etrayalogs | MISSION 002

Entry tags:

MISSION 002

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: May 3rd-28th
WHERE: Within the Labyrinth
WHAT: The second Mission
NOTES\WARNINGS: Potential death, violence, injury. Please add additional warnings as needed within threads.

⏵ into the labyrinth ⏴

Aurora's announced time for the mission was correct: four days after, as she had promised, the door to the Labyrinth opens, connected to Etraya's atmospheric bubble by its entrance point. Characters are directed to come to the entrance on May 3rd, and warned that they may want to bring medical supplies, weaponry, and any important artifacts along with them. She warns that large vehicles will not fit within the limited space available, and smaller ones may be difficult to remove, thus advises those to stay behind. Aurora also offers to watch over any companion animals and keep them safe while competitors complete the Labyrinth.

They are given a short amount of time outside of the entrance to speak with one another, to plan and organize themselves, before they are ushered into it in groups of two to four. Once passed the entrance, they'll find that they are unable to turn around and exit out of it: a barrier keeps them from going back into the city proper, and as soon as they are far enough forward, the walls around them shift, closing them in, moving in complex patterns meant to separate them and bring them together.

Characters with extraordinary abilities may find some of them inaccessible: super strength may be downgraded to closer to ordinary strength, magic may prove to be less predictable than it should be, and regardless of how strong, fast, or clever characters are: passing over the Labyrinth walls or destroying them proves to be impossible. While one may be able to run through the pathways at superhuman speeds, the pathways compensate for it by running them in circles, refusing to allow them to make any progress on their own.

⏵ pathways collide ⏴

Junctures of the Labyrinth often present competitors with choices, some that may have consequences: a left turn down a darker path may prove to be harmless, whereas the well-lit path may be full of traps intent on slowing them down: a trip wire that activates a swinging massive axe, or arrows that shoot straight out of the wall as soon as one gets close enough.

Other junctures may present characters with choices that have consequences: they can choose the shortest pathway, but at great personal risk to themselves or their partner (ie, you can go this way, but your arm isn’t going with you) or they can choose the lengthy pathway full of traps and trials they’ll have to surpass to get to the end.

⏵ balancing act ⏴

The pathway opens up into a massive space, but it's not one with an easy path out: instead, competitors will find an obstacle course that will not let them continue forward until they complete it. Many of the tasks involve things that one cannot do on their own: they must walk across multiple wooden boards balanced precariously on a tall beam, but to ensure it's balanced, there must be one person on both sides of the boards and make sure that they're walking on the board in just the right space to ensure their weight doesn't cause it to sink too far on the opposite side. If a smaller child is on one end, they may want to stand significantly further away from the beam than the larger person on the other half.

⏵ help! i'm bleeding! ⏴

A large garden area spawns off of a pathway. The peaceful chirping of birds can be heard among blooming cherry blossom trees, and it all seems utterly peaceful and calm. An area one might wish to take a breather in, enjoy the sunshine reflecting from above, and get a good nap in. Or would, except a companion bot whose abdomen is covered in ketchup appears to be struggling across the ground, crying out for help. They state they are bleeding profusely and require immediate medical attention, otherwise, they will die.

The companion bot also carries a bag of medical supplies and MREs, which player characters are welcome to utilize. The pathway out of this open space will not open until after the companion bot no longer states they are dying. Whether it's because they're "dead", or because those who came across them offered "medical attention" and patched them up until they've stated they're good and no longer need assistance - well, both will technically suffice.

⏵ choice is an illusion ⏴

After walking down an additional pathway, characters will find themselves trapped within a glass box. In front of them is a pedestal with two buttons: one red, and one green, as well as a tablet above it displaying the image of another group of characters. The tablet states hindering them will help you. You may either choose to make the second group's time through the maze more difficult, or hinder your progress by pressing the green button and helping the other group forward.

Characters are given two minutes to decide which path to take; the timer, on the tablet, counts down regardless of any attempt to break or hack it.

Pressing the green button will drop several squishmallows into the glass box. Inside one of them is a key that unlocks the roof of the glass box. Pressing the red button, while it promises to hinder the other group, actually. . . causes a toxic yellow gas to flood the glass box. The gas will burn the lungs of those who breathe it in, but it also begins slowly melting the glass box. This gas will make breathing difficult for the next 24 hours, but will not kill those who inhale it. Healing factors will not offset the gas.

⏵ who deserves the knife? ⏴

A group of two characters will walk through one corridor and find themselves strapped to two chairs, the backs of which are leaning against each other. In front of the both of them are drills, slowly approaching their chests. They cannot go sideways but can push forward and backward. They can push backward and get themselves further away from the threat of injury - forcing the person behind them to suffer but allowing themselves to escape - or they can push into the drill and free the person they're with. Alternatively, they can choose not to push either way, potentially sacrificing them both.

Three options, but they are left with minimal time to decide as the drill continues to press closer. If they choose to go out together, they'll find that as the drills press against their chest - they simply stop. Minimal blood will be spilled, and they will have all the time they need to figure out how to squirm out of their bindings.

⏵ the Siren waits for thee ⏴
A seemingly harmless pathway turns into much more trouble than it's worth. A few steps through a corridor, and suddenly competitors will find the floor falling out from under them, revealing a body of water and - no solid ground on either side of it. There are the walls, but they lack any good climbing holds. Within the water are numerous Sirens - beautiful androgynous creatures that sing soft songs meant to entice others into following them deep into the water. While they may look beautiful, their mouths are full of razor-sharp teeth, and their intentions certainly aren't innocent. However, the Sirens can only touch competitors once they have initiated touch first. They will do their best to encourage this: holding out their hands, crying out for help, pretending to drown, or trying to coax them into coming in close enough for a kiss. As long as they remain on the path, they're harmless. But the moment they reach out for the Sirens... getting away from them will not be easy. Their tails are powerful, built for moving swiftly throughout the water and dragging others along with them. They bite hard and will dig their teeth deep into flesh to discourage struggling.

If one gets captured by them? They're lunch. Or worse yet: if they get bitten but manage to escape, they may find themselves becoming a bit.. scaley around the neck, eyes shifting color to a too-soft green, and an almost impossible-to-resist urge to take a bite out of their friends.

This effect will continue until May 28th regardless of when the character reaches the end of the Labyrinth. After May 28th, they will find that their scales slowly begin to shed, their eyes begin to turn back to their normal shade, and any other new features slowly turn back to how they were before they were infected.

⏵ don't forget your ball of twine ⏴

The Labyrinth is large, and there are many challenges around each corner. There may be space for breaks in between monsters, challenges, riddles, places to sit and recuperate between battles and mind games. It's not all chaos and challenges meant to test one's strength of will.

⏵ NOTES ⏴
May's mission is completing a massive Labyrinth. All characters must enter the Labyrinth; whether or not they participate once they're inside is up to them, but no one will be permitted to stay behind in the city.

The duo who completes the Labyrinth first will be allowed to assist in choosing the next mission. Sign-ups for this are here. We will contact the chosen characters on May 13th.

This mission will cover the time between May 3rd and May 28th. After May 28th, any characters who have not yet exited the Labyrinth will be gathered by the companion bots and brought back into the city. The companion bots will be aiming for nonviolent intervention. If more is needed, please let us know here.

The first to exit will be returning to the city on May 15th.

There will be powercapping during this mission, but the extent of which is fully up to players. We want the Labyrinth to be challenging but don't want to hinder gameplay too much. If you have any questions relating to this or want assistance coming up with ways to powercap your character, please feel free to ask us here. We will be largely leaving this up to player discretion.

Food is scarce within the Labyrinth, but not impossible to find. There are chests (or maybe they're mimics?) strewn throughout with various useful items. One might have a sword, another might have a fresh chicken nugget Happy Meal from McDonalds. Or an entire birthday cake, candles included.

Large vehicles will not fit in the Labyrinth and must be left behind in the city.

Numerous challenges are throughout the Labyrinth. You are welcome to make your own, but we will also provide several you may utilize! Please feel free to throw down wildcards, or your own challenges into your prompts! The limitation is that characters must remain themselves throughout the challenges. There are no mirror replicas, nothing within the Labyrinth will affect their personalities or core values. It’s meant to challenge, not change them.

Deaths that occur within the Labyrinth will last 24 hours. Please report these on our Death Tracker.

All new locations will appear after player characters have returned to the city. Feel free to note the differences from the May 3rd map, versus what characters will be returning to on May 15th.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ .. well, this is a conundrum.

Mostly because Fabian isn't really sure what to do here either. Stabbing would usually be his own instinct too - as evidenced by the sword that's hanging off his belt - but that's usually the sort of thing happens with things that threaten him. This robot is doing the exact opposite of threatening him, unless this is some weird trap.

And that's the part he hasn't figured out yet. This entire situation seems so strange that it ought to be a trap, yet he isn't sure if the other's response to it is the appropriate one either. What is this entire weird situation, some sort of test? It's like he's right back at school. ]

Uh, I don't think it is asking to be stabbed? [ He points out to Junior-- you know, very helpfully.

But this is just step 1 in him trying to process this situation, so he's sticking to the factually accurate part for now until he feels like he's got a better grip on it all. ]

[ Junior turns back to the stranger, snappishly annoyed in that way teenagers get. ]

Well, do you know how to fix it? Because I don't. If it were a person I'd just put them out of their misery.

[ Judging by the amount of ketchup this thing's supposedly very close to dying anyway. ]

Do I look like I know how to fix a robot?

[ Definitely not, in Fabian's opinion. He even sounds a little bit offended in his tone as he asks that, though the slight offense is practically nothing compared to the snappish annoyance from the other. (.. weirdly enough, there's nothing in response to the remark about putting them out of their misery - like that part isn't bothering Fabian quite as much, or like he's used to talk like that.)

Especially since he is further approaching as he says it, rather than attempting to move on. Like he's planning on trying to help with this little problem all the same, despite not having much of a clue on what to do. ]

I mean, it can't seriously be asking for medical help, right? It's a robot! You fix that with-- I don't know, wrenches or something? [ He definitely pronounces the word 'wrench' like a guy who has never gone near one, that's for sure. ]

It's pretending it needs help like a human would need help.

[ There's fake blood and everything, so as far as Junior can tell that's gotta be the game. ]

So like, if you can patch up a human you can do that, I guess? Or I can pretend to stab it and see if that lets us through.

[ Very stab-happy, this child. ]

[ Honestly, Fabian should probably be protesting the stabbing a little bit heavier than he's doing right now. Or at least seem more weirded out by how insistent the other seems to be about the stabbing.

But none of that is happening. Even though he does shake his head, his protest of the stabbing plan seems as casual as someone protesting an idea to get ice cream after school when they'd rather have pizza instead. ]

Let's save that for plan B, alright?

[ Mostly because stabbing is kind of hard to get back from.. Even for a robot that only seems like it's pretending to be injured.

So weird.

Fabian moves to kneel down next to the thing, a frown on his face as he's trying to figure out what to do about this. ]

Besides, I-- of course I've never done this before! Do I look like a cleric to you?

You got pointy ears and you look like a nerd, so yeah?

[ He's looking into the first aid supplies and handing them over, he offered to do the stabbing so the nerd is in charge of the patching up. ]

Can't you do magic or something?

[ His jaw drops so hard.

Guess whose attention is drawn away from the robot needing help entirely and instead fully over towards Junior. ]

What do you mean, I look like a nerd?!

[ Never has anyone sounded as offended about anything as Fabian is sounding in this moment, clearly. ]

[ Junior can't help cracking a smile. He wasn't actually trying to make this guy freak out, but him doing it makes him want to poke harder. ]

Damn, sorry. I thought you knew.

You thought I knew?!

[ Some people might realise that Junior is just needling him on purpose now. Fabian, however, doesn't seem to be catching on to this fact in the slightest, since he's definitely just freaking out even more rather than not giving the other what he wants. ]

Have you seen me? [ He gestures at himself. ] Have you really looked at me?!

[ Granted, the eyepatch and the elf ears might not stand out where Fabian comes from.. But it definitely makes him look a lot more unique compared to the regular human..

That golden neck tattoo that reads 'Maximum legend' is definitely weird even by his world's standard, though. It just isn't to Fabian himself. ]

I am a maximum legend! I'm the most popular kid in the entire school!

If you're cool why do you need a sign to tell people you're cool?

[ Junior was a popular kid up until his life went to shit thanks to a murder doll, he's very familiar with middle school social hierarchies and he knows you're not supposed to tell people that you're awesome. ]

You can be ripped and lame at the same time.

Because--

[ He does sound like he was about to sputter some sort of explanation there, but then he suddenly goes quiet. Like he was so caught up in trying to excuse his tattoo that the rest of what Junior is telling him only hits him a few moments later.

It even makes him shut up for a moment, before he finally manages to say, with a finger pointing at the other guy: ]

Wait, so you do acknowledge I'm ripped!

[ This guy has very clear priorities, he should get credit for that. ]

Yeah, I'm not blind. What's your sport? Fencing?

[ Junior's a runner. Or was, before his life went to shit. It's been helpful in this maze, sometimes it's just easier to outrun a threat than stabbing it.

While talking he's been just, cleaning off the fucking ketchup off the robot. Maybe that'll count as "healing" it. ]

[ Thanks, Junior. At least you're not forgetting the actual task they're here for in the first place, unlike Fabian, who's very much caught up in defending his reputation now..

Though he feels a little more confident now they're away from any talk that indicates he's a nerd, and over towards Jock Talk. His favourite kind. ]

Bloodrush!

[ The guy says it so confidently. As if it's just a regular sport. (To him, it is!) ]

You are in fact looking at the captain of the Owlbears! [ He's puffing out his chest a little, before letting out the team chant of: ] Hoot, growl!

[ That's a very cool name for a sport immediately followed by a completely ridiculous team name, and an even more ridiculous chant.

It is very funny, though. Junior cracks a smile as he keeps dabbing at the ketchup. ]

And you don't know like, basic first aid?

[ It doesn't feel fair that now he's being the Responsible One because this guy got too wrapped up on proving he's not a nerd. ]

Man, if you get hurt, then you just toughen it out!

[ That's definitely his father's teachings speaking through him. Even though Fabian may have outgrown some of them, there's a few that have nestled too deeply within him for him to be able to claw them out so easily.

.. especially when he's applying the philosophy more to himself than to Junior or the robot here, really. Fabian thinks he himself is the one who should just suck it up when he's in pain. ]

Or you get a cleric to heal you. I mean, isn't that the problem here in this maze in the first place? [ He gestures with both arms towards Junior and the robot. ] They're giving us a challenge like this while we don't have a cleric in our party! They're cheating us!

This is why I wanted to [ he lifts his fingers in air quotes ] "kill" it.

[ They'd be out of here already, but no, he has to deal with the tabletop magic dude who thinks he's cool and is unhappy about not having healing spells, and he has to clean ketchup out of the stupid robot who's obviously not remotely injured but keeps saying "ow" every so often. ]

Most worlds have no clerics.

.. really?

[ This seems like a pretty novel concept to Fabian. In fact, he does quiet for a few moments after it, like he has to try and process this.

In the meantime he walks over towards Junior and the robot, kneeling down to watch the former clean the latter. ]

But then how do you heal people if there are no clerics? [ It's such a fundamental fact of Fabian's world that he seemingly has a difficult time trying to wrap his head around it. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

MISSION 002

help i'm bleeding

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject