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expiationlogs2024-08-26 08:54 am
finalfrontiersman) wrote in expiationlogs2024-08-26 08:54 am
STEM Shenanigans - August Player Plot
Who: STEM Adventurers
Where: Pesseria Forest, Lorentia Cave, Ruins of Forlinet
What: KICKING NAMES AND TAKING ASS
Content Warnings: Probably profanity, natural disasters, combat violence including killer animals, snakes, spiders, potential for cannibalism/discussion of cannibalism; any further warnings please include in the subject line of your thread.
Where: Pesseria Forest, Lorentia Cave, Ruins of Forlinet
What: KICKING NAMES AND TAKING ASS
Content Warnings: Probably profanity, natural disasters, combat violence including killer animals, snakes, spiders, potential for cannibalism/discussion of cannibalism; any further warnings please include in the subject line of your thread.
Following the events of the Dark Web project and the subsequent AI released on Aldrip’s main network, the STEM club has taken it upon themselves to try and discover the source of the AI. With the glitches worsening this month, finding the source has become of paramount importance. Their working theory is that there may be a physical port they can tap into, though the debate as to what to do with it once they find it rages on. Ultimately, they’ve agreed the best course of action is to see if they can even find the port first…and worry about what to do with it later.
Whether your characters have been assigned a teammate or happened upon the STEM scouting parties, the Chosen of Aldrip are agreed - something needs to be done.
Whether your characters have been assigned a teammate or happened upon the STEM scouting parties, the Chosen of Aldrip are agreed - something needs to be done.
STEM Player Plot
MECHANICS
Characters will choose one of three areas to traverse: Pesseria Forest, Lorentia Cave, or the Ruins of Forlinet. Use the encounter pools below to determine what obstacles and combat situations your characters encounter, or feel free to make up some of your own! Combat encounters have been assigned a hit number for those using the optional dice roll mechanic, but feel free to adjust as needed.
For extra zest, consider using dice rolls to determine what you encounter/your success rate.
Obstacle rolls use a d20; combat rolls use a d10. You can roll dice in the game Discord via #bot-spam, or simply use an online dice roller if you are not in the Discord. Please include the result of your roll in the subject line of your tag!
PROBLEMS: When rolling to discover a problem, roll a d20. Based on your roll, you will be given a problem from a predetermined list. If you roll the same problem twice, feel free to roll again - or face the challenge once more!
THE 411:
Characters must clear a minimum of three problems before they can move forward, deeper into the location they are exploring. You must clear a minimum of six problems total to reach the source.
If you would like to divide your six problems between two threads and have your characters separate from their partner as they move deeper into the location, have at it!
When you have cleared six obstacles, please fill out the OOC comment below to find out what your characters discovered.
Additionally, feel free to use the Dark Web prompt for net-style communication between separated partners/teams/what have you!
For extra zest, consider using dice rolls to determine what you encounter/your success rate.
[OPTIONAL] Click here for dice roll details!
Obstacle rolls use a d20; combat rolls use a d10. You can roll dice in the game Discord via #bot-spam, or simply use an online dice roller if you are not in the Discord. Please include the result of your roll in the subject line of your tag!
PROBLEMS: When rolling to discover a problem, roll a d20. Based on your roll, you will be given a problem from a predetermined list. If you roll the same problem twice, feel free to roll again - or face the challenge once more!
OBSTACLES: Use a d20 to determine your success; 1-6 is poor success, 7-12 is mild success, and 13-20 is great success.
For example, Character A and Character B encounter an obstacle; they roll a 16 and find a chasm they must cross via a rope bridge. Character A rolls a 10; they make it to the midway point of the bridge, which wobbles but stays up. Character B rolls a 3, and the boards fall out from under them. Character A rolls an 18, and catches Character B’s arm before they can fall to their doom. Character B rolls a 12, and they make it to the other side of the bridge. After rolling a 10, an 18, and a 12, the obstacle has been cleared.
Three failed rolls constitutes an impassable obstacle; have characters regroup and try again, or take a new path for a new obstacle! The dungeon-style play will unfold as you create it.
COMBAT: Use a d10 to determine your success; 1-5 is a failed hit, 6-10 is a successful hit. If you fail a hit, you must also roll for whether or not the monster hits you. If you roll a successful hit, the monster does not get the opportunity to hit you.
If you decide to fight one another (we’re a team guys! And yet…) Player v Player, you only roll for your own hits.
Monsters will have a predetermined number of hits you must land in order to defeat the monster. Player characters can each take three hits before they must retreat; decide to regroup and try again, or take a new path!
THE 411:
Additionally, feel free to use the Dark Web prompt for net-style communication between separated partners/teams/what have you!
ENCOUNTER POOL
PESSERIA FOREST:
- 1 | OBSTACLE: Goobbues asleep in your path.
- 2 | OBSTACLE: Plant attack! Wildcard the effect (Poison, hallucinations, fuck or die, etc)
- 3 | OBSTACLE: Troll on the bridge; answer a riddle to pass.
- 4 | COMBAT: R.O.U.S (Rodent Of Unusual Size) - 2 hits to defeat.
- 5 | COMBAT: The trees attack! - 4 hits to defeat
- 6 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - suddenly, everyone’s singing.
- 7 | COMBAT: Spore walker attack! - 4 hits to defeat
- 8 | COMBAT: Evil bird attack - 2 hits to defeat.
- 9 | COMBAT: Wild Chocobo attack - 3 hits to defeat.
- 10 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - forest fire!
- 11 | COMBAT: Forest is Haunted - 3 hits to defeat
- 12 | COMBAT: Killer bunny - 5 hits to defeat
- 13 | OBSTACLE: Ominous fog. Wildcard the effect (Poison, hallucinations, etc)
- 14 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - a fissure opens beneath your feet!
- 15 | OBSTACLE: Rope bridge in your path.
- 16 | OBSTACLE: Blast cone minefield.
- 17 | COMBAT: Morbul attack! - 3 hits to defeat
- 18 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - language filter turns off.
- 19 | OBSTACLE: An eerie bush maze appears in your path.
- 20 | COMBAT: Shia Surprise! Shia LaBeouf the cannibal appears - 3 hits to defeat.
You're walking through the woods...
LORENTIA CAVE:
- 1 | COMBAT: Stone Talus - 4 hits to defeat
- 2 | COMBAT: Cave siren - 2 hits to defeat
- 3 | OBSTACLE: Quicksand!
- 4 | COMBAT: Spider lair - 3 hits to defeat
- 5 | OBSTACLE: Suddenly, a boulder…
- 6 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - sudden darkness.
- 7 | COMBAT: Cave dragon - 3 hits to defeat
- 8 | COMBAT: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - A mysterious cave creature glitches into existence and attacks - 3 hits to defeat
- 9 | OBSTACLE: Crystal cavern mention; crystals replay memories.
- 10 | COMBAT: Sam the Salamancer - 3 hits to defeat
- 11 | OBSTACLE: Sleepy grotto; safe haven tries to lull you to sleep.
- 12 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - Cave begins filling with water.
- 13 | OBSTACLE: Tunnel collapse!
- 14 | COMBAT: Core Hound Attack! - 5 hits to defeat
- 15 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - earthquake!
- 16 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - gravity turns off.
- 17 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - suddenly, everyone’s singing.
- 18 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - language filter turns off.
- 19 | COMBAT: Shia Surprise! Shia LaBeouf the cannibal appears - 3 hits to defeat.
- 20 | COMBAT: Raptor attack! - 2 raptors, 4 total hits to defeat
There's no one around and your phone is dead...
RUINS OF FORLINET:
- 1 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - sandstorm! Not by Darude.
- 2 | COMBAT: Nearby rocks come to life, with a taste for blood - 3 hits to defeat.
- 3 | COMBAT: Razorfin frenzy! - 3 hits to defeat
- 4 | COMBAT: Mummy attack! - 3 hits to defeat
- 5 | OBSTACLE: A sucker vine grabs you/your companion.
- 6 | OBSTACLE: Snake pit!
- 7 | COMBAT: Threshadon attack! - 5 hits to defeat
- 8 | OBSTACLE: Catacombs - find the key to escape.
- 9 | OBSTACLE: Ruins collapse!
- 10 | COMBAT: Sand guardian - 4 hits to defeat.
- 11 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - language filter turns off.
- 12 | COMBAT: Shia Surprise! Shia LaBeouf the cannibal appears - 3 hits to defeat.
- 13 | OBSTACLE: Ominous fog. Wildcard the effect (Poison, hallucinations, etc)
- 14 | OBSTACLE: G̴l̶i̷t̸c̷h̸ - suddenly, everyone’s singing.
- 15 | OBSTACLE: Booby-trap!
- 16 | COMBAT: Shitty Sphinx - solve a riddle to pass, but then you get attacked anyway - 2 hits to defeat
- 17 | COMBAT: A bird? A plane? A SEHLAT?! - 4 hits to defeat
- 18 | COMBAT: Haunted suit of armor - 2 hits to defeat
- 19 | OBSTACLE: Hallucinogenic fungi
- 20 | OBSTACLE: Floor collapses beneath your feet.
obstacle roll 1
[he gives scott a companionable thump on the arm, as though to say "steady on", then turns to continue their search.
they continue on for a while unmolested, but after a while kakashi stops and holds up one hand, gesturing scott forward.]
Come take a look.
[he says it lowly, and he's obviously on high alert. through a gap in the trees can be seen several large stone golems, all seated and apparently...asleep? their eyes are closed and they're not moving, anyway. at least, not moving much...if one watches closely, there is a slight rise and fall of the chest area on each golem.]
no subject
Yeah, sure, maybe he can just blast these guys too, but there's more than one and they're not fully in the way. If they can sneak around... that might be the better option.]
Thinking of just avoiding these guys. [Scott speaks very quietly once he pulls back from the gap, nerves just a little frayed but he's managing still. It's all about finding that part of him that's calm and focused while shoving that anxiety down.] Provoking 5 of them at once seems like a bad plan.
no subject
[up to this point they had been following a semblance of a path. kakashi carefully veers off to the right of it and creeps forward into the brush. a few minutes later he returns, looking no worse for wear.]
I found a path. Stay right behind me, okay?
no subject
Should I hold my breath as we cross?
[He's joking... except not really. However, Scott nods, showing that he's ready to follow his friend across the path that he's mapped out for the both of them. This is his expertise after all.]
no subject
[yes, he took that as a serious question. he's just a serious little guy, ok?
at any rate kakashi heads back down the small path he made previously, moving slowly for scott's sake and occasionally holding back a bush or branch so scott can pass more easily. after a few tense minutes, the scrubby path meets back up with the main path - on the other side of the golems.]
no subject
[Scott figures it's best if he doesn't respond to Kakashi's comment. Sometimes it's just not worth it. Besides, between the fact that he's taking this seriously otherwise and they're trying very hard to cross this path without waking up those golems, that concentration just needs to be appropriately placed. There will be plenty of time to rib the younger later on anyway.
Once they're on the other side, the mutant lets out a breath still. Huh, guess a part of him was holding it in anyway. Oh well.]
Hopefully we're almost there...
[It feels like they've been through a lot already without any real clues. Somewhat frustrating, but no point getting frustrated now. He's doing this because Peter really believed in him. Well, he's one of the reasons anyway.]
obstacle roll 20
[he says, trying to be optimistic. they travel on for a while longer, thankfully running into nothing but seemingly endless trees and brush, before kakashi comes to a sudden stop.]
Something's coming. And I smell...blood.
[just a few seconds later, the sound of something running through the brush becomes clear enough even scott should be able to hear it. it sounds like something running on all fours...a wolf? kakashi draws his sword suddenly, holding it in front of him in a ready position, when from the brush ahead of them leaps out...
...a shirtless man covered in blood. he lunges at scott, brandishing a knife, but kakashi leaps between them and parries with his sword. the two begin to fight, the mysterious man somehow keeping up with kakashi as they trade blows, sword to knife. the man is great at dodging, slipping just to the side as kakashi swings at him and then swinging back viciously with the knife. only a few seconds have passed and it looks like they're locked in a bizarre yet fluid dance, neither able to land a blow.
suddenly, kakashi sees an opening - he slashes a deep trench across the man's chest and the man falls to the ground, somehow only grunting in pain despite the size of the wound. kakashi advances, obviously about to deliver a finishing blow -- ]
no subject
He's not sure what he was expecting to come out at them, but a shirtless man covered in blood was not anywhere close to the top of his list. Even worse, he's fast, and it's likely that he wouldn't have been able to pull his shades off in time to strike the charging man. Luckily, Kakashi's already between them to counter the man and Scott backs up just a little, trying to find an opening to... shoot him? The thought brings a sour taste to his mouth, fingers suddenly shaking even as he tries to concentrate on the fight in front of him.
This strange person, even if he's acting like a feral animal, is still human and everything. He doesn't want to kill him. He doesn't want to blast him into bits. He doesn't--
Scott snaps out of his mantra when Kakashi suddenly gets the upper hand, the wound visible across their opponent as he falls over. Maybe a cause for celebration, but he sees that the ninja isn't falling back, and he can't stop himself from stepping forward as a protest slips out without thought.]
Kakashi, stop!
[He can see that his friend was about to deliver the finishing blow.]
no subject
below him, the feral man starts to raise his knife again. out of all the possibilities, kakashi suddenly realizes that he doesn't want to be the one to take the innocence from scott. he flips his grip on the sword and bashes the man across the head with the pommel, sending him to sleep. he's badly wounded, but not dead.]
I wonder what that was all about.
[he says calmly, belying the way his adrenaline is up after the intense fight.]
We could restrain him and wake him up. See what his deal is.
no subject
There's something appreciative in Scott's gaze. Even if Kakashi didn't stop because Scott told him to, he still did for his own reasons and that's enough. But yeah, of course, restrain him. They should get to that, especially before shirtless feral man starts rousing from his slumber.]
Restrain him against a tree and ask several questions? I doubt he knows much about the AI and ports, but maybe he'll say something interesting?
[It couldn't hurt, right? Scott's mostly still glad that Kakashi didn't kill a man in front of him. Even though his young friend probably had to do stuff like that back home, he'd... like to prevent that if he's around.]
no subject
[kakashi holds up one hand in front of himself, makes a handsign, then sinks suddenly into the ground, as though he had been swallowed by quicksand. a few seconds later, his hand appears - to grab the half-naked man's ankle, and drag him into the ground too. shia surprise, he stops sinking once his arms are sunk up to the elbows. then, kakashi climbs back up out of the ground as though he were exiting a swimming pool. gives himself a little shake, and turns to examine his handiwork.]
I'd like to see him get out of that.
no subject
As if that's not ultra weird or anything, especially when Kakashi's hand shoots up to drag the unconscious man into the ground. Totally just ninja things. Scott's scrunched face at least manages to smooth into something neutral by the time Kakashi climbs out of the ground. Well, he got the job done?? Their friend here is definitely stuck and that's the main thing.
His friend really is adaptable to a lot of situations though, isn't he?]
Don't encourage him. [Scott dryly remarks, but he agrees.] Should we wait or dump some water on him?
[Kick his head-- no that's pretty mean.]
no subject
[with that, kakashi turns again toward their captive and, with a few quick handsigns, spews water over the man's head, causing him to sputter awake.]
no subject
Hey. We're going to ask questions now.
[......Nice one, Summers.] Maybe if you answer them, we'll let you go.
[Is that better?? He resists the urge to toss Kakashi a thumbs up because that would definitely kill the mood. They're-- he's going to question a weird dude that just tried to kill them with blood covering his body, so this is definitely a serious matter still.]
no subject
I've never been so scared into submission.
[his affect is flat. is he being sarcastic??? kakashi gestures at scott to go on.]
no subject
...Especially since he's sassing him. Maybe??? It takes a lot of effort on his end not to huff in response.]
What do you know about this area? Have you seen anything unusual lately?
no subject
I got confused, I couldn't see what the fuck was going on, you know with certain robots . . . I couldn't decipher what was happening.
[he trails off expectantly. as though he expects scott to know exactly where he's going with it.]
no subject
Robots? What are you talking about?
no subject
[well, if kakashi wasn't lost before, he is now. what's a car?]
Look, I am slowly losing my mind, okay? I had a little crab bot plug in to my brain and start projecting little alien symbols like a freaking home movie! And on top of that, I am a wanted fugitive! So you think you got it rough?
no subject
You're just saying shit, aren't you?
[Is this just the babbling of a man that's lost his mind? He wouldn't be surprised.] Look, if you don't start telling the truth, we'll... extract it out of you.
no subject
[kakashi turns his back to the man in the ground, speaking in an undertone to scott.]
I don't think this is going anywhere.
no subject
Maybe it's best to leave him alone.]
Should we just leave him?
[Let him run free in the wild once more??]