View source for 1052/Library Adventures Pt. 1

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/11/29
|Location=Mushroom War Earth <MWE>
|Synopsis=Simon's memory is fuzzy, and the books in his library might help restore enough of it so that he can get a job and support Marceline. The problem is that his library is back on his post-apocalyptic world, and he isn't a fighter. Enter: The heroes.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=1, 6, 42, 622, 626, 635, 636
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|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Those who have been to Simon and Marcy's world before know some of how bad it is. It's dangerous, desolate, and not a place for a little girl to grow up. They may thus understand why Simon is reluctant to come back here without some people to help him out. He is not a fighter. The only tool he has for defending himself or fighting back against monsters is a magic crown that steals away his sanity bit by bit the more he uses it. A Crown that hangs from a cord on Simon's belt. It is a beautiful ornament - made of gold, with three deep-red jewels set in it. Probably worth quite a fortune to the right buyer, even putting aside its magical properties. And yet Simon is back here trying to find a library he had started to assemble ever since losing his fiancee, on the off-chance something in here will jumpstart his memory enough that he can actually hold down a job as some kind of... Science... Guy.<br /><br />He can't really remember what he used to do before the war. That's the entire problem. He thinks he might have known a lot of things that could make him a professor or something. Those jobs pay well, right? And then he can get a proper home for him and Marceline instead of relying on the hospitality of the Union and the temporary quarters at a quarantine facility.<br /><br />Those who agreed to help Simon - either because that's what they do, or because they were lured by the promise of 'some science or maybe magic stuff' as payment, would meet up in a specific place on an Earth that lies in ruins following a nuclear apocalypse. There are hills - mostly of dirt - scattered around, with heavily-blighted grass in sparse patches. A river of glowing-green toxic waste cuts through the terrain a few miles away, lightning up the early-evening sky with emerald hues. There's a land of ravines and scorched terrain and deep pits in the ground on the other side of these hills, and it is there that the responders are going.<br /><br />Because for some reason, that's where Simon's library is. Maybe it didn't look like this when he built it.<br /><br />The man himself is in a clean, though worn suit, with an undone red bow tie. He has pale-blue skin, white hair down to his shoulders, and a trimmed white beard. In his jacket's breast pocket, there are some pens and pencils, and a pink blob-like thing called a 'science parasite', not that anyone here, Simon included would know that. It's so motionless it could pass for a strange little toy of some kind.<br /><br />Simon is just performing a final check on his backpack, though pausing to look around occasionally, white eyes searching for any sign of danger. He doesn't want to be back here. He was finally starting to feel like being back among normal people again wasn't just a dream, and that he was finally free of this place. Now he's back, and he can't tell if he feels this is a nightmare, or more real than the safety he was experiencing only a few hours before.<br /><br />A distant howl carries on the wind, causing Simon to jerk in that direction, his sharp teeth showing slightly as he takes in a few deep breaths to calm himself. "Keep it together, Simon," he mutters to himself. "Get this done, and you won't have to come back here."<br /><br />He hopes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:635|Quentyn Westwind (635)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn was browsing the Dolet quest extended listings when he came across one peculiar entry... second hand info and from a third party, payment in info and maybe oddities rather than money. But! Out in the multiverse--Can't pass that up.<br /><br />---<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So it is that Quentyn arrives at the place listed in the coordinates. The cautions on the listing and then the actual surroundings when he gets there mean Quentyn has his magitek rifle out when he arrives. It's almost comically huge, perhaps longer than he is tall (but not if anyone checks). He keeps low as he moves and tries to stay out of the open, as much as that might be possible.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the white mage sees the figure of Simon standing around, he hesitates just a second and then calls out cautiously, "Um. Hello? Are you the client?" Quentyn won't approach until Simon confirms his identity... better safe than not!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It doesn't take very many things to lure Kyra out to visit. Vast knowledge of sciency-magicy stuff? Check. They're basically one and the same as far as Kyra is concerned. Visiting new locales? Yep, in for that. Protecting someone? It's what white mages do! <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All the while they travel through the irradiated landscape, Kyra seems to be recording glimpses of it via her phone's video camera. There were plenty of people at school that were extremely curious about the other worlds, after all. Additionally, since they didn't know if there was going to be trouble (like mutants!) Kyra has packed heavy and ultimately moves a bit slower than usual. There's a large backpack slung over her shoulders and who knows what hidden under her hoodie-it looks pretty bulky when it is zipped up. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wait up, Quentyn." Kyra huffs as she lumbers after him, out of breath from her burden. "Man I hope there's something that needs blowing up out here, I don't want to carry all this shit back with me...um. Hi! You look kind of blue, is that normal?" Cheerfully, Kyra waves at Simon, clearly not as cautious as her fellow hite mage.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A world with a skull-shaped mushroom cloud and no connection to Morg. Kirito was shaken after coming here. A mild-mannered blue man named Simon with outdated technology and a little grey girl with pointy teeth live here. Curiouser and curiouser! And Simon needs help going to a /library/! Where better to learn what's up? And maybe get some science or magic stuff to study. You never know when you'll hit the jackpot there!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Did we mention it's a possibly radioactive wasteland? So Staren's here in full armor, looking around and taking in the world. What happened here, he wonders... well, the end of the world, obviously. But why?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He spies the blue man. "You're Simon Petrikov, right? I'm Staren, researcher of problems for the Union. I understand today we're going to a library... but there's more than that, or you wouldn't need so much backup. What are we expecting to face here?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito's been here before, and he'd rather not return. But with Simon asking for help, and a little girl in need of a home, what can he do but agree?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Spriggan arrives from the skies, swooping in for a landing near Simon. He reorients at the last moment, tucking his legs under him and hitting the ground with JUST enough force to kick up a bit of dust.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Every time I see this place I think harder about how impressive it is you two've gotten as far as you have." The swordsman's words are warm, a bit mischevious, but only slightly hide the sadness he feels when he gazes across the devastated world.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though once he dusts himself, he closes in nearer to Simon, close enough that he can whisper out some concerns of his. "Sorry to bring this up out of nowhere. That crown of yours has some kind of curse, doesn't it? Don't use it. Just stay behind me if anything gets rough. Worst case I can fly us to safety. Would you like a sword or something? Maybe a knife?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryu is deeply troubled by this place.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He has never seen such a destroyed place. A place where living things are unlikely to dwell with ease. It's worse than a desert. It's like if the chrysm refineries all exploded at once. The young dragon walked from the warp gate all the way to the place they would be meeting this Simon fellow, keeping that handgun Agni held in one hand, ready to turn it on anything that might emerge from the wastes and attack him.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he sees Simon, he hesitates, the worn attire and his skin causing some pause. He can immediately tell that the man is a survivor. Ryu restrains himself, preventing any looks of pity or sorrow from the combination of that and this destroyed place.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey," he greets, instead, managing a sad smile that seems like that because he seems a little tired, "My name is Ryan Bateson. If you're the person asking for help, then I'm going to be sticking nearby. We wouldn't want you swarmed by anything, right?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once he's said that, he shuffles around the area, poking about in search for anything dangerous that might not have been immediately obvious when he arrived. This place looks like an old war zone to him, and it's quite clear he is used to scanning for threats, by the diligence he puts into it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He is suspiciously wary of the rest of the group, though this can largely be attributed to his difficulty in socializing. He remains attentive when people introduce themselves or talk among themselves.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito gets a more measuring look, and is finally approached. "Hey," he asks, "You look like a swordsman. Should I focus more on ranged combat, or are you alright with other people fighting beside you in close proximity?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Tomoe has been curious about thids but did not come as her human self, she's again A Salmander her weapon is kept sheathed across her back and ther'esd no oither gear visable on her. She walks along a bit after Kirito as he comes in she had heard about what happened. Kyra was new and she tilts her head a little bit looking her over along with her companion Quentyn. Her foot falls echo with the sound of metal on the floor and she looks over to Ryu and she grins a little bit. <br /><br /> "I'm also a swordsman as it were ranged back up would be the best I think." <br /><br /> ALso she's got pointy ears, is she some kind of Elf, she's also /huge/ like a bit over six foot dwarfing Kirito.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The confirmation of multiple people handling the melee concerns seems to make Ryu relax considerably. He might be a worrywart when it comes to dangerous situations. He smiles in Tomoe's direction, nodding to her. "Right. I'll be close by, but I'll stay out of your way." He measures her up too, and, satisified that the combined skills of Kirito and Tomoe will be enough, he focuses entirely on keeping an eye out for distant threats.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Simon looks up as he is called out to. "Huh, what? Oh. Oh! Yeah, that's me. Thanks for coming!" He straightens up and waves in a friendly fashion. Kyral jogging up behind the first arrival, gets another wave and greeting, but the smile goes away at the question. Simon puts his hands on hips and sighs as he hunches forward slightly. "No, not really. I mean, there's not much that's 'normal' around here anymore..." he gestures indicatively around at the environment while puffing out his cheeks a bit, but then shrugs and says, "But no, as far as humans go, blue skin isn't normal. I'm hoping I can fix it someday though and some... Other things." Like maybe his white eyes and sharp teeth.<br /><br />Staren's arrival and greeting are met with more smiles, though a bit of surprise as well. Perhaps he wasn't expecting this many people. He recognizes Staren's voice from the radio, and the name as well. "That's right. It might be best to wait and explain once I'm sure everyone who is coming is here, but to summarize, this isn't a really safe planet. I don't even know what to expect. But there could be danger, and I'd rather not get croaked by some kind of evil underground lamprey clowns or something." He illustrates by showing his sharp teeth as he talks and mimicking what a lamprey clown might look like with 'hand-fins' on either side of his neck. Then he realizes what he's doing, and puts his hands back at his sides. "Sorry. I've spent to so much time around a seven-years old girl, I've almost forgotten I don't have to-Well, nevermind about that!" Being silly to keep a little girl amused isn't necessary right now.<br /><br />Kirito's arrival is met with mild surprise as well, the rush of air blowing Simon's beard and hair a bit. But he just smiles as he greets Kirito, one of those who helped rescue him and Marcy originally. He tilts his head and looks up at the sky as he answers, "Yes, that's right. It's not safe to use unless the situation is really desperate. And probably not even then. I thought about leaving it behind, but I didn't want to risk someone else getting the brilliant idea to put it on their head and go through the same thing. Besides, I can control it a lot better now, if there's an emergency. Still, I'll avoid it even then if I can." He waves off the offer of a sword or knife. He has no skill with those. He'd probably just wind up stabbing an ally or something instead with his fumbling.<br /><br />With Ryu's arrival, Simon's eyebrows arch. How many people are coming exactly? A giant elf arrives while Simon is confirming his identity and thanking Ryu for the help, leaving him to realize he is surrounded by lots of people who may really make it so he doesn't have to use the Crown. That would be best, he thinks.<br /><br />"Nice to meet you, Ryu! It's nice to meet ALL of you, infact! Even those I've already met!" His attempt at levity falls a bit flat, at least to his own ears, and he turns to gaze out over the area ahead of them, ravaged by earthquakes or something else. He doesn't know. He just knows that's where his research is. The place where he made his videos, documenting his gradual transformation - both physically and mentally.<br /><br />"Come on, everyone! Let's get going!" he says with forced cheer. "It's already late enough as it is. No reason to be out here when it gets REALLY dark, if we can avoid it!" The 47-years old man starts walking towards the area of canyons and cliffs and holes and crags. Ryu's poking around would have had him seeing a rusted truck with deflated wheels, and what appear to be parts to a rocket of some kind lying around, but aside from that, and a half-buried tin can, not much to be investigated. That may change as they go along, however.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:635|Quentyn Westwind (635)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn nods to Kyra. And, well, when everyone else shows up and shows a lot more familiarity with Simon, Quentyn too lets down his guard a bit. "Yah... Guess you can put on some fireworks if we don't get any Encounters," he grins.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn doesn't call attention to himself with the others (Except to wave to Staren), but does give all those gathered and gathering a good look over. And listens carefully as others talk about their strategies and to the tidbits of info Simon gives. After returning a "nice to meet you," the white mage starts to follow after Simon, but stays abreast of Kyra.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn takes a hand off his rifle long enough to fiddle with his glasses. To Kyra, "I think... if we split up, each of us takes a group but... I don't know, I haven't team healed much before." Sheepish grin. "Do you think we should divide up our efforts somehow or just kind of take it as it comes?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Gh... so I guessed right..." Kirito had put several things together. Humans shouldn't have blue skin. The crown seemed to drive Simon pretty wild when he put it on and knocked him for a loop when it came off. The transformation is leaving after-effects, explaining Simon's current appearance.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Black Swordsman's mind can be as sharp as his sword at times, and this is yet another case where a difficult subject gives him the worst possible cconfirmation. His heart lurches. "Only if all of us can't get you somewhere safe. Y-yo, Tomoe!" He waves once to Sheena's avatar, not bothered at all by her superior height. "Come for adventure time in this hell hole? We'd better stay on guard... it's worse than it looks."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The mischevious Spriggan then turns an examinatory gaze Ryu's way. Well, Ryan's way. Spotting the sword and gun, he nods firmly at Ryan's conclusion. "The name's Kirito. This sword's all I have, and all I need. You do what you do best, and I'll manage."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally smiling, he shrugs and speaks out, "Lead on, Simon!" Though just in case he draws his single black sword. Lizbeth's best work to date.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren's acknowledged with a nod and a welcoming -if a bit cocky - smile. Quen and Kyra... Kirito scratches the back of his head with his free hand while loking them over. "Adventurers?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blunt being par on course for her, Kyra doesn't seem all too put off by Simon's slightly distraught reaction to her question. "Oh, it's not normal on your world? Interesting...maybe I should examine you sometime, I might figure something out. I am training for the whole white mage package, after all-that includes all the non-outright white magic treatment stuff too where we're from." She gives Quentyn a nod too, acknowledging both his origin and the fact that he's also of white mage make. The two of them do bare some similar clothing it looks like. She tilts her head to the side, "Maybe it's a radiation thing. I've noticed there seems to be a LOT of it on this world." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In spite of the danger implied, Kyra seems...excited. Like a tourist might be. "Do you really have evil underground lamprey clowns here?!" It sounds like he could say yes and Kyra would believe it. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes stock of the others here, approximating what sort of "roles" they'd play should combat break out based on their armament. She recognizes Ryan by voice and gives him a friendly wave. "Yeah, I agree, Quentyn. You pick a couple of people to focus on and I'll get the rest. I'd also pick one of the fighters to stick by..." she gestures at Ryan and Kirito, "...unless you think you can find a good place to set up cover with that big ol' rifle you have there." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito gets a big broad grin out of Kyra, "Students more like it but pretty much the same!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryu would've been worried before, but he realizes that there's a great array of people here. His sad smile remains consistently on his face, a sign that he is happy with the arrangement of the party. Healers -- he notes Kyra and Quentyn and their discussion -- and he notes melee specializes -- Kirito and Tomoe. So he keeps in a rough orbit with the group, Agni held in one of his hands in case something started coming at them.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His golden eyes took note of the amount of disrepair there was in their surroundings. The amount of decay. He lets out a thoughtful 'hmph' at the sad state of the vehicle, and a wary crease of his brow at the missile. He makes sure the others aren't walking toward anything like that.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He tries to only cover areas the others would have a hard time getting a vantage of, apparently trusting their ability to detect anything that might be a danger up close. Kyra's wave distracts him momentarily while he frets over the group like some sort of parental figure, a couple of owlish blinks given in her direction, almost comically surprised. He hadn't expected to run into this person so soon.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh you're Kyra. Hello!" he greets, waving, pleasantly surprised by her presence here. All the more opportunity to see how she and her friend work in the field! He hadn't been paying attention until that point. He's just bad with voices.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Tomoe smiles back again at Ryu., <br /><br /> "No problem it's good to hve ranged support." <br /><br /> She trials off as Simon greets them all, She smiles honesly at him and blows a strang of purple hair out of her face. She looks to Staren who gets a bit of a nod and she's not sure just what this will entail other than her backup is asked. <br /><br /> "I am Tomoe the Iron Lily, it's good to meet you." <br /><br /> She looks to Quetyn for a moment and then to Kyra. <br /><br /> "Splitting up is asking for trouble in my experiance." <br /><br /> She looks to Kirito and grins falling in with him clearly from how she's carrying herself she's quite used to working with him. It's time for an adventure right? <br /><br /> "Kyra so we meet at last, in person. <br /><br /> "Just keep in mind if things go bad I'm the last one out don't worry about me, I'll be fine."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren nods. He shrugs and waves it off when Simon explains that he's been in the company of a seven-year-old girl for so long. "It's fine. And informative! I wouldn't have known that lamprey-clowns had neck-fins." He smiles. Then reaches into his bag and pulls out a vial and a couple of pistols. "This potion will grant you a protective forcefield -- You can drink it if we run into trouble. You can borrow one of these if you like -- this is a rocket pistol, but it doesn't have many shots. This is a regular pistol, with silver bullets," he holds up one magazine, "or magic exploding bullets." he holds out another.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:635|Quentyn Westwind (635)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn nods first to Kirito, then to Kyra. "Yah. Frontliners are probably in the most danger... So... You take that one--" he points to Kirito "--And I'll take her?" He gestures to Tomoe. "And... I'll focus on covering Staren and Ryan, you focus on Simon--doesn't look like he's very hardy. And we can help each other when we get the chance. Sound good?" With the last he looks back to Kyra.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Simon turns to look over his shoulder as he walks, his hands on the straps of his backpack on his shoulders to keep it from bouncing around too much. To Quentyn, he says, "I don't know if splitting up is a good idea. I mean, you guys are the professionals, but getting seperated wouldn't help anyone, I don't think." He faces forward again as he starts - anxiously - edging his way out onto a relatively narrow strip of stone over a cavernous abyss, linking one cliff to another. Once he is across, he quickly moves away so that the next person can come across without worrying about the other end being blocked. Simon pauses, looking blankly and Kyra, and then answers neutrally, "It's possible, I suppose." It really might be. Jelly-donut zombies or people-turned-into-bags-of-walking-slime didn't seem like something he'd have thought existed until he encountered them.<br /><br />Simon obtains Tomoe's name via Kirito's greeting of her, and then via Tomoe's introducing herself. He nods and smiles to her. "Great to have you with us, Tomoe!" He isn't sure how he feels about Kyra's admission that she and Quentyn are just students of adventuring, but he does consider her words. "Well, it's magic that changed me, so maybe it's magic that can change me back. I don't really know. I've kept the Crown around incase it's a key to reversing my condition, but any examination of it should be done with the UTMOST CAUTION. It's like... A bottomless well of magic or something. I'm losing the fight against it more and more every time I put it on, and I'm fighting with everything I have." Simon looks down for a few seconds as the others finish traversing the gap, but then looks up again. "It doesn't seem to be able to hurt anyone when it's not being worn, by why take the chance, right?"<br /><br />Simon blinks at Staren's offers. He accepts the potion, and reluctantly accepts the gun. At least he can point and pull a trigger. But he warns Staren of the same thing he did Kirito. "I'm a survivor, but I'm not a fighter. I don't have any skill at using weapons. You'd be better off keeping it for yourself. I might wind up shooting a gas main or something." Even so, he tucks the regular pistol and silver bullets into his jacket pocket for now. Hopefully he won't have to use it, and not just because of his lack of a weapon proficiency. He doesn't really WANT to hurt anything if he doesn't have to.<br /><br />Once everyone is across the bridge of stone, Simon walks ahead, towards a boulder protruding up out of the ground, and a chunk of a ramp that looks like it might have once been paved road of some kind. A highway maybe. It's leading down, below ground level. It gets significantly darker down there, and Simon is sweating a bit as he tries to gradually work his way down the inclined terrain. Unfortunately, the ramp wobbles very slightly, and gravity decides to complicate matters, causing him to start slipping and skidding on his heels down the ramp. "Wh-whoah! Whoah! WHOAAAAAAAHH!" he yells as he slides down into the dark. Unless stopped of course, but either way, it seems it's a short fall. There's some masonry and piles of dirt and grass, and a pool of dirty water down in this dim pit - but more than that, there's a whole other area of cliffs and ledges and deep, even-darker pits. And the terrain looks even more hazardous than up above.<br /><br />"Uh, watch your step!" Simon calls out, somewhat belatedly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Narrow strip of stone? Staren just flies (some kind of orange, translucent energy wings appear just above his back), and nods at Simon's explanation of magic causing his transformation and the crown possibly being a key. "'Cover me'? You don't have to worry about me..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren nods, "It's fine," he puts the other pistol and explosive bullets into hos bag, then shakes his head. "I'm good." He rapidly pulls out and puts away two LARGE revolvers, two futuristic pistols, then jerks a thumb at the two futuristic rifles on his back, and the barrels of the energy weapons and launch ports for missiles built into his armor. "I'm good, really. Good luck."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Along the broken road they go. As it gets darker, Staren's helmet light comes on for illumination, and then Simon slides into the hole. "Simon!" Staren flies after him, trying to catch him -- or at least check on him if he's already hit the ground, and then carry him out. "Are you okay? How much further to the library?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryan keeps attentive of the conversation about the crown and Simon's skills. He leaves the actual noodling to the smarter members of the party, picking up bits of information as he goes. He stays at one end of the bridge, with the oversized handgun trained on the pit below it as everyone else crosses.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Something occurs to him. The look he gives Simon as everyone goes across the bridge implies some sort of empathy with him, when the crown is explained to be the cause of his change, and a possible threat that'll take him over. The dragon man's jaw tightens, filled with a fury about these types of magical objects... for all he knows, a similar object is what changed him.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He has forgotten about this thought quickly by the time the party reaches that ramp. The /moment/ Simon starts slipping, Ryan tenses up, the handgun holstered and his body coiled to try to run and catch him...! But he stops, remembering others have methods of flight and he'd just hurt himself too if he tried to catch someone without thinking. Beads of sweat roll down his face after Simon lets out the warning a little late. Ryu got a little more pale for a moment, chuckling nervously at his own comically overblown reaction. Well, from his perspective, at least.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Letting out a heavy sigh of relief once he's sure no one fell into a bit of glowing ooze or anything, he progresses along with the group. But now he is closer to them and much, much more wary about where everyone is stepping. He's also the last one down the ramp, if he can help it, making sure everyone gets down without losing their balance.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Splitting up's a last resort for after we know the situation. This world's too dangerous." Kirito blurts emphatically! He's not budging on that stance. "Only Tomoe and I can treat death like a nuisance... even Staren here's pretty inconvenienced by it. The monsters we found last time weren't just mook fodder. All we need to do is..." is what?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He peers over at Simon now.... ".... reclaim a library of yours, right? Or its contents? Defending one place doesn't need splitting up..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With Quentyn recommending Kyra and he pair up though, Kirito takes another good look at Kyra. The red hair, the green eyes, and the hoodie. 'white Mage' she might be...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ohhhhhh boy.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One more crazy girl to watch out for, huh?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sweeping eyes are checking equipment, demeanor, alertness, everything. Definitely sizing her up.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hoooooh? Healer, huh? You're not going to run out into the front lines to stab things if you get bored, right?" his tone's about as joking as it gets, though still pretty friendly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No no, we don't mean splitting up everyone, we mean splitting up our healing duties. If we have less people to individually focus on, it's easier for us." Kyra explains when it seems that the 'splitting up' idea was misinterpreted. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yup, that's me." Kyra grins at Ryan as she unzips the front zipper to her hoodie. Revealed underneath is a pair of bandoliers and a number of holsters and straps, baring either vials, flasks, or firearms. Unlike Quentyn, hers fall on the handgun side of scale. From an under-arm holster on her left side, Kyra pulls out what is clearly a needlegun meant to fire darts. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...yeah." Kyra nods in agreement after eyeing Kirito up. "I'll take him for cover." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The additional information about Simon's crown brings a worried look to her face. "That sounds pretty cursed." she says quietly. "A cursed item of great power that shouldn't be messed with." She strolls across the bridge, following behind Kirito as he moves. They continue onward, descending down an old highway ramp into a place of lesser visibility, prompting Kyra to pull some kind of glowing bit that she attaches to the end of her gun that creates a beam of light in the direction she aims. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What? Run into the front lines and stab things? What, do you think I'm crazy or something? Do I look like a mystic knight? No way, I'm going to stay back here and throw explosives." Kyra sticks out her tongue at him. "Hey you're okay down there, right Simon? I might want to get some stoneskin on you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:635|Quentyn Westwind (635)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yah, just talking contingencies!" Quentyn calls back to Simon. Cause sometimes things don't go as planned... as much as the white mage hates it. Staren he just more or less ignores. "Remind me to keep the white mage talk on the radio next time," he murmurs to Kyra. But he grins, "Bet a lot of our teachers would fight a cultist to take a look at that crown thing."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn takes a curious look at Kyra's newly revealed hardware. "Chemist, yah? Had me wondering about the explosives..." And as it darkens, Quentyn pulls out a magitek mini-latern from his pack and hangs it from his belt. He turns a knob and it comes on--despite it's size--pretty brightly!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn looks momentarily panicked when Simon begins to slip and starts to deftly run after, but stops before he can get in the way of others trying to stop the fall. After things calm down a bit, he nods in agreement to Kyra while looking to Simon, "Yah, let's get stoneskin on you just to be safe."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Tomoe nods in agreement to Kirito. <br /><br /> "Right, splitting up has only got people killed in my experiance. Exactly really, that's why I said I'm the last one out." <br /><br /> She looks over ot Quetyn and Kyra happy to have healers for both them to be honest really. Simon now gets her attention pretty quickly ahs she listnes to hima nd she seems ot be quite in good modo evne with what's been about. She tilts her head for a moment and she nods in agreement. <br /><br /> "You don't want it to claim anyone else, that's nothing to scoff at SImon. Suriving what you ahve so far." <br /><br /> With that she summons a shield that haws names on in in a group 40 or so that change every once and a while. They are strange for one some names like Zaps, some are Japanese, others are like Luffers23, and Diabel. It's strange there's a lot of them but two names remain in every lot. <br /><br /> "SO anything else we should know about the local monsters and Ryu? If you need anything let me know. I'll try to not get in your line of fire."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Simon blinks up at Staren and says, "Thanks!" Then he says, "Uh, well, there used to be a city here. Or at least a town. I think the whole thing just sort of... Fell down there. It didn't look like this when I was last here, but my house is under there somewhere. So, um..." He shrugs as Staren carries him through the air. "I dunno'. I'll be able to guide us better once I see where stuff is. Spot some landmarks and such. The town fell mostly intact, I think. I haven't seen any sign of ruined buildings or anything, and the entire area seems to have just slid down without leaving any rubble." He kicks his feet in the air, while waiting to be set down, and turns his attention on Ryan. It's good that he was prepared to act, incase no one else was, and Simon nods to him appreciatively, even if no action on his part was needed. He is soon looking at the others.<br /><br />"Yes, we're just going to be hauling books and stuff up to the surface. Maybe just finding a way to magic the library itself up to the surface if anyone her can do that. The books there might help jog my memory about some things, or provide clues on how to fix me. And thanks for clarifying what you meant by splitting up. That makes a bit more sense." He smiles brightly at Kyra.<br /><br />Whenever he's put back down on the ground, he starts peering into the dusty murk, his heart beating fast - and not just due to his brief scare, but due to being in a world like this for awhile now, and knowing it's very possible there are bad things out there. He looks towards Kyra and Quentyn, and asks, "What does this 'stone skin' do, exactly? Am I going to have another deformity on top of the rest, or is this more like Basements and Balrogs sort of stuff?" He can't remember his old job, but he can remember TV shows from the 80s and tabletop games. Weird how magic/memory works sometimes.<br /><br />Once everyone is below ground, with the moonlight filtering down from the opening above, and then failing to penetrate entirely the further away from this entry point they go, the glow-gun accessory and the mini-lantern become really useful in making sure they aren't blind down here.<br /><br />There's a period of simple travel, following whatever magicry occurs. Conversations may be had, thoughts might be thunked, and feels might be felt. But ultimately, the journey is mostly uneventful. Hopping over broken pavement, boulders, mounds of garbage, and following speed limit signs and exit signs, Simon leads the way. Sometimes, there's a sound of skittering or of rocks crumbling, indicating small animals might be down here too, and that not everything down here is stable, but they don't come under attack. Eventually, the group will arrive the town that Simon mentioned. He was half-right.<br /><br />There are a number of buildings that are somewhat intact, or might have been mostly intact when they finally came to a stop. But the 'streets' are flooded, and the water is so dark that the very idea of swimming in it is probably repugnant to any land-based creature. There's no telling what's in there, even if the water itself were deemed healthy enough to be in. "I think we're getting close. I recognize that shopping mall. They used to have a furnace and a big torch in the middle they'd light up on special occasions." He points out the mall, which seems to have taken up shared space with some pipes and sewer grates and possibly water overflow from a public pool the mall used to have.<br /><br />Then he presses himself up against a building's wall and tries to edge his way around the broken sidewalk to an intact street above the water level, and towards a section of town that looks like the buildings might have suffered damage from severe cold weather based on the warping of the tiles and wood.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Along the way, Simon shrugs to Tomoe and explains he hasn't been here in awhile, and just about anything could have moved in here or been spawned from the mutating forces of the final bomb that ended the war - and human civilization. "Just stay safe, okay? I don't want any of you getting hurt just to keep ME from getting hurt. Especially if you don't have to be."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"......" If Kirito could sweatdrop, he probably would. He was just joking around. ... But Kyra's sounding pretty serious. The swordsman makes a consternated half-grunt, putting his free hand in a longcoat pocket to keep himself from facepalming...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Explosives and healing magic?" Two things he'd NEVER before consider in the same sentence. Now the red hair makes sense.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This girl's Trouble. He'd better not piss her off.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gulp.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though he shows none of these feelings.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Right, right... instead of the Berserk Healer we have the Boom-Boom Healer." Yup.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He'll tease Kyra a little anyways.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the group goes down deeper and the moonlight fades, Kirito's wings lose their vibrancy. Their fairy sparkles vanish, and soon the wings wither up. He banishes them in the next instant - they just disappear in a dim wave of light shooting up from the tips toward his back.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's getting dark though. Even with the lanterns and bits of lighting, Kirito's undeterred. Spriggans have Night Vision, and he stays sharply on the lookout. They also have Illusion magic, and so he makes good use of this.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stopping amidst the group, he coughs awkwardly, holds a hand out...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And, detecting his posture, Alfheim Online's spellcasting system springs into response. Rings of words circle horizontally about his body full of old norse characters. As he chants, the circles lock into place and the matching word glows...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oss n��a n�tt lysa auga!"<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or, 'grant us eyes that illuminate the night.'<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who doesn't resist this strange magical working will find they can see in the dark JUST FINE, at least for the next hour or so...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito's not big on magic. But he does know a few useful spells.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The water's noooot fit for swimming... hard to imagine what could knock this much stuff underground! No normal weapons could do this... it's like a giant sinkhole."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He then points out to Simon, reassuringly, "It's okay. Alfheim's fairy warriors are tougher than we look. Even if we fall, all that happens is our souls are drawn back to one of Alfheim's resurrection crystals and restored. If anyone has to fight that hard, then that's for Tomoe and I to handle."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No problem." Staren nods as he sets Simon down. "The whole city fell down in one piece? Weird..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So we're transporting a whole library? I wish I'd known... could have prepared some extradimensional spaces..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Simon expresses concern, Staren replies, "Don't worry... my world is kind of like this between the cities... Maybe a century or three later... actually, now that I think about it... Whatever happened here... do you remember if magic was a thing /before/?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's rare to see someone demonstrate an appreciative demeanor when Ryu only looks like he's going to help someone. He looks at Simon with some surprise, and then a really happy smile. Tomoe gets his attention next.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'll be focusing on thinning the herd if it becomes an issue of too many targets," Ryu tells Tomoe, with a firm conviction that shows that he is much more awkward about socializing than he is about fighting or protecting his allies. "I won't take any shot that endangers someone, you won't have to worry about that." He pauses a beat. "My weapon is aligned to fire, though, if that matters."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryu hesitates when he sees the shield... and the look on his face shows he quickly realizes what it means, and what Tomoe really is in the party.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The trip to the city itself is one where he is pretty quiet overall. Simon makes a comment about a shopping mall, and again Ryu is reminded that people used to live here, that it was a city.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryan looks pained. This hits him too close to his heart. He has to shake off his distraction just to follow without losing the party.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Even if that happens, people like myself, and the others ... it's our job to put ourselves in danger so others don't have to be hurt," he adds after Kirito's explanation and Simon's fretting. His sad smile is an attempt at being reassuring. "I'm sure we'll all come out of this okay."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito's spell is accepted easily enough. The less effort he has to make seeing where he's going, the easier it is on him to do his part without distraction.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unfortunately for Kirito, Kyra is absolutely serious! It's further confirmed when she notes to Quentyn, "Yeah, chemist is my subjob. -beserker and white mage? How would that even work? Do they beat the healing into you?" <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Magic takes to Kyra really easily. Once Kirito's spell takes effect, Kyra waves a hand over the light attached to her gun and it dims. "Hey, thanks."<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...basements and balrogs? Uh, I dunno what you get up to in your spare time, Simon, but stoneskin's just a temporary thing." Kyra pulls one of the vials free of one of her bandoliers that appears to contain a pale, milky-looking liquid. "Improves physical defense. Lesser weapons just bounce right off! Though that's going to make it harder for /me/ to heal you since the darts need to actually penetrate skin. Let us know if you actually drink this so Quentyn can cover you instead if you need healing." Kyra offers up the vial to Simon. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In transit, Kyra tries to step lightly though it's pretty clear that her gear has made her a whole lot heavier than normal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:635|Quentyn Westwind (635)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Nothing like that," Quentyn shakes his head, "Just a shield, like if something attacks you, it will maybe protect you from the first few hits or make them hurt less. Kinda depends on how strong the thing attacking you is." He eyes the shield Tomoe summons curiously, but he looks pretty happy that it's there. More protection the better.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn laughs before he can help himself, probably at the mental image of fists of healing. "I guess, yah, bet someone's tried it." But the comments of darts penetrating skin and all that... Kyra gets a quizzical look from Quentyn. "Um. You can stil cast Cure if he's got Stoneskin up..?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With both Shell up and a healthy dose of caution and magic resistance--Quentyn does resist the effects of the spells, but he gives Kirito a curious look. "Um... What was that?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quentyn doesn't raise his weapon, but every time he hears skittering or crawling, he does tend to stare at the area for a long while. Just to make sure nothing leaps out at them. But when he's not on watch for monsters, he simply looks at the surrounding desolate landscape/cityscape (including taking in the mall Simon points out) while following along behind Tomoe.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After carefully listening to Simon's explanation of the kinds of monsters to expect, Quentyn swaps his current magazine for a different one in his pack and reloads the ludicrous-sized rifle. To Simon, he gives a tentative smile. "Protection and healing is what we do..." Ryan gets a grin and a thumbs up. Motioning between himself and Kyra, "Yah, and we'll keep ya up." He cautiously follows up the same path Simon takes, slinging his rifle back in favor of balance, but moves deftly enough that it seems like the student's trained exactly for this sort of thing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Tomoe gets an idea things could be very heavy today in terms of combat she has no idea. However she takes a moment to listen and she wonders about just how big it is. She'll leat him lead but the moment there's trouble she'll be taking front and is hanign out nere there as they travel along. She takes note of where they are going and can't help but feel a sense of loss at this place. <br /><br /> "I shall do my best to do so but my job's to keep everyone else safe." <br /><br /> She looks to Kirito as he explains things. She takes another look to Ryu aka Ryan. <br /><br /> "Sounds like a plan I'll keep their attention for you." <br /><br /> She does notices Quetynn looks at the Shield for a moment and humms maybe she should explain it later? For now she's shifting into alert mode as it seems it's about game time.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Simon may have magically-altered vision, but it doesn't do much for seeing in the dark. It does let him see spirits though. Specters of the dead, or the soon-to-be-dead. But that latter was mostly the Crown showing him visions of the future. A future he hadn't understood, hadn't comprehended the warning abouts. He had seen the fires, heard the scream, realized everyone was going to die, but it had slipped his awareness when he took off the Crown. They weren't real.<br /><br />Until they were.<br /><br />Simon looks around at the darkened area that now stands out much more brightly, and then down at the Crown at his side, wondering if he put it on now, if he could tell if they're going to make it out of here. That line of thought is terminated as his attention is drawn to the others. Kyra, Quentyn, Tomoe, Ryan, Kirito, Staren... Healers, and protectors, and warriors, all. "True enough. I guess that's what you agreed to help for, right?" If they weren't ready to heal those who get hurt, or those who got hurt to keep others from getting hurt, they wouldn't have come. "Oh, I'm sure it will be fine," Simon waves off Staren's concern about transportation. "I mean, it's just a library. Books aren't dangerous, right? Once we get there, I can just put them in bags or something. If necessary, it might take more than one trip, it's true, but once we know the way there, going back and forth should be a lot faster."<br /><br />He leads the way down the streets, turning corners he recognizes, now that they're in places that are dry. There's still a channel down on one side, full of dark water, and there's the sound of loud banging in the distance, but it seems to be stationary, and mechanical in its regularity, and as they move away in a different direction, it does not follow.<br /><br />Thanks to the collapse, one of the streets has turned into a small hill that needs to be climbed, but climbing is not TOO much of a trial, even for an old guy like Simon. Though he does have to put in effort to do it, unless someone flies him up again. "Basements and... Ugh! Balrogs, was a... Gotta' get a handhold here... Uff! There we go!-It was a roleplaying game." By whatever method, he is finally up top, and looks down towards Kyra. He pocketed the potion he was offered before performing the climb and now he waits incase anyone else needs a hand up. Because maybe not everyone can fly. Though Simon could fly too if he put on the Crown again...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>He shakes that thought off. "You know. Dice. Manuals." He pauses, looking blank. And then repeating, "Dice." He wasn't too into that, but he knew OF it at least. Once everyone is safely up top, Simon turns around and sees the ruined remains of his house. They've gone pretty deep underground by this point. The houses they've passed have seemed abandoned, empty. There have been some skeletons lying around, but they're all old. Either completely decayed or picked apart by scavengers.<br /><br />"Come on, it should be right over there!" Simon points and runs towards his house. To those with very sensitive hearing, there has been an undercurrent of barely-perceptible sound, like wordless whispers, or like the ocean in reverse, ever since reaching this part of the fallen town. Nothing definite. Nothing substantial or identifiable. Just a sort of uneasy feeling like someone is talking just out of hearing range.<br /><br />Though everyone except those who resisted the magic can see in the dark here now, nothing visibly seems to be wrong.<br /><br />And yet the quietness except for their own breaths and movements has within it an entirely different sense of wrong than when Kirito was in that bombed city above ground. Then, it was wrong because it was a place for people, and it was seemingly empty of such. This place seems empty, but it doesn't FEEL like it its.<br /><br />Then the feeling hits everyone at once, whether they can sense magic or not. There's this awful sound, almost impossible to describe, except as 'disturbing'. And masses of blackness begin to crawl and ooze up out of the cracks and alcoves, to leak down from the cavernous ceiling, to slither out of children's toys scattered on long-dead lawns, out of the cushions of couches in torn-open living rooms, out of everywhere that terrible creatures of the dark can hide. And outside of their amorphous forms, the only features visible in their twisted shapes is rows of white teeth, floating in the darkness.<br /><br />Teeth that begin to work in wordless whispers... Just before they charge.<br /><br />"Oh, bread balls," Simon whimpers as he tries to shove a cabinet aside to clear the way into his library, and calls out, "Everyone hurry over here, NOW!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Tomoe is now making ready for toruble she's however gettting more and more on edge htey are deep here there may be things here waiting for them in the dark. She can fly and can carry another one she pauses for a moment. <br /><br /> "Dice? Oh table top ya I get it." <br /><br /> Shenow is moving in as there well is something coming and a horrible sound, worse there's ooze coming she pauses for a moment looking at the horrible things. She breaks into a run but it's clear she's in back now takling a tanking spot.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bang. Bang. Bang. "What's that?" Staren asks. If Simon doesn't know, he deploys a bug-size drone to fly over and check it out, in case it could give them trouble later.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren feels uneasy. Something's not right here. He decides it's because there should be people here and there aren't. He flies up with Simon. "If you like games like that, you should check out Alfheim Online sometime... Come on. Are we close yet?" His tail lashes impatiently.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then the monsters show up. "What are those things?" He's already opening fire. Two shots from the particle cannons on his right arm, while the left pulls one of the rifles off his back. With the armor's strength, he points it at the nearest cluster of monsters one-handed and fires the underbarrel plasma grenade launcher.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:635|Quentyn Westwind (635)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A smile tugs at Quentyn's small mouth and he gives Simon a thumbs up. What they're here for. Once they're up top (taking some effort but it looks like this is something they teach in adventurer-school!) the rifle-wielding white mage takes a good, long look around. Like he's fixing the place in memory. And... perhaps he doesn't have exceptional *hearing* per se... but sounds are ultimately vibrations, and in the air--pressure waves. And he is Ramuha. Maybe he can't put his finger on it, but something sets him on edge and has him constantly looking around intensely and cautiously. He follows Tomoe a little more closely.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then when the feeling washes over them, Quentyn starts to really freak out. Subtly, though... His hands shake until he takes a few breaths and possibly puts some cognitive techniques into practice. And as soon as the oozing critters come, Quentyn does two things with practiced movements: First he slides a little lever on the lantern that moves a shade and focuses the light forward.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he swaps out magazines on his rifle *again*, braces himself against the door frame into the library, sights in the irons under the scope... and pulls the trigger.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;                                   BOOOOOM!                                   <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sound of the rifle is more like rolling thunder than a sudden crack, and the exhaust pattern is... odd. Like it's not quite in sync with the rest of the timeline. Kyra (and others savvy in such things) might recognize it as Slow magic, apparently to bring the noise and recoil under control.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the spell's efforts Quentyn literally goes flying back inwards, but the way he expertly keeps the rifle from getting knocked when he lands and just as deftly gets back to his feet suggests he's practiced at this. And into the advancing mass of Chesire-toothy monsters? A potent incendiary round. When in doubt, kill it with fire! Or at least try to slow their advance slightly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Several times Kirito freezes to glance about, thanks to strange noises or just feelings of being watched. He's pretty good at picking up on those things, but this world's screwing with his normally sharp alertness. But he's keeping his eyes open and attention every which way. He's quiet, but only because this place is giving him the heebiejeebies. Tomoe at least will probably pick up on that. He's never one to take risks. Having solo'd on the front lines, he's survived only through staying alert and reacting fast in a few situations.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And rarely putting himself into danger in the first place...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The skeletons are so normal to him by now, having lived in Aincrad, that seeing them doesn't get him immediately freaked. It takes a bit for him to remember these are not just parts of the scenery. Those were people.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At that point, he shudders again. "Coming!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a glance back at Kyra, he says, "Hop to it, sounds like trouble!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Not good, that's what!" He answers Staren, bringing his top-quality longsword about. Only one sword, not two, but that's really all he needs unless things get REALLY bad. Keeping the other hand free has its merits for now.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He leaps over debris like it's nothing to put himself at Simon's back and twirls the weapon about with great ease. Soon he's down in a battle stance. "What are these things...?! It's not a slime with teeth, this is something else!!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Something bad enough that all of his heckles are up.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;People are in danger. The Black Swordsman has awoken!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Kyra! Quentyn! Get behind Tomoe and Staren. I'll cover Simon!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh THAT kind of roleplaying. Yeah, I don't actually know all that much about it. I know they've got a club for it at school." Every now and then, Kyra does snap a picture of the ruined, abandoned buildings. Likely more proof for later for the adventures. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Climbing. Upon seeing this, Kyra internally groans and takes ahold of whatever she can to haul herself up. With the final climb, a sick sensation settles in the pit of her stomach but she doesn't seem to really acknowledge it. Not until the whisperings start at least. She stiffens suddenly. "What on...ugh.." Kyra takes one step back, then another as the gibbering monsters finally make themselves known. A strange mix of excitement and disgust settles over the teenager. "I don't have /banish/ yet..." she shouts back to Quentyn. "But I do have /this/!" <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her right hand breaks away from the needlegun to level a palm in the direction of the Lub Glubs forming before them. The magical humidity that clings around Kyra intensifies rapidly and a white-light spellcircle etches itself in the ceiling of the cavern overhead. There is a second of delay before the entire three-foot-in-diameter circle fills with light that blasts downwards in a pillar-like beam. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With that done, Kyra really does quickly fall back behind Kirito. She wasn't kidding about the whole "cover" thing. "You sure about that, Kirito? You look pretty tanky too!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryu remains vigilant. But he also remains nervous, and his nerves remain tightly wound, as if this place made him profoundly uncomfortable in a way he just wasn't making clear to the rest of the party. He frowned as the party continued discussing, struggling to hear anything that might be out there, trying to sneak up on them. When nothing pops out immediately.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The climb up does nothing to hamper him. He seems to be fit enough that a little hike is not going to tire him out. This makes it easy for him to keep his eyes peeled.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He stands watch over their surroundings, frowning with determination at the feeling that something just wasn't right.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then things clearly start going wrong. Horrible dark creatures pour out of every possible place that monsters could come out of. Ryu doesn't waste time shouting or asking what they are. He doesn't hesitate. The moment the creatures start lurching toward the party, made of darkness and teeth, he doesn't overthink it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He starts shooting. Loud blasts accompany flashes of red and white as he tries to shoot the ones who would near the party, focusing on those openings where they might get ambushed or swarmed. The weapon isn't the most powerful one ever created, but each shot is searingly hot and very bright.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hrrrraaaah!" He howls out at them, in an attempt to intimidate them if at all possible. It is very loud, and the background of his voice sounds almost like a wrathful animal, like his normal voice is only disguised as human.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He sure sounds like a dragon, even if he doesn't look like one.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The party snaps into action. He starts focusing only on those the others would be out of range of hitting, growling with the kick of his weapon.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:622|Simon Petrikov (622)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Simon has no idea what they are, and says as much. What the monsters themselves say is just more whispering without words, occasionally animalistic squeals, or deep monstrous growls. But it's those whispers that may be the most unnerving, because though there's no words, no true speech, there's a feeling like there's meaning somehow, if one could just listen closely enough. Like there's some terrible understanding teetering on the edge of awareness, and that learning it might explain everything, and yet possibly destroy all sanity by the sheer act of comprehension. Clearly not something to listen too closely to then.<br /><br />Simon hefts the cabinet aside finally, standing in an alcove, with stairs leading underground to some sort of basement room. The library! Simon turns to see how close the others are to reaching him, just in time to see Staren choosing to stand and fight. "What, no! C'mon, Staren! Get over here!" The particle beams seem to put holes in the black cloud-like creatures or at least to knock them aside, but they aren't really... Dying. The plasma grenade explodes, sending concentrated plasma energy everywhere, and the flare of it seems to drive the shadowy horrors away, even destroying those near ground zero.<br /><br />Quentyn's incendiary grenade creates even more fire, that spreads across the house it exploded near. This also seems to drive the monsters back, and kill those near by. Many more survive, however, and while their tolerance for light seems to be very low, based upon not only how far out of the range of the light cast by the flames they stay, but also all the dozens that disintegrate utterly before Kyra's column of holy magic, the monsters gather. But some of them even seep into the skeletal remains left behind by the former inhabitants of this town, and use skulls as cover from the light as they try to crawl their way towards things they can use as cover from the light. Most, however, wait and sink down low into the shadows, merging together into a wall of gnawing teeth, lipless mouths that work endlessly to produce black whispers of death, madness, and terrifying truth.<br /><br />Even once they're no longer in sight, it's clear that they aren't really gone. Because they don't FEEL gone. They don't SOUND gone. And outside of the light that they have many places to hide from, they have no reason to leave. There is prey here.<br /><br />They can wait for their food to try to escape. And the last thing they will ever hear is the truth that makes them understand what these monsters are, how they came to be, and the fate of that which they consume.<br /><br />....<br /><br />But for now, at least, everyone is free to go down into the library without being pursued, it seems! The combination of fire, holy spell, and Ryu driving back or wounding the ones creeping out of the places where the fire light could not touch, while Kirito and Tomoe guard Simon, has made the way underground safe for now.<br /><br />Simon is sweating a bit from fear and effort as he looks around the huge, mostly-empty, and very dark room. There are shelves everywhere, wrapping all the way around the room on multiple floors, with a ladder leading down from the current level. Not all the shelves have books, and those that do aren't completely full, but it's still clearly a library. There's boxes of parts and machinery lying around, and a pedestal sitting in the middle of the library, with a very unique book. But in the darkness, the full scope of the room can not be determined.<br /><br />"Well, we should be safe here for now, at least," Simon says once everyone is inside. "Is everyone okay-?" he starts to ask, and then a voice yells, "GET THEM!" Just like that, dozens of voices cry out from above, and a heavy object falls towards the group. In its shadow, the already-dim surroundings become total darkness.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:635|Quentyn Westwind (635)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After the shot (and recoverying from it), Quentyn rushes back to the front, staying nearby but behind Tomoe. "Call out when you wanna move--" he says to her. To Kyra he just gives a grin, despite the chaos, and thumbs up at the results of the Holy spell. He'll go inside, but only when his Tank is also pulling back. White mage responsibilities and all that.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They hate light? Good to know -- on the way out, Staren will scatter a bunch of LED lights to keep them away. For now, though...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So, we can just come and go easily now, huh?" Staren snarks as he heads down the stairs. And he feels uneasy again. "Do you hear something?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then, darkness!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"DPS!" Kirito frantically corrects, though that probably sounds nonsensible to at first. "... Sorry. offense, I meant!" He's in such a rush keeping track of details is not feasible. He's waiting for anything to near Simon... but the efforts of everyone else deals with that problem neatly. "owooooah... nice!" But with all reason to scramble inside, he does so with the others...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He comes barging in behind Simon. Hears the shout... looks up...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... You've GOT to be kidding me!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Something seems almost backwards here. Quentyn is using explosives while Kyra is using white magic. Fortunately for everyone here, Kyra's white magic appears to be working as intended-not that she seems to really indicate that it was ever going to work as unintended. She plays it off with a grin, noting the creatures and pieces of the creature skittering off to hide in skulls and ribcages to shield themselves from the light. Despite the damage everyone seems to do, the monsters clearly aren't gone-she can feel that. The sick feeling in her stomach remains. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping a hand on a flask filled with one of her own incindaries, she follows down itno the very dark room that should be a library. It's not a very big or well-lit library but Kyra recognizes it nonetheless, her eyes lighting up with excitement at the thought of extraversal knowledge. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Calmly, she slips her needlegun back into the under-arm holster she wears. "Yeah, I'm alrig-!" she stops mid-sentence to look upwards.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Tomoe is glad to have the support she does seem to be thakful for the hlp she sees the undead or are they undead she does not know what she does know is she's got toe fight htem. She starts chanting in badly accentled nordic and glowing gold scrip hirls about her. A second later a chain blasts of light fire at the monsters even as Quentyn moves to back in she does keep moving her blade ready and she's glad to have Kiitoto there again she's always going to put her in harms way. <br /><br /> She pops several cooldowns and is prepared now. <br /><br /> "Heh, Kirito and I ended up in leathal larp for two years." <br /><br /> Odd comment there maybe you can get more answers later. <br /><br /> "Really you just need a sword!" <br /><br /> She's totally going to make sure everyone else is going in. <br /><br /> "Start going back I'll be the last one in!" <br /><br /> And so hopetully she is the last one in. <br /><br /> "What the heck were those things? Did this world going up in smoke like crack open the door to hell or something?!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryu's hollaring dies down as it seems these dark creatures are not in the slightest bit the kind he's used to, and are instead incredibly persistent and hungry dark entities with no sensation of pain or fear. Instead of, well, ordinary animal-like monsters. "I was not expecting these things!" he shouts, in a bit of a panic thanks to how difficult they are to actually put down permanently.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He backs up into the library with everyone else, firing around the doorframe for a few more seconds. Once inside, he holsters his weapon and immediately works on trying to a shelf or two over with the others, but he's interrupted by something from above.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And he draws his sword, but too late, before it drops at him and the rest...!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What...!"<br> <br>


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