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Glassdell Session 1A: Bad News Bears on New Year's

castfromhp
Aug 30th, 2013
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  1. [19:07:20 ][~castfromhp] It's December 31st, half past 11, and already Glassdell is ringing in the new year in a rowdier way than most winters. Even the huge flurries of snow drifting down over the city can't quell the excitement and enthusiasm blooming in the city, probably fueled by anxiety toward what 2007 will bring.
  2. [19:07:59 ][~castfromhp] In the Prism Passage and the beaches down south, the police have already broken up drunken parties that spiralled out of control, though it's still half an hour until the midnight fireworks that the whole city is waiting for.
  3. [19:09:15 ][~castfromhp] But for all of you, you've found yourself cozied up in Konungswiche University's student lounge, a 5 story monolith of glass and steel mirroring the Obsidian Tower it sits across from. It's also quite near the Penrose College and one of the only buildings still open to students in the holidays.
  4. [19:10:10 ][~castfromhp] On the first floor where most everyone is, there's a Coffee Republic, still serving deli sandwiches and lattes at this hour. Many of the students here have already managed to party themselves out, and there are passed out bodies, drunken or not, sprawled over a number of the sofas in the lounge area.
  5. [19:10:53 ]* Doxy ([email protected]) has joined #GlassdellIC
  6. [19:12:09 ][~castfromhp] Feel free to describe where you are and what you're doing in the lounge, though aside from you PCs there's hardly anyone else left who doesn't seem oddly exhausted for a night like this.
  7. [19:14:54 ][~castfromhp] There are TVs, computers, and tables for studying at, what you'd typically expect in a lounge for students centered on the oh-so-necessary coffee shop.
  8. [19:15:27 ]* Ryoko is mostly pacing around the first floor, drowning in concern over how the place is an utter mess.
  9. [19:16:32 ]* Kimi is a tiny, twenty-year old Japanese girl hiding behind a set of glasses and an well-covering winter overcoat. She has light blue eyes, which occasionally flick up to scan the area.She's sitting at one of the tables at the coffee republic, tapping on her laptop. A half-eaten reuben sits on a plate next to her, and her phone to the left of that. She's had a little to drink, but not
  10. [19:16:32 ]* Kimi to excess. A sharp nose could probably smell it on her. She's quietly browsing the internet while looking 'round the place. She shakes her head when she sees Ryoko, somewhat pitying the girl.
  11. [19:19:27 ][Nick] Nick is sitting at one of the many chairs available in the Coffee Republic. He's sipping a coffee and jotting things in a notebook, occasionally stealing glances into the crowds. He's people watching, although he's TRYING to make it look like he's doing something else, like drawing the scenery, or doodling, or something. He has what seems to be a puzzle book open next to him, although
  12. [19:19:27 ][Nick] whether he's actually solving puzzles or just doing it fakely it's hard to tell. He'll occasionally write something in the book, for what it's worth. He's a man of about 20, built lean, with black hair and blue eyes.
  13. [19:19:54 ][Nick] He's actually got his jacket and gloves on inside, like he's expecting to leave soon or...something.
  14. [19:21:40 ]* Jeff smells somewhat of beer as he leans against the counter of the coffee shop. "Right, it'll be a large double dirty vanilla chai latte for me." He's wearing a sports jacket and jeans, having come in later than the rest of you.
  15. [19:22:02 ][~castfromhp] Nick you see mostly unfamiliar faces here, though a couple of writers from the student newspaper are here, collapsed face-first at a table full of empty coffee cups and a half-full handle of vodka. You remember hearing something about the writing staff planning to see the fireworks up on the roof after finishing the holiday edition, but...looks like that isn't happening tonight.
  16. [19:22:59 ]* Kimi seems to have a slightly nervous demeanor, like a deer carefully stepping into a meadow. She shrinks a little into her chair when the jock comes in.
  17. [19:24:13 ][~castfromhp] "Just one moment." A cheery short Indian girl takes your order Jeff, and then turns to make your drink. She's the regular working here, by which I mean you've almost never seen someone else working this counter. Ever.
  18. [19:24:54 ]* Kimi seems to be keeping her eye on the active people in the room, for whatever reason
  19. [19:25:33 ][Ryoko] With a sigh, Ryoko collapses onto a chair at Nick's table. She's a twenty-year old young woman of clearly Japanese descent, sporting shoulder-length blue hair and a largely exhausted expression. Her normal winter coat has been left to hang at the check-in, but her white scarf remains omnipresent. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone in an attempt to relax - any means of relaxation, really, would be welcome.
  20. [19:25:34 ][Jeff] "You catch me latey latest match?" he asks, still leaning.
  21. [19:25:44 ][Jeff] latest*
  22. [19:25:51 ][Jeff] (how..)
  23. [19:26:05 ][Jeff] (how did I even do that...)
  24. [19:26:17 ][Jeff] "You catch my latest match?"*
  25. [19:26:50 ][Jeff] "Right before holiday."
  26. [19:27:00 ][~castfromhp] "Sure did!" The girl says, turning back with your drink. She nods at the TV in the lounge. "Nothin' else to do all day but chat with the customers and watch the tele here."
  27. [19:27:11 ][Nick] Nick is doing similar to Kimi, mostly checking on the more active people. He writes down a "Writing staff unable to make deadlines. Predictable." note to himself, and then Ryoko collapses at his table.
  28. [19:27:30 ][Ryoko] "It's like holding back the tides with a wall of tissue paper, trying to make sure everything goes smoothly at New Year's Eve," she mutters to Nick.
  29. [19:28:26 ]* Kimi turns her attention to Nick and Ryoko with a glance. Her table is probably fairly nearby. She's holed herself in a corner, but she's within speaking distance.
  30. [19:28:28 ][Nick] He quirks an eyebrow and adjusts his brown scarf. "You're not the only one feelin' that way." He points to the table of writers. "At least you're doing better."
  31. [19:29:00 ]* Kimi picks up her phone, taptaptaptaptap go her fingers.
  32. [19:30:03 ][Jeff] "Aye, two assists that match. Out of two. Two one, our favor. Woulda liked to get some practice in on holiday but me mum hardly sees me."
  33. [19:30:03 ][~castfromhp] "Here, have a croissaint Jeff." You get an armful of them shoved at you over the counter actually, with a few other pastries and desserts mixed in.
  34. [19:30:11 ]* Kimi then holds up her phone at Nick and Ryoko, the text is in a particularly large font on the blackberry's screen. {At least it's quiet now.}
  35. [19:30:41 ][~castfromhp] "Just pass 'em around to share. They're gonna go stale, and I was saving them for when everyone was gonna count down the new year, but..." The girl at the counter shrugs and gestures at the room.
  36. [19:30:43 ]* Jeff grins, "Blimey, thought Boxing Day had passed already."
  37. [19:30:43 ][Ryoko] "The place is a mess, fully half of the students here are sloshed, and most anyone else who isn't won't really sit still.'
  38. [19:31:18 ]* Jeff nods, "Will do. Happy New Year."
  39. [19:31:31 ][~castfromhp] "You too."
  40. [19:31:37 ]* Ryoko opens up an instant messaging client on her phone to make the entire communication bit with Kimi that much smoother.
  41. [19:31:42 ][Nick] Glaaaance. Oh god he shouldn't have opened his mouth, now he's in a conversation. He thought the encouragement might get Ryoko to GO or something. He does a few scribbles, the kind you do when you're writing something completely wrong and want to cover it, but without anything written beforehand, but makes sure one of his hands is in the way of that being clealy visible.
  42. [19:32:33 ][Kimi] Kimi seems content to have only typed out that much, having gone back to typing on her computer. She's watching the jock again now.
  43. [19:34:03 ][Nick] Nick tries to resume writing down normal things again. Let's see...well, first he scribbles down that the first Japanese woman is probably going to stress herself to death. Looks like the kind that might snap dramatically, but not violently, so threat level low. The second Japanese woman...
  44. [19:34:04 ][Nick] ...
  45. [19:34:10 ]* Jeff walks over to Ryoko, "Ryoko, you remember me right? Seen me round with the club, Center, aye?"
  46. [19:34:55 ][Nick] He has two Japanese women near him? Do they know each other? Might be a coordinated plan, maybe they'd caught on to his people watching. Aborting the operation might be good. Or even just using the bathroom to draw off attention. Hmmmmm.
  47. [19:34:56 ][Ryoko] "....barely, to be honest."
  48. [19:35:18 ]* Kimi is now using a knife to cut another piece of her sandwich off, and absently bites into the tiny piece. It's more apparent why she's taken forever to eat it now.
  49. [19:36:19 ]* Kimi winces as Jeff comes over.
  50. [19:36:24 ][Jeff] "Ahh that's all right. So long as you start watching my matches more often. Anyhow, fancy a biscuit? Some jammy dodgers? Scones, Crumpets, Croissants?"
  51. [19:36:30 ][Jeff] (Is Kimi at the same table?)
  52. [19:36:37 ][Kimi] She's at a neighboring one.
  53. [19:37:23 ][Nick] He'd flip a coin to decide t- another one.
  54. [19:37:28 ]* Nick winces as well.
  55. [19:37:58 ][Kimi] ...though she eases up a bit when he offers sweets. She glances the way of her sandwich, then looks towards one of the sweeter pastries.
  56. [19:38:24 ][Nick] Nick takes a sip from his coffee.
  57. [19:38:28 ][Nick] Sets it down.
  58. [19:38:32 ][Nick] Closes his notebook.
  59. [19:38:34 ][Jeff] "Oh, would you like one?" he asks at Kimi. "Err, that is if you... speak English."
  60. [19:38:41 ][Jeff] "Not sure you speak English. Never heard you talk..."
  61. [19:38:43 ][Nick] Sloooooooooowly gets up.
  62. [19:38:43 ][~castfromhp] The clock continues to tick, and the room remains oddly silent aside from your chatter and the sound of fireworks coming from outside in the distance. The Indian girl manning the coffee counter sighs and leans to one side with her head propped up by her hand.
  63. [19:39:01 ][Jeff] "Ryoko you speak Japanese right?"
  64. [19:39:28 ][Ryoko] "Um....she speaks English. I know a -little-. Not really conversational but enough to pick out things from context, I suppose."
  65. [19:39:29 ][Nick] And then tries to inconspicuously walk to the bathroom. Maybe they'll have forgotten about him. And if they haven't, that confirms his suspiscion that they were after him to begin with.
  66. [19:40:03 ]* Ryoko sighs, and settles for a croissant.
  67. [19:40:18 ]* Kimi taptaptaptaps at her phone, then holds it up at Jeff. {A scone would do.} she clears the screen, tappity. {I don't speak much of anything.}
  68. [19:41:15 ][Jeff] "Oh! Sorry... here you go then."
  69. [19:41:28 ][Jeff] "Oi!" he calls at Nick's back
  70. [19:41:36 ][Nick] Stop.
  71. [19:41:46 ][Nick] He freezes completely in place.
  72. [19:42:06 ]* Kimi takes the sweet treat and taps out a {Thank you} but Jeff probably isn't looking anyway.
  73. [19:42:15 ]* Kimi bites into it pretty eagerly though.
  74. [19:42:21 ][Jeff] "Have something for pudding would you? Can't eat all of this by ourselves."
  75. [19:43:19 ][Ryoko] She's not really eating it right away. She would have preferred a scone, but there wasn't any tea readily available.
  76. [19:44:29 ]* Jeff is drinking some. What do you think a Chai Latte is?
  77. [19:44:35 ][~castfromhp] At around this time, you hear the siren of a police car passing by the outside of the building. Probably drunk drivers on their way to or from Soho. Or an accident somewhere. The cops have been strained tonight already. And then it's just the sound of your voices and eating again.
  78. [19:44:45 ][~castfromhp] There's tea at the coffee shop, of course!
  79. [19:45:16 ][~castfromhp] English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, the list is pretty extensive, but it doesn't have much in the way of Asian teas aside from generic green tea.
  80. [19:45:24 ]* Kimi doesn't even seem to have a coffee around. Oh wait, there we go. She's got a bottle of beer stashed in her jacket. A small crime, certainly, considering there's dudes with open containers of vodka. Of course, pretty sure alcohol is allowed on campus but nooot quite sure about in the lounge.
  81. [19:45:39 ][Nick] There's a slight pause after he turns slightly to address Jeff. "I'm not all that hungry. I-i-in fact, I..." wobble wobble "I think I'm goin' to make a mess of myself, excuse me!" He dashes off to the bathroom, covering his mouth. There we go! That worked out perfectly! They wont' want to get infected by his possessions that are still at the table, and then everything will be hunky
  82. [19:45:39 ][Nick] dory. He reaches the bathroom right as the sirens go off, a :S going to his face. Well shit. He can't run over to check that out, it'd break his act. Fuck.
  83. [19:46:17 ]* Kimi stares as Nick goes off.
  84. [19:46:54 ][Nick] Nick just goes to wash his hands and his face. He makes sure nobody sees he's missing fingers. That'd make him suspicious.
  85. [19:47:31 ]* Ryoko is ultimately more concerned about the sirens than Nick, and peers out a window to check out the ruckus.
  86. [19:47:34 ][~castfromhp] The faint smell of vomit hits you as you enter the bathroom. Someone's gonna have fun cleaning up in the morning.
  87. [19:48:07 ]* Kimi tilts her head a bit worried at the sirens. She shudders a bit as she considers the possibilities. Bad memories.
  88. [19:48:20 ][~castfromhp] By the time you get to the window, Ryoko, it's passed, the police car barely visible in the distance, rushing in the direction of Soho.
  89. [19:49:59 ][~castfromhp] "Y'know," the coffee girl speaks up from the counter, her head also tilted in the direction of the trailing sirens too, "I almost envy him. 'Least Soho's somewhere that's still gonna have some party left it in, unlike here. I betcha still got time to head thataways if you want."
  90. [19:50:03 ][Jeff] "... bit of a dag ain't he."
  91. [19:50:19 ][~castfromhp] "I've got the keys to the roof access too." She jingles a ring of keys, "if you just wanna watch the fireworks from rooftop."
  92. [19:50:53 ][Ryoko] "My hands are tied, unfortunately."
  93. [19:51:01 ][Nick] WELL, at least there won't be any question of whether he puked or not! Spot of good luck there, eh? He finishes up after dawdling what seems like a good enough time for him, and then pops out o fthe bathroom, the water on his face still there from him washing it, to give the illusion of a cold sweat. Perfect. Now, to grab his things and head after the...gone police. The realization
  94. [19:51:01 ][Nick] hits him as he exits the room. He has no idea where they went, shit. The keys, though....hmmm...
  95. [19:51:05 ][Jeff] "Why's that?"
  96. [19:51:13 ]* Kimi taps at her phone, a bit loosened up from the alcohol, though that doesn't say much for Kimi. {I can't imagine who would want to be out in that at this time of night.}
  97. [19:51:27 ][Kimi] Though she perks up just a bit when the girl mentions watching the fireworks on the roof.
  98. [19:51:36 ][Ryoko] "Usual responsibilities. Making sure everything's just fine here."
  99. [19:51:52 ][Ryoko] "The usual student-gov deal."
  100. [19:52:15 ][~castfromhp] The girl shrugs. "I won't tell if you head out early."
  101. [19:52:30 ][Kimi] {I for one, think I would like to watch the fireworks.}
  102. [19:52:39 ][Jeff] "Come on then, it's a graveyard in here without us."
  103. [19:53:06 ][~castfromhp] "I've sort of been...unofficial caretaker in the lounge the last few new year's. Though I gotta say, it's never been dead like it was this year and last."
  104. [19:53:10 ][Nick] He carefully gets his things together. Going on the roof, he could try and see if there's any police lights or anything...hmmm...he makes a slight show of staggering to the table, then takes a few fake ragged breaths, before looking over to the Indian girl. "That might be good...spot of cold air might do me some good, eh?"
  105. [19:53:27 ]* Ryoko peers around, equally concerned about her reputation and whether there was a real lack of witnesses. "...only for a bit, then."
  106. [19:53:35 ][~castfromhp] "If you really hurry, you all can catch a taxi down to Prism Passage and get in the crowds." She glance at the clock.
  107. [19:54:07 ][~castfromhp] Just about everyone else is passed out still, Ryoko.
  108. [19:54:16 ][Nick] He shakes his head. "That'd prob'ly make me feel worse...I'm up for the roof."
  109. [19:55:02 ]* Kimi staaaares at Nick.
  110. [19:55:18 ]* Ryoko digs the keys out of her pocket - no need to borrow. Her position has a few perks.
  111. [19:55:27 ][Kimi] http://paradoxhaze.wdfiles.com/local--files/kimi-miyama/kimi.png
  112. [19:55:32 ][Ryoko] "Let's get going, then."
  113. [19:56:03 ][Nick] Nick blinks, and stares back, trying to look a little intimidating.
  114. [19:56:05 ][Nick] http://safebooru.org//images/804/051bf52a10d1b1e01469e7b40fb7f93999f1184f.jpg?809900
  115. [19:56:47 ]* Kimi seems fine with heading up with a smaller crowd and closes her laptop, leaving her sandwich and half-eaten scone behind. She of course grabs her phone.
  116. [19:57:40 ][Nick] Nick decides to take his notebook, but leaves his puzzle book and coffee behind. His notebook's one of those smaller ones you can fit in a pocket.
  117. [19:57:47 ]* Ryoko takes the croissant with her, and pockets her phone. After fumbling with the keys briefly, she unlocks the stairwell.
  118. [19:57:55 ][~castfromhp] It's a glass door elevator, quite fancy - but KU puts a lot of money into its campus - straight up the fifth floor, through which you can get to the roof.
  119. [19:58:26 ][~castfromhp] Or you can take the stairs, sure.
  120. [19:58:50 ]* Kimi is taking the elevator, bitch.
  121. [19:58:54 ][Nick] Nick walks into the elevator. "I think I'm a mite unsteady, sorry."
  122. [20:00:10 ][Ryoko] "If that's what you guys want."
  123. [20:00:17 ]* Ryoko strolls into the elevator, then.
  124. [20:01:10 ]* Jeff stuffs himself in to the crowded elevator.
  125. [20:01:28 ][~castfromhp] Either way, you'll get at least a passing view of each floor as you go up, by stairs or by elevator. Some of you might be more familiar with this place than others. The second floor is largely an open art gallery for student works. Outside the gallery, around the edges of the circular layout are floor to ceiling windows with desks at them, study areas for students.
  126. [20:01:33 ]* Kimi suddenly oh god why
  127. [20:01:37 ][Nick] Nick leans against the side of the elevator, feigning a headache. Part of him had hoped he'd just be with one of the people here, maybe he could confront them on if they're trying to press him into something without the others seeing. But then again, if they were after him, they'd all stick together...
  128. [20:01:38 ]* Kimi cringe into the corner
  129. [20:01:47 ][~castfromhp] The third floor holds the offices for student organizations, a place Ryoko is definitely well-acquainted with.
  130. [20:02:35 ][~castfromhp] The fourth floor is almost entirely dedicated to the student newspaper. And the fifth floor is where you get off, a long hallway that curls around in a circle with no branches off in any direction.
  131. [20:03:12 ][Nick] It's a bit more crowded than Nick usually prefers, he leeeans in to the wall a bit more and tries to put everyone out of sight and out of mind for the moment. How to handle this...they could all just be normal people without ulterior motives. That's a thing. Maybe the jock was, but two Japanese women at once in Britain? Too close, hard to say that's a coincidence. At least, to Nick's
  132. [20:03:13 ][Nick] internal logic.
  133. [20:03:23 ][~castfromhp] The fifth floor path passes by a number of meeting rooms - often rented out by various student groups, ranging from the local LARP to the culinary appreciation society to the chess club.
  134. [20:05:44 ][Nick] Nick has a flashback to when he thought a LARP fight was an actual fight. Ugh. That was a mess.
  135. [20:05:55 ][Nick] He makes it a point to try not to remember it.
  136. [20:06:51 ][~castfromhp] It's not a long walk though before you get to the roof access ladder, two poles of smooth white metal, so slick you swear you'd slip if you weren't careful.
  137. [20:07:58 ]* Kimi is first out of the elevator, having gotten rather nervous from being closed in with people like that.
  138. [20:08:37 ][Nick] Nick heads out second, then, having made it a point to be at a corner close to the entrance/exit
  139. [20:09:05 ]* Kimi goes up the ladder, then?
  140. [20:09:55 ][~castfromhp] Your feet make rather loud clanking noises as you climb your way up. At the top is a simple hatch. Locked, if you try it.
  141. [20:10:27 ][Kimi] "..." Oh right. The coffee girl had the keys.
  142. [20:10:35 ]* Kimi sheepishly climbs back down.
  143. [20:10:46 ]* Ryoko climbs up and undoes the lock.
  144. [20:10:49 ][~castfromhp] Ryoko has the keys, rather.
  145. [20:11:06 ][~castfromhp] Or they both do, really. The coffee girl's still downstairs, dutifully manning her station. As she always is. Always.
  146. [20:11:19 ]* Kimi fidgets a bit.
  147. [20:11:22 ][Nick] Out of politeness, he waits for the girls (who might have skirts on, but even if they didn't he'd be looking at their arses) to finish trying to climb before even touching the ladder.
  148. [20:11:43 ][Kimi] Skirts? Nope, Kimi is wearing pants~
  149. [20:11:53 ]* Ryoko is wearing jeans, but fine - the lock is undoes, and she slowly opens the hatch before climbing up herself.
  150. [20:12:04 ]* Kimi follows up afterward.
  151. [20:12:19 ]* Kimi seems pretty used to climbing.
  152. [20:12:54 ]* Jeff is also not wearing a skirt. It's fucking december in ENGLAND.
  153. [20:13:57 ][Nick] He waits for both of the ladies to finish climbing up, and then goes up steadily and purposely climbs up. He'd do it all fast like, but he's supposed to be sick.
  154. [20:14:10 ][~castfromhp] Your faces and hair are blasted by a chilling breeze from the moment you open the hatch. The freshness of the air up here would be nice if it weren't for the sharp punctuated smell of smoke drifted this way from the fireworks all over the city. Snow begins to collect in a pile at the bottom of the ladder before even the first of you is up and through to the roof.
  155. [20:14:42 ][Nick] "Ah, that's nice." Nick? Mind cold? Nawwwww.
  156. [20:15:16 ][Nick] He sets himself down on whatever looks like a good spot to sit (dusting off snow if necessary) and then sits there, hand on his forehead like he has a headache.
  157. [20:15:18 ]* Kimi huddles into her coat, slipping a pair of pink mittens on.
  158. [20:15:30 ][~castfromhp] Hopefully, you all had the sense to wear boots too, cause the snow's a foot deep up here. For all the trouble this is though, the view is beautiful. The gleaming lights of the Bloom to the east make a neat and organized spiral into the war memorial at the center of the distrct, and fireworks explode over to the west toward Soho and the Prism Passage.
  159. [20:15:39 ][~castfromhp] BGM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAMierJWdpQ
  160. [20:16:04 ][Kimi] Of course Kimi is wearing boots.
  161. [20:16:42 ]* Kimi immediately heads for the edge of the roof, leaning on the railing if there is one.
  162. [20:17:20 ]* Kimi can't help but smile a bit as she looks over everything.
  163. [20:17:35 ][Jeff] "Good thing I had a few rounds to warm me up before I got here."
  164. [20:17:39 ][~castfromhp] Of course there's a railing. It can get slick up here if there's sludge instead of packed snow, and the school doesn't want anyone falling off...whether by accident or deliberately.
  165. [20:17:54 ]* Ryoko is content to stay near the hatch, as if ready to make a quick exit in case someone questions why she's here.
  166. [20:18:17 ][Nick] If there's nowhere to sit besides the floor, he goes for railing, by the by
  167. [20:18:23 ]* Jeff starts looking for these fireworks
  168. [20:19:20 ][~castfromhp] For anyone checking their watches, it's only a couple minutes til midnight. The fireworks are to the east and west, though the western ones are a lot closer. Loud bangs come from the direction of Soho, accompanied by a dazzling spray of pink, yellow, and blue into the sky as another round fires off.
  169. [20:19:29 ]* Kimi taptaptaptaps her phone and holds it up at Jeff. She's got a few typos because of her mittens and a little inebriation. {Aclohol lowers yoru body tempreture actully}
  170. [20:19:30 ][Nick] He's looking for pretty lights, although he's more interested in those from police lights
  171. [20:19:58 ]* DiceMaid-9001 (DiceMaid-9@sux-EADD5C74) has joined #GlassdellIC
  172. [20:20:01 ][Nick] The fireworks are admitably cool, though.
  173. [20:20:02 ]* Jeff stares and just shrugs.
  174. [20:20:03 ][~castfromhp] Nick, give me a Wits + Investigation roll
  175. [20:20:04 ]* Ryoko watches the sky.
  176. [20:20:10 ][Nick] Gotcha
  177. [20:20:43 ][Nick] 3d10+4d10 I don't think Criminal INvestigation would apply here
  178. [20:20:43 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, I don't think Criminal INvestigation would apply here: 31 [3d10=5,5,3; 4d10=2,10,2,4]
  179. [20:20:46 ]* Kimi tucks away her phone for now though
  180. [20:20:48 ][Nick] 1d10
  181. [20:20:49 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 1d10: 2 [1d10=2]
  182. [20:20:54 ][Nick] 1 success
  183. [20:21:32 ]* Kimi then leans out watching for the fireworks.
  184. [20:21:42 ][~castfromhp] It takes you a bit to see past all the fireworks, but between sets of them firing off, you spy a series of police lights dotting all up and down the Prism Passage as well as a cluster in one spot deep in Soho.
  185. [20:21:54 ][Nick] Hmmmmmm.
  186. [20:22:04 ][~castfromhp] By this point though, for those of you monitoring your watches and phones, it's nearly midnight, just a minute or two away.
  187. [20:23:34 ][Ryoko] "Nearly there..."
  188. [20:23:58 ][Nick] Might as well stay for the big ones at the end, and then head down to investigate Soho. Prism Passage is probably just drunks.
  189. [20:25:39 ][~castfromhp] In the distance, but still barely visible from where you are, one of the Prism Passage's skyscrapers has a countdown going on a billboard on top. If you squint, you can make out the numbers.
  190. [20:25:49 ]* Kimi leaaaans in.
  191. [20:26:36 ][~castfromhp] 50 seconds, 49 now, it ticks down in bright red numerals as you lean into the snow blowing in from the west.
  192. [20:28:05 ][Nick] He leans in a bit as well. Keeping an eye out for the others. They're probably just normal, now, alhtough he can't be TOO sure.
  193. [20:29:35 ][~castfromhp] 30 seconds now....15...10, 9,...You can hear the rhythmic rumbling of the crowd grow louder in the distance, though it's too far to make out what they're saying. It's an easy guess.
  194. [20:30:26 ][Nick] He gets up, and starts moving to leave. He'll get a glimpse of the fireworks and go, cna't waste too much time here.
  195. [20:31:01 ][~castfromhp] 5! 4! 3! ...
  196. [20:33:05 ][~castfromhp] 2...1! The fireworks from all sides reach a crescendo, filling your vision with dancing colors and rocking your eardrums with the noise of a battlefield.
  197. [20:33:09 ]* Kimi actually gets a bit of an excited look.
  198. [20:33:15 ][Nick] Not bad.
  199. [20:33:23 ]* Jeff smiles as he looks up and enjoys the colors
  200. [20:33:23 ][Nick] He gets his foot on the ladder. Time to go.
  201. [20:33:39 ][Jeff] "Happy new year!"
  202. [20:33:41 ][Nick] He can't help smirking a little himself, at the whole fireworks deal.
  203. [20:33:43 ]* Ryoko allows herself a slight smile at the festivities - and definitely from a great viewpoint, too.
  204. [20:33:56 ][~castfromhp] ...And then, for everyone, there is a brilliant light filling your peripheral vision. All the snow around you is illuminated a blindingly bright white, the source of the light from the east.
  205. [20:34:16 ][Nick] Blink. He stops leaving and tries to get a look at whatever it is.
  206. [20:34:25 ]* Jeff shields his eyes with his arm a bit and looks east
  207. [20:35:21 ][~castfromhp] It's like walking through the snow in the summer but a thousand times worse. Your aftervision is filled with a shade of green as some of you turn toward the east to see an iridescent column of light shooting up from the center of the bloom. It literally pieces the clouds, parting a particularly thick patch of them and poking a hole through to reveal the starry sky.
  208. [20:35:24 ]* Kimi turns around, she was looking east.
  209. [20:35:31 ][Kimi] *west
  210. [20:35:35 ][Kimi] *she's looking east now
  211. [20:36:04 ][Nick] "That's...new."
  212. [20:36:11 ]* Kimi squints. What kind of firework is... wait, that's not a firework.
  213. [20:36:14 ][~castfromhp] After a moment, the ground beneath you shakes, and for a moment it feels like you might be thrown off your feet. Nick, you almost lose hold of the ladder where you are.
  214. [20:36:20 ][Jeff] "What IS that?"
  215. [20:36:39 ]* Jeff quickly stabilizes himself, careful not to slip on all the snow
  216. [20:36:50 ][Nick] Hrk! He scrambles back up the ladder. Not climbing with an earthquake. Or a shuttle launch. Or whatever it is.
  217. [20:37:18 ][~castfromhp] A few more seconds later, it fades away, and you're left with a tingling sensation crawling across your eyes.
  218. [20:37:23 ]* Kimi opens her mouth, making a sort of choking sound in lieu of a scream. She stumbles, running into Jeff.
  219. [20:37:24 ][~castfromhp] The ground stops shaking as well.
  220. [20:37:45 ][Ryoko] "I don't know! It was like....a lightning strike or something."
  221. [20:38:09 ]* Jeff instinctively catches Kimi when she stumbles.
  222. [20:38:09 ][Nick] Okay, now he might legit have a headache. He covers his eyes. What the fuck. Was that like, some kind of large scale flashbang? Well, his ears aren't bleeding, so more flash than bang...
  223. [20:38:30 ][~castfromhp] Up in the sky, a few sparkles of light still linger in all the colors of the rainbow, slowly falling to the ground and disappearing halfway down.
  224. [20:38:59 ][Jeff] "Did that come from The Bloom?"
  225. [20:39:12 ]* Kimi tenses up when she's caught and pulls herself awkwardly out of Jeff's grip when she realizes she's in his arms. She shivers a bit.
  226. [20:39:18 ][Nick] He clears his throat after he's sure the PAIN vision is gone. "You sure you don't know, Ms. Administrative?"
  227. [20:39:33 ]* Kimi looks up and stares at the sparkles of light though
  228. [20:39:37 ][Jeff] "Hey, are you all right?"
  229. [20:40:07 ]* Kimi slowly nods twice. She flails with her hands a bit, though Jeff probably doesn't know sign language, nor can she sign very well with mittens
  230. [20:40:13 ][Nick] Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts...
  231. [20:40:51 ]* Kimi tries to get a better view of where that came from after she composes herself.
  232. [20:41:09 ][Ryoko] "Why would I know -anything- about that? I'm not sure if that's even -natural-."
  233. [20:41:44 ][Jeff] "Looked like some kind of crazy science experiment."
  234. [20:42:16 ][~castfromhp] The rest of the city certainly has taken notice as well. Nick, if he's still watching the cop cars, notices a few of the police lights from early leave the Prism Passage and head east.
  235. [20:42:19 ][Nick] That had better not been a flurry of rockets. Oh god it could've been. Sparkling lights falling, hahahaha oh shit this is big. And possibly TERRIBLE. "It was worth asking. I don't fancy those lights, I'm goin' in and closin' the hatch behind me, anyone else coming?"
  236. [20:42:52 ]* Kimi lingers a few moments, but nods after Nick.
  237. [20:43:05 ]* Jeff pulls out his mobile and starts checking twitter for anything related.
  238. [20:43:24 ]* Kimi goes for the ladder herself.
  239. [20:43:32 ][Nick] Hmmmm, he wonders if he can outpace the police here...yeah, worth a shot. It's rude to cut and run on these people though, even if they might be planning to stab him. Probably aren't. Probably are. He's not sure. Down he goes, down the ladder. He lingers a moment for anyone coming with him, of course.
  240. [20:43:53 ][Jeff] (damn it I keep forgetting it's 2007)
  241. [20:44:12 ][~castfromhp] "WTF @ BLOOM #newyears" "awesoume lght dispalay wonedr what they did" there's a flurry of confused and excited tweets about the phenomenon in this vein.
  242. [20:44:16 ][Jeff] (Oh hey, it does exist in 2007.)
  243. [20:44:22 ][~castfromhp] Many of them clearly drunk.
  244. [20:44:25 ][Nisu] (does now anyway V:)
  245. [20:44:35 ][Jeff] (it started in march 2006.)
  246. [20:44:50 ]* Ryoko descends last so she can lock up the hatch. Hopefully everything was okay down in the lounge - dealing with drunken scared students was not going to be a good time.
  247. [20:45:12 ]* Jeff puts away his mobile and heads down with everyone else.
  248. [20:45:22 ][Nick] Nick's taking the stairs this time. If those fancy lights were bombs he's not gonna' be in an elevator when they hit.
  249. [20:45:37 ][~castfromhp] You're not quite at the stars yet.
  250. [20:45:38 ][~castfromhp] ...
  251. [20:45:42 ][~castfromhp] Wits + Composure check everyone
  252. [20:45:48 ][Kimi] 5d10
  253. [20:45:48 ][DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 5d10: 23 [5d10=10,6,1,2,4]
  254. [20:45:51 ][Kimi] 1d10
  255. [20:45:52 ][DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 1d10: 1 [1d10=1]
  256. [20:46:01 ][Nick] 6d6
  257. [20:46:02 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 6d6: 19 [6d6=2,6,5,2,3,1]
  258. [20:46:06 ][~castfromhp] (>6)
  259. [20:46:07 ][Jeff] 6d10
  260. [20:46:07 ][DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 6d10: 22 [6d10=1,4,4,7,1,5]
  261. [20:46:09 ][Kimi] >d6
  262. [20:46:13 ][Jeff] (wow really)
  263. [20:46:16 ][Nick] 6d10
  264. [20:46:16 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 6d10: 40 [6d10=6,7,7,6,4,10]
  265. [20:46:16 ][Jeff] (0 successes)
  266. [20:46:17 ][Nick] woops
  267. [20:46:22 ][Nick] 1d10
  268. [20:46:22 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 1d10: 4 [1d10=4]
  269. [20:46:25 ][Nick] 1 success
  270. [20:46:40 ][Kimi] 1 success as well
  271. [20:47:20 ][Jeff] (off to a great start here)
  272. [20:48:15 ][Ryoko] 5d10
  273. [20:48:16 ][DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 5d10: 26 [5d10=9,4,7,2,4]
  274. [20:48:36 ][~castfromhp] Nick, Kimi, and Ryoko notice that as you all begin scurrying back that...this hallway isn't as short as it was before. Jeff you don't really make notice of this, but your foot hits a loose tile in the floor and you nearly trip but catch yourself. You've learned well only to trip and fall when it can look like someone's fouled you in football.
  275. [20:48:49 ][~castfromhp] It stands out sharply from what has otherwise been an absolutely pristine building.
  276. [20:48:58 ][Ryoko] "....wait a minute."
  277. [20:49:00 ][Nick] Squiiiint
  278. [20:49:25 ][Nick] "Was this this long before...?" Oh man, he's fallen right into their trap hasn't he.
  279. [20:49:41 ][Jeff] "Huh? Did we take a wrong turn or something?"
  280. [20:49:44 ]* Kimi seems a bit confused, herself.
  281. [20:50:29 ]* Kimi takes off her mittens and then her glasses, bitting down nervously on the stem.
  282. [20:50:44 ][~castfromhp] There's no wrong turn to take. This hallway was a straight path leading from the elevators and stairs to the roof access, curling around the meeting rooms in the center of the floor.
  283. [20:51:03 ][~castfromhp] Or...it was. In the distance you can faintly see the hallway splitting into two branches.
  284. [20:51:06 ]* Kimi then slips them back on and hurries down the corridor, hoping she had a little too much alcohol and she can find the elevator.
  285. [20:51:11 ][~castfromhp] BGM: http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=D9B2oby8srs
  286. [20:51:14 ]* Kimi pauses.
  287. [20:51:37 ][Nick] Blink. "That headache's getting to me." Down the corridor he goes.
  288. [20:51:38 ][~castfromhp] The tiled floor continues to grow more and more dilapidated as you hurry down, Kimi.
  289. [20:51:46 ][Ryoko] "....I think we went the wrong way."
  290. [20:51:59 ][Nick] "There wasn't a wrong way to take."
  291. [20:52:24 ]* Kimi glances at the floor tiles as she goes along, utterly baffled.
  292. [20:54:01 ][Jeff] "Oi, wait up!" he quickly follows Kimi.
  293. [20:54:10 ][Ryoko] "....I know this place too well, and this just wasn't..."
  294. [20:54:16 ][~castfromhp] As you get closer and closer to the branching corridors, it's clear what's in the left hallway, which had been housing the meeting rooms of the student center until now, is clearly a set of laboratories and classrooms. Several doors are ajar, giving you a small peek at dusty desks and lecterns on one side, and lab tables and equipment on the other side of that hall.
  295. [20:54:37 ][~castfromhp] The right side appears to be merely empty hallway.
  296. [20:54:39 ]* Ryoko is mostly starting to doubt her own senses. "I'm correct, aren't I? All of this just wasn't here before and I'm not going completely insane."
  297. [20:54:53 ][Nick] "Maybe this building has some trick architecture?" He doesn't actually believe what he just said.
  298. [20:54:54 ][~castfromhp] A glance at the meeting rooms though will show they should end here.
  299. [20:55:32 ][Kimi] "..."
  300. [20:55:49 ]* Kimi hesitates, but curiosity gets the better of her as she investigates the classrooms.
  301. [20:55:57 ][Ryoko] "These definitely weren't here. Not at all."
  302. [20:56:11 ]* Ryoko seems to have the same idea as Kimi as she does the same.
  303. [20:56:46 ][~castfromhp] The furnishings are totally unlike the rest of the campus. The desks are detached from their chairs, unlike the modern design, and they're both solid wood with no plastic to be seen.
  304. [20:56:58 ]* Kimi looks back at the others as she goes, raising an eyebrow.
  305. [20:57:06 ][Nick] Nick frowns. They're probably all drugged or something. Maybe hallucinogic gas from that explosion? It's a shared delusion at the least. He pauses to watch the others checking out the room, although he's itching to just LEAVE everyone.
  306. [20:57:39 ]* Kimi reaches for her bottle, but realizes she left it downstairs. Curses.
  307. [20:57:39 ][Ryoko] "I mean, this clearly isn't KU....where ARE we?"
  308. [20:57:51 ]* Kimi gets out her phone, typity type.
  309. [20:58:05 ][Kimi] {Clearly those were missles and this is Purgatory.}
  310. [20:58:11 ][Nick] "Does it matter? We should just focus on getting out."
  311. [20:58:28 ][Nick] ...he stares at the Japanese girl's phone. Well, maybe she's thinking like him.
  312. [20:58:29 ][~castfromhp] There's no signal here you notice, now that you have your phone out again.
  313. [20:59:37 ][Nick] Nick realizes he said 'we'. Oh god. He needed to detach himself as soon as possible, but this place was being weird, and going too far out would give whatever a good shot at backstabbing him. On the other hand, they could all gang up on him at once...
  314. [20:59:44 ]* Ryoko checks her phone, wondering if the date and time were as they should be, in case this was some mass delusion.
  315. [20:59:44 ]* Jeff sees the thing.
  316. [20:59:49 ][~castfromhp] Most of the classrooms have totally clear blackboards, but on a few you can faintly make out figures smeared out by an eraser. They seem to be of the brain and nervous system.
  317. [20:59:50 ]* Kimi frowns, tapping again and checking the signal. She sighs a bit.
  318. [20:59:53 ]* Jeff notices the lack of signal on her phone.
  319. [20:59:59 ][Jeff] "I just had signal on the roof."
  320. [21:00:10 ][Jeff] "And that was after the lights."
  321. [21:00:21 ]* Kimi frowns, and continues down the hallway
  322. [21:00:25 ][Nick] "Well, if you want to jump off the roof instead of using the stairs, be my guest."
  323. [21:00:45 ][~castfromhp] Wits + Composure
  324. [21:00:50 ][Kimi] 5d10
  325. [21:00:51 ][DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 5d10: 34 [5d10=5,6,9,5,9]
  326. [21:00:54 ][Kimi] two
  327. [21:00:58 ][Jeff] "Oh sod off, we're all trying to figure this out together."
  328. [21:00:58 ][Nick] 6d10
  329. [21:00:58 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 6d10: 26 [6d10=3,1,3,9,8,2]
  330. [21:01:00 ][Jeff] 6d10
  331. [21:01:00 ][DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 6d10: 47 [6d10=7,2,9,10,10,9]
  332. [21:01:04 ][Jeff] 2d10
  333. [21:01:04 ][DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 2d10: 3 [2d10=1,2]
  334. [21:01:06 ][Nick] 1d10 I have 9 again
  335. [21:01:06 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, I have 9 again: 10 [1d10=10]
  336. [21:01:09 ][Nick] 1d10
  337. [21:01:09 ][DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 1d10: 2 [1d10=2]
  338. [21:01:09 ][Jeff] 4 successes.
  339. [21:01:17 ][Nick] 3 successes
  340. [21:02:09 ][~castfromhp] Ryoko? Your date and time are as they should be, by the way.
  341. [21:02:10 ][Ryoko] 5d10
  342. [21:02:11 ][DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 5d10: 39 [5d10=9,5,8,10,7]
  343. [21:02:15 ][Ryoko] 1d10
  344. [21:02:15 ][DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 1d10: 2 [1d10=2]
  345. [21:02:35 ][Ryoko] 3 successes
  346. [21:03:49 ][~castfromhp] You all hear a scraping of metal against the floor from deeper in the hallway, though Kimi misses the soft rhythmic clank of metal against the tiles as it's hidden by the screeching scraping noise. A faint and distinctly medical smell, like rubbing alcohol or the sterile environment of a surgeon's operating room hits your noses.
  347. [21:04:14 ][Nick] That...doesn't sound like a familiar M.O.
  348. [21:04:19 ][Jeff] "Besides, it couldn't be purgatory, because I know I'd be going directly to hell, do not pass go, do not collect 200 quid."
  349. [21:04:53 ][Ryoko] "...I think we need to run."
  350. [21:04:55 ][Nick] "Hell and purgatory ain't all that different, I hear."
  351. [21:04:59 ][Kimi] "...?"
  352. [21:05:13 ][Ryoko] "Is this -really- the time to argue about the nuances of the afterlife?"
  353. [21:05:16 ]* Kimi seems curious about that scraping.
  354. [21:05:32 ][Ryoko] "Something's coming for us and I -don't- want to be here when it arrives."
  355. [21:05:36] [Kimi] It's odd, all of this is more triggering her curiosity than fear.
  356. [21:05:52] [~castfromhp] Screeeech. It's getting closer.
  357. [21:05:58] [Nick] "Run, huh." He's got one of his hands in his jacket pocket. Well, at least he can do SOMETHIGN useful with it. "You sure you don't just watch too many scary movies on the telly?"
  358. [21:06:19] * Kimi just ducks into a classroom if they're going to avoid whatever it is?
  359. [21:06:25] [Jeff] "What's all this... some kind of prank?"
  360. [21:06:50] * Ryoko pulls the boys into the same classroom.
  361. [21:06:55] [Nick] Nick shrugs. barricading might be useful. Having a chokepoint on this fucker might be useful. He follows Kimi.
  362. [21:07:55] [Nick] Still got that hand in his pocket.
  363. [21:08:13] [~castfromhp] Off at the end of the hallway, right as you're all pulled into the classroom, a jerking and shuddering mass of sharp angles and points wanders into view for a moment moment, poking a head that looks like a giant metal spike into the hallway. The entire mass gleams like glass and metal.
  364. [21:08:35] [Kimi] "...?!"
  365. [21:08:40] [~castfromhp] It definitely has legs of some sort, but they're also needle-like in appearance, lifting up bits of dust as they jut sharply into the tiled ground.
  366. [21:08:46] [Nick] "Huh."
  367. [21:08:51] [Nick] "Well."
  368. [21:09:03] [Kimi] Okay -now- Kimi is showing a fear reaction.
  369. [21:09:07] [~castfromhp] Everyone make a rank 2 unnatural stress test. That's resolve + composure, target of 2 successes to not freak out, freeze up, or frenzy.
  370. [21:09:13] [Nick] "Anything else you might wnat to mention about 'em scary movies?"
  371. [21:09:26] [~castfromhp] Adding willpower to this roll gives an automatic success in addition to its usual 3 dice bonus.
  372. [21:09:26] [Ryoko] 6d10
  373. [21:09:27] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 6d10: 46 [6d10=5,3,9,10,9,10]
  374. [21:09:35] [Jeff] 7d6
  375. [21:09:35] [Ryoko] 2d10
  376. [21:09:36] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 7d6: 24 [7d6=3,2,6,3,2,3,5]
  377. [21:09:36] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 2d10: 3 [2d10=1,2]
  378. [21:09:38] [Jeff] 7d10
  379. [21:09:39] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 7d10: 30 [7d10=5,8,1,3,2,10,1]
  380. [21:09:46] [Kimi] 5d10
  381. [21:09:46] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 5d10: 32 [5d10=10,7,3,8,4]
  382. [21:09:46] [Nick] 6d10+3d10 why not
  383. [21:09:46] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, why not: 54 [6d10=5,5,1,6,10,10; 3d10=4,4,9]
  384. [21:09:48] [Jeff] 1d10
  385. [21:09:48] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 1d10: 2 [1d10=2]
  386. [21:09:48] [Ryoko] 4 successes
  387. [21:09:52] [Kimi] 1d10
  388. [21:09:52] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 1d10: 7 [1d10=7]
  389. [21:09:52] [Nick] 2d10
  390. [21:09:53] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 2d10: 10 [2d10=2,8]
  391. [21:09:53] [Jeff] 2 successes
  392. [21:09:56] [Kimi] two successes
  393. [21:10:04] [Nick] 4+1 successes
  394. [21:10:16] [Nick] To clarify, I burned a will
  395. [21:10:25] [Jeff] "This is all just the students mucking about for a laugh."
  396. [21:10:27] [~castfromhp] You all manage to keep your composure in the face of this creature! Add a hardened notch to your unnatural stress meter.
  397. [21:10:39] [Jeff] "Why'd you think she was so keen on giving us the keys to the rooftop?"
  398. [21:11:05] * Kimi flails with her hands and pulls her fingers across her lips, as if telling them to 'zip it'
  399. [21:11:18] [Nick] "Y'wanna' give 'em a laugh back?" He grins at Jeff.
  400. [21:11:32] [Jeff] "Oh yeah? You got any ideas?"
  401. [21:11:34] [Ryoko] "What is WRONG with the both of you?"
  402. [21:11:51] [~castfromhp] Whatever it is, it scrapes the ground again, letting out another ear-piercing screech, then waits for a moment.
  403. [21:12:25] [Nick] "Give 'im a good sock in the gut, eh?" He's whispering now. "We wait on the sides of the door and both get 'im at once."
  404. [21:12:26] [~castfromhp] (I'm assuming you're all whispering and none of you are outside of the door in any way?)
  405. [21:12:34] [Ryoko] (( Yep ))
  406. [21:12:40] * Kimi taps her phone. {Yes, they bloody rearranged the whole fifth floor and built an impossible robot for a lark. You gits are unbelieveable.}
  407. [21:13:16] [Nick] "Well, if it is some freaky telly shit, wouldn't it be better to kick its arse?"
  408. [21:13:25] [Kimi] :|
  409. [21:13:31] * Kimi just stares at Nick.
  410. [21:13:32] [~castfromhp] The creature straightens up and continues on, and you can see it has 2 pairs of legs like a dog as it shambles across the hallway, poking sharp holes in the ground as it goes.
  411. [21:13:37] [Ryoko] "With what, desks and our fists?"
  412. [21:13:47] [~castfromhp] It pauses before fulling crossing the gap, scraping at the floor again.
  413. [21:14:06] [Kimi] What gap?
  414. [21:14:13] [Jeff] "No hold on, if that's a student in there I'm bloody well not going to just assault him."
  415. [21:14:20] [Ryoko] "We're not fighting -anything-, and none of us are going to be suicidal enough to try."
  416. [21:14:36] [Ryoko] "We're going to escape, try to find help, and figure out just what's going on here."
  417. [21:14:41] [~castfromhp] The gap at the end of the hallway where you can see it as it round the corner before continuing on. Imagine its a T shaped hall and you're somewhere on the lower end.
  418. [21:15:02] [Kimi] So it's gone now?
  419. [21:15:12] [Nick] "Looks like it miss'd us anyway." Shrug.
  420. [21:15:30] [Jeff] "What are you so scared of? You in on this? Teach us not to sneak up on the rooftops or something? New Year's prank? Set up a false door leading to a bunch of hallways you got the students to muck up?"
  421. [21:15:31] [Ryoko] "we need to find the stairs down. Yes, stairs."
  422. [21:15:35] [~castfromhp] You hear it continuing off on in the distance, yes. Occasionally, it makes more scraping noises.
  423. [21:16:02] [Ryoko] "No way I'm going to stay in an elevator when reality itself seems to gave gone off its meds."
  424. [21:16:18] * Kimi eases up, wordlessly and... just leaves the classroom.
  425. [21:16:29] [Jeff] "Oh, there's something. Maybe there was something in the pastries."
  426. [21:16:47] [Nick] "Pretty shitty prank, I think." He walks out as well, along with Kimi. Arguing is kind of shitty anyway.
  427. [21:16:48] [Ryoko] "Haven't eaten mine yet. Can't have been it."
  428. [21:17:07] * Ryoko looks for stairs down.
  429. [21:17:10] * Jeff follows Kimi
  430. [21:17:28] * Kimi heads the direction the horror came from, heading behind it is too scurry
  431. [21:17:41] [~castfromhp] You're in a hallway with classrooms and laboraties on each side. Further down in this direction is a T shaped split, with one direction being where this creature came from and the other where it's going.
  432. [21:17:47] [Ryoko] Heading down in that direction is the only viable option in her mind, anyway.
  433. [21:17:48] [Jeff] "Well if you're in on it then 'course you didn't. Come on..."
  434. [21:17:54] [~castfromhp] Back a few steps is the other branch which led to a largely empty hallway.
  435. [21:18:04] [~castfromhp] Neither view right now shows any signs of stairs.
  436. [21:18:38] [Nick] Nick starts walking to the one where the creature came from. Best way to fuck up their prank is to not give 'em a shot at really pulling it.
  437. [21:19:29] [Ryoko] "....this can't be right. I'd have hoped the architecture at least would have shared some resemblances with the lounge, but..."
  438. [21:20:59] [~castfromhp] You continue down that way and peek around the corner. It's more of the same, though a short ways down this hall you see it opens up into a walkway overlooking some area you can't see from here. There's what appears to be a set of signs right before that point, and further in that direction are stairs spiralling down. They have a distinctly antique flair to them, also quite unlike the rest of this building.
  439. [21:21:20] [~castfromhp] Int + Composure roll or Int + Academics or Int + Science if you have a score there
  440. [21:21:28] [Nick] He waves the others over. "Found stairs."
  441. [21:21:50] [Ryoko] 5d10 Int + Composure
  442. [21:21:51] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, Int + Composure: 33 [5d10=10,3,6,5,9]
  443. [21:21:55] [Ryoko] 1d10
  444. [21:21:56] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 1d10: 5 [1d10=5]
  445. [21:21:58] [Nick] 4d4 Int + Composure
  446. [21:21:59] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, Int + Composure: 8 [4d4=1,4,1,2]
  447. [21:22:03] [Ryoko] (( 2 ))
  448. [21:22:06] [Jeff] 5d10 Int + composure
  449. [21:22:07] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, Int + composure: 24 [5d10=9,5,2,5,3]
  450. [21:22:08] [Nick] Nothin'
  451. [21:22:15] [Ryoko] (( You rolled 4d4 ))
  452. [21:22:16] [Jeff] just 1
  453. [21:22:18] [Nick] 4d10
  454. [21:22:18] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 4d10: 16 [4d10=2,8,3,3]
  455. [21:22:22] [Nick] 1
  456. [21:22:26] [Jeff] (I have 3 science, but I have 4 composure)
  457. [21:22:28] [Nick] (whoops)
  458. [21:22:29] [~castfromhp] (Aori are you going to roll every type of die up to d10 here? :P)
  459. [21:22:44] [Nick] (trrbly srry)
  460. [21:23:18] [~castfromhp] (Kain?)
  461. [21:24:13] [Nick] (Kimmeh?)
  462. [21:25:03] [Kimi] (Sorry)
  463. [21:25:17] [Kimi] 8d10
  464. [21:25:17] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 8d10: 38 [8d10=6,3,2,8,5,1,9,4]
  465. [21:25:21] [Nick] (Please don't tell me that Kimi is switching ot the Devil Arcana)
  466. [21:25:40] [Kimi] (No, I went to grab my burger out of the oven and I broke a plate)
  467. [21:25:49] [Nick] (oooooh, yeeesh)
  468. [21:25:55] [~castfromhp] Nick and Jeff, you feel like this place is faintly familiar. You're not quite sure what it is. Ryoko though you realize as you see the stairs and signs that you've been in this building. It's the newly remodelled chemistry wing. Kimi you don't frequent this building, but you recognize the architecture here too. It's pretty distinct.
  469. [21:26:21] [~castfromhp] But it didn't stand out at first, because this is definitely older. The classrooms in this building have modern style desks, and the labs have hazard doors in some of the cases.
  470. [21:26:26] [~castfromhp] To to mention that building is all the way across campus.
  471. [21:26:50] [Ryoko] "....we just switched buildings. The chem wing isn't connected at all."
  472. [21:26:59] [Nick] "Lovely."
  473. [21:27:17] * Kimi scratches her head, confused.
  474. [21:27:18] [~castfromhp] Are you proceeding further down this hall?
  475. [21:27:18] [Nick] "Anyway, we have stairs now, so we can get out. C'mon then."
  476. [21:27:26] [Ryoko] "That'd explain the almost hospital-like sterilization."
  477. [21:27:30] * Ryoko descends.
  478. [21:27:33] [Kimi] (Also woops should have been 7d10 not 8d10)
  479. [21:27:43] [~castfromhp] Whatevs, it would've cut off the 4.
  480. [21:27:48] [Nick] (^)
  481. [21:28:22] [Nick] Nick is obvs descending.
  482. [21:28:37] * Kimi taps her phone. {But... this is across campus isn't it? How did we get here?}
  483. [21:28:40] * Kimi follows
  484. [21:28:54] [~castfromhp] You pass by a number of signs pointing toward "clinic"s and "clinical psychology classrooms" and "operation rooms", as you head for the stairs that overlook a large foyer.
  485. [21:29:11] [Nick] "Coulda' knocked us out and then brought us there." He frowns. "But that seems a bit..."
  486. [21:29:17] [~castfromhp] In the foyer area is an information desk, dusty and worn. There are no computers here.
  487. [21:29:20] [Nick] "Well, y'know."
  488. [21:29:32] [~castfromhp] Instead, there's a typewriter on the desk, and a clipboard, presumably for visitors of some sort.
  489. [21:30:03] [~castfromhp] Scattered around the foyer area are a number of potted plants, or what used to be plants, now shriveled and brown. The pots look like they'd been broken and punctured by a sharp object.
  490. [21:30:06] [Nick] "...you sure this was recently remodeled?"
  491. [21:30:08] [Ryoko] "It -is- across campus, but frankly, that's not surprising anymore."
  492. [21:30:18] [Jeff] "Now this is a bit dodgy..."
  493. [21:30:24] [Ryoko] "The entire architecture of the lounge just changed. Who knows what rules we're playing by now?"
  494. [21:30:29] [Nick] (er, scratch that)
  495. [21:30:41] [Nick] "They sure love takin' care of this place, eh?"
  496. [21:31:05] [Kimi] Were there puncture marks in the stairs going up?
  497. [21:31:12] [Ryoko] "Now that we know this, though.....getting out isn't going to be a matter of just reaching the bottom floor."
  498. [21:31:14] [Jeff] "I don't know if they could really do this much."
  499. [21:31:16] [Ryoko] "At least, not necessarily."
  500. [21:31:32] [Jeff] "I'm not sure what's going on now."
  501. [21:31:34] [~castfromhp] Now that you take the time to look, yes, there are little holes pricked into the steps.
  502. [21:31:47] * Kimi shudders
  503. [21:31:53] [Ryoko] "....so that beast came all the way from here."
  504. [21:31:59] [Ryoko] "Or there might be more."
  505. [21:32:11] * Ryoko sighs. This wasn't her idea of being the leader of student goverment.
  506. [21:32:12] * Kimi looks around the foyer - maybe a window or something?
  507. [21:32:20] [~castfromhp] Several hallways branch out from the foyer area, and you here several screeches, first in unison, then apart, coming from some of them, all around.
  508. [21:32:34] [Ryoko] "....oh no."
  509. [21:32:39] * Kimi then freezes in place as she hears that
  510. [21:33:01] [Nick] Nick lets out a sigh. "Guess you can't avoid 'em all."
  511. [21:33:04] [~castfromhp] There are windows, yes, beyond the information desk on one side of the foyer.
  512. [21:33:16] [Jeff] "If this is a prank, you've got us, okay? You're going to scare this poor girl to death, it's stopped being funny!"
  513. [21:33:34] * Kimi has a peek out of the window then
  514. [21:33:54] [~castfromhp] The screeches suddenly stop at the sound of Jeff's noise. There's a clank clank clank approaching, and then another series of screeches in unison.
  515. [21:34:09] [Kimi] "..." she glances back at Jeff, a little annoyed.
  516. [21:34:15] [~castfromhp] It's pitch black outside Kimi. Not surprising given the time and that campus is inactive, but...
  517. [21:34:24] [~castfromhp] *Jeff's voice
  518. [21:34:34] [Nick] His hand is in his pocket.
  519. [21:35:08] [Jeff] "Starting to think this isn't a prank." he says, a bit shaken
  520. [21:35:37] * Kimi looks around for a method of exit, now in a bit of a panic
  521. [21:36:44] [Ryoko] "Start hiding. Duck into another room."
  522. [21:36:59] [~castfromhp] Two of the creatures shuffle into view from the hallways. With a bird's eye view and the better lighting in this area, you can clearly make out their forms. They look as if someone made a sculpture of a dog using medical supplies. Syringes loaded with clear fluids jut out at every angle, scalpels are angled back like fur or scales, and their legs are made of clamps ending in sharp needles. The entire head looks to be an ice pi
  523. [21:36:59] [~castfromhp] ck.
  524. [21:37:26] [~castfromhp] From here, you can go back upstairs to the classrooms above, or you can rush into one of the hallways connected to this center foyer area, though two of them are occupied by these creatures.
  525. [21:38:16] [~castfromhp] They screeeech their heads on the floor again, and this time they point their needles straight at you.
  526. [21:38:25] [Kimi] She opens her mouth but still can't scream. Fuck if she's heading back upstairs, though. One of the hallways ought to do.
  527. [21:38:25] [~castfromhp] Int + animal ken or science
  528. [21:38:44] [Ryoko] 4d10
  529. [21:38:44] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 4d10: 12 [4d10=4,1,1,6]
  530. [21:38:47] [Jeff] 4d10 science
  531. [21:38:47] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, science: 11 [4d10=1,2,5,3]
  532. [21:38:57] [Kimi] Untrained penalty applies eh
  533. [21:39:01] [~castfromhp] Yes.
  534. [21:39:04] [Nick] Well, that's some weird shit. "Ladies first." He lets the ladies try running first, he's staying put for now.
  535. [21:39:05] [Kimi] 1d10 in that case
  536. [21:39:06] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, in that case: 2 [1d10=2]
  537. [21:39:16] [Nick] I'm negative in that case, not bothering rolling.
  538. [21:39:24] [~castfromhp] IT's a chance die. Roll it.
  539. [21:39:28] * Jeff looks around for SOMETHING to use
  540. [21:39:29] [~castfromhp] Just 1d10, success on 10 only.
  541. [21:39:33] [Jeff] as a weapon*
  542. [21:40:01] [Kimi] Oh, wait, I would have only taken a -1 penalty on animal ken. >:C
  543. [21:40:07] [Kimi] goddamn it
  544. [21:40:14] [~castfromhp] Well, roll the remaining dice.
  545. [21:40:18] [Kimi] 2d10
  546. [21:40:18] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 2d10: 11 [2d10=8,3]
  547. [21:40:26] [Kimi] ...one success?
  548. [21:40:27] [Nick] 1d10 well fine
  549. [21:40:27] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, well fine: 9 [1d10=9]
  550. [21:40:32] [Nick] hahahaha nice
  551. [21:40:55] [~castfromhp] There are chairs all around, the drawers at the desk might hold something if the person at the info desk normally has something for self-defense, and it looks like there might be some broken bits of railing that could make for a bat in a jiffy.
  552. [21:41:11] [~castfromhp] Kimi you get it you think. They have no eyes, but they're using that screeching noise for echolocation.
  553. [21:41:32] [Nick] Nick still has his hand in his pocket. It's slowly edging out o fthe pocket.
  554. [21:42:13] [~castfromhp] Which also means you think they might be sensitive to loud noises.
  555. [21:42:19] * Kimi hurriedly types. {They're blind. Like bats that are also blind.}
  556. [21:42:45] [Kimi] {Bats are not usually blind.} she explains, typing in a panic.
  557. [21:43:05] [Ryoko] "Wait, how are they tracking us, then?"
  558. [21:43:06] * Jeff was about to correct her out loud.
  559. [21:43:22] * Kimi opens and closes her mouth, pointing at it.
  560. [21:43:23] [~castfromhp] The creatures are clankclanking your way. Are you all heading off to a hallway? There are five hallways. Two have these creatures. One looks to be of the same architecture as the rest of this area. Another seems a bit more modern. Yet another has a god damned swinging lightbulb, even more archaic than the technology around here.
  561. [21:44:20] [Kimi] 1d2
  562. [21:44:20] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 1d2: 2 [1d2=2]
  563. [21:44:45] * Kimi seems to favor running like fuck for one with the swinging lightbulb
  564. [21:45:08] * Ryoko just follows Kimi at a sprint. Anything was better than staying here.
  565. [21:45:11] * Jeff runs after her
  566. [21:45:28] [Nick] Nick runs last, figuring he'd be the first line of defense.
  567. [21:45:29] * Jeff also picks up a folding chair.
  568. [21:45:39] [Nick] He's still got his hand in his jacket pocket.
  569. [21:46:50] [~castfromhp] The creatures swivel toward the noise of your running footsteps as you make your way down the old hallway. Your vision dims with the aging lighting technology, and the concrete walls give way to red brick as you run in.
  570. [21:47:29] [~castfromhp] You hear the creatures clanking behind you, but they actually seem rather slow on their pointed needle feet.
  571. [21:48:12] [~castfromhp] Off in the distance down this hallway you see a pair of lights on the wall, lightly flickering. It takes a moment to register, but they're torches, still freshly lit somehow.
  572. [21:49:01] [Ryoko] "....and we've left KU entirely."
  573. [21:49:07] * Ryoko takes a torch off the wall.
  574. [21:49:36] [~castfromhp] Their metal form is crude and rough against your skin. Definitely not made by modern molds and technology.
  575. [21:50:00] [Nick] Nick checkst he floor before possibly doing something stupid. Is it also brick or stone or tile?
  576. [21:50:33] [Kimi] "...?" she doesn't slow down but she's visibly worried about where this is heading now.
  577. [21:51:10] [~castfromhp] You've made your way into a hallway with a stone floor.
  578. [21:51:31] [Nick] Good. He grabs the other torch. "Everyone stop. You said they have echolocation?"
  579. [21:51:50] * Kimi stumbles and leans against one of the walls, panting. She nods.
  580. [21:51:51] [Nick] "Or something like that, anyway."
  581. [21:52:14] [Nick] "Right...you, with the chair. Do you think you can throw it pretty far?"
  582. [21:52:16] [Ryoko] "Well, it can be fooled by retreaing into a place that doesn't echo well."
  583. [21:52:54] * Kimi looks back, are they still being pursued?
  584. [21:53:09] [Jeff] "Maybe... why?"
  585. [21:53:27] [~castfromhp] You hear the clanking sound, now a bit muffled by distance.
  586. [21:53:47] [~castfromhp] You don't see anything though, and you'd be able to pretty clearly see approaching shadows with the way the lighting is set up here.
  587. [21:54:03] [Nick] "If they hear something loud, wouldn't they go for it? I mean, don't things that are blind like that have really sensitive hearing?"
  588. [21:54:43] * Kimi just waves for them to continue, a bit less urgently now.
  589. [21:55:03] * Kimi is still emptyhanded, apart from her phone.
  590. [21:55:06] [Nick] "...although they seem to have lost us, so it doesn't really matter." Damn, scheme foiled. FOr now.
  591. [21:56:21] [Nick] "It'd probably be better to walk softly and not attract their attention than to run ourselves ragged, though..."
  592. [21:56:28] [Ryoko] "....what did we get ourselves into?"
  593. [21:56:30] [Jeff] "That's not how echolocation works."
  594. [21:56:30] [~castfromhp] They haven't exactly lost you. You still hear the clanking noise, and this has thus far been an unbranching hallway. As you continue though, the area opens up into a small lounge, with a dingy wooden table and chair set up in a corner with an empty bag of potato chips and a bottle of soda sitting underneath it.
  595. [21:56:47] [Ryoko] "Was someone here?"
  596. [21:56:49] [~castfromhp] There's a few scattered sheets of paper on the table, and there are two exits from this area, both leading to dimly lit hallways.
  597. [21:56:58] * Kimi glances at the papers
  598. [21:57:26] [Nick] "Hmmm, was there..." He leans in to look over everything. Could I do an investigation real quick, or would that take too much time?
  599. [21:57:28] [Kimi] Is the table big enough to blockade the way we came?
  600. [21:58:09] [Jeff] "Echolocation isn't a seismograph, it's a RADAR."
  601. [21:58:37] [Nick] Blink. Blink. Hm. "Huh. Yeah I guess you're right, then."
  602. [21:58:46] [Jeff] "Sound isn't what we need... if they're looking for humans..."
  603. [21:58:47] [~castfromhp] They're covered with a bunch of inscrutable stars, bisected circles, Hebrew writing, and other pop occult symbols. Lots of it is crossed out. Blood stains a few of the papers, and one of them actually has some writing on it, in a shaky hand. "You seal them by their form. Name and secret. The room up ahead already seems set up for it. -C"
  604. [21:59:14] [Ryoko] What room is it probably referring to?
  605. [21:59:17] [~castfromhp] The table will fit in the hallway sure. And you can roll investigation if you're willing to spend more than the time for a passing glance here.
  606. [21:59:32] [~castfromhp] "Ahead" is all it says, though there are only two paths here anyway.
  607. [21:59:44] [Jeff] "They've got to be looking for humans haven't they. Clearly they can tell the difference between each other."
  608. [22:00:09] [Nick] If the table can barricade the way we came, Nick will probably help barricade it and then give everything a look over. "This is all, rather strange, hmmm..."
  609. [22:00:30] [Jeff] "But they still do hear sound, so being loud is a bad idea."
  610. [22:00:39] * Kimi would definitely need the help. She probably would have trouble even pushing the table.
  611. [22:00:58] [Jeff] "If we can get behind a door, we'd be loads safer."
  612. [22:01:05] [Nick] "You all mind if I give this place a lookover after we move that table?"
  613. [22:01:12] * Kimi then looks at the writing again for a moment, maybe snapping a picture or two with her phone.
  614. [22:01:38] * Kimi nods, and looks at the paths ahead, curiously.
  615. [22:02:05] [Jeff] (Are we in a room with a closed door? Or was it just from an open hallway)
  616. [22:02:07] [~castfromhp] It doesn't take you long to move the table into place, collapsing it so its top faces the hallway you came from. It's rather sturdy and of solid construction, despite its apparent age.
  617. [22:02:10] [~castfromhp] Open hallway.
  618. [22:02:56] [Ryoko] "I don't think we'll have the time. They might just cut through that table."
  619. [22:03:05] [Ryoko] "This scribbling's our only lead, too."
  620. [22:03:23] [Nick] Grumblegrumble "What if there's another that we're missing?" Grumblegrumble.
  621. [22:03:43] * Kimi scouts the hallway furthest left then
  622. [22:04:44] [Nick] If they're not gonna' stick around for a few minutes then Nick's all for scouting along with Kimi.
  623. [22:04:51] * Jeff follows Kimi.
  624. [22:04:57] [Ryoko] "Take some pictures if you need to."
  625. [22:05:04] [Ryoko] "But we just need to get out."
  626. [22:05:19] [~castfromhp] The left hallway seems to split itself further in. Another is more of the same, though you can make out from here a large stain on the wall, and becomes progressively more modern the further and further down you look.
  627. [22:05:20] [Jeff] "I think I saw Kimi taking some photographs."
  628. [22:06:04] [Nick] Nick pauses, then nods and pulls out his phone, taking a few more photographs. He can look this over later. He's taking photographs of the table, the chairs, and the food laying around, if his phone's memory can take it.
  629. [22:06:20] [~castfromhp] Anyone looking down the right hallway sees a set of double doors on the right side of that hall further down that seem to have been busted open. LArge torn sheets of cloth and paper lay on the floor, and some of it in ribbons. There's definitely writing or symbols of some sort on it.
  630. [22:06:34] * Kimi comes back rather than continue on
  631. [22:06:49] [~castfromhp] Pictures are tiny compared to phone memory, even in 2006.
  632. [22:06:55] [Nick] So it seems by the time he's done taking pictures Kimi is back anyway! Oh well.
  633. [22:07:38] [Nick] (I had a phone from like 2006-2007 that could only hold like 20 pictures if they weren't of absolute shit quality...)
  634. [22:07:43] [Nick] (Then again it was pretty cheap)
  635. [22:08:02] [Kimi] {It looks like this craziness gets less crazy that way. But we need to figure out what's going on, right?}
  636. [22:08:17] * Jeff seems to be following Kimi fairly obviously right now.
  637. [22:08:23] * Ryoko looks over the writing, trying to decipher it.
  638. [22:08:34] [Nick] Nick looks left, then right. "The one on the right seems more like what that note was talking about..."
  639. [22:08:51] * Kimi looks a bit confused at Jeff following her. She'll follow Ryoko and head down the right path
  640. [22:10:07] [Nick] Nick's gonna' head to the right of course~
  641. [22:10:53] [Ryoko] Anything intelligible?
  642. [22:10:55] [~castfromhp] The paper and cloth is spread pretty far along the hall, and you start to pick up bits with some writing before you even get near the double doors. Unfortunately, most of it is illegible from shredding, and the bits that aren't torn just have more of the strange symbols. You do make out "Professor L", "ecret", "Pers", "spa", in increasingly small scraps.
  643. [22:11:34] [~castfromhp] There's a rustling sound from the room with the double doors. And you hear the clanking from behind getting closer as well.
  644. [22:12:58] * Jeff looks around for another way
  645. [22:13:32] [Nick] Nick carefully walks over to the doors, slinking around the walls to try to not get seen.
  646. [22:13:39] [~castfromhp] Down this hall? It only continues past these double doors, though there's still the path to the left.
  647. [22:14:07] * Kimi will very carefully peek through the busted door.
  648. [22:14:09] [Nick] He's just trying to get a view of what's IN there.
  649. [22:16:53] [~castfromhp] You peer in and see newspapers swirling around a column of air making the rustling noise. They've been folded like orgami into various forms that create a man's shoulders, neck, and head with a fully bearded face. Sharp newspapers are folded into teeth that gnash with the sound of rustling papers, and you see long white ribbons binding this creature to the floor. It makes a motion like it's roaring, but all that comes out is t
  650. [22:16:53] [~castfromhp] he rustling of paper as it shakes and struggles.
  651. [22:17:42] [Kimi] NOPE
  652. [22:17:52] [~castfromhp] In one corner of the room is a typewriter sitting on a chair, with a string running from it all the way up the ribbons. On the other side seems to be a crude printer of some sort, though in place of a USB port or other similar input there's just a large glass jar.
  653. [22:18:14] [~castfromhp] Make a rank 4 unnatural check as you take in this whole scene.
  654. [22:18:51] [Kimi] 8d10 I'll use a willpower
  655. [22:18:52] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, I'll use a willpower: 43 [8d10=4,4,2,7,6,2,9,9]
  656. [22:18:58] [Nick] 6d10+1d10
  657. [22:18:59] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 6d10+1d10: 46 [6d10=7,4,6,8,10,10; 1d10=1]
  658. [22:19:01] [Kimi] only two successes
  659. [22:19:03] [Nick] 2d10
  660. [22:19:04] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 2d10: 11 [2d10=7,4]
  661. [22:19:11] [Nick] 3 successes.
  662. [22:19:21] [~castfromhp] TN is 2 successes, remember to add your hardened notch from before.
  663. [22:19:40] [Nick] I made sure to
  664. [22:19:43] [Kimi] And I get one auto success from will, right
  665. [22:19:50] [~castfromhp] Yep.
  666. [22:19:59] [Ryoko] 9d10 1 willpower
  667. [22:19:59] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 1 willpower: 54 [9d10=8,1,8,5,6,10,5,3,8]
  668. [22:20:00] [Jeff] (It's resolve + composure right?)
  669. [22:20:05] [Ryoko] 1d10
  670. [22:20:05] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 1d10: 9 [1d10=9]
  671. [22:20:10] [~castfromhp] Yes Damien
  672. [22:20:15] [Jeff] 7d10
  673. [22:20:16] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 7d10: 27 [7d10=2,3,4,10,4,1,3]
  674. [22:20:21] [Ryoko] (( 5 ))
  675. [22:20:24] [Jeff] 1d10
  676. [22:20:24] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 1d10: 1 [1d10=1]
  677. [22:20:42] [Ryoko] (( +1 success from Willpower so 6 ))
  678. [22:20:45] [Jeff] (Oh, also hardened notch or something right?)
  679. [22:20:51] [~castfromhp] Yeah, add 1 die for that.
  680. [22:20:58] [Jeff] 1d10
  681. [22:20:58] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 1d10: 5 [1d10=5]
  682. [22:21:29] [Jeff] (Can I spend willpower now?)
  683. [22:21:35] [~castfromhp] Sure.
  684. [22:22:07] [~castfromhp] I'll allow willpower to be declared after the fact defensively only, but not for offensive actions.
  685. [22:22:08] [Jeff] (Okay, spending it. I succeed by doing so, right?)
  686. [22:22:11] [~castfromhp] Yes.
  687. [22:23:18] * Kimi turns around and nopes right back out, covering her eyes and mouthing something soundlessly. She walks straight back to the other hallway, hoping that a return to more modern halls will also be a return to sanity.
  688. [22:24:19] [~castfromhp] Shit just isn't weird enough for you all yet, is it? The fact this creature seems to be restrained for the moment lets you hang on to your composure, but as you stare at it, you start to see a faint glow. It covers the ribbons binding it, the typewriter, the string for the type writer, and the strange printer apparatus. You also notice a jar of glowing blue off in the corner that was hidden by shadow before.
  689. [22:24:20] [Nick] Well! That was interesting. Nick turns around, he doesn't want to be around when that thing's chains break.
  690. [22:24:39] [Nick] Blue, huh.
  691. [22:24:40] [Nick] Huh.
  692. [22:26:06] [Nick] He gives the thing a "Hope you have fun but like I actually don't" sort of wave as he turns around. The blue stuff is interested but he's pretty sure walking into that room is a death wish.
  693. [22:26:31] [Nick] *interesting
  694. [22:26:34] [Nick] *-like
  695. [22:27:24] [Nick] ...on the other hand.
  696. [22:27:26] [Nick] ...
  697. [22:27:27] [Nick] ...
  698. [22:27:51] [Nick] Nick turns around again and takes a single step into the room. It's paper. At worst it'll cut him. Probably.
  699. [22:29:30] [Nick] He wants to get a hold of that jar. He also is going to bolt out of there the second that thing tries anything.
  700. [22:30:10] [~castfromhp] Nick, your head starts to hurt as you take that one step in. Some of the soft blue glow flows from the ribbons and rest of the room into you, and you see the binds start to tear and break.
  701. [22:31:12] [Nick] ...yep. Bad idea. Definitely a bad idea. He flips around and starts walking out, he'd close the door behind him if it actually closed. "Nice meetin' you, then!" Away!
  702. [22:31:35] [~castfromhp] They were sort of busted open.
  703. [22:31:54] [Nick] Yeah, that's why I said "he WOULD" instead of "he does" :3
  704. [22:33:11] [Nick] He freezes midstep and blinks, putting the hand that's not in his jacket pocket with the knife in another pocket and feeling at it.
  705. [22:33:38] * Kimi is waiting for everyone to catch up as she's in the hallway to the left.
  706. [22:33:51] * Ryoko sprints to keep Kimi in view.
  707. [22:34:01] * Kimi is waiting. :B
  708. [22:34:09] [~castfromhp] The blue glow chases you as you exit the room, and the rest of you see it flow into Nick as well, his eyes flashing a brillaint azure for a brief moment. You pull out three keys on a ring. Your vision blurs a bit, looking at them.
  709. [22:34:26] * Kimi hasn't gone far, she's just hanging around, nervously staring south. But... she blinks at Nick, raising an eyebrow.
  710. [22:34:42] [~castfromhp] One appears to be the key to your father's police cruiser, but it is dusty and old. Even removing your fingers from it, you see that it remains dusty as if frozen in time.
  711. [22:35:07] [Nick] Blink. Blink blink. He looks at the keys. He looks at the others. He looks at the keys. He squints. Squiiiints.
  712. [22:35:09] [~castfromhp] The second key looks like a key you've seen your dad use for handcuffs before, though it appears to be blackened from soot and char.
  713. [22:35:17] [~castfromhp] The third key looks like this: http://i.imgur.com/HtyJM.jpg
  714. [22:36:12] * Kimi stares.
  715. [22:37:03] [~castfromhp] There's a tearing sound coming from the room of the double doors as you stand around gawking at the keys. More of the blue light floats out, flitting around Nick as if appraising and scanning him, then darting to the rest of you, Kimi, Jeff, and Ryoko.
  716. [22:37:25] [Kimi] "..!!"
  717. [22:37:25] [~castfromhp] You all hear a soft voice in your head, with a slight Eastern European accent. "I'm sorry, that you have to bear this burden." And then there's a heavy weight in your pocket.
  718. [22:37:30] [Nick] "Well, that's rather queer, that is." He puts the keys aw- and oh god blue blue blue
  719. [22:37:45] [Jeff] "A voice...?"
  720. [22:37:47] [Ryoko] "....what?""
  721. [22:37:59] [Kimi] (Goddammit cast, the song I was listening to started chanting as I was listening to it at that very moment)
  722. [22:38:00] * Ryoko fishes around in her pocket.
  723. [22:38:07] * Kimi puts her hand into her pocket
  724. [22:38:55] [~castfromhp] You all have a ring of keys. Of them, only the third key Nick pulls out matches. Kimi has two USB drives in the shape of keys, one of them with a circuitry motif, and the other a solid crimson red.
  725. [22:40:02] [~castfromhp] Ryoko has ornate gold keys with the carving of a woman's face on each and a crown. They look like the kinds of keys used for 'keys to the city', and one of them is icy cold to the touch with a blue inset while the other is has a heart instead of a face.
  726. [22:40:19] [~castfromhp] Jeff, do you also reach in your pocket?
  727. [22:40:25] * Jeff pulls out whatever's in there
  728. [22:41:36] [~castfromhp] Yours are small and look like the keys to a sports locker. One shocks you to touch at first but then merely seems to crackle with a bit of harmless electricity. The other appears to have dried blood caked in the grooves.
  729. [22:42:25] * Kimi is pretty sure she never had a keyring like this... oh god what is even happening. The USBs are pretty cool though
  730. [22:42:53] * Ryoko is not entirely sure she understands what's going on, but she keeps them handy - they were bound to be important.
  731. [22:43:04] * Nick is gonna' make sure to sock the guy who stole his dad's keys and fucked them up like this in the gut.
  732. [22:43:04] [~castfromhp] The origami head roars with a flood of papers flying out of its mouth into the hall and even into the room with the table. And you all hear another ringing voice in your head, this time your own. "Per...so...na". Your heads hurt more. What do you do?
  733. [22:43:18] [Ryoko] "...per....sona?"
  734. [22:43:26] [~castfromhp] BGM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1-oekXiw-o
  735. [22:43:29] [Jeff] "Per... sona..."
  736. [22:43:36] * Ryoko 's grip tightens on the keyring.
  737. [22:43:51] [Nick] "...per...so...na?"
  738. [22:43:57] * Jeff holds up the key with the face on it
  739. [22:44:30] * Kimi just mouths something
  740. [22:44:39] [Nick] Nick gets the brilliant idea of putting the cold keys (specifically the mask one) on his head. Maybe that'll calm his headache.
  741. [22:45:29] [~castfromhp] Those of you who repeat the mantra feel your hair stand on end and a rush of power surge through you. Your head is still pounding, but an unusual clarity floods your mind. A wind swirls around your feet and up your body, tugging at your clothes and hair as you all glow. You all feel your respective keystone items just within reach, no matter the distance to them, from where you are now, and an intinctive urge to grab them.
  742. [22:45:57] * Kimi clutches her head, trying not to succumb to the pain. Her hand brushes up against her glasses.
  743. [22:46:07] * Jeff clutches his right arm
  744. [22:46:16] [Nick] Well, his is already on his hand, so he just balls his hand into a fist.
  745. [22:47:01] [~castfromhp] A jolt of energy shoots through your body, from the keys to the glasses. For Jeff, it shoots into his armband, and for Nick his glove pulses blue.
  746. [22:47:35] [Ryoko] As her eyes open and her free hand tightens...her fingers curl around a heavily notched pole.
  747. [22:49:25] [~castfromhp] A thin thread spirals up from Ryoko's spear, folding upon itself and knotting into the form of a robed woman with a severe face. As the string folds itself into her hands, you can see her holding the remainder between her hands, fingers held as if to measure it. And then in a flash it's gone. Simultaneously...
  748. [22:50:49] [~castfromhp] An armored man with a large cloak and battleaxe pulls himself from Nick's gloves, standing tall in the center of the room and giving a loud battlecry and a swing of his axe before disappearing as well.
  749. [22:52:10] [~castfromhp] Jeff's armband suddenly hardens into clay, which falls off in crumbling bits onto the floor and coalescing into the form of a feral man who slowly stands up, becoming clothed and taking on a civilized look but still the hardened body of a powerful warrior.
  750. [22:53:25] [~castfromhp] Kimi's glasses flash, and as if stepping out of her, a man in armor much like that which pulled himself out from Nick's gloves appears, holding an ornately carved bone horn. He rings out a loud note on it before too vanishing.
  751. [22:53:59] [~castfromhp] "Thou art I, and I am thou" a voice that is yours and another overlaid rings out in your head again, "From the sea of thy soul I come forth."
  752. [22:55:00] [~castfromhp] With the rush of power you felt comes an intuitive knowledge of the power you now wield! (Translation: You have an intuitive sense of how to command your Manifestations)
  753. [22:55:37] [Jeff] "This is called... Persona?"
  754. [22:55:53] [Nick] "Uh. Wow."
  755. [22:56:00] [Nick] "...I guess this is my fault? sorry."
  756. [22:56:42] [~castfromhp] The mass of newspaper is pulling itself into the room, growing hands to pull itself down the hall. Bits of it start falling off into 'puddles' of congealed newspaper in its wake. What do you do?
  757. [22:57:39] [Kimi] "...." she seems a bit shocked.
  758. [22:57:49] [Nick] He makes sure all the blue glowy stuff isn't swamping him anymore and tries dusting any that's left off. He carefully pulls that knife out of his jacket with this right hand (the one with THE GLOVE). "Guess we can't run anymore."
  759. [22:58:05] [~castfromhp] (you can, actually. There's still the other hallway)
  760. [22:58:12] [Nick] (shhhhhh)
  761. [22:58:18] * Kimi swallows hard and backs up a little, but... she doesn't run.
  762. [22:58:19] [Nick] (I wanted to say something cool okay ;_;)
  763. [22:59:14] [Ryoko] "I think we still can. There's something new to this, but I'm not staying."
  764. [22:59:52] [Jeff] "If you want to run, I can make that happen."
  765. [23:00:33] * Kimi attempts to activate Stigmata Oracle!
  766. [23:01:04] [~castfromhp] The creatures reaches a hand toward the lot of you but stops suddenly. A single, rapidly fading, blue ribbon still binds it, leaving it just out of reach.
  767. [23:01:06] [~castfromhp] Roll your activation
  768. [23:01:27] [~castfromhp] Int + Occult + your oracle rating
  769. [23:01:40] [Kimi] 4d10+1d10+2d10
  770. [23:01:41] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 4d10+1d10+2d10: 44 [4d10=5,2,9,10; 1d10=7; 2d10=10,1]
  771. [23:01:48] [Kimi] 2d10
  772. [23:01:48] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 2d10: 12 [2d10=5,7]
  773. [23:01:57] [Kimi] Three successes!
  774. [23:03:27] [Nick] 2d10+1d10+2d10+3d10 Burning a Willpower on Stillness Rage. I can do that, right? Right. I think so.
  775. [23:03:28] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, Burning a Willpower on Stillness Rage. I can do that, right? Right. I think so.: 46 [2d10=2,3; 1d10=6; 2d10=5,7; 3d10=3,10,10]
  776. [23:03:29] [~castfromhp] Your eyes glow blue with energy. Everyone else sees this as well. You gain your Oracle rating in bonus dice on perception (wits + composure) rolls related to Shadows. You see the small 'puddles' of newspaper outlined in a faint blue, and the large face in a stronger outline. If you glance down the hall you came from, you can make out the form of the needle dogs in the distance too.
  777. [23:03:47] [Nick] 2d10
  778. [23:03:48] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 2d10: 6 [2d10=3,3]
  779. [23:04:03] [Nick] two successes. bluh.
  780. [23:04:19] [Nick] ...and that's minus defense isn't it. :/
  781. [23:04:36] [~castfromhp] (yeah tell me if you're attacking something before you roll it cause defense subtracts from your dice pool)
  782. [23:04:51] [Nick] WOOP I guess I should reroll it all or what? D:
  783. [23:04:54] [~castfromhp] (I'll give you it this time)
  784. [23:06:29] [~castfromhp] It's at the swirling newspaper man, right? Describe your attack!
  785. [23:06:52] * Kimi is shocked at this power of hers. Things are clearer...
  786. [23:07:38] [Nick] Okay. Then Nick grips really tightly with his glove, a bolt of force ripping into the newspapers in front of him, tearing pieces of newspaper to shreds. Headlines and funnies start flying off into the hall, probably dissipating into puddles like the bits falling off of it. That's...3 bashing damage. Probably should stick to weapon from now on. Oh well.
  787. [23:07:38] [~castfromhp] And everyone give me an initiative roll after this. It's a 1d10 + your initiative mod.
  788. [23:07:51] [Nick] 1d10+9 since he's got the knife out.
  789. [23:07:52] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, since he's got the knife out.: 17 [1d10=8]
  790. [23:08:06] [~castfromhp] The man roars wordlessly as a flutter of paper is torn from where its eye would be.
  791. [23:08:08] [Ryoko] 1d10+5
  792. [23:08:09] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 1d10+5: 6 [1d10=1]
  793. [23:08:17] [~castfromhp] 1d10+8
  794. [23:08:18] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 1d10+8: 13 [1d10=5]
  795. [23:08:28] [Kimi] 1d10+6
  796. [23:08:29] [~castfromhp] 2#1d10+5
  797. [23:08:29] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 1d10+6: 13 [1d10=7]
  798. [23:08:31] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 2#1d10+5: 9 [1d10=4], 8 [1d10=3]
  799. [23:09:26] [~castfromhp] 1d10 Kimi roll off
  800. [23:09:28] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, Kimi roll off: 3 [1d10=3]
  801. [23:09:42] [Jeff] 1d10+7
  802. [23:09:42] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 1d10+7: 8 [1d10=1]
  803. [23:09:45] [Kimi] 1d10
  804. [23:09:45] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 1d10: 2 [1d10=2]
  805. [23:10:00] [~castfromhp] 1d10 jeff you too
  806. [23:10:02] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, jeff you too: 1 [1d10=1]
  807. [23:10:45] [Jeff] 1d10
  808. [23:10:45] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 1d10: 6 [1d10=6]
  809. [23:11:24] * castfromhp has changed the topic to: Nick > Newspaper Man > Kimi > Paper Boy #1 > Jeff > Paper Boy #2 > Ryoko
  810. [23:12:02] [~castfromhp] Two of the small 'puddles' of newspaper form themselves up into small origami men. The place where their face would be shuffles through newspapers until each is bearing an angry face, taken from an old and stained newspaper article.
  811. [23:13:02] [Nick] "Right then. 'ello." If Nick didn't already waste his turn by jumping the gun, he's gonna' go carve up the nearest Paper boy.
  812. [23:13:25] [~castfromhp] Defense is 5, roll it
  813. [23:14:00] [Nick] Okay, so, 8-5=3, so...
  814. [23:14:12] [Nick] 3d10
  815. [23:14:13] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 3d10: 11 [3d10=1,3,7]
  816. [23:14:16] [~castfromhp] (remember you can spend willpower on attacks or all-out attack too)
  817. [23:14:45] [~castfromhp] The paper boy folds itself away from your knife as you close in!
  818. [23:15:09] [Nick] Well there goes that.
  819. [23:16:25] [~castfromhp] The newspaper man lets out another wordless roar, and a storm of papers rushes out from its maw. You all take 1 bashing now and continue to take 1 at the beginning of each round from here on.
  820. [23:19:12] * Kimi hisses through her teeth!
  821. [23:21:27] [~castfromhp] And you're up Kimi.
  822. [23:22:27] * Kimi stares at the creature, trying to push her new abilities even further and discern the truth! Stigmata Oracle ••!
  823. [23:22:32] [Kimi] Willpower to activate it, and...
  824. [23:22:52] [Kimi] 6d10
  825. [23:22:53] [DiceMaid-9001] Kimi, 6d10: 26 [6d10=1,1,9,7,3,5]
  826. [23:22:58] [Kimi] One success.
  827. [23:23:03] [~castfromhp] 3d10
  828. [23:23:05] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 3d10: 14 [3d10=1,5,8]
  829. [23:24:19] [~castfromhp] I'll let you ask a baseline one question about the Shadow here. You first of all get an impression that this entity is immensely powerful, certainly not something you'd want to engage in direct combat. The blue energy that surrounded you? It's absolutely pulsing with it, and it's a bit overwhelming to look at.
  830. [23:25:13] [~castfromhp] You also get the feeling that even in its form now, it's somewhat...restrained. The ribbon of blue must have something to do with it, pulsing with the same energy you command.
  831. [23:25:45] [Kimi] Okay, I'll ask one question.
  832. [23:25:49] [Jeff] (So if I have armor, do I ignore that bashing damage, cast?)
  833. [23:25:51] [Kimi] What is this thing?
  834. [23:26:03] [~castfromhp] (yes Jeff)
  835. [23:26:19] * Jeff is unaffected by this storm then! :D
  836. [23:27:04] [~castfromhp] It's a Shadow, specifically if you're asking what it is, it seems directly formed from someone you're at least familiar with in passing - Professor Lucius Sykes of the journalism department. Now that you think about it, the facial structure does seem similar, but it was imprecise enough before that you couldn't tell.
  837. [23:27:31] [~castfromhp] You get the sense of a swirling mass of memory within that forms the crux of this being.
  838. [23:27:50] [Ryoko] "Not looking good...."
  839. [23:27:54] * Kimi looks absolutely terrified. She tugs on Nick's arm and tries to get the others to run!
  840. [23:28:20] [~castfromhp] They're rather dark, and it seems like it would the darker aspects of someone's psyche that form such a creature if anything.
  841. [23:28:20] [Ryoko] She doesn't need to be convinced - she's bolting at the first opportunity.
  842. [23:28:53] [Nick] Nick's giving a frustrated look at that damn Paper Boy when Kimi tugs. He blinks, realizing that she got the blue eyes and shit. "All right, all right." He'll go along with Kimi, then.
  843. [23:29:26] [Jeff] (Tell me when my turn rolls around then.)
  844. [23:29:28] [~castfromhp] Before you start to book it, one of the paper boys, the one Nick tried to stab, takes a step back, and then lunges forward with both 'hands' formed into a paper drill. Defense is 6, right?
  845. [23:29:35] [Nick] Right.
  846. [23:29:47] [~castfromhp] 4d10
  847. [23:29:49] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 4d10: 10 [4d10=2,5,1,2]
  848. [23:29:55] [~castfromhp] It misses!
  849. [23:30:01] [~castfromhp] Jeff's turn.
  850. [23:30:59] [Jeff] "All right, get ready to leg it!"
  851. [23:31:46] * Jeff calls forth from the sea of his soul... "ENKIDU!" His persona rises from the grown, dragging chains along with hm and wrapping them around the giant paper monster!
  852. [23:32:16] [~castfromhp] Defense is 4, roll it.
  853. [23:32:30] [Jeff] (So I have to get 5 successes for it to work?)
  854. [23:32:49] [~castfromhp] (you take your dice pool and subtract 4 from it and then roll that)
  855. [23:32:53] [Nick] (Nono, it means you lose 4 dice)
  856. [23:32:58] [Jeff] (Ohhhh.)
  857. [23:33:43] * Jeff spends an extra point of resonance to use Enkidu's Power.
  858. [23:33:54] [Jeff] 6d10
  859. [23:33:54] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 6d10: 32 [6d10=5,9,1,6,3,8]
  860. [23:34:13] [~castfromhp] That's two succeses. You root this creature in place with Enkidu's chains.
  861. [23:35:10] [Jeff] "All right leg it!"
  862. [23:35:17] [~castfromhp] The second paper boy takes a lunge at Nick as well, being as he was the one who rushed in. Though this one seems to be leaving itself rather open as it strikes!
  863. [23:35:21] [~castfromhp] 7d10
  864. [23:35:22] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 7d10: 28 [7d10=3,3,2,9,3,2,6]
  865. [23:35:39] [Nick] One whole hit.
  866. [23:35:48] [~castfromhp] Take one lethal damage as it impales you with an oddly solid and sharp paper drill. And roll Persona Resistance.
  867. [23:35:51] [~castfromhp] 5d10
  868. [23:35:51] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 5d10: 22 [5d10=3,1,2,10,6]
  869. [23:35:53] [~castfromhp] 1d10
  870. [23:35:54] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 1d10: 4 [1d10=4]
  871. [23:36:01] [Nick] 2d10
  872. [23:36:01] [DiceMaid-9001] Nick, 2d10: 7 [2d10=5,2]
  873. [23:37:02] [~castfromhp] You feel an energy being violently drawn out of you through the drill. Lose one resonance and take another lethal damage. The energy courses up into the paper boy, tearing your flesh more as it exits your body.
  874. [23:37:35] [~castfromhp] Ryoko now!
  875. [23:37:51] * Ryoko takes a deep breath, and remembers the lessons. Focus on the centerline....
  876. [23:37:51] [Nick] "Grk!" Yep. Nick realizes he is stupid. Oh boy.
  877. [23:38:26] [Ryoko] She covers for Nick and swings at the paper boy that just attacked him.
  878. [23:38:33] [~castfromhp] 0 defense!
  879. [23:38:51] [Ryoko] 10d10 Willpower, 9-again
  880. [23:38:51] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, Willpower, 9-again: 65 [10d10=3,7,4,5,5,10,10,5,7,9]
  881. [23:39:02] [Ryoko] 3d10 9again
  882. [23:39:03] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, 9again: 21 [3d10=8,8,5]
  883. [23:39:11] [Ryoko] (5 + 1 successes)
  884. [23:40:01] [~castfromhp] Your spear cuts through and neatly bisects the small newspaper figure. It crumples down into a puddle of ink and wet paper.
  885. [23:40:35] [~castfromhp] Up to Nick again, and another of the puddles forms itself up into a small figure, this one smaller than the previous two.
  886. [23:40:46] [Ryoko] The naginata cuts through, trailing a graceful, dancing arc of white silk and floating silver threats. With the paper boy thus dealt with, she retreats with the others.
  887. [23:40:51] [~castfromhp] 1d10+5
  888. [23:40:52] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 1d10+5: 7 [1d10=2]
  889. [23:40:56] [Ryoko] "I don't think that's going to keep them back for long!"
  890. [23:40:59] * castfromhp has changed the topic to: Nick > Newspaper Man > Kimi > Paper Boy #1 > Jeff > Paper Boy #2 (small) > Ryoko
  891. [23:41:26] [Jeff] "It'll hold him long enough!"
  892. [23:41:26] [~castfromhp] Everyone takes 1 bashing damage from the storm of papers swirling about.
  893. [23:41:32] * Jeff doesn't :D
  894. [23:41:56] * Kimi looks ready to bolt!
  895. [23:42:24] * Ryoko tries to keep the paper creatures at bay by taking advantage of the length of her weapon.
  896. [23:42:58] [Nick] Nick stumbles a bit. "Okay, I'm buying you all drinks later." Bolting.
  897. [23:43:56] [Jeff] "My persona can hold him down for a little bit. If we're gonna do it, we're doing it now!"
  898. [23:43:58] [~castfromhp] The newspaper man struggles against his bonds.
  899. [23:44:04] [~castfromhp] 4d10
  900. [23:44:06] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 4d10: 19 [4d10=5,1,5,8]
  901. [23:44:27] [~castfromhp] IT's a step closer to breaking out but not there yet. Kimi!
  902. [23:45:18] * Kimi runs away!
  903. [23:46:12] [~castfromhp] One of the paperboys looks at the remaining targets and attempts to bore a hole through Ryoko.
  904. [23:46:16] [~castfromhp] 5d10
  905. [23:46:17] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 5d10: 22 [5d10=8,3,1,2,8]
  906. [23:46:28] [~castfromhp] 2 lethal, roll Persona Resistance
  907. [23:46:37] [~castfromhp] 5d10
  908. [23:46:39] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 5d10: 26 [5d10=4,2,10,6,4]
  909. [23:46:43] [~castfromhp] 1d10
  910. [23:46:44] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 1d10: 10 [1d10=10]
  911. [23:46:48] [~castfromhp] 1d10
  912. [23:46:48] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, 1d10: 10 [1d10=10]
  913. [23:46:55] [~castfromhp] 1d10 jesus fuck what I'm so sorry
  914. [23:46:55] [Nick] (w h a t)
  915. [23:46:55] [DiceMaid-9001] castfromhp, jesus fuck what I'm so sorry: 9 [1d10=9]
  916. [23:47:15] [Ryoko] 3d10 :|
  917. [23:47:15] [DiceMaid-9001] Ryoko, :|: 18 [3d10=5,4,9]
  918. [23:48:03] [~castfromhp] (you can add willpower remember, if you'd like. Otherwise lose 3 resonance and take 3 lethal)
  919. [23:48:16] [~castfromhp] (and remember you can use resonance to bulwark against lethal damage)
  920. [23:48:38] [Ryoko] (( Going to spend Reso, then ))
  921. [23:49:08] [~castfromhp] Jeff!
  922. [23:49:26] [Jeff] "Ryoko! Ryoko, are you okay?"
  923. [23:49:39] [Nick] (grabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhandgrabherhand)
  924. [23:49:54] [Ryoko] Oh dear. That's a lot of blood.
  925. [23:50:43] [~castfromhp] The paper boy pulls back its drill hands, and the face shuffles between newspapers to a grinning one.
  926. [23:50:45] * Jeff quickly goes up to her and lifts her onto his back. "Come on, stay with me! We're getting out of here!"
  927. [23:52:37] [~castfromhp] You guys book it, and not a moment too soon! The needle dogs are piercing holes through the table - they luckily don't seem nimble enough to simple jump over. The paper boys, watching your retreat, return to cut at the newspaper man's bonds. You're all going down the left path, right? Which way do you turn?
  928. [23:53:03] [Jeff] "Kimi, which way?"
  929. [23:53:06] [~castfromhp] One path is more of this - brick and stone corridor with torches, the other progressively becomes modern.
  930. [23:54:14] [Nick] Nick instinctively runs with the modern one!
  931. [23:54:30] * Kimi runs that way too!
  932. [23:56:09] [~castfromhp] You bust your way into a familiar scene for at least one of you - the computer science department of the school, specifically, it's the architecture and decor of the server basement, though not an area you've -specifically- been to. There's the light hum of larger computer towers all over the room, but the door on the other side is probably more what catches your immediate attention.
  933. [23:59:43] * Ryoko coughs. She's not having a great day. "...where...."
  934. [00:00:09] [Jeff] "Hang on, we're gonna be out of here soon.
  935. [00:00:51] [Jeff] 7d10
  936. [00:00:52] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 7d10: 36 [7d10=8,6,8,5,7,1,1]
  937. [00:01:03] [Jeff] (Ignore that~)
  938. [00:01:05] * Kimi recognizes the building for sure!
  939. [00:01:21] * Kimi looks towards this door
  940. [00:01:38] [Nick] Nick catches his breath in here, there's some blood dripping from his jacket and gloves. "Do...any of you know the way around here?"
  941. [00:01:50] [Jeff] "You're gonna be okay, Ryoko."
  942. [00:02:43] [~castfromhp] It's a solid metal door, not like most you've seen in the comp sci department.
  943. [00:04:37] * Kimi looks around the server room, but... given she probably doesn't know where to leave, she slowly shakes her head.
  944. [00:04:42] * Kimi tries the metal door
  945. [00:05:43] * Jeff takes a quick look at Ryoko's wounds to see if he can do anything for her.
  946. [00:05:49] [Nick] Nick takes a deep breath, despite panting, and then walks over to Ryoko. He's currently racking his thoughts on how to deal with wounds and shit.
  947. [00:05:49] [~castfromhp] It's open! You emerge in what looks like a grad student office or lounge. There are cubicles here, and you know Professors don't put up with that shit. You've never been in here either since yu're an undergrad - but you know where this is, and the exit to the building is just outside and to the right down a flight of stairs.
  948. [00:06:13] [Jeff] 5d10 first aid (Dex+Medicine)
  949. [00:06:14] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, first aid (Dex+Medicine): 42 [5d10=5,8,9,10,10]
  950. [00:06:20] [Nick] (>mfw Jeff and Nick have essentially the same first aid rating)
  951. [00:06:20] [Jeff] 2d10
  952. [00:06:21] [DiceMaid-9001] Jeff, 2d10: 13 [2d10=7,6]
  953. [00:06:26] [Nick] (...okay I'm not beating that.)
  954. [00:06:29] [Jeff] (wow, 4 successes.)
  955. [00:07:03] * Kimi nods and gestures for everyone to follow!
  956. [00:07:20] [~castfromhp] You can staunch the bleeding and prevent Ryoko from dripping blood everywhere, but that would only heal one bashing and no lethal. Healing is difficult in this system!
  957. [00:08:21] [~castfromhp] Luckily, you work quickly too in this case, and nothing catches up to you in the time you're patching up Ryoko, probably just by tying up some cloth torn from your clothes to apply pressure to the wound.
  958. [00:09:01] [Nick] Nick goes over to help Ryoko and then FINDS OUT HE'S REDUNDANT. Jeff seems to know what he's doing, soe he follows after Kimi.
  959. [00:09:04] * Kimi only suffered some papercuts
  960. [00:09:56] [~castfromhp] Kimi, as you exit the grad school office, you see from your peripheral vision something crackling with light to your left, toward the stairs that go up further into the building - but you also see the stairs leading down, and the doors outside are right there - covered in a thin black film that looks like pixels brought into reality. A lock sits at the center of this thin film, a light blue glow coming from the keyhole.
  961. [00:10:17] [Nick] "You all right?" He decides to ask her, since he's too MANLY to admit he's feeling like keeling over.
  962. [00:10:30] [Jeff] (How's Ryoko doing?)
  963. [00:10:32] [~castfromhp] *grad student office same thing
  964. [00:10:53] [Ryoko] (( I'm not sure how the Resonance affected it, so ))
  965. [00:11:20] [~castfromhp] (oh it's a 1 to 1 trade-off between spent resonance and bulwarking against lethal damage)
  966. [00:11:38] [~castfromhp] (you can only do so in boxes that aren't filled with damage already, and you can't do it twice for the same health box.)
  967. [00:11:44] [Jeff] (And the lethal you took would have turned into bashing.)
  968. [00:11:47] [~castfromhp] (I put up an explanation of how that works in the ruuuules)
  969. [00:11:47] * Kimi gestures away from the upstairs and towards the doors. She stops at the door, looking confused at the lock.
  970. [00:12:02] [Nick] (...I think that means her bulwarking was almost useless)
  971. [00:12:03] * Kimi wonders for a moment, and takes out her new keyring again.
  972. [00:12:09] [~castfromhp] The lock and film definitely aren't there normally!
  973. [00:12:25] [Kimi] Does the actual key seem like it fits the lock?
  974. [00:12:27] [~castfromhp] (no it means she could've bulwarked up to however much she had empty after the bashing damage she'd taken since none of that was bulwarked)
  975. [00:12:56] [Jeff] (Lethal damage is a lot harder to heal.)
  976. [00:13:00] [~castfromhp] They don't LOOK like they fit, but...Your keys glow blue as you ponder the lock.
  977. [00:13:38] [Kimi] Well, WHATEVER. She tries jamming it in!
  978. [00:14:03] [Nick] He frowns, staring at it for a bit. "Well, I don't get all of this but, uh..." He scratches the back of his head and is about to ask for CONTACT INFO when she j-j-j-j-jams it in.
  979. [00:14:20] [~castfromhp] J-j-jam it in! There's a loud cracking sound, and the black film over the door shatters, leaving the familiar glass door you recognize from the comp sci department entrance. Better yet, glancing outside you see street lamps illuminating a familiar path down campus.
  980. [00:14:53] * Kimi sighs in relief and hurries out!
  981. [00:15:04] * Kimi looks around for any more freaks against nature. D:
  982. [00:15:07] [Jeff] "I think that means we're out of... wherever we just were."
  983. [00:15:27] * Jeff helps Ryoko up and out of the room.
  984. [00:15:33] [Nick] Nick does as well, he wants to make sure this girl doesn't run off before he can make sure he's not alone in this freaky shit. Or maybe he SHOULD do it alone. Hrm. Fuck.
  985. [00:15:55] [Jeff] "We're going to need to get Ryoko to a doctor."
  986. [00:16:13] [Nick] Nick checks his phone for reception!
  987. [00:16:42] [~castfromhp] You all pile on out, and as the door swings shut behind you, you notice the same lock form back into place on the other side, though there's no black film this time and it doesn't seem to block the normal door. You can see through the glass into a darkened comp sci building lobby. There's no sign within of the strange creatures or the crackling electricity you saw. Even the fact the lights are off here rather than on is differ
  988. [00:16:42] [~castfromhp] ent.
  989. [00:16:49] [~castfromhp] Your phone indeed works!
  990. [00:17:20] * Kimi just collapses onto the ground after all of that then
  991. [00:17:36] [Nick] Nick dials 999.
  992. [00:17:40] * Jeff lets Ryoko sit and goes over to take care of Kimi.
  993. [00:17:55] [Jeff] "Are you all right?"
  994. [00:17:56] [Nick] "I'm calling an ambulance. Hope you don't mind."
  995. [00:17:57] [~castfromhp] Your head throbs one last time, and a small card flutters down to the ground in front of each of you from wherever your keys were.
  996. [00:18:15] [~castfromhp] "999 operator, how may I help you?" Chirps a tired voice from the other line.
  997. [00:18:38] [~castfromhp] For each of you, the back of the card is this: http://i.imgur.com/Ji7SR0l.jpg
  998. [00:18:41] [~castfromhp] Turning it over though...
  999. [00:18:46] * Kimi taps at her phone. Taptaptaptap. {I'm okay but} she blinks and picks up the card, raising an eyebrow.
  1000. [00:19:17] [~castfromhp] (PMed~)
  1001. [00:19:36] [Jeff] "2389 Caraway Lane..."
  1002. [00:19:40] * Ryoko looks at her card, staring at the front.
  1003. [00:20:55] [Nick] "Yeah uh..." He thinks about telling them what actually happened, and then thinks against it. "Uh, well, we uh, werea ta party and got a little too buzzed up and I think we hurt ourselves walking. Yes, that's as embarrassing as it sounds. One of my friends here is bleeding pretty badly, I hope you don't...mind...?" Oh god he feels SO DUMB
  1004. [00:21:17] [~castfromhp] There's a sigh. "Where are you?"
  1005. [00:21:50] [Nick] "By the computer science building at KU. I hope you haven't gotten worse calls."
  1006. [00:22:03] * Kimi stares at the card for a moment, breathing in and out fairly hard. She's... not quite sure how to take what she reads.
  1007. [00:22:17] * Kimi eventually tucks the card away into her jacket quickly.
  1008. [00:22:46] [~castfromhp] "Every year, son, every year. Stay on the line until the ambulance arrives. How is your friend doing?" The man runs you through the litany of standard questions as you wait for the ambulance to get here.
  1009. [00:22:50] [Jeff] "Don't say that you bleedin' knob-end!" he barks at Nick.
  1010. [00:23:21] [~castfromhp] And now feel free to chat and RP or finish up for the night as you all return to your dorms, homes, or the hospital for some much-needed rest.
  1011. [00:23:49] [Nick] He awkwardly keeps the operator occupied while they wait for things. He's kind of tied up with that. D:
  1012. [00:24:00] * Kimi keeps tapping. {Back there, I looked at that thing and just knew something.}
  1013. [00:24:26] [Jeff] "Did you? And are you positive you're all right? Does it hurt anywhere?"
  1014. [00:24:55] * Kimi shakes her head. She's got several papercuts all over but nothing worse.
  1015. [00:25:09] [Jeff] "I know first aid... mostly for treating sports injuries."
  1016. [00:25:41] [Ryoko] "My.....dad is going....to kill me....."
  1017. [00:25:49] [Jeff] "Anyway, when they show up, tell them she slipped and cut herself on some glass."
  1018. [00:26:07] [Nick] Nick scribbles down something in a notebook page as he keeps talking to the operator, and then hands it to Kimi. It says "We should probably trade contact info" and has his name (Nicholas Blackfield) and his phone number.
  1019. [00:26:30] [Kimi] {Thank you, but I'm okay.} she clears her phone screen and wiggles back a little from the attention, trying to assure the big lug she's alright sheez. Taptaptap. {It's called a Shadow. I don't know what that is. Something to do with the psyche? That's what I felt. There's more but I think I need some time to think over this.}
  1020. [00:27:03] * Jeff has managed to mostly stop the bleeding with Ryoko. "You'll be fine for now so long as you don't move, they'll be here soon, Ryoko."
  1021. [00:27:27] * Kimi lets them read this, then clears the screen. {Okay. My name is Kimi Miyama. I don't know what the hell is going on, but my number is...}
  1022. [00:27:42] [Nick] Nicholas gives an elaborate explanation involving ice and glass and falling icicles
  1023. [00:28:01] * Nick is now known as Aori_Radisleep
  1024. [00:28:10] [Jeff] "And... suppose I didn't introduce myself properly to the rest of you all. Jeffery Miller. Star Center of KU's Football Club."
  1025. [00:28:27] [Jeff] "I'll let you all have my number too..."
  1026. [00:29:28] [Kimi] {Ryoko and I have met.} she nods. Though she frowns when he describes himself.
  1027. [00:30:16] * Ryoko simply scrolls to her number on her phone wordlessly. Jeff and Nick can just text her later.
  1028. [00:31:09] * Kimi adds them to her phone before looking back at the comp sci building, then the student lounge, and then finally towards the Bloom.
  1029. [00:31:11] [Jeff] "Regardless, I think it's safe to say we've got to try to meet up again some time. Talk about what happened here, and maybe decide if we want to go to this "Royal Raven".
  1030. [00:31:35] [Kimi] {I'm definitely going.} she types out.
  1031. [00:31:54] [Kimi] To Nick, she types, {I'm holding you up to that drink.}
  1032. [00:32:09] [Jeff] "I'd like some answers for sure."
  1033. [00:32:30] [Jeff] "Oi, just got it into my head, if you say you fell down when that big explosion happened, you might be able to get compensation eh?"
  1034. [00:33:14] * Kimi contemplates this but shakes her head. They don't even know who'd be culpable.
  1035. [00:33:16] [Jeff] "And... can we all agree not to talk about this to anyone else for now?"
  1036. [00:33:23] * Kimi nods.
  1037. [00:33:32] [Jeff] "Since... we don't want anyone thinking we're nutters."
  1038. [00:34:03] * Kimi isn't sure about all of this... all of this is a bit sudden, but... well, they might as well stick together given the crazy shit that just happened.
  1039. [00:34:13] [Jeff] "Kimi, if you don't mind..."
  1040. [00:34:34] * Kimi rubs her temples a little, wondering if it's perhaps a bit too late to head back and get her beer. She looks up at Jeff when he speaks though.
  1041. [00:34:57] [Jeff] "After Ryoko's ambulance gets here, I'd like to walk you home."
  1042. [00:35:33] [Kimi] For a moment, she looks a little annoyed, but she softens after a moment and just nods.
  1043. [00:35:56] [Jeff] "Thank you. Just live in the dorms or...?"
  1044. [00:36:02] * Kimi nods again.
  1045. [00:37:01] [Jeff] "Same here. We can sort it all out after a good night's sleep."
  1046. [00:37:33] [Kimi] One more nod and then she just leans back against a lamppost and waits for the ambulance to pick Ryoko and Nick up.
  1047. [00:38:41] * Jeff keeps quiet during the walk back unless she "says" something to him first, and gives her a gentlemanly farewell after he sees her home safely.
  1048. [00:40:01] * Kimi is actually quiet the whole trip back. She's not very talkative when there isn't anything to say. She does make sure they swing by the student lounge to grab her laptop. But when she gets back, she types out a {Thank you. Goodnight, Jeff.} and slips into her dorm.
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