General debriefing: There have been reports that people are hearing animal sounds coming from the Belle Isle Zoo late at night. Considering that the zoo was shut down and abandoned over a decade prior, it seems to be something that should probably be looked into...
Find out what is happening at the zoo and remember: don't get caught. Or eaten.
* C class difficulty level (must have a team of three to four people, and at least one of them must be an Intermediate Trainee or higher.)
* Please remember that hunters can carry a maximum of two Runic items on them at all times.
* THIS IS AN OVERNIGHT MISSION. Please pack accordingly!
STAGE ONE
You arrive at the zoo.
It is dark here, and eerie. Most of the park is overgrown and lapsing back into nature, with heavy branches and thick vines and giant leaves beginning to slowly drag everything into the depths of creation. In spite of it being an open space, everything feels strangely cold, brittle leaves and the faint smell of smoke in the air.
Your instructions are to observe and to find out what is making those animal noises that everyone nearby seems to keep hearing.
All players roll 1d6.
1 - In your wanderings, you come across a pile of what seem to be zoo maps that are by the front gates. The maps are in relatively good condition for a zoo that closed over a decade ago...
2 - You hear, a little garbled sounding, what might possibly be a lion's roar. But when you go to check out the lion's enclosure, all you find is a dirty stuffed plush lion and nothing else.
3 - In the elephant house you discover fresh hay laid out across the ground. There are no animals, however. And it stinks.
4 - The gift shop is mostly boarded up, but you force your way in through the front door anyway. There are still shelves filled with various knickknacks and decayed looking merchandise, although if you look closely enough, you might find yourself a souvenir to take back with you that isn't totally worthless.
5 - The bat house makes you feel too enclosed, everything dark. There is no source of light that works anywhere inside of the building, and at night time, it is pitch black. Looks like you better have your own source of light, or you might stumble across a pile of rotting fruit left out for - what?
6 - A dilapidated old ice cream cart stands outside of one of the run down resting areas. When you open it up, you discover the inside is not only perfectly clean, but there's actual ice cram in there. The question is whether you should eat it or not...
STAGE TWO
It's time to regroup.
You have been instructed to stay the night in order to observe the goings on at the zoo. It is time to find a place to make your camp, so that you can at least get some rest in between watching shifts.
One player rolls 1d4.
1 - Your group decides to lodge in the gift shop. There are so many things here that are staring at you - one eyed stuffed animals long past their prime, grimy posters, broken mugs with zebra faces on them...but on the bonus side, it's a large building, with attached restrooms (however old and out of service they might be), and it has a series of windows that make for easy observation. Hopefully.
2 - Your team winds up at the polar bear enclosure. It's not entirely closed off, but you take refuge in the above ground observational area, rather than the below ground one. There are doorless entryways on both sides, and not much space, but at least you have two outs should things get dire.
3 - You and your fellow hunters wind up at one of the zoo's many abandoned restaurants. It's not a very big one, but it's spacious enough that you can lay down sleeping bags or supplies without bumping too much into each other. Better yet, there's a kitchen - a very old and unused kitchen teeming with bacteria and a decade's worth of mold and moss, but still.
4 - All of you take a trip to the top of the climbing structure that was once a kids area. It is mostly a ropes course, with a large net beneath to catch any who fall, but the place you decide to wait is a square platform meant for any waiting groups at the top of a flight of wooden stairs. The ropes course leads across to another platform and another flight of stairs. There's not much space here; it seems time to get cozy with one another, but at least you're up high, with a better vantage point.
STAGE THREE
You hear something.
It's late at night - some absurd hour when normal people are asleep, several hours after you've taken camp for the evening. One person is on watch, while the rest take a small rest to preserve strength and not be tired should they be needed.
And you hear something.
It sounds like an animal cry, some distorted, twisted version of it. You're not sure what it is, but all of you hear it, and eventually all of you are awake and alert, prepared - or not - for whatever might come your way.
And come they do.
One player rolls 1d6.
1 - The creature looks like a mutated giraffe.
2 - The creature looks like a mutated panda bear.
3 - The creature looks like a mutated black panther.
4 - The creature looks like a mutated markhor.
5 - The creature looks like a mutated - and giant sized - black widow spider.
6 - The creature looks like a mutated - and giant sized - andean condor.
It looks like there's some sort of artifact gone wild, or maybe it's just an excess of FEAR built up over the years that has taken physical form. Regardless of how and what it is, you have to get rid of it.
The creature has 105 HP.
-3 HP auto damage
If you lose: It would be wise to pendant out before you get critically injured beyond repair. Perhaps you should come back and try again another day, when all of you aren't so tired and wounded...
If you succeed: The creature explodes into dust.
STAGE FOUR
Upon your successful fight against the creature that has been roaming the zoo, you discover that the reason for it is an unruly artifact that has been making things difficult. Now it is time to collect that artifact and get the hell out of dodge before something else comes to try and eat you...
All players roll 1d100.
The person who rolls the highest number has retrieved the artifact. There is more than one of each artifact, which means that multiple people over time can acquire the same one - however you do need to complete the mission again if you fail the first time.
1 - If you rolled the giraffe:
You are now in possession of the Long Neck artifact in the shape of a thin gold necklace. Effects: For one hour per 24 hours you have the ability to extend or diminish your height by no more or less than six inches. This artifact has a 48 hour IC reset time and a 1 week OOC cooldown.
2 - If you rolled the panda bear:
You are now in possession of the Pandamonium artifact in the shape of a short piece of bamboo. Effects: For one hour per 24 hours you have become impervious to contact. People who try to touch you find that they can't get their hands - or any part of themselves - any closer than about six inches away. This artifact has a 48 hour IC reset time and a 1 week OOC cooldown.
3 - If you rolled the black panther:
You are now in possession of the Shadow Stalker artifact in the shape of a short black capelet. Effects: For one hour per 24 hours you can disappear completely in the darkness. If you step into a shadowy area or a darkened room, you simply fade away. You are not invisible; if you move at all, you can be seen as a shadowy shift of something. This artifact has a 48 hour IC reset time and a 1 week OOC cooldown.
4 - If you rolled the markhor:
You are now in possession of the Feeling Horny artifact in the shape of a matching pair of brown leather bracelets. Effects: For one hour per 24 hours you are suddenly very durable. This isn't to say you can't feel pain, but you seem to be much more sturdy and strong than you were before. Also you can headbutt people particularly well. This artifact has a 48 hour IC reset time and a 1 week OOC cooldown.
5 - If you rolled the black widow spider:
You are now in possession of the Many Eyed artifact in the shape of a pair of red goggles. Effects: For one hour per 24 hours you can see perfectly clear in the dark. This artifact has a 48 hour IC reset time and a 1 week OOC cooldown.
6 - If you rolled the andeon condor:
You are now in possession of the Condorminium artifact in the shape of a small keychain in the shape of black wings. Effects: For one hour per 24 hours you can float a few inches off the ground. You cannot go higher than six inches, but you still feel pretty floaty. This artifact has a 48 hour IC reset time and a 1 week OOC cooldown.
OOC
This mission is worth +3 growth points.
Only one artifact may be found per mission by one person.
These are Class C Artifacts, which means you may only own two TOTAL per character.
Nuxaz
Started, as promised~! If someone else wants to post to get it officially going, please do. XD; I'm a horrible lead.
Beejoux
and be blue
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 5:39 pm
Zane didn't know what to expect when they'd been given the mission at a zoo. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been to a zoo that wasn't shut down.
Fiddling with his scarf he looked at his mission mates, gaze lingering on Soleil the longest before shifting to Vasily, whom he remembered from the island vaguely, and Rhys who he was pretty certain he'd done a training run with once upon a time.
At least this time they weren't all strangers. '
"You guys ready?" He rolled his shoulders back, pushed up his glasses and peered ahead as if it would give him any insight into this.
But...it couldn't be completely horrible right?
He took a step forward, inhaling to prepare himself.
and be blue
beejoux
_ p a o cx
Nuxaz
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Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
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Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 5:59 pm
Soleil was heading into this mission with a certain amount of justifiable wariness. She'd been on a few missions now, and though the last one had been leagues less nightmarish than the first (She still had dreams of the desert, the shifting sand, and the giant ******** bugs), someone had still died--temporarily, but still. Needless to say, her history with missions up to this point wasn't exactly promising, and she wasn't sure if the smaller number of hunters in attendance was comforting, or foreboding.
Which meant she was oddly quiet as they'd all gathered, a small pack resting on her back with a few essentials tucked safely within; water, snacks, and an additional sweater. It was winter in Michigan, this was supposed to be an over night thing, and her coat wasn't exactly cold weather friendly.
Zane's prompting had her returning that long look, and she'd nod before glancing off to her side at the other two that were joining them. One seemed at least vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place why. The other, the taller of the two, she'd never seen before. At the very least, she had names for the both of them thanks to the mission specs that had come in over her phone.
Drawing in a deep breath, the dark haired Mist squared her shoulders and fell into step behind the Zane, following him towards the front gates of the empty zoo.
nuxaz
and be blue
_ p a o cx
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:43 pm
"Camping out at the zoo. What is, this girl scouts?" His time on the island had not, apparently, softened Vasily's nature or that near-permanent scowl. His eyes flicked to the lot of them, ragtag and still fresh-faced, and it deepened into a grimace.
Over one shoulder was his bag as well, stuffed surprisingly well with everything he'd need for an overnight in an unfamiliar space. Hanging loose around his neck were the earbuds of his iPod -- the device itself tucked carefully into his pocket, where fingers would work nervously over its edge.
Still, he did follow, begrudgingly, hunkered down into his hoodie and squinting at the lot of them.
Rhys sighed a heavy sigh, not being a huge fan of zoos, or missions, really. At least not ones that pulled him out into the autumn cold of a Michigan night. And at the zoo, of all places. It wasn't not one of his preferred places to be even in the daytime. So the "girl scouts" quip got a snort out of him as he followed Zane's lead; the familiar face was a bit of a relief as the other two were complete strangers to him.
"Girl scouts in a horror flick," he shot back at Vasily, smirking. "Or co-ed scouts, ******** shrugged and the clutter inside his pack filled the bit of silence that followed his words. He'd packed light, as usual, but not without his own comforts. They were gonna be camping in a zoo, of all places, and while waiting for who knows what the hell was actually in there to come out and reveal itself to them. He was looking forward to getting home already, but that of course involved actually getting the mission done, so they'd have to run into the thing at some point. So he shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Horror movie or not, no dying is probably a good idea. We gonna do the buddy system or something?"
He looked toward Zane, hoping he could pass the buck for mission lead. He didn't like being in charge so much; more pressure screwed him up out in the field. In a workout it was fine because lives weren't on the line, but out here was a whole different story.
Nuxaz
Beejoux
and be blue
Nuxaz rolled 1 6-sided dice:
1Total: 1 (1-6)
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:08 am
Quote:
1 - In your wanderings, you come across a pile of what seem to be zoo maps that are by the front gates. The maps are in relatively good condition for a zoo that closed over a decade ago...
Shifting the pack on his back, Zane pressed the gates open, pausing only long enough to give his two cents. "Don't we kinda live an every day horror story?Monsters are real in our world." They were just equipped to handle it, mostly.
"Horror scouts," he mused, corners of his mouth twitching up because he found that rather funny. Green eyes flicked over to Rhys as he contemplated the question. "If we can." Last time he tried to stick with a group, they got separated.
The chill of the air left a shiver running down his spine and his nose wrinkled when he thought he smelt smoke faintly underneath everything else. He played it up to his imagination, disregarding it almost completely. "We're here to observe and figure out what people are hearing, so guess we better scope out the zoo."
It was simple enough and Zane didn't mind taking some of the initiative. Without another word, he made his way into the zoo. Right off the bat he found where all of the pamphlets would have been kept and...wait...there were a strange amount of them that looked--
Wait were those new?
Zane plucked one out to get a better look. "Don't you think these would be more...weathered?" He held one up for the others.
beejoux
and be blue
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Nuxaz
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Beejoux rolled 1 6-sided dice:
4Total: 4 (1-6)
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 6:22 am
"want there a movie that just came out about boy scouts and zombies?" Was Soleil's single contribution to the topic of horror movies and girl scouts. Still unusually quiet. Focused, perhaps, or nerves getting the better if her, or even a combination of the both of them.
She kept close to Zane as they headed inside, so when he paused to pick up one of the maps she was close enough to see the glossy, fresh look of the thing. Frowning, she picked one up so she could unfold it. The inside was equally pristine, and Zac's was right, it definitely shouldn't have been. "Hasn't this place been closed over ten years now?"
They were workout jumping right on into the weirdness. Fun.
Setting it down, Soleil turned, trying to get a good head on her surroundings, and then stopped, reaching out to give the Sun trainee beside her a pat on the arm. "Hey, let's look in the gift shop, maybe we'll find something." It was worth a shot, at least.
Glancing back at Rhys and Vash, the tall teen crossed the small entry courtyard to the gift shop. It was boarded up, but she suspected most of the buildings here would be, so she curled her fingers around one of the boards and yanked on it until it came free with the scream of protesting nails. Then she did the same with anoher.
_x c Pao
and be blue
nuxaz
and be blue rolled 1 6-sided dice:
2Total: 2 (1-6)
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 6:05 pm
"...a lot creepier than I thought it'd be, actually..." It was surprisingly honest, for Vash, even if it was said in a sarcastic way. Hands shoved deep into the pockets of his hoodie, he trailed the others toward the gift shop.
As they started for the entrance, though, he heard something that turned his head. Not too far away, the lion's enclosure, and his feet drew him slowly in that direction. It didn't take him far from the other two -- just enough to peer in at the dirty toy that was the only occupant, and then raised his voice a little. "...did anyone else hear that?"
6 - A dilapidated old ice cream cart stands outside of one of the run down resting areas. When you open it up, you discover the inside is not only perfectly clean, but there's actual ice cram in there. The question is whether you should eat it or not...
Seeing as Soleil was sticking close to Zane, Rhys looked over at Vash for a moment and wondered if they'd been wordlessly partnered up for this mission. Thankfully Zane's question turned his thoughts back to more pressing things, so he looked over the pamphlets and gave a nod. "Yeah, those look way too new for a run-down place..."
He went back to observing the rest of the place when he noticed Soleil pass an ice cream stand on her way to the gift shop. He blinked suspiciously at it but made his way over anyway, opening it out of sheer curiosity. When he saw that there was ice cream inside he made a s**t-that's-too-sour face and took a step back.
"No way that's good ice cream," he muttered to himself before following after the others. Vash's question pulled him out of wondering who or what in the hell had been making ice cream in an abandoned zoo, and he shook his head.
"Nah, dude. Heard what, exactly?"
Nuxaz
Beejoux
and be blue
Nuxaz rolled 1 4-sided dice:
2Total: 2 (1-4)
Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 7:09 am
Quote:
2 - Your team winds up at the polar bear enclosure. It's not entirely closed off, but you take refuge in the above ground observational area, rather than the below ground one. There are doorless entryways on both sides, and not much space, but at least you have two outs should things get dire.
"Probably," Zane retorted, glancing up from the map he was viewing to the girl at his side. "There's horror movies for everything these days." And they had the potential to live one, which should have been terrifying but Zane didn't seem that phased. He wasn't exactly comfortable either, but he tried to appear like he was confident.
Lips pursed together at Soleil's question and he swallowed before nodding. "Supposedly." But stranger things had happened...right?
They were further away, but the ginger could hear some of what Vash and Rhys. Looking up and over he wrinkled his nose. "Didn't hear anything but..." He waved a hand at their surroundings like that said everything he didn't.
"Come on, let's find a place to set up camp." Booted feet led him forward, green eyes shifting across the various exhibits as they went with Zane trying to determine what was going to be the best place for them to set up. Ultimately, he settled on the empty polar bear enclosure.
"How about this? Only two exits and if we stay above we can maybe have the upperhand if crap goes down?"
beejoux
sorry about the wait!
_ p a o cx
and be blue
Nuxaz
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Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 4:14 pm
Soleil would abandon her goal of breaking into the gift shop after the third plank came free and clattered loudly against the concrete at her feet. Even with the extra strength afforded by her weapon bond, it was no easy task prying the boards free, and the more she looked, the less she thought they'd find anything in there. Besides, if they'd searched the rest of the zoo and found nothing, they could always come back, and it'd be a little easier this time around cause she'd already done half the work.
She also didn't want to be left behind as the rest of them headed further into the zoo to find a good place to bed down for the night.
Jogging to reach them, she slowed as she fell into step at Zane's side, wordlessly scanning the animal enclosures as they passed them until they reached the polar bears and Zane suggested they stop there for the night. "It seems as good a place as any." Better, really, for being mostly enclosed, and having a roof.
She flashed the redhead a smile before glancing towards their two mission mates, all while turning on her heel to back slowly towards the entrance to the viewing area, ready to head right on in so long as there was no protest from Rhys or Vash.
_paocx
Next person can rolll
and be blue
Or the next after that
nuxaz
I just didn't wanna rush right into a prompt before they'd even really gotten there.
and be blue rolled 1 4-sided dice:
1Total: 1 (1-4)
6 - The creature looks like a mutated - and giant sized - andean condor.
Vash didn't protest their choice of places to set up, though he didn't exactly look thrilled about it, either. Everything was, he thought, just slightly damp, and everywhere he tried to lay down was a little too hard, a little too cold, uncomfortable in a way that wasn't entirely unfamiliar, but still --
Eventually, he gave up, levering himself up to stand and survey the area. He was in high ground, a bit away from the rest, when he heard a sound -- a shriek -- and he turned in place, heart pounding, to face down a huge bird.
His mouth fell open and nothing but air came out, sudden and panicked. In the back of his mind, his weapon nudged him to draw -- but for the time being, Vash just stared.
Rhys followed rather quietly as well, eyes darting around at everything around them as they made their way inside the enclosure in question. He didn't look too thrilled either, and was quietly relieved that there was nothing keeping said enclosure at the low temperatures polar bears needed to survive. But like Vash, the brunette couldn't quite settle down comfortably in any one spot so he took to wandering around a little to observe.
What were they even supposed to--
A shriek caught his attention and he looked around, eyes soon landing on Vash's figure a short distance away. And just a bit further from him...a giant ******** me," he muttered, glancing briefly in the directions of Zane and Soleil before sprinting toward Vash and the monster he was seemingly about to face down on his own. Along the way he summoned Zephira, who was cackling in the back of his mind and all bristled up and excited about this particular development.
"Hey! Snap out of it and get summon your ********' weapon," he barked at the Death hunter as he passed him. He swung his blade when he close enough to the buzzard, brows still scrunched together even as he felt his blade catch on its flesh.
HP: 47/50 DMG: 7 CHG: 1/3
Boss HP: 98/105 AD: -3
Nuxaz
Beejoux
and be blue
itspao_
Witty Punching Bag
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Nuxaz rolled 2 8-sided dice:
5, 7Total: 12 (2-16)
Nuxaz
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:10 am
Things seemed eerily quiet and maybe that's what had him so on edge. Where was the reason they'd been called to the zoo?
It kept him from being able to do anything but sit on something uncomfortable and shift restlessly. For someone who quite enjoyed sleep, it wasn't something he was going to get any of as long as they were there. Sitting seemed to do very little for the uncomfortable feeling abuzz in his chest and he had just climbed to his feet when the shriek sent a chill down his spine.
His head snapped up and Lerna was abuzz in his head, demanding to be summoned, so he listened.
The single armed gauntlet was summoned and he was darting forward to do something about the big ugly bird before it could do anything to Vash.
