(Daedalus)

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

I could argue the point, but to be honest, I'm too lazy at the moment and I'm not convinced it will do any good.

"Righ', weh, les' dismember da thin' an' bury da innividul par's," I say. "Das da bes' I go' fuh yuh."

I step over to the mech and use Irene's claw hand to work on the Exosuit's left arm. I pinch at the shoulder joint under the arm to avoid the shoulder armor. It's an awkward angle and a tight fit, but it's the only thing I can think to do. After a little worming and several leverage-less pinches, I manage to get the arm of the suit off.

That's one. I move on to the left leg.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

I watch Oblitus dig a hasty grave, unable to shake the feeling that I am missing something significant and not caring enough to ask.

When he asks if I have any ideas, I make Irene shrug. "We cou' al'ays jus' leave. Mebbe ah's missin' som'in', bu' ah don' see no reason tuh hide anythin'. A' dis poin', if any authorities was aler'ed, we won' be able tuh hi' dis fas' enough, an' if we's been followed as I suspec', dey prolly know a'eady. I think i' woul' be simmler to jus' fin' Olis an' leave."

Personally, I think it would be better to limit access to the Masters, at least early on in the game. For one thing, at this point, we only know of six. While the RPG would not necessarily have to adhere to that, I think it would keep the Masters special and powerful if they were limited in number.

And actually, I think it would be interesting if the initial goal would be to summon the Masters, but the Protectors don't know how. The PCs would have to travel the island to find the ritual (or something like that), and then once the Masters are summoned, they could be given as rewards to players.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

I'm not exactly sure how this is evidence, or why it's evidence, but I use Irene's claw hand to try to pry crumpled bits of cockpit out of the way so Oblitus can reach in to do whatever he's planning on doing.

I suppose you peeps haven't seen his posts around the forums? He does that--well, I don't want to say frequently, because that wouldn't be true, but he doesn't do it infrequently, if that makes any sense.

As for the elements... I don't know. I just don't think about them very much. I think that's partially because I'm just not very creative when it comes to writing battles (and thus I don't try to do crazy weird stuff with them), but also because I've never been in a situation in which I had to think about it.

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

I felt rather foolish at my misunderstanding, and my response of "Ah, I see" was inadequate to cover my momentary embarrassment.

"Well, in that case, I can see no reason not to attempt it," I continued. I considered asking why he could not simply create the shields around the lasers and walk through, but I quickly dismissed the question. He was more familiar with his element than I. I supposed that creating a shield to encase the beams without tripping them and without moving the shadow shields was no simple task.

I took a deep breath. I was still nervous about this, but less so now that we had a plan. I decided it was time to get this over with.

"I am ready to move you when you are ready to be moved," I said.

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

"I... suppose," I said hesitantly. "I have not had many occasions to lift other beings, particularly those as large as you are, though I could certainly try. However, your plan relies heavily on the assumption that only we--that is to say, only living begins--can trigger the lasers, if, of course, they are only triggers. How can you be certain that your shadow shields will not also trigger the lasers?"

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

"I am a Toa of Psionics," I said. "What is your plan?"

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

"I asked myself that very same question, though in the absence of a means to find out one way or the other, I am not sure that the answer is entirely relevant," I replied. "I presume that either would prove dangerous, the former just, perhaps, more immediately so. I do not desire to discover the answer, however, and would much prefer crossing the room while altogether avoiding the beams." I looked back at the beams and swiped at my cheeks. "Provided, of course, that it is possible to avoid the beams."

I shifted on my feet, aware that we should move forward, but afraid to do so. I tried to tell myself that I would have to cross eventually, so I should just do it now and get it over with, but I was, for the moment, unable to move.

 

 

OOC: Are these lasers moving?

 

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

 

I was going to try to add some tension or try to evoke a greater amount of sympathy from you, dear reader, by saying that I had never before faced something as potentially dangerous as this room full of lasers. However, it would be both untrue and, I imagine, ineffective, considering my companions are, at this moment, most likely facing similar (if not greater) dangers.

 

Regardless, I felt a significant amount of fear, and my adorable companion was not present to comfort me. I am not particularly limber, and I feared that traversing these lasers would be dangerous. I was also curious as to what these lasers did. Were they high concentrations of energy, and thus efficient at burning dismemberment, or did they trigger something?

 

"This is problematic," I said, my voice quivering as I studying the lasers. "I suppose our only choice is to cross the room as carefully as we are able."

 

The lasers do not move, not. They're more like triggers; walking into them won't hurt, but it will activate a security system. Probably could have worded it better but I've been exhausted even more than usual this week.

 

I thought that was the case, but from what little I've determined of Von Worten's past so far, if lasers existed at all in her world/dimension, she never saw them. She knows what they are from her book, but not enough to know how they work or what they do.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

I wrestle with Irene as her backpedal triggers a lockup in her left knee, which prevents it from fully extending. This keeps us stumbling backward until we hit a tree, at which point I struggle to get her upright on her right leg. I bend the right knee and plant the left foot in the ground, and then I begin trying to straighten it again, this time wiggle it back and forth, using the ground for leverage. All the while, Oblitus and Plant Person continue fighting.

When Irene's leg finally works its kink out with a frightening snap and grind, I am able to straighten her and move properly. I run forward and swing my drill arm overhead, aiming to club the Exosuit as it falls to the ground.

OOC: Are these lasers moving?

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

I was going to try to add some tension or try to evoke a greater amount of sympathy from you, dear reader, by saying that I had never before faced something as potentially dangerous as this room full of lasers. However, it would be both untrue and, I imagine, ineffective, considering my companions are, at this moment, most likely facing similar (if not greater) dangers.

Regardless, I felt a significant amount of fear, and my adorable companion was not present to comfort me. I am not particularly limber, and I feared that traversing these lasers would be dangerous. I was also curious as to what these lasers did. Were they high concentrations of energy, and thus efficient at burning dismemberment, or did they trigger something?

"This is problematic," I said, my voice quivering as I studying the lasers. "I suppose our only choice is to cross the room as carefully as we are able."

I would totally join a Mass Effect RPG.

It would probably be easiest to set it during the Reaper War (and by that I mean during the events of Mass Effect 3; I'm not sure if the whole time span of all three games is referred to as the Reaper War) because a lot could be done within that. Setting it after Mass Effect 3 would be possible and interesting, but it would be harder to come up with a plot (not necessarily a bad thing).

Anyway, yeah. A Mass Effect RPG. That would be awesome.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

I cannot decide if I should be impressed or annoyed at this individual's rather acute hearing (I suppose he could be a De-Matoran, but the vines would seem to suggest otherwise). I consider going for another attack, but the Exosuit shoots at Oblitus, and Oblitus shoots back, and now there's a lot of shrapnel flying our way. I don't want to get caught in the blast, so I backpedal quickly and wait to see if the attack lands.

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

I cannot say what drove me to simply walk into the maze. It might have been Nocton's silence (though that could very well have been not reality) or some strange, nervous desire on my part to see what lay beyond. Besides, despite my apprehension, I wanted to get moving. Staying still would do no one any good.

I was in the maze. Now I just had to see if that map would help.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

As I move along, I hear, in the distance, a ruckus not unlike an Exosuit stomping around. I know immediately that that is not Oblitus. He's too smart for that. However, I am curious as to who else might be out here. They could make things... difficult.

Just about the time the ruckus stops, I angle in the direction I last heard the Exosuit. As I near the area, almost certainly undetected due to Irene's Volitak-induced quietness, I can barely make out voices. I don't recognize either, but I can't hear them well enough to identify them. Could be Oblitus or Olis, or both, or neither.

Then I see them: Oblitus' Exo, across from me and facing me, and another one that I don't recognize, facing away. Could be Olis.

But then, unless I seriously misjudged Olis, he wouldn't attack Oblitus.

I don't like fighting--too much work on my part--and I technically don't owe Oblitus a thing. However, at this point, I'm too invested in this weird "heart of a god" thing to just walk away. I want to see where it goes.

With the blankest expression I can muster, I charge silently from between two trees behind the mysterious Exo, drill arm extended to ram into Oblitus' attacker.

OOC: Ingrayv attacking Xairez.

Yeah, but... could an ice dagger withstand that kind of force?

OOC: Aaaaaand I just realized I haven't actually posted here in a while.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

I am still just off the road outside the city, but I am growing tired of sitting around. While I normally enjoy a sedentary lifestyle, when I'm on a mission, I like to be on a mission, mainly because it's too easy to not want to do anything else if I sit around for too long.

I stand up with a grunt and pat Irene's leg, just above the barely legible engraving that labels the Exosuit as The Rosteimer. I can't recall why I had originally named her that, but while it's fitting, she's too close to me for me to call her something so... ugly. Irene fits her better, I think.

"Don't know where the others have gone," I sat, pulling myself up into the cockpit. "And I haven't the foggiest idea where they might be. Maybe..."

They probably used different exits, which means they could be anywhere outside the city. I guess there's one way to find out.

I begin moving around the city in a counter-clockwise direction, scanning the walls as well as the jungle immediately around me.

I finally dropped A Man Called Blessed. I wanted to see what would come of the main plot/conflict, but the typical-of-Ted-Dekker characters were starting to get on my nerves, and I already knew how much of the book was going to turn out (a bit of irony, really, as many of Dekker's later books would become known (at least for me) for their surprising twists). Basically, it was kind of boring.

So instead I read Never Let You Go by Erin Healy. Despite a few "What in the world?" moments (the good kind) toward the beginning, this book has a fairly slow buildup, but about halfway (maybe two thirds of the way in) in, things pick up and stay exciting. Even if it stayed somewhat slow, though, it would be worth the read, as Healy does an excellent job with making very real characters. The plot is done well, though I have a soft spot for plots that deal strongly with love and forgiveness.

Interestingly enough, Erin Healy's first two books (Kiss, which I have read (it is also a really good book), and Burn, which, sadly, I have not read) were coauthored by Ted Dekker, and if it wasn't for that, I probably never would have read her works, which would have been a shame.

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

I have never before been in a position in which I volunteered or was forced to lead. This was due, in part, to the fact that much of my life was spent in a wasteland with very few occupants, but also because I and the few who knew me were conscious of my inability to lead (though Saphira often communicated to me her belief that I could have led, should I truly desire to). Though it pains me to say, I simply lacked the fortitude and the decision-making skills necessary for such a position.

All of these thoughts came to my mind in the moment Nocton asked, "Now what?"

Now please, dear reader, do not misunderstand. I did not immediately assume that he was asking for me to take charge and lead us into the maze. Such an assumption would be baseless and nearly self-serving. However, the implication, however distant and obscure, that I might have to take the lead, especially with my (potentially) greater knowledge of the maze's layout, froze me momentarily, and I stood dumbly, my rapidly blinking eyes pushing tears quickly down my cheeks.

"Now what?" I repeated. "Now... what?" I looked at the entrance to the maze. "I suppose... I suppose our only possible course of action is to embark on this mission and try to emerge on the other side of these twisting pathways with our lives and our sanity intact."

I think Roman pretty well covered what I was going to mention. Mainly that there were far too many locations. I'd also like to see a little more plot. While mechs and big aliens beating the tarnation out of each other might make for a good spectacle, I think an RPG needs a little more than that.

Also, I think it would help if you had a section (or sections) dedicated to the Jaegers and Kaiju. At the moment, you have brief descriptions for the different types, but the placement under Profile Guidelines seems a little strange. It'd be easier to spot under a Jaegers or Kaiju heading (maybe something like in Matoran Und Panzer; not the same exact thing, of course, and it doesn't have to be very in-depth,  but something that's easier to spot).

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

I had already begun memorization of the rather interesting poem before the Queen ordered me to memorize it, so another quick reread was all I needed to implant the words permanently in my mind. I had devoted much of my contemplative thought to figuring out the poem, not so much because I was interested in unlocking the meaning of the poem, though I certainly was, but more because it kept my typically wandering mind from dwelling on other things.

It was because of this deep thought that I was rather startled by the sudden shifting of things. I remember walking to the path on the far left (though the nature of my intent is hard to recall, as even now I cannot imagine desiring to separate from the safety of a large group in such a dangerous area. My fears were exacerbated by the reappearance of that strange mind speaking to us, and then everything was shifting and changing and suddenly I was being jerked to the floor by a violent halt. I pulled myself to my feet, nearly panicking when I could not immediately locate my book (though, thankfully, it had merely fallen behind me, and I was able to quickly retrieve my precious possession). I noticed then that I was alone with Nocton in a small square room with a single exit and none of the others in sight.

"What...?"

I was unable to utter any other words, confused as I was by the sudden change. I realized now that this was going to be a difficult task. Immediately, I began bringing to the surface of my mind the carving of the maze. I was unsure how helpful it would be, but I saw no harm in trying to use it.

IC: Von Worten (Queen's Quest)

"I've seen poems like these in my book!" I blurted out. "I always love those. I'm just not very good at figuring them out. They tend to be beyond my ability to interpret."

My previous worries were temporarily forgotten as my eyes scanned the lines over and over. I wanted to discover the meaning of this poem, though I knew that, without a doubt, if I were able to, it would take some time for me to figure it out, time I was not sure I had. Still, I reread the poem several times in hopes of memorizing it.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Just outside Vingt)

I stifle a yawn as I sit on the ground and lean against Irene's leg. We are a short distance from the city gates, and so far, I have seen no sign of Oblitus. I consider the possibility that he was followed and captured, but there is no way for me to know that for sure, and I don't fancy going back into the city to try to find out. Besides, I'm trying to keep an eye out for anyone following me.

So I sit and wait, smoking. And yawning.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Vingt)

Irene continues not-clunking toward the gates. I maintain a steady speed and I throw on my most bored expression, which really isn't that hard when that's my default expression. The gates loom in front of me. I give a nod to a guard and just keep walking.

I'm passing through the gates, and so far, nothing has happened. I may just get out of here. Now I just have to wait for Oblitus and Olis to show up.