As they descend into the second level, the halls begin to look a little different. Green fluid leaks from the walls and ceiling, and the entire hallway is increasingly covered in roots. They break through the metal, disrupting the terrain.
There is a louder rustling sound ahead.
Aya continues to take point, moving cautiously along, but-- it seems like that 1 of hers earlier definitely alerted something, and that lets it get the jump on all of you.
A sharp, piercing root darts out of the darkness ahead, aimed directly at her.]
[gross! there's a dead guy in here! (kelsey voice) THERE'S TWO DUDES there's a dead guy--
throné follows aya... and here's the thing, she's not really the type of person to instinctively throw herself into danger for a stranger, but she's also not a jackass. aya stuck it out with them, she didn't run, and even if it's just out of a desire to get paid... loyalty means something. throné has self-preservation, but she's not a bad person, and it isn't like she wants to let this very real npc take the brunt of the damage just for her own gain.
so while she won't stand in front of the root to take the hit, she will, in fact, do her best to shove aya down out of the way and follow her, so they're out of the projectile range.
well she was going to try to do this but i did in fact roll a one so like, i guess have fun with that teej?]
[ baiken's reflexes are somewhat better, though not very impressive on their own. the rustling catches her attention - it's probably on her bad side, hence the 9 - and she manages to take a step back quick enough that she doesn't get skewered.
what is up with throne getting kebabbed GIRL KEEP IT TOGETHER WE HAVE SHIT TO DO!! ]
[Okay. WELL. We're doing great. Baiken is, anyway.
So here's what happens. With rolls like that... the root-vine pierces right through Ichiban's eye and continues on, putting him out of his misery for a second time in this CYOA. As it shoots further forward, it whips around while the entity it belongs to retracts it, the end of it lashing out far enough to slice through Throné's leg; Aya, where Throné tried and failed to shove her down, is too off-balance to avoid it herself and is impaled right through her torso.
She chokes up blood, a hand reaching up to her bloodied midsection, before she laughs quietly and murmurs something about being happy she at least died quickly and easily down here. Her body slumps to the floor, immobile.]
[NOOOOO AYA I'M SO SORRY MY SHITTY ROLL KILLED YOU i hope the limbuses didn't like you. does not tell them that we murdered aya.
it's a double whammy. triple, even, because what she sees first is the vine wiping ichiban out, shooting through his head. and before she can even properly react to that (no, no, not again - but the watch, the watch), the vine pierces a hole through aya, and. well, that makes something in her twist, makes her heart drop. no - that's not what she wanted, she wanted to make sure aya lived. can she bring her back? if she uses the watch, maybe... maybe --
and then the vine whips back, and slices through her leg entirely, from the middle of her thigh down.
throné is very good at not making sound. she never made a noise, each time the whip hit her back. she barely flinched, when a wayward knife or a sword cut through her. but nothing is like this. there's shock, for a second, and then searing pain, and she lets out a muffled little shriek, mouth closed, as she drops. it's the first time in years and years that she's been incapable of silencing herself.
she is now covered in aya's blood, ichiban's blood, and her own blood, which makes her retch just a little bit. she can't quite help it. it's too much, she's in panic mode, she can't think straight other than to try to rip her skirt to try and make bandages, focus, focus, tie it off before it kills you --
but she's losing blood so fast that her head spins, and the smell of blood is overwhelming, death and rot and decay, and she can't get her hands to do what she wants them to. weakly, she tugs at the fabric, once. twice. and then her hands drop as she lays out on the ground, just desperately trying to keep her eyes open.
[ she can't remain detached when her companions die in front of her. the gore, the violence - there is a sickening familiarity to it all. for a second, baiken is completely still in shock. when she thinks to run to throné, she can already tell it's too late. she won't be able to staunch the bleeding, and ichiban was gone before they could even react. aya, too, was a lost cause, though that one doesn't quite hit as hard.
it can't be the same as before. it isn't going to be anger that she draws from, but from that sickening moment that this reminds her of. what set everything in motion, so long ago. her path of vengeance has led her here, and by god, she is going to complete this one, because there's no sense in bringing them back just to watch them get slaughtered again. ]
But this time, it's different. This time she feels that violent urge flooding her, but it's something that she can control; the straps restrain her somewhat, still, but instead of her body twisting and transforming into a grotesque weapon, she manifests one, a heavy metal ball on the end of a chain. Perfect for slamming into something again, and again, and again.
It fills her with rage and strength, propelling her forward to the source of that root: a golden fruit shaped monster, roots embedded deep into one of the containment cells just down the hall. A glow emanates from the Abnormality.
I am so behind your revenge but would you like to perhaps revive your friends for this boss, or are you going full Let Me Solo Her.]
[What 8. You have E.G.O., you don't need to roll for that.
I am going to instead use your 8 as a perception check to say the apple is the only thing in this room you are focusing on. Anything else in here she might wanna notice? Nah.
Baiken draws on the force of the Abnormality's power to 1v1 the Golden Apple, slamming the metal ball into it once, and again, and again, harder. The golden sheen coating it begins to wear off; with each slam of ringing metal against surprisingly hard golden skin, the apple dulls.
Until, finally, the last of its golden sheen cracks away, leaving what appears to be a giant, normal apple with a hole slammed into its side. It's hollow, seemingly, with a few limp vines draping out of the hole...
And a hint of a golden glow coming from inside.
So here's the thing, you were told the Golden Bough was probably at the bottom of the facility, but this little shit has all kinds of roots spreading down the halls. It's not impossible for it to have been relocated.
Is she going to investigate the apparent corpse of this apple.]
[ imagine i just finish this cyoa solo and flurry and andie just have to deal with me being an asshole.
anyway. I WANTED A 20. I WANTED A 20 TO COMPLETELY OBLITERATED THE APPLE INTO APPLESAUCE LET ME HAVE THIS but, in the end, she's able to bludgeon it to death (maybe) and that's all that matters. however, she is not the smart one, and has enough knowledge to know she isn't the smart one -- so when she no longer needs to bash the damned apple with a wrecking ball, she makes her way over to throné's corpse. ]
Sorry about this.
[ time to disrespect women and reach into her ladypocket for the watch. get back here you idiots. ]
[ WELCOME TO HELL! WELCOME TO HELL! WELCOME TO HELL!!
it's less jarring, though no less oppressive. it still takes her a moment to observe the door, before she's able to push forward to grab her companion's hands to pull them free. she has to do this one at a time, so whoever tags next has to help, it's the law. ]
she doesn't even really think about it, or have the chance to, she just grabs for baiken's hand when it's presented, and when she's back, when she's in one piece, she's so bluescreened at that she can really just be directed to do whatever. she'll help grab ichiban. that's okay. she can do that. one step at a time.
[ ichiban got to have his deda feelings already, he doesn't get shit this time around. he is somewhat more aware of the situation this revival, though, because he's not just a shredded up meat slurry—this time, he can see baiken and throné's hands, feel their warmth calling him back. he reaches out and grasps them both and returns once more. ]
Thanks...you two, again. [ he breathes in, out, in, out—then pauses. and frowns. ] ... Wait, did you guys see Aya-chan in there, too?
[i'm sorry to report that throné is in bad shape. not physically, mentally. hell is bad, guys, don't go there.
she doesn't answer at first, because she is contemplating going over and just yartzing into a corner. she doesn't! but boy does she think about doing it. but after a second, she tries to manually reboot, wrapping her arms around herself.]
... No. [she mumbles.] Do the two of you need healing?
[ very quickly, before he leaves it this time, ichiban bows his head in front of the door and observes a moment of silence for aya—but only a moment, because they still have a job to do. ]
I'm okay, Necchan. Let's get going. [ he turns to baiken. ] Did it leave behind any of that enkephalin stuff or anything?
[she says, through a wheezy breath. but she's going to wait, if they don't need it. because the last time she used it, ichiban immediately needed it and she doesn't want to fuck up like that again. so. deep breath, as much as she's able, and then she starts disconnecting. one by one she puts away the worst of the panic and fear, and evens out. it's alright. finish the job.
she glances at the other two briefly, and then at aya, before swallowing hard. carefully she's going to crouch down and close aya's eyes and cross her arms over her chest, and then:]
One of you go check the... the monster. Does it have anything on it?
[they are... very much on their own now, huh. they don't have any guides left, so they just have to figure this shit out on their own.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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As they descend into the second level, the halls begin to look a little different. Green fluid leaks from the walls and ceiling, and the entire hallway is increasingly covered in roots. They break through the metal, disrupting the terrain.
There is a louder rustling sound ahead.
Aya continues to take point, moving cautiously along, but-- it seems like that 1 of hers earlier definitely alerted something, and that lets it get the jump on all of you.
A sharp, piercing root darts out of the darkness ahead, aimed directly at her.]
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throné follows aya... and here's the thing, she's not really the type of person to instinctively throw herself into danger for a stranger, but she's also not a jackass. aya stuck it out with them, she didn't run, and even if it's just out of a desire to get paid... loyalty means something. throné has self-preservation, but she's not a bad person, and it isn't like she wants to let this very real npc take the brunt of the damage just for her own gain.
so while she won't stand in front of the root to take the hit, she will, in fact, do her best to shove aya down out of the way and follow her, so they're out of the projectile range.
well she was going to try to do this but i did in fact roll a one so like, i guess have fun with that teej?]
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what is up with throne getting kebabbed GIRL KEEP IT TOGETHER WE HAVE SHIT TO DO!! ]
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[Okay. WELL. We're doing great. Baiken is, anyway.
So here's what happens. With rolls like that... the root-vine pierces right through Ichiban's eye and continues on, putting him out of his misery for a second time in this CYOA. As it shoots further forward, it whips around while the entity it belongs to retracts it, the end of it lashing out far enough to slice through Throné's leg; Aya, where Throné tried and failed to shove her down, is too off-balance to avoid it herself and is impaled right through her torso.
She chokes up blood, a hand reaching up to her bloodied midsection, before she laughs quietly and murmurs something about being happy she at least died quickly and easily down here. Her body slumps to the floor, immobile.]
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it's a double whammy. triple, even, because what she sees first is the vine wiping ichiban out, shooting through his head. and before she can even properly react to that (no, no, not again - but the watch, the watch), the vine pierces a hole through aya, and. well, that makes something in her twist, makes her heart drop. no - that's not what she wanted, she wanted to make sure aya lived. can she bring her back? if she uses the watch, maybe... maybe --
and then the vine whips back, and slices through her leg entirely, from the middle of her thigh down.
throné is very good at not making sound. she never made a noise, each time the whip hit her back. she barely flinched, when a wayward knife or a sword cut through her. but nothing is like this. there's shock, for a second, and then searing pain, and she lets out a muffled little shriek, mouth closed, as she drops. it's the first time in years and years that she's been incapable of silencing herself.
she is now covered in aya's blood, ichiban's blood, and her own blood, which makes her retch just a little bit. she can't quite help it. it's too much, she's in panic mode, she can't think straight other than to try to rip her skirt to try and make bandages, focus, focus, tie it off before it kills you --
but she's losing blood so fast that her head spins, and the smell of blood is overwhelming, death and rot and decay, and she can't get her hands to do what she wants them to. weakly, she tugs at the fabric, once. twice. and then her hands drop as she lays out on the ground, just desperately trying to keep her eyes open.
that's about to be a lost cause, too.]
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it can't be the same as before. it isn't going to be anger that she draws from, but from that sickening moment that this reminds her of. what set everything in motion, so long ago. her path of vengeance has led her here, and by god, she is going to complete this one, because there's no sense in bringing them back just to watch them get slaughtered again. ]
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[Fills Throné's bar from death this is fine.
Baiken draws on her E.G.O. once again--
But this time, it's different. This time she feels that violent urge flooding her, but it's something that she can control; the straps restrain her somewhat, still, but instead of her body twisting and transforming into a grotesque weapon, she manifests one, a heavy metal ball on the end of a chain. Perfect for slamming into something again, and again, and again.
It fills her with rage and strength, propelling her forward to the source of that root: a golden fruit shaped monster, roots embedded deep into one of the containment cells just down the hall. A glow emanates from the Abnormality.
I am so behind your revenge but would you like to perhaps revive your friends for this boss, or are you going full Let Me Solo Her.]
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with the power of control and vengeance, baiken is going to 1v1 this ridiculous apple.
unfortunately with the power of my 8, we still need to get things warmed up. she will beat this apple into submission one way or the other. ]
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I am going to instead use your 8 as a perception check to say the apple is the only thing in this room you are focusing on. Anything else in here she might wanna notice? Nah.
Baiken draws on the force of the Abnormality's power to 1v1 the Golden Apple, slamming the metal ball into it once, and again, and again, harder. The golden sheen coating it begins to wear off; with each slam of ringing metal against surprisingly hard golden skin, the apple dulls.
Until, finally, the last of its golden sheen cracks away, leaving what appears to be a giant, normal apple with a hole slammed into its side. It's hollow, seemingly, with a few limp vines draping out of the hole...
And a hint of a golden glow coming from inside.
So here's the thing, you were told the Golden Bough was probably at the bottom of the facility, but this little shit has all kinds of roots spreading down the halls. It's not impossible for it to have been relocated.
Is she going to investigate the apparent corpse of this apple.]
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anyway. I WANTED A 20. I WANTED A 20 TO COMPLETELY OBLITERATED THE APPLE INTO APPLESAUCE LET ME HAVE THIS but, in the end, she's able to bludgeon it to death (maybe) and that's all that matters. however, she is not the smart one, and has enough knowledge to know she isn't the smart one -- so when she no longer needs to bash the damned apple with a wrecking ball, she makes her way over to throné's corpse. ]
Sorry about this.
[ time to disrespect women and reach into her ladypocket for the watch. get back here you idiots. ]
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[Look. You know how this sequence goes. We're speedrunning because we're a couple days in. MAN DOOR HELL BOOB WATCH DOOR]
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it's less jarring, though no less oppressive. it still takes her a moment to observe the door, before she's able to push forward to grab her companion's hands to pull them free. she has to do this one at a time, so whoever tags next has to help, it's the law. ]
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she doesn't even really think about it, or have the chance to, she just grabs for baiken's hand when it's presented, and when she's back, when she's in one piece, she's so bluescreened at that she can really just be directed to do whatever. she'll help grab ichiban. that's okay. she can do that. one step at a time.
which she can do! because she has both legs!
for now.]
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Thanks...you two, again. [ he breathes in, out, in, out—then pauses. and frowns. ] ... Wait, did you guys see Aya-chan in there, too?
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she doesn't answer at first, because she is contemplating going over and just yartzing into a corner. she doesn't! but boy does she think about doing it. but after a second, she tries to manually reboot, wrapping her arms around herself.]
... No. [she mumbles.] Do the two of you need healing?
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but she isn't there. goodbye, aya. you were a real one.
she's quiet a moment longer, with a solemn nod in response to ichiban's thanks. ]
...I'm fine. The thing that got you has been dealt with.
[ she is covered in apple goo. ]
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[ very quickly, before he leaves it this time, ichiban bows his head in front of the door and observes a moment of silence for aya—but only a moment, because they still have a job to do. ]
I'm okay, Necchan. Let's get going. [ he turns to baiken. ] Did it leave behind any of that enkephalin stuff or anything?
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[she says, through a wheezy breath. but she's going to wait, if they don't need it. because the last time she used it, ichiban immediately needed it and she doesn't want to fuck up like that again. so. deep breath, as much as she's able, and then she starts disconnecting. one by one she puts away the worst of the panic and fear, and evens out. it's alright. finish the job.
she glances at the other two briefly, and then at aya, before swallowing hard. carefully she's going to crouch down and close aya's eyes and cross her arms over her chest, and then:]
One of you go check the... the monster. Does it have anything on it?
[they are... very much on their own now, huh. they don't have any guides left, so they just have to figure this shit out on their own.]
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