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 Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:59 pm
It happened suddenly, which is to say, without any warning, except for the Olympus meeting a few days prior. Every knight that attended the Olympus meeting had all that time to wonder: what exactly was it that one page could not discover on her own, with the right camping materials? What was it that the Code thought she could not do, that their assembled number could? Time passed, and maybe the memory faded and maybe it didn't, but if they had agreed to lend Mistral Page their arms, the day came and they simply... vanished...One moment, they’d all been doing whatever it is they did on Monday nights around ten in the evening (sleeping? reading? homework?) and the next, they were ever-so-rudely yanked into the ether, into space-- --and then unceremoniously deposited at the base of the stairs in Mistral’s labyrinth. As the assembled knights picked themselves up off the ground, a curiously toneless voice said from nowhere in particular but most specifically, directly over their shoulders: “Level Six: Weapons development.” If they turned to look, there would be nothing there but their fellows, looking just as confused as they were.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:29 pm
Welcome to the labyrinth of Mistral! You’re the first knights to stand in this level of the labyrinth since the Silver Millennium, and while that is certainly an honor, it’s also a danger to you. As the last knight of Mistral closed down her wonder to protect it from ravening hordes of Chaotic soldiers, she laid traps of varying menace. These traps range from simple flash-bangs, to pieces of wall rigged to explode, to solid floors which are not. The further down you go, the more dangerous it becomes. The labyrinth and laboratories are fourteen levels. You are on Level 6: Weapons Development. This level is populated mostly by harmful traps. A map will be provided to your character. To successfully escape the labyrinth and join Mistral on the lobby level, you must navigate through your level and find the piece of the device hidden on your floor. In each room, you will find something--a trap, a treasure, or a device piece--that will be determined by the roll of a d20. Traps are exactly what they say on the tin. They come in three varieties: harmless, harmful, and deadly. Every trap variety will be identified for you. Should a deadly trap be rolled in a party with more than one disposable, the lowest-level disposable will die first. Should there be more than one Page-level disposable in the group, the disposable whose name comes first alphabetically will die first. Only one disposable will die per deadly trap, unless all of them survive to the final trap, at which point they will all die. Your challenge is to describe how your character avoids or survives these--and if you play a disposable, should your party encounter a deadly trap, to write your character’s horrible end. At no point will your character’s situation after the trap be written for you. Treasures are one-use items which can only be used within the labyrinth of Mistral. Each ‘treasure’ encountered counts for each character--so even if your party only encounters one treasure, it can be assumed that your characters all took something from the pile. You decide what the treasures are, as long as you use them before the end of the RP. To use a treasure, post in bold at the top of your post that you are using a treasure and what you are using it for. Please keep track of your treasures. Device pieces send your characters to the final trap, where all still-living disposables must die. After that, your characters will proceed to the final RP, item hand-in. All Mistral exploration RPs count as a battle, but you may only choose one to participate in.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:59 pm
It took some more keyboard mashing, and a conveniently placed memory, but eventually Mistral puzzled out how to switch views from Level Four (Hydroponics!) to Level Six (Weapons Development?). Maybe there was some kind of Iron Man suit there. She’d like to be as untouchable as Tony Stark. Only more invincible, and with a doggy version for Mendel. (And while she was considering impossibilities, she’d like to be able to mass manufacture these. She wasn’t sure she could even rebuild this artifact, though, so that was a long shot.) Like the fourth level, she had no idea where they’d gone; on her descent to the knight’s lab, she’d skipped a lot of traveling. Lucky guessing, she supposed, as far as stumbling into that elevator had been. For all she knew, there were two hundred thousand levels between her place in the basement and the levels her fellow knights were now meant to wander. She shifted guiltily in her seat, glancing sidelong at an overturned pot. Was it cheating to make other people explore your wonder for you? Or was it simply good use of energy? She had not the slightest idea, but if her budget allowed it, she was buying all of these knights cupcakes. Cookies. The baked good of their choice. Maybe she should just skip all the logistics of that and invite everyone to a garden party, after. Like, she and Sessrumnir and Babylon had not encountered too many terrible traps. She was sure everyone would be fine. Unfortunately, it took her a bit to rediscover the keycode for map display. It popped up in hazy violet with a pulsing pink dot on the wall near her peers, and she smiled to herself again, pleased. She was learning, and that was so important, wasn’t it? YOU ARE AT THE STARTING POINT. You have found yourself in a smooth stone hallway. The temperature is slightly warm, and when you walk you can hear your footsteps echoing. There is a faint rumbling, and the walls of the hallway shiver slightly. It seems all doors lead to Room 4, but there’s also an aberration on the map. Do you go straight to Room 4, or do you take the secret passage [A] to Room 1?
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:56 am
Secret passage [A] to Room 1
Whether or not the realization of the dangers that they'd soon be in was present in his head or not was to be left a mystery, as Sarras, Page of the Cosmos, had opted to go to the Weapons Development level. His reasoning was sound, at least in his own mind, and a glance at his pathetic little clay cup was all he needed to reaffirm his decision. How in the hell was he expected to restore balance and fight the corrupted that couldn't be saved if all he had combat his enemies with was this dinky little clay cup? As if his attire wasn't enough of an insult to his entire being and existence in this war, the idea of carrying on the fight with such a harmless weapon was too much.
So, for these selfish reasons, Sarras chose the weapons development level, and thus far, he hadn't regretted his decision. He wasn't sure who else would join him, or if anyone would, but a glance over his surroundings told him that this wouldn't have been an easy feat. Then again, what was easy when one choice to take part in this crazy war of theirs? He was bestowed with a pathetic little cup, a ridiculous attire, and no magic... this entire war was made to defeat him, and he was determined not to let that happen.
The stone hallway lead into a room and that seemed like the obvious answer, the path most traveled. It seemed like such an obvious answer, but something about it seemed off. Perhaps it was the deep rooted psychosis that ran deep in his Moreau bloodline, but he didn't trust it. He looked to his map, on the off chance that there was another route to take, and just his luck, there seemed to be a secret passage. Of course, that could have easily lead to a trap, but if a secret passage was made, was it not to avoid the obvious trap of the hallways ahead of them?
'No venture, no gain. I hate gambling, but what choice do I have? Too late to turn back now and not look even more like a pansy.'
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:40 pm
Secret passage [A] to Room 1It seemed lately that the universe had the bad habit and timing of yanking him off to places when he was trying to water his tomato plants. Maybe it was the tomatoes - maybe the universe just plain flat out hated tomatoes. Whatever the reasoning however, one minute he had been out on his balcony as Marlin and the next...
Well for once it isn't Mars and Olympus Falias thought to himself as he picked himself up from where he'd been unceremoniously dumped, his green eyes taking in the nearby stairs as he wondered just where the heck he was and why.
It was a question that was soon answered by a toneless voice announcing that he was apparently on the 6th floor, which apparently had something to do with weapon development - well at least it answered the 'where' although it didn't answer the why, but then he remembered the trip to Olympus a few nights prior and his agreement to give the Page there, Mistral, a hand with finding bits that could be used to make a communication device.
Is this Mistral?
If it was then it wasn't what Falias was expecting, actually Falias wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but this smooth stone hallway that he seemed to have landed up in wasn't it. There was a map of some sort on a wall nearby and a red-haired Page nearby and so he stepped up to other. "Have you seen anything interesting?"
It seemed pretty clear cut that pretty much the only way forward was to the room on the map numbered with a 4, or at least on first glance it was, however something about the map had Falias looking at the it again and this time round he noticed that there was something slightly odd about it, almost as if there was another passage of some kind
He frowned slightly, it seemed worth checking out just in case. After all there was always the option to backtrack right. Right?
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:07 pm
Straight to Room 4.The best thing about being pulled away to Mistral suddenly, while his wife was in the other room folding laundry, was that he'd been on the phone with the AARP at the time, and now he was relieved of the incredibly irritating experience of being on the phone with the AARP. The worst thing, of course -- other than the delicious peach upside-down cake his wife had just made now being miles upon miles away -- was that now he was going to have to be on hold with the AARP listening to their goddamned Celine Dion music for forty-five minutes again to start the whole damned process over. Did this little space excursion really have to happen right now? Ankh Page of Pluto stood up from the ground, conscious of the creaking of his back -- old rugby injury -- and the stiffness of his knees as he did. He kept telling Carolyn he was too old for this s**t, and he swore to God he meant it -- but every time, she'd just look at him with that canny goddamned smile, all dimples and crows feet and everything he'd ever thought was beautiful in the universe, and she'd say, but Harry, you love it. And every time, she'd be right. He just didn't love the hours. Hadn't that little girl -- Mistral, the tiny kid with the dog -- been able to schedule this a little better? Maybe she was one of those high schoolers who had no concept that adults had to go to work and live their lives and be on the phone with AARP at all goddamned hours because their museum membership was canceled. The walls were trembling faintly. Somewhere, he figured, something heavy was moving, or a big-a** machine was going -- something old, not made by Apple. Well, fine. Whatever it was, it might be near the device they'd offered to find. "Hey, kids," he called out to the two young knights ahead of him, who seemed intent on forging straight into the dark of a secret passageway like the greenest two sons-of-bitches he'd ever seen. "Where the hell do you think you're going? You want to funnel into some dark corridor where you have to go single file and get picked off one by one?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:04 pm
Straight to Room 4.As was typical of Hogwarts, the young Page found himself face first on the stone floor when only seconds before he’d been mid-shower. Face pressed against the hard ground, he murmured a variety of curse words and slowly convinced his ungainly limbs to push himself upright. He brushed himself off and could at least be grateful he now had clothes on, even if his curly red hair was damp and sticking to his face. "Did I volunteer for this? I don’t remember volunteering for this, oh wait, hang on, yeah I did. You know what though, I’ve changed my mind, I think I’d like to go home and walk my dog instead or something… hey where are they going?" He trotted up alongside Ankh and watched the other two wander off down the dark secret passage or whatever it was, either way it seemed dangerous and definitely not anywhere he felt like going. "Soooo, room four, right?" He waved after the retreating two and waited for his best friend (he was older and seemed to know what he was doing after all) to lead them off in the correct direction.
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:29 pm
Straight to Room 4! Pigfarts Squire of Mars - Piggy, as she preferred to be known - landed roughly beside Hogwarts, an excited smile plastered on her face. A sudden field trip to Mercury ranked high on the list of things that were more exciting than spending another summer night up in her room playing Minecraft. She adjusted her pleated leather skirt and got to her feel, the kitten heels on her gladiator sandals clicking against the floor, and she looked around. "Oh, goody," she said, and meant it, and took a moment to get her bearings about what they were doing. Ankh - Ankh? Maybe? - seemed like the oldest dude here, and Piggy was a brat but she was a brat with a healthy sense of respect for her elders. The dude looked like he'd probably fought in 'Nam and had seen some serious s**t. Also, it was just a universally accepted fact that Pluto knights were badasses. "I'm gonna follow Sergeant Hardass McWrinkleface over here," she said, calling to the pair intent on taking the secret passage. "That is some Scooby Doo s**t that I am not getting involved with." And, to make her point, she edged closer to Sergeant Hardass McWrinkleface and the Mercury page beside him. "Pigfarts Squire call me Piggy," she said, holding out a hand in greeting to the other teen.
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:16 pm
"Woah, that's a cool nickname. Nobody ever gives me any cool nicknames. Once some guy started calling me Ronald McDonald but I could probably do without anyone calling me that again." Hogwarts grinned and waved his 'wand' (it was really just a slightly crooked stick). "I'm Hogwarts, Page of Mercury. Pleased to meet you both." He pushed his glasses further up his nose. "Let's all have a great Super Wonder visit!" Piggy's enthusiasm was catching.
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:32 pm
Sarras looked back at the Earth squire that addressed him, taking in his appearance and thankful to at least have one other higher ranking knight along for the ride. He was confident in himself and his own abilities, but it was never a bad idea to have someone with experience. He looked back at the passage he chose and answered in truth. "Not yet. Maybe if I had a flashlight instead of a cup, I'd be able to get a better look, but the other way just seems... too obvious and suspicious. Something about this place bugs me..."
Or perhaps it was the people. The shout he heard from the Pluto page made him sneer, but he forced a more polite expression on his face when the guy had the audacity to call him a 'kid'. While he brought up a good point, he didn't take kindly to anyone calling him a child, and that may have soured his response a little. When two others immediately flocked to the older man's side, he gave a shrug and made a suggestion in the driest tone he could muster. "Or we can send Guinea Piggy out there first and see what happens? I just figured that the most obvious way forward would have the most obvious of traps, but by all means, lead the way."
He usually respected his elders, but no one called him 'kid', he thought bitterly to himself. Maybe giving an attitude wasn't the best course of action and he knew it'd certainly wouldn't make him any friends, but he wasn't here to make friends. He was hear to get weapon intel for Mistral... and to survive. Anything else was secondary.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:28 am
Straight on to Room 4!Menae Page of Mercury was reading when the call from Mistral came, and if there was one thing she absolutely loathed, it was being pulled away from her reading, particularly since she was fairly certain that when she got back to Earth she would have thoroughly lost her place. Sure, she had volunteered to help for the greater good of her faction, but she hadn't volunteered to have her reading of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization interrupted.
(Certainly not the choice of most fifteen-year-olds, but Menae would insist she was not most fifteen-year-olds, for she had been blessed with an intellect far beyond them, which was clearly why she had been selected as a Knight of Mercury. And also why her peers often jeered at her and smetimes threw food and called her a "nerd." Alas, the insecurities of lesser minds.)
Menae wrinkled her nose a little as she surveyed her company. At least there was one other Mercury page here, so the expedition might be salvageable, but Cosmos? Earth? Mars?
Ah well. They weren't her first choice of company - a full squad of Mercury Knights would be - but they would have to do. She pushed up her glasses, examining the map.
"If anything is going to be deadly," she said, with the haughty air of someone who was quite certain she knew everything that was important to know, even if she didn't, "it would be a mysterious secret passage. I believe our elder friend is correct, and the safest way to proceed is straight."
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:44 am
Ankh looked down at the three knights beside him -- two pages of Mercury, a squire of Mars. Well, that was good news, at least -- if they ran into any trouble, they'd have what were hopefully a pair of smart cookies and a scrappy little bruiser, and they could brains-and-brawn their way through it. They were all so young, though. It was the same with everyone -- they were all, always, so young. And Ankh felt so old. "They're all young enough to be -- " he'd said, drawing up short and looking away.
It was too late, though. Carolyn knew how the sentence ended. " . . . 'Our grandchildren'?"
Harry looked at the floor, abashed. Some things were too painful to ever bring up, no matter how long it had been since you made peace with them. "I'm sorry," he said gruffly. "Cara, you know I never regretted -- "
Carolyn put a hand on his face to still him. "I know."Ankh shook his head, glancing back worriedly at the two knights departing for he secret passage. "Alright, so we're splitting up," he said in a low tone. "Those two will scout ahead in the passageway, and we'll go knock on the front door, see who's home." He walked forward, taking point, to open the door to the next room. If there was anything dangerous, he didn't want any of the kids out front. "Mercury, you two are in the middle," Ankh said, issuing commands in hopes the younger crowd would listen and he could keep them safe that way. "Mars, you're our rear guard. Keep a sharp eye." Ankh walked up to the door, thumped on it loudly, just in case, then tried opening it.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:07 am
To Room 4! Isengard Page of Mercury wasn't mad at all about getting summoned. She'd just been surfing the web the way you did when you had nothing better to do, and then suddenly she was in space. Not just anywhere in space, either, but on Mercury, her planet, in a room called Weapons Development, which quite possibly meant space blasters. The Internet, while interesting, was not nearly as interesting as space blasters. Plus, it would be useful. Like, when she'd awakened as a Page, she'd gotten this little stone that was supposed to be a weapon but actually wasn't, and she was supposed to somehow fight these monsters with it anyway. It was really stupid. Space blasters sounded way better. She realized she was zoning out a bit, though. Everyone else was getting organized and talking about which way to go, without her! As she sprinted towards the group by the door, long hair bouncing behind her, she yelled, "I'm here too, I'm here too!" That probabally wasn't the proper thing for someone her age to do, (She was 16), but she was actually a bit panicked. For all the potential space blasters and excitement, this place was a bit unsettling and she could tell it was probabally dangerous. A bit more calmly, she added, "Maybe we shouldn't split up? Safety in numbers, right?" This was mostly directed at the two going off towards the secret passage, which seemed kinda ominous to her. Turning towards the others, she added with a wave, "Anyway, I'm Isengard."
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:42 am
"I'm curious about that passage myself" Falias admitted. "it strange that this place has a map, but no flash light. I'd offer to try using my magic - but it doesn't form instantaneous light." Actually Falias didn't have a clue what his magic did given that he'd never actually used it and neither did he have any real idea of how to go about doing so. He kept that little tidbit to him self however, it not something he particularly wanted to share and besides, even if he did know what to do with his magic Falias doubted that it would be so convenient as to provide instant light - after all nothing about being a Knight had worked that way for him so far.
He had been about to turn to the other Knights around them and see if they had any ideas - at least he had until one of them had made that 'hey kids' comment. It had taken a couple of moments for it to sink in that the Pluto Page was really calling him a kid - particularly given that three of the others by him were definitely candidates - particularly that small Page (Menae) - who Falias doubted was even out of High School.
Although she sounded like a brat if the snotty way she was speaking was anything to go on. For a long moment he contemplated leaving all of them - Pig-whatever (Pigfarts) who he wasn't too sure was for real, but felt like a Squire going by the strength of her aura, the other two actual actual school kids (Menae and Isengard), the old man (Ankh) and the stick holding Page (Hogwarts) who he was also seriously wondering whether he was for real - but in the end he couldn't do it.
He looked at the red-haired Page and said quietly in attempt not to be overheard "Much as I'm tempted to leave that lot too it, I'm not comfortable letting all those kids " and by kids he meant real kids. "Jaunt off with that old man." Not least because the Page with the stick seemed to think they were on some sort of jaunt. "I think I may just follow after them."
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:54 am
Straight to room 4!Page Burj Khalifa of Uranus clenched one hand tightly around the small painted elephant statue that was supposed to be her weapon (It opened up! That was cool, but there was never anything inside it). There was a cranky old man (Ankh), an enthusiastic girl (Pigfarts), a young-looking girl (Menae... Burj was 20 herself, but she could pass for a teenager), and the other pages who Burj didn't quite pay as much attention to. She was still feeling a little nervous and unfocused, so things had to be really noticeable to catch her attention. Hopefully that wouldn't come back to bite her in the a**. Somewhat meekly, she said, "Yeah, let's go that way," gesturing in the direction of the main path. C'mon, Burj, get your head out of your a**, she thought to her self, giving her head a quick shake.
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