melodiesoflife | Player Plot: Downopolis

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Player Plot: Downopolis

Who: Everyone that signed up for the Downopolis pot
Where: City of Downopolis, Cult Base
When: October 1st-7th
What: With the threat of the Cult of Narayana looming in the distance, a band of Heroes travel to Downopolis to infiltrate their base and discover the truth
Warnings: Violence, more to be added

They had been preparing for today. They had Biggs' approval, half a month to prepare, and much to lose if they were to sit back and hope that the Cult would disappear from relevance. Ales was not going to allow himself to sink into complacency. He spent late nights going over maps and intelligence gathered from Ellie's mission and the most recent one, formulating plans to present to the others. They had assassins and warriors, they were going to succeed.

Heroes, whether they had visited the Sage a few days earlier or waited in Mysidia for the mission day, gathered just outside Downopolis on the early morning of the first day of October. The air was chilly, but Ales hoped that the underground hideaway would rectify that.

With their lives on the line, they would find the leaders of the cult. The fate of the world rested on this mission

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[Lust pushes herself up to her feet, seemingly in no hurry to right herself. With her Illusionist's job, it should be easy enough to teleport herself and anyone else back to the streets above, but that would mean missing out on a chance to explore something new and interesting. She brushes off the scaled leggings of her armor and tosses her hair back, looking annoyingly gorgeous for someone who just got dropped on her ass.]

[Not bothering to help anyone else up to their feet (they can do it themselves), she busies herself instead looking around the room, getting a good glance down both corridors. It takes her a little longer to spot the etching, but once she realizes there's something there, she tips her head back and taps a finger thoughtfully against her hip.]

[Then she decides to go ahead and just Levitate herself right on up there to see what it says. Maybe it's meant to give them directions as to which corridor to investigate first.]

[Thank goodness for landing strategy training. Pyrrha manages to take the fall with minimal trouble, rolling as she hits the ground and springing to her feet with her sword and shield at the ready.]

Be careful, everyone.

[She'll wait for Lust to come down before proceeding, but at the moment she's positioned herself at the ready near the center of the platform. If something comes at them from either direction, she'll be ready.]

Whoever set this trap may be coming to check to see what they've caught.

[ Indeed, the amount of effort which must have been put into creating the trap suggests anything but a smooth landing. Bracing himself for the worst, Ace is definitely surprised by such a turn of events. Save for a few bruises, it leaves him practically unscathed, so he quickly rises to his feet.

Pyrrha has the right idea, so he'll join her, standing in the middle of the platform with his back to hers and weapon in hand. Only when an appropriate amount of time has passed he might consider making another move. ]

What is up there?

[Johnny has Dragoon equipped for this mission, so he lands well. He readies his lance and joins Pyrrha and Ace.]

Shoulda known this would happen. I hate this damn town.

If they wish to know what they have caught, let them come. Lust, I have a lantern if you require.

[Tazendra's own idea had been to boost someone onto her shoulders, but using magic makes makes sense. She was unconcerned with the fact they were now in a pit. Surely this meant they were heading in the correct direction, or there wouldn't be attempts to stop them.

[It's dumb luck, nothing else, that Sephiroth landed heavily on his left side which meant not only did his signature shoulder armor take much of the impact but to be sure if he'd landed any other way it might have been less than favorable. He felt the side of his knee bruising as he got back to his feet but that'd be gone in a matter of hours given his job arrangement.

Besides, first thing first before he'd follow up those stone steps, was to do a headcount of the small party he'd brought with him as they also got themselves back together. There was no way of knowing if perhaps one or two of them hadn't got caught in the trap otherwise. Secondary, a weapon check of himself, to make sure that the handle to Masamune was exactly where he'd need it and the fall hadn't jarred the harness out of position. So far so good.]

Needless to say, we've been expected.

[He mutters once he and the three others -one white mage, one dragoon and another warrior, looks like- have caught up, just in time to see Lust reaching those words that were just out of sight thanks to the gloom.

Naturally though, his group stays back near to the small stairs they just ascended; better to see if anything would come charging for the center of the room from either of those hallways on either side.]

[Reno had thought about going with the scouting party. Even without an invisibility crystal, he was still a mastered Assassin. But seeing that Sephiroth was along for their little excursion... he felt considerably better with Johnny in sight.]

[It wasn't that he didn't trust Johnny to be able to take care of himself... exactly. But he sure as hell had a healthy amount of suspicion for the others. There was just something about that woman, too, the one they called "Lust"... Reno couldn't put a finger on it, but he just felt off. Maybe it was unfounded deja vu. Maybe he was just on edge and being paranoid after Sephiroth's little breakdown at the hospital.]

[Either way, he dropped into a roll before rising quickly, just thankful he didn't land right on his ass.]

What a warm welcome.

[Lust will find no writing on the wall. Instead, there are what appear to be crude carvings into the wall, drawn by one of the Cult members with enough artistic skill to convey a message:

On the left side of the wall are small humanoid figures, some with swords and shields, others with staffs. They face a horde of giant beasts that vaguely resemble monsters seen on the surface, through with how those take up most of the wall, the cultists drew them in hopes that any intruders would be overtaken by the monsters.

Above one of the monsters, symbolized by a generic demonic fanged face, is a drawing of a key. Beyond the horde of monsters are various drawings of stairs, spiked pits, dead warrior, and a large door with a keyhole.

Perhaps that is the way out.]

Thank you, that should prove useful.

[Lust descends to hook her fingers in the lantern's handle, rising again to get a better look at what's been etched into the stone. A few moments pass before her eyebrows rise, and a bemused smirk crosses her face.]

My my, how primitive.

[Knowing the others are curious, she descends to land lightly upon her feet.]

The artist seems to have intended to beset us with a large host of monsters. They're relatively recent carvings, so I have little doubt that this message was intended for us. One of them supposedly holds a key we're to use after making our way past stairs, spiked pits, and dead warriors.

[She tosses back some of her hair.]

Given that I can levitate and utilize telekinesis, I think it might be best if I take point...if we decide to play along with their little game. It's up to you, I could just as easily take us back up.

So beat up some monsters and find a key? Sounds like a normal day for us.

[Johnny looks around to see which way they should be going.]

Yeah, that's fine. We'll be close behind. Which way we headed?

Wherever we go, you guys better not use me as bait!

...you are, aren't you?

[Reno crossed his arms and shrugged.]

I mean, either way, those monsters are gonna be in here, right? If there's a key, good chance there's a lock. Be convenient to have it.

I don't mind gettin' a li'l action.

[When Lust mentions a horde of monsters, Sephiroth takes a long look at one of the exits from this room, and then sweeps his attention across the hall to the other exit. He feels content, indeed, that he's not advanced into the center of the room just yet and able to keep checking one side and then the other without much effort.

But the question did remain, as Johnny said, which way should they be going.]

Unless the floor trap has triggered some release mechanism deeper into the labyrinth, we've no idea where these monsters will come from.

Should we split up? If not, we can take rear guard.

[There are two ways out of this room, after all. Wouldn't want them to get taken out from behind. At least he trusts what is left of his own squad to have eyes where they need to be, in case.]

We don't know how deep these passages go. I think we should stick together.

[Pyrrha glances from one hallway to the other. Even though she says that, she's not confident in making the call on which way to proceed.]

If we have no idea which route is the one we want, we might as well choose one at random

[ Ace nods at Pyrrha. Another vote for remaining close together. ]

We don't want our numbers to dwindle even further, especially if the etchings indeed speak the truth. Unless somebody has any objections, I'd say we move.

[ ... True to his word, he directs his steps towards one of the hallways - a random choice, it is. It doesn't necessarily mean he considers himself a suitable candidate for a leader without a skillset appropriate for detecting traps, but this group needs a little push, and he'll gladly let someone else take point. ]

[The area just outside of the entry chamber is clear, save for bits of rubble that haven't been cleared away. As Ace leaves the dim chamber, the hallways darken to the point where he can't see anything beyond several feet in front of him. However, sound travels well in the chambers, and the steps of something large and heavy can be heard some distance away.

The Golem has heard something fall, and hoping for a long-needed fight, begins his trek through the halls directly at Ace.]

Watch out! Something's coming!

[Pyrrha moves to step in front of Ace, channeling her Aura and taking up a defensive posture.]

[ Ace halts in his steps the moment the atmosphere takes a rather drastic turn - if he's about to face an enemy, it shouldn't be while he's stuck inside an unfamiliar hallway.... so his next course of action is take a quick leap backwards, just in time for Pyrrha's unexpected arrival.

Needless to say, he's not gonna be content hiding behind anybody's back, instantly moving over to take place by her side. ]

Seems so.

[ Other than the sound of heavy steps implying that the etchings might have indeed spoken the truth, there is not much else to be noticed in the absolute darkness of the corridor. Whoever or whatever is running in their direction, however, seems to have a better idea.... It would be unfortunate if their foe has that advantage over them, so he readies a Blind spell while tightening his grip on the saber. It's worth a try. ]

[Though bringing up the rear, Sephiroth is quick to notice movement not more than a few steps into the hallway that Ace had ended up nudging the group towards. He can't hear the heavy lumbering footfalls from his position but recognizes the preparation going on.

He trusts for the other three members of his squad to keep watch while he himself turns, eyes fixed on the darkness of that hallway, his thumb already having released the catch to his sheath-harness arrangement. The weight of his sword already in his hand, ready to be unsheathed at a moments notice.

He hopes that his energy levels have managed to recoup thanks to the necessary resting of his hidden injury that only a handful still knew about. It wouldn't be all that epic at all, to have burned himself out for so long as to fail when he'd usually excel.]

It's moving rather slowly, isn't it?

[Lust doesn't seem all that bothered, possibly because of its gait. That might change if it decides to charge them, but she's not even sure that it can.]

If you'll allow me, then.

[Rather than move forward or back, Lust raises her hand and narrows her eyes, gathering her dark magic to cast Doom upon the Golem.]

There. It should expire in approximately four minutes. Perhaps we should see what's down the other hallway during that time and come back once its time is up?

[But if they really want to fight it, she won't stop them. It's an urge she's had many times herself.]

[Oh. That was kind of anti-climactic. Though Reno had to admit, it was also pretty convenient.]

Four minutes?

[He glanced at everyone else.]

I mean... I guess? Like, I half wanna beat on it just t' get some stress out...

[Well everyone was thinking it!]

But I also don't really wanna get hit by it, either, so I'm pretty much down for whatever. As long as we don't get caught between two things in here, 'cause that'd suck.

[The already slow-moving Golem, now unable to see, had to be more careful in how it stepped down the hallway, hindering its speed once more. Frustrated, it pounds the ground with both rocky fists for a poorly-aimed Earthquake. It may not hit everyone, but it might injure some of the part.

The Doom timer ticks down to 3 minutes.]

By all means--

[The ground buckles beneath Lust's feet, and there's a rare look of actual surprise on her face just before she Levitates herself above the cavern floor. She even levitates a few other party members as well...and though it doesn't show, her actions surprise her as well before she narrows her eyes at the golem.]

I'd say it can't hurt to test your skills against it, but that would be a falsehood. Still, if you can defeat it before it expires, I have no objections. They usually drop items and money either way.

[Johnny jumps out of the way of the Earthquake, dodging the attack easily thanks to Dragoon. Since he was already using Jump, he might as well land an attack on the golem with his lance on the way back down.]

Four minutes is plenty of time. If not, he's done for anyway. If beatin' up monsters is what we gotta do in here, so be it.

Re: EVENT - COMBAT BASED

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