A Whole New World (Of Escape Rooms)

[21stcenturyguy]

Who: Aoi ‘Santa’ Kurashiki, OPEN
What: A thrilling chase, a wondrous place…where characters are now locked up until they puzzle their way out. Don’t worry. This is fun. This is what fun looks like.
When: In the later part of Feb, before Apocalyptic stuff starts going down.
Where: Aqures Ixen, an abandoned building.



[The letter Santa sent to the various Heroes of Light directed them to a building in the Sixth District, still in shambles from the Empire’s attack. The building in question seemed sturdy enough to enter, but showed signs of obvious disrepair. A perfect place to have a fun-filled evening.

He had been tinkering off and on inside for a few months, just to give himself something to focus on. And if he’d made all these puzzles anyways, there didn’t seem any reason not to test them out. It might be good practice for some of the Heroes on how to use their brains. Besides, he wasn’t forcing anyone into it this time. It was all strictly volunteer basis, the people who thought this kinda thing was fun.

When enough Heroes assembled, he stood up in front of the doors to the building.]

Ok, chumps, here’s the deal. You’re gonna go in, and I’m gonna lock the doors. There’s a bunch of puzzles inside with the keys you need to get out. There’s clues to help ya out if you need, and I’ll let you call me in for a hint three times. Other than that, you get out when you solve the puzzles. Simple as that. I don’t wanna hear any whining, ‘kay?

[A people person, Aoi Kurashiki was not. Let the games begin.]

Comments

[lastfonmasterguardian]

[Anise looks at Lydia. Back on Auldrant, they had something like the Zodiac, even if it didn't use animals. Still, the concept was pretty easy to understand.]

Well, it doesn't matter if they're close to each other on the Zodiac, right? The scorpion's stabbing the ram over there.

[She points to the door. Then, she wanders to the tanks, inspecting them. Tanks were used for...animal research stuff. Maybe there were clues here?]

[21stcenturyguy]

[The notes that probably jump out to Jaune are a file underneath one of the clipboards. Inside is an article torn from a science periodical, cheesily titled 'Pick Your Poison: the Anti-dos and Anti-don't of Venoms'. The article breaks down the chemical composition of several popular antidotes.

On the clipboard beside it, which Akane picks up, is a handwritten list of the antidotes mentioned, listed in the form of the ingredients needed to create them. A 'Scorpion Venom Recipe', indeed.

In the row of lockers, Nanami will find that most are empty. Only three of the lockers have writing on their name plates. The names are S. Narf, Tara Chee, and O. Lion. Narf's locker opens to reveal...nothing. What a useless locker. Chee's locker yields one puzzle piece. It is a corner piece. There appears to be a picture on one side and some writing on the back. Both will be unclear until the puzzle is assembled. Lion's locker... is locked with a combination lock.

K'pandolu and Anise will find the specimen tanks are currently occupied. Five tanks, each containing one snake. They laze underneath a large communal heat lamp, seemingly without a care in the world. Each tank has an empty name placard where a label could fit, and beneath each one, there is a little test tube containing a clear liquid. There is no visible way of opening the tanks.

Mikleo's examination of the signs will not yield any buttons or switches. They seem to be lit by the same crystal technology that most of the world employs for light. Since there is no way to control the signs from there, there must be a different way to get them to light up. The signs appear in the order they fall on the basic Earth calendar.]

[sesenta]

[Akane reads the clipboard list thoroughly. CT...SN...and OL... She lifts her head to look around the room, her gaze stopping on the lockers. Well. Now she has an idea what the abbreviations stand for. And those names...]

Oh Aoi...

[She sighs. As sophisticated and cool as he tries to be, there's still a nerd streak hidden deep inside that won't ever die. Good, she prefers him that way.]

[Akane reads her findings to the rest of the group.]

I think we'll need to find the rest of Miss Chee's puzzle pieces to understand what goes into the base solution. I'm going to keep looking around the lab. What did the rest of you find?

[She'll go examining the tables and countertops for drawers or hidden pieces taped into odd locations.]

[water_meebo]

There aren't any external energy sources we can use to light these up. I suppose we'll have to find something to do that.

l[ He walks back over and starts towards the tables as well. There were other things he saw but the puzzle piece might be helpful so he focused on that first. ]

So we're looking for puzzle pieces that we can utilize in order to gain more insight correct?

[unyieldingspirit]

[that's vaguely Allagan-y and creepy. K'pandolu squints at the tanks for a few moments before looking at the test tube.]

There are five snakes here, and another tube… For that solution you mentioned, perhaps? [she glances at Akane for a moment, and then turns back towards Mikleo.] There's nothing obvious…? We've got a few things to work on, then… Should we take the puzzle first?

[deadlyvu]

[Lydia is taking notes, writing down which was found in what locker.

Nothing in S. Narf's, a Corner Puzzle Piece in Tara Chee's, and and O. Lion's locker is sealed with a combination lock.

She has also written down the Earth-Zodiac she's familiar with, in order. Making a copy of that page in fact, and tearing it out of her notebook.]

For anyone not familiar with this zodiac, I have a list of the signs and the order they go in! I'm pretty sure they had elemental correspondences as well, so I'll try and remember what goes with which, too.

[More than willing to show and share her notes.]

Hey Akane, can I see the puzzle piece?

[Lydia's gonna make examine it to see if the writing on it or picture might be at able to be guessed at--even with only the one. If nothing else, the writing might indicate which way is 'up' for where it goes. Making a sketch of it too.]

[arcward]

I found some sciency thing if anyone's good with that sort of stuff. I don't really get what it says but it does mention antidotes.

[He places the clipboard back down for someone else to figure out and takes a look at Lydia's notes, not at all familiar with zodiacs. Aries looks kind of like a ram, and scorpio just sounded like scorpion, so the animals must be connected somehow.

He wanders over to the mechanical figures. His team fought a scorpion like this way back when, only bigger. He strokes the tail, fingers lingering on the stinger, remembering how they killed the thing. He should probably look at the other figure, too, see if there are any clues on them.]

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud's been quiet as he's looked around the room, taking in the details. His interest piqued at the talk of the Zodiac, the details sounding familiar and yet alien at the same time. The puzzle probably had something to do with the proper order, at least in part. He also took care to picture the different forms as described, in case it was something else that the puzzle wanted from them.

His interest brings him over to the tubes with the snakes, eyeing the empty space where the placards should go. He leans in, looking at the snakes closely and then looks at K'pandolu and Anise.]

We're probably going to need to name these snakes somehow. Maybe with the zodiac names? Though it might not be as simple as being in order.

[He looks closer at the snakes, trying to make out any details on them.]

[21stcenturyguy]

[There are multiple desks to be searched. The three head scientists each have their own, and a smaller grouping of desks, more cheaply made, stand off to the side.

Akane's search of the first scientist's desk yields an Empty Test Tube and a Screwdriver handle. What trash. Must be Narf's desk.

The desks closest to Mikleo are the cheaper desks. The papers scattered around suggest they belong to Interns K Wiley and K Wiley. The drawers are locked. The desks themselves both have the same items on top: pencil cup, stapler, paper tray, microscope, litmus strips. They are mostly arranged in the same order, except for the pencil cup and microscope. On the floor beneath the desk are the five Name Placards.

As K'pandolu looks around the snake cages further, she will find a file about the snakes. Could be useful...maybe.

The puzzle piece Lydia examines has a piece of a face on it. The other side has some words: "Some say...some say...from what...I hold...". Looks like the Heroes need more pieces to get the full message.

On the figurines, Jaune may notice that there is has a black metal box set in the Scorpion's pedestal. It is shut tight with screws right now, but could be safely opened with the proper tools. The Ram has a seam in the mouth, as if it might open somehow. The two statues have no other notable features.

The snakes are quite distinct, as Cloud will find. The first tank has a medium length brown snake. The second tank has a medium length black snake. The third tank has a short length green snake. The fourth tank has a long length green snake. The fifth and final tank contains a long length black snake.]

[unyieldingspirit]

[Well, it wouldn't be here for no reason, right?]

It looks like they already have names, though. I don't know why they haven't been labelled already, but- well, perhaps that's something we're meant to do. [she holds the file out for anyone who's interested in it to check it out.]

[deadlyvu]

Lydia is very glad she'd brought her sketchbook now, as she finishes copying the puzzle-piece with a note about its words. Then she's looking around to see what others have, and flipping to a new page. Doing a quick sketch of the snakes in their tank.]

Huh....I feel like this is familiar.

[Tapping her pencil against her mouth for a moment.]

Logic puzzle maybe? We had a few of those in math classes a year or so before I was pulled here.

[More than willing to show the sketch to anyone, as she's gonna play around and make notes, see if she can figure it out.]

[sesenta]

A screwdriver handle...

[But where would the other half be hidden? She rifles through the pens to see if any of them might have what she's looking for.]

I've also got an empty test tube. Maybe we can use that to dispense and mix the anti-venom.

[She turns in interest at K'pandolu's mention of finding the file, and promptly moves to look over her shoulder. Ah, a logic puzzle! The fingers on her left hand move, as if counting something erratically, while her lips move in silence. It takes her a few moments, but once she's figured it out, she smiles. And keeps it to herself. Someone else will want to solve that, and it might boost their confidence when tackling the other puzzles.]

I'll look for the rest of the screwdriver. I need to find a good head.

[Shut up Akane.]

[nomorecowbell]

Where have we not looked?

[Well, go to find Tara Chee's desk and search it]

[OOC: I think I can solve the logic problem, but I don't think Nanami can unaided.]

This might not do anything but it's what I would do too

[arcward]

If you find the other half of the screwdriver let me know. There's a box over here with some screws on it.

[Jaune's attention shifts to the ram's mouth. A seam, huh? He tries to wedge his fingernails in the there to pry it open.]

[water_meebo]

[ Mikleo keeps quiet throughout the conversation with the rest of the party as he inspects the three head scientists' desks first. He assumed there might be something that they could use in it. If not he'd make his way over to the cheaper desks to look into them. ]

We could probably use the test tube for that, and logic puzzle huh?

[ Me muses looking over his shoulder. ]

[ ooc: I can help you with the logic puzzle if you'd like. Mikleo is good at problem solving so he could help out Namami? ]

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud nods in agreement with K'pandolu and holds out a hand to read the notes on the snakes in turn.]

Depending on what we have available to us, solving this might be a good place for us to start.

[Glancing over his shoulder at the others in the room he spots the name placards under the desk that Mikleo was at.]

Ah! [He half runs over to scoop them up. We might have all the parts to this if we're lucky.

(ooc: I'm better with logic puzzles than clue searching myself :P but I think we can all pitch in. And Cloud just has good skill at minigames :P)

[21stcenturyguy]

[The search of Dr. Chee's desk yields a few things of note. In the pencil cup on the desk, Akane will spot the Screwdriver Head. Beneath the desk is a small refrigerator. One of the beakers inside is labeled Base Solution. There is also a bottle of Pills with a note tied around it.

Dr. Lion's desk contains a note. In the desk drawers, there are a few measuring tools. One scale, two measuring cups, and a burner with an erlenmeyer flask suspended above it.

Jaune's probing of the Ram's mouth does not cause it to move or open. In his corner, Santa snorts and mutters something about 'oral fixations'. It seems like the mouth will not open until some sort of trigger is released.]

(ooc: Details about the various items and notes will be in the posts below. The Heroes can feel free to hand-wave solving some of the logic puzzles coming up. If anyone gets stuck OCly, most of them are google-able. ICly, Santa is available for clues as needed.)

[nomorecowbell]

[OOC: I have the puzzles OOCly done, if anyone wants them!]

I know what I'm getting Santa for his birthday. He really dug through all the puzzles for this.

The notes about the snakes say that Sue is shortest. Let's start there.

[Carefully, Nanami edged towards the snakes with the Sue nametag and put it on the third tank]

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud nods, looking at the clues as well.]

Right. That means that Inky is the snake in tank four.

[He taps his chin.]

Pinky and Sue don't get along so they're not next to each other, but Pinky and Blinky are the same length. And if Inky is in tank 4, that means the medium pare are Pinky and Bliky. Which means Pinky is in tank 1 and Blinky is in tank 2. Leaving Pac in tank 5.

[He looks to the others for confirmation.]

(ooc: sorry, I love these kinds of puzzles)

[sesenta]

[There's a little squeal of triumph from Akane as she finds the missing tool part, and she deftly combines the two together. Just like Jumpy! She's so proud of herself. ...Hey, her brother already knows she can handle the puzzles, finding important clues is a grab bag as her perception isn't always perfect.]

The screwdriver is complete! Looks like you're making good progress on the snakes.

[She looks so proud of her little team.]

What's left? We still need to open up that locker. What does the note say?

[Akane holds it up in one hand, the screwdriver in her left tightly and protectively clutched.]

'One day, maybe I'll remember
To memorize my combination. I'm
Forever forgetting it.'

...That's strange. He wrote it like a haiku, capitalizing the first word of each line. Do you think it's a clue?

[Akane knows it is, which is why she's dropping a little hint about the haiku. This one she's got figured out, but it's good for others to work out too.]

[arcward]

[Jaune gives up on the Ram's mouth; things sealed tight. He give Cloud a thumbs up when he solved the snake name puzzle.]

So what does that do? Naming the snakes, I mean?

[Did someone just say they found a screwdriver? The blond looks around and sees Akane holding it tight and motions to it.]

Hey, can I see that? I think I need it over here.

[He frowns when she reads the poem, not getting it because he can't see it.]

What's the first word of each line?

[sesenta]

[Akane smiles more brightly at Jaune. He's got it.]

'One'...'to'...'forever'... Do you think that will work?

[She hands him the screwdriver just the same, mindful of the sagitarius symbol that it bears.]

[arcward]

It's worth a shot. [A pause.] Seems a little obvious, though.

[It's only obvious if you knew to look at those words, Jaune. He nods in thanks as he takes the tool, unaware of the symbol on it, and begins to unscrew the black box by the snake.]

[water_meebo]

Would the combo then be 1, 2 and 4?

[ Mikleo was listening to the words being said and even though he didn't understand what Haiku was, the words somehow made him think about it like that. ]

If it is not 1, 2, and 4 then we are possibly looking at the combos being some sort order of those numbers. In such cases we can try:

1, 2, 4
1, 4, 2
2, 4, 1
2, 1, 4
4, 1, 2
4, 2, 1

[unyieldingspirit]

If that's the order it's been put in, that seems the most obvious combination to try.