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anemoi2011-10-04 12:14 am
stinglikeabat.livejournal.com) wrote in anemoi2011-10-04 12:14 am
Entry tags:
The word of the day is "goddammit Kotetsu"
Who: Kotetsu, Valvatorez, Saleh
What: Action! Adventure! Anemoi acquisition!
Where: Ruins northwest of Sirrocco.
When: Monday-ish?
Warnings: Mild violence, cruelty to animals.
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:09 PM) Y'all are in the ruins of what was formerly a much larger chunk of Sirocco
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:31 PM) There is a large office building to the south which appears to be mostly intact.
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:43 PM) There is a mailbox nearby.
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:50 PM) You may be eaten by a grue.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:35:02 PM) If nobody else is, Valvatorez is unconsciously taking point.
Badge: (9:35:43 PM) Kotetsu, after a less than gracious acceptance of certain team members, might be moping a bit as he follows along, hands in his pockets.
AlopexPlasma: (9:36:45 PM) There is a relatively nice reception area.
AlopexPlasma: (9:37:01 PM) Offices are visible behind the reception desk.
AlopexPlasma: (9:37:59 PM) There is also a couch and a rather lovely ornate rug in the vicinity.
AlopexPlasma: (9:38:15 PM) As well as a plant. The place is lousy with potted plants.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:38:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Nice decor."
Badge: (9:40:12 PM) Kotetsu: Geez. Ancient ruins should have secret passages and runes, not couches.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:40:51 PM) Valvatorez: "Regardless of the thematic inappropriateness of the scenery, we mustn't let our guard down."
Badge: (9:42:06 PM) Kotetsu: *mumbles* still feels like we oughta be signing a guest book or something.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:42:33 PM) Valvatorez considers this.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:42:45 PM) Then, he walks over to the reception desk and signs the guest book.
Badge: (9:42:54 PM) Kotetsu: I didn't ACTUALLY mean that!
hymnomancy: (9:43:17 PM) Saleh: "Are you two done wasting time?"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:43:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Still, it might be nice to have proof that we were here later."
Badge: (9:44:20 PM) Kotetsu blinks, then sighs. "I'm past figuring out if that makes sense or not. Let's just go." He glares a bit at Saleh as he moves.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:44:45 PM) Valvatorez: "Very well! Stick together, team."
AlopexPlasma: (9:44:58 PM) Remember that rug?
ZebulonCrispi: (9:45:00 PM) Valvatorez picks a hallway at random and begins dungoneering, assuming his comrades in arms will follow!
AlopexPlasma: (9:45:04 PM) Under it is a rather deep pit.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:45:20 PM) Valvatorez is now hanging from the edge of the pit by his fingertips.
Badge: (9:46:12 PM) Kotetsu: "O-oi! Hang on! Well, you can't really help that but YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:46:26 PM) Valvatorez: "Don't worry! I managed to catch the edge."
Badge: (9:46:33 PM) Kotetsu can't help but shake the feeling HE should've probably been the one in that situation, but details.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:46:44 PM) Valvatorez: "The warning is a bit late coming, but apparently there are traps in here."
hymnomancy: (9:46:56 PM) Saleh, having stuck to the back of the group, peers over the edge of the pit with seemingly no intention of helping Valvatorez. Kotetsu already has that covered.
hymnomancy: (9:47:02 PM) Saleh: "Now that's more like an ancient ruin, isn't it?"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:47:27 PM) "Quite." Valvatorez scrambles back up, dusting himself off.
Badge: (9:48:11 PM) Kotetsu WAS gonna help, but apparently his assistance was unnecessary. He crosses his arms instead. "What kinda office building has a pit trap, anyway?"
hymnomancy: (9:49:38 PM) Saleh rests a hand on his side. "This one. Haven't you been paying attention?"
Badge: (9:50:00 PM) Twitch. "Smartass."
ZebulonCrispi: (9:51:05 PM) Valvatorez: "Regardless, we should be looking out for more traps in the future."
ZebulonCrispi: (9:51:17 PM) Valvatorez: "First rule is to avoid suspicious rugs."
AlopexPlasma: (9:51:40 PM) Open hallways are to the right and left. Dead ahead lies an expanse of cubicles.
Badge: (9:53:08 PM) The cubicles give him vague mental images of work days wasted. Kotetsu spins his finger a bit before pointing... "That way." To the right, apparently.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:53:58 PM) To the right!
AlopexPlasma: (9:54:55 PM) Another crossroads of sorts! There is a large heavy door to the left, a slimmer door with an EXIT sign dead ahead, and another corridor to the right
ZebulonCrispi: (9:55:23 PM) Valvatorez: "If I were hiding treasure, that's the sort of door I'd hide it behind."
Badge: (9:57:02 PM) Kotetsu: You know, I THINK that's probably just a fire exit.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:58:01 PM) Valvatorez: "We shall see!"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:58:07 PM) Valvatorez throws the heavier door open!
Badge: (9:59:57 PM) Kotetsu: Ohhh, THAT door.
AlopexPlasma: (9:59:58 PM) It's one of those big fancy meeting rooms - half the available floor space is taken up by a giant table, there's a projector and screen on one wall, and the ubiquitous potted plants are larger.
AlopexPlasma: (10:00:09 PM) Six of the seats are occupied.
AlopexPlasma: (10:00:27 PM) By skeletons, still wearing the tattered remains of business suits.
Badge: (10:00:39 PM) Kotetsu: Yeeesh!
Badge: (10:00:46 PM) Kotetsu sports a very skeeved look.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:00:48 PM) Valvatorez: "How morbid."
hymnomancy: (10:01:07 PM) Saleh, on the other hand, is amused. "Oh my."
Badge: (10:01:29 PM) Kotetsu: Not the place I would've wanted to die in. The hell happened here?
AlopexPlasma: (10:01:42 PM) The table itself contains a scattering of papers and pens, a coffee pot, and a shoe-shaped figurine.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:01:55 PM) Valvatorez: "Whatever happened here, it happened fast enough that they didn't even have time to finish their meeting."
hymnomancy: (10:02:24 PM) Saleh: "Or they're just that dedicated to their work."
Badge: (10:02:52 PM) Kotetsu walks along the side of the table, frowning. "Geez, poor guys... hey, what's this?" He grabs the shoe-shaped figuring without thinking about it.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:03:03 PM) Valvatorez: "Wait!"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:03:07 PM) Alas, too late.
AlopexPlasma: (10:03:10 PM) As one, the skeletons stand up and advance on him.
AlopexPlasma: (10:03:19 PM) Who did not see that one coming?
AlopexPlasma: (10:03:27 PM) ....Aside from Kotetsu, naturally.
Badge: (10:03:40 PM) Kotetsu: ...Uh... Sorry, this yours?
AlopexPlasma: (10:04:25 PM) A skeleton in a pantsuit claws at his face. It doesn't look too chatty.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:04:36 PM) Valvatorez produces a straight-edged sword from... somewhere, and jumps up onto the table. "If it's a fight you want, then I'll be your opponent!"
Badge: (10:05:22 PM) Kotetsu darts back with a grimace. "Well, if you wanna it THAT badly..."
AlopexPlasma: (10:05:26 PM) The skeletons do not appreciate him tromping on their papers. He's now facing four of them.
Badge: (10:05:43 PM) He lobs it up into the air -- and promptly delivers a left hook.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:06:34 PM) Meanwhile, Val dashes across the table, ragged cape fluttering, and delivers a horizontal slash through Skeleton #2.
AlopexPlasma: (10:07:01 PM) Kotetsu's skeleton staggers. It's sporting a cracked headbone, but it's not out yet.
AlopexPlasma: (10:07:18 PM) #2, meanwhile, goes down in a heap of clattery bones.
Badge: (10:07:57 PM) Kotetsu: I got some more right here!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:08:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Hah! They're not so tough."
Badge: (10:08:23 PM) Followed by a right straight to the noggin.
hymnomancy: (10:08:44 PM) So reckless. Saleh watches the two from near the entrance, clearly not interested in taking action. That, and they seem to be handling themselves well enough. If stupidly.
AlopexPlasma: (10:10:24 PM) His fist goes clean through the aged bone. The skull is filled with a rather horrible gooey substance.
AlopexPlasma: (10:10:45 PM) It's dead (...?) for certain, but now it's trapped his hand.
Badge: (10:11:08 PM) "Ewwyeew! Geez, nobody mentioned the cream-filled center!" Kotetsu flails with one hand stuck in the skeleton and the other trying to catch the figurine.
Badge: (10:11:20 PM) It would've been so cool if the hand wasn't stuck like that...
ZebulonCrispi: (10:11:25 PM) Valvatorez: "Forget the shoe! There are still four left!"
hymnomancy: (10:11:37 PM) . . . heh. Saleh: "It's your doing, you know."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:11:55 PM) With that, Valvatorez flips into the air over the next skeleton, before delivering a blow from behind.
Badge: (10:12:09 PM) "You gonna yap or you gonna FRIGGIN' HELP?!" Kotetsu pushes against the dead skeleton to try to extract his hand.
AlopexPlasma: (10:12:14 PM) Three left!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:12:41 PM) Valvatorez: "Use the skeleton as a weapon if you have to!"
Badge: (10:15:39 PM) Oh, right! Kotetsu swings the trapped hand in a haymaker motion to the nearest living skeleton.
hymnomancy: (10:16:18 PM) "Oh, did you want to be saved that badly?" Chuckling, he steps toward and unsheathes his sword in a wide arc to knock a skeleton to the side.
AlopexPlasma: (10:18:18 PM) The skeleton flail pulverizes its former associate.
AlopexPlasma: (10:18:54 PM) Valvatorez is now facing one solo skeleton, the other having taken objection to the swatting.
AlopexPlasma: (10:19:15 PM) It's now climbing to its feet, eye sockets fixed on Saleh.
Badge: (10:19:33 PM) "Do you have to act like a snot about everything?" God, he hates this guy. He works towards extracting his hand again. Oh god squishy.
AlopexPlasma: (10:20:28 PM) When he finally manages it, there will be a key stuck to it with unmentionable gunk.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:20:38 PM) Ah, facing your enemy head on, man against man! This is how it's done.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:20:55 PM) Valvatorez charges the last remaining skeleton, he thrusts his sword directly into the skull!
Badge: (10:21:09 PM) Kotetsu: Eh..?
hymnomancy: (10:30:47 PM) The skeleton doesn't get the chance to stand back up. Saleh takes a stab at its skull before it unfolds its knees. He stomps down on its ribcage for a good measure, then turns his head in Kotetsu's direction. "What?"
Badge: (10:31:49 PM) Kotetsu shakes the worst of the brain gunk off, and looks at his acquisition. "Hey, lookit what I got!"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:32:13 PM) Valvatorez: "...Well done."
hymnomancy: (10:32:37 PM) Saleh: "And what do you suppose that's for?"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:32:46 PM) He then turns to the asshole who took so long to chip in!
Badge: (10:32:59 PM) Kotetsu: Only one way to find out.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:32:59 PM) Valvatorez: "You..."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:33:12 PM) Valvatorez: "...were waiting for the enemy to focus on us so that you could execute a brutal surprise attack, weren't you?"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:33:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Excellent work."
Badge: (10:33:25 PM) Kotetsu: ...
hymnomancy: (10:34:28 PM) Saleh: " . . . heh. I believe it's time we moved on."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:34:56 PM) Valvatorez: "Indeed! We'd better find out what this key goes with."
Badge: (10:35:38 PM) Kotetsu grumbles to himself about how "That's not how he would've put it" as he reaches for the figurine -- you never know, after all -- and heads back out of the room.
AlopexPlasma: (10:36:14 PM) outside, there is, as before, a hallway to the south and the entrance back east
AlopexPlasma: (10:36:25 PM) aaand the exit to the west
Badge: (10:38:02 PM) Kotetsu immediately heads down the hallway.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:39:09 PM) Valvatorez follows!
hymnomancy: (10:39:35 PM) As does Saleh.
AlopexPlasma: (10:39:39 PM) A suspended battering ram whooshes gently out of a nearby cubicle.
AlopexPlasma: (10:40:07 PM) As the party leader, Kotetsu is gonna bear the brunt of it unless someone acts fast.
Badge: (10:40:31 PM) Kotetsu: ?!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:41:09 PM) But wait!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:41:31 PM) Valvatorez leaps to the rescue, princess carrying Kotetsu safely out of harm's way.
Badge: (10:42:34 PM) There's something familiar about this that gets on Kotetsu's goat. "I could've dodged!"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:43:37 PM) Valvatorez: "Is that so! Then my assistance was unnecessary."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:43:59 PM) Valvatorez: "However! I promise here and now that all of us shall leave this building alive."
Badge: (10:46:17 PM) Kotetsu blinks. Then scratches his head. "Well, uh... I guess I can appreciate that sentiment..." He clears his throat. "Wanna put me down now?"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:46:29 PM) Valvatorez: "What? Oh."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:46:35 PM) Down goes Kotetsu.
Badge: (10:47:20 PM) Kotetsu gets on his feet, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. If he had any to begin with.
hymnomancy: (10:49:14 PM) And in comes Saleh once the ram poses no harm. Valvatorez can promise to keep them alive, but there's plenty a man can endure before he succumbs to death. "I wonder if you'll make it out in one piece?" Whom he means, he's not telling.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:49:59 PM) Valvatorez: "We shall."
Badge: (10:50:21 PM) Kotetsu: No matter how much some people apparently expect OTHERWISE...
hymnomancy: (10:52:06 PM) Saleh: "You say that like there's more than one."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:53:18 PM) Valvatorez: "Onwards!"
Badge: (10:54:25 PM) Kotetsu continues, more warily this time, his cap pulled a little further forward.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:54:34 PM) Valvatorez takes point.
AlopexPlasma: (10:54:53 PM) there's the deathcubicles to the east, several closed doors to the west, and a hallway behind the cubicles
ZebulonCrispi: (10:59:57 PM) Valvatorez: "Well, if that key unlocks something, it won't be in the cubicles..."
Badge: (11:00:40 PM) Kotetsu: You thinking west?
ZebulonCrispi: (11:00:51 PM) Valvatorez: "I am."
AlopexPlasma: (11:01:35 PM) There's three of them, equally spaced
ZebulonCrispi: (11:01:56 PM) Onward and forward! Center door.
AlopexPlasma: (11:02:21 PM) The center door is locked!
Badge: (11:02:34 PM) Kotetsu flattens himself on the wall next to the door, pulling out the key. "Okay, on the count of three. One... two..."
Badge: (11:04:11 PM) "...Three!" He sticks the key in the lock, turns, and flings the door open before pulling back.
Badge: (11:04:22 PM) ...assuming that was the key to the door, anyway...
AlopexPlasma: (11:04:42 PM) it sure is, and it's an ordinary executive office!
ZebulonCrispi: (11:04:42 PM) Valvatorez remains standing where he was.
Badge: (11:05:01 PM) Kotetsu peers around the corner. Carefully.
AlopexPlasma: (11:05:09 PM) It has fixtures - desk, rug, rolly chair....
AlopexPlasma: (11:05:29 PM) A safe on the wall, which was presumably covered by a painting at some point.
AlopexPlasma: (11:05:38 PM) (The painting is on the floor)
hymnomancy: (11:09:11 PM) Saleh approaches the open door, though he steps no farther than where Kotetsu is standing. "Ah. A rug." Brings back wondeful memories, doesn't it?
Badge: (11:09:42 PM) "We noticed." Kotetsu looks at Valvatorez, Go into together...?
ZebulonCrispi: (11:10:06 PM) "Wait." Valvatorez slips his sword underneath the edge of the rug, and flips it out of the way.
AlopexPlasma: (11:10:37 PM) A cockroach skitters out and flees under the desk.
AlopexPlasma: (11:10:51 PM) Nothing else of significance takes place.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:10:56 PM) Valvatorez: "...I suppose not every rug can be trapped."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:10:58 PM) In he goes.
Badge: (11:11:18 PM) Kotetsu follows, his eyes trained towards all parts of the room. The other shoe's gotta drop sooner or later.
hymnomancy: (11:12:18 PM) Tailed finally by Saleh, who doesn't pay the room much thought, or at least on the outside.
AlopexPlasma: (11:16:35 PM) There are no further obvious traps!
Badge: (11:17:55 PM) Kotetsu finally approaches the safe, carefully avoiding the painting. "Hmm. Any of you guys know anything about safecracking?"
AlopexPlasma: (11:18:32 PM) It's got one of those numberpad locks.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:18:37 PM) Valvatorez: "I don't remember, I'm afraid."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:20:06 PM) Valvatorez: "If we don't have the combination, we're just wasting our time here."
hymnomancy: (11:20:22 PM) Saleh: "Shall we move on?"
Badge: (11:20:26 PM) Kotetsu: Hang on, maybe they got some sorta clue in the room.
Badge: (11:20:33 PM) Kotetsu: Like, I dunno, in the desk or something.
hymnomancy: (11:23:14 PM) "And that thing you picked up earlier?" Because if not, that shoe-shaped figurine has been a waste of space so far.
Badge: (11:23:55 PM) Kotetsu: Eh?
Badge: (11:24:00 PM) Kotetsu looks at it carefully.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:24:21 PM) Valvatorez: "I'll check the painting! Somebody else check the desk."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:24:29 PM) Valvatorez carefully props the painting back up.
AlopexPlasma: (11:25:06 PM) The high-heeled shoe figurine is made of a clear material, and has a short, irregular tab on the bottom.
Badge: (11:25:27 PM) Kotetsu: Huh. Got kind of a weird sorta...
Badge: (11:25:29 PM) He fiddles with it.
AlopexPlasma: (11:28:06 PM) The painting is a painting very much like this one: http://s796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/NateFarwell/?action=view¤t=bowloffruit.jpg
ZebulonCrispi: (11:33:32 PM) Valvatorez scratches his chin thoughtfully.
Badge: (11:35:56 PM) Kotetsu glares at Salah. "Oi! You help out too!"
hymnomancy: (11:39:18 PM) "Oh, don't mind me. I'm simply astounded by how long it's taking you to inspect a piece of figurine." Kotetsu's words appear to have some effect, however, as Saleh turns to check the nearest desk.
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:21 PM) it's mostly incomprehensible expense reports
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:29 PM) a few pens
Badge: (11:43:34 PM) Kotetsu flicks at the tab on the shoe.
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:36 PM) and this, whatever it is http://s796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/NateFarwell/?action=view¤t=sudoclue.png
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:43 PM) the tab's pretty solid
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:50 PM) it's not going anywhere
Badge: (11:45:16 PM) "Tch. Useless piece 'a..." Kotetsu smacks it on the wall a couple times in annoyance.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:45:58 PM) Valvatorez peers at the piece of paper.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:46:07 PM) Valvatorez: "There's a mistake on this."
hymnomancy: (11:46:32 PM) Saleh eyes the paper. "Oh?"
AlopexPlasma: (11:46:41 PM) the shoe acquires a crack in the side
Badge: (11:47:21 PM) Kotetsu looks at it again, as if his act of petty attempts at property destruction would provide any sort of insight.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:47:41 PM) Valvatorez (To Saleh): "Here, give me that."
AlopexPlasma: (11:47:56 PM) kotetsu is fairly shit outta luck
ZebulonCrispi: (11:47:59 PM) Valvatorez grabs a red pen and scribbles a bit on the sudoku puzzle.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:48:25 PM) http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5619/sudolution.png
ZebulonCrispi: (11:48:34 PM) Valvatorez: "This is the correct solution."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:48:41 PM) Valvatorez: "...I wonder if it's a clue?"
ZebulonCrispi: (11:49:01 PM) Valvatorez: "Kotetsu! Try '825' on the safe!"
Badge: (11:49:03 PM) Kotetsu: Oh, you found something?
Badge: (11:49:11 PM) This may have saved the shoe from utter destruction. "Whatchya got?"
hymnomancy: (11:49:53 PM) Saleh: "8-2-5. Honestly."
Badge: (11:50:17 PM) Kotetsu: Yes sir!
Badge: (11:50:24 PM) Kotetsu immediately types the number into the safe.
AlopexPlasma: (11:50:50 PM) there is a promising click
Badge: (11:51:29 PM) He thumbs up the rest of them. Then opens the safe. ...keeping out of the way of the actual safe, mind.
AlopexPlasma: (11:52:33 PM) the safe contains a hole in the far side and a nest of paper scraps
AlopexPlasma: (11:52:40 PM) the nest contains a large packrat
Badge: (11:54:24 PM) Kotetsu: Oh you've GOTTA be...
ZebulonCrispi: (11:54:32 PM) Valvatorez: "Another waste of time?"
Badge: (11:54:47 PM) Kotetsu: There's a friggin' rat in here!
hymnomancy: (11:55:09 PM) Saleh: "I see that. How does it feel to know that you've been bested by a rat at some point in the past?"
Badge: (11:55:32 PM) Kotetsu shoots Saleh his best "bitch i will cut u" look before lobbing the shoe ornament at said rat.
AlopexPlasma: (11:56:35 PM) the rat squeals and flees down its tunnel
AlopexPlasma: (11:56:58 PM) in the space formerly occupied by said rodent is a cluster of familiar-lookin' gemstones
AlopexPlasma: (11:57:11 PM) also a heap of broken glass
Badge: (11:57:13 PM) Kotetsu: Eh...?
AlopexPlasma: (11:57:18 PM) nice going, kotetsu
ZebulonCrispi: (11:58:06 PM) Valvatorez: !
ZebulonCrispi: (11:58:17 PM) Valvatorez: "Those crystals!"
Badge: (11:58:23 PM) Kotetsu: Hey... are those...?
hymnomancy: (11:58:30 PM) Saleh: "They seem to be so."
Badge: (11:59:45 PM) Kotetsu: How about that, huh? Ha!
ZebulonCrispi: (11:59:59 PM) Valvatorez: "Well done, team!"
Badge: (12:00:26 AM) Kotetsu puts his hat on his hand and reaches in for the gems so he doesn't cut himself.
hymnomancy: (12:01:32 AM) Or get brain matter all over them. "Now then, it's about time we made our way back."
ZebulonCrispi: (12:01:49 AM) Valvatorez: "Indeed, we have what we came here for."
Badge: (12:03:04 AM) Kotetsu pulls them all out. "All right! I can't wait to see what I remember next!"
What: Action! Adventure! Anemoi acquisition!
Where: Ruins northwest of Sirrocco.
When: Monday-ish?
Warnings: Mild violence, cruelty to animals.
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:09 PM) Y'all are in the ruins of what was formerly a much larger chunk of Sirocco
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:31 PM) There is a large office building to the south which appears to be mostly intact.
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:43 PM) There is a mailbox nearby.
AlopexPlasma: (9:34:50 PM) You may be eaten by a grue.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:35:02 PM) If nobody else is, Valvatorez is unconsciously taking point.
Badge: (9:35:43 PM) Kotetsu, after a less than gracious acceptance of certain team members, might be moping a bit as he follows along, hands in his pockets.
AlopexPlasma: (9:36:45 PM) There is a relatively nice reception area.
AlopexPlasma: (9:37:01 PM) Offices are visible behind the reception desk.
AlopexPlasma: (9:37:59 PM) There is also a couch and a rather lovely ornate rug in the vicinity.
AlopexPlasma: (9:38:15 PM) As well as a plant. The place is lousy with potted plants.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:38:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Nice decor."
Badge: (9:40:12 PM) Kotetsu: Geez. Ancient ruins should have secret passages and runes, not couches.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:40:51 PM) Valvatorez: "Regardless of the thematic inappropriateness of the scenery, we mustn't let our guard down."
Badge: (9:42:06 PM) Kotetsu: *mumbles* still feels like we oughta be signing a guest book or something.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:42:33 PM) Valvatorez considers this.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:42:45 PM) Then, he walks over to the reception desk and signs the guest book.
Badge: (9:42:54 PM) Kotetsu: I didn't ACTUALLY mean that!
hymnomancy: (9:43:17 PM) Saleh: "Are you two done wasting time?"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:43:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Still, it might be nice to have proof that we were here later."
Badge: (9:44:20 PM) Kotetsu blinks, then sighs. "I'm past figuring out if that makes sense or not. Let's just go." He glares a bit at Saleh as he moves.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:44:45 PM) Valvatorez: "Very well! Stick together, team."
AlopexPlasma: (9:44:58 PM) Remember that rug?
ZebulonCrispi: (9:45:00 PM) Valvatorez picks a hallway at random and begins dungoneering, assuming his comrades in arms will follow!
AlopexPlasma: (9:45:04 PM) Under it is a rather deep pit.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:45:20 PM) Valvatorez is now hanging from the edge of the pit by his fingertips.
Badge: (9:46:12 PM) Kotetsu: "O-oi! Hang on! Well, you can't really help that but YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:46:26 PM) Valvatorez: "Don't worry! I managed to catch the edge."
Badge: (9:46:33 PM) Kotetsu can't help but shake the feeling HE should've probably been the one in that situation, but details.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:46:44 PM) Valvatorez: "The warning is a bit late coming, but apparently there are traps in here."
hymnomancy: (9:46:56 PM) Saleh, having stuck to the back of the group, peers over the edge of the pit with seemingly no intention of helping Valvatorez. Kotetsu already has that covered.
hymnomancy: (9:47:02 PM) Saleh: "Now that's more like an ancient ruin, isn't it?"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:47:27 PM) "Quite." Valvatorez scrambles back up, dusting himself off.
Badge: (9:48:11 PM) Kotetsu WAS gonna help, but apparently his assistance was unnecessary. He crosses his arms instead. "What kinda office building has a pit trap, anyway?"
hymnomancy: (9:49:38 PM) Saleh rests a hand on his side. "This one. Haven't you been paying attention?"
Badge: (9:50:00 PM) Twitch. "Smartass."
ZebulonCrispi: (9:51:05 PM) Valvatorez: "Regardless, we should be looking out for more traps in the future."
ZebulonCrispi: (9:51:17 PM) Valvatorez: "First rule is to avoid suspicious rugs."
AlopexPlasma: (9:51:40 PM) Open hallways are to the right and left. Dead ahead lies an expanse of cubicles.
Badge: (9:53:08 PM) The cubicles give him vague mental images of work days wasted. Kotetsu spins his finger a bit before pointing... "That way." To the right, apparently.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:53:58 PM) To the right!
AlopexPlasma: (9:54:55 PM) Another crossroads of sorts! There is a large heavy door to the left, a slimmer door with an EXIT sign dead ahead, and another corridor to the right
ZebulonCrispi: (9:55:23 PM) Valvatorez: "If I were hiding treasure, that's the sort of door I'd hide it behind."
Badge: (9:57:02 PM) Kotetsu: You know, I THINK that's probably just a fire exit.
ZebulonCrispi: (9:58:01 PM) Valvatorez: "We shall see!"
ZebulonCrispi: (9:58:07 PM) Valvatorez throws the heavier door open!
Badge: (9:59:57 PM) Kotetsu: Ohhh, THAT door.
AlopexPlasma: (9:59:58 PM) It's one of those big fancy meeting rooms - half the available floor space is taken up by a giant table, there's a projector and screen on one wall, and the ubiquitous potted plants are larger.
AlopexPlasma: (10:00:09 PM) Six of the seats are occupied.
AlopexPlasma: (10:00:27 PM) By skeletons, still wearing the tattered remains of business suits.
Badge: (10:00:39 PM) Kotetsu: Yeeesh!
Badge: (10:00:46 PM) Kotetsu sports a very skeeved look.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:00:48 PM) Valvatorez: "How morbid."
hymnomancy: (10:01:07 PM) Saleh, on the other hand, is amused. "Oh my."
Badge: (10:01:29 PM) Kotetsu: Not the place I would've wanted to die in. The hell happened here?
AlopexPlasma: (10:01:42 PM) The table itself contains a scattering of papers and pens, a coffee pot, and a shoe-shaped figurine.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:01:55 PM) Valvatorez: "Whatever happened here, it happened fast enough that they didn't even have time to finish their meeting."
hymnomancy: (10:02:24 PM) Saleh: "Or they're just that dedicated to their work."
Badge: (10:02:52 PM) Kotetsu walks along the side of the table, frowning. "Geez, poor guys... hey, what's this?" He grabs the shoe-shaped figuring without thinking about it.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:03:03 PM) Valvatorez: "Wait!"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:03:07 PM) Alas, too late.
AlopexPlasma: (10:03:10 PM) As one, the skeletons stand up and advance on him.
AlopexPlasma: (10:03:19 PM) Who did not see that one coming?
AlopexPlasma: (10:03:27 PM) ....Aside from Kotetsu, naturally.
Badge: (10:03:40 PM) Kotetsu: ...Uh... Sorry, this yours?
AlopexPlasma: (10:04:25 PM) A skeleton in a pantsuit claws at his face. It doesn't look too chatty.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:04:36 PM) Valvatorez produces a straight-edged sword from... somewhere, and jumps up onto the table. "If it's a fight you want, then I'll be your opponent!"
Badge: (10:05:22 PM) Kotetsu darts back with a grimace. "Well, if you wanna it THAT badly..."
AlopexPlasma: (10:05:26 PM) The skeletons do not appreciate him tromping on their papers. He's now facing four of them.
Badge: (10:05:43 PM) He lobs it up into the air -- and promptly delivers a left hook.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:06:34 PM) Meanwhile, Val dashes across the table, ragged cape fluttering, and delivers a horizontal slash through Skeleton #2.
AlopexPlasma: (10:07:01 PM) Kotetsu's skeleton staggers. It's sporting a cracked headbone, but it's not out yet.
AlopexPlasma: (10:07:18 PM) #2, meanwhile, goes down in a heap of clattery bones.
Badge: (10:07:57 PM) Kotetsu: I got some more right here!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:08:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Hah! They're not so tough."
Badge: (10:08:23 PM) Followed by a right straight to the noggin.
hymnomancy: (10:08:44 PM) So reckless. Saleh watches the two from near the entrance, clearly not interested in taking action. That, and they seem to be handling themselves well enough. If stupidly.
AlopexPlasma: (10:10:24 PM) His fist goes clean through the aged bone. The skull is filled with a rather horrible gooey substance.
AlopexPlasma: (10:10:45 PM) It's dead (...?) for certain, but now it's trapped his hand.
Badge: (10:11:08 PM) "Ewwyeew! Geez, nobody mentioned the cream-filled center!" Kotetsu flails with one hand stuck in the skeleton and the other trying to catch the figurine.
Badge: (10:11:20 PM) It would've been so cool if the hand wasn't stuck like that...
ZebulonCrispi: (10:11:25 PM) Valvatorez: "Forget the shoe! There are still four left!"
hymnomancy: (10:11:37 PM) . . . heh. Saleh: "It's your doing, you know."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:11:55 PM) With that, Valvatorez flips into the air over the next skeleton, before delivering a blow from behind.
Badge: (10:12:09 PM) "You gonna yap or you gonna FRIGGIN' HELP?!" Kotetsu pushes against the dead skeleton to try to extract his hand.
AlopexPlasma: (10:12:14 PM) Three left!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:12:41 PM) Valvatorez: "Use the skeleton as a weapon if you have to!"
Badge: (10:15:39 PM) Oh, right! Kotetsu swings the trapped hand in a haymaker motion to the nearest living skeleton.
hymnomancy: (10:16:18 PM) "Oh, did you want to be saved that badly?" Chuckling, he steps toward and unsheathes his sword in a wide arc to knock a skeleton to the side.
AlopexPlasma: (10:18:18 PM) The skeleton flail pulverizes its former associate.
AlopexPlasma: (10:18:54 PM) Valvatorez is now facing one solo skeleton, the other having taken objection to the swatting.
AlopexPlasma: (10:19:15 PM) It's now climbing to its feet, eye sockets fixed on Saleh.
Badge: (10:19:33 PM) "Do you have to act like a snot about everything?" God, he hates this guy. He works towards extracting his hand again. Oh god squishy.
AlopexPlasma: (10:20:28 PM) When he finally manages it, there will be a key stuck to it with unmentionable gunk.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:20:38 PM) Ah, facing your enemy head on, man against man! This is how it's done.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:20:55 PM) Valvatorez charges the last remaining skeleton, he thrusts his sword directly into the skull!
Badge: (10:21:09 PM) Kotetsu: Eh..?
hymnomancy: (10:30:47 PM) The skeleton doesn't get the chance to stand back up. Saleh takes a stab at its skull before it unfolds its knees. He stomps down on its ribcage for a good measure, then turns his head in Kotetsu's direction. "What?"
Badge: (10:31:49 PM) Kotetsu shakes the worst of the brain gunk off, and looks at his acquisition. "Hey, lookit what I got!"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:32:13 PM) Valvatorez: "...Well done."
hymnomancy: (10:32:37 PM) Saleh: "And what do you suppose that's for?"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:32:46 PM) He then turns to the asshole who took so long to chip in!
Badge: (10:32:59 PM) Kotetsu: Only one way to find out.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:32:59 PM) Valvatorez: "You..."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:33:12 PM) Valvatorez: "...were waiting for the enemy to focus on us so that you could execute a brutal surprise attack, weren't you?"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:33:19 PM) Valvatorez: "Excellent work."
Badge: (10:33:25 PM) Kotetsu: ...
hymnomancy: (10:34:28 PM) Saleh: " . . . heh. I believe it's time we moved on."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:34:56 PM) Valvatorez: "Indeed! We'd better find out what this key goes with."
Badge: (10:35:38 PM) Kotetsu grumbles to himself about how "That's not how he would've put it" as he reaches for the figurine -- you never know, after all -- and heads back out of the room.
AlopexPlasma: (10:36:14 PM) outside, there is, as before, a hallway to the south and the entrance back east
AlopexPlasma: (10:36:25 PM) aaand the exit to the west
Badge: (10:38:02 PM) Kotetsu immediately heads down the hallway.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:39:09 PM) Valvatorez follows!
hymnomancy: (10:39:35 PM) As does Saleh.
AlopexPlasma: (10:39:39 PM) A suspended battering ram whooshes gently out of a nearby cubicle.
AlopexPlasma: (10:40:07 PM) As the party leader, Kotetsu is gonna bear the brunt of it unless someone acts fast.
Badge: (10:40:31 PM) Kotetsu: ?!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:41:09 PM) But wait!
ZebulonCrispi: (10:41:31 PM) Valvatorez leaps to the rescue, princess carrying Kotetsu safely out of harm's way.
Badge: (10:42:34 PM) There's something familiar about this that gets on Kotetsu's goat. "I could've dodged!"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:43:37 PM) Valvatorez: "Is that so! Then my assistance was unnecessary."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:43:59 PM) Valvatorez: "However! I promise here and now that all of us shall leave this building alive."
Badge: (10:46:17 PM) Kotetsu blinks. Then scratches his head. "Well, uh... I guess I can appreciate that sentiment..." He clears his throat. "Wanna put me down now?"
ZebulonCrispi: (10:46:29 PM) Valvatorez: "What? Oh."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:46:35 PM) Down goes Kotetsu.
Badge: (10:47:20 PM) Kotetsu gets on his feet, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. If he had any to begin with.
hymnomancy: (10:49:14 PM) And in comes Saleh once the ram poses no harm. Valvatorez can promise to keep them alive, but there's plenty a man can endure before he succumbs to death. "I wonder if you'll make it out in one piece?" Whom he means, he's not telling.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:49:59 PM) Valvatorez: "We shall."
Badge: (10:50:21 PM) Kotetsu: No matter how much some people apparently expect OTHERWISE...
hymnomancy: (10:52:06 PM) Saleh: "You say that like there's more than one."
ZebulonCrispi: (10:53:18 PM) Valvatorez: "Onwards!"
Badge: (10:54:25 PM) Kotetsu continues, more warily this time, his cap pulled a little further forward.
ZebulonCrispi: (10:54:34 PM) Valvatorez takes point.
AlopexPlasma: (10:54:53 PM) there's the deathcubicles to the east, several closed doors to the west, and a hallway behind the cubicles
ZebulonCrispi: (10:59:57 PM) Valvatorez: "Well, if that key unlocks something, it won't be in the cubicles..."
Badge: (11:00:40 PM) Kotetsu: You thinking west?
ZebulonCrispi: (11:00:51 PM) Valvatorez: "I am."
AlopexPlasma: (11:01:35 PM) There's three of them, equally spaced
ZebulonCrispi: (11:01:56 PM) Onward and forward! Center door.
AlopexPlasma: (11:02:21 PM) The center door is locked!
Badge: (11:02:34 PM) Kotetsu flattens himself on the wall next to the door, pulling out the key. "Okay, on the count of three. One... two..."
Badge: (11:04:11 PM) "...Three!" He sticks the key in the lock, turns, and flings the door open before pulling back.
Badge: (11:04:22 PM) ...assuming that was the key to the door, anyway...
AlopexPlasma: (11:04:42 PM) it sure is, and it's an ordinary executive office!
ZebulonCrispi: (11:04:42 PM) Valvatorez remains standing where he was.
Badge: (11:05:01 PM) Kotetsu peers around the corner. Carefully.
AlopexPlasma: (11:05:09 PM) It has fixtures - desk, rug, rolly chair....
AlopexPlasma: (11:05:29 PM) A safe on the wall, which was presumably covered by a painting at some point.
AlopexPlasma: (11:05:38 PM) (The painting is on the floor)
hymnomancy: (11:09:11 PM) Saleh approaches the open door, though he steps no farther than where Kotetsu is standing. "Ah. A rug." Brings back wondeful memories, doesn't it?
Badge: (11:09:42 PM) "We noticed." Kotetsu looks at Valvatorez, Go into together...?
ZebulonCrispi: (11:10:06 PM) "Wait." Valvatorez slips his sword underneath the edge of the rug, and flips it out of the way.
AlopexPlasma: (11:10:37 PM) A cockroach skitters out and flees under the desk.
AlopexPlasma: (11:10:51 PM) Nothing else of significance takes place.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:10:56 PM) Valvatorez: "...I suppose not every rug can be trapped."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:10:58 PM) In he goes.
Badge: (11:11:18 PM) Kotetsu follows, his eyes trained towards all parts of the room. The other shoe's gotta drop sooner or later.
hymnomancy: (11:12:18 PM) Tailed finally by Saleh, who doesn't pay the room much thought, or at least on the outside.
AlopexPlasma: (11:16:35 PM) There are no further obvious traps!
Badge: (11:17:55 PM) Kotetsu finally approaches the safe, carefully avoiding the painting. "Hmm. Any of you guys know anything about safecracking?"
AlopexPlasma: (11:18:32 PM) It's got one of those numberpad locks.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:18:37 PM) Valvatorez: "I don't remember, I'm afraid."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:20:06 PM) Valvatorez: "If we don't have the combination, we're just wasting our time here."
hymnomancy: (11:20:22 PM) Saleh: "Shall we move on?"
Badge: (11:20:26 PM) Kotetsu: Hang on, maybe they got some sorta clue in the room.
Badge: (11:20:33 PM) Kotetsu: Like, I dunno, in the desk or something.
hymnomancy: (11:23:14 PM) "And that thing you picked up earlier?" Because if not, that shoe-shaped figurine has been a waste of space so far.
Badge: (11:23:55 PM) Kotetsu: Eh?
Badge: (11:24:00 PM) Kotetsu looks at it carefully.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:24:21 PM) Valvatorez: "I'll check the painting! Somebody else check the desk."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:24:29 PM) Valvatorez carefully props the painting back up.
AlopexPlasma: (11:25:06 PM) The high-heeled shoe figurine is made of a clear material, and has a short, irregular tab on the bottom.
Badge: (11:25:27 PM) Kotetsu: Huh. Got kind of a weird sorta...
Badge: (11:25:29 PM) He fiddles with it.
AlopexPlasma: (11:28:06 PM) The painting is a painting very much like this one: http://s796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/NateFarwell/?action=view¤t=bowloffruit.jpg
ZebulonCrispi: (11:33:32 PM) Valvatorez scratches his chin thoughtfully.
Badge: (11:35:56 PM) Kotetsu glares at Salah. "Oi! You help out too!"
hymnomancy: (11:39:18 PM) "Oh, don't mind me. I'm simply astounded by how long it's taking you to inspect a piece of figurine." Kotetsu's words appear to have some effect, however, as Saleh turns to check the nearest desk.
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:21 PM) it's mostly incomprehensible expense reports
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:29 PM) a few pens
Badge: (11:43:34 PM) Kotetsu flicks at the tab on the shoe.
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:36 PM) and this, whatever it is http://s796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/NateFarwell/?action=view¤t=sudoclue.png
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:43 PM) the tab's pretty solid
AlopexPlasma: (11:43:50 PM) it's not going anywhere
Badge: (11:45:16 PM) "Tch. Useless piece 'a..." Kotetsu smacks it on the wall a couple times in annoyance.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:45:58 PM) Valvatorez peers at the piece of paper.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:46:07 PM) Valvatorez: "There's a mistake on this."
hymnomancy: (11:46:32 PM) Saleh eyes the paper. "Oh?"
AlopexPlasma: (11:46:41 PM) the shoe acquires a crack in the side
Badge: (11:47:21 PM) Kotetsu looks at it again, as if his act of petty attempts at property destruction would provide any sort of insight.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:47:41 PM) Valvatorez (To Saleh): "Here, give me that."
AlopexPlasma: (11:47:56 PM) kotetsu is fairly shit outta luck
ZebulonCrispi: (11:47:59 PM) Valvatorez grabs a red pen and scribbles a bit on the sudoku puzzle.
ZebulonCrispi: (11:48:25 PM) http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5619/sudolution.png
ZebulonCrispi: (11:48:34 PM) Valvatorez: "This is the correct solution."
ZebulonCrispi: (11:48:41 PM) Valvatorez: "...I wonder if it's a clue?"
ZebulonCrispi: (11:49:01 PM) Valvatorez: "Kotetsu! Try '825' on the safe!"
Badge: (11:49:03 PM) Kotetsu: Oh, you found something?
Badge: (11:49:11 PM) This may have saved the shoe from utter destruction. "Whatchya got?"
hymnomancy: (11:49:53 PM) Saleh: "8-2-5. Honestly."
Badge: (11:50:17 PM) Kotetsu: Yes sir!
Badge: (11:50:24 PM) Kotetsu immediately types the number into the safe.
AlopexPlasma: (11:50:50 PM) there is a promising click
Badge: (11:51:29 PM) He thumbs up the rest of them. Then opens the safe. ...keeping out of the way of the actual safe, mind.
AlopexPlasma: (11:52:33 PM) the safe contains a hole in the far side and a nest of paper scraps
AlopexPlasma: (11:52:40 PM) the nest contains a large packrat
Badge: (11:54:24 PM) Kotetsu: Oh you've GOTTA be...
ZebulonCrispi: (11:54:32 PM) Valvatorez: "Another waste of time?"
Badge: (11:54:47 PM) Kotetsu: There's a friggin' rat in here!
hymnomancy: (11:55:09 PM) Saleh: "I see that. How does it feel to know that you've been bested by a rat at some point in the past?"
Badge: (11:55:32 PM) Kotetsu shoots Saleh his best "bitch i will cut u" look before lobbing the shoe ornament at said rat.
AlopexPlasma: (11:56:35 PM) the rat squeals and flees down its tunnel
AlopexPlasma: (11:56:58 PM) in the space formerly occupied by said rodent is a cluster of familiar-lookin' gemstones
AlopexPlasma: (11:57:11 PM) also a heap of broken glass
Badge: (11:57:13 PM) Kotetsu: Eh...?
AlopexPlasma: (11:57:18 PM) nice going, kotetsu
ZebulonCrispi: (11:58:06 PM) Valvatorez: !
ZebulonCrispi: (11:58:17 PM) Valvatorez: "Those crystals!"
Badge: (11:58:23 PM) Kotetsu: Hey... are those...?
hymnomancy: (11:58:30 PM) Saleh: "They seem to be so."
Badge: (11:59:45 PM) Kotetsu: How about that, huh? Ha!
ZebulonCrispi: (11:59:59 PM) Valvatorez: "Well done, team!"
Badge: (12:00:26 AM) Kotetsu puts his hat on his hand and reaches in for the gems so he doesn't cut himself.
hymnomancy: (12:01:32 AM) Or get brain matter all over them. "Now then, it's about time we made our way back."
ZebulonCrispi: (12:01:49 AM) Valvatorez: "Indeed, we have what we came here for."
Badge: (12:03:04 AM) Kotetsu pulls them all out. "All right! I can't wait to see what I remember next!"