Stop by where a merchant might set up shop while waiting for everyone else to arrive for Phantus's announcement.
Stopping his hobble-walk at the nearest sidewalk corner, the aberration known as the Merchant of the Labyrinth soon appears with folded arms.
"
Good day, Arcodo. I understand that you are looking for a certain item or two... I can remedy this."
Reaching for his cart, he produces what looks to be a foot/ankle prosthesis from a blue satchel marked with a red cross laying on the packed cart. "
Here's a prosthetic that should work just as well as your old foot. It's extra special because it connects to your brain almost instantly, so you require no training to take advantage of it."
He then pulls a smaller, rounder black bag from the cart and unties it. Reaching in, he pulls out a silvery book. "
It's a guide to runic cryomancy, for beginners. You should be able to assimilate it since you're a Literi. So, for that coin of yours this is what I offer you. Do you accept my deal?" Although Arcodo can't see through his shades, he has a feeling the Merchant is staring rather intently at him.
I think I'll Look for another gate to go in from here... if I can't find one I'll head back instead.
Larry searches for a Gate leading deeper into the Labyrinth, minions in tow. After some time of scrounging around, he finds another portal. It shares the uniform characteristics of the other Gates that he has seen thus far. Deciding to head inside, Larry steps through the threshold and into another reality.
Leaving the wretched Plane of the Agonist's through it's sole passage deeper into the Labyrinth, Larry is surprised to find his destination is very well kept and illuminated.
It looks like the inside of a Casino. Different dealers are at different tables, but aside from the dealers Larry is the only one there. The whole place is well lit, and the machines on the floor seem functional from their flashing lights and pleasing noises they radiate. There even seems to be a bar! In a 'dangerous' Labyrinth, no less! Larry momentarily reevaluates the truth of Phantus' warnings.
I've completely lost track of what is going on around here in my skeletal rage. Be a dear, narrator, and point me in the direction of the nearest thing that needs exploding.
Edit: It's treason then?
((Nothing here needs exploding, the realm has been neutralized. There is a gate deeper into the Labyrinth here though, and Larry just entered it a moment ago so you wouldn't be alone.))
"That should hold it for now. Thanks for the help, Crystal man."
"And thank you too, Prismata. I realize that it would be another burden on you aside from your imprisonment, but I would appreciate it if you would let me know if your precognition ever shows the demon escaping. Even a few seconds of prior notice might help."
Use my Demonology to strengthen the binding on the demon. Also see what new abilities I got from binding it. And go back to the Hub.
[6+1]Tobias pours a lot of effort into strengthening the demon's binding to his mecha. The effort more than pays off, and the bond should be enough to last several years. "Fine, I'll help you with your.. dark magic." she gags at those last two words, but seems to mean what she says. Apparently nothing bad happens in the next 13 seconds, as she remains otherwise silent.
The demon seems to have turned your mech into a semi-organic construct. The metal plates feel the same despite their color change, but according to the distorted text from the GUI panel, they now recover from damage like an actual living thing heals its wounds. Nothing else appears to have changed.
Tobias steps through the Gate to the Hub triumphantly. His mech appears to be colored differently than before, resembling an earthen and reddish shade of brown.
((NOTE: Phantus now speaks in
lime green for sake of clarity.))
"
Well, looks like the summoner survived too! Hot damn." Tobias turns his mechsuit to face Phantus, who is standing on top of a broken streetlight with cat-like equilibrium.
"
Meet me at the same place as before with the rest of your group, I've made a recent discovery that is rather important." Phantus begins to put Whisper's mask back on to fade away. "
I think you'll like it, it's good news."
Then he's gone, vanished into the Aether like he has done time and time again.
"No choice! Arcodo, if possible, I'd like you to search if there's anything related to my new heart. If you find anything, please tell me! In the mean time, I'll see if Phantus can help me with this new grinning habit of mine."
Just do my best to suppress my grin and my laughter. If possible, get my fire elemental to carry me back to the Nexus. Quickly go find Phantus. See if he can do something to suppress the pain-related aspect of the heart or if he at least has some advice for dealing with it. As much as I like having something like this, the enjoying-pain part is just creepy right now. Also get help in dealing with my fractured bones.
Beseeching his fire elemental to lift him, Crimson tries his damnedest to suppress his grin. The flames the elemental is composed of cool and die down as it lifts Crimson up, so as not to harm him. It then carries him back through the gate to the Hub.
Crimson arrives shortly after Tobias. The beaten mage should look downtrodden and vacant, but instead he looks wide-eyed and somewhat manic. Every now and then he uncontrollably chuckles, before suddenly halting laughter and swearing under his breath. A colossal humanoid made of fire is carrying him, but it's flames seem to radiate no heat at the time and look peculiarly tame.
"
Salutations, Crimson. Seems that good sense for danger didn't do you much good..." Phantus states from below the fiery cradle the pyromancer's construct has made for him with it's sizable arms. "
Eh, that was a bit too cruel. Sorry." Looking up at his face, Phantus seems mortified by Crimson's Cheshire grin. "
Was it really that funny?"
After Crimson informs him of the whole heart situation, Phantus shakes his head worriedly. "
You're carrying some serious shit in that chest cavity of yours. The Agonists were a cult of dark wizards who used the power of pain rather than mana to cast their spells. Only a select few could ever take full advantage of their technique, however. This resulted in various artifices such as the stone heart you now possess." Phantus sets Whisper's mask down next to his feet for a moment. After shakily lighting another one of his unique cigarettes, he takes a drag before speaking again. "
I wouldn't say that it's going to take over your or anything, but.." Exhaling the bright green smoke, he finishes his statement with "
..you might find your magic corrupted and twisted into a much different form, and maybe some small anatomical changes as it binds itself to your body." He waves a hand dismissively, puts out his cigarette and places Whisper's mask back over his face. "
I've got news for your group later. Make sure everybody, or at least most of everybody, shows up." are the last words he says before fading out of sight.
hobble back to the nexus. Assist anyone with healing if needed.
Trier exits the Gate in a hobble-step worse than Arcodo's. His legs look shorter than before, and part of their sharp shards dig into the ground as he drags his partially complete legs along. Nobody here seems to be able to benefit from his healing abilities, as not a single Visitor has any open or undressed wounds. Without warning, Trier gets a powerful feeling that Phantus is expecting him back at the apartment complex.
(As the turn ends, Trier's wounds fully heal.)
Investigate the activity up on the hill.
As Y4R trudges toward the hill, the demon situation is remedied by Tobias and Trier. They soon leave in the direction of the exit Gate that leads back to the Hub, and only Mr Bones remains when he reaches the summit. The skeleton holds an odd rhombus-shaped device that makes him feel a little uneasy and almost seems familiar to Y4R.
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Topic: Abandoned Project. (Read 38844 times)