Day 6: "Monster Arrival"

Afternoon: 12:00noon - Evening

[ IRL Timeframe: November 13th - ~~November 20th~~ December 4th, 2019 ]

Following the events of the morning, with the Wizard and Protector locked in a heated duel, Gyre has paved forward with his plan to gather all the heroes to show them something. Be proud of him, he texted EVERYONE!

The fight between the two powerful entities continues, they won’t be joining anyone just yet. Sxicq, meanwhile, is… somewhere. No one really kept tabs on them, even social media has lost sight of them.

Monster Arrival: Far Haven: No one! Six is preparing to “arrive” in the evening.

The Weather
Clear with a few clouds.
52°F / 11°C
Bring your heater, the chill continues!

Prompts:

12:30pm Mounain, General Post:

I.
Gyre arrives early to the main hiking trail at the base of the mountain. There’s a big sign advertising where it starts, and he sits against one of the legs of the sign. His legs are neatly folded, his arms crossed over his chest. As people begin to arrive, he greets each of them, standing after a second or third has arrived.

Once they’re all gathered, he raises a hand to get everyone’s attention. “Is this everyone?” he asks, clearly counting heads. A flicker of angst crosses his face as he realizes how much smaller they look without Rory and Web and Gail. As he counts, he realizes Zafika and Joanna are missing as well. He wasn’t able to talk to either of them, so he supposes he’s not surprised, but there is a little bubbling concern in his chest. He’ll have to address it later.

He waves at the lot of them once he’s done counting, gesturing for them to follow, “We’re going to the top. I’m going to move quickly so we can get back down before dark. If you need help, ask me. Rely on each other,” is all he says before he turns and heads up the trail.

The ground is worn enough to make the climb relatively easy, but it’s still climbing a mountain. How is everyone taking it? It’s a long trip. There’s time to catch up now that they’re all together again.

II.
This is the top of the mountain. When the heroes arrive, they’ll find Five and Ten seated at a small foldable table playing cards. Five is wearing jeans and a black hoodie with a computer error screen printed on it. She looks at the group of heroes arriving, giving a small wave once she’s seen some familiar faces-- but she immediately moves to hide behind Ten when she sees Luka.

Ten, meanwhile, is wearing a shirt with a picture of himself wearing a shirt with a picture of himself wearing a shirt-- you get the idea. How did he pull that off? The shirt is printed with a picture of him here, on the top of the mountain, outside this cliff door. Did he plan for this? He gives a wave at the group, greeting them with a Microsoft Sam voiced phone message:

“All around me are familiar faces. Ha ha, hello.”

Did he just reference a song? He definitely did. That was definitely “Mad World” by Jary Gules.

12:30pm Onward: Mountain, The Mountain Cave Entrance:

When the heroes decide to descend into the cavern, what they’ll find is a strangely winding corridor that’s barely lit at all. The ceiling is rarely higher than six feet, sometimes shrinking down to four feet and even three feet near the bottom, and most of its length is only wide enough for two people to fit through. The floor is slick with water, the slope of it acting as the perfect place for water to drain into from above. This means the descent is cramped, dark, and slightly slippery.

Good luck, heroes.

The corridor suddenly opens up at the bottom into a wide-open cavern, the walls spreading out too far in every direction and disappearing into the darkness of the cavern. The walkway into the space narrows as it crosses over a massive pit that surrounds a central circular platform. There aren’t any other walkways leading to the middle.

The circular platform in the center has twenty-seven metal rings that make up the floor, smaller ones in the middle surrounded by one massive ring around the outside. It'd take a lot of counting to see the 27 rings but, believe me, they're there. What the heroes will be able to spot, though, is that a few of the rings on the floor are rotating very, very slowly. It would be easy to miss, but once noticed it’s clear that there are exactly ten rings moving and seventeen that are not.

Surrounding the center platform are twenty-seven raised platforms in a big circle around the center. Floating above four in a row are bright yellow blobs with one, two, and three eyes respectively. The fourth and fifth have the slain bodies of Four and Five. Four is wearing the game show garb they’d worn on the day of their games. Five is wearing a set of heavy black robes, not the assassin garb she’d worn on her day. The other side has five occupied platforms each with knights floating in them. Web, with Aqrisqi floating above them. Rory, with Sefaq floating above her. Gail, with Giqra floating above him. Joanna, with Fius floating above her. Zafika, with Muraj floating above them.

Wait. When were Joanna and Zafika defeated? Both of them have a single red mark above where their hearts are like they’d each been stabbed with a blade.

Five and Ten have followed everyone down to this room, looks like they’ll be able to answer questions… maybe? But everyone knows that neither the Wizard nor the Protector will be here, they’re still fighting up on the island’s beach.

Procedure:

Reply to the appropriate toplevel comments for events below. Indicate if a post is a private conversation with "Private" in the subject otherwise all threads should be open to interaction with others. Plan OOCly how you'd like to toss everyone around.

Activity Check: November 2019

[ IRL Timeframe: November 1st - November 31st, 2019 ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"The Protector simply isn't a man who just gives out details. I've asked him for them many, many times. I know it's a lost cause. I gave you all the information he gave to me." Luka didn't appreciate the condescending tone, and his demeanor becomes more cold accordingly. "You can try the unpleasant experience of prying him for information yourself, if you want. You're not signing a contract right now by simply agreeing to see him about it."

Luka's focus stays straight ahead. He probably should have left his conversation to Olivia, he thinks. He didn't know Garrot as well and wasn't expecting this resistance to the proposition. Luka, after all, only considers the perspective of Luka -- and he would have readily agreed to the deal.

He ignores Garrot's demand that he elaborate on his relationship with the Protector.

"We thought it could only be you because you'd never side with the Wizard. Isn't that right?"

So much for a low-key first day out of the hospital.

Garrot's body moves on its own, loosening their arms and pivoting his stance around so he's facing Luka head-on. With the ease of a trained pro wrestler, the Monkey Knight slips his hands into the space under the Princess's armpits and lifts him like a child. Eye-to-eye. See, collars and shirts like to rip when he grabs them, and the deep breaths and faint growl make it clear that Garrot is absolutely livid so he's being very deliberate here.

"My father, who was a Princess's Knight, is dead because of that bastard. I have more reason to want her head on a stake than any of you!" The words come out with a deep, snarling hiss. For a doctor, being the vicious beast seems to come naturally to him. "Don't you ever insinuate I'd want anything to do with her." Garrot gives his words a moment to sink in before he gently brings Luka's feet to the ground. The hands stay, though. Garrot may be deeply offended and making a very aggressive point about the line the Princess crossed, but the doctor still cares about Luka's well-being and isn't going to risk a nasty fall.

"When can I meet him and when do I have to decide?" The words are sudden, stern, but the gritting of his teeth shows he's not left his anger behind just yet. They're on the same side here, Luka's just a truly terrible messenger. But that's not his fault, if the Protector just isn't telling him anything. "Maybe we just need to ask him together."

Garrot's wanted to meet the Protector for forty years. This is the best reason he could ask for, honestly.

Edited 2019-11-25 12:06 (UTC)

The motion is so swift, effortless, and unexpected that Luka has hardly a moment to react before his feet are back on the ground.

Did that really just happen?

He needs a moment to collect himself. There was no discernible reaction from anyone in their group -- not one he could perceive, at least. Did anyone even notice? Most people lacked the boldness (the audacity, even) to handle him like that, and Luka is left feeling uncomfortably vulnerable.

"Did I insinuate that?" He replies, attempting to pull himself back into his typical persona. "Not my intention. It was very much the opposite. We know you would never."

He dusts off the shoulder of his jacket, though his hand trembles slightly.

"Tonight, I guess. I don't know if you have to decide, or what happens if you decide not to. I might be booked up, depending on when you go, but you can ask Olivia to take you." He takes his phone out, appearing to scroll through a calendar app. "The Protector wants her head on a stake, too. You'll at least have that in common."

All of Garrot's tough guy posturing sort of melts like an ice cream cone in a fireplace once he can register that Luka's kind of... really caught off guard by that. The Princess's follow-up is plenty awkward and choppy enough to drive home that he, uh, really misread that one! So he patiently waits for Luka, a knot forming in his stomach because he can see that hand tremble, because the Princess is dodging around actually going with him, and-

"Yeah. I-" He sighs, closing his eyes and letting his shoulders slump a bit. "Sorry. The Wizard's a touchy subject, I shouldn't have-" He trails off for a moment before steeling his resolve, inhaling sharply and... "It's not just me. My kids lost their parents to these monsters, to her." Garrot sighs again, this time with more of a pained little whine. He hates talking about their pasts like this.

"I don't want them to have to deal with me being here and people talking, y'know?" It seems he's been derailed from the Protector for now. Sure, he picked up on the fact that he can go with Olivia alone and what might happen if he decides not to, but. If he kicked himself in the face when the motherfucking PRINCESS is coming with a request, he needs to make that right before they take another step.

"No, I understand." Luka deflects, regaining his composure. "It's why you're the perfect person - the only possible person, even, for this. It really is a lot of power. You're not one who would ever fall prey to her charms. You won't use it to aid her, and he'll know that."

Luka idly twists an ostentatious gold ring around his index finger. Of course, he couldn't tell Garrot that he'd be conspiring with Gyre, dipping his toes in the possibility of playing both sides. He wonders exactly how much Garrot knows.

"Have you gotten a chance to talk to 'the Child'? They're... interesting."

Luka's reasoning is solid, at least. If anyone's gonna do it, it's him. It's a hell of a lot of pressure for a blessing that they know literally nothing about. Since Garrot's on high alert for the Princess's status, he sees that ring twisting, but he just writes it off as nerves. Poor Luka just got lifted into the air in the middle of a potentially-treacherous mountain climb, so like...

"Apparently Gyre and I helped get them down the mountain, so I figured they'd be grateful." He scoffs and just sighs. "They're something all right."

"You're not wrong." Luka can't help but laugh. "I find having any sort of expectations for these deity types is absolutely fruitless. They never behave in any sort of way I can predict, honestly. And I thought I understood people."

He taps his chin, thinking back to his encounter with Sxicq that very morning.

"Their name is Sxicq. They're leaving the planet for a new one, and they claim all of us can come via some kind of craft. Oh, and if you want to get in their good graces, try buying them some food."

Garrot starts to nod, starts to reciprocate that sort of groan-reaction for Sxicq's unpredictability, but then there's that bombshell. Leaving the planet? And people can leave with some kind of craft???? He knew about the food thing, they had breakfast together, but this?

"Leaving?! Scientists have been trying to leave for years, and Sxicq just has the answer lying around? Tch." He scoffs, rolling his eyes. "That's fuckin' magic for you, I guess?" He can't think on it too much, because the scientist in him will go utterly mad. If some planet-leaving craft existed, they could've been using it forty years ago, when the Wizard first started causing problems! Or they could've reverse engineered it! This doctor knows magitek, and he'd love to see if there's truth to those claims. But Garrot puffs out his chest a bit, eager to reverse his awkward actions with an exchange.

"Sxicq's connected to the Protector and Wizard." There's a hint of eagerness in his voice, but he's not so excited as to declare that loudly. "They know our animal companions. They use magic to talk from far away. They were joking around with Xaljim and everything."

"They didn't have too many answers about the craft. Trust me, I tried to get them. I think they're supposed to be the ships that the Wizard and Protector used to get here." Luka shrugs. "Sxicq didn't know much else, like how to operate them or how many people they can transport. Just that they were big, and here."

Luka leans in with interest as Garrot shares his information.

"Connected, huh? I wonder exactly how. None of them seem to truly understand each other. They told me the information I knew was all wrong. Information both the Wizard and the Protector told me. It's a nightmare trying to figure out who to believe right now."

Garrot allows himself a curt little groan- of course Luka couldn't get anything about the weird crafts. But they're big, they're there, and they presumably worked well enough to get two people to the planet... if Luka's guesses are to be believed. But as the Princess continues lamenting the state of information, Garrot takes a moment to put a reassuring hand on one of Luka's shoulders. No force, no tension, just...

"Sxicq and the animals speak the same language. Saw it happen." He sighs, because there's an observable fact, rather than hearsay. Then that hand gives a gentle little squeeze. "Research is all about sifting through whatever a bunch of people think, and figuring out the truth. And I'm Murtacorp's head of Research and Development. Maybe I could help?"

"Another mind on the case wouldn't hurt. Especially if you're used to sifting through bullshit." Luka smiles. "There's a lot of it, but we're figuring things out."

"I have four kids. Two of 'em are teenagers." Garrot chuckles a bit at that, because yes, he's pretty used to bullshit. "You and Olivia can figure out what you know for sure, and then after we meet with the Protector we'll, y'know, see if anything makes sense." But then Garrot'll put a half-step of distance between them.

"Should we catch up with the others?"

"Ah, so you're an expert." Luka laughs. "I can't guarantee how much we know for sure, but getting up to speed with everyone we can trust is a good plan."

Luka nods at Garrot's proposition.

"We can't keep them deprived of our company too long, you know. They'll start to miss us."

Garrot grins almost audibly- he is an self-styled expert in many things, and bullshit may even outrank medicine! But he'll take that hand that was on Luka's shoulder and gently guide it down to the man's elbow until suddenly there's an arm bumping the Princess's fingertips!

"Yeah, or worse, we'll miss out on some great inside jokes!" He'll go so far as to take another half-step away, keeping that arm nearby in case Luka would like a guide. Or, well... "I can still carry you, if you think it'd be faster."

He's not letting that go, it makes him feel courageous and important!

Luka taps his chin, heavily considering the possibility. Surely everyone would know by now that Luka was quite capable of making the ascent himself, and that being seen being carried wouldn't give anyone the wrong idea.

"I think that would suit me. What kind of Princess has to climb a mountain on foot, anyway?"

Luka actually agreed! Wow! Garrot can't stop himself from letting out a boisterous laugh at the situation, one that might be a little loud for Luka so nearby.

"Now you're talkin'!" And suddenly, there's a hand on Luka's shoulder, the shoulder opposite Garrot's offered arm. But the hand is big and powerful and, uh, probably Garrot's because he does not seem alarmed. In fact, it's almost as if Garrot was waiting for this opportunity.

"Do you want a bridal carry, side-saddle on my shoulder, slung over my shoulder, or a basic piggyback ride?" The new Garrot is clearly very excited, because he rattled all of those off immediately, like it was nothing. Like he regularly offers to carry people. "Or should I surprise you?"

"Surprise me." Luka replies with little hesitation once the option is presented. "But if you do any damage to my hair our outfit I'm sending you an invoice."

He's joking, maybe.

Garrot just laughs, deep and almost... villainous?

"Don't move." The words are calm and confident, and suddenly the Garrots are lifting Luka onto one's shoulders. The other delivers a swift pat to Luka's backside, shoving him up against carrier-Garrot's head. Despite the absurdity of the motion, carrier-unfazed, even going to far as to chuckle.

"If you bill me because the wind messed up your hair, does that make me a force of nature?" The question, asked as the doctor starts to walk at a rather brisk pace, sounds completely serious. You're now a captive audience to bad dad jokes, Princess.

!

Luka is clearly taken aback by the swift, sudden motions in which he is launched up on to Garrot's back. He's rarely manhandled like this - most people were afraid to even touch him, even when he explicitly invites them to. But Garrot acted without a moments hesitation!

He's rendered speechless while he processes what exactly just happened, and where he is now. Garrot's first joke even falls on deaf ears momentarily, until Luka snaps back.

"I think that's more Haizea's thing, no?" He laughs. "I wouldn't blame you for the wind. A stray tree branch, though? I imagine that's more avoidable."

While Garrot's arms are busy holding onto Luka's legs, his clone shifts from shoving Luka into place to firmly resting its hand against Luka's back. Falling out of your mobile tower isn't an option, Princess.

"You'll be fine, I'll stay away from the trees." It's a nearly dismissive retort, but it's not like it'd be difficult to do. Worst case, he can just insulate Luka between more Garrots! "You'll feel like you're on top of the world later, but right now... how's the weather up there?"

Garrot will not discard an opportunity to make a tall joke at someone else. This is incredibly rare!

"Not bad. Not bad at all." He says, laughing in response. He's sure they must make a ridiculous sight, but this definitely beats walking.

"Aren't there a lot of trees around?" Maybe the mountainside wasn't what he had thought. "And, well, how much experience do you have carrying people around like this?"

Screw how they look, everyone should know that Luka doesn't know, and Garrot doesn't care. There are probably at least a few viral pictures of him in those jeggings. This is nothing.

"I've raised four kids, I'm a master martial artist, and I know a lot about wrestling moves." He won't say he moonlights as a masked wrestler, but he totally does. His grin is almost audible, though. "You're completely safe." The supporting Garrot pats Luka on the back as emphasis. "There are some trees, but it's not, like, a forest. Besides, if I can't avoid one, I'll just have you lean back." A beat. "Like a sit-up!"

Has Luka ever done a sit-up? Garrot has no idea.

Easier said than done, Garrot - Luka has an image to maintain. But today he's going to allow the tight leash he keeps on that aspect of his life to slack a little bit, since this was just so convenient. (Though this was hardly anything compared to the video of him being decked in the face that's currently all over the internet, but that's beside the point.)

"Is this a wrestling move?" He ponders aloud. Wrestling was not a topic Luka had much experience with, clearly. He's distracted from the thought when Garrot suggests his method for dodging obstacles.

"That's putting a lot of faith in my core strength. Let's test it!" There's a deviant excitement in his tone. He had to admit, that did sound fun and he trusted Garrot enough not to let him fall.

Garrot scoffs, restraining a chuckle at Luka's uncertainty. Admittedly, there's probably a difference between seeing a wrestling move, experiencing one, and knowing one on sensation alone. But then the Princess slides into gleeful abandon, offering to test his little plan. So Garrot stops, to make sure nothing goes wrong (dropping the Princess would be bad, obviously!), and then he just starts laughing.

"Really?!" It sounds like he can barely believe it, but the Monkey Knight is definitely amused. "Go for it!" Then the carrying Garrot shifts his hands slightly before establishing a firm grip on Luka's legs, all fingertip, no claw. Then, the supporting Garrot shifts his stance, extending both arms back into the space where Luka would be if he fell, before loosing a mischievous little giggle.

"I've got you." Two Garrots is probably more than safe enough for a sit-up, right?

"Yeah!" Luka replies with enthusiasm. "As long as you don't let me drop!"

On Garrot's word he leans back suddenly. Luka feels his weight shift as his body position changes, and momentarily feels as though he might actually fall - the same feeling as when you lean just a little too far back in your chair. He scrambles back up as fast as he can, clinging to Garrot's shoulders like a seasick sailor who just found dry land.

And then he bursts out laughing.

The Weather

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