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Entry tags:
TDM 001
TEST DRIVE MEME 001 ❀
CONTENT WARNINGS: potential character nudity, violence, trypophobia (images) as well as light mentions of gore.
Please note: FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER 'HATCHING', CHARACTERS WILL FEEL WEAK AND ANY POWERS THEY HAVE WILL NOT WORK.
Test drive meme threads can be considered game canon for players who are later accepted and wish to keep their CR. The rescue mission prompt will be a TDM-exclusive, but the other prompts that you see here will also appear on our first game log. There will, of course, be more going on that week.
Please reserve questions about consequences for altering or meaningfully investigating the setting for the first log of the game, where we will have a Mod Questions thread at the top of the log. On this test drive meme, please reserve this thread for clarification and setting questions.
On the first day of reserves (May 10th), only players who participate in the TDM will be allowed to reserve. You must link an AC-length thread from the TDM for early access. Starting on the 11th, any prospective player may submit a reserve. Our hope is that this will avoid overwhelming our reserves.
Congrats, you've woken up in an egg. I'm sure this is exactly how you wanted to spend your Saturday, right? There's no time to get curious and check out the other egg sacs. By the time you've fought your way out of the membranous sac, spilled electric blue goop everywhere, wiped it out of your eyes and sundry other orifices to get your bearings, you have a spear (or a gun) leveled at your face, throat, or other vital organs. Even if you might be inclined to fight, you can barely lift your arms to protest being grabbed and dragged off. Before you can even get a word in edgewise, you've been thrown into a holding cell.
Characters will not have a chance to retrieve their items at the time of the first hatching, and may not even know there is anything left in the remaining eggs.
The holding cell stinks of something sour and acidic, like rotted citrus, but you are not alone. Several other detainees sit in similar squalid confusion, dressed strangely and equally gooey. Time to make nice, ask questions... figure out what the hell is going on, and maybe do something about all that slime?
Over the next few days, a few things become clear. Despite the alien greeting, your captors speak a language that you understand, and the unpleasant circumstances are revealed to be a matter of necessity, not choice. Supplies are low, but they ensure that the new arrivals' time imprisoned is as painless as can be — they offer hot communal showers of less than three minutes, some strange starchy meal-replacement, and medical treatment to those in need. You might strike up a conversation with your new best friend in the shower over a low soap dispenser or when you realize you might need to share towels.
The cost of these luxuries comes in the form of touch-and-go interrogation by the security officers keeping tabs on the cells and supervising the shower time.
A few notes:
Please note: FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER 'HATCHING', CHARACTERS WILL FEEL WEAK AND ANY POWERS THEY HAVE WILL NOT WORK.
Test drive meme threads can be considered game canon for players who are later accepted and wish to keep their CR. The rescue mission prompt will be a TDM-exclusive, but the other prompts that you see here will also appear on our first game log. There will, of course, be more going on that week.
Please reserve questions about consequences for altering or meaningfully investigating the setting for the first log of the game, where we will have a Mod Questions thread at the top of the log. On this test drive meme, please reserve this thread for clarification and setting questions.
On the first day of reserves (May 10th), only players who participate in the TDM will be allowed to reserve. You must link an AC-length thread from the TDM for early access. Starting on the 11th, any prospective player may submit a reserve. Our hope is that this will avoid overwhelming our reserves.
❀ HATCHING
Congrats, you've woken up in an egg. I'm sure this is exactly how you wanted to spend your Saturday, right? There's no time to get curious and check out the other egg sacs. By the time you've fought your way out of the membranous sac, spilled electric blue goop everywhere, wiped it out of your eyes and sundry other orifices to get your bearings, you have a spear (or a gun) leveled at your face, throat, or other vital organs. Even if you might be inclined to fight, you can barely lift your arms to protest being grabbed and dragged off. Before you can even get a word in edgewise, you've been thrown into a holding cell.
Characters will not have a chance to retrieve their items at the time of the first hatching, and may not even know there is anything left in the remaining eggs.
The holding cell stinks of something sour and acidic, like rotted citrus, but you are not alone. Several other detainees sit in similar squalid confusion, dressed strangely and equally gooey. Time to make nice, ask questions... figure out what the hell is going on, and maybe do something about all that slime?
Over the next few days, a few things become clear. Despite the alien greeting, your captors speak a language that you understand, and the unpleasant circumstances are revealed to be a matter of necessity, not choice. Supplies are low, but they ensure that the new arrivals' time imprisoned is as painless as can be — they offer hot communal showers of less than three minutes, some strange starchy meal-replacement, and medical treatment to those in need. You might strike up a conversation with your new best friend in the shower over a low soap dispenser or when you realize you might need to share towels.
The cost of these luxuries comes in the form of touch-and-go interrogation by the security officers keeping tabs on the cells and supervising the shower time.
A few notes:
☆ Your character may get pulled away for interrogation at some point. No torture, no drugs; just questioning.
☆ Locals will be stopping by outside the freestanding holding cells to ogle or ask questions. Are you really going to be mean to that little kid staring at you with wide eyes?
☆ Characters will be let out for bio breaks. No one has to pee in a bucket, that's just inhumane!
☆ Attempts to escape will probably get you tasered. The mods will not facilitate escape-plots/etc on test drive memes. However: if you app and are accepted you are more than welcome to chat with us about the possibility of having escaped or attempted it.
☆ Locals will be stopping by outside the freestanding holding cells to ogle or ask questions. Are you really going to be mean to that little kid staring at you with wide eyes?
☆ Characters will be let out for bio breaks. No one has to pee in a bucket, that's just inhumane!
☆ Attempts to escape will probably get you tasered. The mods will not facilitate escape-plots/etc on test drive memes. However: if you app and are accepted you are more than welcome to chat with us about the possibility of having escaped or attempted it.
❀ EXPLORE THE BASECAMP
On the heels of a little benign interrogation, a medical inspection, and a stern talking to by Captain Childe, the survivors at Basecamp Leviathan determine one thing: you don't appear to be an active threat.
Released from the detention center after three days, you are given the run-down by the locals — you're on a planet called Ethyraia, and the people around you are survivors of the catastrophic crash of the UCSS Adamant several years prior. You, in fact, showed up on the third anniversary of the crash. Weird coincidence, huh?
You're being allowed to mingle with the others. The first order of the day is having a proper meal at the mess hall — some of the Adamant's survivors will be friendlier than others. They've been stranded here for years, remember? Some of them will be so desperate to talk to someone who has news of other places, and some will be giving you the cold shoulder.
You'll be fed the same as the rest of them. A plastic plate of crumbled protein of unidentifiable origin and gravy over rice with a single wilted stalk of broccoli and a cup of the worst coffee you've ever had. Maybe somebody bumps into you and spills said coffee, maybe you make it all the way to one of the long tables set out for communal eating.
Time to strike up a chat with your neighbor — maybe ask them to pass the salt?
(What do you mean, there's no salt!?)
After a meal — it's hard to say which one you'd call it, since the whole crew is on rotating schedules — you may decide to wander the basecamp. Folks in every department could use a hand. Those willing to help out may get friendlier reception than those who play the tourist. For more info on what else you might find, check out the LOCATIONS page.
During this time, characters will be able to return to the Central Chrysalis where they hatched. While there are no clues as to how they got there, they might find items — their own, or someone else's. Everyone is strapped for supplies, but try not to snatch up anything that isn't yours. The security officers don't look kindly on people chasing one other down the hall, trying to get back their dirty magazines.
A few notes:
Released from the detention center after three days, you are given the run-down by the locals — you're on a planet called Ethyraia, and the people around you are survivors of the catastrophic crash of the UCSS Adamant several years prior. You, in fact, showed up on the third anniversary of the crash. Weird coincidence, huh?
You're being allowed to mingle with the others. The first order of the day is having a proper meal at the mess hall — some of the Adamant's survivors will be friendlier than others. They've been stranded here for years, remember? Some of them will be so desperate to talk to someone who has news of other places, and some will be giving you the cold shoulder.
You'll be fed the same as the rest of them. A plastic plate of crumbled protein of unidentifiable origin and gravy over rice with a single wilted stalk of broccoli and a cup of the worst coffee you've ever had. Maybe somebody bumps into you and spills said coffee, maybe you make it all the way to one of the long tables set out for communal eating.
Time to strike up a chat with your neighbor — maybe ask them to pass the salt?
(What do you mean, there's no salt!?)
After a meal — it's hard to say which one you'd call it, since the whole crew is on rotating schedules — you may decide to wander the basecamp. Folks in every department could use a hand. Those willing to help out may get friendlier reception than those who play the tourist. For more info on what else you might find, check out the LOCATIONS page.
During this time, characters will be able to return to the Central Chrysalis where they hatched. While there are no clues as to how they got there, they might find items — their own, or someone else's. Everyone is strapped for supplies, but try not to snatch up anything that isn't yours. The security officers don't look kindly on people chasing one other down the hall, trying to get back their dirty magazines.
A few notes:
☆ Feel free to help out anywhere. Every little bit of assistance you offer to the locals will raise their estimation of you. You could easily help clean dishes after the meal, help fix leaky piping or repair hammocks. You could stop by the aid station and assist with the wounded. You'll be watched closely and some of the survivors will be warier than others, but most will appreciate the opportunity to have a 'break'.
☆ If your character leaves the basecamp and wanders outside the Leviathan, they may begin to notice that what they perhaps took as a giant cave is actually an enormous dragon. Everything they see that seems 'human made' will look varying levels of worn down, patched, repaired and patched again. This is not a place of prosperity and happiness. Many people are recently injured, or have new scars or missing limbs.
☆ PCs will be warned about going beyond the shade of the dragon's wings. For the sake of the test drive mods will not be facilitating plots that deal with characters going further; we ask that players with an interest in exploring this wait until the game is fully open.
☆ If your character leaves the basecamp and wanders outside the Leviathan, they may begin to notice that what they perhaps took as a giant cave is actually an enormous dragon. Everything they see that seems 'human made' will look varying levels of worn down, patched, repaired and patched again. This is not a place of prosperity and happiness. Many people are recently injured, or have new scars or missing limbs.
☆ PCs will be warned about going beyond the shade of the dragon's wings. For the sake of the test drive mods will not be facilitating plots that deal with characters going further; we ask that players with an interest in exploring this wait until the game is fully open.
❀ RESCUE MISSION
"There's no time to waste," the woman says breathlessly as she grabs your arm. She pulls you to an augmented reality sand table and you will find yourself standing alongside some of the others you may recognize as having 'hatched' with you. There are murmurs by the Adamant's survivors as they pour over data. Maybe you remember Captain Childe from the stern interrogation she gave you a few days ago, but in any case but she's standing at the edge of the sand table looking at the distance scaled between the enormous huddle of HUD badges — the Adamant's survivors — and a tiny pocket of pulsing green some fifteen kilometers away.
"They knew better," Captain Childe says, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. "They should have been back hours ago."
"Fucking scientists," says a man with a faintly French accent. He is scarred and battle-worn, and looks properly pissed off. He's also sporting several fresh injuries, one of which seems to have warranted the use of a crutch. "They'd lose their heads if they weren't attached. Let them wait out the storm."
"No," the captain says. "They're too close to the Rat Nest. We don't need a repeat of —" she trails off, as if seeing you for the first time. She looks you up and down, and then: "You've been told by now that everyone here has to pitch in. If you know how to fight, be ready in ten minutes. You're our rescue squad." She turns and walks out, and there's an awkward moment where everyone present is looking at you to make a choice.
Ten minutes really isn't a lot of time to get ready to walk into danger. Or maybe you aren't a fighter. Maybe you just don't care. But either way, there are people looking to you. To see how you'll react. To see what you'll do. To see if you belong.
What'll it be, hatchling? Fight or flight? Maybe you ought to start coming up with a plan.
FIELD WORK
There's a cadre of scientists cut off by acid rain. From their last transmission, they were driven into the Rat Warrens — and you've been tasked with rescuing them. Too many members of the Security Team are themselves injured, and none of the remaining ones have experience leading a fire team. Let's hope you do — or at least that you can fake it.
Maybe you've hand-picked your team. Maybe you're just stuck with whoever else was closest. Either way, your companions are some of the people you might recognize as fellow 'hatchlings'. If you know them already — good, you've got a head start on what they might be capable of out in the field, and you can chat about the little things. You know, like the weather. Acid rain, gotta love it.
Either way. You're given few small slabs of surprisingly lightweight alloy that has a sheet of — is that hide from the Leviathan? — stretched across them, to divide up amongst your team. "Helps with the rain," Ensign Porter says, trying to sound cheerful despite the grim set to his jaw. "Just come back in one piece. I kinda feel responsible for you guys, you know?"
Before you know it, you're outfitted for the trip. Weapons (if you didn't have your own) and maybe some medical supplies, handed over with a grimace by Doc Sunya.
So then it's just you, your tiny team and a fifteen kilometer hike. Oh, and the acid rain. Luckily, the shields seem to be keeping it off, but it's hard to hear anything over the impact of the drops. Anyone want to play I never?
Or maybe you think you should make a break for it. This is your first time being outside the Leviathan unsupervised. You've got supplies, and other people with as little to lose here as you do. Maybe you should talk.
THE RAT WARREN
You've made it to the last transmitted location of the scientists. What you find doesn't bode well — one of them seemed to have an arm torn off — at least, you think it's an arm — the way it's been disintegrated by the rain makes it hard to tell.
One thing's certain, though. There are bloodstains leading into the nearby maw of a hole in the ground. There's a putrid odor wafting from it, and the sound of frantic scrabbling.
You have an idea of what might be down there. 'Giant rats with tentacles', Porter had said. Don't let the tentacles grab you, they leave chemical burns that usually result in amputation if they can't be treated immediately. But there's a chance the scientists are still alive, and you need to make your choice.
If you and your small team venture down into the darkness, what happens next is up to you. You'll be encountering hoards of these monsters. The scientists are still alive, but will they stay that way? And more importantly, can you get them back to the Leviathan in one piece?
PCs versus the local fauna, round one, FIGHT!
A few notes:
"They knew better," Captain Childe says, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. "They should have been back hours ago."
"Fucking scientists," says a man with a faintly French accent. He is scarred and battle-worn, and looks properly pissed off. He's also sporting several fresh injuries, one of which seems to have warranted the use of a crutch. "They'd lose their heads if they weren't attached. Let them wait out the storm."
"No," the captain says. "They're too close to the Rat Nest. We don't need a repeat of —" she trails off, as if seeing you for the first time. She looks you up and down, and then: "You've been told by now that everyone here has to pitch in. If you know how to fight, be ready in ten minutes. You're our rescue squad." She turns and walks out, and there's an awkward moment where everyone present is looking at you to make a choice.
Ten minutes really isn't a lot of time to get ready to walk into danger. Or maybe you aren't a fighter. Maybe you just don't care. But either way, there are people looking to you. To see how you'll react. To see what you'll do. To see if you belong.
What'll it be, hatchling? Fight or flight? Maybe you ought to start coming up with a plan.
FIELD WORK
There's a cadre of scientists cut off by acid rain. From their last transmission, they were driven into the Rat Warrens — and you've been tasked with rescuing them. Too many members of the Security Team are themselves injured, and none of the remaining ones have experience leading a fire team. Let's hope you do — or at least that you can fake it.
Maybe you've hand-picked your team. Maybe you're just stuck with whoever else was closest. Either way, your companions are some of the people you might recognize as fellow 'hatchlings'. If you know them already — good, you've got a head start on what they might be capable of out in the field, and you can chat about the little things. You know, like the weather. Acid rain, gotta love it.
Either way. You're given few small slabs of surprisingly lightweight alloy that has a sheet of — is that hide from the Leviathan? — stretched across them, to divide up amongst your team. "Helps with the rain," Ensign Porter says, trying to sound cheerful despite the grim set to his jaw. "Just come back in one piece. I kinda feel responsible for you guys, you know?"
Before you know it, you're outfitted for the trip. Weapons (if you didn't have your own) and maybe some medical supplies, handed over with a grimace by Doc Sunya.
So then it's just you, your tiny team and a fifteen kilometer hike. Oh, and the acid rain. Luckily, the shields seem to be keeping it off, but it's hard to hear anything over the impact of the drops. Anyone want to play I never?
Or maybe you think you should make a break for it. This is your first time being outside the Leviathan unsupervised. You've got supplies, and other people with as little to lose here as you do. Maybe you should talk.
THE RAT WARREN
You've made it to the last transmitted location of the scientists. What you find doesn't bode well — one of them seemed to have an arm torn off — at least, you think it's an arm — the way it's been disintegrated by the rain makes it hard to tell.
One thing's certain, though. There are bloodstains leading into the nearby maw of a hole in the ground. There's a putrid odor wafting from it, and the sound of frantic scrabbling.
You have an idea of what might be down there. 'Giant rats with tentacles', Porter had said. Don't let the tentacles grab you, they leave chemical burns that usually result in amputation if they can't be treated immediately. But there's a chance the scientists are still alive, and you need to make your choice.
If you and your small team venture down into the darkness, what happens next is up to you. You'll be encountering hoards of these monsters. The scientists are still alive, but will they stay that way? And more importantly, can you get them back to the Leviathan in one piece?
PCs versus the local fauna, round one, FIGHT!
A few notes:
☆ Feel free to put player characters 'in charge' of the planning/logistics phase. If another PC tags into your thread, you and that player can decide which PC will be 'leading the charge'.
☆ Your character will have: a mini-railgun, a spear (if they don't have their items/weapons from home), a first-aid kit, the acid rain shields, ration bars (that are essentially condensed protein bars — they do not taste good) and one of the smartwatches, which will have a mini holographic HUD displayable on its interface. If your character is the sort to request other things, feel free to assume they received them (within reason — please remember that resource scarcity is the name of the game — feel free to be creative here!).
☆ There are fifteen kilometers to cover. If your character has an ability like superspeed/etc, please keep in mind it will work, but you also have your allies to consider. Normal walking time over this distance, given the difficulty of the environment (steep hills, acid rain, unknown territory, etc) would translate to several hours to an average person.
☆ Feel free to use the NPC scientists however you'd like. If you want your character to find some dead, you can. If you'd prefer they be rescued, that is also acceptable. These are essentially 'your' NPCs that you are using to facilitate the story at this point — the sky is the metaphoric limit!
☆ Your character will have: a mini-railgun, a spear (if they don't have their items/weapons from home), a first-aid kit, the acid rain shields, ration bars (that are essentially condensed protein bars — they do not taste good) and one of the smartwatches, which will have a mini holographic HUD displayable on its interface. If your character is the sort to request other things, feel free to assume they received them (within reason — please remember that resource scarcity is the name of the game — feel free to be creative here!).
☆ There are fifteen kilometers to cover. If your character has an ability like superspeed/etc, please keep in mind it will work, but you also have your allies to consider. Normal walking time over this distance, given the difficulty of the environment (steep hills, acid rain, unknown territory, etc) would translate to several hours to an average person.
☆ Feel free to use the NPC scientists however you'd like. If you want your character to find some dead, you can. If you'd prefer they be rescued, that is also acceptable. These are essentially 'your' NPCs that you are using to facilitate the story at this point — the sky is the metaphoric limit!
❀ BOOZE
A week. You've been here for a week.
By now, you might have tried to venture out of Basecamp Leviathan and experienced firsthand the acid rains that the security officers warned you about. Or you might be teaching the kids at the schoolyard how to gamble. In any event, Thorkil seems to take pity on his disoriented new friends and taps his distillery for a little help.
Invitation passes by word of mouth to meet at the memorial wall. Moonshine of questionable quality is passed around in tin cups — hope no one's afraid of germs — as Thorkil explains the great relief it is to be gaining people instead of losing them. This settlement isn't big, and they aren't overburdened with hope or supplies, but there's been a lot of loss in the past three years. Some people might be willing to look at the arrival of these newcomers as a sign that things are turning around.
Bottoms up, hatchlings, and ... Happy Birthday?
A few notes:
By now, you might have tried to venture out of Basecamp Leviathan and experienced firsthand the acid rains that the security officers warned you about. Or you might be teaching the kids at the schoolyard how to gamble. In any event, Thorkil seems to take pity on his disoriented new friends and taps his distillery for a little help.
Invitation passes by word of mouth to meet at the memorial wall. Moonshine of questionable quality is passed around in tin cups — hope no one's afraid of germs — as Thorkil explains the great relief it is to be gaining people instead of losing them. This settlement isn't big, and they aren't overburdened with hope or supplies, but there's been a lot of loss in the past three years. Some people might be willing to look at the arrival of these newcomers as a sign that things are turning around.
Bottoms up, hatchlings, and ... Happy Birthday?
A few notes:
☆ Feel free to turn this into an impromptu party. Maybe you're celebrating getting all the scientists back alive! Maybe it's something like a wake to remember them in the sad event of their passing. Either way, many of the engineers and other NPCs may join you in this moonlight drinking session, as well as whatever PCs you tag out to or are tagged by.)
❀ OBLIGATORY NETWORK
Welcome people of all kinds to Basecamp Leviathan! I'd give you a hand moving in except...
I have no hands.
Because I'm an AI.
Get it?
It's a joke.
My name is Cartagena. But anyway, this isn't about me or the Adamant for once. This is about all of you. So if you would kindly fill out the following questionnaire to get to know each other; it would also be very helpful for my systems.
NOTE: Participation is MANDATORY.
That was another joke. It's all voluntary. You people and your free will.
1. What is your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. What's your favorite smell? Please describe it as you would to a person without a nose. Because I do not have a nose.
4. If you could be any animal in any world, what would you be?
5. How old are you?
6. Did you enjoy this questionnaire?
Thank you for your participation! Please enjoy the rest of your stay here at Basecamp Leviathan.
I have no hands.
Because I'm an AI.
Get it?
It's a joke.
My name is Cartagena. But anyway, this isn't about me or the Adamant for once. This is about all of you. So if you would kindly fill out the following questionnaire to get to know each other; it would also be very helpful for my systems.
NOTE: Participation is MANDATORY.
That was another joke. It's all voluntary. You people and your free will.
1. What is your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. What's your favorite smell? Please describe it as you would to a person without a nose. Because I do not have a nose.
4. If you could be any animal in any world, what would you be?
5. How old are you?
6. Did you enjoy this questionnaire?
Thank you for your participation! Please enjoy the rest of your stay here at Basecamp Leviathan.
2
That's right. Now focus on the mission! [ as far as getting over there, Bruno has a plan, because of course he does. ] We're going over. Hold on to me.
[ as he speaks, Sticky Fingers flickers into view behind him. Can nen users see Stands?! You decide. Either way, it's winding up a fist, and Bruno's holding out an arm for Illumi to grab onto. ]
no subject
Well. If this person has an ability to get across the crevice in this cave, then so be it. Illumi will still throw him to the metaphorical wolves (wolves = rats) should they land and the mission prove to be impossible to complete. His first priority will be making sure he survives, the secondary objective being observe the creatures on the planet. The third and fourth being keep an eye on this person's ability, followed by the least of his worries: saving the scientists. ]
Thanks. [ His voice, unlike his expression, seems rather lighthearted, his grip tentative when he latches on to Bruno's arm. Truth be told, his stare is a little unsettling, likely because Illumi is thinking absentmindedly that he will break this person's arm if they endanger his life. His free hand that isn't holding onto Bruno pulls a round headed needle out from his own clothing, sharp and glinting. ] You have a plan to avoid getting burned?
no subject
[ Maybe they could jump across, but Bruno wouldn't consider it a certainty, and it doesn't look like his partner had any intentions of doing so, either; it's more sensible to bet on the safer option. At his command, Sticky Fingers slams one fist against its wrist before slinging that arm forward in a punch, sending one hand spiraling forward on a zipline until its knuckles crack against the opposite side of the chasm. Bruno tightens his grip on Illumi's arm, and in a moment, the two of them are sliding across the gap on a zipper as the stump of his wrist rushes to reunite with his disembodied hand on the other side. Of course, hitting the rock face with a punch meant putting a zipper there, too, and once his hand's fastened back into place, it's already gripping the pull tab on the new opening, now zipping them upwards the short distance to the top of the cliffside.
It all happens very quickly, and he offers no explanation once they're across, merely gritting his teeth with the strain of pulling Illumi's weight, too. In spite of everything, he tries to hoist the other man up over the edge of the cliff first, grunting with the effort. ]
They heard that. Let's hurry...!
no subject
But once they reach the other side, Illumi hoists himself up quite easily, his grip on the other's arm tightening as he does so, a hint at the strength that his lanky appearance belies. Again, he ends up ignoring Bruno's command, or at least not offering a verbal response as he gets his feet on solid ground, eyes moving up to survey the situation on this side of the crevice.
There are three scientists, who are outnumbered by these rat beasts two to one. Stupidly (Illumi thinks, at least), the three of them have mostly split up, leaving the lone scientist closest to Illumi and Bruno cornered by three rats. It's very obvious by the way he's begun screaming that he's already been bitten by at least one— which Illumi takes in with a detached expression as he continues to run forward, not looking back to Bruno for a suggestion of what to do. No, Illumi makes a decision for everyone involved by choosing to leave that guy for dead, thinking that strategically, the odds are in their favor if those three stay occupied with that guy. He continues running forward, right past the ongoing carnage. ]
It's too late for him.
[ He calls back to Bruno, matter-of-factly, and he even says it a little bit louder than he was speaking before, just to make sure he gets heard over the sounds of the screams. Then, his arm bends back, and he sends one needle flying in front of them, piercing a rat that's bounding towards them right in the center of it's grotesque maw. It doesn't kill it, but it certainly does something, with the way it falls to the ground, squealing and writhing in pain, incapacitated. From the sound of it, others are running towards them, too— as Bruno surmised, these beasts did hear them— but it gets darker the farther they run in, making it more and more difficult to see exactly where the sounds are coming from. ]
no subject
What there is time to worry about: the scientist about to get mauled by three rats. He also takes a brief moment to get a grasp on the situation - very brief - before he sets off running. Unlike Illumi, Bruno's heading towards the cornered scientist, though - and when he realizes Illumi is ditching him, he immediately looks annoyed. Yes, he does understand the logic behind that decision. Situations like these often require making tough calls. But considering this is a rescue mission and they have no idea if the other two scientists are in better or shape or even still alive, running past their quarry because he's injured seems presumptuous at best. ]
We're here for him! Stay here and help me clear the area!
[ At least Illumi killed(?) a rat, though Bruno missed the details of how - probably that needle? His attention's split between the scientist and Illumi now, which isn't great, because all the shouting's alerted one of the rats backing the scientist into a corner. It turns its attentions to Bruno, instead, twisting its body around with a hissing sound that also alerts its two friends to their two new side dishes. ]
no subject
Then, [ He sighs out, like this is the world's biggest inconvenience (it is), and takes some silent steps backwards, keeping his face towards the deeper part of the cave. ] You'll be the one carrying him.
[ Which is half because Illumi doesn't think he should be the one carrying the burden of dead weight when it wasn't his idea in the first place, and half because he has a feeling he's more suited to killing these things from a distance than the other man. He still has things he'd like to investigate when it comes to these creatures, anyway, and if he's going to be made to stop, well... might as well try to do it now. Those three that were cornering the scientist bound towards them in a pack, instead, and Illumi... doesn't go to throw that set of needles in his hand at all? No, he just calmly puts some distance between himself and Bruno, wanting to make the pack split up. They do, with one of them being drawn towards Illumi, and the latter two teaming up against Bruno, the one closest leaping into the air in an aggressive attack. ]
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The one good thing about Illumi's attitude is that Bruno is taking it as a cue that he has confidence in his abilities to survive this; he can leave the other man to his own devices. With the rats distracted from the scientist, too, Bruno can concentrate, which is good, because there's one leaping straight for him. That's also good. He scrambles backwards, the rat's ugly bisected jaw snapping shut in the space he left behind - then sinking downards with the rest of its body with a surprised shriek. Sticky Fingers is fast; in the brief moment it took for the rats to turn and for Bruno to get out of the way, he had it lay a trap where he was standing. Now one of the beasts is trapped in a zipper pitfall in the ground, the slider pulling up snug to its body to squeeze it in place. He's sure that won't hold it for long, but it buys him some time. The other rat's already coming in for revenge.
He does spare a quick glance over at the scientist, and then at Illumi. Gotta make sure no one's dying here!! ]
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Right. Not evading an attack. Distracted for the second that he was, the rat jumps in close to him, which he responds to by delivering a swift kick to the center of it's chest, the sound of several bones breaking cracking through the air. His heel comes down on the beast, pinning it to the ground on it's back to stay away from the tentacles, before lodging a pin in one side of it's brain, unblinking.
The rat screams from whatever it is that Illumi is doing to it, just as the first had. With that out of the way, he finds himself... with plenty of time to help! He's gotten the gist of the way this animal's brain works, now, and he twists his body to throw a pin right into the side of the head of the rat Bruno had trapped in Sticky Fingers's zipper pitfall, with deadly accuracy. It's only then that Bruno will get a closer look at what's happening to them as Illumi pins them; a brief inspection shows that the bones in it's face are morphing this way and that, quite cartoonishly, and causing what can only be horrific pain. That's what elicits the screams, and the non-immediate death. What'd he'd surmised from the first and second is that he can't kill them instantly with a single pin, with the way their head is bisected— transfiguring their face seems to do the trick with incapacitating them, though.
Unfortunately, all the rat screams are drawing a lot of attention, which becomes obvious not just aurally, but visually... with the way the rest of the rats in the area are scurrying into view towards them. Not surprising, but still troublesome. Illumi moves to stand between the deeper part of the cave and the scientist, only looking at him briefly to gauge how bad his injury is (very bad). ]
You should hurry, [ He says, calmly, pulling more pins from his body. Is Bruno struggling?? Illumi is busy looking at the oncoming Rat Respawns™, and coming up with an idea that won't end in all of them getting eaten, so he doesn't even think to check on him. ] If you want to take him, pick him up now.
[ By that, he means before these rats get here. He'll play nice and cover for the poor guy for these hot few seconds, despite leaving him out to dry not 10 minutes earlier. ]
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He'll have to ask about it later. The second rat that was on him ignores its brother's plight, lunging after Bruno, who has decided that running is the better option than trying to keep up this fight. Illumi is right this time - they need to go before even more enemies start showing up. The zipper trapping the rat vanishes, with Illumi having taken it out of commission, squeezing its body back up onto the surface where it continues to writhe in agony; Bruno is banking on that ability of his to keep it down, because he's cutting past it to grab the injured scientist. He leaves a trail of a few more unfastened potholes in his wake, trying to slow the second rat down as it stays on his tail, but it looks like it learned where not to step after seeing what happened to the first; he only manages to catch one paw in the ground. However, that buys him enough time to heft the groaning scientist onto his back. His injuries looking fucking awful, and the way he shrieks when Bruno touches him makes it clear they're as bad as they look. There's no time to be gentle and careful, though. ]
You're gonna have to endure it, [ he says firmly, although he has no idea if the poor guy can even hear him over the cacophony (and his own pain, no doubt.) Bruno's attention turns back to Illumi, although he doesn't stop moving to chat. Time to walk (run) and talk. They have to go!! ]
Do you have a guess on how much deeper the others are?
[ he's regretting not asking up top what Illumi's power set is. If the burrow is deep, and the scientists are somewhere below them, not just ahead of them, he thinks he could use Sticky Fingers to give them a shortcut down -- of course, that would be a double-edged sword, seeing as it would put them even further away from the surface. Although, he thinks bitterly, they're definitely going to end up cornered by a whole colony of these things either way. ]
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[ Is all he can offer, at present; he thinks he can sense the life energies of the other two scientists somewhere deeper and further into the cave, but its frankly hard to tell with all the rats running around, muddying his senses. This sort of thing would be easier to tell if he were an Emitter, but alas... it's fine. He's sure he can at least keep the rats away from himself, and thus, by proxy, the other two men.
As if to prove this, while the three of them are retreating, Illumi turns back while running to see the state of the horde that's catching onto them. Growing in speed and number, as it stands - but a few of them following here and there fall into Sticky Fingers's traps, writhing. Now, it would be fine and good to use these rats as target practice, but he has a limited number of needles, and frankly, he hates wasting them... so there has to be a better way to get rid of all these things at once. To what extent do animals on this planet react to nen? That's something he's wanted to know, the whole trek here.
Slowing for a few paces, Illumi takes a breath in, and— that's when something... strange happens. For a few, grueling seconds, there's a heavy, palpable sense of dread that cuts through the air, like a pulse, oppressive and anxiety-inducing. It feels nearly physical in it's weight, and sends the majority of the rats chasing after them fleeing in confusion from the source of it, as animals do when they feel hunted. It's sharp, invokes a feeling of horror, and most importantly, undoubtedly comes from Illumi, whether or not Bruno can physically see the violet, sinister energy emitting from him (can Stand users see nen? you decide); for someone special like Bruno, Illumi's ability could forcibly up his heartrate, put him on edge, make him feel physically repulsed. But someone normal, like the poor scientist?
The force of Illumi's ren knocks him right unconscious. Bruno will feel his weight slump against him, and his occasional cries of pain will quiet. The sensation of Illumi's power is gone as quickly as it had come, although it seems to have thrown a good number of the beasts off their course (for now), scurrying this way and that to get away. Illumi pipes up, rather lightheartedly, despite the display: ]
Shall we take him back across? Or keep going? [ His unsettling gaze falls on Bruno again as they continue moving - studying. How would Bruno fare against his ren? Was he on the verge of passing out, would he immediately get on the defensive? Most important of all: would he recognize what he'd done for what it was? ] It should be easier to carry him now.
[ yknow... because he's not being annoying by being in pain or whatever! ]
illumi... your vibes are wretched
Based on what happens next, he's going to guess it's the latter.
It hits him in a wave, like nothing he's ever quite felt before - he's reminded of the church basement, crawling on his belly while his faceless boss decided his fate. Even Bruno can't help but stumble under the unexpected pressure. The scientist going slack on his back helps keep him grounded, ironically - the dead weight is suddenly more dead than ever before, and he needs to concentrate to keep him in place. He grits his teeth, trying to calm his pulse, as he shoots a hard look over at Illumi. There's no doubt it's coming from him. He notices the rats retreating, too - and just like that, it's over, and everything feels normal again. ]
... We're going, [ he replies, after a moment and a measured stare. No explanation, huh? Bruno starts moving again, moving as briskly as he can with the extra weight (he's not all that brawny), but he's quick to focus his attentions on his partner here in the meanwhile. ] What did you just do?
absolutely rancid vibes ... but at least they're purble
[ Which, of course, means that Bruno does have a little of that "pushback," whether he knows it or not. Illumi doubts explaining the intricacies of nen or aura will bear any fruit in this conversation. This man knows nothing of the world of nen, that much just became certain— because he would have defended against Illumi's ren just now if that were the case. Even so. There's little downside to giving the man some knowledge of his ability— keeping his skills under wraps is preferable, but not preferable over not dying or purposefully making an enemy. Its not as though he can gaslight the guy and pretend he didn't do anything at all. So, he just won't elaborate, especially not on the fact that his ren would kill a normal person if he exposed it to them for too long. ]
Oh, the other scientists probably felt it, too.
[ This literally just occurred to him, which is obvious in the absentminded way he says it. Well, if anything, now Bruno has a picture of how far reaching that emitted pressure could be, even if Illumi never intended to give him that additional bit of information. Anyway, there still aren't any rats for now even as the two of them keep retreating away down a narrower tunnel (it looks like Illumi told the truth about how far it could be felt from), but there also isn't a clear way to proceed, with the labyrinth of pathways before them. ]
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Is that your Stand's power?
[ normally, he wouldn't be so forward in talking about Stands, but this guy is very clearly involved with the supernatural already - he'll either know exactly what Bruno is talking about or not at all, and either answer is fine. If it is a Stand, it must be a very powerful one, able to both sense other beings and affect them from a distance...
There's no time to stand around and talk, however. Even as he asks the question, he's glancing around the variety of paths before them. The rats and their chattering are noticeably distant; he has to give thanks to Illumi's power for that, as troubling as it might be. Best to move quickly before its effects wear off. Bruno moves right along. ]
Second question. You can sense where the other two are, right? It'd be better for us to move in a straight line than try and navigate this maze. [ Sticky Fingers is there again, resting a hand on the unconscious man draped on Bruno's back while it stands beside him. ] If you point me in the right direction, I'll open a path for us.
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[ His answer comes quickly and very honestly - his eyes instantly drawn in by that mirage of an image again. There's no point in asking if this man is supposed to be a conjurer, though that is the first thing that comes to mind from the sensation of something appearing from nothing. Hmm. Maybe he has a portal-type ability - that would explain the holes in the ground and the ability to go across distances. Illumi slows, trailing his hand in the dirt on the wall to the left of them, focusing on isolating the life of the other two victims. ]
Hmm, they should be this way. [ At least, that's what he thinks, in a very general sense. His only concern is if the other scientists are conscious thanks to the distance between the epicenter of Illumi's ren and them, that they'll run away from the source of his power out of instinct. Hopefully, they'll be good and stay put. ] They're actually pretty close together, now. They weren't, before.
[ As he speaks, he retracts his hand, his eyes wandering back to Bruno and the strange energy coming off of him - this time, he wants to see what happens up close. On top of this, he makes no motion to take the man off Bruno's back so he can open up this alleged "path," assuming he must be able to do it under those circumstances, or he never would have agreed to carry the guy. ]
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Then again, maybe he's approaching this all wrong. He is, ostensibly, on an alien planet. There's no reason any of this should be logical at all. ]
Forget it, then, [ Bruno says, knowing very well that Illumi is not going to forget about it, but he needs to focus right now. ] Let's hope that means they're helping each other and not that they both got swallowed alive.
[ he doesn't think the rats can do that, but he also doesn't want to see how wide they can open those bisected mouths and find out. Adjusting his grip on the man on his back, he walks over to the wall in the direction Illumi indicated - a corner between two branching tunnels, if the winding rat trails can be called such. Sticky Fingers knows what he wants to do without him saying anything, of course; once they're close enough, it strikes the wall with one fist and a single ari!, stretching another long zipper on the wall that unfastens, just barely big enough for a person to climb inside. ]
Stay close behind me. The range isn't very long. [ he doesn't need Illumi to accidentally get trapped inside the wall or something. ] If you can keep acting as radar, I'll take us there.
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Sure.
[ It can't be that dangerous, he decides, if the man is willing to take someone so obviously injured through it. So, he elects not to press him further on the details - and when the pair get to the other side of the wall, they'll find a circular room with only one path leading out of it. It's empty, aside from the spare bone here and there from whatever the rats had been eating. ]
They're moving. So, they're not badly hurt...
[ Is his absentminded observation, a comment that sounds more to himself than to Bruno, really. They're probably trying to make a break for it now that the rats have all retreated further into the burrows, which Illumi can understand, but it'd also be easier for everyone involved if they just stayed put. Frankly, he's much more interested in this strange, otherworldly space they're moving through on the account of Sticky Fingers's ability than anything else they're doing in this tunnel, which is obvious in how his eyes linger around at the space and at the zipper's opening even after he exits it.
He's quiet for a long few seconds, thinking, pondering the limits of such an ability, and what Bruno had meant by "stay close." Or what? The thought stays with him at the forefront of his mind, even as they enter the second room, and even as he's supposed to be giving Bruno an update on their missing scientists. With the room still eerily silent, he quietly looks slightly to the right of where they'd exited, and then up. ]
Go through there, and you'll intersect their path.
[ He delivers the information with a sense of efficiency - but there's no urgency. Like a detached GPS voice-over telling you to exit the freeway in half a mile. ]