Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 380: Robotic Pitfalls
Date: February 7th, 2007.
Metal Man (GM): The group is in the bridge of the seeker. Having earlier negotiated with Eggman, they have been, therefore, set to help him. The Dauntless is not ready yet, though, so the Questers may as well find another part.
Ivo Robotnik: (Comms) "...If you wish to complete the Master Egg MK3 in the time you paid for, you need to find a rather large part. The one needed to make its warp abilities perfect."
Dragoshi: "And, that would be...?"
Alexia: "And that is..."
Ivo Robotnik: (Comms) "I've found where it is." The map flips and shows a dot in a forbidding set of mountains. "They're inhabited by something, someone, somebody bad. You just have to carefully cross through them to get it. It's buried under some complex."
Leo: "Oh joy..."
Alexia: "Eh. Nothing we can't handle."
Leo: "Yeah."
Dragoshi: "...Mhm."
Scott Gibson: "Yep." *He sips back on a beer.*
Leo: "But I think I'm becoming desensitized to danger. And pain."
Alexia: "...By the way, how's Julian doing?"
Leo: "Not really sure."
Dragoshi: *Shrugs.*
Scott Gibson: "Still out with whatever he's got I think."
Garrick: *moves into the room, sighing as he wipes his brow.* "What's this I hear about a part?"
Scott Gibson: "How goes work on the Dauntless?"
Alexia: "...Something wrong, Garrick?"
Garrick: "Nothing. It goes good, so far."
Ivo Robotnik: (Comms) "A part which can shave months off of completion on the Master Egg MK3."
Garrick: "The light drive is a bit of a hassle. I'd like your help with that, Ivo, if you can spare a few minutes. Anyway, if we need to go pick up a part, then let's get moving."
Alexia: "By the way, Garrick..."
Ivo Robotnik: (Comms) "The warp coordinates have been set. You may go... if you wish."
Garrick: "Hmm?"
Alexia: "If you ever need some cash, I can probably give you a little."
Metal Man (GM): A warp opens to the mountains. They're located on the upper reaches of the planet, beyond Saga/Wakatu.
Alexia: "Just something to keep in mind."
Leo: "Do we still have to wear those breath masks?"
Garrick: "...hm... I'm working on that, Leo. Right now, let's get moving."
Alexia: *Mask first, THEN warp!*
Leo: "Ok."
Garrick: *grabs a breath mask, then warps away.*
Dragoshi: "'Prolly" *Puts on a breath mask, then heads into el warpo.*
Leo: *grabs a breath mask, then warps.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers reappear at the top of some pitch black mountains. A winding path leads through them to a strange-looking indent in the mountains. Leo can't tell if anything is even there.
Garrick: *scans the surrounding area.*
Leo: "Anyone got a flashlight?"
Metal Man (GM): It's windy up here, and, conveniently, the bridge across the big chasm in the way has been busted.
Leo: *as he takes off a pair of sunglasses.* "Oh... there we go."
Dragoshi: "...Why were you wearing sunglasses?" ?_?
Metal Man (GM): The tips of the mountain look razor-sharp. The area is devoid of life.
Leo: "I forgot I even had them on." *starts to laugh.*
Alexia: "...Riiiiight."
Dragoshi: "Heh."
Scott Gibson warps in slightly late. He had to go find Roxy, guitars, and a breathing mask.
Garrick: "...hm."
Alexia: "Hey, Scott. Hi, Roxy."
Garrick: "The mountains are filled with some material that's blocking scans on them."
Scott Gibson: "Damn, it's windy."
Leo: "Hey Scotty."
Roxy: *Beep!*
Leo: "Hey Roxy."
Roxy: *B-beep!*
Dragoshi: "...Hiya."
Scott Gibson: "So where we stand?"
Dragoshi: "Seriously, though. We have a gap to deal with..."
Leo: "Yeah."
Garrick: "We gotta get across this gap. Think Roxy can float us over?"
Leo: "Got wood? "
Alexia: "Hrm..."
Leo: "Any trees nearby?"
Alexia: "If only we had a bow and arrows."
Scott Gibson: "Yeah, but I could only get two on at a time. "
Leo: "We could still do that."
Garrick: "As long as we get over."
Dragoshi: "Mhm..."
Alexia: "Er... something tells me that's a little too easy."
Scott Gibson: "Alright, who's going with me for the first trip?"
Leo: "...I'll go first."
Scott Gibson gets on Roxy and waits for Leo.
Alexia looks down into the cliff.
Scott Gibson: "Let's get a move on then."
Leo hops on Roxy. "Blast off..."
Metal Man (GM): The cliff face drops hundreds of thousands of feet.
Scott Gibson (GM): Roxy takes off slowly across the gap, and hopefully, across safely. Thank Hendrix for flying scooters.
Alexia: *thinking.* "At least there's no water."
Metal Man (GM): Leo and Scott go right across. ...Two guys wearing tattered black uniforms with red eyes and long, steel claws leap out from the sides of the path to attack them!
Garrick: "Whoa!"
Leo: "...Oh hell."
Dragoshi: "...What the-..."
Leo: "You wanna take 'em out?"
Metal Man (GM): They aren't going to take their time. They attack while Scott and Leo are busy thinking!
Scott Gibson gets off Roxy and unslings his guitar. "Rox, go get some more people, we'll handle this."
Leo hops off Roxy and takes out his sword.
Scott Gibson (GM): Roxy takes off across the gap to pick up more people.
Dragoshi: *Gets on.*
Garrick: *leaps on as well.*
Metal Man (GM): Roxy shall take a round to get across. The two cyborgs stare the two Questers in the face soulessly. They growl slightly. The chasm sits behind the two Questers.
Leo: "...Freaky."
Alexia: *shouting.* "Throw them into the pit!"
Leo: "Okay."
Dragoshi: "...They'll prolly' just jump back up."
Metal Man (GM): They look vaguely human, but their flesh chins are about all that is, save for one of their arms and part of their chest. The rest is crudely grafted cybernetics. Some of it completely robotic, other parts co-opting diminished flesh.
Alexia: *still shouting.* "They can't! It's too deep!"
Dragoshi: "...How are you so sure?"
Alexia: "Instinct."
Scott Gibson lunges at the Guardians, he likes Cyborgs about as much as robots... not at all. "This... means WAR!" Scott leaps behind them one step ahead of Alexia and drives home a homerun "Shake Your Foundations" at both cyborg's backs toward the chasm.
Metal Man (GM): Hit, hit. Scott knocks them over the chasm. Their boots, strangely thick, suddenly begin projecting antigravity energy. They float over the chasm, standing as if the air itself is solid.
Leo: "What the...?"
Scott Gibson: "Oh... bloody... hell..."
Dragoshi: "...I was wrong in a way, but right in another way."
Alexia: "...Okay, so I was wrong..."
Metal Man (GM): They are 1 foot away.
Scott Gibson then defends.
Leo: "...Lucky bastards with their hover boots and fancy killing implements of death..."
Metal Man (GM): The first Guardian's right hand lights up. It channels mental energy and fires at the beam immediately under Scott and Leo's feet. *BLAM!* ...The ground underneath them heats up and falls at the pit! Both of them go careening down into the pit. The cyborgs don't look impressed.
Scott Gibson: "Whoooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Leo: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!"
Alexia: "SCOTT! LEON!"
Metal Man (GM): Of course, in SSQ, people don't lose a life from a pit. However they lose some time before returning minus some heavy damage because of how deep the pit is.
Roxy: *BEEEEEEEEP!!!*
Dragoshi: "Weeeeell, damn."
Metal Man (GM): The cyborgs then turn and float over to the others, engaging them 5 feet away.
Leo: *while falling.* "This is gonna hurt like hell isn't it?"
Metal Man (GM): The gap is now 21 feet large.
Dragoshi: *Quickdraws Vendetta machinegun...*
Scott Gibson: "It's not the fall that kill's ya, Leo. It's the sudden stop at the end."
Leo: "Hmmm... Wouldn't we lose consciousness before then?"
Scott Gibson: "More than likely." *thud.*
Leo: "Ehh." *thwack.*
Alexia: "No good... can't lock on to them from this distance..."
Metal Man (GM): Even worse, that 5 feetconsists of air.
Leo: "...Oww, the extraordinary pain..."
Metal Man (GM): The cyborgs await the Questers' action, their arms crossed.
Dragoshi: *...Good thing Drag can shoot things from up to 6 feet away.* >:D
Scott Gibson: "Can ya pull my tibia outta the back of my skull? it's messin' up my motor skills."
Alexia defends.
Metal Man (GM): Unless otherwise said, the Questers are all by the edge of the pit.
Leo: *delusional.* "...But mommy, I don't wanna go to school today, I wanna stay home and bake cookies with you..."
Scott Gibson: "Whee!"
Metal Man (GM): Leo crashes into the ground. Scott follows.
Leo: "I think I broke my every bone..."
Dragoshi: "..." *Fires a Tidal Blast at the weaker Guardian, agitated.*
Metal Man (GM): Neither are weaker than the other. Dragoshi hits Guardian 1. All three times.
Alexia: "...Dragoshi, I have an idea! Aim at their feet!"
Dragoshi: "...Waaiiit..." *Switches out his machinegun for his scythe, and with the awesomeness of the combined reach... He draws one of the Guardians in closer to strangle 'im.*
Metal Man (GM): Barely hit. The Cyborg is damaged, but seems very tough. He is not shaken much. He stays right in Dragoshi's face.
Dragoshi: *Drag tries... To STEAL IT'S BOOTS.*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi tries to steal the boots, only to discover they are a part of its feet. The one Guardian Dragoshi damaged is severely ticked off. He lunges at Dragoshi with his claws... but the real problem?
Dragoshi: *He gets pegged by the first, dodges the second, and gets pegged by the third.*
Metal Man (GM): He grabs Dragoshi with his last strike, then flies out in the middle of the pit and hurls Dragoshi into the pit. He then hovers back to the edge where Alexia is.
Dragoshi: "..." *Tries to jump back up... Which he prolly' can't. Fuckin' jackass...*
Metal Man (GM): Let's say Dragoshi jumped up for maximum distance. He'd be too far away horizontally. The other Guardian lands on the ground and attempts to simply grab Alexia by the neck.
Dragoshi: *...Well, that's just fucking perfect.*
Alexia: "Ack!"
Metal Man (GM): He grabs Alexia and chokes her, then hurls her face-first into the ground. Guardian 1 and 2 are facing Alexia now.
Alexia gets slammed and picks herself up.
Metal Man (GM): No other Questers are around Alexia. The Guardians 1 unit away from her, on the edge.
Alexia aims a Mindblast and flings it right at the first Guardian's feet.
Metal Man (GM): He sidesteps it.
Alexia: "Dammit..." *Once more with feeling!*
Metal Man (GM): Alexia hits him in the boots. He stands there. He's getting kinda damaged now. Garrick is actually right next to Alexia, facing both of the Guardians... A convenient rock formation blocked view of him for a moment.
Alexia: "Garrick! You're alive!"
Garrick: *is finally getting to fight again! Whoo! He goes after the one that Alexia just blasted, his sword and gun drawn, and LEAPS from behind the rock formation!* "Surprise!* *he draws and cuts the bastard, slicing him up before unloading three shots into him and finishing it with a slash and blast combo.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit. Hit hit hit. Hit. These guys are devious, but easy to hit. A crack appears in the thing's forehead. It seems unbothered. Leo reappears on the other side of the pit, far away from the fighting. Scott has not reappeared yet.
Alexia: "...How'd Leon get over there?"
Metal Man (GM): Alexia would suddenly notice he got over there via Roxy.
Leo runs 20 feet and hits one of the Guardians with a 2 hit cutter.
Metal Man (GM): ...Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leo runs off the cliff and back down the pit.
Alexia: "... I can never respect him again."
Leo: "NOT AGAINNNNnnnnnnnnn!!!!" *smack.*
Metal Man (GM): Scott reappears, just in time to see Leo run bravely into the pit.
Scott Gibson revives on the other side, obviously. He watches Leo run off with a stunned look on his face. "...Did he just... no he couldn't have..."
Alexia: "He did, Scott. He committed suicide." *She lowers her head and puts her hand over her heart.*
Scott Gibson shakes his head and rubs his temple. "Hell's Bells, the talent pool is draining fast."
Leo: *screaming.* "Owww, I think I broke my every bone."
Scott Gibson whistles for Roxy, avoiding Leo's mistake. He jumps on and flies across the gap.
Metal Man (GM): Flying across will take time, but Scott gets to attack the Guardians after he crosses. And they won't be able to attack Scott while he's flying over to them.
Dragoshi: *And, Drag reappears, looking pissed.* "...Okay, that's it. I am going to kill you until you fucking DIE from it" *Dragoshi quickly replaces his scythe for the Vendetta Machinegun, and seeing as the Guardians are so close... He strangles the one that's taken the most damage so far with his tail!*
Alexia: "The best and brightest always snap first."
Metal Man (GM): Hit. Hit. The bot is now pretty weak. One of them, at least.
Dragoshi: *Then Drag follows up with a Tidal Blast to the boots, trying to at LEAST disable the goddamn antigrav on 'em.*
Metal Man (GM): They remain in power. The Cyborg himself doesn't look so tough now.
Dragoshi: "Here, have some MORE!" *He then proceeds to flip kick the bastiche.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit, hit. He explodes. Unfortunately for Dragoshi and everyone on the ledge, he had high explosives attached to him.
Dragoshi: "And, so-Gaw dammit." *Tries to evade!*
Metal Man (GM): The other bot, knowing this would happen, ducks away from it. Alexia and Garrick take damage.
Alexia: "Kyaaaaa!"
Metal Man (GM): Guardian 2, despite being outnumbered far more than before, decides to even the odds. He chucks a bomb into the hillside nearby the Questers and floats off into the pit area. *ROCKSLIDE.*
Alexia: "Uh-oh..."
Leo: "...Hello Alex..."
Dragoshi: "...You dickweed."
Metal Man (GM): Evade, evade... Garrick is sent flying over the edge.
Garrick: "SON of a--"
Metal Man (GM): He spends a round falling, then takes damage like the others.
Alexia: "Okay, that's IT!"
Metal Man (GM): Garrick's being swept down by a mass of dirt. The robot is now 3 feet away, floating over the pit.
Dragoshi: "Hey, at least you didn't get thrown off the side of a goddamn LEDGE."
Leo: "...Oh, hiya Garrick. Welcome to the pit club."
Alexia fires a Heat Beam at the boots of the final robot.
Garrick: "SHUT IT!"
Metal Man (GM): Hit. The boots take some damage, but not enough to disable them.
Leo: "...If you're gonna be like that, go die in a hole somewhere, oh YOU'RE IN ONE ALREADY!!"
Dragoshi: "..."
Alexia: *Mindblast to the boots!*
Metal Man (GM): Hit. Garrick is still falling... Leo already hit the bottom, so he reappears on the other side yet again. The robot is now 18 feet away over the pit from him.
Leo calls for Roxy this time and goes across the pit.
Metal Man (GM): Roxy is with Scott. Scott hasn't reached the other side yet.
Leo waits.
Scott Gibson stays on Roxy and flies into range to deliver a double dose of screamin' skulls-o-fiery D3TH!!! He plays up the familiar tune and streaks flames into two fire skulls and sends them careening at the guardian. "HEATSEEKER!"
Metal Man (GM): Hit, miss.
Dragoshi: "..." *He aims at the boots of the guardian, and...* *A MASSIVE reddish-orange laser fires out, attempting to flat-out DESTROY those damned antigrav boot things... Or at least put 'im in a world of hurt.* *Apparently, the laser doubles as a tractor beam... But, anyway...* *...Nah.* *Eh. Just takes the failure... This time.*
Metal Man (GM): Guardian 2 turns to Dragoshi and fires its powerful explosive beam... directly back at Dragoshi. *BLAM!!!*
Dragoshi: *...Oof!*
Metal Man (GM): Then it does the same... at Alexia! *BLAM!!!*
Alexia gets wasted. "Ow..." *ker-thump.*
Metal Man (GM): Garrick returns from his massive fall, on the right side of the canyon.
Leo: *to anyone across the pit.* "Hey! Anyone have any ultra shrooms?!"
Garrick unleashes his own assault, firing off a powerful explosive shell at his opponent before cleaving downward, a fiery and icy shockwave hopefully slamming into him.
Metal Man (GM): Crit, hit. The machine sputters, raises a fist at Garrick, and explodes in the middle of the pit. The Questers have beaten the two Guardians... that was intense.
Alexia revives and gets to her feet. "Ow..."
Dragoshi: "...Hiya."
Garrick: "...I don't think that's the last we'll see of them."
Metal Man (GM): Now they can continue across, assuming Scott ferries you across. Except for Leo.
Scott Gibson: "Well, regardless..."
Dragoshi: "Mhm..."
Scott Gibson finally hovers down to level.
Metal Man (GM): Everyone but Leo needs a lift.
Alexia: "Hey, Scott, can you give me a lift across?"
Scott Gibson: "Comin' up."
Dragoshi: "...Heh. I think the lot of us need a lift."
Garrick: *waits his turn.*
Dragoshi: *Does the same.*
Scott Gibson pulls around and jets over to the side of the cliff near Alexia and stops.
Alexia hops onto Roxy. "Thanks."
Scott Gibson: "No prob. Be back in a sec, Gar."
Metal Man (GM): This area is very eroded... one would get the idea many people have fought here. ...And probably died.
Scott Gibson speeds across the gap to drop off Alexia. He lands her. "End of the line."
Garrick: "...it's a battlefield..."
Alexia jumps off onto solid ground. "Cool. Thanks."
Scott Gibson: "Now for the return trip." Scott heads back for Garrick.
Garrick: *reaches up and turns on his head camera to his Mark 5 while he waits.* "Nova, are you getting this?"
Scott Gibson pulls up near Garrick. "You comin?"
Garrick: "Hmm? Oh, yeah." *slides on behind Scott.*
Metal Man (GM): Garrick hears nothing but static in reply.
Dragoshi: *Waiting, waiting, waiting...*
Scott Gibson: "Let's rock."
Garrick: "...these mountains are blocking communications with the Seeker."
Scott Gibson takes off across the gap again and lands Roxy on her wheels. This time Scott gets off as well.
Garrick: "...you're forgetting Dragoshi, dude." *moves off.*
Dragoshi: "...Hey, you idiot! ...God." *Taps his foot, agitated.*
Scott Gibson: "Huh? Why didn't he say so!" Scott sends Roxy after Dragoshi. She knows what to do. Roxy pulls up by Dragoshi.
Dragoshi: "...Seriously. Like I need anymore problems after being thrown off this gaw damn... Thought you would've taken a hint from-Graah..." *Hops onto Roxy.*
Alexia: "So why'd you commit suicide, Leo?"
Roxy: *Beep?" *Beep?"
Leo: "... What?"
Garrick: *is hrming, squatting down to take some of the dirt in his hand and rub it between his palms.*
Scott Gibson: Roxy ferries Dragoshi across.
Garrick: "...this is odd..."
Dragoshi: *Takes deep breaths.*
Alexia: "You ran into the pit, idiot. Why'd you do that?"
Leo: "I just tripped over my feet and fell back in."
Dragoshi: "He prolly' had a memory lapse."
Metal Man (GM): There is... a long straight path ahead.
Dragoshi: "...That too. Eh." :/
Metal Man (GM): Skulls, dead people, former soldiers are scattered everywhere. There is... that can't be. The Russian flag is on some of their arm patches. Others have American flags.
Dragoshi: *Well, Drag hops offa Roxy, and onto solid ground... He would then mutter and-WTF?* "..."
Garrick: *walks along.* "...this... can't be right."
Dragoshi: "...Huhwhaaaaaa..."
Alexia continues on and stops.
Scott Gibson: "Whoa, not cool."
Alexia: "...Banners?"
Leo: "...What the?"
Scott Gibson: "That's a USA flag."
Garrick: *stoops over to one of the American soldiers, looking at the armband, and counting the stars on it.*
Dragoshi: "What're the American AND Russian flags doing here?!"
Metal Man (GM): Another set of patches nearby: European Union.
Alexia: "...Wha?"
Dragoshi: "...And apparently a third faction. Peculiar..."
Scott Gibson: "Wait, we're still on Genetia right?"
Leo: "What were these armies doing here?"
Dragoshi: "Yep."
Metal Man (GM): The flags themselves have 80 stars. The armbands have around 3-4, to maybe 5 stars.
Scott Gibson: "The what the hell?! This is WAY off."
Leo: "80 STARS?!"
Alexia: "So?"
Dragoshi: "...I don't remember them having 80..."
Scott Gibson: "There were only 50 in the USA from my time."
Leo: "Yeah."
Dragoshi: "...And, from what I read-Yea."
Alexia: "...So why are they here?"
Garrick: "...these... nah, that can't be right."
Metal Man (GM): Up ahead, though, there is something far more impressive. A massive hunk of what appears to be a starship. The Questers can can still make out the letting on the side of it.
Alexia: "Whoa... that's one heck of a ship."
Garrick: "...that's it." *looks at the ship...*
Dragoshi: "...Huh." *Does the same.*
Metal Man (GM): The USS Alberta.
Alexia heads over to the ship and examines it.
Scott Gibson: "A ship?"
Leo: "...Freaky."
Garrick: "...these are Neo-Earthian armies."
Scott Gibson: "USS Alberta? Wha?"
Metal Man (GM): It has a big flag on it... but this is merely the side off of it... and it's in the way. It towers over the Questers, at least by 150 feet... there is a door, and it appears to work. But it's been altered to be locked.
Scott Gibson: "Neo-Earthian? I remember reading somethin' about them in the library."
Metal Man (GM): It's a hatch, too, so it isn't even made to be opened from this side.
Leo: "I'm lost."
Garrick: *glances at Leo, then moves to the hatch.*
Scott Gibson follows to the hatch.
Alexia: "So how do we get in?"
Scott Gibson: "I gotta check this out."
Alexia follows the others to the hatch.
Dragoshi: "Mhm..."
Scott Gibson: "If we can't get in the easy way then we'll just have to do it the hard way."
Garrick: "The soldiers are from the Three Powers War, most likely. Unless the countries kept their allegiances after the war, which I doubt."
Dragoshi: "..." *Follows the others.*
Leo: *follows.*
Garrick: "Space exploration was just taking off, but I never worked with the Navy..."
Metal Man (GM): The hatch is thick and made of enhanced steel.
Scott Gibson: "I take it you don't know how to get this open then?"
Garrick: "...hm. It's made to be opened from the inside."
Scott Gibson: "Tap Morse code on it and hope someone's home?"
Garrick: "Nah, I doubt it."
Alexia: "...I'll bet the part we need is in there."
Garrick: "All these people are dead. My guess... they crash landed here. And when they went out to investigate... met up with some trouble..." *checks to see how stable the hatch is.*
Metal Man (GM): It's very stable, but old.
Garrick: "...it's been here for ages..." *rears back and kicks it. Hard.*
Scott Gibson: "Uh..."
Leo: "What?"
Metal Man (GM): Garrick kicks it... the Questers would hear stuff behind it get thrown around, but it doesn't open.
Garrick: "...hm."
Dragoshi: "...?"
Garrick: *steps back a bit and glances around for any windows or other such things higher up.*
Metal Man (GM): Some porthole windows, but they're incredibly tough looking. The hatch itself is reminiscent of some older designs used on actual ships... ones which were intended to allow a quick escape if all went wrong.
Scott Gibson: "Where's Julian the human battering ram when you need em."
Garrick: *hrms and looks back to the door, giving it another kick.*
Metal Man (GM): It's been set very tightly. Likely to keep anyone from breaking in with force.
Alexia: "Sick, of course. What'd he catch, anyways?"
Garrick: "...gotta use the noodle on this one..."
Dragoshi: *Ker-shrug.*
Leo: "Space flu?"
Garrick: *makes to see if he can get enough leverage to open the door the other way, swinging it outward.*
Metal Man (GM): A leading edge sticks out. But a Questers' fingers don't give enough leverage alone.
Garrick: *reaches to the sheath on his back and pulls out the Burning Chill, trying to slide it in and use it to pry the door open.*
Metal Man (GM): The old hinge gives out. It falls over with a resounding thud.
Dragoshi: "There we go..."
Metal Man (GM): The wall was merely a part of the ship. A way ahead is now clear.
Alexia: "...Nice."
Dragoshi: *Enters.*
Alexia heads in.
Garrick: *moves out of the way, looking in to see what was rattling around.*
Metal Man (GM): A large pile of debris was propped up to keep it shut.
Leo: *enters.*
Scott Gibson follows.
Garrick: *hrms as he walks along, looking about.* "...I could salvage some of this stuff, perhaps. Use it to give the Dauntless more armor plating..."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers enter another area... and here they see the wreckage of a large military battle, converted into building materials. The path is paved with steel, with large handrails.
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Alexia: "Wow."
Leo: "..."
Metal Man (GM): It forms a rickety twisting bridge which leads to the front of a massive castl----wait a minute... that's no castle! It's the nose of a GIGANTIC space ship that originally crashed into a mountain. It's been converted into a castle, though, and the rest of the probably several miles long ship is gone.
Garrick: "..." *whistle.* "..."
Leo: "...Wow."
Dragoshi: "..." *low whistle.* "..."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers are free to walk up to it, but it is rather imposing.
Scott Gibson: "Ho-ly... shit..."
Metal Man (GM): Dead soldiers are everywhere, they look like they tried to siege it.
Dragoshi: "...Man. Think we should enter it...?"
Garrick: *sees if he can get a scan on it...*
Alexia: "It couldn't hurt..." *She heads up to the castle.*
Dex: "Error: Building is a powerful source of jamming signals."
Scott Gibson: "Doesn't look like we have much choice."
Garrick: *hrms, moving on...*
Dragoshi: *Follows, charge and machinegun readied...*
Scott Gibson heads toward it.
Garrick: "...this thing must be the source of the jamming. It's not the mountains, it's this thing."
Scott Gibson: "Then let's get in there and bust this piece'a shit up. Relatively speakin'."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk up across the path towards it... two machines with scythes and white-and-black stark suits, and rounded black heads with white eyes stare at them. They cross their scythes at the door, blocking it.
Dragoshi: "...I didn't know anyone else wielded scythes."
???1: "Here you will stop."
Garrick: "...good evening, gentlemen."
Scott Gibson: "Figures."
???2: "You stop forever because this is off limits to fools."
Dragoshi: "..."
???1: "Death and agony came to hundreds of years of people who tried."
Scott Gibson: "Fuckin' robots."
???2: "We will carve out your spines and make them into weapons."
Garrick: "And just what makes us fools?"
Dragoshi: "...Like hell you will."
???1: "You face the Dread Lords."
Garrick: *holds hands up to Dragoshi and Scott.*
???2: "We who are immortal."
Alexia ducks into her battle position.
Dragoshi: "...Dread Lords?" ?_?
???1: "You can kill us but we will return."
???2: "We cast the blackest magic of all in this land."
???1: "Old soldiers become our slaves and good becomes evil in our grasp."
???2: "Ashes to ashes, dust to golems."
Garrick: "Magic, hmm? So I see. So, tell me, what is so important to guard?"
???1: "Turn back or you shall be crushed by us."
???2: "A black hole for your souls."
Scott Gibson: *mutters.* "Idiots can't get proverbs right."
???1: "This base is the ancient stronghold of a destructive force."
Garrick: "And you protect this force."
???2: "One which can kill even more surely than you."
Dragoshi: *Having a feeling of un-ease... He eats an Ultra Shroom.*
???1: "More than that. We are a manifestation of it."
???2: "The force shall kill you surely and slowly."
Garrick: "Ah..."
???1: "Turn back now or become swept under our plow."
???2: "We are much worse than any snow."
Garrick: *is looking mighty wounded, but he doesn't have ANY items...*
Metal Man (GM): They cross their scythes again.
???1: "Turn back now, for we carry the message of Death."
???2: "Unless you wish to become one with the dirt again."
Garrick: "...so... why protect this if it will only kill us?"
Dragoshi: "Yeaaa..."
???1: "We answer to no one."
???2: "Nothing at all."
Garrick: "...so that's how it is? You guard this for your own reasons and you don't listen to logic. Then again, I never was very logical..."
???1: "The eternity crushes logic in its fist."
???2: "Machines blasted to bits."
Metal Man (GM): They gesture with both their arms outstretched.
Garrick: "So I see."
Metal Man (GM): ...Referring to the destroyed ships and dead people everywhere.
Garrick: "You'll answer no questions, tell no truths?"
???1: "Death to all who ask."
???2: "That is our only truth."
Garrick: *smirks.* "I've already asked."
Dragoshi: "Weeell, damn..."
Garrick: "So, I see diplomacy isn't going to work with you... fine then, we'll do it your way."
Metal Man (GM): They continue blocking the door. For that is what they guard... they don't appear interested in fighting as long as the Questers stand where they are.
Garrick: *waits a moment.*
Scott Gibson grows increasingly pissed off at these bots but stands his ground.
Garrick: *slowly looks over the 'castle' for any other entrances.*
Metal Man (GM): There are none. It's the nose of the ship. This entrance had to be carved into it. Even if there was, it's perilously perched atop a small mountain itself.
Garrick: *slowly presses the scanning device attached to his head, trying to get a read on these guys.*
Dex: 'Error: Targets are protected by a massive jamming source.'
Garrick: "...to take the chance... or to find the other option."
Dragoshi: *Looks for any other paths to take...*
Metal Man (GM): No. The person behind this designed it to keep out outsiders.
Scott Gibson: "What other option?"
Metal Man (GM): Besides, the mission is to get a part smack dab where the castle is.
Garrick: "...there is no one allowed inside?"
???1: "The ancient power belongs to no one."
???2: "There is no passage into this castle."
Scott Gibson: .oO(Obviously.)
Garrick: "And who created the ancient power?"
???1: "You cannot know."
???2: "It is beyond your mind."
Garrick: "Then try me."
???1: "We shall not try."
???2: "We know already what would happen."
Garrick: "Do you?"
???1: "We do not answer questions."
???2: "You shall get nothing but rebuttals."
Garrick: "So, you don't REALLY know..." *slowly paced in front of them.*
Dragoshi: *Standin' still, charge and machinegun at the ready...*
Metal Man (GM): They stand... staring.
Garrick: "...what if I told you that I know what this artifact is?"
???1: "We would not care."
???2: "We merely must prevent anyone from entering."
Garrick: "WHY do you protect it, though?"
Scott Gibson: "Obviously these one dimensional dumbasses can't tell their head from their nuts and bolts."
Dragoshi: "..."
???1: "We shall not tell you."
???2: "You must know nothing."
Scott Gibson: "Case in point."
Garrick: "...don't you know that that makes it all the more interesting to find out?" *slowly moves up to them, standing right in front of the door.* "...well, if that's that." *even though he's damaged, he draws his weapons.*
Scott Gibson: .oO(Now you're speakin' my language.)
Garrick: "I'll ask you once more, and I'll let you know that you have not faced opponents such as us. Move aside."
Metal Man (GM): They don't budge.
???1: "Never."
???2: "Ever."
Dragoshi: *...Finally. Drag follows, charge STILL up and machinegun STILL at the ready.*
Scott Gibson draws his SG.
Garrick: *hrms, then gently raises his sword and taps their scythes where they are crossed.*
Metal Man (GM): Garrick tries to touch them... a dark gray field blocks it.
???1: "We are fielded!"
???2: "You are foolish."
Garrick: "So I see."
Dragoshi: "..." .oO(And this thing can kill fields...)
Garrick: "...Dragoshi?"
Dragoshi: "...Yo."
Garrick: "After you." *steps to the side.*
Dragoshi: *Drag, unimpressed aims his dewmful machinegun at the fielded Dread Lord on the left, attempting to preemptively weaken said field with... A CHARGED FLAME BLAST! ...Which he has had up for a DAMN long time, so it should prolly' be a full charge...* *...GOD.*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi shoots it... *DEFLECT* It flies right back at Dragoshi, with terrifying accuracy.
???1: "You are doubly foolish!"
???2: "We are superior to you."
Dragoshi: *...It misses.* >_>
Garrick: "...hm."
Dragoshi: "Deflectors? Oh, you have got to be shitting me."
Garrick: "...nah, it's not that."
Scott Gibson: "Fuckin' hell..."
Garrick: "Hold on a minute... that makes sense." *...sheathes his weapons?*
Scott Gibson: "What the hell're you doin'?!"
Garrick: "It's a trick."
???1: "An intelligent move."
???2: "But your friends are dumb."
Dragoshi: "What kind of-...Hmm" *Puts away his machinegun.*
Scott Gibson: "Fuck you!"
Garrick: "Scott..."
Dragoshi: "...Not really."
Scott Gibson growls and slings his SG.
Garrick: *walks back up to the two men.* "Excuse me." *he makes to just walk through.*
Metal Man (GM): Garrick bounces off the field and land on his back.
???1: "You didn't think we'd just let you through, would you?"
Garrick: "...ah, well, that wasn't it."
???2: "It is just that your weapons and attacks are useless."
Garrick: *gets to his feet.*
Scott Gibson: "Can we kill em' yet?"
Garrick: "We can't hit them."
???1: "Go ahead and try."
Dragoshi: "..." *He smirks.* "...If those won't work, then maybe... Healing items might do the job... Then again I'm thinking too hard..."
???2: "Our fields are building-wide!"
Garrick: "Think about it. All these soldiers are mindless drones when it comes to it. They shot their way, and all their attacks got reflected back at them."
Scott Gibson: "Was I talkin' to you? No, so fuck the hell off and shut it."
Dragoshi: "Mhm..."
Scott Gibson: "Point?"
???1: "We shut up for no one."
???2: "Leave earshot or be spoken to!"
Garrick: "As of this moment... they are superior."
Scott Gibson flips the machine off.
Metal Man (GM): The machines chuckle to themselves like it is a funny joke.
Dragoshi: "Of this moment, being the keywords... Any ideas, Garrick?"
Garrick: "...we cannot scan them."
Scott Gibson: "Obviously."
???1: "What brings you here as it is?"
Garrick: "We cannot hurt them."
Dragoshi: "...Yea. I know that."
Garrick: "We are seeking a part."
???2: "The graveyard of the Three Powers is no place for beings to exist!"
???1: "There are no parts here."
Garrick: "...but I am from the Three Powers."
???2: "Turn back and flee!"
Dragoshi: "...That is a flagrant lie. There is one here."
Metal Man (GM): They begin laughing even louder.
???1: "A Three Powers Soldier here? Hah! Look at all your dead comrades!"
Scott Gibson: "What, You can't tell Garrick's from the Three powers?"
???2: "One man defeated them all with a single program!"
Scott Gibson: "Oh..."
Garrick: "And that one man was?"
Dragoshi: "...They won't answer."
Scott Gibson: "Yep."
???1: "You must prove you are smart before you can know anything of importance."
???2: "Otherwise leaping off a cliff is the best decision!"
Dragoshi: "It's like talking to a wall."
Garrick: *smirks.*
Scott Gibson: "Like Leo."
Dragoshi: "...Actually, one guy did that in a lapse of memory... Or on accident."
Garrick: "You're not looking for intelligence. You're looking for wisdom."
Dragoshi: "But, meh." :/ "...Yep."
Garrick: "I cannot win this fight. I have little idea what you are. My weapons don't work."
Dragoshi: "None of us do."
Scott Gibson: "..."
???1: "The man knows your weakness."
Dragoshi: "And, my barrier-killing weapon's attempts will merely be deflected."
???2: "You may leave now and come back to-morrow."
Dragoshi: "And I doubt that healing items or any other methods shall work."
Garrick: "And what will be different tomorrow?"
???1: "Nothing."
Garrick: "No... if I were to leave, this entire situation would happen again."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
???2: "You will just see the man."
???1: "And be thrown into pits."
???2: "The pit of apricot."
Dragoshi: "Then we'd be back at square 1 and worse."
Garrick: "The man will be here tomorrow."
Dragoshi: "...Hm."
Garrick: "I see little point in returning tomorrow."
???1: "Then leave."
Garrick: "...the man is here now, isn't he?"
Dragoshi: "...Yep." *Taps his fingers on his head, thinking...*
???1: "It does not matter."
???2: "For you shall never see him!"
Garrick: "This is just one big riddle."
Dragoshi: "...How are you so sure we won't? After all, you are merely making mere assumptions."
Garrick: "I've proved some of my wisdom, so I learned about the man."
Scott Gibson: "I've had enough'a this." Scott pulls up Roxy and takes a seat. He unslings his guitar and plays a tune to calm his nerves.
Dragoshi: "And, secondly how are so sure it doesn't matter? It might not matter to YOU, maybe, but for others the case may be different... Then again, I am simply prattling on."
Garrick: *glances around, looking for anything tell tail about this 'man' ...perhaps a ledge up on the mountain or something similar.*
Metal Man (GM): There's no other ledges or sort. Only the door. However they are silent now.
Garrick: "...does this man have a name?"
Dragoshi: "..." .oO(That silence... That might mean we're on to something...)
???1: "None to be known to you."
???2: "Now begone!"
Garrick: "No."
Dragoshi: "Nay."
Garrick: "What I want is in that castle. ...what WE want is in that castle."
Dragoshi: "Aye."
Scott Gibson: "Yeah, yeah..."
Garrick: "So, I will find a way. I will stand here and look for the solution to the riddle."
Dragoshi: "Same."
Metal Man (GM): They continue standing in the way, with the field up.
Garrick: "...I suppose it wouldn't help if I said please?"
Metal Man (GM): PAUSE