MISSION 002

[etrayamods]

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

⏵ into the labyrinth ⏴ Aurora's announced time for the mission was correct: four days after, as she had promised, the door to the Labyrinth opens, connected to Etraya's atmospheric bubble by its entrance point. Characters are directed to come to the entrance on May 3rd, and warned that they may want to bring medical supplies, weaponry, and any important artifacts along with them. She warns that large vehicles will not fit within the limited space available, and smaller ones may be difficult to remove, thus advises those to stay behind. Aurora also offers to watch over any companion animals and keep them safe while competitors complete the Labyrinth. They are given a short amount of time outside of the entrance to speak with one another, to plan and organize themselves, before they are ushered into it in groups of two to four. Once passed the entrance, they'll find that they are unable to turn around and exit out of it: a barrier keeps them from going back into the city proper, and as soon as they are far enough forward, the walls around them shift, closing them in, moving in complex patterns meant to separate them and bring them together. Characters with extraordinary abilities may find some of them inaccessible: super strength may be downgraded to closer to ordinary strength, magic may prove to be less predictable than it should be, and regardless of how strong, fast, or clever characters are: passing over the Labyrinth walls or destroying them proves to be impossible. While one may be able to run through the pathways at superhuman speeds, the pathways compensate for it by running them in circles, refusing to allow them to make any progress on their own. ⏵ pathways collide ⏴ Junctures of the Labyrinth often present competitors with choices, some that may have consequences: a left turn down a darker path may prove to be harmless, whereas the well-lit path may be full of traps intent on slowing them down: a trip wire that activates a swinging massive axe, or arrows that shoot straight out of the wall as soon as one gets close enough. Other junctures may present characters with choices that have consequences: they can choose the shortest pathway, but at great personal risk to themselves or their partner (ie, you can go this way, but your arm isn’t going with you) or they can choose the lengthy pathway full of traps and trials they’ll have to surpass to get to the end. ⏵ balancing act ⏴ The pathway opens up into a massive space, but it's not one with an easy path out: instead, competitors will find an obstacle course that will not let them continue forward until they complete it. Many of the tasks involve things that one cannot do on their own: they must walk across multiple wooden boards balanced precariously on a tall beam, but to ensure it's balanced, there must be one person on both sides of the boards and make sure that they're walking on the board in just the right space to ensure their weight doesn't cause it to sink too far on the opposite side. If a smaller child is on one end, they may want to stand significantly further away from the beam than the larger person on the other half. ⏵ help! i'm bleeding! ⏴ A large garden area spawns off of a pathway. The peaceful chirping of birds can be heard among blooming cherry blossom trees, and it all seems utterly peaceful and calm. An area one might wish to take a breather in, enjoy the sunshine reflecting from above, and get a good nap in. Or would, except a companion bot whose abdomen is covered in ketchup appears to be struggling across the ground, crying out for help. They state they are bleeding profusely and require immediate medical attention, otherwise, they will die. The companion bot also carries a bag of medical supplies and MREs, which player characters are welcome to utilize. The pathway out of this open space will not open until after the companion bot no longer states they are dying. Whether it's because they're "dead", or because those who came across them offered "medical attention" and patched them up until they've stated they're good and no longer need assistance - well, both will technically suffice. ⏵ choice is an illusion ⏴ After walking down an additional pathway, characters will find themselves trapped within a glass box. In front of them is a pedestal with two buttons: one red, and one green, as well as a tablet above it displaying the image of another group of characters. The tablet states hindering them will help you. You may either choose to make the second group's time through the maze more difficult, or hinder your progress by pressing the green button and helping the other group forward. Characters are given two minutes to decide which path to take; the timer, on the tablet, counts down regardless of any attempt to break or hack it. Pressing the green button will drop several squishmallows into the glass box. Inside one of them is a key that unlocks the roof of the glass box. Pressing the red button, while it promises to hinder the other group, actually. . . causes a toxic yellow gas to flood the glass box. The gas will burn the lungs of those who breathe it in, but it also begins slowly melting the glass box. This gas will make breathing difficult for the next 24 hours, but will not kill those who inhale it. Healing factors will not offset the gas. ⏵ who deserves the knife? ⏴ A group of two characters will walk through one corridor and find themselves strapped to two chairs, the backs of which are leaning against each other. In front of the both of them are drills, slowly approaching their chests. They cannot go sideways but can push forward and backward. They can push backward and get themselves further away from the threat of injury - forcing the person behind them to suffer but allowing themselves to escape - or they can push into the drill and free the person they're with. Alternatively, they can choose not to push either way, potentially sacrificing them both. Three options, but they are left with minimal time to decide as the drill continues to press closer. If they choose to go out together, they'll find that as the drills press against their chest - they simply stop. Minimal blood will be spilled, and they will have all the time they need to figure out how to squirm out of their bindings. ⏵ the Siren waits for thee ⏴ A seemingly harmless pathway turns into much more trouble than it's worth. A few steps through a corridor, and suddenly competitors will find the floor falling out from under them, revealing a body of water and - no solid ground on either side of it. There are the walls, but they lack any good climbing holds. Within the water are numerous Sirens - beautiful androgynous creatures that sing soft songs meant to entice others into following them deep into the water. While they may look beautiful, their mouths are full of razor-sharp teeth, and their intentions certainly aren't innocent. However, the Sirens can only touch competitors once they have initiated touch first. They will do their best to encourage this: holding out their hands, crying out for help, pretending to drown, or trying to coax them into coming in close enough for a kiss. As long as they remain on the path, they're harmless. But the moment they reach out for the Sirens... getting away from them will not be easy. Their tails are powerful, built for moving swiftly throughout the water and dragging others along with them. They bite hard and will dig their teeth deep into flesh to discourage struggling. If one gets captured by them? They're lunch. Or worse yet: if they get bitten but manage to escape, they may find themselves becoming a bit.. scaley around the neck, eyes shifting color to a too-soft green, and an almost impossible-to-resist urge to take a bite out of their friends. This effect will continue until May 28th regardless of when the character reaches the end of the Labyrinth. After May 28th, they will find that their scales slowly begin to shed, their eyes begin to turn back to their normal shade, and any other new features slowly turn back to how they were before they were infected. ⏵ don't forget your ball of twine ⏴ The Labyrinth is large, and there are many challenges around each corner. There may be space for breaks in between monsters, challenges, riddles, places to sit and recuperate between battles and mind games. It's not all chaos and challenges meant to test one's strength of will. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ May's mission is completing a massive Labyrinth. All characters must enter the Labyrinth; whether or not they participate once they're inside is up to them, but no one will be permitted to stay behind in the city. The duo who completes the Labyrinth first will be allowed to assist in choosing the next mission. Sign-ups for this are here. We will contact the chosen characters on May 13th. This mission will cover the time between May 3rd and May 28th. After May 28th, any characters who have not yet exited the Labyrinth will be gathered by the companion bots and brought back into the city. The companion bots will be aiming for nonviolent intervention. If more is needed, please let us know here. The first to exit will be returning to the city on May 15th. There will be powercapping during this mission, but the extent of which is fully up to players. We want the Labyrinth to be challenging but don't want to hinder gameplay too much. If you have any questions relating to this or want assistance coming up with ways to powercap your character, please feel free to ask us here. We will be largely leaving this up to player discretion. Food is scarce within the Labyrinth, but not impossible to find. There are chests (or maybe they're mimics?) strewn throughout with various useful items. One might have a sword, another might have a fresh chicken nugget Happy Meal from McDonalds. Or an entire birthday cake, candles included. Large vehicles will not fit in the Labyrinth and must be left behind in the city. Numerous challenges are throughout the Labyrinth. You are welcome to make your own, but we will also provide several you may utilize! Please feel free to throw down wildcards, or your own challenges into your prompts! The limitation is that characters must remain themselves throughout the challenges. There are no mirror replicas, nothing within the Labyrinth will affect their personalities or core values. It’s meant to challenge, not change them. Deaths that occur within the Labyrinth will last 24 hours. Please report these on our Death Tracker. All new locations will appear after player characters have returned to the city. Feel free to note the differences from the May 3rd map, versus what characters will be returning to on May 15th.

Comments

[levelshift]

[Accelerator has known a lot of doctors and scientists who would be considered completely nuts by standards outside of Academy City, so Hannibal's reasoning of using his psychiatric skills to explain this anomaly isn't all that weird to him.

Except as far as he's aware, Hannibal isn't from Academy City (if he was, chances are he would've recognized him as his boss or something). Unless he's from somewhere just as unusual?]

...................

[As he keeps on helping with the stitches Accelerator's eyes flick back over to the dead stag. Its head is a total mess compared to its body, which he supposes speaks to Hannibal's calm state. Someone in a panic would've been stabbing that thing all over, not focusing on one specific, vulnerable area that increases the chances of killing it.

This was efficient.]

You must be pretty damn good at that to be able to do it while something's attacking you.

[relished]

[Accelerator is astute. he looks up just in time to catch the boy's eyes flit to the stag, and his own eyes look to the stag, too. a great beast, collapsed and defeated on the ground; a shame for it to have to be put down like that.]

I must be.

[he repeats the words back, confirming. survival of the fittest. one last thread and he knots the ends, picking up the scissors from his kit and cutting the thread.]

Thank you for helping me. Now, [all of his focus turns to the beast,] this should not go to waste. Are you hungry?

[levelshift]

[Accelerator decides not to push the subject. It doesn't seem worthwhile, not when the stag is dead and no longer a threat.

He sits back when Hannibal finishes up, not a speck of blood on his fingers. As he switches his choker back to normal mode he considers that question.]

.... I could, yeah.

[It might be weird being willing to eat some creepy monster but he's chewed on a human finger before, so whatever. He doesn't really care, he didn't bring much in the way of food, and while in the labyrinth he's been way, waaaaayy more active than he usually is so he's been burning a lot more calories than normal (and he clearly doesn't have a lot of calories to begin with).

Except....]

Do you know how to butcher and cook a deer? Because I sure as hell don't.

[For everything Accelerator is good at, cooking is not one of those things. He never bothered cooking when he lived on his own, and after moving in with his legal guardian he relied on her use of rice cookers for literally everything.

And then he went to prison where they provide him with meals, so he's never exactly had to deal with this particular skill.]

stares at my html screw up in vain

[relished]

Good. It's important to supply our body with the necessary nutrients, especially in times of stress.

[he stands, brushing himself off and walking over to the stag. he can't smell anything especially off about it. its bite didn't give him any side effects so he can likely rule poison out. it's a shame all he has is a scalpel.]

I do, [he runs a hand over the stag's belly, feeling for any abnormalities.] but I only have the scalpel I used to kill it. Do you have anything bigger? If not, the small blade will have to do.

grips ur shoulder it's ok

[levelshift]

[While he doesn't argue, he makes a bit of a face at that. If it was possible, he'd prefer just living off of coffee.

Anyways.

A scalpel blade isn't all that big, so he's thinking....]

No. [His eyes trail over to the stag's head.] I might be able to make something out of its antlers or bones? It's just a matter of grinding an edge down, right?

[Not that he knows if either of those materials are appropriate for butchering knives.]

[relished]

[there's a pause after Accelerator's suggestion and he sizes the stag up. unfortunately, bones do not make very good knifes for such a large creature and would be better use with a smaller animal. they'd come in handy for cutting it after it was cooked, certainly, but he wouldn't even trust the antlers to get them very far.

he wants to make this quick, and dealing with the dust from bone would slow them down.]

That won't be necessary. If I guide you, I'll need you to follow my instructions exactly. I hope you don't mind getting your hands dirty.

[this is going to get messy. he should have brought gloves.]

[levelshift]

[Accelerator gives a small nod. Too bad one of those chest-mimic things didn't have a knife, but all he's managed to find is an unloaded gun that's currently shoved into his bag for safekeeping. Not exactly useful for cutting up an animal for dinner.]

I don't.

[That reply is coming without any hesitation whatsoever. He doesn't mind blood or handling dead bodies or organs or whatever at all, and he has the added bonus of being able to cheat by using his ability and reflecting the blood off of himself if he feels a little lazy. He is trying to conserve his battery though, so he wants to try avoiding that.]

What do we do first?

cw they be skinning a stag idk

[relished]

[no hesitation. good. Hannibal's first impression of Accelerator had been correct -- the boy can tolerate a lot, even if he hides what bothers him. the beast is too large for the two of them to move properly, but that's fine. the more that's cut away will lighten the load, and they won't need too much of it for a hearty meal.

his forearm will cause some delay from the lack of motor function, but it isn't anything too severe.]

I'm going to cut through the middle of the carcass and move down to its thighs. I'll need your help pulling the skin down.

[he removes his jacket and places it on the ground next to the stag. they'll be placing what meat they'll be using on his jacket. he wouldn't dare put it on the ground.

it's clear in the way he digs the scalpel into the stag and drags it across the skin that he's done this before. it's nearly muscle memory. blood spills onto his hands and down the beast's stomach. as he works, he instructs Accelerator along, advising him not just to watch but to see how it's truly done. maybe he'll be able to use the information in the future. he's kept closer to the head, and the upper part of the animal's body to avoid its entrails. they don't have the necessary means for cleanup of those parts.

as more of the skin is stripped away by the two of them and Hannibal cuts and tears parts of the animal that can't be used -- parts of which that he hands to Accelerator and expects him to dispose of them -- the stag looks less beastly and more true to any other slayed animal. he thinks about taking the teeth.

the process, while somewhat swift, still takes a good chunk of time, and Hannibal has harvested the meat that satisfies him, he takes a step back. admiring his work or looking over it for parts possibly missed (impossible).]

We'll need to start a fire. I'll finish cleaning up. Go ahead and look for kindling, please.

cw dungeon meshiing a whole ass metaphorical nightmare deer

[levelshift]

[Grabbing his crutch, Accelerator steps on over to the stag, pushing the sleeves of his hoodie and shirt up. While he has an unsettlingly large amount of knowledge regarding biology and anatomy, this doesn't really extend to deer or breaking an animal down to eat it, so he quietly follows Hannibal's instructions as precisely as possible. Which, since this is a kid who can operate on a subatomic level, is pretty damn precise.

As stated, he isn't the least bit squeamish about the whole process. In fact, he's listening intently the whole time, committing every single bit of information to memory. Who knows if it might be useful down the road, right?

Though, this is a bit of a bizarre situation, partly because he isn't all that used to doing things without his ability, mostly because the extent of his cooking skills are "hit the right button on the rice cooker." And now here he is, helping butcher a deer. Yomikawa would be proud, maybe, because she's a weirdo like that. Yoshikawa would probably die laughing (while also being proud, ugh).

Last Order would just cry because she's still at that age where she thinks deer are cute and doesn't think about where her food comes from.

Anyways.

When they finish up he's left feeling kind of satisfied, not something he ever expected to feel when cooking is involved. Before getting to his feet he's going to try and clean his hands up somewhat with a bottle of water stored in his bag, enough so that he at least doesn't get blood on his crutch.]

Yeah, fine. [Kindling he can do! He stands, then starts heading over to some nearby shrubbery to start collecting whatever dry sticks he can find.] If you don't have matches or a lighter I can get something going.

it's squishy and gross in here, ps i had to google how to skin a deer 😔

[relished]

[they've fallen into a rhythm. Accelerator follows along easily (and quietly) which Hannibal can appreciate. for as much bite as the boy has, when given instruction and order, he listens. there's little they can do about keeping things completely sterile, but he's working with the cards they've been dealt.]

Would you?

[he doesn't have any matches, and his hands are currently full of blood and organs. he works as a surgeon does, delicate and precise, moving parts as neatly as he can and separating as he goes. he's up to his arms in spatters and his skin is stained with blood, old and new. it's under his nails, coated his fingers, he's quite unsightly. he both enjoys the process and hates that he doesn't have an immediate change of clothes.

while Accelerator works on getting a fire together and Hannibal is satisfied with his work, he finds sticks and fallen branches that can hold the pieces of meat he's extracted. he breaks the branches down and fashions skewers, cuts the meat into bite-sized pieces to easily eat.

he takes a moment's pause to give Accelerator a small nod.]

You've done well.

Add that to the list of weird things rpers have googled for rp lol

[levelshift]

[Starting the fire is something he feels a lot more familiar with. Maybe because, even though it also falls under survival skills he's sorely lacking, combustion is a simple matter of physics and physics is something he can do (and does) in his sleep.

He continues gathering sticks, occasionally glancing over at Hannibal. He seems really practiced in this, which isn't something you'd expect from a psychiatrist who doesn't look like the outdoorsy type. Weird skill to have, but in this situation it's lucky.

Once he's arranged the kindling and a few larger branches into a pile, he briefly switches choker modes again and gives a vague little wave of his hand. The air around the wood swirls, compressing, until it's heated up enough that there's a pop! and the kindling catches fire. Far more efficient than fumbling with matches or wasting the fuel in a lighter.

Oh. Praise. He's never done well with praise, it used to reinforce his monstrous side and these days it only makes him feel nauseous. If they currently weren't in the middle of something more important than his own feelings then he'd tell him off.

Instead, he scowls as he moves to sit down in front of the fire.]

Tche, you did all the work, not me.

it's a very long list

[relished]

[as expected, as soon as their work is practically finished, Accelerator's attitude returns. no matter to Hannibal; he's become used to it by now. it's not often that kids know how to start a fire these days and he's appreciative that it was one less task for him to do.

he hands one of the skewers of meat to Accelerator, a combination of only the best parts of the animal he could extract from its (mostly) upper half. avoiding the intestines was annoying, but necessary. he briefly looks at the carcass before sitting down in front of the fire as well, holding his own makeshift skewer over it.]

Do you know how long you need to wait for it to cook before you eat it, or would you like me to let you know?

[he prefers his meat closer to rare, but he'll adjust the timing should Accelerator want him to.]

[levelshift]

[Accelerator takes the skewer, completely unappreciative of the cuts of meat beyond Hannibal's butchering-with-only-a-scalpel-in-less-than-ideal-conditions skills. That, and his growing hunger. While he doesn't eat a lot he does still need the calories, and this is better than relying solely on himself.

Looking down at his skewer, his expression is flat and his answer comes without any hesitation.]

Tell me. I don't know the first damn thing about cooking, even when it comes to basic shit. I don't want to end up burning this or making myself sick.

[There's no point in being embarrassed about this. He might be the smartest esper in Academy City but he's acutely aware there's a lot out there he doesn't know. Cooking just happens to be one of those things.]

[relished]

[Accelerator is nothing if not honest, isn't he?]

Of course.

[silence falls between them for a good few minutes as the meat cooks. not that the two of them engaged in much conversation to begin with, but the silence is comfortable, at least to Hannibal. the sound of the crackling fire and occasional distant noise here and there fills the room instead. soon, a delicious smell begins to surround them.

he pulls skewer away from the fire a bit earlier than he suggests Accelerator to, sniffing it, then taking a bite. he's testing the texture, how well it cooked. for all he knows, this strange creature doesn't burn the same as a regular stag, but he finds it nearly identical in taste.

it's quite good.]

Go ahead, Accelerator. It's safe for you to eat.

[levelshift]

[Accelerator is content to sit in that silence, slowly turning his skewer. It's a lot more comfortable than trying to force inane chatter, and he has a lot on his mind.

Namely, how the hell they're supposed to get out of this stupid labyrinth. Traditional methods of puzzle solving don't work, since the environment shifts around, and cheating by going over the walls hasn't worked, either. At this point it feels as if they're at the mercy of Echo's whims. Maybe they're stuck until Echo gets bored.

Maybe they'll be stuck in here until the air runs out. He's aware Aurora wasn't lying about having to provide air here at the expense of the location of the apartments and hospital. He isn't sure if the air is coming from machinery that generates it, or if they're working with a limited supply from the get-go.

He looks up when Hannibal speaks again.]

.... Thanks.

[Pulling his skewer out of the fire, he takes a bite. It tastes fine to him, not burned or undercooked. It occurs to him this is the first time he's had venison.]

Have you butchered many deer before?

[relished]

Yes, I quite enjoy hunting.

[in more ways than one. he hides his mirth well, an unseen smile between bites. he doesn't believe an automated word that leaves Echo's electronic mouth. truthfully, he's begun to feel a bit untouchable here. no one questions him, and while some have bristled at his company, there is some positivity in being completely unknown.

except besides this labyrinth's unpredictability, there's no chase, nothing keeping him truly on his toes. his mind briefly strays to Maryland, to Will, who he had left gutted in his kitchen.]

I'm hoping I'll be able to partake in it again, once we find a way out.

[levelshift]

[A psychiatrist that enjoys hunting. He isn't sure if he's ever known a doctor that does any kind of athletic activity, it's not like he ever got to know the majority that worked on him. He can't picture Kihara being interested, and Yoshikawa claims to be dying if she has to walk too far, so maybe it's an uncommon thing.

He thinks on that a little as he takes another bite of his skewer.]

You mean out of the labyrinth, or out of Etraya?

[Because Aurora had let those weird chimera animals out. He supposes someone could hunt those things if they wanted to.]

I don't know if us being in Etraya is meant to be a long term thing. Aurora didn't seem to be lying about having to reroute oxygen into here, she might be working with a limited supply.

[relished]

Unless the exit of the labyrinth sends us home, I'd like to try hunting here. There are many types of animals here I don't usually see, or get to eat, for that matter. [ha ha, an inside joke for himself.] In theory, yes -- hunting in my own world is preferred.

[more comfort, less unpredictability. he could show off there to the ones he knows would appreciate it.]

Are you sure about that?

[he isn't buying the low on oxygen, high on supply of everything else deal.]

[levelshift]

[For a brief moment he has to wonder if Aurora is going to introduce more weird animals into Etraya, maybe by way of the labyrinth. Everyone gets out and there's just some minotaurs wandering around outside the hospital. That'd be nuts.

He inclines his head a little.]

Yeah. I said I was going to have a look around, right? I checked out that fucking barrier that's surrounding the area, it's semi-permeable and allows air molecules out, but it doesn't let anything in. If the atmosphere of the entire planet was similar to Earth there wouldn't be any need for it to function that way.

[relished]

Did you consider that's what Echo allowed to happen while you were inspecting it, but changes its properties regularly?

[he's taking what Accelerator says very lightly, that much is clear. he doesn't blame him for wanting to make sense of everything, to put together the puzzle pieces in a way that clarifies his reality. Hannibal would sooner trust his gut.]

[levelshift]

It's possible. Echo would be putting in lot of fucking effort to offer a reason for keeping us confined, though. I'm willing to bet there aren't many people around here who can track the movement of air molecules, either.

[So even more effort for something that few people would even notice.]

They haven't offered much else in the way of reasons before. Wouldn't this be a deviation from their normal pattern of behaviour of all that vague bullshit?

[relished]

Echo has proven she has plenty of power. She may be so advanced that doing so is as simple as blinking.

[he continues to eat, chewing thoughtfully.]

From a psychological point of view, a deviation from a normal behavioral pattern to only return to that pattern once more would be a means of manipulation. [dark eyes lock on Accelerator's,] It's working.

[levelshift]

[Accelerator stiffens at the suggestion, his own gaze hardening. His first instinct to fire back with a Fuck you, I'm not being manipulated. But Hannibal isn't wrong, and it's not like any of his other calculations have been wrong. Everything has been on the up-and-up, as if he was still connected to the Sisters' Network. This would be the only deviation.

He just doesn't like being manipulated, is all, and he tries to work out some argument against that possibility.]

What would they have to gain by contriving a situation where my calculations have to be manipulated? If they wanted to force us to participate in this fucking labyrinth they wouldn't have to come up with the air excuse to get us in here, they could likely just force all of us.

[relished]

The presentation of a false choice gives those experimented on a sense of control. There was never a choice, and likely never an issue with air circulation.

[it's said coolly, but the words are absolute. unless Hannibal is proven that his theories are incorrect, he'll continue to form his own beliefs.]

We were forced onto Etraya, just as we were forced into this maze.

[levelshift]

[Accelerator doesn't believe that. He can't deny the possibility that Hannibal is correct but he knows what he calculated, he could sense the vectors of the air molecules moving in that way. Echo being able to fuck with his senses at that basic of a level is unreal (and a little frightening).]

Tche.

[Yeah, he's clicking his tongue. He's annoyed.]

Well, the only other notable thing I measured was that this planet is smaller than Earth. In order for it to have comparable gravity it's more dense. [So it isn't some version of Earth, for what that's worth.]