station72 | [mission: hyrypia] and when our bottles and all we are fill’d with immortality

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[mission: hyrypia] and when our bottles and all we are fill’d with immortality

CHARACTERS: The Barithian Hunters (and anyone sneaking along)
WHERE: Hyrypia - The Finger Maze
WHEN: DAY :018
SUMMARY: The barithian hunt leads into the depths of the Finger Maze.
WARNINGS: Violence. Animal slaughter. Character death. Need a warning added? PM this account please!

THE FINGER MAZE
DAY :018
IN MORNING'S PRE-DAWN GRAY the camp is far more subdued than on preceding days. There's no music, breakfast is a quiet and simple affair, and the servants are hushed as they go about their duties. Before the sun has even fully risen, the members of the Envoys participating in the hunt make their way to their mounts. When they arrive they are given a speech that seems practiced - likely only a slight modification of something that the Elinmaster has said many times before. The group - just under forty hunters kitted out with all of the weapons and traps they have had time to learn in their days on the graze - is brought to the fenceline running parallel to the technomagical barrier which guards the mouth of the Finger Maze proper. In the fence is a plain gate. Once the hunting party is gathered there, it opens. A slash in the technomagical barrier disintegrates before them and the smell of ozone evaporates or is carried into the twisting depths of the Maze by the wind howling mournfully inward from off the Graze. The Elinmaster leads the hunting party through the gap.

Once on the other side, the party draws pauses until the technomagical barrier rises once more behind them. No crowds today. No onlookers (unless they're being especially industrious). Then the Elinmaster brings a familiar sounding horn to their lips. It's long, low wailing note echoes down into the maze and splinters down the endless twisting pathways. With that, the hunt begins.

INTO THE LABYRINTH
I. THE STAGING GROUND
HERE IS HOW YOU HUNT A BARITHIAN, explains the Elinmaster. First, a field of battle needs to be chosen - and it's always better to know the ground you're fighting on than to be caught unawares in unfamiliar territory. The hunting party will need to establish a fall back position inside the canyon that's advantageous to them, at which point it will be lain with all manner of traps. Memorize it. You'll want to know every nook and cranny when you return here under duress.

Plan your routes and lay your traps. You do remember how to set them, don't you?

II. BY THE TAIL
WITH THE STAGE SET, only the star is lacking - or the villain is. But the Finger Maze is a vast labyrinthine space that stretches on for miles. Finding the Barithian, even as large as it is, presents a challenge - perhaps the second greatest challenge of the hunt. It is time for the hunters to separate. Some go off alone, some travel in small groups. Each is equipped with a small version of the horn that had summoned them to this work in the first place. Their task is simple and herculean: to search the maze for signs of the beast and locate it, then to draw its attention and lure it back into the staging ground. Lastly, they must send out the call to summon the rest of the party to rendezvous meet them where the chase will end. However, only one route leads to the barithian. Perhaps--

a) There were signs - a bone, a tell-tale scrape on the canyon walls, a corridor of felled coral. It was difficult to tell from the back of the Elin, so it made sense in the moment to dismount and check more closely. --At least, it made sense right up until now when you suddenly hear something. Something-- big. Its footfalls shake the floor under your feet; its heavy breath snorts out of its multiple sets of nostrils with a wet visceral sound. You can’t go back the way you came - the trembling footfalls seem to come from that direction. Luckily, there's a narrow cave opening in the canyon wall right there.

Inside is dark. The cave goes very deep indeed - so deep that after a time you can smell the promise of fresh air again. Maybe there's another exit? Which is good, since the way you entered is no longer an option: the beast is there, it's massive forepaws clawing into the stone on either side of the cave entrance and its huge mutli-nostriled nose sucking in big, gulping breaths.

b) ((OOC NOTE: first come first serve)) You find the Barithian. Even with its great hulking back turned to you, it's awe-inspiring. Terrifying. The Elinmaster's assistants had described it on the way in, but their words failed to convey the details. It's disturbingly massive - mammothian, even -, its six legs coiled tight with muscle, and strong, sharp claws on each of the massive paws. You have to get it’s attention. How you do it is up to you, but you know that the moment it turns its massive head toward you with its beady eyes hidden behind a broad, triangular face plate and its multinostrils flaring with a horrible groaning noise that it's time to get a move on.

c) Your search has turned up nothing - but that's not surprising is it? The maze is huge. Not everyone could strike gold. Hell, not everyone would even want to. It’s almost a relief until you hear it: the low, moan of the signal horn echoing through the maze-like canyon. You need to get back to the staging ground and you need to go fast - or risk leaving the other hosts to face the beast alone.

III. THE BATTLE
THE HORN DOES ITS JOB. By the time the hosts unlucky enough to have the tiger by its tail come riding back into the staging ground, many members of the hunting party have already returned and are armed, if not ready, for when the creature comes barreling in behind them. It shakes the brittle bone coral with the weight of its galloping footfalls and makes a deep, low sonorous noises that echoes down the stone walls. With its ire raised, the barithian is even more fearsome than it had seemed from a distance. It’s size and strength are undeniable up close. The creature tears great mounds of earth up under its clawed feet and there's a mesmerizing, horrific quality to the flash of filtered canyon light off its sharp teeth.

The riders are now tasked with the last phase of the challenge - kill or be killed, using the weapons and techniques they have learned in their time here. And hey, maybe you have a few non-Hyrypian tricks up your sleeves you can play with some subtlety. Fighting fair seems less than ideal when one of those huge paws comes swiping right at you.

IV. THE FRUIT OF DIPLOMACY
'DON'T GET CLOSE TO THE HEAD,' had seemed like an easy to follow rule back on the Graze, but the reality of facing down with the barithian is far more complicated. And despite being slowed by the environment, the traps laid for it, countless spears jutting from its dense marbled hide, here in its last moments the great beast is at its most dangerous. Maybe someone gets over confidant. Maybe it's just general exhaustion. Maybe it seems like the barithian is staggering when really it's turning for one final, deadly snap of its ferocious jaws.

It bowls three riders from their Elin with one swipe from its massive paw - mechanics twisting and bursting with brilliant flares of released technomagical energy - then lunges for the felled hunters left in the wake of their ruined mounts. A Descendant throws up both arms in some lunatic, useless defense mechanism. Beside her, Lavellan drives the blunt end of his spear into the ground and braces the shaft across his knee. The Barithian drives itself down on the point of the spear, snaps down on his arm by reflex and then recoils - tossing him clear like a horrifying rag doll as the great animal thrashes.

There's an immediate, palpable, indescribable POP! A ship being hulled and all the air sucked out of into into the vacuum of space. A glass bauble splitting into a hundred thousand pieces on some distant stone floor. A seam splitting. A branch snapped across the knee. And then there's nothing left at all except the frothing barithian snapping out those nearest i to it.

V. THE RETURN
THE RIDE BACK TO THE CAMP seems to take twice as long as the one they took to the Finger Maze - though it hardly seems long enough, knowing what lies at the end. Certainly the other Hosts will have felt Lavellan's death, but you know what they say. Seeing is believing.

It doesn’t matter. The camp awaits their return regardless. As they ride through the gate again one of the massive technomagically driven wagons passes them, headed into the maze to retrieve their kill. Once they reach the edges of the encampment, the atmosphere there remains subdied. While the other Envoys and Hyrypian hosts might not know the nitty gritty details, the certainly seem to have considered the possibility of things going badly. There is food, drink, and eventually even some gentle, sober music, however the evening is quiet and many of the envoys retreat to their own tents rather than remain in the public spaces.

Some victories are not celebrated.

((OOC Notes: This log covers the barithian hunt and any relating events that take place on DAY :018. You can find information about the hunt and ask event specific questions HERE.

Have more generalized questions? Drop them on the MISSION: HYRYPIA OOC POST or get in touch with us on the Mod Contact page.))

NAVIGATION • GAME CALENDAR • MISSION: HYRYPIA • FAQ
• MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The pair of bandits have continued on towards the entrance of the cave, looking down at disturbed rubble and sandy bootprints. But they'll be back soon enough, driving any guests deeper in to the tunnels as they make their sweep.

It seems all in their favor to them, they know the tunnels better than anyone. ]

[He follows suit, remaining quiet until Annie urges him to move. He's only steps behind her, his eyes flickering back to the bandits, before focusing back on his broodmate.]

(Don't know about the monster, but I'm pretty sure we could take on a few bandits if we really had to.)

[Though he's not one to tempt fate, and it'd be easier to remain stealthy that to cause a ruckus in the end.]

(I'm right behind you. Watch your step.)

[Don't kick a rock or a bone or anything that'll make too big of a noise.]

( Don't tell me how to do my job. )

[ A dull reprimand. Just because he can fucking cheat and warp didn't mean the rest of them were clods. She follows the tunnel in deeper, looking this and way that, and wishing that she could have gone back out the way they came because they're about to get fucking lost without any way of knowing if they were just going to stumble into more thieves. ]

( I'm more concerned about it being more than just a couple bandits, getting pinned down in close quarters isn't my favorite game. )

(Don't snap at me.)

[-he responds, snappishly.]

(I'm just trying to be cautious. And if we do get pinned down, it's not like we can't rely on my magic to get out of it.)

[At least, he hopes. He doesn't want to be overconfident, though he's pretty sure that a flurry of spears would not be enough to give his Armiger any issue.]

(If you need a weapon, let me know.)

( You want to hear fuckin' snapping? )

[ They sound like an old married couple, and this is not 100% lost on her as she grumbles. ]

( This isn't what I came in here for. )

[By some way of miracle does Noctis manage to not reply with something even more childish like, "I'm not scared of you". He might have the mind of a 20 year old (or 18 or 17) but at least he knows when to curtail the need to argue for the sake of focusing on other matters.

Such as how these caves stretched onwards, covered in a length of shadow. It reminds him of home, in some ways, when they explored deep, dangerous places crawling with daemons.]

(What are we looking for?)

[He has an idea. They spoke about it before.]

(The source, right?)

( Yeah, was hoping. I figured that's what the barrier was for, but-- )

[ She pokes around a corner, looking down a long drop and having to double back to a different fork. ]

( Looks more like it's to keep the monster in, not visitors out. )

[Doubling back it is, then. Noctis extends a gloved hand, idly, touching at the cavern walls as they follow this new path.]

(So what do you plan on doing if we find what we’re looking for, anyway? Are you going to, like… commune with the planet or something?)

[Can she? It almost sounds too fantastical to be reasonable.]

( Fuck, I don't know, I just figure out of any of us I'm probably the one who can get on that wavelength. )

[ Although as they continue to wander into deeper and smaller tunnels... ]

( Shows how much I know though, there's fuck all down here but thieves and idiots probably. )

Edited (that was a weird type) 2017-10-16 03:46 (UTC)

[So then she's just as clueless as he is, he figures. But Annie's right about her being the only one between the two of them to remotely, potentially be useful should the stumble across anything worth poking around in. Noctis is just along for the ride, apparently, for the sake of being another pair of eyes and a potential blade against roving bandits.]

(Better than not investigating at all. Thieves and idiots don't scare me.)

[A pause.]

(Just hope we can find our way back out when the time comes.)

( What, underground navigation isn't one of your fuckin' secret prince skills? )

[ She rolls her eyes lazily. The very tip of her foot brushes something and she comes to an abrupt stop, having to spread her hands and catch at the sides of the tunnel to stop Noctis from knocking her over. ]

( Mother-- fuck-- fucking-- shit-- fuck-- )

[He nearly does run into her, the sudden stop making him blink wth confusion and tense all the same. He stops just short of it, his face practically in her hair.

Alarm spikes.]

(What? What the hell is it?)

( Trip wire. Could you possibly *not* knock me over? )

[ She's balanced on her toes, hands spread. ]

(Gods, Annie-)

[This is a hand coming out to grab at her shoulder, to help steady her and put her squarely back on her feet, more balanced.]

(More bandits, you think?)

( Probably an alarm. )

[ She licks her lips, irritated with all of this. ]

( Maybe we shoulda just beat up the first two when we had the chance. )

[ See. This is what happens when you try to eschew violence. She feels very vindicated right now. ]

(Or we could just... step over it, instead.)

[And keep an eye out for more. He's not sure if this is promising or not, that there's more evidence of people scurrying about here.]

(And be extra cautious.)

( That's not what I mean! )

[ She glares over her shoulder at him for a second, and then does pointedly step over the cord. ]

( I mean, that there are probably more of them down this very particular tunnel, so now we have to be aware of what's in front and behind. Dickhead. )

[He nearly rolls his eyes.]

(Stop calling me "dickhead".)

[He steps over the cord as well, quite easily when he knows exactly where it is. He wonders if he would've been observant enough to catch it if he were the one leading.]

(Then keep your eyes on the ground. I'll let you know if I see anything, too.)

( Make me. )

[ Lest... we forget... she's still trying to give him the cold shoulder... She doesn't agree about who should do what, she's focused much too sharply to even contemplate the idea that she's not the point guard here.

They continue forward into the darkness, finally coming out into some kind of open space. The 'path' they've been following becomes little more than a ledge, one half of it leading up, the other down. And down in the bottom are the tents. ]

( Great. Bandit city. )

[He doesn't project it properly, but the notion of stop acting like a child practically vibrates out from his mind. (Pot, meet kettle.)

But he keeps quiet, walking through the darkness only steps behind her. Eventually, the tents below are impossible to miss once pointed out.]

(Not a lot of movement, though. We should head up and avoid them altogether.)

( We don't know where that goes, or if that stupid ledge will even hold our weight. )

[ She's scanning the area below. The minimum number of Rabos down there is five, and there could be plenty more out of her line of sight. Not to mention that if they engage the ones below, however many are out patrolling the tunnels will probably hear the echoes of it and come to join the fray.

Turning around will assuredly send them into the path of the two they avoided to begin with... So... ]

( Up it is. )

[ She starts to shuffle, back to the cavern wall, up the tiny ledge. She sure fucking hopes heading up will get them back out of here. ]

[His thoughts are exactly the same. That if they engage below, who knows how much more attention they'll draw? And going back the other way? Only the threat of the patrolling bandits lie in that direction, and he'd rather deal with the unknown of up than to risk a fight unless they really have to.]

(Right behind you.)

[And he is, even as the ledge becomes terribly small and precarious. Too late for regrets now, he thinks, even as Noctis presses his back up against the wall, scooting along slowly.]

(You're not afraid of heights are you?)

( What kind of bitch do you take me for? Do I look like I'm scared of anything? )

[ She was never scared for her own safety, it was others she worried about. The idea of others following her into danger, rather than being shepherded to safety. ]

( Shut up and climb. )

[ The ledge winds around the cavern, a torturously slow climb up and up, a trickle of dust and loose rock tumbling down after them. It's a quiet enough patter, not immediately noticeable but Annie still knows that anyone even halfway observant will catch the movement in the dark... She wants to do this faster... ]

( Just warp up there, fuck, why are you even following me. )

[Noctis hisses a little under his breath, hearing the clatter of a loose rock tumbling downwards. He sounds indignant in his response, back still pressed against the wall as he creeps along with Annie.]

(We should stick together. Besides, I have to toss my sword up there to warp, and it'll give off light... don't you think someone would notice?)

( So they notice, you could be fucking covering me from solid ground, you dumbass. )

[ Is that better than dickhead? ]

[mission: hyrypia] and when our bottles and all we are fill’d with immortality

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