View source for 5054/Slithering Into The Depths

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/01/26
|Location=Beacon of Progress
|Synopsis=Flamel leads an expedition into Medusa's mind to showcase just what a psychonaut can do. Just what is a witch's mind like?
|Cast of Characters=22, 325, 42, 1094, 945
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tonight's preparation was easy enough to do; Medusa's medical office at the Beacon of Progress has been aired out. With all the old tomes she keeps the air does have a certain smell to it, even if the Beacon of Progress is a new building. Perhaps it's all those medicines and potions that the witch creates as well. Or the old furniture that she's pulled in. It does add a certain charm, and the couches and old chairs are comfy despite their age.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Crona is desperately trying to stop Ragnarok from eating the cookies that have been set out. Their bickering echoes a bit, with whining from Crona and verbal abuse from the demon weapon as he pulls on the teenager's cheeks, eliciting loud wails.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All of this is ignored by Medusa as she stirrs her tea cup, perfectly calm as she awaits the arrival of tonight's volunteers. This might be interesting for all of them. How well can a person know their own mind? And just how much can other people learn from visiting hers? Not that she's concerned that they will learn things that they shouldn't. Mindreaders are rare, but she's run into them before too. Of course there are those who will try to learn secrets from others, but somehow Medusa doubts that this is a risk tonight. If it is... she'll simply have to deal with it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The very concept of diving into someone elses mind was something Rhapsody only thought of as an enemy tactic. The darker forces that work in Ravnica would love to get their hands on such a refined ability. Dive in, procure what you want or perhaps damage something you don't want someone to remember. Or just enact a scorched earth policy and see what happens to the hapless victim. Today, she viewed the dive as an experiemnt. A chance to see something new, and perhaps understand what goes on in the minds of other people. For as much as many people worry about how others view themselves, it would be interesting to see just how much another person that of.. well, her. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the appointed time arrives, the Izzet Guildmaster would knock on a closed door, or the frame of an open one, before entering. To this day, the dragon hadn't required a visit to the League's nurse. For once, a meeting with medical personel was going to be due to decent circumstances, and not dire ones. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The very concept of diving into someone's mind is a terrible invasion of privacy... a tactic of desperation against an enemy, perhaps, or the only way to deal with certain problems an ally might have, like the parasite that infected Staren and Dresden.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But, you know, if someone's VOLUNTEERING for it, man, there are so many questions to be answered! How does this process even work?!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So given this rare chance, of course Staren shows up. Walking in after Rhapsody, he offers Medusa a nod of greeting and Rhapsody a smile and a 'Hi, Rhapsody. Good to see you."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After a moment's thought, he gives Medusa a curious look. "So why did you volunteer for this, anyway? Aren't you afraid we might see something private?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Parsons meets Medusa for the first time in person. And he has that look about him like he's come here to investigate aliens or something. His classic MIB suit and his typical grainy-coinspiracy-photograph mannerisms are in full force, but so, too, is his constant positivity and friendliness. A short knock precedes his entry, polite as he ought to be, though quick on the way through the door. He loves getting to see the minds of others.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ms. Gorgon." He says. "Thank you for volunteering for this exercise. We'll enter and investigate immediately, and converse on the outside to discuss what we see and what we need to know about your mind simultaneously. If all goes well, every one of us should maintain enough awareness to be able to speak." He says. He also offers a handshake, a firm and friendly greeting even while those sunglasses seem to constantly be hiding peering and scanning and general examining. "Here, Ms. Gorgon." He offers a... Small door? It's a small door. It looks like the door to a very tiny spy headquarters, all fancy steel and ominous eyeball-related symbols.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Put this somewhere on your head to enable some less inconvenient projection, please." And it very much will click into place, mysteriously, if she does. Flamel, meanwhile, takes a seat, seemingly oblivious to Crona's wails, settling well into his relaxed posture in the old furniture. His relaxed posture looks like the unseasy observation of a mysterious agent of vague yet menacing government agencies, but I guarantee, it's relaxed.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"A few things before we begin." He says. "Certain areas of a mind will often demonstrate a quality of being 'off-limits'. Guards, security measures, and other things like that. Normally, treatment protocol says to immediately breach any high-security area to harvest secrets therein, to help treat the mind. This is volunteer protocol. Try to avoid doing that if security is any more than light. It won't be hard to know where Ms. Gorgon doesn't want us to go, even if Ms. Gorgon herself doesn't consciously know." This is partially to assuage Staren, who he speaks to directly. "Oh, if a person is afraid of others finding out information about them, usually that information is stored under higher security. Memories become locked in high-security mental vaults instead of low-security, guards will become more dense, the mindscape's mechanics will be designed to challenge any attempt to reach it, or things like that."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He also takes a more friendly look for a moment. "Knowing your own mind can give you insight. Psychonauts traditionally undergo a Brain Tumbling at some point in their lives, a process that forcefully projects them into their own mind, to learn about themselves more. Knowing who you are can give you incredible potential in any sort of work, not to mention Medusa's curiosity about how this all works. Tell Medusa what you see as you see it. I think it'll be of interest to her."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He readies himself for the dive. Tiny motes of light are drifting around his head.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>There is an undead pirate here, in a straw tricorn and a ratted pirate coat. He has a plant for a shoulder. He is also Lima Ultimos. When he arrives at the tea party, his first action is to greet Medusa, "Ahoy, lass!", and then take a seat and start trying the cookies and tea. And only partialy listen to Flamel's explanation before the exploration, which is the /cool/ part. "So, what it be like in there, ye be thinking?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, thinking is usually what people are doing in there." Mr. Parsons nods to Lima. The deadpan delivery is broken shortly after by the grin that spreads over his face after. "Hehehe, okay, but, generally, you'll see a mindscape that is similar to the public-type environment a person's most familiar with. Artists tend to have more artistic environments since they're most familiar with their creations, and some people have more niche familiarities, but, for her... Huh, whatever you think she's most familiar with is what to expect."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the first knock falls on the door the room inside is silent for a while, though the door does eventually open, Crona's face on the other side. But the strange teenager is quick to step aside, nodding their head. "Lady Medusa is waiting for you..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Medusa's greeting is far warmer, and she gives the arrivals a nod along with a warm smile as she gestures for the couch and the prepared tea cups there. "Please, have a seat and a cup of tea before we start." It's the polite thing to do, after all. Not that knows how this mind dive will work, but she's certain that Flamel will explain it all. The question that Staren asks does make the witch chuckle slightly. "I might have my secrets, but I trust that you won't try to learn them like some have tried to over the centuries..." Lima gets an amused look, and the witch looks mischievous. "I'm glad you managed to find your way back after your ship took off last night when we were at the museum." As for what her mind is like? "I don't know," she offers with a shrug. "Pretty full, I imagine. I have lived for quite a while, so all the memories, experiences and things I have learned should be there."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And here is one of the key people to this exercise... The woman turns to him, takes his hand and shakes it firmly even as she peers up at him. "Mr. Parsons... the pleasure is all mine. I'm always open for new things." Not to mention she's not afraid of risks worth taking for the sake of learning. It's not like she's done worse things in the name of science than to let people into her head.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The offered door does incite some curiousity, and she turns it around in her hands. "Hmmm. A rather different method than I expected, I must admit." Different worlds, different powers indeed. She will wait with placing it against her head until after the explanation is given, however. She does sit down in her own chair as she listens, and Crona works on serving tea and cookies to those gathered.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So her mind will place barriers in place to prevent any breach... that's interesting to know. "I consider myself a woman of mental fortitude, so I do think there will be high security in places..." she muses, then places the tiny door against her forehead. "I must say, this is... new."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do your thing, Mr. Parsons.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the door opens, Rhapsody gives a nod to Crona. "Thank you," and then Rhapsody heads inside. The decor is interesting. Something about the furniture causes Rhapsody to realize, maybe for the first time, that Medusa may be older than she appears. Which or not, the dragon hadn't given it a lot of thought until just now. "Hello again, Medusa. Interesting day, yesterday, wasn't it?" she asks before moving to take a seat on the couch. Cookies will be nommed, tea will be sipped, very delightful.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's nice to see you too, Staren. Been a while, hasn't it? I can't say I'm surprised your in for this, though. About as curious as I am?" Then more cookies! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Flamel enters, and begins to explain just how the dive works, the guildmaster can't help but smile, "Some day, maybe, I'll volunteer for this. I imagine it would be a lot of steam, magic, and explosions. Could be really exciting! And extremely eye opening, but that's something she'd have to realize when and if it ever happens. At the sight of the door, her head gives a curious tilt, but she doesn't really ask what or why. She'd rather find out.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then a pirate! "Lima, nice of you to join us. As curious about this whole mind-dive as the rest of us?" tea sip, cup settle, then she leans back against the couch. "Huh. Will this be anything like a lucid dream, Mr. Parsons? I can't imagine being conscious in two places is very easy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It helps." Mr. Parsons says. "I can open the door on my own, but something physical is useful. Now, this process will be distracting." He's speaking to the whole group here. "Do not try to move your physical bodies too much. Walking around gets unsafe, for your connection and for other purposes. Most of your mind that could normally handle things like moving around is going to be in hers." He gestures to Medusa. "And Ms. Gorgon will be a bit distracted while she has us on her mind."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He sips at his tea, and nods pleasantly to Rhapsody. "People who are like you, people who are academics or engineers or scientists, tend to benefit most from this." He says. "Psychonauts can clear out mental cobwebs, help process mental challenges, or other things like that. Let me know if you ever decide you'd like to. For now, Ms. Gorgon, League members for this excursion..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Prepare your mind."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/201370883/MIND_DIVE.mp3<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The door opens, and instead of Medusa's forehead beyond it, a shining white light emits from within. Mr. Parsons takes off his sunglasses, revealing white, glowing eyes. He plants two fingers on either side of his temples, and a shimmering, shining white projection of himself drifts up out of his head. He gestures to the other exploring Elites, once each in turn, gently tugging their perception out of their bodies. It's a tug that they could easily resist, but there's no cause to, not right now. As their own projections join his, he guides the whole swirling white mass in a spiralling entry into the door on Medusa's forehead, which soon shuts on its own behind them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On some level, they're going to retain awareness of their physical body. They'll be able to see and hear and speak and do some limited motions -- enough that Mr. Parsons is still sipping his tea casually. But trying too hard to do things like walk around is going to be far too distracting and risky to their 'connection'. As for where they wind up, they should land somewhere at the "top layer" of Medua's mind, as a group. Mr. Parsons isn't aiming for any particular region of the brain this time. Instead, he's looking for whatever is Medusa's most convenient entry point. When they land, though, they'll establish their mental body, their astral projection, and find it... Pretty much retains all their physical properties and equipment perfectly! It's convenient.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Where they land is another matter entirely.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The first thing one might notice about the area that unfolds is that it's light. The evening sunlight shines in through the southern windows of a large circular hall that rises several meters above, the light breeze gently caressing the translucent curtains. The smell of antiseptics is in the air, it's clean and quiet for the most part, save for some voices coming from some short distance away on the northern wall of the hall. In said direction there are several corridors heading off into the distance. Though they are straight to begin with they begin to curve and slither off, so far that it's impossible to see where they end. What's most curious however is how there are doors upon doors, too many to count, lining the walls of the corridors.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for the hall they are standing in however, it's got a large desk with various medical papers on it, some medical equipment and large file cabinets... and a skeleton sitting in a chair behind it. Next to it, a lone grammophone plays a slightly scratched record, its soothing tones echoing softly throughout the room. Nowhere in sight is a guard, a security camera... nothing but them in a spacious hall with white walls, a marble floor. It's clean, with no cobwebs, no dust. There is an additional source of light however, a ball of light that is floating around the room, its movements slow, its direction shifting like an inflated balloon carried by a current.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mood music: https://youtu.be/Y5byOKfin3w?t=21m12s<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The mind of Medusa Gorgon is a lot better lit than Rhapsody expected... for some reason. With her mental self tugged into the nurse's mind, it's clear that the guildmaster is a bit surprised at the clean hall, the order of it, and even the smell that's similar to the office they left behind... but are still in. Strange, that.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For a moment, Rhapsody checks herself over, even pats herself down, just wanting to understand how real the mental projection is. It checks out as 'pretty real' before she turns to look at the rest of the group. "No guards, interestingly enough," she says both in the projection and outside so Medusa can hear. "Just a skeleton. . . For a secretary, I think.." Then just in the mental world. "Hello?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>The pirate waves back to everyone who greets him, but continues munching on cookies. He's still munching on them when he gets pulled into the mindscape. Lima Ultimos blinks a bit, before glancing around the hospital room. "Ooh, this be her mind?", he says outloud in the projection. "I be seeing. Let's see here..." and then he spots the skeleton, and walks up to the desk. "Ahoy there, matey! I be Lima Ultimos, captain of the Coma Navajo. Who be ye?" He also extends a hand to the skeleton, for shaking.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"A /mental/... skeleton." Mr. Parsons says, as he looks at it, peering and examining contours. "Who knows what sort of symbolism it could have? Here, you deal with the skeleton, you're a ghost." Mr. Parsons wanders over to the other matter. The light! He wanders to it, and tries poking and prodding at it. "Let's look for directions for visitors." He says. "This seems like a hospital. So we should be able to head into its inner areas by following directions for visitors. Being here to see Dr. Gorgon, I suppose?" He sees if there's anything notable about the orb of light, closely examining it and poking at it. But if neither skeleton nor light seem to demonstrate unusual properties, he may decide to head through a door at random on the north side. Or maybe something unusual might happen if he prods the light towards the skeleton?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This process involves putting a door on her head. Wat.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Still, Staren is put at ease by Flamel's explanation that they can't /accidentally/ learn Medusa's secrets. He simply nods to Medusa, and to Rhapsody's question about curiousity. Lima gets a nod hello.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then it's time! In they... uh... he's not actually sure what's happening, as he suddenly has an out-of-body experience. How does THAT work??<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A hall of doors. Huh, he didn't actually expect a familiar metaphor. He jumps slightly as he notices the skeleton. "Uh... hello?" he says, sort of vaguely at the skeleton and the ball.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Outside, he pulls up his left sleeve, exposing his multitool armband. It projects a holographic screen, showing... Medusa's office, as seen by his eyes. &lt;&lt;"Oh, right. Of course that wouldn't work."&gt;&gt; His voice comes from a speaker on the armband, and the image goes away. &lt;&lt;"It's a hallway full of doors. There's a skeleton sitting at a desk with filing cabinets here. There is also a floating ball of light. Would you be okay with us trying some of these doors? I mean... I guess they should be locked if they hold anything you don't want us to see..."&gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The skeleton is either very rude, or it's a normal skeleton that's unable to return Lima's friendly greeting.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The light very much acts like a balloon when Flamel pokes at it, and it quivers as it floats up a bit closer to the ceiling.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren's words don't earn a reply at first, but eventually Medusa's voice will be heard, coming from some old speakers hanging up on the walls. An old and somewhat crackly intercom system? "If the doors are open, then by all means..." The voice breaks up though as Flamel pokes at the ball of light again. And this time it lets out a high pitched sound as it shakes even more furiously.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The skeleton begins rattling slightly, and the curtains wave more as the wind outside picks up. Somehow the sunlight doesn't seem quite so warm anymore...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Upon inspection the doors in the hallway mostly appear to be locked, but the doors closest to the central room are all open, and filled with various memory fragments. Shimmering items of various medical equipment, brooms, snakes... it's a mess, but a tidy mess by the looks of it. But the doors further in are all locked with heavy pad locks, obviously not meant to be opened. And from further in one might hear the faint echo of voices, whispering. It's too bad that due to certain actions you won't be able to go further in there however.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On the ball of light a crack appears, from the spot where Flamel poked at it several times. The crack speads, speads... and then the light /bursts.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sunlight instantly fades, leaving behind a creeping darkness as the windows blow open, curtains whirling as the glass shatters, striking the floor and crushing it. The travelers are in for a plummet into utter darkness as the grammophone comes to a screeching halt!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mood music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wFA0bAnGSU&amp;t=82s<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The fall doesn't take too long, and the landing isn't too rough as the four will land in cold water, albeit not too far from shore in a dark forest, with a tall tower in the distance. The moon illuminates the area somewhat, though there are clouds as well passing in front of it, making it hard to make out certain areas too far away. It's nighttime, the wind is howling, and this place is not the hospital.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the skeleton doesn't seem to respond, Rhapsody figures that it's just a skeleton and nothing more. You'd thinik in a dreamscape it'd at least rattle a little! Alas, not a major disapointment. As the others start to poke around at the ball of light, and the skeleton, the guildmaster had wandered a little further down the hall, peeking into a few of the rooms that were open. It all seemed to be the mind of a decent nurse, granted, with a liking for snakes. That wasn't so bad, not a bit. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Satisfied, and noticing that the other doors were locked, the dragon turns back to the group. "It seems rather simple in-" She's cut off as the little light balloon pops and -everything- changes. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The drop to the landscape below causes the dragon to shift on reflex, yet even in her true form, she still splashes into the water below. Hopefully everyone doesn't mind a bit of a splash. Once she's on her feet, and shakes off the water, her gaze is cast around the far more gloomy atmosphere. "Er... what .. did you do?" she asks in the mindscape before she speaks outside. "Everything changed.. just now. It's a forest with a tower not far off.." she describes, making her way to the shore.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When someone else starts looking into doors, Staren gets curious too. "Medical equipment? Huh. I'd have thought there'd be scenes from her past or something..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then they fall. "AAAH WHY?!" Staren lands in the water and immediately moves to shore, "Cold cold cold!" He takes off his shoes and socks, and his coat, trying to shake some of the water out of the coat. His shirt and pants are quick-drying.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Since they can't see much, he takes this opportunity to ask Parsons some questions: "So, since we're in the mindscape now, what determines what we can actually do? Are we projections based on our physical bodies and gear, or is it entirely mental and we can do whatever we want?" He wills himself to turn into a pony to see if it works. That's not normally one of his forms.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh... Ahhh!" Agent Parsons seems concerned for a moment that he's done something, but then he pauses, thinks, and continues his poking efforts. When the crash comes, he's nervous. "Ahhhh! AUGH!" The floor gives out, and he's falling like the rest. Luckily, he has his Levitation abilities, allowing him to slow his fall and come to rest above the cold water, drifting above it carefully. "Ohhhh, oh, oh. I'm seeing what this is." He drifts towards the coast, and faces the forest when he speaks.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's not a matter of 'what did I do'." He says. "It's a matter of 'where did we go'. I don't think I did anything to Medusa's mind, I think we... Transitioned between two psychological regions. The first seems like one side, but there's a distinct second side... Manic-depressive, bipolar, or similar types of disorders and dysfunctions can produce a mindscape like this, but so can long-term calculated efforts to maintain facades. Don't worry, I think we haven't done anything to Medusa herself."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, but do worry about the possible danger. If we find monsters in these incredibly spooky woods, it'll hurt if they attack us and kick us out of her mind. Let's be respectful, right? The tower is the most visible thing, so it's probably where we should look." He drifts towards the forest, intent on heading through it, and towards the tower. His head lights up like a floodlight, but the darkness here is psychological; it's likely that he'll only be able to project short beams of visible light into the forest, if at all. "Careful. Atmosphere is everything here."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He shakes his head to Staren, on that note. "Astral projection is a defined sort of thing." He says. "You can take equipment through it, or sometimes equip your astral self with astral equipment that isn't physical, but you don't have the infinite wellspring of psychic energy needed to do changes like that in a defined mental space like this. If you had access to an unending well of, say, positive mental feelings, or aggressive feelings, changes like that could possibly happen All theoretical, though, that's the sort of thing only very strong mental images can do."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>Lima Ultimos frowns at the skeleton. It's not a very nice skeleton. "Yarr, ain't ye be hearing me? I be talking to you!" There's a high-pitched sound coming from nearby, but Lima Ultimos ignores it, and eventually, the skeleton begins rattling. "Okay, now ye be responding! Listen, do ye be thinking ye can tell us what be going on around he-"<br><br>As Lima Ultimos is ignoring everything else to converse with the skeleton, the sunlight fades, voices echo, the music stops, and the glass shatters. And in the end, the floor collapses.<br><br>"-errrrrree!" The pirate screams as he collapses into the water. He hits his head, but quickly jumps up to his feet. "Well, that be a fun trip!" Lima Ultimos shakes the water off of him, before glancing at the others. He once again only partially listens to Flamel. "But I don't be seeing two polar regions! I do be getting the part about beating up the monsters and investigating the tower, though, aye." He draws his cutlass, and begins moving towards the forest. "What type of monsters we be talking about here? Big ones? Small ones? Crawly ones?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Parsons answers to Lima quite well. "Oh, well, we were at one pole before, and now we're at another. See? A safe healing hospital, and a spooky, dangerous-looking forest. Poles. But, maybe not. Maybe it's something else. Anything that divides behaviors into halves or differing states can create a mind like this. Just follow along with it. Honestly, the academics don't matter as much as following the symbolism and the flow of the mind."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks around with caution at the forest as they enter, keeping a flow of light. "Down here, it's whatever Medusa thinks about. If I had to guess, this might be a storage space for her ideas about more dangerous biological creations or alterations, or it could just not have anything dangerous in it and be where she collects the psychological darkness that comes from what's in the tower, but I'd need to see more to know for certain. Keep an eye out."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even as the small group gets to shore they might be aware of eyes in the darkness, several of them, eyeing them closely without drawing closer. Some figures show up though, as black lines slither up from the ground very much like smoke, though they don't actually touch them. Instead they keep on circling them as they begin heading into the forest. Though if they reach out towards the wispy lines, then they will crackle... and hiss warningly as they grow, turning into black snakes. Yet they do not attack for some reason.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The trees in the forest are very old, some lack leaves, and their bark is blackened, as if burnt in a fire. The ground is dry, with barely any grass at all. In the corner of their eyes they might perceive something moving, though upon turning it will be gone. In the distance something lumbers, creaking past the trees with one giant eye peering at them.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once on the shore, Rhapsody doesn't even bother to shift back. Something about being true to herself in a place such as this was reassuring... even if she was being circled by .. something. Her gaze slips to the group, and then stays on Flamel, moving to follow just behind him. With her bit of extra height, she keeps a look out as best she can in the dark mindscape as they head for the tower. This time, there isn't much to say. Perhaps the guildmaster is actually a little spooked at everything.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren nods at Flamel's explanation. He ponders trying it anyway, trying to focus on the positive emotions of, say, love for his girlfriend, but distantly recalls the Union warning him that trying to pull stunts like that is for emergencies only. He pulls his shoes and socks and coat back on and follows the others, pulling a pair of glasses from his bag and trying to use the built-in camera to see if he can get improved night vision or infrared or the like. Do mental projections of electronics work exactly the same, interacting with the imaginary photons of the mindscape?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are so many questions!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For that matter, he wonders if there's a way to record in here. Can he establish a wireless connection with outside? Staren continues poking and prodding at the scientific workings of the mindscape as they walk through the forest. Possibly bumping into the occasional tree from distraction.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, this is very definitely a space for storing her thoughts about something dangerous." Mr. Parsons says. "This will only be the sort of thing she'd talk about with the League if we're not being attacked here. Don't get towards more dangerous-looking spots, if you can help it. Inside a person's mind, if they have an idea about something, if they... Know how it would work, in a way, it's a real thing. Complete ideas, full ideas for something, are as dangerous as the completed thing itself, but it can only work inside the mind. So anything she at least mostly knows how to create, biologically, exists here as a real entity. I think this is mental images of something she creates. Let's, uh, keep on any paths they keep us on. If there's this... Many... Then it's a powerful idea. Nothing more dangerous."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren should find that it won't be hard to record, but that the recordings come out fuzzy. Things that Medusa herself might not fully remember or know will be blurred, even if Staren's own perception isn't. His understanding of things helps shape his perception and fill in gaps, but Medusa's defines the end-result information. Recordings can work, though. Parsons explains, noting his efforts. "Some things can come out of a mind, but only as psychic energy. Recordings are one intangible thing that can almost make it out, but there's a few ways to get some tangible things as well. Not much, but a few. If you wear a hat with enough tin in it, nothing gets out at all. Psychonaut Tip."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>Lima Ultimos sort of wants to poke a snake with his sword. However, he behaves, and instead keeps heading forward towards that tower. As he's moving, though, he stops, spotting the giant eye. "Hey, I be seeing a monster. Be we investigating it?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lima gets a glance, and then a response, as Mr. Parsons turns to look at the one-eyed creature, cautiously pulling back a moment. "Careful. Even Medusa might not know about what that is, if it turns out to be a latent inspiration idea rather than one she's already got." He then gives a nod, though, and a smile. "If the mental defenses don't keep us away, though, it might be good to take a look at! See what it is."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Out in the real world, Mr. Parsons asks, "Ms. Gorgon? Are you having any ideas recently about biological work for anatomies that are large, with one eye? Or would that be memories? We might be in a memory space as well, I'm wanting to see how much investigation should go on."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With the group making their way through the mental forest, with several places that might give people a general idea to stay away from. A dark purple mist also seems to build up, making sight much harder. Near one large tree several vines are seen creeping up the trunk, with the tree slowly withering away where it's constricted by the vines. Unlike the hospital layer, this place has loud whispers that carry on the wind. Strangely enough there are no blurry areas to be seen here in this forest. The moment Flamel makes a move to step towards the large one eyed creature however, the snakes wake up, rising as they practically get up into Flamel's face, hissing in warning. And he might call out for Medusa, but there is no reply to be heard.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Staren bumps into one tree however, it creaks... and then rises...? No, it grows.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Twisting around as the bark lets out a low screeching sound, the tree looms above them. Until several yellow eyes open all over, blinking at different times. Within seconds the tree is twenty meters high, its gnarled branches hanging down over them. And a voice can be heard on the wind, like a distorted whisper that carries a strange sense of urgency.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt; Find... the... fragments. The... shadows.&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Around them the eyes creep closer, and with the large tree looming above them there is little moonlight to illuminate the area.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shadows and snakes were one thing, but treants and Medusa being unresponsive was something -completely- different. "... Er... problem?" It's said in the real world, and in the mindscape, but it is entirely clear that Rhapsody is on alert as her stance widens, her wings opening half way, ready to go at a moment's notice. With everything going on at once, Flamel irritating the snakes, and this massive tree rising up, all the eyes appearing in the darkness, she doesn't even catch the voice on the wind about the shadows. "Mr. Parsons? Ah, I'm wondering if we should be in this part of the mindscape at all.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>Lima Ultimos was about to run towards the eye monster, despite everything getting weird, because he was told to. He droops noticably when told over the radio not to, but quickly gets out of that funk. "So, these fragments, what may they be? We should be finding them! A treasure hunt is always great fun."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If something's not attacking us, then, we're okay to be here. Anywhere we're not supposed to be, we'll get... Er, very strongly assaulted, probably. Strong minds like these are quick on the draw. Not a lot ambushes you without warning in a mind. Aside from Nightmares. Those try to hunt and kill you, probably." Mr. Parsons says, backing away from the snakes with his hands in an open-palmed placating gesture. "It's okay." He says. "It's fine, I'll keep away." And he gestures to Lima, "I think we ought to stay out of there, though. See? Principle of guarding."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks up at the tree as it expands, jumping in startled motions. "Augh! Okay, here we are-- Nnnh!" He holds his hands to his ears as the screech sounds, then stares up, listening closely. "Fragments. Shadows. Okay, we have plenty of shadows here. Try to find something fragment-like. Mental logic is unique to each person, so who knows how that will work. Try anything." The eyes closing in are intimidating, but they also define a space. He's going to search in the area bordered by their observation. He pokes at the shadows physically and non-physically. Fragments, fragments... The tree is above them, right? Maybe it's the fragments of the moonlight that shine through? He pokes and prods, trying with both physical self and his shadow to see what interactions he can have with both the shadows and the dim moonlight. He'll leave things like the eyes, or more broad-area searching, to the others.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the four speak with the tree, the mist lifts slightly, revealing three different paths... all going in opposite directions. Who will go where? To the one leading towards the tower? Deeper into the forest? Or one leading into a cave?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren's focused on the tablet when he bumps into a tree. He doesn't apologize or anything, simply starts to go around it... then steps back as it GROWS... and talks. "The, uh, what?" He starts to reach for the beam sword at his belt, then thinks better of it and sticks close to the others. "Nightmares? What?! If a nightmare kills us in here, do we die for real?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More paths appear. Staren gives a long, curious look to the tower, but refuses to split the party. He sticks with Parsons. Thinking back to the journey he took inside his own mind and how quickly things changed... it would be far too easy to become lost in here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Parsons looks up, examining the tree while he considers these paths. "I'm going to head to the tower." He says. "That seems more vertical, and maybe less dangerous, maybe more likely to have the sort of issues I can deal with. I can levitate, so maybe that'll be a better suited task for me. If I had to guess, the forest path might be more dangerous. I can't begin to guess what the cave path is like. Split among what suits your interests and skills, though. Remember, keep away from what the snakes warn you off of. Unless suddenly that seems like bad advice to follow. Honestly, I'm making this up as I go."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He shakes his head at Staren. "No, they'll just butcher your astral projection for parts. You'll be fine after a recovery period, it's just incredibly painful and lightly traumatizing." This is one reason why there are Psychonauts. "Let's split the group, I can pull us all out if we get too lost. Match your skills to the paths as best you can."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The different paths offer no great challenge as the four walk down them to their destinations... though the moment they arrive, they might notice that the snakes move behind them, as if making sure they do not move back on the path. Which might be tempting at this point.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THE CAVE... is a dark and musty place indeed, offering no light. And once Rhapsody enters the cave, she might be able to tell that she is not alone. But which way should she go though? The path forks, with footsteps echoing all around. Off one of the tunnels there is a brief light however, and a shadow moves upon the wall... quickly followed by another.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THE TOWER rises in front of Staren and Flamel is anything but new. Old, rickety, looking as if it's going to collapse in certain places... it's not a marvel of architecture, that's for sure. Further up in the tower a lone violin can be heard... and the door swings open, revealing stairs that go up. It's a long climb, but eventually the two will find themselves in what appears to be a dungeon... a lantern shines upon the wall, reflecting a shadowy figure that climbs up the wall.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THE FOREST seems even darker where Lima is set to walk. It's also near silent, save for the cries of a murder of crows that circles above him. Eventually though he will find himself in a clearing... and behold, what is there? The skeleton from before. Though this time it's standing on its own.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, in that case, I'll head for the cave and follow the cliches I hear so many worlds have of dragons. Sleep in caves, kidnap virgins, hoard gold..." pause. "Eeeh heh.. some of them are kind of accurate. Ah well! Be careful, everyone!" A wave is given with one front limb and then Rhapsody wanders off down the path toward the cave, at a nice swift pace. Why? Well, the tree was spooking her, the -dark- was really starting to spook her, and all she wanted to do is blast some fire and not have to worry about the dark because. . . DARK. No more dark please.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her wish is not granted. As she approaches the cave, she has to shift back to her bipedal form, take a moment to focus, and conjures a light orb of flame that hovers up from her open her hand and starts to lead a bit ahead of her. IT DOES NOTHING FOR HER. Fear levels are rising, slowly, and the echoing steps and moving shadows are starting to cause memories of her own to surface that she does NOT need to think about right now.. "he's not here, he's not here, he's not here, he's not here.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Good to know..." Staren says dryly, and a bit nervously, after Parsons explains what happens if you die here. "Looks like there's only three ways now..." The tower was the most interesting and Parsons is going there, so... yeah. "Huh. Does music mean anything?" And then there's a shadowy figure... "Hey! WHo's there?" Staren calls.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>Lima Ultimos splits off on his own, down the forst in a random direction. "We be meeting back up later, mateys!" He wanders into the woods, looking up at the crows that circle him, as he whistles and twirls his sword. Eventually, he reaches a clearing...and sees a familiar face.<br><br>"Skeleton! It be good to see ye be safe! Our introduction got interrupted before, so let's be starting over. I be Lima Ultimos, the Revenant Spaniard, captain of the Coma Navaja. What be ye name?" He reaches out his free hand to, once again shake the hand of the skeleton.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Following the path in a drifting way, Mr. Parsons reaches and enters the tower. "Music is a marker here, I think. Remember that grammophone? Keep an eye out. Someone might be playing it... It could be her mental image of someone she knows, an abstract concept personified in her mind, or just another recording. It's a good flagpole, we just don't know the flag yet. Let's head up."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And they do! Finding the strange dungeon, and its shadow... "Oh. Here's the shadow we were told about. Now we just have to see the... Fragment." He approaches cautiously. "Hello?" He calls, softly, to the shadow. He's going to see if there's a response. If there isn't, he's going to investigate that latern... He's going to see what the latern's about. Is it like the orb he poked at before? What IS it, really? It seems important...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the CAVE Rhapsody will be able to see some more with the conjured flame orb, and this causes more shadows to be cast on the walls, flickering as the flame does. The further in she walks into the cave, the foot steps can be heard behind her, and a deep male voice speaks up.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... you will pay for what you did!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Behind her stands a man made entirely of dark purple smoke, the wispy tendrils rising from him like steam. Without hesitation he charges at her, a long sword made of the same smoke appearing in his hand as he swings it at Rhapsody!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the TOWER the shadow doesn't wait for Staren, instead it keeps on crawling the wall. The lantern that Flamel picks up luckily doesn't shatter like the orb of light he poked earlier, and its light is cast on the other walls, revealing more shadows... including a larger shadow suddenly leaps from the wall towards them, letting out a piercing shriek!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The meeting in the FOREST is watched by several eyes that peer at Lima as he approaches the skeleton. And while the skeleton still doesn't reply, this time it does move. The bones on its right arm rises slowly towards the captain... its bony fingers reaching out for him.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And from down deep in the cave there comes a -shriek-. It's extremely likely that came out in the real world too. Just on reflex, Rhapsody reaches for one of her spellblades, not caring which one she takes hold of, and slashes in the direction of the blade coming toward her, trying to knock it away. "I didn't do anything!" she calls out, frantic, backpedaling regardless of the result of the swordswing. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>Acceptance! The skeleton has truly accepted Lima Ultimos! He grins brightly, and as it reaches its arm out towards him, Lima Ultimos moves to grip the skeleton's hand tightly. "Ye be a good matey! I know ye be a figment of the mind, but I be thinking. Would ye like to be getting out of here, and join me pirate crew? We can always be using good sailor material like ye there!" He has no idea what might actually be in store for him.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Unresponsive. Might not be ideas? Maybe it's not supposed to interact with the outside. We could be looking at memories, possibly. There's more here or it's-- AUGH!!" He tosses the lantern to one side, hoping that "de-illuminating" the shadow will make it stop, catching it in a translucent telekinetic hand that's suddenly nearby. But whether or not it does, it frees up his hand for him to plant both on his hands on his temples, and pulse out a thick shield. "AAAAH!!" Very caught off-guard. "Who are you!! Who do you work for!!" That second one is called out more by instinct than due to any particular assumption that the shadow works for anyone. He's going to focus on defense first, and let Staren handle any offense, functioning as a tank due to his work in mental defense, and the fact that he accidentally drew aggro first.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The lantern MAKES shadows, and one attacks! Staren dives out of the way, drawing his laser pistol and standing, but he second-guesses whether fighting in Medusa's mind is a good idea before he pulls the trigger. If the shadow doesn't go away, he keeps the gun trained on it now. "Nothing to say? If you can understand us, no sudden moves." He'll shoot if it leaps at them again.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blades clash, with Rhapsody's spellblade pushing the shadow man further back.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I... I trusted you, and this is how you repay me, you bitch?!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Again he lunges, this time letting out a scream that echoes in the cave. And now he's putting all of his force into the slash, bringing both his arms overhead as he seeks to bring his shadowy blade down upon Rhapsody with all of his might and fury.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Silence is the entire response that Lima gets for now, and the skeleton moves closer to him. All before it yanks on his arm, moving to swing him around! The skeleton's left arm reaches out in the opposite direction... all while the wind blows in some deep tones that rise throughout the clearing, the moonlight shining down on the small area around Lima and the skeleton.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sadly it doesn't seem that dropping the shadow causes the shadow to disappear into the darkness again, and it /shrieks/ against the thick shield that Flamel creates. Its massive maw opens, thick mist coming out of its mouth as it tries to gnaw through the shield, its claws digging in. It's easy enough to shoot it like this, and the laser pistol pierces through the shadowy figure, causing it to crack... and disintegrate with a banshee like wail that causes the tower to shake around them, dust falling from the ceiling high above.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A fragment of light is left behind, and the light fills the room. Again there are shadows upon the wall, but none of the ones left from before. Instead a grim visage unfolds. A lone, muscular shadow, struggling against chains that bind its arms as it throws its head back in a mighty scream... all before it all twists and turns into a twisted elongated blade that seems to be dripping.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After some seconds the shadow puppetry fades, leaving behind a small ball of light that settles into Staren's hands.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The swords clash, Rhapsody's trek backward continues, and as she goes the second blade is pulled free. The problem with her current state is that she's in a panic, she's forgotten this is a mindscape, and she has someone bearing down on her, in a deep dark cave, and it's only stirring things she hadn't recalled in years. As the blade comes crashing down, the dragon stumbles, ends up dropping one of the blades, and just scrambles away from the spectre, wanting to put nothing but distance between herself and him. Problem is, he was blocking the way out. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The scrambling ends up putting her near a wall, and being cornered is the one place she needs to -not- be. She spins around, back pressing against the wall, the other spellblade clatters to the ground, but in her desperate state of mind, she does the only thing one may expect of a cornered dragon. There's a breath, and then there's a massive blast of white, fire-like energy pouring out of her at the purple swordsman. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"AaaaaAAAAAH!!" Flamel's shield crunches and shining bruises show on his body where the damage seeps through from the teeth that grind on his shield, crunching into layers and layers. Thank goodness that Staren backs him up quickly, letting him disperse it without too much issue and rub the bruises where they built on his torso. "What an awful thing. Fascinating! Looks like a high-stress memory of some kind. I think something about this can contribute to re-transitioning towards the hospital level."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks on with a sort of horrified fascination. He loves any insight he can get into his allies, even if the obvious pain and stress surrounding it intimidates him badly. His eyes are wide as he watches the shadow. He knows, roughly, a few things about Medusa's world... Why does she have these fragments of memory? Memories of... Torture? Hmmm.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey, Staren. Let's head back down, towards the tree. The others will probably be done soon." He drifts up off the ground again, pulling the latern back to him for use as a light on the walk back. "I can hear screaming on the radio, so, they're probably fine."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>That is not how you return a handshake! Lima Ultimos is sent spinning behind the skeleton, being tossed around due to his complete surprise and lack of preparation for this. "Wait, skeleton, please be letting me go, we be supposed to be friends!" Obviously, this is probably not going to work. Luckily, Lima Ultimos knows, from past experience, exactly how to befriend people.<br><br>You cut off their body parts!<br><br>With his sword in hand, he moves to slice it straight through the skeleton's arm, the one that is tossing him around. The blade is magical, and rots whatever it touches, attempting to seep through the mindbone and rot it away. This may or may not be a terrible idea.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blasts the shadow, and his ears splay at the unpleasant banshee-like wailing.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's clearly some symbolism here, about a strong but bound entity and a bloody sword, but damn if he knows what it is. What happens next is much clearer! He smiles, holsters his gun, and holds the light up with both hands like a videogame character. "We found a fragment!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In high spirits now, he keeps the fragment clenched in one hand as he makes his way back to the fork. "So, mindscapes don't usually generate puzzles or fetch quests like this?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, they actually tend to." Mr. Parsons says, as he drifts back. "Depends on your goal. But people have different motivations and ideas, and they all fit together in strange deadlocks. Ideas have ideas about how to get around their competitors, memories are useful tools in broad ways... Sometimes there's fetching memories or concepts, or sometimes there aren't. It's all up to how much your mind turns in on itself about these sorts of things."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The shadowy man chases Rhapsody, moving with a speed that few can hope to match. "Stay and fight me, snake!" he yells, his words amplified within the narrow corridor of the cave. Soon he's got her cornered, though there's no glee in his voice. "Finally... I shall right all the wrongs...! And make amends for what I did!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sadly he doesn't get the chance to swing his blade at Rhapsody as he is engulfed in flames, screaming in pain as the fires burn his shadowy limbs. And burn he does, burn until nothing is left... that is, a small fragment of life that seemed to be stuck inside him. Fear not Rhapsody, the light chases away the darkness, save for two shadows upon the wall as they move. A kneeling man, and a hooded figure that walks towards him with sword in hand... all before said sword is thrust right through his chest as he coughs up blood and falls over. As the shadow puppetry ends this fragment too seeks out Rhapsody's hands, offering her light as she sees the exit to the cave nearby.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Strangely enough the skeleton isn't about to let go of Lima's hand, and it turns towards him again, moving with calculated ease despite its lack of muscles and tendons. At least until the arm is cut off and lands on the ground. Immediately the wind stops, and the skeleton turns its empty eyesockets down onto the ground. Then it crouches down and picks up the arm, which does not rot for some reason. Instead it reaches one hand out towards Lima again, more insistently in its body language... and this time the wind blows through the leaves on the old, rotting trees... like haunting flutes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The blast of energy took a lot out of Rhaps. Mostly because she put a hell of a lot into it. When the fires fade she's already sitting against the wall of the cave, a bit of a mental wreck. She at least manages to glance up, catch the shadows on the wall. A quiet wince slips from her as the scene plays out. When the light finds her hands, though, she clutches onto it like a life line. At least until she realizes that it keeps any light from it from escaping. "Time to go.." she whispers, wimpers? Doesn't matter. She gets up, collects her blades, and walks right the heck out at a -very- brisk pace. Back to the tree? Sure. Why not. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>It's come to this. The skeleton refuses to be a friend. Lima Ultimos must fight it. He doesn't want to kill it, but he might have to. (He doesn't entirely realize that it's already dead.) "Ye leave me no choice...engarde!"<br><br>The pirate captain rushes forward with his blade, moving to parry that arm away. It'll begin swordfighting, if the arm could be considered a sword. And as he closes in, Lima Ultimos will move to impale his sword, Corpserot, straight into the skeleton's torso...and pull upwards in an attempt to cleave through this. "I be sorry about this!"<br><br>Though, if this doesn't work and it keeps moving, he's going to instead pull his sword out and /run the hell away/.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The skeleton's arm gets pushed away, and said skeleton stands still even as Lima closes in, seeking to stab his sword into the bony character's chest. Sadly though, it doesn't seem like the skeleton has such ideas today.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A sudden mist overtakes Lima where he stands, wrapping itself around his limbs by force. What trickery is this? It keeps him place, even as the skeleton moves even closer, its white fingers reaching out towards him... and takes his hands in its own.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The wind rises, all while the skeleton swings Lima to the side again... as it begins to waltz with him, a shimmering light starting to rise from the skeleton's chest.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Across the ground a shadow is cast, and Lima might catch a glimpse of it all as the skeleton swings him around. A man and a woman dancing, though the woman's silouette looks rather sinister as tendrils escape from her shadowy form.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And as the mist that controls Lima dies down... so does the skeleton as its bones turn into dust, leaving only the last fragment of life there.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:945|Lima Ultimos (945)}} has posed:'''<br>Even when he tries to stab the skeleton, it fails. Lima Ultimos is starting to get worried. How powerful is this enemy? It's even locking his limbs in-<br><br>And then he realizes, that this is not an enemy. It had no malevolent tendencies. It's a dancer. As it forces the waltz, he no longer tries to resist. He was wrong, and behaved incredibly rudely. His sword drops to the ground, as he finishes that skeleton's last dance.<br><br>The shadow glimmers against the ground, that of a man and a sinister woman. It all makes so much sense. But then, it all fades away. The mist falls, and the skeleton crumbles. All that is left is a fragment, and dust. He scoops up a handful of dust, retrieves and sheathes his sword, and then takes the fragment into his hand. He looks over the dust, and speaks. His accent's gone as he does so, no longer a weird pirate accent, but that of a Spanish man. "I'm sorry, tiny dancer, for my rudeness. May you rest in peace."<br><br>And then, Lima Ultimos returns to the crossroads, with the fragment and the dust.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Somehow, Staren's not surprised at Flamel's assertion. It feels right somehow, after seeing Sburb. He simply nods as they make their way back to the fork.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the four gather back at the looming tree with many eyes, it appears it has been waiting for them as it leans forward with a creaking sound as it blinks, one yellow eye after the other.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt; You... brought them.&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With that the tree reaches out from some of its branches, picking up the fragments... or rather, the fragments drift towards the tree. A soft hum escapes them as the tree pushes them together, and they become one larger orb of light that shines brilliantly, giving some light to the dark crossroads.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt; I... will... not have to... destroy you after all... &gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Without warning the tree rises again, blocking out the moon as it turns its attention on the constructed orb. Another creak can be heard as the tree shifts more, a twisted mouth opening with sharp teeth dripping with saliva. Slowly, carefully, the tree pushes the orb into its mouth, all while the orb lets out a piercing scream, even as the tree closes its mouth and the orb disappears along with the scream.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Immediately afterwards the tree turns its many eyed gaze down on the four.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt; ... you were quite lucky. &gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Slowly the forest around them starts to shake and rumble, as if a massive earthquake threatens to tear it all apart. But before that happens it all turns bright...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once again the soft music of a grammophone can be heard, the gentle sunlight streams in through the windows as they find themselves once more in the hospital. And this time, the orb of light rises higher up underneath the tall ceiling.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Parsons watches with both fascination and horror as the tree assembles some kind of memory amalgamation, and then devours it. His face twists with both of them roughly equally and in oscillation. When it's over, he settles on fascination as best he can, pushing the horror down a little.The ground rumbles and he thanks goodness in general for his levbitation. And then, back to the hospital! BAck away from the orb of light. He gives it some distance, gritting his teeth awkwardly.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well!" He says. "That was a terrifying excursion. So, that's what Ms. Gorgon's mind is like." He says, and then, with a snap, there's a light tug on the mind, like the tug that pulled their astral projections out of their body. "I think that's more than enough for one session. Ms. Gorgon should decide how much more exploration she wants done into that... tree. In the meantime, finish up anything you need to, then eject with me." That means save your recording file, Staren. Once everything's all done, he plants his fingers on his temples one last time, glows brightly, and snaps the group right back into their bodies, the door on Medusa's forehead snapping open one more time in a sudden popping noise and disgorging a small swarm of bright white shades into their bodies.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The proper ones. No getting to be a dragon today, Lima.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The little fragment is offered up. As it goes, Rhapsody marches right over to Flamel and waits, rather expectantly, to get out. It's a little strange to watch the tree DEVOUR the light-balloon, and as a result it returns them all to the hospital hallway. A bit of a look is given the light bubble, then the others, before she murmurs, "Izzet Lesson #1. Don't poke things you don't understand." That's all she has to say about -that- excursion while waiting to head back to her body.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And just like that? Back in her body! YAY. A glance around the room is given, but her gaze says it all when it settles on the nurse in the room. Is she even in the room? If she is, her gaze basically says it all. Why weren't you saying anything?! <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The orb is screaming as it's eaten. That's certainly messed up, but Staren's not going to intervene for a mental figment in Medusa's mind.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And they're back in the hospital. "DON'T POKE THE LIGHT." Staren warns, watching the others.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But it's time to go. Staren looks at Flamel curiously. "So... how do I send the recording outside?" Once that's explained, they're back! "Where do you want me to send the recordings?" he asks Medusa.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:22|Medusa Gorgon (22)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once the four are out of the mindscape, Medusa sits up straighter in her chair, opening her eyes as she reaches a hand up to rub at her temple. "This was... different," she offers. Behind her Crona looks passively at the figures as they return fully to their bodies again.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Slowly the witch glances towards Staren, all while her pupils go slightly slitted for a mere moment. "Send a copy of them here... to my office. And I will look at it later. I'm not sure exactly what you saw in my mind, but I /am/ curious."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1094|Flamel Parsons (1094)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"First time is always strange. You probably want to stay unfamiliar with it, honestly." Flamel says, awkwardly shifting his hands around. He plants a pair of fingers on one temple and draws his Psycho-Portal back to his own hand. "Informative, though, I'll hope. It should give you a good idea of what a Psychonaut is, and a little more of what you are."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Peeeeeeeer. Sigh. The dragon offers a nod to everyone, "That was... Unique. I think I'm going to.. .. something.." she trails off. That was maybe a little more intense than expected, but make no mistake, she wasn't going to hold it against Medusa at all. From the way Flamel described it, it's not something that's consciously controlled. "Have a good night.." she finally manages to add on before she shows herself out.<br> <br>
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