etrayalogs | MISSION 002

Entry tags:

MISSION 002

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He hears the rumble, as well as the sound of pounding feet, before he even turns the corner. Natsuno tries to step back and choose another fork, but the shifting walls all but shove him forward and the opening slides shut behind him with an omnious thud.

Asuka doesn't need to tell him twice. He runs.]

This is stupid - [Also, not her fault? That is an admission of guilt if he's ever heard one.] Did you push a wrong button or what?

All I did was open a door!

[ Well, she might have given it an extra hard yank, but still. ]

This stupid place is trying to kill me!

[ She's surprisingly quick on her feet, despite being only a little over five feet. Still... that rock is coming. ]

There's gotta be a turn off or something, right?

[He almost snaps this place is trying to kill all of us, but snarky commentary would have to wait for when they're not about to be crushed by a boulder.]

Usually there's an opening you can squeeze through -

[His answer is based entirely on movies, but at this point Natsuno's certain Echo has been getting inspiration from fiction anyway. Ahead of them, two hand-shaped marks can be seen, one on each wall. Looks like they're meant to press them...]

[ Asuka's panting for breath. She's in good physical shape, but even so - all-out sprinting is rough! She skids to a temporary halt, staring at the marks. ]

Press it!

[ She slaps her hand against it with a yell. ]

[No need to tell him twice. Natsuno slams his palm against the mark with what's probably more force than necessary. With both marks activated, a hidden panel slides open in the wall, revealing a smaller corridor.]

Come on!

[Sorry Asuka, he's just gonna shove you in there before following.]

I see it! Stop shoving m-!

[ But she is shoved. And it turns out the first step is a doozy - or rather a chute or slide that deposits them another level down. Asuka shrieks as she goes zipping down and then ends up in a panting heap on the floor.

Except then she has to roll out of the way as he comes right after her. ]

What the Hell was that?

[She's shrieking, he's yelling and the whole thing is pretty embarrassing. Natsuno flies out of the chute and meets the floor face first. Fucking ow.]

Death trap, what else, [He grumbles, sitting up to survey their new surroundings.] Entire maze is full of them.

[He may or may not have gotten himself spear to a wall the other day by stepping on the wrong tile.]

I think Echo's been watching too many movies.

I knew that-!

[ She sputters. ]

I meant the stupid slide!

[ She's trying to dust herself off, her face twisted into an expression of irritation. ]

Figures that the stupid robot things we'll enjoy dodging stupid deathtraps for a month!

Aurora said whoever exits the maze first gets to choose the next mission. Might be our chance to judge them on performance.

[He knows there's probably no real chance of that happening, but still. If he, Clarke or Rita are the first to the finish line, Natsuno knows they'll do their best to make it annoying for Echo and easy to everyone else.]

Anyway, it's a good thing we ran into each other. This place isn't designed for a single person.

[While she's dusting herself off, Natsuno looks at the pathway. The right wall is covered with panels, 4 rows and 5 columns, ending with a massive door.]

... I guess we need to press the correct ones in order, and the wrong one will kill us with another boulder.

...you're telling me. Half the things in this place need at least three hands!

[ She's still grumbling to herself when she glances up at the panel. She frowns and then looks at Natsuno. ]

...I'm Asuka. So at least I know the name of the person I might be getting killed by.

[ Not an auspicious start. ]

Any clues as to what panels are, you know, the right ones?

Yuuki.

[He looks over the panels. While the rows don't seem to make any sense, the columns are more consistent: some have written symbols, others drawings. Natsuno points to the far left column, which includes 4 panels: Li, Na, Au and K.]

This one's closest, so that would be the start. I think we need to find the exception, but I'm not sure which one's right.

[These are... chemical symbols? School was years ago, okay.]

(( OOC: lmk if this riddle works! i'm good with either realizing the exception or pressing the wrong one and letting natsuno take a hit for her ))

Huh.

[ She elbows in alongside him to get a look at the panels, her brow furrowed. Chemical symbols from the periodic table? She runs her eyes over them and her expression lights up. She's been in school more recently - and in college to boot. ]

Au! It's a different kind of metal!

[ She slaps the "Au" square and waits expectantly. ]

[The panel lights up, and the sound of turning gears can be heard from the door. Natsuno nods appreciatively.]

Not bad.

[She's good company for this room. Natsuno doesn't know how long he would've spent trying to remember.

The next column shows planetary symbols: Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars. Natsuno frowns.]

These two are male and female, but I'm not sure about the others. What's Au? Maybe it's connected.

...huh.

[ She rubs her chin. ]

Au is gold, isn't it? Out of those three, the sun isn't a planet, so it could be that...?

[So that's the sun? Then the familiar ones must be... Venus and Mars. He tries to remember if he's ever read about the sun being associated with gold, but nothing comes to mind. Still, the sun is no doubt the exception here.]

Seems like the best bet. [He reaches out but pauses, hand hovering just over the sun panel.] You should step aside. If this is the wrong guess and there's a penalty, there's no point both of us get hurt.

[He waits a moment, braces himself for a possible trap, and clicks the panel. Luckily, it lights up and another gear turns on the door.]

Aren't you gallant.

[ Her comment is a bit dry, but she still takes his point and edges out of the way. Fortunately nothing blows up or tries to kill them, so it seems like they're still in the right track.

The next panel is a little different they have a series of numbers and a dial for them to set what comes next in the sequence. It reads: 2837 7283 3728. The last spot waits their input. Asuka frowns. ]

...math? Wait-

[ She looks like she's doing calculations in her head. ]

Edited 2024-05-12 16:49 (UTC)

[He rolls his eyes at "gallant," but says nothing. Just trying to be practical here!

Fortunately, she had the right answer, and Natsuno turns his attention to the next riddle. A number puzzle is something he can work on as well, and he makes his own silent calculation while Asuka concentrates.]

The last digit always shifts to the start. So the next one is... 8372, right?

[He looks at Asuka. It's best to agree on the solution before they try anything.]

[ Asuka stares at it for a moment, as if she's still trying to figure something out and then she nods slowly. ]

...yeah. Yeah, I think so. Go ahead and hit it.

[ She's gonna let him take the heat if it's wrong. ]

[She doesn't sound as confident as he hoped, but they need to punch in something. Natsuno waits for her to move out of the way, and dials in 8372.

Did it work?]

[ Apparently it did! And maybe it's enough because there's more clicking and turning of gears and the passage starts to open up for them. Asuka throws her hands up with a little ha. ]

Easy! We're outta here-!

[ She takes a step forward and then shrieks as a pitfall opens up and she scrabbles to grab onto anything - or anyone - to stop herself from toppling in. ]

We still got another seq -

[But she's already heading off, possibly to squeeze through the narrow opening, before the pitfall opens up.

Natsuno hurries after her, grabbing Asuka by a wrist and shoulder before she falls too deep. He throws his entire weight back, trying to fight off the momentum carrying them, and ends up falling on his backside by the pit, still holding onto here.]

[ Asuka's shriek rings in the air as she teeters for a moment and then falls back heavily with Natsuno, sprawling half on top of him as they narrowly avoid going into the pit. She sits there for a moment, wide-eyed, the adrenaline dump still racing through her system. ]

W-what the Hell was that?

Penalty, obviously.

[If she doesn't get off of him quickly, he will shove - none too gently, although he does make sure to direct her away from the pit.]

There's one we didn't solve yet. Guess it's their way of saying no shortcuts. Are you always this reckless?

[ Asuka stumbles back to her feet, red-faced and feeling embarrassed and awkward and chastised. So obviously the solution is to turn that on Natsuno. ]

Oh, shut up - I didn't ask you for advice!

That wasn't advice.

[It was judgement. He's judging her.]

Are you going to calm down? We still need to finish the puzzle.

iii

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