Difference between revisions of "Holes/Session 15"

A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
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<pre>
{{holes nav
Apheori (GM): Dundun dun.
|top=true
Rar.
|previous=Holes/Session 14
Bear Soup Guy: rrrrrmbumb
|next=Holes/Session 16
Apheori (GM): Am I authorised to maim people who don't show up?
}}
Bear Soup Guy: In certain locales
 
Ganelon: It's generally considered a faux-pas.
<screenplay>
Apheori (GM): I'll just maim Gaurav, then. Frezak actually has an excuse.
INT. Lab - underground complex
Ellemerr: What if Gaurav does too and you're left with nobody to maim?
 
Apheori (GM): Then he'll get maimed for that injustice instead.
The Gravedigger, Rhu, and Greibel are asleep. Radek is at a table, working on various tinkering, not all there, doing his bizarre equivalent of sleep.
Oh, apparently he's asleep.
 
The bastard.
The Gravedigger Dreams.
And he's already been maimed. Forgot about that.
 
Ganelon: Wait, how do you know that?
: ''You dream of Earth, dark and moist and full of worms. It surrounds you on all sides, yet you are not Earth. Well, of course you're not Earth. You know Earth. You are not Earth. You're what is left when the Earth is removed. You are black, like a sky once the bright lights are taken out of it, and empty, empty, empty... Struggling, you reach to grab the Earth that is all around you, so dark and moist, with all its wurms, the lives and the fullness of it. You reach and you grasp and you pull, and it all falls into you, but you feel no less empty. You feel bigger, and more powerful, but also more alone, for the Earth is further away, now. It fears you, or it longs for you, but when you embrace the Earth it falls away and is gone, and you are even more alone with your black and empty sky.
Apheori (GM): I checked my email.
 
Ellemerr: Don't listen to her; she's psychic. Just trying to trick you.
: ''Your dream shifts, and still you are not Earth. You are standing on Earth, feeling its moistness beneath your bare feet, knowing it to be dark and full of wurms. You hold in your right hand your tool that you use to move the Earth, and you stand before a grave, a grave of the Earth. You did not dig this grave. The earth that was moved from it was more than moved, it was re-moved and un-moved and now there's no telling where it is, or if it even is at all. In your left hand you hold a dead chicken. It needs to be buried properly, but you don't think this grave can do that. Proper burial requires the Earth to be moved back into the hole. If the Earth isn't there...
Ganelon: Your email tells you that he's asleep?
 
Apheori (GM): Yes.
: ''"Are you going to get on with it?" asks the chicken. You don't answer. You're not in the habit of talking with your clientele.
It's very sophisticated.
 
Ellemerr: Possibly, her email is psychic.
: ''"Look, just pop me in the hole and get on with it," says the chicken. "Quests don't wait for ever, and the library will close eventually. Time is of the essence, you know."
Ganelon: I need to get one of those.
 
Apheori (GM): OKAY.
: ''You look at the chicken, then back in the hole. And then you bury it in the blank and empty sky.
Y'all fell asleep. Except maybe Radek.
 
Ganelon: He's close enough to asleep.
: ''The dream shifts again and for the briefest moment you see the girl standing behind you, flickering like a bad TV image, first in one colour, then another. The winged kitten on her shoulder hisses at you and she begins to turn to look at you, but before you can see her face...
Apheori (GM): Gravy, Radek: You awaken to/become aware of a whizzing noise and someone saying 'WHEEEEEE'. It sounds like Dave.
 
Frezak (GM): my room is full of wood and rubbish.
The Gravedigger wakes up suddenly.
I'll be around in 20. do things >.>
 
Apheori (GM): We're now missing two people.
Greibel Dreams.
Ellemerr: Oh yeah, you're totally not missing me. At all.
 
Apheori (GM): There won't be any fun with everyone missing.
: ''"Hello," says Amadi. "It was about time you dropped by."
Ganelon: Shall we just wait, then?
 
Apheori (GM): Aye.
: ''You're dreaming about a sky, a vast sky full of bright lights, colourful and glorious. You're flying, or swimming, or just being, and you really don't care to find out. You're all alone in the vastness of space, but for Amadi and the chicken. It isn't really space, either; not the dark, empty void that spans between the worlds. This is a place of light. This is the bright and colourful void that spans between -
Unless Rob wants to... do something dreamy.
 
Frezak (GM): I can sort of look at my computer every minute or so
: ''"Do you like it?" asks Amadi, cutting off your thoughts before you have time to think them. You nod. You want to tell her just how much you like it, how much better it is than anything you've experienced before in your life, but it is she who holds the words, the great and terrible words one would need to explain a place, a feeling like this, the words that are too big to fit in a mortal mouth. And so you nod, because it's the best you can do.
Apheori (GM): You know what? Scratch what I just said. Everyone fell asleep. Even Radek sort of dozed off.
 
Frezak (GM): I have 20 passive perception, I'll have you know.
: ''"It used to be bigger, you know. She was supposed to govern it, but it's not a thing that lets itself be governed, and after the split... I'm afraid we lost some colours. Or maybe it wasn't even our fault."
Asleep, that's 15.
 
Gravy has... radar.
: ''You look closer at Amadi and realize that she isn't that person you've met before, the one who says, after all, that she is not Amadi. Miss Teatime? This one is brighter and more colourful, and you see bits of others in her. Dave. Not Dave, Dawn. And you see something altogether darker, as well.
Apheori (GM): Okay.
 
Frezak (GM): Grave-dar.
: ''"Holes. She never accounted for them. They weren't here yet, and easy to ignore, and now we can't even remember well enough to do something about the ones that seep into our own selves... They weren't supposed to be our problem."
Apheori (GM): Amadi's going to send you some dreams.
 
Frezak (GM): Gravy dreams?
: ''You see the dark between the stars, the colourful myriads of lights that are far more than mere stars, and the Black Holes among them. They make your head spin and your stomach swirl and your eyes sting and you realize that this is a dream and you ought to wake up so you can find somewhere to go and throw up but you can't, and now you can't look away from the hole that is swallowing up the whole world, all the loveliness of it and you feel like screaming; this is the saddest thing you've ever witnessed, and -
Sounds too... mad for down-in-earth Gravy.
 
Apheori (GM): You all may have been drugged.
: ''Suddenly there's a chicken in your face.
Ellemerr: I don't know how you managed to make me talk you into this. >.<
 
Frezak (GM): HE IS THE ONLY SANE PERSON ON THIS GORRAM PLANET
: ''"Dude," says the chicken, "what do you think you're doing? You don't want to be trippin' over there, man! It's bad mojo, like, really, really bad, and besides... aren't you s'posed to be on some quest, man? Dude, the library is totally going to close on you, and that librarian might not take kindly to not being rescued on time! Man, librarians can be some mean bitches when you don't do things on time, oooh boy, did I tell you about that time when -"
Apheori (GM) cackles.
 
Ganelon: I don't suppose we can refuse these dreams, huh?
: ''The sudden silence is the most harrowing thing you have never heard. The black hole is right in front of your face, and the chicken is gone, and you think you might die, or go mad, or something even worse, if you fall in after it, and -
Like leaving the mail in the 'box?
 
Apheori (GM): They're going to happen.
: ''Amadi spins you around; she's strong for someone so little. Or maybe you're just very light. You look into her eyes and you open your mouth and you're about to tell her...
Sorry.
 
Ganelon: Blast.
Greibel wakes up slowly.
This won't win me any friends but I don't like dreams.
 
Apheori (GM): You need better ones.
Radek Dreams.
Ellemerr: He needs any ones.
 
Frezak (GM): So.... I'm not needed here anymore?
: ''You dream of -
Ganelon: Actually, yeah. I don't dream.
 
Apheori (GM): Do your stuff, but check back so you don't miss the dream.
: ''No.
Frezak (GM): Gorram.
 
Ellemerr: You're good. Go play.
: ''You're working. You never fell asleep; you would never fall asleep. You're working. Mending, repairing, breaking down, reassembling, making, creating... working.
Frezak (GM): What?
 
Ellemerr: Shoo.
: ''So far you have made fifty bombs, a spaceship, a particularly good coffee-machine, a rather imperfect sandwich, a chicken, a whole pen of Mouseforged, a pen (to hold animal-machines), a pen (to write with), half-score bottled genies, one of them even more or less functional, although very rude, and on a special request you've mended a broken mask. That was a tough one, and something about the mask made you just itch behind your skin and under your nails and in the back of your eyes, but the payment was good. Currently you're working on a perfect rendition of the whole universe. You've managed the bright bits fairly well, but you're having trouble with the holes, and find yourself wishing you had Gravy to help you. He's good with holes. But unlike you, he's asleep. Everyone's asleep, even the Mouseforged, everyone except you and the chicken.
Apheori (GM) dreams.
 
Frezak (GM): I'm probably ensconced again.
: ''"You're never going to get that right, you know," comments the chicken. It's been giving unhelpful comments like this all along. You don't want to recall all the atrocities it mentioned while you were working on the mask.
NOT THAT IT MATTERS
 
Apheori (GM): What does that mean?
: ''"It's not conductive at all. You don't have the proper tools, you don't even have the proper blueprints. And by this point, it's changing too fast and you won't manage to update it before it's all gone dark. You should focus on your quest. You should find the bound librarian. Sometimes, you don't need to know exactly how something is supposed to be in order to fix it. Just try harder, and remember to-"
Frezak (GM): Means I'm sat in front of my computer, but i/we have been waved away while... someone writes dreams?
 
Bear Soup Guy: I don't think that's what ensconced means
: ''The chicken makes a squeaky sound before going silent, and you deign it the briefest glance to notice that the annoying mad girl is holding it by the neck. "Sorry," she whispers, "It got away from me. Won't happen again; promise." And she steps back and away and leaves you to your work.
Frezak (GM): Shh, you.
 
I know words.
: ''While you looked away, though, the model became all mangled. You're going to have to start over...
I PROCLAIM ME TO BE RIGHT.
 
This chair isn't soft enough for me to be really ensconced.
Radek's dream fades, and he dozes on, still tinkering at his things.
Bear Soup Guy: reclinesconced
 
Apheori (GM): Did we lose Gan?
Rhu Dreams of darkness, empty and silent. A dead end.
Ellemerr wrote one dream. It may be enough for now.
 
Ganelon: I'm here.
The Gravedigger and Greibel awaken to hear Dawn saying 'WHEEEEEE' as she flies overhead and then notice some other things - the porridge has eaten most of the zombie corpse bits; the sphinx fell asleep and drooled all over the Mouseforged, which appears to be leaking something strange and silvery; Dawn got into Radek's things, borrowed some books, and made herself a floating disk and started whizzing around the room on it; and Amadi is sitting upside-down on the ceiling juggling geese.
Apheori (GM): Great. Roll20 is lying to me again.
 
Bear Soup Guy: it does that
GREIBEL
Frezak (GM): It's a deception engine.
This is better than breakfast in bed.
Bear Soup Guy: a deceptiongine
 
Frezak (GM): Deceptine?
DAWN
Nah, that sounds like Cough Syrup.
Wheeeeeeee!
'Um, yeah. Sure. It'll make them better. Sure."
 
Bear Soup Guy: XD
Dawn tries to fly up a wall and nearly falls off the disk.
Frezak (GM): Sweets.
 
"yeah, they're healthy? Teeth? This shit iron-plates them. INVINCIBLE TEETH. You should be paying me- so you are. Right, now scram. I hear cops."
GREIBEL
Apheori (GM): OKAY.
Don't crash into the geese! They'll fall...up!
WE'RE STARTING.
 
NOW.
Greibel watches Dawn intently while occasionally glancing up at Amadi, and loads his bong accordingly. He smokes, grinning, watching everything unfold.
SORT OF.
 
Ganelon: Sort of.
Apheori (GM): What's everyone's passive perception when asleep/asleep-like?
Assuming it's one of the first two stages.
Ganelon: 13.
Bear Soup Guy: Is passive perception when asleep just regular passive perception?
Apheori (GM): But I guess D&D wouln't actually cover the different stages of sleep, let alone the implications of the associated brainwaves...
Regular -5, apparently.
Bear Soup Guy: Right, 15 then
Apheori (GM): Okay. So y'all are asleep.
Ganelon: Yes.
Apheori (GM): Just so we're clear on sourcing, these dreams were written by Ellemerr.
The Commoner in me demands I make this clear.
(To Frezak): The Gravedigger dreams.
Apheori (GM):
You dream of Earth, dark and moist and full of wurms. It surrounds you on all sides, yet you are not Earth. Well, of course you're not Earth. You know Earth. You are not Earth. You're what is left when the Earth is removed. You are black, like a sky once the bright lights are taken out of it, and empty, empty, empty... Struggeling, you reach to grab the Earth that is all around you, so dark and moist, with all its wurms, the lives and the fullness of it. You reach and you grasp and you pull, and it all falls into you, but you feel no less empty. You feel bigger, and more powerful, but also more alone, for the Earth is further away, now. It fears you, or it longs for you, but when you embrace the Earth it falls away and is gone, and you are even more alone with your black and empty sky.
Your dream shifts, and still you are not Earth. You are standing on Earth, feeling its moistness beneath your bare feet, knowing it to be dark and full of wurms. You hold in your right hand your tool that you use to move the Earth, and you stand before a grave, a grave of the Earth. You did not dig this grave. The earth that was moved from it was more than moved, it was re-moved and un-moved and now there's no telling where it is, or if it even is at all. In your left hand you hold a dead chicken. It needs to be buried properly, but you don't think this grave can do that. Proper burial requires the Earth to be moved back into the hole. If the Earth isn't there...
"Are you going to get on with it?" asks the chicken. You don't answer. You're not in the habit of talking with your clientel.
"Look, just pop me in the hole and get on with it," says the chicken. "Quests don't wait for ever, and the library will close eventually. Time is of the essence, you know."
You look at the chicken, then back in the hole. And then you bury it in the blank and empty sky.
Apheori (GM): The dream shifts again and for the briefest moment you see the girl standing behind you, flickering like a bad TV image, first in one colour, then another. The winged kitten on her shoulder hisses at you and she begins to turn to look at you, but before you can see her face...
Dammit.
That was supposed to all be whisper and it killed it.
Gravedigger: That's you.
Bear Soup Guy: WE JUST WON'T READ IT
NOBODY READ THAT
Ellemerr: Yeeeees, they do that when they've got spaces in them. I shoulda warned you. Sorry.
Send them on skype.
Easier to read there, too.
Spaces. Uhm. Paragraphs. That's the word.
Sorry. >.>
Apheori (GM): I'll try it again.
(To Greibel): "Hello," says Amadi. "It was about time you dropped by."
(To Greibel): You're dreaming about a sky, a vast sky full of bright lights, colourful and glorious. You're flying, or swimming, or just being, and you really don't care to find out. You're all alone in the vastness of space, but for Amadi and the chicken. It isn't really space, either; not the dark, empty void that spans between the worlds. This is a place of light. This is the bright and colourful void that spans between -
(To Greibel): "Do you like it?" asks Amadi, cutting off your thoughts before you have time to think them. You nod. You want to tell her just how much you like it, how much better it is than anything you've experienced before in your life, but it is she who holds the words, the great and terrible words one would need to explain a place, a feeling like this, the words that are too big to fit in a mortal mouth. And so you nod, because it's the best you can do.
(To Greibel): "It used to be bigger, you know. She was supposed to govern it, but it's not a thing that lets itself be governed, and after the split... I'm afraid we lost some colours. Or maybe it wasn't even our fault."
(To Greibel): You look closer at Amadi and realize that she isn't that person you've met before, the one who says, after all, that she is not Amadi. Miss Teatime? This one is brighter and more colourful, and you see bits of others in her. Dave. Not Dave, Dawn. And you see something altogether darker, as well.
(To Greibel): "Holes. She never accounted for them. They weren't here yet, and easy to ignore, and now we can't even remember well enough to do something about the ones that seep into our own selves... They weren't supposed to be our problem."
(To Greibel): You see the dark between the stars, the colourful myriads of lights that are far more than mere stars, and the Black Holes among them. They make your head spin and your stomach swirl and your eyes sting and you realize that this is a dream and you ought to wake up so you can find somewhere to go and throw up but you can't, and now you can't look away from the hole that is swallowing up the whole world, all the loveliness of it and you feel like screaming; this is the saddest thing you've ever witnessed, and -
(To Greibel): Suddenly there's a chicken in your face.
(To Greibel): "Dude," says the chicken, "what do you think you're doing? You don't want to be trippin' over there, man! It's bad mojo, like, really, really bad, and besides... aren't you s'posed to be on some quest, man? Dude, the library is totally going to close on you, and that librarian might not take kindly to not being rescued on time! Man, librarians can be some mean bitches when you don't do things on time, oooh boy, did I tell you about that time when -"
(To Greibel): The sudden silence is the most harrowing thing you have never heard. The black hole is right in front of your face, and the chicken is gone, and you think you might die, or go mad, or something even worse, if you fall in after it, and -
(To Greibel): Amadi spins you around; she's strong for someone so little. Or maybe you're just very light. You look into her eyes and you open your mouth and you're about to tell her...
(To Greibel): YOUR DREAM.
Apheori (GM): Greibel
s worked.
Ohay, read your dreams.
Apheori (GM) waves dismissively.
Ganelon: Is mine there?
Apheori (GM): Gravy, Greibel: You awaken to hear Dave saying 'WHEEEEEE' as she flies overhead and then notice some other things - the porridge has eaten most of the zombie corpse bits; the sphinx fell asleep and drooled all over the mouseforged, which appears to be leaking something strange and silvery; Dave got into Radek's things, borrowed some books, and made herself a floating disk and started whizzing around the room on it; and Amadi is sitting upside-down on the ceiling juggling geese.
Gan: Coming. You're still asleep.
Ganelon: Just making sure.
(To Radek): You dream of -
(To Radek): No.
(To Radek): You're working. You never fell asleep; you would never fall asleep. You're working. Mending, repairing, breaking down, reassembling, making, creating... working.
(To Radek): So far you have made fifty bombs, a spaceship, a particularly good coffee-machine, a rather imperfect sandwitch, a chicken, a whole pen of mouseforged, a pen (to hold animal-machines), a pen (to write with), half-score bottled genies, one of them even more or less functional, although very rude, and on a special request you've mended a broken mask. That was a touch one, and something about the mask made you just itch behind your skin and under your nails and in the back of your eyes, but the payment was good. Currently you're working on a perfect rendition of the whole universe. You've managed the bright bits fairly well, but you're having trouble with the holes, and find yourself wishing you had Gravy to help you. He's good with holes. But unlike you, he's asleep. Everyone's asleep, even the mouseforged, everyone except you and the chicken.
(To Radek): "You're never going to get that right, you know," comments the chicken. It's been giving unhelpful comments like this all alone. You don't want to recall all the atrocities it mentioned while you were working on the mask.
(To Radek): "It's not conductive at all. You don't have the proper tools, you don't even have the proper blueprints. And by this point, it's changing too fast and you won't manage to update it before it's all gone dark. You should focus on your quest. You should find the bound librarian. Sometimes, you don't need to know exactly how something is supposed to be in order to fix it. Just try harder, and remember to -"
(To Radek): The chicken makes a squeeky sound before going silent, and you deign it the briefest glance to notice that the annoying mad girl is holding it by the neck. "Sorry," she whispers, "It got away from me. Won't happen again; promise." And she steps back and away and leave you to your work.
(To Radek): While you looked away, though, the model became all mangled. You're going to have to start over...
Greibel: This is better than breakfast in bed.
Dave: Wheeeeeeee!
Dave tries to fly up a wall and nearly falls off the disk.
Greibel: Don't crash into the geese! They'll fall...up!
Greibel watches Dave intently while occasionally glancing up at Amadi
Greibel definitely loads his bong accordingly
Apheori (GM): I think we lost Frezak.
Bear Soup Guy: I think we did
Amadi juggles geese.
Amadi juggles geese.
Ganelon: I see him on R20.
 
And I'm done reading.
The Gravedigger sighs.
Apheori (GM): Can either of you poke him some other way so he's paying attention?
 
Bear Soup Guy: Thanks for the dreams, Ellemerr :)
Rhu continues to sleep.
Ganelon: Nothing more effective than this.
 
And yes, it was a lovely dream.
Radek finishes whatever he was doing and snaps out of his dozey fugue.
Except it wasn't a dream. It was work.
 
Totes.
RADEK
Amadi: It totally was.
Where's... where's that chicken gone? I was about to immolate it. Bloody pessimist.
Ellemerr: Ugh. OOC.
 
And you're all very welcome.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Though they were very hasty and weird and I don't really know what I was doing.
I thought I was going to go and fight strange monsters. Battle wondrous beasts, bury them, go home, get money, go on holiday.
But that's normal.
 
Bear Soup Guy: So they were like real dreams then =P
The commotion wakes Rhu as well, and Dawn crashes into a nearby wall and slides off the disk, winding up in this awkward upside-down position against the wall.
Ellemerr: I do believe there was a reason I was asked/volunteered.
 
*shifty eyes*
DAWN
Apheori (GM): So I guess Frezak isn't coming at all.
Ow.
Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow.
 
Bear Soup Guy: turtles
Rhu opens one eye, looks at Dawn, looks at Amadi, and then closes his one open eye as tightly as he can.
Gaurav: turtles?
 
Apheori (GM): IS EVERYONE HERE?
RHU
IS IT LYING TO ME AGAIN?
Five more minutes.
Ganelon: I am.
 
Bear Soup Guy: SOMETHING SOMTHING SOMETHING
AMADI
Gaurav: I may be here.
Good moooorning!
And still waiting to here what BSG has to say about turtles.
 
Bear Soup Guy: turtles are cute ^_^
The Gravedigger goes to check on the Mouseforged. It seems to be oozing. Almost like it's slightly melted. The sphinx is also sleeping on it, drooling.
Frezak (GM): EGGS
 
Apheori (GM): Okay it's lying.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Does anyone remember where we were?
Radek! Melty robot!
Frezak (GM): 5 minutes >.>
 
Ganelon: Yeah, it was something about dreams and then Dave made a floating disk.
RADEK
Frezak (GM): She Tenser'd
Hrm?
Ganelon: After stealing from me. Ungrateful zombie.
 
Apheori (GM): Right.
Hee.
Gaurav: Why were we all asleep? I thought the plan two weeks ago was to switch watch?
Were we enchanted?
Apheori (GM): It was, but you fell asleep and started dreaming.
Bear Soup Guy: Magic sleep gas
Apheori (GM): Well, the others did. Rhu didn't dream anything that you can recall.
Gaurav: In Ancient Rome, soldiers on watch who fell asleep would be stoned to death :-/
yay!
Apheori (GM): This isn't Rome.
Oaky, so I'm just going to redo the description so we're all on the same page.
Frezak (GM): Greibel is already stoned.
Apheori (GM): Aside from Radek, who was working on stuff and not really paying attention, you all decided to rest for what may or may not have been the night, taking turns keeping watch.
Frezak (GM): Just not lapidated.
Rhu: Frezak++
Gaurav: sorry OOC
Apheori (GM): But the watch didn't really pan out.
Frezak (GM): Don't we have time-telling devices?
Apheori (GM): Gravy, Greibel: You awaken to hear Dave saying 'WHEEEEEE' as she flies overhead and then notice some other things - the porridge has eaten most of the zombie corpse bits; the sphinx fell asleep and drooled all over the mouseforged, which appears to be leaking something strange and silvery; Dave got into Radek's things, borrowed some books, and made herself a floating disk and started whizzing around the room on it; and Amadi is sitting upside-down on the ceiling juggling geese.
Frezak (GM): I will sigh.
Apheori (GM): Dave whizzes past saying 'Wheee!'.
Rhu continues to sleep
Ganelon: Miniature geese, I hope.
Apheori (GM): Radek: You notice as well, having finished whatever you were doing.
The Gravedigger: I thought I was going to go and fight strange monsters.
Ganelon: Otherwise they'd be quite awkward to juggle.
Apheori (GM): Nope, full-sized geese. You don't know how she's doing it.
Gaurav: How are the geese reacting to being juggled? On the other hand: breakfast!
The Gravedigger: Battle wondrous beasts, bury them, go home, get money, go on holiday.
Apheori (GM): They seem confused.
Radek: Where's... where's that chicken gone?
I was about to immolate it. Bloody pessimist.
Apheori (GM): Rhu: The commotion wakes you as well.
Frezak (GM): I fill find biscuits and be miserable.
Apheori (GM): As you do so, Dave crashes into a nearby wall and slides off the disk.
Dave: Ow.
Rhu opens one eye, looks at Dave, looks at Amadi, and then closes his one open eye as tightly as he can.
Rhu: Five more minutes.
Amadi: Good morning.
Frezak (GM): I'll go see how the Mouseforged is doing.
Apheori (GM): So dave's lying in this awkward upside-down position against the wall.
It looks... weird.
Oozing. Almost like it's slightly melted.
The mouseforged, I mean.
Does.
Is.
Greibel did in fact start smoking and grinning as soon as he saw all this crazy stuff
The Gravedigger: Radek!
melty robot!
Rhu opens both his eyes and stares at the ceiling for a minute, waiting until he can be properly resigned to his lot.
Rhu opens both his eyes and stares at the ceiling for a minute, waiting until he can be properly resigned to his lot.
Radek: Hrm?
 
Apheori (GM): Amadi loses control of the geese and they all fall on Rhu.
Amadi loses control of the geese and they all fall on Rhu, squacking indignantly. They flap around, running in every direction.
...and start squacking indignantly.
 
Rhu: IN THE NAME OF ---
RHU
Ganelon: Honk.
IN THE NAME OF -
Apheori (GM): And flapping around.
 
Ganelon: Honk honk.
Rhu gets up, covered in feathers.
Apheori (GM): Yes.
 
Rhu gets up covered in feathers and, soon, bruises
AMADI
Amadi: Tarnation and blimey!
(from the ceiling)
Ganelon: Okay, so... melty robot. Sounds bad.
No!
Amadi: Buggery planks!
 
Obsequious goat blowers!
Rhu dodges away over a table, hitting a particularly large goose.
Rhu:
 
rolling 1d20+8 acrobatics check to dodge geese over this table
AMADI
(
No no nononono!
4
 
)
Rhu gets up and goes over to Dawn to help her up.
+8
 
=
DAWN
12
(quickly, before he actually does)
Ganelon: I mean, I know that Warforged apparently have some weird blood surrogate, but that would also be a bad thing to be leaking.
No not the, spine, my spine is broken, spine spine pine.
Amadi: Dementian blasting!
 
Apheori (GM): Rhu: You run into a goose while dodging, but get over the table unharmed.
RADEK
Gan: It's leaking.
(over the Mouseforged)
Ganelon: Leaking what!?
You wanted danger, Gravy? Remove the cat.
Apheori (GM): Silvery stuff!
 
Gaurav: Do the geese pursue Rhu? If not, he's going to walk over to Dave and help her up.
Frezak (GM): could be cheese.
Apheori (GM): You're the one who knows about warforged - is that normal?
Ganelon: Well, no!
Apheori (GM): Also there's a sphinx drooling on it.
It's still asleep.
Frezak (GM): THE TIME IS NOW
COUP DE GRACE
Apheori (GM): Naw, the geese are running away from everyone now.
Radek: You wanted danger, Gravy?
Remove the cat.
Gaurav: Oh good.
Apheori (GM): XD
Radek takes a step backwards.
Radek takes a step backwards.
Frezak (GM): I ready my best shovel.
 
Radek: Your Mouseforged is leaking.
Rhu realises something is going on behind him and quickly turns around.
Gaurav: Actually, Rhu is going to hang about here and watch Gravy.
 
Frezak (GM): I'll take a golfing stance.
The Gravedigger readies his best shovel, takes up a golfing stance, limbers up his shoulders.
LImber up my shoulders.
 
Ganelon: Somehow it's going to end up on one of our faces. I'm sure of it.
Rhu holds his breath.
Apheori (GM): Rhu: They don't follow. And Dave yells at him before he can actually do anything.
 
Something about breaking her spine.
Oh.
Ghah.
Well, she still complains about having broken her spine, but I guess nobody notices except maybe Greibel.
The sphinx snores.
The sphinx snores.
Ganelon: It would be insensitive to just ignore that, but we're talking about a robot in distress here!
 
Frezak (GM): Let's see, here.
Dawn slowly slides down onto the floor, glaring at nothing in particular.
SHovel attack... prone, unconcious.
 
Dave slowly slides down onto the floor, glaring at nothing in particular.
The Gravedigger swings and hits the sphinx with his shovel, sending it flying like a sack of potatoes. Unlike a sack of potatoes, it lands on its feet several feet away, looking confused.
Frezak (GM): FOOOOOOOORE
 
rolling 1D20+7+5+2
DAWN
(
You... attacked the sphinx? With a shovel. I... can't...
15
 
)
Dawn lies in a horrible heap.
+7+5+2
 
=
THE GRAVEDIGGER
29
It's magic, it'll be fine.
Rhu holds his breath
 
Dave: You... attacked the sphinx?
Frezak (GM): I'm swatting it.
Dave: With a shovel.
Frezak (GM): BRAVE, LIKE BEAR.
Dave: I... can't...
Frezak (GM): You said it was super tought!
Dave continues to lie there.
Frezak (GM): *tough*
The Gravedigger: It's magic, it'll be fine.
Apheori (GM): That's an attack roll?
Frezak (GM): Yeah.
Ganelon: Damn, man. Sooo close to a critical.
Amadi falls off the ceiling.
Amadi falls off the ceiling.
Apheori (GM): Well, the sphinx is pushed off the mouseforged like a sack of potatoes.
 
Unlike a sack of potatoes, it wakes up.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
The Gravedigger: Mr Mousie!
Mr. Mousie! Are you allright?
Are you allright?
 
Apheori (GM): How much damage did you do?
The Mouseforged doesn't respond. It's rather wet.
Frezak (GM): Um.
 
Gaurav: Where did Amadi fall?
Greibel can't take it anymore and cracks up laughing hysterically.
Frezak (GM): Well, I wasn't making a Coup De grace.
 
So this is... uh....
DAWN
Apheori (GM): Whereever Rhu was. I forgot, so... thereish.
Glad someone is amused.
Gaurav: That's exactly where he was!
 
Frezak (GM):
rolling 1D10+4
(
1
)
+4
=
5
See?
Apheori (GM): You hit it with a shovel. That does damage.
Frezak (GM): A gentle shove.
Apheori (GM): Okay.
So it's annoyed.
Frezak (GM): MOre like a caress.
It's always annoyed.
Gaurav: A gentle, metallic caress.
Frezak (GM): Shovellullar love.
Apheori (GM): So there's a pile of somewhat upset upside-down cat on the floor.
And there's a pile of mouseforged in the tank.
It's not doing anything.
Greibel can't take it anymore and cracks up laughing hysterically
Apheori (GM): It's rather wet.
Ganelon: Not good.
Dave: Glad someone is amused.
Radek: Open the tank!
Frezak (GM): I OPEN THE TANK
Amadi gets up and looks around as though seeing the room for the first time.
Amadi gets up and looks around as though seeing the room for the first time.
Amadi: HI ROOM!
 
Ganelon: You're a great assistant, Gravy.
AMADI
Apheori (GM): It was already open.
Good morning!
Sphinx was on it.
 
But anyway.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Ganelon: Oh, whoops.
Greibel, I think Sandwich lady is too high.
Gaurav: Does the sphinx show any sign of looking to attack Gravy? Or anyone?
 
The Gravedigger: Greibel, I think Sandwich lady is too high.
DAWN
Dave: ...hi?
...hi?
Apheori (GM): The sphinx has started licking itself.
 
So... no.
The Sphinx starts licking itself.
...maybe.
 
Depending on how familiar you are with cats.
GREIBEL
Ganelon: It's formulating grudges.
You're not too high until... uh...
Frezak (GM): I'm expecting some cat ambush later.
 
Greibel: You're not too high until....uh.....
Greibel starts laughing again.
Greibel starts laughing again
 
Amadi starts laughing as well.
Amadi starts laughing as well.
Ganelon: Okay, pretty much any kind of leaking is bad here, but the first thing I want to figure out is what the Mouseforged needs this silvery stuff for.
 
And where it's leaking out of. Those two are probably related.
Radek examines the Mouseforged, trying to sort out just what it was that is leaking, and where it's leaking from. It seems to be coming from the heart. It might be the soul, mixed with a fair amount of sphinx drool.
Gaurav: Rhu is pretty familiar with cats, there were many around where he grew up. But he's not familiar with sphinxes, and licking itself seems like a fairly non-aggressive thing for a cat to be doing, so he walks over to Dave.
 
Rhu: (to Dave) Are you okay?
The Gravedigger hurriedly starts trying to mop it up into a mug. He gets some in, but isn't very successful.
Frezak (GM): Gan. Radek no longer has his Pewter Surfer costume, right?
 
Ganelon: Correct.
The Gravedigger tries harder, getting more drooled-on soul into the mug.
Apheori (GM): Do warforged have any localised processing functions and memory/storage, or is it distributed?
 
Frezak (GM): Okay.
'''''Frezak''' (Gravy): AAAAAGH. GORRAM CAT. SHALAS COUL TAKE YOU, CAT.
Dave: I'm great.
 
Frezak (GM): GO to the teleport room, and make it pull through whatever's waiting.
Amadi suddenly stops laughing and just stares off into space.
Dave: I'm just waiting for my spine to regrow.
 
Frezak (GM): Because It might think the stuff was a lifeform.
Radek examines the rest of the Mouseforged carefully. ''(rolled 31 arcana (natural 20))'' The mouse soul looks fine. The leaking stuff seems to be... another soul.
Ganelon: Their OS is a soul.
 
Frezak (GM): And then, you get it back, ad poke the silver.
Rhu turns back to Dawn, who is still lying in a horrible heap on the floor.
Rhu: ...
 
Frezak (GM): And become the Herald of Galactus.
RHU
Apheori (GM): But what does the soul run on?
Are you okay?
Ganelon: But I think you're actually describing computer terms I'm not familiar with.
 
Rhu: (to Dave) oh ... kay ...
DAWN
Apheori (GM): >.<
I'm great. I'm just waiting for my spine to regrow.
Ganelon: Because I'm a programmer of games.
 
Gaurav: Is the soul all in one place (in the skull or heart or somewhere) or is it in multiple places?
Rhu stares at her.
Ganelon: I don't actually know a whole lot about the more fundamental hardware/software stuff.
 
Apheori (GM): That.
RHU
What Gaurav said.
O... kay...
Gaurav: P.S. I'm about to have my first carbonated drink since my wisdom teeth extraction. Wish me luck.
 
Apheori (GM): I suggest not using a straw.
Amadi turns her head slowly toward Gravy and the others.
It's probably fine by now, but still.
 
Ganelon: Oh.
AMADI
Gaurav: It is, but no, no straw.
Isn't it?
Ganelon: I'd say one place.
 
Apheori (GM): What place?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
It's leaking from there.
What, Sandwich Lady?
Ganelon: Well they're humanoid robots, so probably the heart because nobody's ever creative about this sort of thing.
 
Also, shit.
Rhu wanders over to the north door and has a look in the corridor. ''(rolled 15 perception)'' The corridor is dark and not very interesting.
Frezak (GM): Shit?
 
You want to check it's colon?
AMADI
Ganelon: This is bad.
I'd wear it, you know.
Frezak (GM): Liquid soul!
(she turns to Greibel)
I start trying to mop it up.
I would!
Into a mug.
 
Gaurav: If it's the head, then you can do that cool thing where you can take its head with you and talk to it on occasion.
Greibel expresses exaggerated shock at the statement and looks around.
Frezak (GM): Except I doubt Mr Mousie is a great conversationalist.
 
Ganelon: "What say you, Mouseforged?"
RADEK
"Squeak. Squeak."
Oh! Well that explains it.
"You always know how to cheer me up, Mouseforged. A-ha-ha-ha!"
The Mouseforged is leaking out remnants of a second soul because it wasn't designed to house two of them!
Frezak (GM): GO FOR THE EYES, MOUSIE
 
*fling*
Rhu goes and checks the other door, and senses undead in that direction. ''(rolled 27 perception)''
Gaurav: More fun than dragging a torso around with us, is all I'm saying.
 
hahaha
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Frezak (GM): What, you want us to DECAPITATE HIM?
Oh, hells.
YOU MONSTER
 
Ganelon: Okay, so I guess this probably requires a magical check-up first.
RADEK
Frezak (GM): You better have great AC? Mr AVenger.
Here, let me see that cup.
Apheori (GM): You get some of it into the mug, but aren't very successful.
 
Ganelon: I want to know how the mouse soul is looking.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Frezak (GM): I TRY HARDER
This has demon cat dribble in it.
Apheori (GM): Also it seems to be mixed with a bit of cat drool.
 
Frezak (GM): AAAAAGH
RADEK
Gaurav: better than leaving him behind!
That's probably fine.
Frezak (GM): GORRAM CAT
 
Apheori (GM): YOU GET MORE INTO THE MUG!
Radek checks the soul in the cup - specifically, if there's any "mouse" in it. ''(rolled 30 arcana)'' It seems to be all not mouse, but full of memory and history. The drool also seems to be somewhat magical on its own.
Frezak (GM): SHALAS COUL TAKE YOU, CAT
 
Amadi suddenly stops laughing and just stares off into space as though shocked at something.
RADEK
Ganelon: Arcana, then?
...Yes, good. The mouse soul isn't leaking out. It's the other one instead.
Amadi turns her head slowly toward Gravy and the others, and says, "Tofu?"
 
Gaurav: Rhu wanders over to the north door and has a look in the corridor
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Apheori (GM): Aye.
WHEW. I was worried for a bit.
Ganelon:
 
rolling 1d20+11
RADEK
(
That said, it would be helpful to gather up what we can of this one. It has a memory I should like to dig through.
20
 
)
THE GRAVEDIGGER
+11
You can have my mug.
=
 
31
RADEK
Oh, phew.
Thank you.
Apheori (GM): Rhu: The corridor is dark and not very interesting. You can check for specific things if you'd like.
 
The Gravedigger: What, Sandwich Lady?
Radek gathers up as much of the silvery soul mixture as he can into the mug. It's full of drool, but he seems to get most of it. The thing has also clearly stopped leaking at this point.
Apheori (GM): Radek: The mouse soul looks fine. This seems to be... the... other soul?
 
Amadi: TOFU!
He moves it into a stoppered flask.
Frezak (GM): Oh, shit.
 
OH NO.
AMADI
NO NO NO.
(to Greibel)
BURN IT
Have you made room for the tuna?
Gaurav:
 
rolling 1d20+11 for signs of life in the corridor -- either current, or any sign that someone might have passed to since we dragged the dead elf out here
GREIBEL
(
I've always got room for tuna!
4
 
)
AMADI
+11
Where is it?
=
 
15
Greibel points to his stomach.
Frezak (GM): BURN IT ALL
 
Ganelon: When did another soul get in here?
GREIBEL
Frezak (GM): WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING VERY WRONG
In here!
Greibel expresses exaggerated shock at the statement and looks around
 
Frezak (GM): BURN IT ALLLLL
AMADI
Apheori (GM): Gaurav: Seems to be nothing.
Oh, yes.
Frezak (GM): Get your bombs, Gan.
(mumbling)
Radek: Oh!
Yes, yes, of course. The crown of creation.
Well that explains it.
 
Gaurav:
Dawn pulls herself back onto the disk and proceeds to lie on that instead of on the floor.
rolling 1d20+11 same check for the southern corridor
 
(
Radek directs his attention toward Dawn, walking over and indicating the floating disk.
16
 
)
RADEK
+11
You made this?
=
 
27
DAWN
Apheori (GM): Gaurav: You sense there may be undead in that direction.
I guess?
Radek: The Mouseforged is leaking out remnants of a second soul because it wasn't designed to house two of them!
 
Ganelon: Spoken like nothing is wrong with that statement.
RADEK
Apheori (GM): Well, it originally came with a soul. This might be that.
Well, you're the one commanding it, at least. Why are you lying like that?
The Gravedigger: Oh, hells.
 
Radek: Here, let me see that cup.
DAWN
Ganelon: I want to see if there's any "mouse" in the cup.
My spine is broken. It'll regrow. I think.
The Gravedigger: This has demon cat dribble in it.
 
Gaurav: The undead we saw when we came from the transporter along this corridor, or fresh -- er, less fully dead -- one?
RADEK
Radek: That's probably fine.
Unfortunate. I recommend ceramic reinforcement if that happens often.
Apheori (GM): Also, if I don't respond to something, poke me about. Sometimes I just miss stuff. >.<
 
Gaurav: Probably just the same. It's not a strong or immediate sense.
RHU
Is it possible to steal someone else's floating disk?
I've never heard of stuff like that, spines regrowing by themselves. Does that happen often?
Rhu: What is the demon cat dribble like? Is it magical?
 
Apheori (GM): Arcana!
DAWN
Frezak (GM): No, disks are stuck to the owner.
I don't know if it does or not.
Ganelon:
 
rolling 1d20+11
Amadi walks over to Dawn and straightens out her spine.
(
 
19
AMADI
)
There. All fixed.
+11
 
=
'''''Ganelon''' (Radek): ...Is it actually all fixed, or just straight?
30
 
Apheori (GM): Stuck how?
'''''Apheori (GM)''': Hard to tell. Dawn doesn't seem to want to test it. She's not moving and looking slightly worried.
Ganelon: I'm on fire today.
 
Frezak (GM): COntrol can't be taken.
Greibel composes himself and then walks over to Dawn.
Ganelon: Mental control belongs to the ritual caster.
 
Apheori (GM): What was this check for, exactly?
GREIBEL
Frezak (GM): Magicalness of dribble?
Open your mouth and say "ah".
Ganelon: For the cup of silvery stuff and cat spit.
 
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Dawn does so, looking confused.
Ganelon: I mean, I was specifically looking to see if there was any mouse soul in it.
 
Apheori (GM): There does not appear to be any mouse in it, but it does seem to be full of... other memory.
DAWN
And fine, the dribble is magical. You happy?
Ah?
Frezak (GM): I feel that my character's expertise is not the most valuable knowledge in this endeavour.
 
Amadi: Greibel! Have you made room for the tuna?
Greibel chuckles a bit before straightening back up.
Tuna!
 
Greibel: I've always got room for tuna!
GREIBEL
Amadi: Where is it?
How many fingers am I holding up?
Radek: ...Yes, good.
 
Amadi: Where is it!
Greibel keeps changing the number of fingers and switches hands occasionally.
Greibel points to his stomach
 
Greibel: In here!
DAWN
Amadi: WHERE IS IT!
Nine so far?
Radek: The mouse soul isn't leaking out. It's the other one instead.
 
The Gravedigger: WHEW
Greibel pokes her spine. ''(rolled 18 heal)''
Greibel: Cool it! We'll find it!
 
The Gravedigger: I was worried for a bit.
DAWN
Amadi: YAY!
Wait, what?
Apheori (GM): Meanwhile Dave pulls herself back onto the disk and proceeds to lie on that instead of the floor.
Radek: That said, it would be helpful to gather up what we can of this one.
It has a memory I should like to dig through.
Ganelon: We're probably going to need something bigger than a cup for that.
The Gravedigger: You can have my mug.
Radek: Thank you.
Bear Soup Guy: I'm hoping that Radek literally reads its mind by rummaging through the weird liquid
Ganelon: He scrutinizes it with a microscope and then stirs.
Apheori (GM): Aww.
Ganelon: That's not a legit action.
He doesn't do that. Yet.
Apheori (GM): So you gather up as much as you can. It's full of drool, but you seem to get most of it.
And the thing has stopped leaking.
So there's that.
Ganelon: Excellent.
I'll put it into something a little more secure than a cup (like a stoppered flask) and finally direct my attention towards Dave.
Apheori (GM): Dave is lying on a disk looking disgruntled.
Radek: You made this?
Dave: I guess?
Radek: Well, you're the one commanding it, at least.
Why are you lying like that?
Dave: My spine is broken.
It'll regrow.
I think.
Radek: Unfortunate. I recommend ceramic reinforcement if that happens often.
Rhu: I've never heard of stuff like that, spines regrowing by themselves. Does that happen often?
Dave: I don't know if it does or not.
Frezak (GM): Ceramics? REALLY?
Taht's for thermal protection or ablative armour.
Ganelon: Yes.
Apheori (GM): Ceramics are actually incredibly strong.
Or they can be.
Frezak (GM): IN future times?
Ganelon: Do you really want heat-conductive metal fused to your spine?
Apheori (GM): Dude, she would.
Rhu: Gan: oof
Frezak (GM): I don't want ceramics!
Ganelon: She's weird.
Apheori (GM): Yes.
Ganelon: Most people with functioning nerves don't enjoy the touch of sun-baked metal.
Apheori (GM): Most people.
Frezak (GM): An external spine, now?
Ganelon: No, no.
Frezak (GM): Madness.
Ganelon: But I'm pretty sure that metal prosthetics do get really uncomfortable in hot temperatures.
Frezak (GM): Future metals, man.
Amadi walks over to Dave and straightens out her spine.
Amadi: There. All fixed.
Ganelon: ...Is it actually all fixed, or just straight?
Apheori (GM): Hard to tell.
Gaurav: o.0
Frezak (GM): HEAL CHECK
Apheori (GM): Dave doesn't seem to want to test it. She's not moving and looking slightly worried.
Frezak (GM): Anyone have Heal?
It's Wis.
I have 2.
Rhu?
Ganelon: I have 8.
Gaurav: My heal is +9
Bear Soup Guy: I have uh
10 I think, I'll check
Frezak (GM): WELL FUCK YOU GUYS
Gaurav: but the last time I tried to heal Dave, I killed her, so I'm going to hang back
Bear Soup Guy: Yeah, 10
Frezak (GM): I HAVE 18 STR.
AND I CAN'T LIFT SHIT.
Ganelon: Because while it would be amusing to have the guy tossing out med-hypos to have no actual medical knowledge, it would also be incredibly dangerous.
Apheori (GM): Dude, you tried lifting a car!
Gaurav: A cat big enough to hold us all
car*
Apheori (GM): Well, someone try something.
Greibel composes himself and then walks over to Dave
Greibel: Open your mouth and say "ah"
Greibel chuckles a bit before straightening back up
Dave: Dave does so, looking confused.
Oops.
Apheori (GM): THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A /ME
Bear Soup Guy: What die do I use for a heal roll?
Apheori (GM): d20 + mod
Gaurav: It's a skill
Bear Soup Guy: Ah, right-o
Oh duhr, I should have known that >_<
Greibel: How many fingers am I holding up?
Greibel keeps changing the number of fingers and switches hands occasionally
Frezak (GM): Just change what KIND of hand.
Greibel:
rolling 1d20+10 then he whacks her on the back by surprise
(
8
)
+10
=
18
Dave: Nine so far?
Agh!
Agh!
Apheori (GM) almost falls off the disk, and then it starts floating away.
 
Dave almost falls off the disk, and then it starts floating away.
Dawn almost falls off the disk, and then it starts floating away. She tries sitting up, determines that she seems to be fine again after all, and makes herself comfortable.
Apheori (GM): Ghuh.
 
Tabs, that's the proper handling for this sort of thing. Not selects.
GREIBEL
Select elements are horrible.
Another satisfied customer.
Unless you're selecting language or something.
 
Bear Soup Guy: I agree
Dawn glides over to Radek and watches him, possibly uncomfortably.
Apheori (GM): They're okay for one-time things.
 
But that's it.
RADEK
Okay, so Dave floated away from Greibel.
...Did you want something, Dave?
But she's also moving again, and tries sitting up.
 
Greibel: Another satisfied customer
DAWN
Ganelon: Oh, right.
Probably. I should know what, shouldn't I? But I should know a lot of things.
Apheori (GM): And having determined she seems to be fine again, makes herself comfortable.
 
Ganelon: These HP bars remind me that we should be healthy again after an extended rest.
RHU
Bear Soup Guy: That we should
If we're done here, we should get a move on. There are undead down this way, but I don't think there's too many of them.  
Dave glides over to Radek.
I'd like to find out where we were transported to when we came here: same planet, different planet, space ship...
Dave watches him, possibly uncomfortably.
These tanks that Amadi keeps appearing in, they're not teleports, are they?
Rhu: If we're done here, we should get a move on. There are undead down this way, but I don't think there's too many of them.
 
Radek: ...Did you want something, Dave?
GREIBEL
Apheori (GM): That's the way you came, though.
I don't remember teleporting anywhere.
What about the other way?
 
PANIC.
DAWN
PAAAAANIC.
We're underground.
Gaurav: I thought the corridor went on past this door?
 
Ganelon: Isn't that the way that someone else came in?
RHU
Apheori (GM): ...sorry.
(to Dawn)
Well, yes.
Oh, are we? We got here through a teleport, but the other end of the teleport is underground too. Under a well in the town of Coffle, the seat of Deslan, on That Planet Which Only Had The One Big Hole.
You all cam in that way.
 
Ganelon: I thought we approached this room from two different directions.
DAWN
Apheori (GM): But the others came from one direction down that corridor, and you from the other.
(pointing up)
Gaurav: oh!
There is a lot of rock up there.
yeah, I thought Greibel came in through the north door too
 
Frezak (GM): We could just smash our way to the teleporter?
Amadi disappears. Nobody reacts.
Dave: Probably. I should know what, shouldn't I?
 
But I should know a lot of things.
RHU
Rhu: I'd like to find out where we were transported to when we came here: same planet, different planet, space ship ...
(to Greibel)
Dave: We're underground.
Maybe you were teleported and you didn't notice?
Rhu: These tanks that Amadi keeps appears in, they're not teleports, are they?
 
Greibel: I don't remember teleporting anywhere
GREIBEL
Apheori (GM): Radek at least would know they're basic holding tanks, and not very good ones, at that.
That is...
Rhu: (to Dave) Oh, are we? We got here through a teleport, but the other end of the teleport is underground too. Under a well in the town of Coffle, the seat of Deslan, on That Planet Which Only Had The One Big Hole
(he looks at his bong)
Apheori (GM): Amadi disappears.
Totally possible.
You may or may not even notice.
 
Ganelon: She does that a lot. At the very least I wouldn't react strongly.
Rhu nods at Greibel.
Gaurav: Rhu does, since he's looking towards everybody else. But he pays it no heed.
 
Dave: There is a lot of rock up there. (points up*
RHU
*
(to Dawn)
Rhu: (to Greibel) Maybe you were teleported and you didn't notice?
How do you know we're underground?
Greibel: That is...
 
Greibel looks at his bong
Greibel: Totally possible
Rhu nods at Greibel
Rhu: (to Dave) How do you know we're underground?
Amadi appears behind Greibel.
Amadi appears behind Greibel.
Dave: I just... do?
 
I can sense the rock. Rock and space. It has warmth.
DAWN
Frezak (GM): DO THE STONES SING TO ME?
I just... do? I can sense the rock. Rock and space. It has warmth.
Apheori (GM): No.
 
Frezak (GM): Bah.
RHU
Gaurav: How warm is it in here?
If there's anything left to explore in the southern corridor, I think we should explore that first. I remember we stopped looking when we heard voices and came in here. Once we're done investigating there, we can go through the north door.
Rhu: If there's anything left to explore in the southern corridor, I think we should explore that first. I remember we stopped looked when we heard voices and come in here. Once we're done investigating there, we can go through the north door.
 
Apheori (GM): Not decidedly warm, but not cold. A bit chilly.
AMADI
A bit damp.
(whispering in Greibel's ear)
Amadi whispers in Greibel's ear: "Dribbly and full of goo."
They'll go in the wall, you know.
Greibel straightens up, a bit confused
 
The Gravedigger: All right!
Greibel straightens up, a bit confused.
Let's go exploring!
 
Ganelon: Let's get the Mouseforged moving before we just abandon it here.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Amadi: Jiggly and full of juice!
All right! Let's go exploring!
Ganelon: Nobody asked about the porridge, too.
 
These aren't even my pets and I take better care of them than you blackhearts.
AMADI
Apheori (GM): XD
It won't be a shovel.
Rhu: Oh, right, the Mouseforged.
 
Apheori (GM): The porridge is a lot bigger than it was, but it's just sitting there.
The porridge jiggles. Greibel picks it up.
Rhu: The porridge just .. is. The Mouseforged less so. And it'd probably be a good idea to lose the sphinx at some point, if such things were possible.
 
Gaurav: Damnit, I forgot the porridge has its own avatar. That's hilarious.
Amadi mutters to herself about mean, cold-hearted individuals and clucks disapprovingly. Then she walks over and picks up the sphinx and puts it on like a hat.
The porridge jiggle jiggle
 
The Gravedigger: Rhu, everything you says sounds full of wisdom.
Dawn floats her disk over toward the corridor.
Amadi mutters to herself about mean, cold-hearted individuals and clucks disapprovingly.
 
Amadi then walks over and picks up the sphinx and puts it on like a hat.
The Gravedigger swishes his shovel at the darkness down the corridor.
Gaurav: That +4 WIS really shining through, huh.
 
Frezak (GM): Gravy is blinded.
The darkness makes funny noises and disperses a bit.
Hopefully his muscles can gleam you into blindly following him one day.
 
Ganelon: I think he's already blindly following you.
RHU
Gaurav: Rhu will follow anybody leading us down this corridor, for instance.
That's... worrying. What about the Mouseforged?
Frezak (GM): HAVE AT THEE, CORRIDOR.
 
I'll swish my shovel at the darkness.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Dave floats her disk over toward the corridor as well.
I'm not sure darkness should make noises.
Gaurav: Where does Dave go in our usual walking order?
 
Apheori (GM): The darkness makes funny noises and disperses a bit.
AMADI
Rhu: That's ... worrying. What about the Mouseforged?
Hey, don't do that!
The Gravedigger: I'm not sure darkness should make noises.
 
Amadi: Hey, don't do that!
RHU
Rhu: Definitely prefer silent darkness, myself.
Definitely prefer silent darkness, myself. We still have torches, don't we -
We still have torches, don't w-- (to Amadi) Eh?
(to Amadi)
The Gravedigger equips horn-light-things.
Eh?
Ganelon: I would like to be quite sure that the Mouseforged is okay now that all its excess soul has been removed.
 
Amadi: What did the darkness ever do to you?
AMADI
The Gravedigger: It made me trip!
What did the darkness ever do to you?
And ate my lunch!
 
Ganelon: And to think, without wasting years in a Jazz career no less.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Amadi: That wasn't very nice of it.
It made me trip! And ate my lunch!
Rhu: Radek: Good point. Do it. We'll wait.
 
Apheori (GM): DOOO IT.
AMADI
Gaurav: I guess Heal checks are useless against the Mouseforged? Only Arcana checks will do?
Oh, well.
Apheori (GM): Yes.
I suppose that really wasn't very nice of it, now was it.
It seems fine, but you'll need to do a check and maybe get it onto its feet?
 
Hard to say.
The Gravedigger attaches torches to his horns.
Or you could load it onto Dave's disk if you want to take it with you.
 
Gaurav: Have we figured out Dave's class yet?
Radek checks on the Mouseforged again, making sure it's okay now that all its excess soul has been removed. ''(rolled 19 arcana)'' It... seems fine.
Ganelon:
 
rolling 1d20+11
(
8
)
+11
=
19
Hrm.
Frezak (GM): Dave's Class is 'Whatever'.
Whateverer.
Ganelon: Well, I don't know if I'm actually strong enough to pick it up, if it's not putting most of the effort in already.
Apheori (GM): Gravy is the one who cares.
Yeah, it seems fine to you. Try smacking it.
Radek smacks the Mouseforged sternly.
Radek smacks the Mouseforged sternly.
The Gravedigger: Hey!
 
That doesn't look like science!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
THat's animal cruelty!
Hey! That doesn't look like science! That's animal cruelty!
Or robot cruelty.
Or robot cruelty. Or something.
Or something.
 
Ganelon: Does it get up?
The Mouseforged wakes up and makes mouse noises.
Apheori (GM): It wakes up and makes mouse noises.
 
Gaurav: Yay!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
The Gravedigger: Hey, Mr Mousie!
Hey, Mr Mousie! Yoo-hoo!
Yoo-hoo!
Oh, sorry. Squeak, squeak.
Oh, sorry.
 
Squeak, squeak.
RADEK
Radek: I know what I'm doing.
I know what I'm doing.
The Gravedigger: Well, you're not going to say otherwise ever if you were!
 
Apheori (GM): The mouseforged gets up and falls over.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Rhu: Oof.
Well, you're not going to say otherwise ever if you were!
Careful, Mr. Mousie.
 
Ganelon: I'll take my usual spot of "behind all the thugs" in this marching order.
The Mouseforged gets up and falls over.
The Gravedigger: Hrrrm.
 
Can we borrow your disk, Davenotdave?
RHU
Dave: What?
Oof. Careful, Mr. Mousie.
Oh... I suppose.
 
Dave looks reluctant.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Apheori (GM): ...mostly to get up.
Hrrrm. Can we borrow your disk, Davenotdave?
Frezak (GM): What?
 
Apheori (GM): She's sitting on it.
DAWN
Ganelon: Honestly, she's so light you could probably just give her a piggyback ride.
What? Oh... I suppose.
Or... whatever the "standing upright" version of those are called.
 
Frezak (GM): She can sit on the mouseforged once the latter is on the disk.
Dawn looks reluctant, mostly to get up.
Ganelon: Ah, of course.
 
Frezak (GM): Unless he's made of neutronium.
Finally she slides off the disk and bounces it off Gravy a few times like a slow-motion horizontal yo-yo.
Gaurav: I'm not sure how stable a tiny Whateverer perched on a robot sitting on a disk which is floating in mid-air will be, but
 
anything to get us out this door, really
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Bear Soup Guy: XD
Frezak (GM): yeah >.>
Rhu: We could leave Mr. Mousie in here. If the corridor goes somewhere interesting, we'll come back for him. Otherwise, we'll need to teleport out, and we'd be apssing by this room anyway.
Frezak (GM): Yeah.
He's not going anywhere >.>
Ganelon: So you say.
Frezak (GM): Put him in a tank or something!
SOMETHING
THe tanks close, right?
We can just lock him in.
And get going.
Ganelon: Fine, but if that upsets Greibel I'm not claiming responsibility for it.
Dave slides off the disk and bounces it off Gravy a few times.
Frezak (GM): What, like a slowmo horizontal yo-yo?
Rhu: We could tip one of the tanks over and roll it down the corridor. We'd have to pad it reaaaaallllyyy well though.
Radek: ...No, I think it would prefer isolation to that.
The Gravedigger: that'd take ages.
I could just DRAG him.
Oh, thanks, Davenotdave.
Oh, thanks, Davenotdave.
Frezak (GM): I'll heave Mousie on it AND ON WE GO
 
Gaurav: TO MYSTERY!
The Gravedigger heaves the Mouseforged onto it and leads the way out.
Dave eyes it suspiciously and then doesn't climb on top.
 
Ganelon: TO UNDEAD!
Dawn eyes it suspiciously and then doesn't climb on top.
Rhu: How's your back, Dave?
 
Gaurav: I guess Gravy-with-the-glowing-horns is in the lead?
RHU
Frezak (GM): I'm the defender.
How's your back, Dave?
's my job to stand and take hits.
 
Also means I can Gravycharge.
DAWN
Bear Soup Guy: THE GRAVY TANK
A back.
Dave: A back.
 
Frezak (GM): HAH
As the party heads out, Dawn and Amadi wind up side-by-side, not talking to each other.
Dave: Train.
 
Apheori (GM): ooc
 
Gaurav: Okay, so we walk out into the southern corridor. Gravy ahead, then me, Radek and Greibel.
INT. Hallway - underground complex
Where should Dave be?
 
Ganelon: She's some kind of wizardly sort, so probably around the middle where it's safest.
The party pass several uninteresting doors. One opened into an empty lunchroom. Another to a pile of offices with bones on the desks. A few to generally empty store rooms.
Bear Soup Guy: ^
 
Gaurav: Between me and Radek then.
At one point they pass a closet, and Rhu opens it. The other side of the door is a solid wall of ice.
LET'S GO
 
Bear Soup Guy: ONWARD TO GLORY
Rhu stares at it, then touches ice wall. It's definitely ice.
And pie
 
Frezak (GM): And hideous abominations.
RHU
Gaurav: And pie
Huh.
DM?
 
Apheori (GM): Right, you move on.
He shines a light at the ice to see if he can see anything beyond it, but it looks pretty solid. He then checks around the door for a sign or something, but finds none.
Dave and Amadi wind up side-by-side not talking to each other.
 
Frezak (GM): Oh dear.
DAWN
Gaurav: I'll need to leave for class in another 55 minutes or so.
Ice?
Apheori (GM): Okay. >.<
 
You encounter a closet.
RHU
Wait, which way do you go?
Yes, ice. In a closet. Underground. Without a sign.
Gaurav: Sorry.
 
We came in from the left of the map, so towards the right?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Apheori (GM): The way Greibel came from?
You expect things to make sense now?
Okay.
 
You encounter a closet.
Rhu opens the closet
Apheori (GM): You encounter a solid wall of ice.
Frezak (GM): YOU FOOL
THERE IS NO ICE
Rhu: ...
Frezak (GM): ONLY ZUUUUUUL
Ganelon: I was totally expecting there to be skeletons in the closet.
Frezak (GM): I was expecting 70 zombies.
Rhu touches ice wall
Frezak (GM): Since a time in L4D when I found 0 zombies in a bathroom.
Apheori (GM): It's ice.
Rhu: Huh.
Frezak (GM): GRAVY SMASH
Or not?
Smashy?
Rhu: Why not?
Ganelon: Why not?
Rhu shines a light at the ice to see if I can see anything beyond it
Bear Soup Guy: We could try to melt it with FIRE BIRDS
Apheori (GM): Rhu: It looks pretty solid.
Rhu checks the closet door to see if there's a sign marked "ICE"
Frezak (GM): I have Roots of Stone that 'Creates a zone of rippling Earth" that might be used to churn up some ice into slushpuppies.
Dave: Ice?
Apheori (GM): No sign.
Frezak (GM): Ice-closet, of course.
Ganelon: Actually, we could try to melt it too.
Gaurav: "Dry riser and ice wall"
Ganelon: I have Alchemist's Fire.
Frezak (GM): Have you tried melting a block of solid ice with fire?
Rhu: (to Dave) Yes, ice.
In a closet. Underground.
Without a sign.
The Gravedigger: You expect things to make sense now?
The Gravedigger scoffs.
The Gravedigger scoffs.
The Gravedigger scoff again.
 
The Gravedigger scoffs again.
 
The Gravedigger thinks scoffing is fun.
The Gravedigger thinks scoffing is fun.
Gaurav: A good scoff is its own reward.
 
Bear Soup Guy:
Greibel examines the ice, trying to see if he can figure out how the ice got there or something. ''(rolled 14 nature)'' It looks like it froze. The entire room froze. Filled with something and froze.
rolling 1d20+12 Nature to see if I can find out how the ice got there or something?
 
(
THE GRAVEDIGGER
2
Melt some. See if it's salt or sweet water. If it's salt water, maybe leave it alone.
)
 
+12
RHU
=
Is it fire bird time?
14
 
Apheori (GM): BSG: It appears to have... frozen.
Greibel summons a fire hawk, which slashes the ice with flame. ''(rolled 18)'' Some of the ice melts and the edges turn kind of black.
The entire room froze.
 
Filled with something and froze.
Greibel's eyes turn to fire briefly and fizzle out back to normal over time.
Bear Soup Guy: So it's an ice closet then
 
Wait, is it specifically water ice or some other substance?
He tastes the melty stuff. ''(rolled 27 nature)'' It tastes like burnt fish. And seawater, perhaps.
Rhu: This whole place is kind of damp. I guess that's just 'cos we're underground?
 
Apheori (GM): It looks like water, and it didn't take Rhu's hand off.
GREIBEL
The Gravedigger: Melt some.
Sea water with... well, a high concentration of fish.
See if it's salt or sweet water.
 
If it's salt water, maybe leave it alone.
RHU
Bear Soup Guy: ah, good idea
F... fish? Not... giant fish?
Rhu: Is it fire bird time?
 
Bear Soup Guy: Fire bird or alchemist's fire
GREIBEL
Frezak (GM): Fire bird is free.
Giant fish don't taste much different from regular fish.
Ganelon: Bird's a renewable resource.
 
Frezak (GM): Bring on the birds!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Bear Soup Guy: Ah, okay
That is valuable information and I will remember that, Greibel.
Ganelon: Napalm is nice because it blasts an area.
 
But if we're just melting the water to taste it, that's not necessary.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Bear Soup Guy: Should I do an attack roll against an ice wall or do we just assume that a wall of ice is bad at dodging fire birds?
NEXT DOOR. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
Gaurav: You should attack roll. You might fall over or something.
 
Apheori (GM): Do it.
Bear Soup Guy: right-o
rolling 1d20+5
(
13
)
+5
=
18
Frezak (GM): Birrrrds
Of firrrre
Greibel should shout out his power names.
Every time he uses them.
Apheori (GM): Fire bird stuff happens! You melt a bit. It turns kind of black.
Frezak (GM): Black?
Cold plastic?
Bear Soup Guy: I imagine Greibel's eyes turn to fire briefly and fizzle out over time
nice
Bear Soup Guy:
rolling 1d20+12 Taste the melty stuff
(
15
)
+12
=
27
Apheori (GM): It tastes like burnt fish.
Gaurav: OH NO
Apheori (GM): Seawater, perhaps.
Gaurav: if you'd rolled a 1, would your tongue have frozen to the ice block?
Apheori (GM): Yes.
Bear Soup Guy: XD
Ganelon: NOT THE FISH AGAIN
Greibel: Sea water with....well, a high concentration of fish.
Rhu: F..fish?
Not ... giant fish?
The Gravedigger: NEXT DOOR
NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
Rhu looks nervously up and down the corridor.
Rhu looks nervously up and down the corridor.
The Gravedigger: PUT THE BIRDS AWAY
 
Greibel: Giant fish don't taste much different from regular fish
THE GRAVEDIGGER
The Gravedigger: That is valuable information and I will remember that, Greibel.
PUT THE BIRDS AWAY.
Amadi: I've got a sack of fish!
 
Apheori (GM): Do you move on to the next?
Rhu closes the closet door and they move on.
Gaurav: YES
 
Frezak (GM): Yup
DAWN
Gaurav: Messing with even potentially giant fish is not worth it
We should turn around.
Ganelon: Never again.
 
Bear Soup Guy: Plus we might get flooded by some hole to the ocean
RHU
Gaurav: Oooh, good point
Huh? Why? We are Discovering New Things!
Rhu closes the closet door.
 
Bear Soup Guy: Like in Journey To The Centre Of The Earth
DAWN
Rhu: That would suggest that this simple closet door could hold back an ocean's worth of water, though.
The space. It isn't right.
Apheori (GM): You encounter another door!
 
The Gravedigger: Or a Hole at the bottom of an ocean.
GREIBEL
Dave: We should turn around.
Yeah. We discovered a walk-in freezer.
Rhu: Huh? Why? We are Discovering New Things!
 
Dave: The space. It isn't right.
AMADI
Greibel: Yeah. We discovered a walk-in freezer.
It's okay. I know how to swim. We all do.
Ganelon: Uh oh.
 
Amadi: It's okay. I know how to swim.
RHU
SWIMMMMING LIKE A SHARK!
What's not right about the space?
Rhu: What's not right about the space?
 
The Gravedigger: I've yet to see anything 'right' since we got here.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Amadi: Sharks!
I've yet to see anything 'right' since we got here.
Everywhere!
 
Amadi flails.
AMADI
Dave: Er...
Even the sharks!
Dave moves away from Amadi.
 
Apheori (GM): There are some things you just cannot put down in text very wel.
DAWN
Like talking like GIR.
Er...
Rhu: GIR?
 
Gaurav: sorry: GIR?
They come to another door, and Radek checks it for magic or general wrongness. ''(rolled 14 arcana)''
Apheori (GM): A crazy robot.
 
Ganelon: I know who.
Amadi opens the door. Beyond just looks dark. She looks inside a moment, then runs in and disappears.
Your example was not totally lost.
 
Gaurav: Shall we open this new door?
The Gravedigger looks inside, shining his torches inside. It's full of beds and not very interesting. There are some cabinets, and some corpses in the beds. Living quarters.
We haven't gotten very far from the Terrible Lab, have we?
 
Apheori (GM): You're a bit away.
Rhu goes and looks through the cabinets, and Greibel looks too, mostly over Rhu's shoulder. They find some personal items, random stuff, an Amadi, some money, some trinkets, some pills. A dead rat.
Let's just say you've passed some other doors that were completely uninteresting.
 
Like the one that opened into an empty lunchroom.
The pills disappear into Greibel's bag.
And a pile of offices with bones on the desks.
 
Ganelon: Well, I'll do an Arcana if that's alright.
RHU
To see if there's something wrong, magically, with the room ahead.
(to Dawn)
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Is this space any better? In terms of... spaciness?
Ganelon:
 
rolling 1d20+11
DAWN
(
It's going to cave in.
3
 
)
RHU
+11
=
14
Seems okay to me!
Apheori (GM): Nothing odd.
Amadi opens the door and yells 'TUNA' at the top of her lungs.
Then she runs in and disappears.
To everyone else, it just looks dark.
Shine a light in.
Frezak (GM): Everywhere I look is illuminated.
Since I have torches strapped to my head.
Apheori (GM): Okay, so Gravy looks in!
It's full of beds and not very interesting.
There are some cabinets.
And some corpses in the beds.
Living quarters.
Gaurav: How many beds?
Apheori (GM): 18
Rhu looks through the cabinets
Greibel looks too
Apheori (GM): Personal items, random stuff, some money, some trinkets.
A dead rat.
Ganelon: Money!
Gaurav: are all the corpses in their beds?
Apheori (GM): Some are on the floor.
Gaurav: Right. Should we keep going?
Rhu: (to Dave) Is this space any better? In terms of ... spaciness?
Dave: It's going to cave in.
Rhu: o.0
That's not good.
That's not good.
Frezak (GM): TO THE TELEPORTERS
 
Ganelon: Grab the pocket change and flee!
Then Rhu suddenly realises how not good that is and takes off, helter-skelter, running for the transporter room.
Rhu: I don't like the transporters, but, that might be best. A cave-in would be a very bad thing indeed.
 
Dave: You scrounged up 47g, six rings, two necklaces, two boxes of pills, a dead rat, and a packet of seeds.
The Gravedigger runs too, getting ahead of Rhu, just in case. Amadi runs with him, singing 'Brave, Brave Sir Robin'.
Apheori (GM): Sorry, ooc
 
You scrounged up 47g, six rings, two necklaces, two boxes of pills, a dead rat, and a packet of seeds.
Radek, Dawn, and Greibel run after, with Dawn pushing Radek to try to help him move faster. It doesn't really help. The disk with the Mouseforged drifts after.
Rhu: Nice!
 
Gaurav: Who wants to keep the loot? I've got way too much crap already or I would.
Behind them, horrible noises and dust drift after them, indicating that that section of the complex did indeed cave in.
Frezak (GM): Rhu?
 
Since both my hands are full, when expecting trouble.
As they pass the lab where they'd spent the night, Amadi pulls Dawn aside, back into the lab. The Mouseforged, on its disk, is pulled inside as well as a result.
Ganelon: Radek carries a lot of junk already and his hands are also full during combat.
 
Gaurav: Okay. I got it.
The others keep going.
So: run?
 
Frezak (GM): YEP
 
Ganelon: Solid plan.
INT. Teleporter room - underground complex
Rhu takes off, helter-skelter, for the transporter room.
 
Frezak (GM): SIR ROBIN TIME
Everything is quiet again. In the relative calm, Radek gives Greibel a rundown of the controls, and which ones seemed to be trapped.
Let me go in front.
 
I can just plow through any skellies.
The Gravedigger goes first, standing on the dias while Radek hits the controls.
Because I am strong, like Bear.
 
Amadi: You all run for it, then?
There's the usual light play, and then it makes a funny noise and dumps a bunch of silvery stuff on Gravy. It looks suspiciously like the same substance that had been coating Radek before.
Apheori (GM): Dammit.
 
You all run for it, then?
RADEK
Gaurav: *exactly* like Bear
That's not good.
Apheori (GM): Sorry, not Amadi.
 
Frezak (GM): Well, /I/'m running.
The silvery stuff mostly just slides off and winds up in a puddle, and the Gravedigger wipes off the rest.
Gaurav: You can go in front of me if you can catch up.
 
Frezak (GM): Dunno about YOU guys :P
RADEK
Gaurav: Which, given our relative STR and CON, is likely
Is that...
Frezak (GM): I have trouble cornering once I have speed :P
 
Gaurav: I _think_ it's a straight corridor :P
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Frezak (GM): Aren't you elfy, though?
It's Mr Gooples, yes. The Silver Surfed.
Ganelon: I tend to trust Gravy when it comes to fight/flight responses.
 
Frezak (GM): Don't you have a speed bonus?
Radek pushes on the Gravedigger to move and when he does, stands on the dias instead.
Gaurav: If not, well, aim for the transporters and ignore the walls
 
Oh, right, you're _not_ elfy
RADEK
Frezak (GM): No.
This substance is marvelous. Hit that button again!
I'm Gravy.
 
-y
Rhu hits the button.
I'm SPECIAL
 
Apheori (GM): Well, you all run away. Amadi appears running with you singing 'Brave, Brave Sir Robin'.
Some more silvery stuff falls on Radek with a gloop, and then the entire contraption seems to die.
Frezak (GM): THANKS
 
If we see a three-headed ogre, he's getting a taste of Gravy.
The silvery stuff slides off him as well, adding to the puddle.
A generous portion.
 
Right tot he face.
RADEK
*to the face
...Bah.
Gaurav: Any signs of impending collapse as we run?
 
Frezak (GM): Someone should have insighted her >.>
Radek collects some of it off the floor in a mug. This time it sits sadly, not disappearing.
Apheori (GM): There are some horrible noises from back the way you came and it sounds like it did indeed cave in.
 
Frezak (GM): Oh, nice.
RADEK
Gaurav: There was no time.
This is troublesome. What's wrong with the teleporter?
I'm all for having a discussion as to the cave-in-i-ness of this corridor, but in the transporter room where we can make a quick exit.
 
Speaking of quick exits ... I should get going to community ecology class.
GREIBEL
Apheori (GM): Well, it all seems to be done as you pass the lab you spent the night in.
Well, it's wet with silver stuff, for one thing.
Gaurav: Which should be fun, given that the paper we had to read was horrible.
 
have*
Radek goes to check, and fiddles with the console.
keep going, and let me know how the cave-in ends!
 
Apheori (GM): Huh.
RADEK
Bear Soup Guy: Adios Gaurav!
It's... out of power, or not receiving it.
Ganelon: Well, unless I've left my things behind in this room, I've got no reason to stop.
 
Frezak (GM): We have mouseforged.
GREIBEL
Keep on trukkin
Maybe...somebody's been here since the last time you were?
Ganelon: My books, tools, and those blueprints are important to me too.
 
Gaurav: Or indeed tearing through the corridor at a furious pace
RADEK
byeeeeeeeee
We won't be able to use it like this.
Apheori (GM): Amadi drags Dave into that room. Everyone else keeps running.
 
Ganelon: Yep.
GREIBEL
Frezak (GM): Wait.
If we can find a room with a cat god shrine, I know the way back out from there.
Mousie is on Dave's disk.
 
SORRY, MOUSIE
 
Apheori (GM): Oh, yeah, the disk follows her.
INT. Lab - underground complex
Frezak (GM): Welp.
 
It was nice having fun mocking Nature.
The lab is empty, looking very much how they left it. There's no sign of Amadi, Dawn, or the Mouseforged.
But I have holes to dig in the future.
 
Apheori (GM): So you get back to the teleport room. Everything is quiet again.
The Gravedigger has a go at tracking them regardless. ''(rolled 40 perception (natural 20))'' He finds some bits of tuna, and tracks them out the other door.
Everyone's sort of freaked out and breathing heavily, but all is calm...
 
Frezak (GM): FOR NOW
Continuing to track down the next corridor, he finds more bits of canned tuna on the way.
I play my Betrayal Card and become a Wyvern.
 
Apheori (GM): Funny.
The others follow.
Seriously, though, do stuff before I make Rhu start poking the controls randomly.
 
Ganelon: I'll tell Greibel about those locations that were trapped.
 
And everyone to use the thing single-file.
INT. Presentation room - underground complex
To prevent improper reassembly.
 
Apheori (GM): So you... what, try to send Gravy through first?
It's a circular room with 49 seats around the center, where a hologram is currently flickering about, showing random snatches of scenes and people. Amadi and Dawn are fiddling with a console on the other side, but the sphinx is draped across half of the console itself, so it's hard to tell how they'd make any progress.
Frezak (GM): ehhhh.
 
It takes after me.
The Mouseforged has apparently been dumped across a few seats.
Being so mighty
 
Ganelon: Sure.
The Gravedigger and the others spill in.
It worked out alright the first time.
 
Apheori (GM): Okay. Gravy goes and stands on the dias, you hit... which button
Greibel strolls over to Amadi and Dawn and watches their console-hackery. Amadi's just poking the same button over and over, and Dawn is half-heartedly trying to move the sphinx, but most of the attempts turn into ear scratchings and whatnot due to the sphinx intentionally getting in her way.
?
 
Ganelon: I forget what they are by number, but the numbered one that wasn't here or one of the two traps.
DAWN
Apheori (GM): Okay.
(to Greibel)
Ganelon: And therefore not "end" or whatever that last one said.
Oh, hello.
Apheori (GM): Out.
 
There's the usual light play, and then it makes a funny noise and dumps a bunch of silvery stuff on Gravy.
RADEK
Radek: That's not good.
The teleporter is powerless. We can't use it to escape. What's all this?
Frezak (GM): AAAAGH
 
NO NO NO
Radek goes over to them as well to do some REAL science to the console.
Apheori (GM): (It looks like what was coating Radek before.)
 
Frezak (GM): SET ME ON FIRE
The hologram is mostly flickering back to a single recording - it's a figure of a man, dressed like some sort of wizard or scientist. He seems to be speaking, but there's no sound. It jumps about randomly.
GET IT OFFF
 
Apheori (GM): It mostly just slides off and winds up in a puddle.
GREIBEL
You get the rest off too.
I see you found one of Radek's friends.
Frezak (GM): Whew.
 
HOLD THE FIRE
DAWN
Radek: Is that...
Some sort of recording. I think...
The Gravedigger: It's Mr Gooples, yes.
Ganelon: Might I inspect the stuff to see if it is, in fact, the same as what was covering me?
The Gravedigger: The Silver Surfed.
Apheori (GM): It is.
But now it's puddly.
As opposed to coaty.
Frezak (GM): I DID TELL YOU.
Ganelon: I stand on the dais!
Radek: This substance is marvelous. Hit that button again!
Apheori (GM): I suppose Rhu hits the button.
Some more silvery stuff winds up falling on Radek and then the entire thing dies.
But it also slides off him.
Radek: ...Bah.
Frezak (GM): PUT IT IN A MUG
Ganelon: Last time I tried to collect some, it just vanished.
Apheori (GM): But this time it's a puddle.
Ganelon: Alright, I'll get some in the mug (which should be empty now).
Radek: This is troublesome. What's wrong with the teleporter?
Apheori (GM): It appears to be broken, as though all the energy is gone.
Greibel: Well, it's wet with silver stuff, for one thing.
Radek: It's... out of power, or not receiving it.
Greibel: Maybe...somebody's been here since the last time you were?
Frezak (GM): If only we had a friendly mouse to follow the power cables.....
Apheori (GM): Alas.
Ganelon: Oh sure, make me look like a jerk *now*.
Radek: We won't be able to use it like this.
Frezak (GM): Crud.
See if Greibel can remember how he got here?
Bear Soup Guy: He might have some vague recollection
But he did just mostly wander
Greibel: If we can find a room with a cat god shrine, I know the way back out from there.
Frezak (GM): Some kind of check?
TO... de-bong?
Bear Soup Guy shrugs
Frezak (GM): WHY DID YOU NOT LAY OUT STRING
Check the floor for a coke trail.
Apheori (GM): Sure, do a... uh...
Intelligence check.
Bear Soup Guy: righto
d20 plus modifier, right?
Apheori (GM): Right! I guess.
Ganelon: Yes, that's it.
Bear Soup Guy:
rolling 1d20+2 SMARTZ
(
13
)
+2
=
15
Ganelon: Those are some smartz there.
(You actually add your 1/2 level bonus to this too)
Frezak (GM): Given that he's drugged up to the eyeballs, yeah.
Bear Soup Guy: Yeah, that's after the half level bonus
I think
Apheori (GM): You passed a chicken.
Bear Soup Guy: That's what my card thing says
Apheori (GM): Also you came... from...
Was that what collapsed?
You dunno!
Frezak (GM): AWESOME.
Let's go see where it collapsed.
MAYBE WE CAN DIG THROUGH IT
Ganelon: Of course you'd be excited at that possibility.
Apheori (GM): Of course he is.
Ganelon: Well, I agree with going there to assess the damage.
And it'd be nice to see where those other people we abandoned are.
Bear Soup Guy: Right. Cave-in's probably over
Apheori (GM): Yeah, it's all quiet now.
The others ran into the lab on the way.
You haven't heard anything since.
What do you do?
Ganelon: Are they all just gone?
I thought we were passing through the lab to get here.
Frezak (GM): I can prolly track 'em if not.
The DCs to track on stone are high, but I have Gravysense.
Ganelon: Indeed.
Apheori (GM): You passed by the lab, not through.
Ganelon: Oh, okay.
Apheori (GM): They ran into it.
Ganelon: I wouldn't trust anyone with Amadi to not just vanish, though.
Apheori (GM): You'll not know until you look.
Or something.
Ganelon: Let's look.
This escape route is exhausted.
Frezak (GM): TO THE LAB
Apheori (GM): The lab!
It looks like how you left it. Nobody's there.
Go out the other side, or pass it to check out the cave in?
Frezak (GM): I want to track the ladies.
Hard ground DC is... 25.
rolling 1D20+10+9+1
(
20
)
+10+9+1
=
40
All is revealed.
Ganelon: If I had a god, I would blaspheme its name right now.
Apheori (GM): Yeah, they went out the other side. Also there are some bits of tuna.
Why?
Frezak (GM): I'll follow the tracks until I find ladies.
Ganelon: Because that roll is ridiculous!
Apheori (GM): You find more bits of tuna on the way.
Frezak (GM): Fresh tuna?
Apheori (GM): But the track leads you to a... presentation room of sorts.
Canned tuna bits.
Frezak (GM): Oh,t hat's all right then.
Apheori (GM): It's a circular room with seats around the center, where a hologram is currently flickering about. Amadi and Dave are fiddling with a console on the other side of it, but the sphinx is draped across half of it so it's hard to tell how they'd make any progress.
The mouseforged was apparently dumped across a few seats.
Did everyone else follow you?
Ganelon: I did.
When his eyes start glowing like searchlights I don't question it.
Frezak (GM): Lucky I didn't turn around and blind you.
"They went over here, guys-"
"AAAAAH MY EYES"
Ganelon: "Oh wow, you've got some real skin problems."
Frezak (GM): HAH
Apheori (GM): Guys. Do stuff.
Bear Soup Guy: I'll stroll over to Amadi and Dave and watch their console-hackery
Frezak (GM): What IS the hologram that is being projected?
You said it was flickery, but is there something we can see?
Dave: Amadi's just poking random buttons and Dave is half-heartedly trying to move the sphinx, but most of the attempts turn into ear scratching and whatnot.
Apheori (GM): Dammit.
Ganelon: Figures.
Apheori (GM): Amadi's just poking random buttons and Dave is half-heartedly trying to move the sphinx, but most of the attempts turn into ear scratching and whatnot.
Ganelon: I'll do some REAL science to this console.
Dave: Oh, hello.
Ganelon: And poke buttons... purposefully.
Dave: (to Greibel)
Radek: The teleporter is powerless. We can't use it to escape.
What's all this?
Greibel: I see you found one of Radek's friends
Apheori (GM): It's a figure of a man, dressed like some sort of wizard or scientist. He seems to be speaking, but there's no sound. It's flickering between segments.
Dave: Some sort of recording. I think...
Well, if somebody would stop messing with it, maybe we could hear what he said?
Well, if somebody would stop messing with it, maybe we could hear what he said?
Dave gives Amadi a significant look.
 
Amadi: (poking random buttons) WHASSIS DO? WHASSIS DO?
Dawn gives Amadi a significant look.
Greibel: It's really the only way to learn
 
Greibel presses a few curiously
AMADI
Dave picks up the sphinx and dumps it on Amadi's head.
(she returns the look, also significantly)
Amadi: I'M BLINDED I'M BLINDED IT'S THE DARK!
You don't want to.
Amadi runs around in circles, trips over a chair, and disappears, leaving the sphinx suddenly occupying the chair.
 
Frezak (GM): Gravy will just... stand, having nothing to contribute.
GREIBEL
Watchfully check chairs for popcorn?
It's really the only way to learn.
Radek: Right then.
 
Ganelon: NOW I will press buttons purposefully.
Greibel presses a few buttons curiously as well.
I don't suppose there's a volume knob, huh?
 
Amadi: It looks like it was just muted. You can also start it from the beginning.
Dawn picks up the sphinx and dumps it on Amadi's head.
Apheori (GM): AGH.
 
It looks like it was just muted. You can also start it from the beginning.
AMADI
Ganelon: I do this gladly.
Flmph?
Apheori (GM): Okay.
 
Dammit, the humidifier is grinding again.
Amadi backs away, trips over a chair, and disappears, leaving the sphinx suddenly occupying the chair.
Frezak (GM): Disgusting.
 
Stop giving it Viagra.
The Gravedigger stands near the door, having nothing to contribute. He checks a few chairs for popcorn. There isn't any.
Apheori (GM): You start it from the beginning with sound.
 
RADEK
Right then.
 
Radek presses buttons purposefully. He unmutes it and restarts the recording from the beginning.
 
The man in the recording just stands there for a bit, as though trying to figure out what to say...
The man in the recording just stands there for a bit, as though trying to figure out what to say...
Hologram: So this is it, then? The end? It wasn't supposed to end like this.
 
Never is.
HOLOGRAM
Radek: I used to love watching my colleagues' tapes of this sort of thing.
''So this is it, then? The end? It wasn't supposed to end like this.
Hologram: If you're hearing this, then we're all dead. Call the rescue off. You'll find nothing. At least... I hope you'll find nothing.
 
Frezak (GM): AWESOME
RADEK
MOTIVATIONAL AS SHIT
I used to love watching my colleagues' tapes of this sort of thing.
Hologram: Consider your mission reassigned. This is no longer a rescue, but an extermination.
 
Frezak (GM): "it's the cats.
HOLOGRAM
THe damned cats.
''If you're seeing this, then we're all dead.
It was them, all along."
''Since we lost contact with the surface, things have only gotten worse. The dead... have no stayed dead. The living have... disappeared? I'm not even sure. The contagion spread, but when the countermeasures were enacted that should have dissipated it, it only slowed, not stopped. Even the last puzzle box has been destroyed.
Hologram: Since we lost contact with the surface, things have only gotten worse.
''I don't even know when we lost contact. Time got funny, the walls got... funny. If it's still funny, then we'll have failed to even guard the rest. The worlds will be doomed.
The dead... have no stayed dead. The living have... disappeared? I'm not even sure.
 
I don't know when we lost contact, either. Time got funny, the walls got... funny.
The man stops, thinking, recomposing himself.
But if you're here things will have calmed down. So don't worry too much about that.
 
Apheori (GM): He stops, thinking.
HOLOGRAM
Frezak (GM): Sounds like Sarathi to me.
''It's like the rifts, but I don't think it had anything to do with the rifts. Otherwise the countermeasures should have worked. And the experiments never breached containment. The subjects were all inert.
Radek: I don't think it had anything to do with the rifts.
 
Hologram: I don't think it had anything to do with the rifts.
The man shakes his head.
Apheori (GM): DAMMIT.
 
This is awful!
HOLOGRAM
Ganelon: Stealing control of my character! How could you!?
''We're supposed to know these things, right? Recording the final log, telling those who will come after exactly what went wrong?
Apheori (GM): This interface is just awful!
 
I hate it!
RADEK
Blame the terrible interface.
You'd be surprised how often they don't.
Seriously, I could probably write something better myself.
 
Ganelon: Well, I like that R20 exists.
HOLOGRAM
Frezak (GM): I don't have problems with it.
''Except everyone who knew is already dead. I'm already dead. We're all dead and there will be no answers, nobody to get back to Arah with this, to tell them the truth.
Given the alternative, I'm not complaining.
''This was the wrong way forward. The very research intended to slow the end of times is bringing it about, and if the Orders would not keep interfering, this never would have happened.
Ganelon: Lets me play D&D with people who live like six timezones apart from me.
''Please, whoever you are. Dispose of the labs. clean up the experiments. Exterminate the dead, and close this place. Let the world's end wait another day.
And without much hassle at that.
 
Bear Soup Guy: Except for the interface
The man in the hologram stands there for a bit, thinking if there's anything else to say, then walks out of the circle and the recording ends.
Frezak (GM): You should have seen what I used to use.
 
Apheori (GM): Eh, it's good that it's there, but the interface for switching in and out of characters is no better than using an IRC client.
Radek finds some other recordings, too. Earlier logs, things about specific projects, information that might indeed be useful. He plays a few back.
Frezak (GM): Ancient version of MapTools.
 
Just awful, it was.
'''''Ganelon''' (Radek): "Final recordings of failed scientists" are like home movies to Radek, though. And he's an old person, so he loves them rather than finding them embarassing.
Apheori (GM): Well, konversation, anyway. Actually it's exactly the same as konversation, now that I think about it.
 
Except konversation isn't a platform for handling multiple characters...
The Gravedigger goes and stands by the door in case of zombies.
Apheori (GM) rants a bit.
 
Hologram: I don't know what it was.
Most of the recordings turn out to be actual presentations. Findings, progress reports, proposals.
Hologram shakes his head.
 
Hologram: We're supposed to know these things, right? Recording the final log, telling those who will come after exactly what went wrong?
The main project was an investigation of what they decided to call 'rifts'. The rifts were largely centred on Cerris (apparently this plane), but apparently they'd been popping up all across the planes, even outright destroying some of them, and it's only gotten worse as time went on.
Except everyone who knew is already dead. I'm already dead. We're all dead and there will be no answers.
 
Radek: You'd be surprised how often they don't.
Initially they sent teams to investigate the rifts directly, but the scientists were driven mad, their souls twisted beyond recognition. After that, they avoided getting close, and instead sent golems to collect samples and energy readings, to some success. They found several subjects that had apparently come out of more stable rifts, as well, and brought them back for further study - apparently the folks in the tanks.
Hologram: Dispose of the labs. clean up the experiments. Exterminate the dead, and close this place.
 
And don't tell my wife.
Another project they were working on involved shielding based on an artifact they'd found. It suggested some new way to create invisible boundaries that blocked energy rather than matter, meaning only low-energy things could pass through - low levels of light, slower and colder objects...
Apheori (GM): He walks out of the circle and the recording ends.
 
The Gravedigger: Not... super helpful.
RADEK
Apheori (GM): There are other recordings, though. Earlier logs, different projects...
Fascinating.
Dave: How helpful would you be?
 
Ganelon: If possible, I'd like to just take 'em with me.
Two other projects involved something with mutating birds and a thing about talking to the dead. It's unclear just what they were exactly because the guy documenting these seemed to be pretty crazy.
Apheori (GM): Would you have anything with which to play them back?
 
Also it would have been a lot more helpful had I not been so depressed and actually written the whole thing ahead of time like I planned.
The bird one seems a little like it might have had something to do with a contagion like the first hologram mentioned, but it's not exactly clear.
The Gravedigger: I'd say something about the experiments, or something helpful about HOW to exterminate stuff.
 
Apheori (GM): Being depressed sucks.
Radek finishes, satisfied, then collects the storage crystals to take them with him.
Ganelon: It does, by definition, suck.
 
Apheori (GM): Can I just add some things that were supposed to be mentioned and we all pretend they were? >.>
Greibel, meanwhile, plays with the porridge.
Ganelon: I have that portable computer that might be out of power.
 
And yes, I'm fine with that.
GREIBEL
Frezak (GM): Absolutely, DM.
Porridge?
Apheori (GM): Okay, pretend he said something about getting back to Arah, and something about how the contagion spread but when the countermeasures were enacted that should have dissipated it, which is unfortunate, really, because otherwise it might have been possible to figure out what it was or where it came from...
 
And how the reason it wouldn't have been connected to the rift stuff was because those experiments never breached containment, and the subjects were all inert...
Greibel makes a face at the porridge.
Frezak (GM): Now this is more helpful.
 
I TAKE IT MOSTLY BACK MR HOLOGRAM SIR
Apheori (GM): And also something about how if the other Orders wouldn't keep interfering this probably wouldn't have happened.
AND THAT I THINK IS IT.
Ganelon: Getting back, huh...
Frezak (GM): ooooh
Ganelon: So they were probably stranded like us?
Frezak (GM): More likely they came HERE to do science.
Bear Soup Guy: Seeing as the other cultures we've seen so far on this planet seem rather behind in terms of technology or awareness of it
Apheori (GM): They've got some artificer-type stuff.
Ganelon: ...I suppose that is more plausible, since they actually did know science.
Ooooh what kind?
Apheori (GM): Well, there was that guy who was going to give you that box of things...
And the machinery...
Ganelon: Oh, sorry, I misunderstood.
Yes, the guy I'm about to entrust with the knowledge of futuristic weapons technology for a tidy profit.
Apheori (GM): Aye.
Frezak (GM): Sounds plausible.
Apheori (GM): Hee.
Ganelon: Hey man, it's not *our* problem if he abuses it.
Frezak (GM): Okay, so.
Sounds like we need to rummage around here some more, then.
Find out science details.
Anda bout Orders.
Bookworm time.
And... paper-looting.
Apheori (GM): Rummage through the recordings?
Or around the... facility?
Ganelon: If I can't copy and play back the recordings on something more portable later, I'll do that right here and now.
Frezak (GM): Here first, since we're here.
Then i'll go stand watchfully in the hall, in case of zombles.
Ganelon: "Final recordings of failed scientists" are like home movies to Radek, though.
And he's an old person, so he loves them rather than finding them embarassing.
Apheori (GM): Snrk.
Well, most of the stuff seems to be actual presentations.
Findings, progress reports, proposals.
Ganelon: What were they working on?
Frezak (GM): psssst.
Greibel.
Asssk the porrrrridge
Apheori (GM): The main project was an investigation of what they decided to call 'rifts'. Apparently they'd been popping up across the planes, even outright destroying some of them, and it's only gotten worse as time went on.
Initially they sent teams to investigate the rifts directly, but the scientists were driven mad, their souls twisted beyond recognition.
So after that, they avoided getting close, and instead sent golems to collect samples and energy readings, to some success.
Bear Soup Guy: Is gravy telling Greibel to ask the porridge?
Frezak (GM): No, Frezak is :P
Bear Soup Guy: Oh okay, I thought so
Apheori (GM): They found several subjects that had apparently come out of more stable rifts, as well, and brought them back for further study - apparently the folks in the tanks.
Bear Soup Guy: Hell, he'll do it anyway =P
in a bit
Apheori (GM): Another project they were working on involved shielding based on an artifact they'd found.
Apparently it was a new way to create invisible boundaries that blocked energy rather than matter, meaning only low-energy things could pass through - low levels of light, slower and colder objects...
Radek: Fascinating.
Apheori (GM): Two other projects involved something with mutating birds and a thing about talking to the dead.
Ganelon: Evidently the former worked out pretty great.
Bear Soup Guy: XD
Ganelon: I don't suppose the "talking to the dead" project involved souls directly?
Apheori (GM): It's unclear.
The guy documenting it seems to be pretty... crazy.
Ganelon: Shame. I'll have to find something to do with this liquefied one.
Frezak (GM): That was probably Mr Super Helpful Guy in the warforged.
Apheori (GM): The bird one sounds like it might have had something to do with a contagion like the first hologram mentioned, though.
Ganelon: This is a lot of leads to follow, I must say.
I am pleased.
Gonna have to go back once we stop and take notes.
Frezak (GM): yay for being dumb!
Apheori (GM): Everything seems to be stored on crystals, so you can take those with you. You may or may not be able to transfer them to your own equipment, but it's worth a try.
Ganelon: I'm sure I can find some insane use for crystals even if that's not the case.
I'll take 'em.
Apheori (GM): Heh.
Greibel: Porridge?
Bear Soup Guy: Right!
Ganelon: There, a new addition to my inventory: "Data-storage crystals from the underground lab what with all the zombies and skellingtons."
Frezak (GM): You're learning!
That they're skellingtons, specifically.
Bear Soup Guy: So Greibel, uh...I dunno, makes a face at the porridge
The porridge makes the face back at Greibel.
The porridge makes the face back at Greibel.
Frezak (GM): AAAAAH
 
Ganelon: One of these days, man, that porridge is going to steal his actual face.
'''''Ganelon''' (Radek): One of these days, man, that porridge is going to steal his actual face. I'm calling it now.
I'm calling it now.
</screenplay>
Bear Soup Guy: :O
 
And he'll leave The Scream in its place
{{holes nav
Frezak (GM): Oaty Horror show.
|previous=Holes/Session 14
Apheori (GM): So what now?
|next=Holes/Session 16
Ganelon: I don't know. I mean, the plan ought to be to get the hell out of this place.
}}
But we might save that for next session since this is a lot to recap already for Gaurav.
Apheori (GM): Especially since the walls are sometimes groaning.
Ayuh.
Ganelon: In-character, though, the plan is definitely to get the hell out.
Frezak (GM): Robin Time.
Apheori (GM): And nobody died!
Well done, everyone!
Bear Soup Guy: Rhu died inside
Nobody gets geese dropped on them and stays the same
Apheori (GM): Alack.
Ganelon: S'true.
You never forget the honking. Not till the end of your days.
Bear Soup Guy: And at the very end you take solace in the blessed silence
Frezak (GM): The Honking.
Stephen King.
Bear Soup Guy: Pulitzer Prize winner
Okay, if we're wrapped up for the day I'm gonna head off for a shower
Apheori (GM): Alright yes good we'll meet next time.
Bear Soup Guy: Right-o
Apheori (GM) runs off after tuna.
Bear Soup Guy: Good game everyone!
Ganelon: This was a good session.
See you guys next week.
Bear Soup Guy: Adios
Apheori (GM): Yaaaay.
TUUUUUNA!
Frezak (GM): Gravy still feels unfulfilled.
His hole is one that'll never be filled.
Not matter how much he shovels.
You people leave so quickly O.o
TUNAMAN
Bear Soup Guy: I AM THE ONE WHO IS SPREAD ON TOAST IN THE NIGHT
Gaurav: Spreading himself on toast so you don't have to.
Bear Soup Guy: Very accommodating
</pre>

Latest revision as of 03:13, 27 December 2018

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Session 15 (raw log) (Overview)
INT. Lab - underground complex
The Gravedigger, Rhu, and Greibel are asleep. Radek is at a table, working on various tinkering, not all there, doing his bizarre equivalent of sleep.
The Gravedigger Dreams.
: You dream of Earth, dark and moist and full of worms. It surrounds you on all sides, yet you are not Earth. Well, of course you're not Earth. You know Earth. You are not Earth. You're what is left when the Earth is removed. You are black, like a sky once the bright lights are taken out of it, and empty, empty, empty... Struggling, you reach to grab the Earth that is all around you, so dark and moist, with all its wurms, the lives and the fullness of it. You reach and you grasp and you pull, and it all falls into you, but you feel no less empty. You feel bigger, and more powerful, but also more alone, for the Earth is further away, now. It fears you, or it longs for you, but when you embrace the Earth it falls away and is gone, and you are even more alone with your black and empty sky.
: Your dream shifts, and still you are not Earth. You are standing on Earth, feeling its moistness beneath your bare feet, knowing it to be dark and full of wurms. You hold in your right hand your tool that you use to move the Earth, and you stand before a grave, a grave of the Earth. You did not dig this grave. The earth that was moved from it was more than moved, it was re-moved and un-moved and now there's no telling where it is, or if it even is at all. In your left hand you hold a dead chicken. It needs to be buried properly, but you don't think this grave can do that. Proper burial requires the Earth to be moved back into the hole. If the Earth isn't there...
: "Are you going to get on with it?" asks the chicken. You don't answer. You're not in the habit of talking with your clientele.
: "Look, just pop me in the hole and get on with it," says the chicken. "Quests don't wait for ever, and the library will close eventually. Time is of the essence, you know."
: You look at the chicken, then back in the hole. And then you bury it in the blank and empty sky.
: The dream shifts again and for the briefest moment you see the girl standing behind you, flickering like a bad TV image, first in one colour, then another. The winged kitten on her shoulder hisses at you and she begins to turn to look at you, but before you can see her face...
The Gravedigger wakes up suddenly.
Greibel Dreams.
: "Hello," says Amadi. "It was about time you dropped by."
: You're dreaming about a sky, a vast sky full of bright lights, colourful and glorious. You're flying, or swimming, or just being, and you really don't care to find out. You're all alone in the vastness of space, but for Amadi and the chicken. It isn't really space, either; not the dark, empty void that spans between the worlds. This is a place of light. This is the bright and colourful void that spans between -
: "Do you like it?" asks Amadi, cutting off your thoughts before you have time to think them. You nod. You want to tell her just how much you like it, how much better it is than anything you've experienced before in your life, but it is she who holds the words, the great and terrible words one would need to explain a place, a feeling like this, the words that are too big to fit in a mortal mouth. And so you nod, because it's the best you can do.
: "It used to be bigger, you know. She was supposed to govern it, but it's not a thing that lets itself be governed, and after the split... I'm afraid we lost some colours. Or maybe it wasn't even our fault."
: You look closer at Amadi and realize that she isn't that person you've met before, the one who says, after all, that she is not Amadi. Miss Teatime? This one is brighter and more colourful, and you see bits of others in her. Dave. Not Dave, Dawn. And you see something altogether darker, as well.
: "Holes. She never accounted for them. They weren't here yet, and easy to ignore, and now we can't even remember well enough to do something about the ones that seep into our own selves... They weren't supposed to be our problem."
: You see the dark between the stars, the colourful myriads of lights that are far more than mere stars, and the Black Holes among them. They make your head spin and your stomach swirl and your eyes sting and you realize that this is a dream and you ought to wake up so you can find somewhere to go and throw up but you can't, and now you can't look away from the hole that is swallowing up the whole world, all the loveliness of it and you feel like screaming; this is the saddest thing you've ever witnessed, and -
: Suddenly there's a chicken in your face.
: "Dude," says the chicken, "what do you think you're doing? You don't want to be trippin' over there, man! It's bad mojo, like, really, really bad, and besides... aren't you s'posed to be on some quest, man? Dude, the library is totally going to close on you, and that librarian might not take kindly to not being rescued on time! Man, librarians can be some mean bitches when you don't do things on time, oooh boy, did I tell you about that time when -"
: The sudden silence is the most harrowing thing you have never heard. The black hole is right in front of your face, and the chicken is gone, and you think you might die, or go mad, or something even worse, if you fall in after it, and -
: Amadi spins you around; she's strong for someone so little. Or maybe you're just very light. You look into her eyes and you open your mouth and you're about to tell her...
Greibel wakes up slowly.
Radek Dreams.
: You dream of -
: No.
: You're working. You never fell asleep; you would never fall asleep. You're working. Mending, repairing, breaking down, reassembling, making, creating... working.
: So far you have made fifty bombs, a spaceship, a particularly good coffee-machine, a rather imperfect sandwich, a chicken, a whole pen of Mouseforged, a pen (to hold animal-machines), a pen (to write with), half-score bottled genies, one of them even more or less functional, although very rude, and on a special request you've mended a broken mask. That was a tough one, and something about the mask made you just itch behind your skin and under your nails and in the back of your eyes, but the payment was good. Currently you're working on a perfect rendition of the whole universe. You've managed the bright bits fairly well, but you're having trouble with the holes, and find yourself wishing you had Gravy to help you. He's good with holes. But unlike you, he's asleep. Everyone's asleep, even the Mouseforged, everyone except you and the chicken.
: "You're never going to get that right, you know," comments the chicken. It's been giving unhelpful comments like this all along. You don't want to recall all the atrocities it mentioned while you were working on the mask.
: "It's not conductive at all. You don't have the proper tools, you don't even have the proper blueprints. And by this point, it's changing too fast and you won't manage to update it before it's all gone dark. You should focus on your quest. You should find the bound librarian. Sometimes, you don't need to know exactly how something is supposed to be in order to fix it. Just try harder, and remember to-"
: The chicken makes a squeaky sound before going silent, and you deign it the briefest glance to notice that the annoying mad girl is holding it by the neck. "Sorry," she whispers, "It got away from me. Won't happen again; promise." And she steps back and away and leaves you to your work.
: While you looked away, though, the model became all mangled. You're going to have to start over...
Radek's dream fades, and he dozes on, still tinkering at his things.
Rhu Dreams of darkness, empty and silent. A dead end.
The Gravedigger and Greibel awaken to hear Dawn saying 'WHEEEEEE' as she flies overhead and then notice some other things - the porridge has eaten most of the zombie corpse bits; the sphinx fell asleep and drooled all over the Mouseforged, which appears to be leaking something strange and silvery; Dawn got into Radek's things, borrowed some books, and made herself a floating disk and started whizzing around the room on it; and Amadi is sitting upside-down on the ceiling juggling geese.
GREIBEL
This is better than breakfast in bed.
DAWN
Wheeeeeeee!
Dawn tries to fly up a wall and nearly falls off the disk.
GREIBEL
Don't crash into the geese! They'll fall...up!
Greibel watches Dawn intently while occasionally glancing up at Amadi, and loads his bong accordingly. He smokes, grinning, watching everything unfold.
Amadi juggles geese.
The Gravedigger sighs.
Rhu continues to sleep.
Radek finishes whatever he was doing and snaps out of his dozey fugue.
RADEK
Where's... where's that chicken gone? I was about to immolate it. Bloody pessimist.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I thought I was going to go and fight strange monsters. Battle wondrous beasts, bury them, go home, get money, go on holiday.
The commotion wakes Rhu as well, and Dawn crashes into a nearby wall and slides off the disk, winding up in this awkward upside-down position against the wall.
DAWN
Ow.
Rhu opens one eye, looks at Dawn, looks at Amadi, and then closes his one open eye as tightly as he can.
RHU
Five more minutes.
AMADI
Good moooorning!
The Gravedigger goes to check on the Mouseforged. It seems to be oozing. Almost like it's slightly melted. The sphinx is also sleeping on it, drooling.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Radek! Melty robot!
RADEK
Hrm?
Rhu opens both his eyes and stares at the ceiling for a minute, waiting until he can be properly resigned to his lot.
Amadi loses control of the geese and they all fall on Rhu, squacking indignantly. They flap around, running in every direction.
RHU
IN THE NAME OF -
Rhu gets up, covered in feathers.
AMADI
(from the ceiling)
No!
Rhu dodges away over a table, hitting a particularly large goose.
AMADI
No no nononono!
Rhu gets up and goes over to Dawn to help her up.
DAWN
(quickly, before he actually does)
No not the, spine, my spine is broken, spine spine pine.
RADEK
(over the Mouseforged)
You wanted danger, Gravy? Remove the cat.
Radek takes a step backwards.
Rhu realises something is going on behind him and quickly turns around.
The Gravedigger readies his best shovel, takes up a golfing stance, limbers up his shoulders.
Rhu holds his breath.
The sphinx snores.
Dawn slowly slides down onto the floor, glaring at nothing in particular.
The Gravedigger swings and hits the sphinx with his shovel, sending it flying like a sack of potatoes. Unlike a sack of potatoes, it lands on its feet several feet away, looking confused.
DAWN
You... attacked the sphinx? With a shovel. I... can't...
Dawn lies in a horrible heap.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
It's magic, it'll be fine.
Amadi falls off the ceiling.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Mr. Mousie! Are you allright?
The Mouseforged doesn't respond. It's rather wet.
Greibel can't take it anymore and cracks up laughing hysterically.
DAWN
Glad someone is amused.
Amadi gets up and looks around as though seeing the room for the first time.
AMADI
Good morning!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Greibel, I think Sandwich lady is too high.
DAWN
...hi?
The Sphinx starts licking itself.
GREIBEL
You're not too high until... uh...
Greibel starts laughing again.
Amadi starts laughing as well.
Radek examines the Mouseforged, trying to sort out just what it was that is leaking, and where it's leaking from. It seems to be coming from the heart. It might be the soul, mixed with a fair amount of sphinx drool.
The Gravedigger hurriedly starts trying to mop it up into a mug. He gets some in, but isn't very successful.
The Gravedigger tries harder, getting more drooled-on soul into the mug.
Frezak (Gravy): AAAAAGH. GORRAM CAT. SHALAS COUL TAKE YOU, CAT.
Amadi suddenly stops laughing and just stares off into space.
Radek examines the rest of the Mouseforged carefully. (rolled 31 arcana (natural 20)) The mouse soul looks fine. The leaking stuff seems to be... another soul.
Rhu turns back to Dawn, who is still lying in a horrible heap on the floor.
RHU
Are you okay?
DAWN
I'm great. I'm just waiting for my spine to regrow.
Rhu stares at her.
RHU
O... kay...
Amadi turns her head slowly toward Gravy and the others.
AMADI
Isn't it?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
What, Sandwich Lady?
Rhu wanders over to the north door and has a look in the corridor. (rolled 15 perception) The corridor is dark and not very interesting.
AMADI
I'd wear it, you know.
(she turns to Greibel)
I would!
Greibel expresses exaggerated shock at the statement and looks around.
RADEK
Oh! Well that explains it.
The Mouseforged is leaking out remnants of a second soul because it wasn't designed to house two of them!
Rhu goes and checks the other door, and senses undead in that direction. (rolled 27 perception)
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Oh, hells.
RADEK
Here, let me see that cup.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
This has demon cat dribble in it.
RADEK
That's probably fine.
Radek checks the soul in the cup - specifically, if there's any "mouse" in it. (rolled 30 arcana) It seems to be all not mouse, but full of memory and history. The drool also seems to be somewhat magical on its own.
RADEK
...Yes, good. The mouse soul isn't leaking out. It's the other one instead.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
WHEW. I was worried for a bit.
RADEK
That said, it would be helpful to gather up what we can of this one. It has a memory I should like to dig through.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
You can have my mug.
RADEK
Thank you.
Radek gathers up as much of the silvery soul mixture as he can into the mug. It's full of drool, but he seems to get most of it. The thing has also clearly stopped leaking at this point.
He moves it into a stoppered flask.
AMADI
(to Greibel)
Have you made room for the tuna?
GREIBEL
I've always got room for tuna!
AMADI
Where is it?
Greibel points to his stomach.
GREIBEL
In here!
AMADI
Oh, yes.
(mumbling)
Yes, yes, of course. The crown of creation.
Dawn pulls herself back onto the disk and proceeds to lie on that instead of on the floor.
Radek directs his attention toward Dawn, walking over and indicating the floating disk.
RADEK
You made this?
DAWN
I guess?
RADEK
Well, you're the one commanding it, at least. Why are you lying like that?
DAWN
My spine is broken. It'll regrow. I think.
RADEK
Unfortunate. I recommend ceramic reinforcement if that happens often.
RHU
I've never heard of stuff like that, spines regrowing by themselves. Does that happen often?
DAWN
I don't know if it does or not.
Amadi walks over to Dawn and straightens out her spine.
AMADI
There. All fixed.
Ganelon (Radek): ...Is it actually all fixed, or just straight?
Apheori (GM): Hard to tell. Dawn doesn't seem to want to test it. She's not moving and looking slightly worried.
Greibel composes himself and then walks over to Dawn.
GREIBEL
Open your mouth and say "ah".
Dawn does so, looking confused.
DAWN
Ah?
Greibel chuckles a bit before straightening back up.
GREIBEL
How many fingers am I holding up?
Greibel keeps changing the number of fingers and switches hands occasionally.
DAWN
Nine so far?
Greibel pokes her spine. (rolled 18 heal)
DAWN
Agh!
Dawn almost falls off the disk, and then it starts floating away. She tries sitting up, determines that she seems to be fine again after all, and makes herself comfortable.
GREIBEL
Another satisfied customer.
Dawn glides over to Radek and watches him, possibly uncomfortably.
RADEK
...Did you want something, Dave?
DAWN
Probably. I should know what, shouldn't I? But I should know a lot of things.
RHU
If we're done here, we should get a move on. There are undead down this way, but I don't think there's too many of them.
I'd like to find out where we were transported to when we came here: same planet, different planet, space ship...
These tanks that Amadi keeps appearing in, they're not teleports, are they?
GREIBEL
I don't remember teleporting anywhere.
DAWN
We're underground.
RHU
(to Dawn)
Oh, are we? We got here through a teleport, but the other end of the teleport is underground too. Under a well in the town of Coffle, the seat of Deslan, on That Planet Which Only Had The One Big Hole.
DAWN
(pointing up)
There is a lot of rock up there.
Amadi disappears. Nobody reacts.
RHU
(to Greibel)
Maybe you were teleported and you didn't notice?
GREIBEL
That is...
(he looks at his bong)
Totally possible.
Rhu nods at Greibel.
RHU
(to Dawn)
How do you know we're underground?
Amadi appears behind Greibel.
DAWN
I just... do? I can sense the rock. Rock and space. It has warmth.
RHU
If there's anything left to explore in the southern corridor, I think we should explore that first. I remember we stopped looking when we heard voices and came in here. Once we're done investigating there, we can go through the north door.
AMADI
(whispering in Greibel's ear)
They'll go in the wall, you know.
Greibel straightens up, a bit confused.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
All right! Let's go exploring!
AMADI
It won't be a shovel.
The porridge jiggles. Greibel picks it up.
Amadi mutters to herself about mean, cold-hearted individuals and clucks disapprovingly. Then she walks over and picks up the sphinx and puts it on like a hat.
Dawn floats her disk over toward the corridor.
The Gravedigger swishes his shovel at the darkness down the corridor.
The darkness makes funny noises and disperses a bit.
RHU
That's... worrying. What about the Mouseforged?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I'm not sure darkness should make noises.
AMADI
Hey, don't do that!
RHU
Definitely prefer silent darkness, myself. We still have torches, don't we -
(to Amadi)
Eh?
AMADI
What did the darkness ever do to you?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
It made me trip! And ate my lunch!
AMADI
Oh, well.
I suppose that really wasn't very nice of it, now was it.
The Gravedigger attaches torches to his horns.
Radek checks on the Mouseforged again, making sure it's okay now that all its excess soul has been removed. (rolled 19 arcana) It... seems fine.
Radek smacks the Mouseforged sternly.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hey! That doesn't look like science! That's animal cruelty!
Or robot cruelty. Or something.
The Mouseforged wakes up and makes mouse noises.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hey, Mr Mousie! Yoo-hoo!
Oh, sorry. Squeak, squeak.
RADEK
I know what I'm doing.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Well, you're not going to say otherwise ever if you were!
The Mouseforged gets up and falls over.
RHU
Oof. Careful, Mr. Mousie.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hrrrm. Can we borrow your disk, Davenotdave?
DAWN
What? Oh... I suppose.
Dawn looks reluctant, mostly to get up.
Finally she slides off the disk and bounces it off Gravy a few times like a slow-motion horizontal yo-yo.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Oh, thanks, Davenotdave.
The Gravedigger heaves the Mouseforged onto it and leads the way out.
Dawn eyes it suspiciously and then doesn't climb on top.
RHU
How's your back, Dave?
DAWN
A back.
As the party heads out, Dawn and Amadi wind up side-by-side, not talking to each other.


INT. Hallway - underground complex
The party pass several uninteresting doors. One opened into an empty lunchroom. Another to a pile of offices with bones on the desks. A few to generally empty store rooms.
At one point they pass a closet, and Rhu opens it. The other side of the door is a solid wall of ice.
Rhu stares at it, then touches ice wall. It's definitely ice.
RHU
Huh.
He shines a light at the ice to see if he can see anything beyond it, but it looks pretty solid. He then checks around the door for a sign or something, but finds none.
DAWN
Ice?
RHU
Yes, ice. In a closet. Underground. Without a sign.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
You expect things to make sense now?
The Gravedigger scoffs.
The Gravedigger scoffs again.
The Gravedigger thinks scoffing is fun.
Greibel examines the ice, trying to see if he can figure out how the ice got there or something. (rolled 14 nature) It looks like it froze. The entire room froze. Filled with something and froze.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Melt some. See if it's salt or sweet water. If it's salt water, maybe leave it alone.
RHU
Is it fire bird time?
Greibel summons a fire hawk, which slashes the ice with flame. (rolled 18) Some of the ice melts and the edges turn kind of black.
Greibel's eyes turn to fire briefly and fizzle out back to normal over time.
He tastes the melty stuff. (rolled 27 nature) It tastes like burnt fish. And seawater, perhaps.
GREIBEL
Sea water with... well, a high concentration of fish.
RHU
F... fish? Not... giant fish?
GREIBEL
Giant fish don't taste much different from regular fish.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
That is valuable information and I will remember that, Greibel.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
NEXT DOOR. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
Rhu looks nervously up and down the corridor.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
PUT THE BIRDS AWAY.
Rhu closes the closet door and they move on.
DAWN
We should turn around.
RHU
Huh? Why? We are Discovering New Things!
DAWN
The space. It isn't right.
GREIBEL
Yeah. We discovered a walk-in freezer.
AMADI
It's okay. I know how to swim. We all do.
RHU
What's not right about the space?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I've yet to see anything 'right' since we got here.
AMADI
Even the sharks!
DAWN
Er...
They come to another door, and Radek checks it for magic or general wrongness. (rolled 14 arcana)
Amadi opens the door. Beyond just looks dark. She looks inside a moment, then runs in and disappears.
The Gravedigger looks inside, shining his torches inside. It's full of beds and not very interesting. There are some cabinets, and some corpses in the beds. Living quarters.
Rhu goes and looks through the cabinets, and Greibel looks too, mostly over Rhu's shoulder. They find some personal items, random stuff, an Amadi, some money, some trinkets, some pills. A dead rat.
The pills disappear into Greibel's bag.
RHU
(to Dawn)
Is this space any better? In terms of... spaciness?
DAWN
It's going to cave in.
RHU
That's not good.
Then Rhu suddenly realises how not good that is and takes off, helter-skelter, running for the transporter room.
The Gravedigger runs too, getting ahead of Rhu, just in case. Amadi runs with him, singing 'Brave, Brave Sir Robin'.
Radek, Dawn, and Greibel run after, with Dawn pushing Radek to try to help him move faster. It doesn't really help. The disk with the Mouseforged drifts after.
Behind them, horrible noises and dust drift after them, indicating that that section of the complex did indeed cave in.
As they pass the lab where they'd spent the night, Amadi pulls Dawn aside, back into the lab. The Mouseforged, on its disk, is pulled inside as well as a result.
The others keep going.


INT. Teleporter room - underground complex
Everything is quiet again. In the relative calm, Radek gives Greibel a rundown of the controls, and which ones seemed to be trapped.
The Gravedigger goes first, standing on the dias while Radek hits the controls.
There's the usual light play, and then it makes a funny noise and dumps a bunch of silvery stuff on Gravy. It looks suspiciously like the same substance that had been coating Radek before.
RADEK
That's not good.
The silvery stuff mostly just slides off and winds up in a puddle, and the Gravedigger wipes off the rest.
RADEK
Is that...
THE GRAVEDIGGER
It's Mr Gooples, yes. The Silver Surfed.
Radek pushes on the Gravedigger to move and when he does, stands on the dias instead.
RADEK
This substance is marvelous. Hit that button again!
Rhu hits the button.
Some more silvery stuff falls on Radek with a gloop, and then the entire contraption seems to die.
The silvery stuff slides off him as well, adding to the puddle.
RADEK
...Bah.
Radek collects some of it off the floor in a mug. This time it sits sadly, not disappearing.
RADEK
This is troublesome. What's wrong with the teleporter?
GREIBEL
Well, it's wet with silver stuff, for one thing.
Radek goes to check, and fiddles with the console.
RADEK
It's... out of power, or not receiving it.
GREIBEL
Maybe...somebody's been here since the last time you were?
RADEK
We won't be able to use it like this.
GREIBEL
If we can find a room with a cat god shrine, I know the way back out from there.


INT. Lab - underground complex
The lab is empty, looking very much how they left it. There's no sign of Amadi, Dawn, or the Mouseforged.
The Gravedigger has a go at tracking them regardless. (rolled 40 perception (natural 20)) He finds some bits of tuna, and tracks them out the other door.
Continuing to track down the next corridor, he finds more bits of canned tuna on the way.
The others follow.


INT. Presentation room - underground complex
It's a circular room with 49 seats around the center, where a hologram is currently flickering about, showing random snatches of scenes and people. Amadi and Dawn are fiddling with a console on the other side, but the sphinx is draped across half of the console itself, so it's hard to tell how they'd make any progress.
The Mouseforged has apparently been dumped across a few seats.
The Gravedigger and the others spill in.
Greibel strolls over to Amadi and Dawn and watches their console-hackery. Amadi's just poking the same button over and over, and Dawn is half-heartedly trying to move the sphinx, but most of the attempts turn into ear scratchings and whatnot due to the sphinx intentionally getting in her way.
DAWN
(to Greibel)
Oh, hello.
RADEK
The teleporter is powerless. We can't use it to escape. What's all this?
Radek goes over to them as well to do some REAL science to the console.
The hologram is mostly flickering back to a single recording - it's a figure of a man, dressed like some sort of wizard or scientist. He seems to be speaking, but there's no sound. It jumps about randomly.
GREIBEL
I see you found one of Radek's friends.
DAWN
Some sort of recording. I think...
Well, if somebody would stop messing with it, maybe we could hear what he said?
Dawn gives Amadi a significant look.
AMADI
(she returns the look, also significantly)
You don't want to.
GREIBEL
It's really the only way to learn.
Greibel presses a few buttons curiously as well.
Dawn picks up the sphinx and dumps it on Amadi's head.
AMADI
Flmph?
Amadi backs away, trips over a chair, and disappears, leaving the sphinx suddenly occupying the chair.
The Gravedigger stands near the door, having nothing to contribute. He checks a few chairs for popcorn. There isn't any.
RADEK
Right then.
Radek presses buttons purposefully. He unmutes it and restarts the recording from the beginning.
The man in the recording just stands there for a bit, as though trying to figure out what to say...
HOLOGRAM
So this is it, then? The end? It wasn't supposed to end like this.
RADEK
I used to love watching my colleagues' tapes of this sort of thing.
HOLOGRAM
If you're seeing this, then we're all dead.
Since we lost contact with the surface, things have only gotten worse. The dead... have no stayed dead. The living have... disappeared? I'm not even sure. The contagion spread, but when the countermeasures were enacted that should have dissipated it, it only slowed, not stopped. Even the last puzzle box has been destroyed.
I don't even know when we lost contact. Time got funny, the walls got... funny. If it's still funny, then we'll have failed to even guard the rest. The worlds will be doomed.
The man stops, thinking, recomposing himself.
HOLOGRAM
It's like the rifts, but I don't think it had anything to do with the rifts. Otherwise the countermeasures should have worked. And the experiments never breached containment. The subjects were all inert.
The man shakes his head.
HOLOGRAM
We're supposed to know these things, right? Recording the final log, telling those who will come after exactly what went wrong?
RADEK
You'd be surprised how often they don't.
HOLOGRAM
Except everyone who knew is already dead. I'm already dead. We're all dead and there will be no answers, nobody to get back to Arah with this, to tell them the truth.
This was the wrong way forward. The very research intended to slow the end of times is bringing it about, and if the Orders would not keep interfering, this never would have happened.
Please, whoever you are. Dispose of the labs. clean up the experiments. Exterminate the dead, and close this place. Let the world's end wait another day.
The man in the hologram stands there for a bit, thinking if there's anything else to say, then walks out of the circle and the recording ends.
Radek finds some other recordings, too. Earlier logs, things about specific projects, information that might indeed be useful. He plays a few back.
Ganelon (Radek): "Final recordings of failed scientists" are like home movies to Radek, though. And he's an old person, so he loves them rather than finding them embarassing.
The Gravedigger goes and stands by the door in case of zombies.
Most of the recordings turn out to be actual presentations. Findings, progress reports, proposals.
The main project was an investigation of what they decided to call 'rifts'. The rifts were largely centred on Cerris (apparently this plane), but apparently they'd been popping up all across the planes, even outright destroying some of them, and it's only gotten worse as time went on.
Initially they sent teams to investigate the rifts directly, but the scientists were driven mad, their souls twisted beyond recognition. After that, they avoided getting close, and instead sent golems to collect samples and energy readings, to some success. They found several subjects that had apparently come out of more stable rifts, as well, and brought them back for further study - apparently the folks in the tanks.
Another project they were working on involved shielding based on an artifact they'd found. It suggested some new way to create invisible boundaries that blocked energy rather than matter, meaning only low-energy things could pass through - low levels of light, slower and colder objects...
RADEK
Fascinating.
Two other projects involved something with mutating birds and a thing about talking to the dead. It's unclear just what they were exactly because the guy documenting these seemed to be pretty crazy.
The bird one seems a little like it might have had something to do with a contagion like the first hologram mentioned, but it's not exactly clear.
Radek finishes, satisfied, then collects the storage crystals to take them with him.
Greibel, meanwhile, plays with the porridge.
GREIBEL
Porridge?
Greibel makes a face at the porridge.
The porridge makes the face back at Greibel.
Ganelon (Radek): One of these days, man, that porridge is going to steal his actual face. I'm calling it now.


≪ PreviousNext ≫
Session 15 (Overview)
Retrieved from ‘https://wiki.zaori.org/w/index.php?title=Holes/Session_15&oldid=4287’

Just literally cant or dont. Might help you out. Be careful while you literally cannot however. Too much cant or dont evens can literally kill you if you literally cannot even dont or cant.