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seasonsrpg2025-01-17 11:42 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsrpg2025-01-17 11:42 am
Event #12 - The Puzzling Ruins
The Puzzling Ruins
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION
The message about the new mission comes as a private message to all the otherworlders, rather than a public one. Attached is an explanation of the mission: a trip to the recently discovered ruins in the Deserter's Desert. It's meant to be a full recon mission, but they're prepared for possible fighting as well. The mission starts on January 17th, at the edge of Deserter's Desert (full GPS coordinates included).
There are no big public preparations this time, but a simple request to reply to the message to receive a quick delivery of desert-appropriate gear. The fairy delivery service will explain the reason for the secrecy and wish them good luck. Apparently they (the guild leaders) are still wary of whoever might be spying on their missions.
Joining them at the edge of the Deserter's Desert is Jade, the Spring Guild Leader. Usually guild leaders handle their 'own' Segment, but Jade hadn't gotten a chance to go on a completely solo adventure with the new power holders yet so she asked to be included.
Now that they were all gathered for the mission, Jade explains that they discovered a signal coming from recently discovered ruins. The signal is believed to be for a portal gun. They're fully prepared to walk into a trap, so the gear everyone received is equipped with an emergency teleport system to get them out. It should bypass at least similar technology to the ones they saw at the mines.
The journey through the desert takes a whole day. That's why everyone's desert-appropriate gear (tm) includes an umbrella that keeps the person cool on breaks (to be placed on the ground), plenty of water, goggles to shield eyes from the sand, a hat to shield them from the sun and a lot of sunscreen. Jade also brought items to help them in the ruins, such as flashlights and rope.
Everyone is free to choose their traveling method, but there's also a group of Lover Camels waiting for the adventurers. Lover Camels look mostly like normal camels, but they have heart shaped fringes and tail tip. They're also known for their matchmaking skills! Most of them only move if there's two people on the saddle, even if it's almost too small for two. Better sit very close to each other! (If Jade is asked why these camels, she will explain they were the only ones available while giggling a little.)
Lover Camels are also very quirky. Sometimes they stop entirely until its riders either hold hands or hug each other properly on its back. The more the people riding it get along, the better it obeys orders. Those who bicker and argue may end up having their camels just lay down on the sand.
At least riders will get some good touch energy for the journey ahead!
The ruins are hard to spot from afar, but as the group gets closer, the more structures made from stone they see. Eventually they arrive to a place with multiple entrances to somewhere inside the ruins. Jade explains that the place has been checked for those weird panels, but they haven't found them here. That doesn't mean they should lower their guard.
First priority is to set up a camp, just in case they take a long time to explore the ruins. Everyone is provided with Temporary Luxury Tent Spells for the mission, which will make an ordinary tent into a luxury one (one found in Riki's Shop; A tent that is larger on the inside and stays the right temperature throughout the night. It shields users from all sorts of weather effects (except the ground literally breaking apart underneath)).
Adventurers are also asked to place barrier stones around the area, preferable before the ever-curious Cacti-cats arrive. While they're irresistibly cute, they can't hide their needles and will poke anything - and anyone - with them. The kittens especially will try to bump their heads on people's legs. If they're given something to eat, they will donate their flowers from their head. A cacti-cats flower is a very good source of nutrients when used in either drinks or food. Sadly they can't eat them so they often trade them for things they do eat.
Another 'danger' are the mummies that wander around the area. They are actually just skeletons wrapped in bandages and who will comically cover their genital area and run away if they're stripped off their bandages. They mostly attempt to wrap people in bandages to make them like mummies. There's luckily only a 30% chance of actually starting to act like a mummy if that happens.
The ruins have several entrances. The signal for the portal gun seems to be coming from all of them. Jade figures they might all lead to the same place or there are fake signals made to confuse them. Regardless, she hands everyone who's willing to go explore inside the ruins a small ring that will track the signal.
Finally, it's time to head inside the ruins. Jade tells everyone they must take a partner with them. No one is allowed to go in solo. She also admits that she's better suited to staying outside, to handle possible healing and calling for backup - but if someone were to call her, she would use the wind to get to them to help. She's also going to send messages through the wind to tell them of what is happening outside.
Now they have a choice to make as they head inside. All of the entrances look the same and there doesn't seem to be any magical or normal traps waiting for them. It's a dark corridor waiting for them and the only way forward is down the stairs.
As people head in, nothing happens. Thought there is definitely the feeling of someone or something watching them.
Every entrance will eventually lead into a labyrinth. Thankfully, this one definitely does not move like the one in the mines did. All of the entrances lead to a different part of it and then branches out in various directions. Some of the paths have traps, like poisonous arrows shooting from the wall if a certain tile is hit (and various other fun traps one might imagine), some don't have anything at all.
The labyrinth's walls are low enough for someone to climb or fly over them to cheat, but anyone who does so will be relentlessly chased by giant spiderbats (basically bats with multiple eyes and legs). They will attempt to spin the cheaters into cocoon made out of their silk and deliver them outside the ruins. It's a very sturdy cocoon so it might take some time for anyone to help them out of it. Both the spiderbats and their silk are resistant to fire.
The signal ring helps a little in where to go, as following it will eventually bring people to an artifact. There are six different ones: lion, hydra (multi-headed snake), hind (a female deer), boar, ox and bird. Examining them will only tell people that they're somehow magical and that it's an obvious trap. Trying to move it without touching it doesn't work at all and trying to destroy it will only reflect attacks back.
Anyone who touches one of these artifacts will be transported away from the labyrinth. In these places, a challenges await them.
All of the places start with a voiced message. "To win this challenge, you must find the right course of action. Violence is not always the answer. Look around you for clues." Calling to the voice yields no results and it doesn't appear again, unless someone does the task again.
The Lion
Setting: A broken coliseum, filled with broken weapons, armor and dried up blood. A giant, 10 meters/32'8' feet tall lion looms over the arena.
Objective: Defeat the lion. The lion will only stop at death.
The Hydra
Setting: An empty village that's been damaged very badly. There's no one there, just abandoned houses being further destroyed by the multi-headed snake.
Objective: Defeat the Hydra. Cutting off its heads will make it grow more heads unless they're somehow blocked from growing (for example, encased in ice or burned from the spot).
The Hind
Setting: A dense forest that has a herd of deer living in it. Only a few of them are special deer needed for the mission.
Objective: Find and separate a golden hooved deer. Hurting any of the deer will get the person disqualified. Successfully getting a golden hooved deer alone will give them the prize from the deer.
The Boar
Setting: A village below a hill. It's in danger of being destroyed because a herd of boars, all as large as the houses, are running down the hill.
Objective: Stop the boars. Violence can be used or people can choose to just alter their course.
The Ox
Setting: A rather dirty stable of giant animals. Includes oxes, cows, horses, goats and sheep.
Objective: Clean the stables while the animals are inside. Be careful not to get kicked. Once the areas are clean, they will find the prize.
The Bird
Setting: A temple that worships birds (various different kind of birds, some as large as swans) and thinks of them as sacred beings. Unfortunately the birds are angry for some reason and are attacking in large groups.
Objective: Calm the birds or make them leave the area without killing any of them. Killing even one bird will get the person disqualified.
Those who succeed will receive a huge puzzle piece and get transported to the end of the room where the labyrinth is, to a great puzzle wall. It seems there are 120 pieces in the puzzle. Luckily, the tasks can be redone as many times as they like.
Those who fail in their task get transported back to the artifact and get hit by stun, making them unable to move their bodies (but they can talk) for five minutes.
Putting the puzzle pieces on the wall is quite a task. Some of them are high up, which can be bypassed by flying or using telekinesis. There's also the option to rock climb to the right spot.
Once finished the puzzle is about the six artifacts they discovered, lined in order. After all the pieces are done the door will open and reveal a room full of treasure. Gold, jewelry, silver tiaras. There's also a chance to acquire a brooch that will automatically transform into a weapon or a shield in battle when needed (there's enough of those to take home to friends as well).
But the main price is the portal gun on the pedestal at the end of the room. For some reason it can't be used, but the coordinates stuck on it are x999, y949. The only explanation is that the portal is open somewhere. It's best to take portal gun back to Jade and call the mission a success.
Summary of the prompts [ Click to Expand ]
Secret Desert Mission• Everyone gets a private message instead of a public one with an explanation of a trip to Deserter's Desert. Be prepared to possibly fight there too even though mostly it will be a recon mission.
• For anyone, who wants to participate; there's a simple request to reply to the message to receive a quick delivery of desert-appropriate gear. The gear includes an emergency teleport system.
• No big, public preparations this time because this is a more secret mission and guild leaders are still wary of anyone spying on their missions.
• Spring Guild Leader, Jade, who hasn't been on a solo adventure with the new power holders joins everyone at the edge of the desert.
• There's a signal coming from the ruins, it may be a portal gun, and this whole mission may be a trap (which is why there's the teleport system in the gear).
• Everyone is free to choose their traveling method!
• One option are Lover Camels, most of them only move when there are two riders on their saddles; sit close to each other, you might even have to hold hands or hug to get them continue moving later.
• ...But if you bicker and argue and don't get a long, the camel(s) will just lay down on the sand.
If Spiky Why Friend Shaped
• Eventually they arrive to a place with multiple entrances to somewhere inside the ruins.
• There doesn't seem to be any similar panels from the former labyrinth event, but no one should lower their guard.
• First things first: Time to set up camp!
• Everyone gets a Temporary Luxury Tent spell, these tents look normal but they are much larger on the inside!
• Everyone should also place barrier stones around the area
• and do that before Cacti-Cats arrive; they are adorable but they will even accidentally poke anyone and anything with their needles, that they can't hide.
• If you give food to the cats, they will give you their flowers which are very useful for food and drinks (but they can't eat their flowers themselves)
• Skeletons wrapped in bandages to look like mummies wander around, trying to wrap everyone into bandages but there's only 30% chance of starting to act like a mummy for anyone, who gets wrapped into them.
• Several entrances to the ruins and the portal gun signal is coming from... All of them?? Most of them may be fake signals to confuse everyone!
• Everyone willing to go explore them will get a signal tracking ring from Jade.
• No one is allowed to go alone, everyone must take a partner with them!
• Jade will stay outside to be a healer and back up caller but she can be called into the ruins too whenever anyone needs help there.
• Everyone head into a long, dark corridor -- no magical or normal traps anywhere so far - and the only way down is are long stairs into the darkness.
• But there is a feeling of someone or something watching them and everyone can feel it...
Not Another Labyrinth
• How many of you will actually say "NOT ANOTHER LABYRINTH!!!"
• But hey, at least it's not a game or a moving labyrinth this time!
• All the entrances lead to different paths, some are trapped (poisonous arrows or something else happening if you happen step or hit the tile to make it happen + come up with various other traps too) and some of them don't have nothing at all but no one knows that.
• Anyone can cheat by climbing or flying over the labyrinth but...
• ... they will get attacked by spiderbats, who are resistant to fire and their silk is resistant to it too.
• The spiderbats will try to spin the cheaters into a cocoon made of their silk to deliver them outside the ruins.
• Anyone can try to help those, who get attacked by them but it may take time to get them out of it.
• Following the signal ring will eventually lead to an artifact.
• Or well, one of the six different artifacts -- lion, hydra (multi-headed snake), hind (a female deer), boar, ox and bird
• All that is clear from them is that they're somehow magical and also obviously a trap!!
• They can't be moved without touching them (no, not even with any powers)
• And trying to destroy them will only reflect the attacks back to you or your company.
• Everyone who touches the artifacts will be teleported away from the labyrinth and into the real challenges of this event!
• 6 different challenges / quests / tasks / missions all in their own setting, that can be redone multiple times.
• Everyone must find the right course of action! Violence isn't always the solution, look around for clues.
• Those who succeed in their challenges will receive a huge puzzle piece
• They get taken into the next room with huge puzzle wall of total 120 pieces
• Failing a challenge will transport back to the artifact, where characters are unable to move their bodies for 5 minutes but they can still talk
• Putting the pieces to this huge wall is a challenge in itself
• Use telekinesis, fly, or other skills, there's also the chance to climb to any spot
• After all the pieces are in their right place, the room will reveal a room full of treasure (gold, jewels, tiaras)
• Characters can get brooches, that transform into a weapon or a shield (take them to your friends too!)
• Main prize: portal gun stuck to location x999, y949
• Where's that portal open? Somewhere, maybe we'll find it someday but for now take that gun back to Jade and call this mission successful.
• Ask event related questions here
• There's only one portal gun, so we can say one of the Researcher NPCs got the honor of bringing the portal gun back, so no one has to claim they did it.
• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a separate entry (like to your musebox or characters' journal).
• Remember to content and spoiler and content warn as necessary!
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I know the ones we've fought are like that, yeah... But they had the cultists before, and the Nightshade, and they're all kinda brainwashed by all that "Darkness is good something something soul do not fear," right? And it all started with the prince getting talked into an experiment by someone he trusted. So I'm sure they're not all bad people.
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Hmmm. Okay, fair enough. The ghost kids and brainwashed goons and whatnot can get some leeway. But the ones with "the" names have it coming!
[He spots another one of those swinging blades up ahead, no yet activated, and, inspired by Rinku's feat just now, telekinetically holds it in place so they can pass by unscathed.]
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Yeah! I wonder where they're all hiding out, anyway? Maybe in one of those pocket dimensions, but the portal would still have to be someplace...
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[Halting at the branching paths, he looks and listens in both directions, then shrugs and tosses a Moon Coin.]
Tails! Let's go left.
[Little does he know that there's another hidden pit trap waiting for them - but this time, it's a tar pit!]
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[Rinku walks down the hall and stumbles to a stop, barely pulling back when the trap triggers and the floor in front of them gives way.]
Wah! How do you even spot those floor ones?
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[Once again, he gauges the distance across the pit...]
I'll jump. You'd better fly.
[It's not like he doesn't trust her to be fit enough by now, but he does have the stronger body! As before, he makes the jump without issue.]
You know, if I were a labyrinth trap maker, I'd layer them. That way, if someone doesn't fall into a pit, an arrow would pick them off when they'd jump across.
[Riveting mental image, Hijikata.]
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I dunno why they'd be obvious, though. The ancients wanted to stop people from coming here, right?
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[A pair of oversized bats flutters by overhead again... but they're playing by the rules, so they leave them alone.]
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Do you think those bats live here? I guess there'd probably be a lot of animals, huh.
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...
Those bats are way too huge, though.
[And they look weirdly misshapen... he doesn't like that!]
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[He says that without even having discovered that the number of eyes contrasts as well!]
This maze better not just lead to their nest.
[There is a Moon Coin reward for participating in this expedition... right?]
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[walk walk walk,]
Though I agree, Hina-chan's super cute!
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[Rinku still has a point: Even if these spiderbats nested in the structure, surely there was a reason for it being built, and while they may have to deal with them, it'll hopefully be worth it.
Hearing a click as he steps on another unassuming-looking tile, he stops in the expectation of another pit or swinging blade or projectile, but instead, there's another sound from up ahead, followed by a loud rumbling... and a second later, the big boulder comes into view.]
Shit. Let's go back!
[Sure, they could stop it with their telekinesis, but why extend the energy if they can just drop it in the tar pit?]
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[Rinku turns and runs, stumbling over herself. She takes off flying, straining to go faster, faster, hoping to be enough.]
Come on, come on...!
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Returning after the expected wet splashing sound, the massive rock sure enough fills the whole pit, gradually sinking with slurping sounds.]
This is turning into a whole work-out.
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You did great, though! And we can't be that far from the end now, can we? It's not supposed to be that far.
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[He's only half-joking - who knows what their fellow adventurers are dealing with right now? Rinku is right, though: Only one more obstacle separates them from the end of their maze section! The bad news, however: It's another boulder. As it rolls towards them, Hijikata's eyes twitch.]
Another one?!
[He thinks quickly. There's no space for a second boulder in the tar pit! He doubts that it's deeper than it needs to be to fully submerge a person. He telekinetically holds the huge rock in place.]
Help me push it back, Rinku-chan!
[The damn thing must have rolled out of an alcove, and he wants it back there so they can pass by! After than, it can roll and block the path behind them for all he cares. If they need to take the same way back in the end, they'll figure something out!]
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[Rinku grabs the boulder too and pushes with her mind. For good measure, she throws fireballs toward the rock. More, more, come on...]
Go... in... there!
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Finally, the path is free to... a statue.]
Huh. Let's take a little break here.
[If nothing else, a couple more maze paths seem to lead here, which bodes well! If this is a convergence point, it better be important. Maybe some of their fellow adventurers will find their way here, too
and remix the team - after all this is a labyrinth thread, not a labour thread!]