STEM Shenanigans - August Player Plot

[finalfrontiersman]

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.

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.

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.

[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:

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!

ENCOUNTER POOL

PESSERIA FOREST:

You're walking through the woods...
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.

LORENTIA CAVE:

There's no one around and your phone is dead...
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

RUINS OF FORLINET:

Out of the corner of your eye you spot him...
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.

code

Comments

PESSERIA FOREST

[finalfrontiersman]

ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION

This is Captain James T. Kirk, on behalf of the STEM club. If you are receiving this message, you've been designated the Theta team. Your objective is to systematically explore Pesseria Forest and identify the source of the electromagnetic anomaly picked up on our sensors.

This anomaly was cross-verified with telemeter data and all known maps of Aldrip and the surrounding territories. We're not sure what's out there, but it's definitely something. You're looking for anything that could give off electricity, and loads of it. I'm transmitting the coordinates to you now; it appears to be pretty deep within.

What we do know is that there's a bunker out there somewhere - it's unclear if that's where the anomaly is originating from. We've also heard there are all kinds of creatures, as well as a cave only accessible during low tide. Be careful you aren't caught inside when the tide rises.

You've been assigned a partner; stay close, keep each other safe. I don't know what Aldrip will throw at us, but if we work together, they can't take all of us.

May you have fair winds and following seas. Kirk out.

COMMUNICATION WILL WIPE IN 60 SECONDS

LORENTIA CAVE

[finalfrontiersman]

ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION

This is Captain James T. Kirk, on behalf of the STEM club. If you are receiving this message, you've been designated the Zeta team. Your objective is to systematically explore Lorentia Cave and identify the source of the electromagnetic anomaly picked up on our sensors.

This anomaly was cross-verified with telemeter data and all known maps of Aldrip and the surrounding territories. We're not sure what's in there, but it's definitely something. You're looking for anything that could give off electricity, and loads of it. I'm transmitting the last-known coordinates to you now; it appears to be pretty deep within the cave, and our pings were interrupted before we could determine how deep it goes.

What we do know is that there are monsters living in there, which are best left as undisturbed as possible. The cave is deceptively deep, with criss-crossing tunnels and caverns. A person could get lost in there, easily; we recommend taking a can of spray paint to mark your trail. Equipment can be provided at the club if you're in need; flashlights, first aid kits, etc.

You've been assigned a partner; stay close, keep each other safe. I don't know what Aldrip will throw at us, but if we work together, they can't take all of us.

May you have fair winds and following seas. Kirk out.

COMMUNICATION WILL WIPE IN 60 SECONDS

RUINS OF FORLINET

[finalfrontiersman]

ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION

This is Captain James T. Kirk, on behalf of the STEM club. If you are receiving this message, you've been designated the Epsilon team. Your objective is to systematically explore the Ruins of Forlinet and identify the source of the electromagnetic anomaly picked up on our sensors.

This anomaly was cross-verified with telemeter data and all known maps of Aldrip and the surrounding territories. We're not sure what's out there, but it's definitely something. You're looking for anything that could give off electricity, and loads of it. I'm transmitting the coordinates to you now; it appears to be pretty deep within the ruins.

What we do know is that this is the furthest location; it takes about two days or so to trek out there. Beyond that, what information we have on the ruins is, admittedly, sparse. We're treating this as the most dangerous course, as it's unknown what you'll face both on the journey there, and at the ruins. Supplies for extended camping can be obtained at STEM; please gear up before you head out.

You've been assigned a partner; stay close, keep each other safe. I don't know what Aldrip will throw at us, but if we work together, they can't take all of us.

May you have fair winds and following seas. Kirk out.

COMMUNICATION WILL WIPE IN 60 SECONDS

DARK WEB - ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION

[finalfrontiersman]

ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION

This is Captain James T. Kirk, on behalf of the STEM club. I'm opening a secure channel for us to communicate - this should hold up across distances, though there may be interference the further out you go. If you run into any trouble, get separated from one another, or need assistance, please feel free to use it for open, secure communication.

Godspeed everyone. Let's nail these assholes. Kirk out.

SECURE CHANNEL OPEN

OOC RESULTS

[finalfrontiersman]

<b>Characters:</b> <b>Location Explored:</b> Pesseria Forest / Lorentia Cave / Ruins of Forlinet <b>Thread Link(s):</b> <a href="">One</a> | <a href="">Two</a> <b>Problems cleared:</b>