Difference between revisions of "Holes/Session 40"

A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
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<pre>
{{holes nav
Apheori (GM): Today is 10 december. We may or may not be playing.
|top=true
If we are, I'll be having at least some of you make some checks to ensure you got safely out of the cave network.
|previous=Holes/Session 39
Gaurav: Can we get a bonus because Greibel turned into a flock of bats and scouted out the cave last session?
|next=Holes/Session 41
Apheori (GM): Good morning.
}}
Ganelon: Yo.
 
Apheori (GM): You all are following the river out of the caves.
<screenplay>
Frezak (GM): I have great navigation skills if those are still required.
EXT. Riverbank near the other cavern entrance - night
Apheori (GM): You and greibel should roll for it, then.
 
Ganelon: Radek's got Dungeoneering, but by all means, you guys try first.
It is a horribly bright night full of birds chirping. The sky is full of funky glowing stuff, like an aurora, but more.
Frezak (GM): Perception?
 
Apheori (GM): Also Radek may or may not want to try to arcana-help the not Amadi along the way. She's still trying to cast spells on Gravy's head and it's not working.
Having just escaped the cave system back into the fresh air, the party sits down for a short rest while Radek tries to sort out the possessed Amadi, who is now sitting on Gravy's horns almost like the usual Amadi.
Frezak (GM): Nature?
 
Apheori (GM): Perception, dungeoneering, and nature. One of each from anyone.
Radek assaults the possessed Amadi with indecipherable jargon. ''(rolled 22 arcana)''
Frezak (GM): Wow.
 
I'm at.. 11 nature and 14 perception (or 24)
She gives Radek a confused look and sets Gravy's horn on fire.
Bear Soup Guy: I've got 12, 7 and 14, respectively
 
Ganelon:
RADEK
rolling 1d20+16
...Really, now. What are you ''trying'' to accomplish?
(
 
6
AMADI
)
Magic, I suppose. Wait, that actually was something, wasn't it?
+16
 
=
22
Rolling Arcana to assault our guest with indecipherable jargon.
Frezak (GM): I'll take Perception, then.
Greibel can take Nature
Gan can have the scraps.
Apheori (GM): She gives you a confused look and sets Gravy's horn on fire.
Ganelon: I feel so appreciated.
Frezak (GM):
rolling 1D20+14+10
(
7
)
+14+10
=
31
Perceptions.
Bear Soup Guy: TEAMWORK
Gaurav: Wow.
Bear Soup Guy:
rolling 1d20+14 natures
(
18
)
+14
=
32
Radek: ...Really, now.
What are you /trying/ to accomplish?
Apheori (GM): Need a dungeoneering from someone.
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20+10 Dungeoneering
(
13
)
+10
=
23
Amadi: Magic, I suppose.
Wait, that actually was something, wasn't it?
Amadi starts poking the horn.
Amadi starts poking the horn.
The Gravedigger: Would you mind not doing that?
 
Amadi: Sorry.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Apheori (GM): Radek gets you all out safely, with Greibel assisting and Gravy ensuring nobody falls in a hole.
Would you mind not doing that?
Frezak (GM): I have excellent hole expertise.
 
I have seen holes before.
AMADI
Apheori (GM): Y'all come out along the river into a horribly bright night full of birds chirping.
Sorry.
Gaurav: ...
 
Apheori (GM): The sky is full of funky glowing stuff.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Frezak (GM): Uh.
(indicating the sky)
As in the sky is glowing or there's... globs of stuff up there?
Is this normal?
Apheori (GM): It's like the aurora, but... more.
 
Apheori (GM) is so descriptive.
RADEK
The Gravedigger: Is this normal?
George, what do you make of this?
Radek: George, what do you make of this?
 
George: (pushing up his goggles) Is what normal?
GEORGE
(pushing up his goggles)
Is what normal?
 
Radek gestures towards the sky.
Radek gestures towards the sky.
The Gravedigger points at the sky.
The Gravedigger points at the sky.
George looks up.
George looks up.
Ganelon: Damnit, man.
 
George: ...yes?
GEORGE
I mean...
...yes? I mean... Wait, what do you see?
Wait, what do you see?
 
Frezak (GM): I'M A SCIENTIST TOO
The Gravedigger looks at Radek.
The Gravedigger looks at Radek.
Ganelon: Oh, this looks like another chance to jargon at him.
 
What does /Radek/ see?
GREIBEL
By which I mean, understand?
Typical. A beautiful natural formation of light and color and we're suspicious that it's a wormhole or else some kind of dark magic.
Gaurav: brb
 
Apheori (GM): I suppose it really does just look like a really massive, complex, colorful swarm of northern lights.
Greibel sighs.
Except to his sciency eyes, he might recognise the colours?
 
I dunno. How's his atmospheric physics?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Ganelon: I wouldn't exactly consider it a field he went out of his way to study.
Or bees. Could be space bees. It never is, but it ''could'' be. Bees.
Apheori (GM): Roll arcana to discern about it, then.
 
Radek:
rolling 1d20+16
(
10
)
+16
=
26
Ganelon: I love that 26 is average for me.
Greibel: Typical. A beautiful natural formation of light and color and we're suspicious that it's a wormhole or else some kind of dark magic.
Greibel sighs
The Gravedigger: Or bees.
Could be space bees.
It never is, but it /could/ be.
Bees.
Apheori (GM): It looks like an aurora. Charges interacting with the atmosphere. Nothing all that odd about it stands out.
Radek scoffs.
Radek scoffs.
Radek: "Dark" magic...
 
Apheori (GM): This is the point where a Squirrel drops out of a tree next to you.
RADEK
Squirrel: BEES!
"Dark" magic...
Radek: This is nothing more than a scattering of ionized atmospheric constituents and their resulting optical emissions.
 
Completely harmless.
RADEK
George: (skeptically) I guess I'll have to take your word for that.
This is nothing more than a scattering of ionized atmospheric constituents and their resulting optical emissions. Completely harmless.
Ganelon: Thanks, Wikipedia. I knew I could count on you to give me an explanation that means absolutely nothing to a normal person.
 
Apheori (GM): Yay science articles!
'''''Ganelon''' (Radek): Thanks, Wikipedia. I knew I could count on you to give me an explanation that means absolutely nothing to a normal person.
Ganelon: Now you said "a squirrel".
 
But I see the token of an Amadi.
GEORGE
So what does this appear as to us?
(not seeing anything)
Frezak (GM): It's not 'a' squirrel, it's Squirrel.
I guess I'll have to take your word for that.
Apheori (GM): She looks like them.
 
Her name is Squirrel.
This is the point where Squirrel drops out of a tree next to them.
And she is nuts.
 
Ganelon: Ha. Ha ha.
SQUIRREL
Apheori (GM): And George gives her Dawn.
BEES!
 
George hands Dawn to Squirrel.
 
They proceed to stare at each other.
They proceed to stare at each other.
Radek: ...Is this another one?
 
How many are there?
RADEK
Amadi: thirteen, approximately. With an allowable failure buffer of five.
...Is this another one? How many are there?
The flaming fuck were they doing?
 
Radek: ...
AMADI
Greibel: Language, young lady
Thirteen, approximately. With an allowable failure buffer of five.
Greibel takes a toke of his bong
 
Radek: I'm not sure that I am prepared to deal with thirteen.
RADEK
Greibel: I'm sure they'll reveal themselves slowly for the sake of your sanity.
...
Frezak (GM): brb
I'm not sure that I am prepared to deal with thirteen.
Gaurav: "And George gives her Dawn." -- like, hands her over?
 
Amadi: You won't need to. That as many have solidified as you have is peculiar, but they're... they're not here for you.
GREIBEL
Gaurav: I suppose Rhu is still blind and cannot see the aurora, unless it's hairy?
I'm sure they'll reveal themselves slowly for the sake of your sanity.
Amadi: Nevermind that, though. I expect you'd like me out of here, no? Could you lend a hand?
 
Apheori (GM): Yup.
Greibel takes a toke of his bong, which is still a weird shade of black. He falls over a moment later.
And yup.
 
HAIRY.
AMADI
Actually...
You won't need to. That as many have solidified as you have is peculiar, but they're... they're not here for you. Nevermind that, though. I expect you'd like me out of here, no? Could you lend a hand?
Does he have anything to say about it?
 
Gaurav: Nope. He hasn't looked at the sky since he got the mask, so he probably thinks the sky is meant to be hairy.
RADEK
Radek: ...What do you need help with, exactly?
...What do you need help with, exactly?
Amadi: Magic! And creation.
 
AMADI
Magic! And creation.
 
Amadi climbs down off Gravy.
Amadi climbs down off Gravy.
Radek: If that is the most accurate explanation you can give, then you may well be here forever.
 
Gaurav: Is the sky-hair any different from the wall-hair or people-hair?
RADEK
Amadi: It's a specific object, but my magic seems to be broken. It's like it's a good mould, but the batter is messed up, so If you can do the actual mixing and baking and I'll show you the pan, do you think you could make the bread?
If that is the most accurate explanation you can give, then you may well be here forever.
Apheori (GM): It's both really far away and really close.
 
Radek: Roll jargon or something.
AMADI
It's a specific object, but my magic seems to be broken. It's like it's a good mould, but the batter is messed up, so If you can do the actual mixing and baking and I'll show you the pan, do you think you could make the bread?
 
Radek sighs and grumbles.
 
RADEK
...I can do that.
 
Rhu reaches out to try and touch the sky-hair, then giggles softly.
Rhu reaches out to try and touch the sky-hair, then giggles softly.
Rhu: So much hair.
 
Radek:
RHU
rolling 1d20+16Jargon
So much hair.
(
 
5
The Gravedigger starts digging a hole, just in case.
)
 
+16
=
21
Apheori (GM): Yay +16!
Frezak (GM): Gravy will dig a hole just in case.
Apheori (GM): Radek: She wants you to do a ritual with her assisting.
Amadi walks over and grabs Rhu by the head in the meantime.
Amadi walks over and grabs Rhu by the head in the meantime.
Amadi: (to Rhu) Do you know any songs?
 
Gaurav: Here? We should go back to the village first.
AMADI
Radek sighs and grumbles.
(to Rhu)
Radek: ...I can do that.
Do you know any songs?
Rhu: Ow! What? Songs?
 
Amadi: Sing, please.
RHU
Ow! What? Songs?
 
AMADI
Sing, please.
 
Rhu looks around at the others in confusion, then start sings a random pop song from his home planet really, really badly. It sounds a bit like "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
Rhu looks around at the others in confusion, then start sings a random pop song from his home planet really, really badly. It sounds a bit like "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
Gaurav: Should I roll to stay in tune?
 
Apheori (GM): Naw, just singing is good enough.
Amadi looks satisfied at this and then shoves a hand in Rhu's head. Rhu just ignores it and keeps singing. Badly.
She looks satisfied at this and then shoves a hand in your head.
 
Do you keep singing?
Gaurav: ... in?
Apheori (GM): In.
Greibel: That's an interesting expression of her love of music
Apheori (GM): It doesn't actually hurt, but anyone looking sees a hand just go... in.
Bear Soup Guy: err, that was OOC but I guess it works IC too
Apheori (GM): XD
Gaurav: If it doesn't hurt, Rhu won't react. It'll look to him like the Amadi-muppet is caressing his face except he can't feel it, which is not even the weirdest thing that's happened in the last ten minutes. He'll ignore it.
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Gaurav: And keep on singing badly.
Apheori (GM): She yanks something dark and hairy out and suddenly everything is normal again. You can see normally, hear normally, there's colour, etc etc etc. Also you're really hungry.
Radek scowls intensely at Rhu's attempts at singing.
Radek scowls intensely at Rhu's attempts at singing.
GREIBEL
That's an interesting expression of her love of music.
Amadi yanks something dark and hairy out and suddenly, to Rhu, everything is normal again. He can see normally, hear normally, there's colour, etc etc etc. All the hair is gone.
Rhu gasps and falls over.
Amadi drops Rhu and goes over to Radek, holding out the dark hairy thing.
Amadi drops Rhu and goes over to Radek, holding out the dark hairy thing.
Rhu gasps
 
Amadi: Can you use this as a base?
RHU
Ganelon: You tell me, Miss DM.
What the FUCK? I can see! I can see again!
Apheori (GM): Arcana to figure out what it even is.
 
Hey, for all I know Radek would say yes even if he doesn't know. XD
GREIBEL
Rhu: What the FUCK
LANGUAGE, young man!
I can see! I can see again!
 
Greibel: LANGUAGE, young man!
Greibel tokes again, and this time barely manages to avoid falling over.
Greibel tokes again
 
Rhu runs up and hugs Greibel
Rhu runs up and hugs Greibel.
Rhu: It's gone! It's gone and I can see!
 
Radek:
RHU
rolling 1d20+16
It's gone! It's gone and I can see!
(
 
3
Greibel coughs out a plume of smoke.
)
 
+16
SQUIRREL
=
(singing)
19
Laaaaaanguage language language! Language!
 
GREIBEL
I'm glad to see that my attempt at surrogate parental guidance has resonated with you.
 
AMADI
(to Radek)
Can you use this as a base?
 
RADEK
Of course I can.
Of course I can.
Greibel coughs out a plume of smoke
 
Squirrel: (singing) Laaaaaanguage language language! Language!
Ganelon: The rolls keep getting worse!
Greibel: I'm glad to see that my attempt at surrogate parental guidance has resonated with you
Apheori (GM): Radek: You're not entirely sure what it is, but figure you should be able to sort it out once you get to work on it.
Radek stares hard at the black squiggly.
Radek stares hard at the black squiggly.
Apheori (GM): I mean, because you've got some idea, not because you're that utterly lost.
 
Radek stares /very/ hard at the black squiggly.
Radek stares ''very'' hard at the black squiggly.
 
'''''Ganelon''' (Radek): Approximately this hard. [http://www.seventh-house.org/extras/Zetman_CrazyFace4.jpg]
 
Rhu is just kind of jumping around exultantly in the background.
Rhu is just kind of jumping around exultantly in the background.
Ganelon: http://www.seventh-house.org/extras/Zetman_CrazyFace4.jpg
 
Approximately this hard.
Apheori (GM): Eeeek.
Gaurav: Damn.
Apheori (GM): It's a good thing it can't run away.
Bear Soup Guy: one eye bulges out of his head like that teacher in Daria
Radek nods after a while.
Radek nods after a while.
Radek: ...Let us begin.
 
Apheori (GM): Functionally I guess this is just like make whole.
RADEK
Except weirder.
...Let us begin.
Ganelon: Creating stuff is most of what Artificers do.
 
Apheori (GM): Aye, that helps.
Amadi hands him the squiggly and they begin. ''(rolled 26, 22 arcana)'' All in all, it works and nothing particularly weird happens. After much not so particular weirdness, a fair bit of black stuff floating around, and a weird feeling of up to three different entities in his mind, they wind up with... a box, maybe 25x15x10cm.
Ganelon: Weird how there's no ritual for actually making mundane objects, though. Just making them magical.
 
Apheori (GM): Amadi gives you the squiggly and I need two arcana rolls.
Radek: 26
22
Ganelon: If this is traditional assisting, he gets a +2 to those from being helped.
Apheori (GM): Yeah, it works and nothing particularly weird happens. After much not so particular weirdness, a fair bit of black stuff floating around, and a weird feeling of up to three different entities in his mind, you have... a box.
And a letter.
And a letter.
Rhu attempts to climb the closest tree, making whooping noises interspersed with random praises to Hazz'ridan
 
Frezak (GM): If you want to create mundane objects you take the Martial Practice for it.
In the background, Rhu attempts to climb the closest tree ''(rolled 14 athletics)'', making whooping noises interspersed with random praises to Hazz'ridan.
Mundane means for mundane things.
 
Or be a Shaper Discipline Psion.
He fails to actually climb the tree, falls backwards, lands hard on the ground, and just grins widely before standing up to run around yelling again.
Apheori (GM): Rhu: Roll athletics to climb.
 
Amadi: Whoohoo!
AMADI
You're good.
Whoohoo! You're good.
Radek grumbles.
 
Gaurav: Can I use acrobatics instead to somersault up the tree?
Radek grumbles. He picks up the box and letter, but does not open the former.
Apheori (GM): No.
 
Rhu:
Meanwhile Squirrel pokes Dave a few times, giggles, and then runs up a tree. Literally running sideways up the tree.
rolling d20+3 athletics to climb tree
 
(
11
)
+3
=
14
Frezak (GM): I could just /put/ you into a tree.
Apheori (GM): Rhu fails to climb the tree.
Bear Soup Guy: I picture Rhu falling backwards, landing hard on the ground, and just grinning widely before standing up to run around yelling again
Gaurav: ^
That. That happens.
Apheori (GM): Yes.
It all fits.
Radek picks up the box and letter, but does not open the former.
Apheori (GM): Meanwhile Squirrel pokes Dave a few times, giggles, and then runs up a tree. Literally running sideways up the tree.
Dave rubs her head.
Dave rubs her head.
Gaurav: No stone with a symbol on it?
 
Apheori (GM): Just a box, maybe 25x15x10cm.
And a letter.
Rhu runs back to the rest of the group.
Rhu runs back to the rest of the group.
Ganelon: Tell me what the letter says. He'll read it.
 
Apheori (GM): It's this. http://wiki.zaori.org/compendium/Letter_84
RHU
Rhu: Wow. Okay. WOW. This. This is pretty amazing.
Wow. Okay. WOW. This. This is pretty amazing.
(to Amadi) Thank you. Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.
(to Amadi)
Amadi: Oh, uh... you're welcome.
Thank you. Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.
Gaurav: Rhu will attempt to hug Amadi if she doesn't look scared of his overenthusiasm at this point. Otherwise: an aborted hug and a handshake.
 
Radek: ...Hrm.
AMADI
Apheori (GM): The latter, then. She'd try to pull away.
Oh, uh... you're welcome.
Frezak (GM): Gravy looms over Radek to read the letter.
 
Unless Radek tries to hide it from Gravy's eyes.
Rhu tries to hug her, but she pulls away, so he just tries to shake her hand instead. She gives him a confused look.
Bear Soup Guy: THE CODEX OF DOOM
 
Ganelon: Nah.
RHU
Bear Soup Guy: A book the size of a house that sits in the middle of a courtyard somewhere exuding an aroma of sulfur
Oh. Sorry.
Ganelon: Radek, being a fast reader, very likely finishes it before Gravy and hands it over to him.
 
So he can open the box.
Rhu: Oh. Sorry.
Rhu tries to get a grip on himself.
Rhu tries to get a grip on himself.
Apheori (GM): The box contains a circular contraption with spaces for seven stones, three more of the stones themselves, and a few chunks of something that looks like it shattered.
 
Bear Soup Guy: "You may not remember me" - Accurate statement
While all of this is going on, Radek reads the letter:
Frezak (GM): What material was the shattered thing?
 
Stone?
:: ''Wayfarers,  
Apheori (GM): It actually seems more like some sort of plastic.
 
Gaurav: BSG: it might be a reference to that person who handed you the first stone in the marketplace in Coffle?
:: ''You may not remember me, but we met in Coffle in 2167. Your names were new to these worlds, and thus my organisation took an interest, passing along the standard invitation.
Frezak (GM): Yeah, the teleporting lady.
 
Put your rocks in the thing.
:: ''Whether or not you would have accepted is moot. The party is long past, but the slow decimation of our worlds yet continues, marked only by the space where things should have been, the shapes that remain hinting at the missing pieces. I cannot explain for the same reason I have no proof, only that I know what I have seen for as long as I still have, and sensed what I have not.  
Gaurav: She's in the session logs as "Mysterious Woman": http://wiki.zaori.org/wiki/Holes/Session_9
 
Bear Soup Guy: Ah, got it. I did remember her but I didn't pin her for the letter writer for some reason.
:: ''Our efforts were attached to a puzzle. The keys were stones with symbols etched upon them. I wish I could tell you more, but the more I try to remember, the more it seems I lose. In the box is every piece of the puzzle block remaining in our archives. With any luck, you will have already found others. With even more luck, you won't have lost them. It may even be enough, all together.
But I've forgotten all the names of all the towns and planets we've been to, so there's that
 
I swear it's for my character!
:: ''Enough for what, I do not know. Like the other pieces, the instructions are long gone, removed from the world as though deleted from past and future, but the simple matter is, you of all the others survived, or so I can only assume. Your names are not in the Codex of the Doomed, and unlike the rest of the worlds, it alone seems to remember what is gone, but seeming is not proof. If the Emissary deems to take the message, then that shall be the proof and testament.  
Radek: Where are those stones all of you were carrying around?
 
Rhu hands the two stones he's carrying to Radek
:: ''So you, at least, may find a use for this.
Greibel gets out his stones and hands them over
 
Apheori (GM): You wind up with, altogether, a pile of the following: bird, tree, mask, dragon, contagion, cat, dream, and fire.
:: ''Good luck. I don't say the world depends on you, but if you can do anything at all, if you can just buy us a little more time, it may be enough.  
There also seem to be symbols around the sockets in the contraption, but they've mostly worn off.
 
Ganelon: I'll do my best to place the stones we've got into their correct sockets, then.
:: ''For what, I wonder? I can only trust my gut on this one.
If the symbols are worn off...
 
Well, Gravy's got good eyes.
:: ''-L
We've more stones than slots though, don't we?
 
Apheori (GM): 8 stones, 7 slots.
Gravy looms over Radek to read it too, and then Radek just hands it to him a moment later, being a fast reader and having already finished.
Gaurav: Maybe different combinations do different things to the mechanism? Haerevan might know more about this, given that it was his idea.
 
We still need to exorcise Amadi at some point.
RADEK
Bear Soup Guy: Maybe it has an Exorcise Amadi setting
...Hrm.
Ganelon: Okay, I suppose I ought to ask instead.
 
Do any symbols on the device seem to correspond to symbols on these stones?
Radek opens the box. It contains a circular contraption with spaces for seven stones, three more of the stones themselves, and a few chunks of something shattered, possibly plastic.
Apheori (GM): You can't tell.
 
Ganelon: Hmm.
RADEK
Apheori (GM): Get Gravy to look at it.
Where are those stones all of you were carrying around?
Or not.
 
You look closely and it's like the symbols were never entirely even placed.
Rhu hands the two stones he's carrying to Radek.
Frezak (GM): I want to feel the stones.
 
Feel where they want to be.
Greibel gets out his stones and hands them over.
Feel where they should be.
 
Feel the empty spaces, and the spaces that are empty, and what they need.
They wind up with, altogether, a pile of the following: bird, tree, mask, dragon, contagion, cat, dream, and fire. There also seem to be symbols around the sockets in the contraption, but they've mostly worn off.
I WANT TO FILL THESE HOLES PROPERLY
 
Apheori (GM): Roll madness or arcana.
Radek tries arranging the stones into their correct sockets. There are more stones than sockets, so he tries a few configurations, but nothing happens.
Or both.
 
Frezak (GM):
He looks more closely and it's like the symbols on the device were never entirely even placed.
rolling 1D20 Madness
 
(
'''''Frezak''' (Gravy): I want to feel the stones. Feel where they want to be. Feel where they should be. Feel the empty spaces, and the spaces that are empty, and what they need. I WANT TO FILL THESE HOLES PROPERLY.
9
 
)
The Gravedigger reaches over to give it a try and Radek passes him the device. He winds up with stones placed seemingly at random, with the cat left over. ''(rolled 9 madness, 12 arcana)''
=
 
9
Nothing happens.
rolling 1D20+4 Arcana
 
(
RHU
8
(to Amadi)
)
What is that thing?
+4
 
=
AMADI
12
Some sort of... thing. They used it to detect and transport oddities. Back when they had all the pieces. Before the universe tried to write it all out of existence.  
Gaurav: I have a nasty suspicion that Rhu's hairy-vision might have helped here.
Also, I should probably let you have your friend back. And get back. To waiting.
Apheori (GM): You wind up with stones placed seemingly at random, with the cat left over.
 
Ganelon: Does anything happen?
RHU
Apheori (GM): Nope.
Waiting?
Rhu: (to Amadi) What is that thing?
 
Amadi: Some sort of... thing.
AMADI
They used it to detect and transport oddities.
For the bread.
Back when they had all the pieces. Before the universe tried to write it all out of existence.
 
Also, I should probably let you have your friend back.
RADEK
And get back.
Does this device have multiple configurations? The letter describes it as a puzzle.
To waiting.
 
Radek: Does this device have multiple configurations?
AMADI
Rhu: Waiting?
It seems to be missing the top, which might be important. Basically they'd first have folks turn it on - that was the test. Then it would be reordered to change the function - the puzzle, to counter the puzzle of the...
Radek: The letter describes it as a puzzle.
 
Amadi: For the bread.
(to Radek) It seems to be missing the top, which might be important.
Basically they'd first have folks turn it on - that was the test. Then it would be reordered to change the function - the puzzle, to counter the puzzle of the...
Amadi just stops, not sure what she was saying.
Amadi just stops, not sure what she was saying.
Radek: ...Yes?
 
Amadi: I don't know. It's not there.
RADEK
Radek: Hrmph.
...Yes?
Perhaps I can fix it.
 
Ganelon: The device, he means. Not Amadi.
AMADI
Rhu: We could try putting it in the order in which we encountered those things. Cat-Tree-Contagion-Dream-Fire-Dragon-Mask. Not sure about the bird.
(worriedly)
Amadi nods, waves slightly, says, "Goodbye," convulses a bit, and then falls over.
I don't know. It's not there.
Rhu checks Amadi's vital signs
 
Rhu:
RADEK
rolling d20+15 heal check on Amadi
Hrmph. Perhaps I can fix it.
(
 
4
RHU
)
We could try putting it in the order in which we encountered those things. Cat-Tree-Contagion-Dream-Fire-Dragon-Mask. Not sure about the bird.
+15
 
=
Amadi nods and waves slightly.
19
 
Apheori (GM): She's alive, just unconscious.
AMADI
Gaurav: Any sign of zombie!Amadi re-emerging? How would we know?
Goodbye.
Apheori (GM): Radek could probably arcana it.
 
Or you could try to guess with a madness roll.
She then convulses a bit and then falls over.
Ganelon: I want to see that first.
 
Gaurav: Let's keep focussing on the box then. Or we can take it back to the village along with George and get some rest before poking at it further.
Rhu checks her vital signs. ''(rolled 19 heal)'' She's alive, just unconscious.
Ganelon: We solved the zombie problem, I suppose.
 
Gaurav: We did! I hope George is happy. If anybody who aspires to mini-Radek-ness can ever be happy.
In Greibel's hands, the bong is suddenly clear once more. Nobody notices as he tokes away.
Ganelon: Radek is capable of being happy, in his own way.
</screenplay>
You may recall that he had a brief fit of generosity following a certain revelation.
 
And now Gravy's shovel is magic.
{{holes nav
Gaurav: True.
|previous=Holes/Session 39
Apheori (GM): So everyone's ready to just head back?
|next=Holes/Session 41
Ganelon: Yeah, Radek will try to Make Whole on the broken thing in the box - and the contraption itself - but it can wait until they're somewhere more comfortable.
}}
Frezak (GM): I also have magic boots.
Ganelon: Right, those too.
Gaurav: I like the idea of going back, unless someone wants to spend the night under the aurora?
Apheori (GM): Great, next time you'll be in town with stuff and things.
Frezak (GM): I'm cool with not sleeping below eldritch skies.
Apheori (GM): Sorry this was so short, and sorry about flipping out at someone not showing up.
Again.
Ganelon: Understandable.
Bear Soup Guy: It was a very mild flip-out
Regardless, this was a fun session
Gaurav: Yes! We got a cool letter and a magic box to play with.
Bear Soup Guy: I'm going to go have a shower before the paint starts peeling from the walls
Bye everyone! See you next time!
Gaurav: bye, BSG!
Apheori (GM): For the log: 16 december
And that
s
all.
I love you guys, even if this is insanely early.
</pre>

Latest revision as of 04:54, 1 March 2015

≪ PreviousNext ≫
Session 40 (raw log) (Overview)
EXT. Riverbank near the other cavern entrance - night
It is a horribly bright night full of birds chirping. The sky is full of funky glowing stuff, like an aurora, but more.
Having just escaped the cave system back into the fresh air, the party sits down for a short rest while Radek tries to sort out the possessed Amadi, who is now sitting on Gravy's horns almost like the usual Amadi.
Radek assaults the possessed Amadi with indecipherable jargon. (rolled 22 arcana)
She gives Radek a confused look and sets Gravy's horn on fire.
RADEK
...Really, now. What are you trying to accomplish?
AMADI
Magic, I suppose. Wait, that actually was something, wasn't it?
Amadi starts poking the horn.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Would you mind not doing that?
AMADI
Sorry.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
(indicating the sky)
Is this normal?
RADEK
George, what do you make of this?
GEORGE
(pushing up his goggles)
Is what normal?
Radek gestures towards the sky.
The Gravedigger points at the sky.
George looks up.
GEORGE
...yes? I mean... Wait, what do you see?
The Gravedigger looks at Radek.
GREIBEL
Typical. A beautiful natural formation of light and color and we're suspicious that it's a wormhole or else some kind of dark magic.
Greibel sighs.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Or bees. Could be space bees. It never is, but it could be. Bees.
Radek scoffs.
RADEK
"Dark" magic...
RADEK
This is nothing more than a scattering of ionized atmospheric constituents and their resulting optical emissions. Completely harmless.
Ganelon (Radek): Thanks, Wikipedia. I knew I could count on you to give me an explanation that means absolutely nothing to a normal person.
GEORGE
(not seeing anything)
I guess I'll have to take your word for that.
This is the point where Squirrel drops out of a tree next to them.
SQUIRREL
BEES!
George hands Dawn to Squirrel.
They proceed to stare at each other.
RADEK
...Is this another one? How many are there?
AMADI
Thirteen, approximately. With an allowable failure buffer of five.
RADEK
...
I'm not sure that I am prepared to deal with thirteen.
GREIBEL
I'm sure they'll reveal themselves slowly for the sake of your sanity.
Greibel takes a toke of his bong, which is still a weird shade of black. He falls over a moment later.
AMADI
You won't need to. That as many have solidified as you have is peculiar, but they're... they're not here for you. Nevermind that, though. I expect you'd like me out of here, no? Could you lend a hand?
RADEK
...What do you need help with, exactly?
AMADI
Magic! And creation.
Amadi climbs down off Gravy.
RADEK
If that is the most accurate explanation you can give, then you may well be here forever.
AMADI
It's a specific object, but my magic seems to be broken. It's like it's a good mould, but the batter is messed up, so If you can do the actual mixing and baking and I'll show you the pan, do you think you could make the bread?
Radek sighs and grumbles.
RADEK
...I can do that.
Rhu reaches out to try and touch the sky-hair, then giggles softly.
RHU
So much hair.
The Gravedigger starts digging a hole, just in case.
Amadi walks over and grabs Rhu by the head in the meantime.
AMADI
(to Rhu)
Do you know any songs?
RHU
Ow! What? Songs?
AMADI
Sing, please.
Rhu looks around at the others in confusion, then start sings a random pop song from his home planet really, really badly. It sounds a bit like "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
Amadi looks satisfied at this and then shoves a hand in Rhu's head. Rhu just ignores it and keeps singing. Badly.
Radek scowls intensely at Rhu's attempts at singing.
GREIBEL
That's an interesting expression of her love of music.
Amadi yanks something dark and hairy out and suddenly, to Rhu, everything is normal again. He can see normally, hear normally, there's colour, etc etc etc. All the hair is gone.
Rhu gasps and falls over.
Amadi drops Rhu and goes over to Radek, holding out the dark hairy thing.
RHU
What the FUCK? I can see! I can see again!
GREIBEL
LANGUAGE, young man!
Greibel tokes again, and this time barely manages to avoid falling over.
Rhu runs up and hugs Greibel.
RHU
It's gone! It's gone and I can see!
Greibel coughs out a plume of smoke.
SQUIRREL
(singing)
Laaaaaanguage language language! Language!
GREIBEL
I'm glad to see that my attempt at surrogate parental guidance has resonated with you.
AMADI
(to Radek)
Can you use this as a base?
RADEK
Of course I can.
Radek stares hard at the black squiggly.
Radek stares very hard at the black squiggly.
Ganelon (Radek): Approximately this hard. [1]
Rhu is just kind of jumping around exultantly in the background.
Radek nods after a while.
RADEK
...Let us begin.
Amadi hands him the squiggly and they begin. (rolled 26, 22 arcana) All in all, it works and nothing particularly weird happens. After much not so particular weirdness, a fair bit of black stuff floating around, and a weird feeling of up to three different entities in his mind, they wind up with... a box, maybe 25x15x10cm.
And a letter.
In the background, Rhu attempts to climb the closest tree (rolled 14 athletics), making whooping noises interspersed with random praises to Hazz'ridan.
He fails to actually climb the tree, falls backwards, lands hard on the ground, and just grins widely before standing up to run around yelling again.
AMADI
Whoohoo! You're good.
Radek grumbles. He picks up the box and letter, but does not open the former.
Meanwhile Squirrel pokes Dave a few times, giggles, and then runs up a tree. Literally running sideways up the tree.
Dave rubs her head.
Rhu runs back to the rest of the group.
RHU
Wow. Okay. WOW. This. This is pretty amazing.
(to Amadi)
Thank you. Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.
AMADI
Oh, uh... you're welcome.
Rhu tries to hug her, but she pulls away, so he just tries to shake her hand instead. She gives him a confused look.
RHU
Oh. Sorry.
Rhu tries to get a grip on himself.
While all of this is going on, Radek reads the letter:
:: Wayfarers,
:: You may not remember me, but we met in Coffle in 2167. Your names were new to these worlds, and thus my organisation took an interest, passing along the standard invitation.
:: Whether or not you would have accepted is moot. The party is long past, but the slow decimation of our worlds yet continues, marked only by the space where things should have been, the shapes that remain hinting at the missing pieces. I cannot explain for the same reason I have no proof, only that I know what I have seen for as long as I still have, and sensed what I have not.
:: Our efforts were attached to a puzzle. The keys were stones with symbols etched upon them. I wish I could tell you more, but the more I try to remember, the more it seems I lose. In the box is every piece of the puzzle block remaining in our archives. With any luck, you will have already found others. With even more luck, you won't have lost them. It may even be enough, all together.
:: Enough for what, I do not know. Like the other pieces, the instructions are long gone, removed from the world as though deleted from past and future, but the simple matter is, you of all the others survived, or so I can only assume. Your names are not in the Codex of the Doomed, and unlike the rest of the worlds, it alone seems to remember what is gone, but seeming is not proof. If the Emissary deems to take the message, then that shall be the proof and testament.
:: So you, at least, may find a use for this.
:: Good luck. I don't say the world depends on you, but if you can do anything at all, if you can just buy us a little more time, it may be enough.
:: For what, I wonder? I can only trust my gut on this one.
:: -L
Gravy looms over Radek to read it too, and then Radek just hands it to him a moment later, being a fast reader and having already finished.
RADEK
...Hrm.
Radek opens the box. It contains a circular contraption with spaces for seven stones, three more of the stones themselves, and a few chunks of something shattered, possibly plastic.
RADEK
Where are those stones all of you were carrying around?
Rhu hands the two stones he's carrying to Radek.
Greibel gets out his stones and hands them over.
They wind up with, altogether, a pile of the following: bird, tree, mask, dragon, contagion, cat, dream, and fire. There also seem to be symbols around the sockets in the contraption, but they've mostly worn off.
Radek tries arranging the stones into their correct sockets. There are more stones than sockets, so he tries a few configurations, but nothing happens.
He looks more closely and it's like the symbols on the device were never entirely even placed.
Frezak (Gravy): I want to feel the stones. Feel where they want to be. Feel where they should be. Feel the empty spaces, and the spaces that are empty, and what they need. I WANT TO FILL THESE HOLES PROPERLY.
The Gravedigger reaches over to give it a try and Radek passes him the device. He winds up with stones placed seemingly at random, with the cat left over. (rolled 9 madness, 12 arcana)
Nothing happens.
RHU
(to Amadi)
What is that thing?
AMADI
Some sort of... thing. They used it to detect and transport oddities. Back when they had all the pieces. Before the universe tried to write it all out of existence.
Also, I should probably let you have your friend back. And get back. To waiting.
RHU
Waiting?
AMADI
For the bread.
RADEK
Does this device have multiple configurations? The letter describes it as a puzzle.
AMADI
It seems to be missing the top, which might be important. Basically they'd first have folks turn it on - that was the test. Then it would be reordered to change the function - the puzzle, to counter the puzzle of the...
Amadi just stops, not sure what she was saying.
RADEK
...Yes?
AMADI
(worriedly)
I don't know. It's not there.
RADEK
Hrmph. Perhaps I can fix it.
RHU
We could try putting it in the order in which we encountered those things. Cat-Tree-Contagion-Dream-Fire-Dragon-Mask. Not sure about the bird.
Amadi nods and waves slightly.
AMADI
Goodbye.
She then convulses a bit and then falls over.
Rhu checks her vital signs. (rolled 19 heal) She's alive, just unconscious.
In Greibel's hands, the bong is suddenly clear once more. Nobody notices as he tokes away.


≪ PreviousNext ≫
Session 40 (Overview)
Retrieved from ‘https://wiki.zaori.org/w/index.php?title=Holes/Session_40&oldid=2946’

I keep the music on, because as jarring as it is, it is so much less painful than the ringing in my ears.