil Raindance: "But though 'tis in Ravil's nature to bask in the limelight, such is slaver treachery that even he can see the error inherent in illuminating himself thus. This bard stands with Arthur on this." Adessa Cypersong nods. "Three votes. There is to be five of us, and two at the door, yes? We can be doing this thing." Quinn Bayhill begins to rock and and forth on her feet and nods. "Ah'm backin Arthu...Red's idea as well. Ya lead, Ah'ma follow." Arthur Kinlay nods resolutly. "Alright. Once inside we'll have to go fast, no lazing around untill we're secure. So... you all reayd?" Ravil Raindance: "Then let us not tarry any further - they who dwell o'erlong in the mire of indecision are apt to sink!" Corvic Mordacci has come with a field medic's pack strapped across his back. In addition to all his regular pockets, of course. Quinn Bayhill unholsters her pistols and nods. "Ah've had a great coupla days...Ah'm ready ta get this over with." Corvic Mordacci is both tense and terse. He simply gives a nod. Adessa Cypersong stalks down the walkway and wanders over to the wall, ears rotating around like radar. Ravil Raindance secures his theatrical mask in place with the usual fanfare and conjures his psabres. Lodged halfway into the soft dirt, Ravil kicks one up and sweeps the other with his tail, catching them as they descend. Corvic Mordacci unclips his resonators and holds them in tight knuckles. He leans in to murmur between Arthur and Quinn "Surely they are expecting us by now. And know what -to- expect." // The Guards stand resolute, making idle chit-chat with one another. They don't seem to notice the party yet. // Quinn Bayhill glances back at Corvic and nods. "They would be stupid ta not see this comin. Trap a'plenty...tha's whats in there." Adessa Cypersong turns and looks back at Corvic. "This is why we is needing to be careful, yes?" Corvic Mordacci still murmurs quietly of course. "At least it appears they are unaware of Wylion's alias. One element on our side..." Adessa Cypersong moves along the wall to listen over the railing. Ravil Raindance: "If thou art ready, this bard can provide ample distraction." Corvic Mordacci stays in the back, as usual. Adessa Cypersong peeks up over the wall. "Probably, this is being a good idea." Ravil Raindance hurls one of his psabres overarm in the general direction of the guards. It melts into the shape of a vulcarrion and swoops dramatically over the heads of the guards, intended to make sufficient nuisance of itself to cause a distraction. // The guards notice something alright. They stare at the psaber and then slowly tuuurn in unison to stare from whence it came. Well, the jig is up. They shout at one another and make to dash after the party. "Stop! Who goes there!" Adessa Cypersong can't duck behind the wall fast enough and she seems to know it. Her eyes go wide and she pulls out a pistol to shoot at the biggun. Arthur Kinlay curses when the jig is up. So much for surprise. Not wanting to waste time on pointless explanations he simply pulls out his pistols and let out a salvo at the big mean looking one. Corvic Mordacci wants to get some distance from Quinn and Arthur so they aren't all clumped up. He runs to the side, raising resonators. He tries to project a field of harmful energy onto the largest guard. "If the door is open, try to keep it that way." Quinn Bayhill curses under her breath the moment the guards turn on them. "Whelp...." She raises her pistols and aims for the larger of the two. Ravil Raindance vaults onto the raised support section of the wall and blazes across it with a brisk pitter-patter of his tiny aurin feets. With every intention of seizing the guards' attention away from the rest of the group, he bounds from the edge, driving both psabres in a downwards thrust upon the nearest - and largest - of the pair. // The Guards are caught off guard when they are suddenly caught in the stream of firepower. The largest of the two, being the unfortunate one he is, gets the brunt of the blows - his fleshy hide searing over Q's bullet holes. He growls in the face of defiance, reaching up to try and grab Ravil from the air -- but he's a little slow and losing a little too much blood and goes a long mile. His smaller companion, meanwhile, seems to have caught a case of the shakes. "No one Adessa Cypersong takes a few surprised steps back before her wide eyes catch the smaller one. If you can't fell a mountain... she shoots in the direction of the itty one. Arthur Kinlay mutters as his shots go off course, then turns his attention to the smaller guard, not wanting to give one of them the opportunity to freely go for an alarm. He levels his pistols and shoots. Quinn Bayhill keeps her pistols up and shuts one eye as she keeps her sights on the larger one still. She lets off a single shot aiming to hit the bastard right between the eyes. Corvic Mordacci just -has- to get persnickety about terms. "We do not recognize your organization as a lawful authority, therefore we do not identify as insurgents." he punctuates this dictionary lesson with sweep of harmful freqencies in the smaller guard's direction. The vibrations are set at a frequency intended to weaken bone tissue. Ravil Raindance glides elegantly away from the brute's meaty grasping fingers. "Alas!" Ravil exclaims tauntingly, "However irresistable be his luxuriant locks, 'tis rather forward of you seize them without invitation! We haven't even been properly introduced." Ravil lands behind the krogg after a deft bout of somersaulting, evidently preparing for a good stabbing. But then Quinn takes the presented opportunity to shoot him dead. "And now we never shall!" He scales the toppling giant and Ravil Raindance uses the extra height to make a dive for the smaller foe, with every intention of spearing him through the chest. Quinn Bayhill reaches up to wipe at her brow, pistols still in hand. "See? Easy." // The poor fellows don't even stand a chance. The smaller one makes only so much as a single 'WHA--" before he is rudely cut off. First by a bullet, second by a stab through the chest. The big guy goes down without a single word. A smoldering pile of dead krogg. Adessa Cypersong puts her pistols back at her hips. "They is not doing the alarm thing." Quinn Bayhill: Doesn't mean it wasn't heard. Corvic Mordacci: There is still a prolonged, perilous path ahead. Ravil, is the door open? Ravil Raindance: "So end all slavers." Ravil hisses a whisper to the dying guard, pulling his psabre free with the aid of a boot to the chest. With a flourish, he proceeds to the door. Arthur Kinlay frowns at the two dead men before heading over to the entrance, pistols still in hands. "Right, here's hope the rest goes as smoothly, heh?" // It is not. The blaring red shield is in place, but there does seem to be a handy console. Judging from the circular sensor at human height, it's an ocular scan entry. Ravil Raindance: "Alas, a wall of light bars our passage beyond." Corvic Mordacci does a quick scan to make sure each guard is truly dead. Or so on the way that they will be shortly. // They are extra dead. Good job, te am. Arthur Kinlay steps over to the scanner, peering at it, then walks back towards the corpses with a mutter. "Help me bring one of those over here." Adessa Cypersong walks right up to the sensor thing and kind of hops. It's too high for her to get a good look at. Corvic Mordacci hasn't seen the scanner himself but moves to help Arthur Corvic Mordacci goes for the smaller guard, of course. Arthur Kinlay does so as well. He hefts him up with Corvic's help and drags the body towards the door. "Looks like a retinal scanner, can probably use him." Ravil Raindance: "Even though his eyes gaze upon this world no longer?" Adessa Cypersong scoots out of the way. "Maybe, they is still helping though." Corvic Mordacci doesn't need telling. He helps hold up the shorter-person's corpse, forefinger peeling back an eyelid from behind. // The ocular scan beeps to life, a brief WHIRR scanning across the dead eyeball. After a moment of processing the shield fades from view. Corvic Mordacci lays the man's body down carefully. He even takes a second to brush fingertips over the eyes again to close them. Adessa Cypersong peeks her head into the door and looks up. Quinn Bayhill: Who's going first?
== THE FACILITY - INTERIOR == Ravil Raindance: "If we are met with need for someone to take the lead, this surefooted bard shall step first through the threshold." He steps forward to the stairs. Corvic Mordacci: Remember, this is a trap. Adessa Cypersong pins her ears back and actually takes the stairs a few at a time to catch up to and surpass Ravil. "She is to be MY teacher." // AND SUDDENLY -- nothing happens. It's just a stairwell and a hallway. Corvic Mordacci: I brought gas masks... by the way. Adessa Cypersong looks down at the floor and takes a comically large step over the glass to the safety of the middle bit. Juust in case. Break your mother's back and all that. Ravil Raindance: "'Tis not a race, dearest Adessa. But Ravil dares not impede a pace quickened so with worry." Corvic Mordacci mumbles to himself. "Probably should have distributed them beforehand..." Arthur Kinlay turns to look at Corvic. "That.. might be a good idea, just in case." Corvic Mordacci nods and pauses to unshoulder his pack. He unzips a pocket to pull out the masks "Collapeable. One-time use." He hands em out. Ravil Raindance: "Many thanks and more - but will this contrivance fit neat 'neath /this/ mask?" Adessa Cypersong takes one of the masks with a weird look. "This. Probably is to be a good thing to be having." She doesn't look pleased. Maybe it's not in her color. Arthur Kinlay takes the mask and nods. "Thanks, hopefully won't need it." Quinn Bayhill eyes the door a moment then glances back to Corvic. "Thank ya man." She reaches out to accept hers then looks back to the door narrowing her eyes as she tries to find anything out of place for a 'door'. // There is nothing suspicious with the door. Carry on. Corvic Mordacci looks to Ravil. "Put it on or in a pocket. If the time comes you will surely find out." Arthur Kinlay: Alright let's keep moving folks. Corvic Mordacci hasn't put his on yet. He just tucks it in an easy-to-reach pocket. Adessa Cypersong takes a few steps forward on the SUSPICIOUSLY DIFFERENT COLORED FLOOR... It's the floor, isn't it. // It is most certainly the floor. The metallic panel underneath their feet slides suddenly open with an oiled and soundless motion. Corvic Mordacci takes in a breath of surprise that comes as a hiss through bared teeth.
== THE FACILITY - GLASS MAZE == Adessa Cypersong scrambles to grab at the floor as it disappears from beneath her. It doesn't work, and she slams into the ground. Quinn Bayhill curses as she drops, landing on her side with a hiss. "Fuck..that....that sucked." She pulled herself up to her feet slowly and looked around. Corvic Mordacci lands heavily in a graceless heap. He gets painfully to his feet, checking his equipment. "Downfall and decimation..." // HAHAH // WELCOME TO THE GLASS MAZE. Ravil Raindance's reflexes are sharp enough to right himself, landing on the floor in an artful, splay-limbed crouch. "What dire fate has befallen us?" he exclaims. Arthur Kinlay curses loudly as the floor opens beneath them, though he manages to catch himself 'not' too badly. "FUCK" And then he stood and looks around. ".....fuck." Corvic Mordacci: The trap, just as expected. Corvic Mordacci gets out his mask and -does- put it on. "They have us where they want us." // The Glass Cage: The panels of glass are thin, but can’t possibly be as flimsy as your AVERAGE, everyday glass panel. There are dozens of sectioned off rooms and hallways and no obvious way out. In the far corner of the room appears to be a lab of some sort equipped with a partially dismantled turret amongst a generator and a wall lined with canisters. No one seems to be manning the lab at present. Arthur Kinlay takes a deep breath, scanning the room through the glass walls. His attention lingers on the far left corner of the room. "Hrm... there's some sort of lever all the way back there." Ravil Raindance: "What manner of beast, does this bard dare wonder, dwelleth within this glazed labyrinth?" Quinn Bayhill: Figures..Can't we just shoot tha damn glass? *she grumbles and pinches at the bridge of her nose before slipping her mask on* Course not. Too simple. Arthur Kinlay: ..there doesn't seem to be any beast in it, Ravil. I'm... pretty sure we'd see it. Adessa Cypersong makes sure her mask is fully secured before helping others. Corvic Mordacci: There is no doubt a beast here, in some metaphorical sense or other. Quinn Bayhill laces her fingers together to crack them. "Screw it. Let's get this over with." Corvic Mordacci narrows his eyes at the maze. "Why would they toy with us..." Arthur Kinlay: Not sure what's over there but I don't trust that cannister... seems to be a forcefield. Adessa Cypersong follows Q through the first area, grabbing onto the back of her shirt. // Quinn, Ravil, Adessa: HIT. Something sickly green and foul is spilling out of the punctured canister on the ground. The second the gas hits the gas filter it starts to /corrode/ away at its delicate mesh and plastic filters. So much for that. Ravil Raindance coughs and splutters, backing away from the ominous gas. Adessa Cypersong takes a few steps back as her gas mask starts to hiss. It's clearly done, so she pulls it off. Quinn Bayhill gags behind her mask a bit and QUICKLY backs away, pulling her mask off and tosses it to the side in a hurry. "FUCK FUCK!" She cough a bit Arthur Kinlay: What happened? Ravil Raindance: "Poison! The very air betrays us!" Quinn Bayhill: Gas....stars bless the masks. Corvic Mordacci: That is likely not the last of it. Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose and puts his own mask on. "Shit... is the gas lingering?" Ravil Raindance: "Quinn, this bard has a humble request." Quinn Bayhill shakes her head and spits to the side before looking to Ravil. "What?" Ravil Raindance: "If 'tis his fate to meet an ignominous end mired in this meandering maze, might he spend his final moments clasped to the sweetness of thy bosom?" Arthur Kinlay facepalms. "Ravil for fuck's sake." Corvic Mordacci: This looks likely but there is another cannister. Quinn Bayhill blinks and manages something of a chuckle. "Ah'd rather we didn't die at all." Adessa Cypersong: Mmaybe not dying is the good idea. Arthur Kinlay secures his mask in place. "Lemme check" Arthur Kinlay: Well doesn't seem like we got any choice. Adessa Cypersong makes a high pitched whining noise. Corvic Mordacci: I wonder what triggers them... Adessa Cypersong: Movement, maybe. Quinn Bayhill: Motion sensors? Arthur Kinlay: It's that way, or back there, and there's another cannister. Corvic Mordacci: Ravil, if you would, extricate yourself and send an espernetic construct down this hallway, please. Quinn Bayhill frowns. "Fucked either way..." Arthur Kinlay: Good call. Ravil Raindance: "In this matter do we agree - most heartily! Thy breasts are surely better savoured slowly, without the looming spectre of death cutting quality time short! But 'twas but a jest, intended to lift ailing spirits." Ravil Raindance: "This bard was about to do that very thing, dear doctor!" Ravil Raindance's eyes momentarily burn blue with espernetic energies as he concentrates. A duplicates bounds forth from his body, pirouetting its way down the corridor. // The canister at the end of the hallway HISSES to life - more of the green liquid leaking out and permeating the air. Arthur Kinlay: Right, so motion sensor. Quinn Bayhill shuts her eyes as she watches the liquid spews out. "Yes...screwed no matter the way we go." Corvic Mordacci: I suppose it was inevitable that we be surrounded.... Ravil Raindance attempts to use the construct to close the cannister - perhaps there's some sort of valve? Unfortunately, he can't /see/ through his duplicate's eyes, so he's directing the apparition largely through blind fumbling. Arthur Kinlay: Well. // Alas, there is no way to close the canister. It's rather dummy-proof. Arthur Kinlay: I got a feeling we got to reach that lever over there so... Corvic Mordacci: At least we don't have to trigger them in person. Ravil Raindance is struck by ANOTHER idea! Arthur Kinlay: ..although. I 'imagine' the lever may have something to do with that forcefield over there... Adessa Cypersong puts her hands on her hips. "If we is to be having robots or something like this, we is to be doing this easy." Ravil Raindance bids the duplicate return. He fishes around in his pockets and finds a large, frilly handkerchief, handing it over. The ghost obliges by returning and stuffing it into any visible emitters in the cannister. // Whatever the liquid is, it is highly corrosive to the touch. Least of all in physical form. The handkerchief saturated in the liquid quickly begins to shrivel and char at the edges. Arthur Kinlay: Well... going to take a deep breath and rush through.. Quinn Bayhill shakes her head and begins speaking, letting her hill billy-ish accent drop in place of proper speech. "We need to figure this out. We are getting hurt no matter the direction. It is the point of it all." Ravil Raindance: "Fie! Dearest doctor, though it pains this bard to rely so upon science to see this day through - mayhap thy resonators might discern the truth behind this misted mystery?" Adessa Cypersong nods. "So which direction, it is the right way?" She jabs a thumb behind her. "The maze, it is looking to be very complicated, so it must be right." Arthur Kinlay: Well my theory so far is that maybe the level turns off the force field... and I imagine the lab over there might control the sensors, or some sort of air purification routine. So we probably need to reach both of those. Corvic Mordacci: If it is made of organic compounds perhaps my resonators can be of use... Corvic Mordacci does try to scan for the gas with his resonators. Quinn Bayhill nods and brings her covered wrist to her nose. "I have already started down that way. I shall keep going." Arthur Kinlay: Now I'm pretty sure only one person needs to get that level, yeah? And I don't know much about lab systems. I'll try to reach that. Corvic, go for the lab? Adessa Cypersong puts her hands up against the glass to peek in. // The Resonator brings back a reading immediately. This isn't just your average poison. Oh no, it's far worse. It's the Osun-Crafted Soulrot. According to the readings - this stuff will not try to kill you. Rather, it tries to turn your brain to pudding. Charming! Corvic Mordacci hisses through his teeth. He's seen this before, and scanned this before. In a patient. Perhaps why his equipment recognized it so quickly. "Soulrot. This is soulrot in gaseous form." Corvic Mordacci: It is breathable slavery. Quinn Bayhill takes a deep breath then RUNS back towards that first canister and rounds the corner. Ravil Raindance: "This bard has heard tales of soulrot - a more insidious substance dwelleth not in Nexus." Arthur Kinlay: Corvic? Corvic Mordacci: Quinn no! Arthur Kinlay sigh. "We don't exactly have a choice here, Corvic. It's that or wait here for someone else to come save us, which isn't happening. Can you try and head for that lab over there?" Quinn Bayhill calls back towards them. "I'm ok...I am ok. See if there is another around this wall if you can?" Corvic Mordacci: At least- let me scan for the concentration before you run through it. Adessa Cypersong looks like she's also going to run through it but she stops when requested. Corvic Mordacci scans the other hallway, hoping the cannisters have some kind of limit to how long the gas lasts. Arthur Kinlay: I somehow doubt we have the luxury to wait until the entire place clears itself... Corvic Mordacci mutters, frustrated at the situation. "At least hold your breath..." Quinn Bayhill: No kidding! Arthur Kinlay: Planning to. // There is no limit. Judging by the readings there seems to be some sort of timer set, as well. Perhaps a failsafe? Arthur Kinlay does just that, he holds his breath and rushes through the room, though his mask is still on, just in case. Adessa Cypersong takes off one of her gloves and looks at it. She mumbles something under her breath and then puts it in front of her mouth and nose. Head high, she just waltzes right past the cannister. Ravil Raindance attempts, through dint of effort, to weave a shell around himself and others in close proximity, trapping the oxygen in and keeping the bad stuff out. He holds his breath and moves quickly past, hoping it'll work. Arthur Kinlay frowns and throws his mask away. Corvic Mordacci: Well, you're right. We must move. *yet he lingers, taking up his gas mask and folding it up to protect the filters. He tucks it away deep in a pocket. Saving it for later* He takes a deep breath to hold and charges through. Arthur Kinlay: Careful. Arthur Kinlay: Straight ahead is another trap. Adessa Cypersong makes it through the room but she starts coughing on the other end, shaking her head. She starts clenching and unclenching her fists. Quinn Bayhill: Yes...careful. I considered that. Corvic Mordacci comes through the gas, nostrils flared. He blinks at the room in front of him. It takes him a moment to figure out that he needs to go around the other way. Arthur Kinlay squints, peering through the glass. "..hah, hah! Oh no you're not getting me that easy. This is a dead end." Quinn Bayhill: Damnit... Adessa Cypersong stalks through with her tail lashing, still clenching and unclenching her fingers. "My hands, they is feeling funny." Arthur Kinlay raises his voice. "To your right, Corvic." Ravil Raindance immediately conjures another bubble and tries to haul Quinn back around the corner. Corvic Mordacci slips on his gas mask again, shaking his head. He turns toward Arthur's voice and follows. Arthur Kinlay taps on the glass. "This way." Corvic Mordacci: One moment... Adessa Cypersong puts her hands on the glass to peer through it and watch Arthur and Corvic. Arthur Kinlay: Don't head over toward the lever from there, it's a trap. Adessa Cypersong: Corvic, come. Quinn Bayhill stumbles back as Ravil pulls her and begins to cough roughly. She lowers herself to her knees and clutches at her chest, gritting her teeth. "Ok...I, officially don't like this." Corvic Mordacci lets a out a wet, rattling cough through his gas mask. It's the dust storm all over again. Adessa Cypersong walks over and grabs Corvic's hand to pull him forward. Or steady herself, one or the other. Maybe both. Ravil Raindance: "Take heart - we shall see this day through yet!" Quinn Bayhill holds up her hand. "Wait. The one on the other side popped." Adessa Cypersong looks over to the right and stares stupidly for about two seconds too long. "Stairs." Corvic Mordacci closes his eyes for a moment, guided by Adessa's hand. He tries to clear his head. Quinn Bayhill turns her head from Ravil and spits again. Arthur Kinlay: ..what the. Corvic Mordacci: Quinn... what are your symptoms? Arthur Kinlay: ..how- Adessa Cypersong: ... What? Adessa Cypersong lets go of Corvic's hand to go wander onward. Arthur Kinlay: Shit... fuck. Quinn Bayhill looks up at Corvic and forces herself to her feet. "Head is fuzzy....fingers tingling." Arthur Kinlay: I might have been wrong... I'm... going to back track a bit. Corvic Mordacci: Arthur, what is it? Arthur Kinlay: Glass walls are confusing, that's what it is. Adessa Cypersong rounds the corner and just starts coughing again. She covers her mouth up but her arms aren't getting the signals her brain is sending. Arthur Kinlay: See... what's bugging me is it doesn't look like there's a way there... Corvic Mordacci raises his resonators and tries to scan for brain activity in Adessa and Quinn to see which is faring worse. Corvic Mordacci: ...Adessa. Arthur Kinlay: But then how the fuck do you get there... Ravil Raindance: "It toys with us, true, making mockery of sight and sense." Arthur Kinlay sigh. "I'm going to try... stay here." Ravil Raindance conjures another air bubble around them both. Corvic Mordacci had been careless to chase after Adessa and hadn't even noticed the cannister until it was in front of him. He runs to catch up. Arthur Kinlay raises a brow at the bubble around Ravil's head. "...there no point in both of us checking it out if it doesn'T work." Corvic Mordacci: The lab... sickness and scourge... I was going to search it..." Ravil Raindance: "Who between has has ran afoul of the more gas?" Arthur Kinlay: I haven't yet. Ravil Raindance: "Flip a coin - let fickle fortune decide!" Corvic Mordacci: Adessa, take this mask. Adessa Cypersong looks stupidly up at Corvic. Ravil Raindance fishes around for an errant copper. "Heads or tails?" Quinn Bayhill shakes her head. "Too long." She pushes past them both and runs. Arthur Kinlay runs his hands over his face again. "Stars' sake just... DAMNIT" He staggers. Arthur Kinlay: QUINN! You went the WRONG WAY. Corvic Mordacci fumbles the mask out of his pocket and helps Adessa get it on. Quinn Bayhill: I'll go back...stay put! I'm already over here. Arthur Kinlay: WAIT. Adessa Cypersong just allows the mask to go onto her face. Arthur Kinlay smacks his forehead hard. "What the hell! The point is to see if you can get to the lever from there. And Ravil." He looks at the Aurin. "Seriously now's not the time for damn coin flipping." Adessa Cypersong grabs Corvic's hand and starts pulling him through the maze again, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like "Wylion." Corvic Mordacci: going back costs double... we press on. Ravil Raindance: "'Twas fitting, so this bard felt. For are we not gambling with our lives?" Arthur Kinlay: We're not -gambling-. Arthur Kinlay: I was being logical because I -haven't- been gassed yet. Quinn Bayhill shakes her head and looks back. "I do not think there is a way from here..." // Quinn is correct. The glass has no way past it from here. Adessa Cypersong stops in sight of the stairs at the end of the maze while Arthur, Quinn, and Ravil continue to muddle through the middle of it. She looks up at Corvic and takes about three seconds before mumbling "We is to be telling them that we is seeing it. Be shooting. The. Lights?" Adessa Cypersong puts her hands up in a sad attempt at doing the medic thing. Arthur Kinlay: That wall over there closed? Shit.. how the hell are we supposed to get there. Corvic Mordacci's tongue feels heavy. "Sssshoting lightss?" Adessa Cypersong gives up on Corvic entirely and stumbles to the glass, knocking loudly on it. Quinn Bayhill looks to her right. "I see where I am...past this one before." Corvic Mordacci keeps following closely behind Adessa. Quinn Bayhill runs past the canister again. Ravil Raindance coughs and splutters violently. He attempts to right himself against an adjacent panel, but his hand doesn't want to cooperate. Arthur Kinlay mutters and curses under his breath, then rushes through the gassed room. Adessa Cypersong continues to smash her hand on the glass. She's at least smart enough to not turn around and go back. Corvic Mordacci belatedly decides to scan the area ahead for traces of gas. // It is safe, Corvic. Corvic Mordacci: Ravil, the exit is nigh. Do not give in... Arthur Kinlay lets out a hacking cough as he reaches the end of the room. "Stars, that shit's foul... gah..." He frowns and flexes his hand. "..damnit." Ravil Raindance's speech is slurred and confused, as though at once concussed and intoxicated. "Mayhap this bard might compoooooose a sonnet to commemorate the occasion." Quinn Bayhill runs to catch up to them. Ravil Raindance: ...Watch as we adventurers three scrabble blindly through the maze...wait, there's... Five of us? That's right, isn't it? Five?" Corvic Mordacci: Ssave the ssonnet! Ravil Raindance: "But 'five' doesn't rhyme..." Arthur Kinlay groans. "Ravil just.. just stop." Adessa Cypersong stupidly walks back over to Corvic and grabs his hand again. Quinn Bayhill: Come now...Stairs now! Corvic Mordacci mutters. "Five, dive, hive... jive.." Ravil Raindance: "This bard can scarce... stop now?" Ravil Raindance: "Oh. There's six of us." Quinn Bayhill: Arthur... Arthur Kinlay: ...yes? Quinn Bayhill: We cannot play stealth right now. Not with them acting as such. Arthur Kinlay: No kidding. Quinn Bayhill: They are going to get us caught much sooner now.
== THE FACILITY - LASER ROOM == Arthur Kinlay: Oh. Oh great. Yes that's what we needed. Quinn Bayhill: ....Oh what fresh hell is this. // BEHOLD! LASERS. The individual red beams are too close and too high up to be passed /easily/. It'd take some fancy foot work to get past. Corvic Mordacci continues to be led as long as Adessa leads him. Arthur Kinlay: My kingdom for a ventilation shaft... Adessa Cypersong mumbles under her breath, "Your kingdom, it IS a ventallala shaft." Corvic Mordacci mumbles and mutters to himself, slipping into grismaran. He takes off his gloves and lets them plop the floor, checking the levels on his forearm tanks. the word 'vitalus' is clear enough in his rambling. Ravil Raindance: "A more fitting maze by far!" Arthur Kinlay: So... Ravil. Quinn Bayhill slowly turns her head towards Arthur. Adessa Cypersong takes off her offending not-saving-her-from-gas glove and tosses it haphazardly into the lasers. Arthur Kinlay: Guess it's finally time for your fancy footwork to shine... Ravil Raindance conjures both of his psabres in preparation. It takes him more effort than usual, and they appear decidedly fuzzy. Quinn Bayhill: In his state? Do you think it possible? Ravil Raindance: "Thou needn't fret and fuss! Watch as Ravil dances 'twixt these beams. Arthur Kinlay rubs his forehead. "I have no clue.... got a better idea? Ravil Raindance endeavours to weave around and between to the other side. Adessa Cypersong gets down on her haunches and looks through the lazers. "Under." // BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH - Ravil manages to by pass the lasers to the other side. Corvic Mordacci shakes his head, why-.. why is he checking his vitalus levels? He bends and picks up his gloves again, still trying to shake off the confusion from the gas. He looks up to see the lasers lessened. How convenient! Arthur Kinlay: Good job! YOu wouldn't happen to see some sort of... off switch over there, do you? Adessa Cypersong yells something in half drunken-arborian. "Ravil, [arborian] lever or [arborian]?" Corvic Mordacci looks up to see many lasers. How inconvenient. Ravil Raindance lands on the other side in what he intends to be a weight-dispersing crouch. Instead, he hits the floor in a graceless tangle of limbs. "Witness this bard!" he exlaims, picking himself up. Adessa Cypersong stalks from side to side drunkenly like an angry lioness. Quinn Bayhill stares ahead before slowly rubbing at her left wrist. "They are toying with us. There is no way they do not realize we are here..not after all those traps went off." // BEHOLD A CONSOLE. It appears to activate the glass panes down below to make it possible to reach the lever and, thereby, the lab. Ravil Raindance: "Mine eyes do see - a computerial machine!" Ravil Raindance: "...see and machine rhymeth not..." Adessa Cypersong: So [arborian] the thing! Arthur Kinlay shouts out. "We don't need rhymes! We need this damn thing shut down!" Ravil Raindance has a gander at the console, squinting - as if that'll resolve some measure of sense from this infernal contraption. Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose at Quinn. "Yeah I agree, this is a fucking game to them." Ravil Raindance just pushes the largest and most likely buttons. What the hell. // The console, while straight-forward, does have something of a code. The lasers power down, a friendly "TEST MODE DEACTIVATES" reading across the screen. The lever should be accessible now. Adessa Cypersong looks tired of pacing. She just turns back and continues flexing her hands. "I am not to be feeling my arms anymore." she announces to the world at large. Quinn Bayhill looks to him. "If He is here....chances are, He is watching us." Ravil Raindance: "Behold! These fingers doth deliver unto us salvation. Would that Cabal were here to behold this techological triumph!" Arthur Kinlay: Yes, yes. Praise be. Thank you. Ravil Raindance returns to the group. Arthur Kinlay: Was there anything else back there? Ravil Raindance: "...What happened to the beams?" Arthur Kinlay: ...you turned them off. Adessa Cypersong turns without warning and makes for the maze again. Corvic Mordacci: Wait, Adessa... Adessa Cypersong stops on the stairs and slowly turns her deer eyes up at Corvic. Ravil Raindance: "Ravil's performance was woefully lacking - mediocre, shorn of poise and grace. He was hoping for a better showing on his triumphant return." Corvic Mordacci scans ahead. The gas could have spread by now??? Ravil Raindance: "Once more into the beach." Ravil Raindance: "UNTO. Unto the beach." Arthur Kinlay groans. "....alright..." He rushes through. Adessa Cypersong doesn't bother running. She doesn't seem to understand that running is a good idea anymore. Arthur Kinlay: Guys just... wait a minute. Alright? Ravil Raindance chaaaaarges through as fast as he can Arthur Kinlay: ....or not. Quinn Bayhill ZOOMS THROUGH CAUSE SHE IS A GODDESS! Arthur Kinlay: Yeah, fine... don't just.. keep on rushing. Adessa Cypersong mumbles something, entirely in Arborian now. She looks like she's falling asleep. Ravil Raindance: "Needeth thou assistance, dearest Adessa?" Arthur Kinlay mutters in frustration. He moves ahead of the rest of the group, back towards the lever. Corvic Mordacci lets out a few hacking coughs. "Lever will just.. send us to... another place..." Quinn Bayhill: Just stay put... Right here. DO not move. Quinn Bayhill: I am serious Ravil. Adessa Cypersong sways a little and just plops down on the floor. Arthur Kinlay: Good.. okay. Can do this.. Quinn Bayhill: We need to stay here. Arthur Kinlay takes a deep breath, trying to focus himself a bit and then rushes through yet again. Corvic Mordacci's voice is sounding loose and throaty now. He croaks like an oversized frog. "Oh, th'lab..." Ravil Raindance: "But furely 'tiff our queft to efcape dif mafe?" Ravil Raindance speaks in a horrific pronounced slur, his tongue uncooperative. Ravil Raindance: "But there iff one way to enfure thif bard strayf not..." Corvic Mordacci discovers the glass in front of him with his face. He bonks right into it. Adessa Cypersong leans heavily on the glass next to her and begins murmuring to herself. Quinn Bayhill places her hands on Ravil's shoulder. "We will be ok...just stay here." Arthur Kinlay coughs again as he reaches the lever, leaning against the wall as he catches his breath. "Shee.. aw fug... dis.." He straightens up and reaches for the lever, pulling it down. // With the lever moved down the lab way is opened. Ravil Raindance plops down on the glass, alongside Adessa. Adessa Cypersong takes notice of Ravil after a second, and starts mumbling at him in bad Arborian. Quinn Bayhill nods. "Yes, very good. Remain seated for the moment. Keep each other in good spirits, please." Ravil Raindance: "Thif bard knowf not that whif you fpeak, dearef adeffa, but he agreef wholeheartedly." Arthur Kinlay makes it down the hallway with the lever and into the lab.
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay knocks on the glass wall. "Hey!"
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Quinn Bayhill: You are in! Corvic Mordacci is sitting on the other side of the glass, rubbing his forehead and looking into the lab like a sad, orphan puppy. Quinn Bayhill looks to Corvic and reaches over to rub his shoulder, trying to comfort him. She offers him an backward smile and nods. "It will be ok."
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Arthur Kinlay: Yeah.. okay jus'.. jus' lemme tale a look.. Arthur Kinlay walks around the room, looking for anything that might hint to an exit, or a way to shut down the damn gas. // Everything is just mumbo jumbo with no clear reasoning to it. Arthur Kinlay: Aw what de hell... CORVIC. Arthur Kinlay: What am I looking for??
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Ravil Raindance: "Is thif... Permanent? Can feel the 'rot eating away, like a chompacababara. Ravil has... Ravil has a performanfe tomorrow." Corvic Mordacci keeps rubbing his forehead and staring ahead. He doesn't feel the rubbing on the hard glass of his shoulder-tank. "Whic-wuh- wign owght? Sssowroght or contagon.... Ravil Raindance: "bereft of wordf, bereft of wit, his show if sure to be..." Ravil Raindance: "...shit." Adessa Cypersong seems to be leaning forward. She thunks her head onto Ravil's shoulder. Ravil Raindance obliges by slipping an arm about Adessa's shoulder, drawing her into a complanionly side-hug.
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay sits on the chair in front of the desk and decides to sift through whatever file might be there. // Sorry, Arthur. It's cryptic. Arthur Kinlay: CORVIC
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Corvic Mordacci: Hmmm? *Corvic looks up and blinks slowly at his name*
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay takes the book, or PDA, or whatever it is that's in his hands and hops off the chair, walking ot the glass, and presses the thing on the glass, facing Corvic. "What's it say?"
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == // Corvic has the Science. According to the datachron the soulrot isn't your usual brand. It's been modified and tested to dumb down slaves and make them easier to temper to their whim. They didn't fall into a trap. They fell into the lab run. The generator ought to turn off the gas. Corvic Mordacci sqints at the datapad and takes a lot longer than usual to read and comprehend what is in front of him. After several mintues he clears his throat, then clears it again. "G-..." more coughin gna clearing. "Gen-" *cough" "erator.
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay turns and looks at the sparky thing. "...that?"
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Corvic Mordacci nods and wipes a sleeve across his mouth.
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay: Oh.. ohhh. Arthur Kinlay takes his datachron and tries to call Wylion. "Wyl! Heyyy Wyl!" Wyl answers back, surprisingly, hissing. "Please tell me you have a taxi outside. Say yes, please. Please." Arthur Kinlay looks at his datachron. "Huh.. we're... in a glash maze... wif soulrot. I'm at the generator. You got Nifa?" Wylion Glittergale: | "You're-- You're /WHERE/?" Her voice lowers and one can almost hear her smashing her face on the screen. "--N...nooot exactly. Listen, I'm not a tech expert." Arthur Kinlay: I.. yeah... ah know.. das why I ask for Nifa... okay well. "I mean. You do you. Nika's, uhhhhh.....She's um. She's not exactly /within sorts/ to be handing out advice presently." Arthur Kinlay frowns. "Yeah nor are we.. okay." Arthur Kinlay: ...I could blow if up. Arthur Kinlay: Hum... GUYS
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Corvic Mordacci: Wegh are noght ragts in a traghp, but raghts in in a lab. Noght sure if inprovemegnt... Corvic Mordacci closes his eyes and leans his forehead against the glass again, taking deep breaths, trying to clear his head. Quinn Bayhill: We are screwed?
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay: Might wanna.... move away from the glass yeah? Yeah.
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Quinn Bayhill nods. "Be careful." She looks to Corvic and smiles at him. "Come my friend, we must move now." She takes his arm and works to drag him away if need be. Corvic Mordacci is led away, a good thing as he wasn't paying enough attention to catch what was going on himself. Quinn Bayhill moves him to sit with the other jello molds. "Have a seat." Quinn Bayhill: Then whatever the choice is...it needs to be made soon.
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay moves over to the generator and, just for pity' sake, TRIES to find a way to manually disable it before doing something stupid. // Arthur does not find a way to manually disable it. There also is presently a timer reading across the front. It reads: Seven Minutes. Arthur Kinlay: hum... there's a timer. Arthur Kinlay: Awwww fack it. Arthur Kinlay moves as far away from the generator as possible while remaining in the room. Then he takes one of his pistols out and, aiming at the spinny part above the sparky bits, he charges up his blaster and let's out a shot. // Arthur, before he takes his CERTAINLY FATAL shot, notices a keycard on one of the desks. Nifty! As for the Generator... // Shooting the generator is apparently NOT the answer. The bullet lodges between the spinning blades, and for one horrible second it sparks. The sparks become fatal and the coils EXPLODE. Surprisingly, the glass remains in tact. As for the canisters. The central, pulsing and /green/ (don't be fooled, you're all color blind) tube short circuits in the face of this terrible idea. Liquid soulrot leaks from the ceiling sprinklers, filling the room with its haze.
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Ravil Raindance: ...Nnno no no no Quinn Bayhill raises her arms up to cover her face then moves to use to her body to sheild the three in case of glass then starts coughing again. Adessa Cypersong slumps straight forward and just hits the ground. Ravil Raindance scrabbles to his feet, clawing at the glass for purchase. "'s bard, now barely bard aaaaaat alllllll, dof not wish t'die witness 'n'... wordless..." Ravil Raindance: "...world stripped 'f colour, life, sound..." Quinn Bayhill growls and shakes her head as she stands up again before trying to rub feeling back into her arms. "Well..thissh, ish jusht great." Ravil Raindance: "...going back upstairs... no gas there..." Corvic Mordacci clamps hes hands over his skull and curls forward, eyes closed shut. He just lets out low, periodic groans.
== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay curses loudly, grabbing the keycard and rushing out of the room.
== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Arthur Kinlay follows the twists and turns of the maze, taking another heavy dose of Soulrot. He meets up with the others. "C'MON." Ravil Raindance: "...Wha'f you found?" Arthur Kinlay: C'MON! Arthur Kinlay turns around as Quinn follows him, frowning. "Don't -leave them there-" Quinn Bayhill: The two are....a bit mush at tha moo...mooo...*GROWLS* Moment. Ravil Raindance: "Leave who? There's nobody left. Not even you. Not even Ravil. We are all but shades, phantomf..." Corvic Mordacci is nothing more than an obstruction. He's pressing a hand hard into each temple, lips pulled back over jagged teeth . "N-no... n-nought.... rav...rav..." Quinn Bayhill leans down, cursing at her arms as she works her damnest to pick up Dessa and fling her over her shoulder. "Cannot geeet boottff." Arthur Kinlay: Ravil STOP FUGGING RHYMIN AN HELP Adessa Cypersong's ear twitches. That's at least something. Ravil Raindance blinks in confusion at the prone Corvic. "...H-help? Yyyes. Yes. Ravil can help." Ravil Raindance seizes Corvic by the ankle and starts dragging him along. Or trying to, anyway. Arthur Kinlay grabs Corvic by the arms, helping Ravil. Adessa Cypersong goes entirely limp on Quinn's shoulder. One of her arms does that dramatic drooping fall thing over the side. [[ ADESSA HAS WIPED ]] Ravil Raindance: "Nnnnnnnnnnurrrrrrghhhh!!!" Ravil Raindance clutches his skull, which has the side effect of dropping Corvic. Arthur Kinlay seems to fair no better than Ravil, dropping Corvic as well as a searing pain stabs him in the skull. Quinn Bayhill nearly slumps over but seems to be fighting to keep on her feet. "Go..got...got to go." Corvic Mordacci drags, a complete deadweight. His eyes open but he stares ahead vacantly, mouth open in a confused grimace. If he could, he would tell his friends to leave him. [[CORVIC HAS WIPED]] Quinn Bayhill looks to Arthur, Corvic and Ravil before reaching for the card from Arthur. "I...I'm sorry." She hefts Dess and tries to make a break for it. Ravil Raindance: "Many... moons ago... 'neath the... 'neath the... green? green. boughs of... of... Arboria-That-Was, th-there... there walked an intr- intre- in-tre-pid merchant..." [[ RAVIL HAS WIPED]] Quinn Bayhill lets out a shriek as a horrid pain slams into the back of her head when she passes the last Soulrot container. She lets out a base growl and starts spiriting, jostling Dessa over her shoulder. The two of them make it safely out of the maze. [[ ARTHUR HAS WIPED ]]