Juan

<aberrantArtificer> This watch ain't got enough juice or something.
<aberrantArtificer>  I'm not sure to be honest, but that's what it seems like.
<aberrantArtificer> *That man.... ssssaid ssssssomething about energy and thissss slab. I....... did not underssssstand exactly what he ssssssaid..... but it wassss very violent.*
<aberrantArtificer> Got a weapon, Sensei?
<aberrantArtificer> *Three, my boy......
<aberrantArtificer> Thisssssss....*
<aberrantArtificer> He pulls out the narrow ceremonial blade from his chest.
<aberrantArtificer> *That.....*
<aberrantArtificer> He points to the glowing and humming needle.
<aberrantArtificer> *And thissssss.....*
<aberrantArtificer> He points directly at you.
<aberrantArtificer> Help out with a plan and shit, ya' know?
<aberrantArtificer>  'Cause I'm drawin' blanks right now.
<aberrantArtificer> *Of courssssssse I am here to...... help, my boy. But thisssss...... thissssss issssss your battle. Your opportunity to grow...... to ssssshine. I will assssisssssst, but I cannot give..... you all the ansssssswerssssss.*
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite floats over to you and quietly puts his hand on your shoulder.
<aberrantArtificer> *Conccccentrate, young man....... Look inssssside yourssssself..... look around you..... consider your ressssourcccccesssss and optionssssssss....... The enemy issss nigh, and a sssamurai rarely..... can exact complex planssssss. Ssssimpliccccity and directnessssssss, my boy.*
<aberrantArtificer> *Think..... Brainsssssstorm. Focusssss......What resssssourcessssss..... do you have at your disssssssspossssal that you could usssse..... against him? What do you.... know about him? What isssss... your end goal here in thissss moment?*
<aberrantArtificer> *Thessssssse are the quessssstionssssss....... you sssssshould conssssssider......*
* C_Juan ponders to himself. He knows for a fact that the needle causes unbearable pain upon being touched, and the sensation appears electric. If that is the case, then the knife may be able to conduct the needle's electricity to theoretically cause extreme agony. What is the handle of the knife made of?
<C_Juan> Investigate the handle of the knife.
<aberrantArtificer> Although it is somewhat spectral due to Sensasasprite's ghostly form, it seems to be made of wood.
<C_Juan> "Hey sensei, do you mind usin' that knife to tap the needle?"
<C_Juan> "I wanna see somethin'."
<aberrantArtificer> *Abssssssolutely...... do you have an idea?*
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite floats over to the needle and stone slab where the watch is mounted.
<aberrantArtificer> He extends his ceremonial blade towards the humming needle which glows faintly, touching the two of them.
<aberrantArtificer> Unlike as if it were electricity, you don't see any arcs of any sort. The blade itself doesn't seem to do much at first. Sensasasprite holds it there for a moment, and gradually it begins to glow faintly two and vibrate, giving off a faint hum.
<C_Juan> "Right, now extend it out a little."
<C_Juan> > Juan: Quickly touch the tip of the knife with your finger
<aberrantArtificer> He extends the blade out from the needle a bit for you to touch. You only touch it for a brief moment this time, and you are hit with a flash of excruciating pain.
<aberrantArtificer> For about 5-10 seconds, your finger feels very cold and you are unable to move it.
<aberrantArtificer> After that, it seems to slowly revitalize with energy and return to normal.
<C_Juan> "Geez, that fuckin' stings.
<C_Juan> "
<aberrantArtificer> *Are you.... okay, my boy*
<C_Juan> "Yeah, suffice to say I felt as if the life was sucked from my finger."
<C_Juan> "If you stab him with that knife though, it should sting for a bit."
<C_Juan> "We can use that to stun him."
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite floats there in silence.
<aberrantArtificer> *Yesssss.... that would sssseeem quite effective.....*
* C_Juan realises that he also possesses a Tommy Gun loaded with metallic bullets
<aberrantArtificer> *May I.... withdraw thisssssss now?*
<C_Juan> "Yeah, you may as well."
<aberrantArtificer> He takes the blade back.
* C_Juan dismisses the thought, as he has no way to hold the metallic bullets without electrocuting himself
<aberrantArtificer> It continues to glow and vibrate faintly, but it seems to lessen when he takes it away.
<C_Juan> > Juan: Check your Sylladex for anything of use
<aberrantArtificer> You check your sylladex.
<C_Juan> "Actually, let's keep the knife on the needle until Varney arrives."
<aberrantArtificer> ((you see in your sylladex whatever you have in your sylladex))
<aberrantArtificer> *Very well..... what would you like me to do?*
<aberrantArtificer> He floats back over to the slab and holds his blade against the needle.
<C_Juan> ((From what I last remember: A sack of rice, a katana, and some spare rounds along with a pack of cigarettes.))
<C_Juan> "Just leave the knife with the blade leaning up against the needle for now."
<C_Juan> Take the Katana out of the Sylladex
<aberrantArtificer> He does so.
<aberrantArtificer> *Issssss..... there anything you would like me to do..... with it later?*
<C_Juan> "Stab Varney when you get the chance."
<C_Juan> "I'm going to do the same with this old Katana."
<C_Juan> > Juan: Play Blackjack for the Sword
<aberrantArtificer> After a bit of playing with the cards, the katana pops out.
<C_Juan> Lean the sword's blade against the needle
<aberrantArtificer> You set the blade on the slab against the needle, after about 10 seconds or so, it begins faintly glowing and humming as well
<C_Juan> Leave the sword's blade touching the needle and search for an exit.
<aberrantArtificer> The only exit you see is the large metal vault door through which you entered
<C_Juan> Check as to whether you can open the vault door
<aberrantArtificer> Although incredibly heavy, it slowly grinds open as the complicated "THE END IS NEVER THE END IS NEVER..." mechanism you set before still seems to be engaged.
<C_Juan> "Okay Sensei, do you know when Varney is going to rock back up?"
<C_Juan> "When he does, stab 'im with that knife."
<aberrantArtificer> *I do not know preccccissssssely when he will return.......*
<aberrantArtificer> *He can be very...... unpredictable.....*
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite frowns slightly
<C_Juan> "Okay Sensei, stay on guard."
<C_Juan> > Juan: Grab the sword but leave it touching the needle and wait for Varney's return.
<aberrantArtificer> *What do you.... intend to do, my boy? What issssss.... your plan?*
<aberrantArtificer> *Do you intend on killing him?*
<C_Juan> "Nope, I don't think he can be killed."
<C_Juan> "For that matter, I don't think we're supposed to off 'im just yet."
<aberrantArtificer> *Why..... do you ssssay that?*
<C_Juan> "It's a hunch, I suppose."
<aberrantArtificer> *Then..... what do you intend to do..... if I am able to ssssstun him?*
<C_Juan> "We'll see once you stun him."
<aberrantArtificer> *You intend to.... improvisssssse?*
<aberrantArtificer> *At leassssst tell me thissssss.......*
<aberrantArtificer> *If you do not wisssssssh to ssssslay...... him, then do you have a plan of essssscape?*
* C_Juan knows full well exactly what he is about to do. He intends to stun Varnegs with the knife, then stab him with the sword. He then intends to push his face onto the needle. Since the needle sucked the life from his finger, he figures it uses people as fuel.
* C_Juan decides to skip over the details though.
<C_Juan> "He's our key out of here."
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite looks a bit worried at your lack of a detailed plan, but solemnly nods.
<aberrantArtificer> *Assss you wisssssh.... my boy.*
<C_Juan> "Just... trust me, alright?"
<aberrantArtificer> *Asssss the sheep trusssstssss itssss sssshepherd with itsssss life..... ssssso does a ssssamurai trussst his comradessss with hisssss.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *Juan.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *Before thisssss..... confrontation.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *I know I was a man of...... few wordssssss, but I wissssssh..... to tell you ssssssssssomething.*
<aberrantArtificer> *Ssssssomething I have been waiting........ hundredssssss of yearsssssss in thissssss prissssson to..... tell you.....*
<C_Juan> "What is it"
<aberrantArtificer> Sensei opens his mouth slowly after a moment of silence.
<aberrantArtificer> "I want to fucking kill you, that's what."
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai's voice echoes in from the hallway outside.
<aberrantArtificer> "Then again...... perhaps I hast not the desire for murder....."
<C_Juan> "On second thoughts, we' got company..."
<aberrantArtificer> "Old man, art thou finished with thine explanation of the MINDFUCK of timelines?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I've got fucking ages.... I could just skip forward again, how would you like that?"
<aberrantArtificer> *Ssssssilenccccce.... you vile filth......*
<aberrantArtificer> "HA!"
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai pokes his head around the metal door opening, twirling a black feathered mask in one hand a flipping through a book in the other.
<aberrantArtificer> "I have some REALLY fucking exciting things in store for you! How could you say such a thing? I'm hurt!"
<C_Juan> "Yeah, you'll be hurt alright..."
<aberrantArtificer> "All mine heart desires is to assist thee... thou knowest that."
<aberrantArtificer> He continues twirling the black feathered mask which jets out a couple arcs of black lightning to the nearby metal doorframe.
<aberrantArtificer> He steps into the doorway, holding the mask up to eye level and talking to it.
<aberrantArtificer> "Shall we dance, my love?"
<C_Juan> "Who's in the mask, Varney?"
<aberrantArtificer> He makes an exaggerated gesture of twirling the mask through the air before putting it on his face.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ohhhhh, hahahahaha"
<aberrantArtificer> "What a QUESTION!"
<aberrantArtificer> "Maybe it's me! Maybe it's you! Maybe it's babe. Maybe..... it's a demon."
<aberrantArtificer> He pulls out a pocketwatch, looking at it briefly before recaptchaloging it.
<aberrantArtificer> "Looks to me like you'll be finding out for your self REAL fucking soon."
<aberrantArtificer> "If I do not murder thee, that is."
<C_Juan> "You killed a version of me to get your hands on that watch, didn't you?"
<C_Juan> "I imagine I'm not the first Juan you've beaten."
<aberrantArtificer> He looks surprised for a moment, before heaving an exaggerated sigh.
<aberrantArtificer> "Thou art catching on quickly!"
<aberrantArtificer> "Alas..... I did not complete the beautiful art that is.... MURDER."
<aberrantArtificer> He chuckles darkly.
<aberrantArtificer> "Beat you..... hahahahaha, NOW THAT I DID!"
<aberrantArtificer> "You saw it, I KNOW YOU DID!"
<aberrantArtificer> "All it took..... was my friends the birds... the harbingers of death."
<aberrantArtificer> "Took care of shit like a fuckin piece of cake...."
<aberrantArtificer> He cracks a crooked grin.
<aberrantArtificer> *You....... killed everyone...... you told me......*
<aberrantArtificer> "HA! You've got a better memory in there than I thought you old croak!"
<aberrantArtificer> "Not everyone though....... just babe and ass."
<aberrantArtificer> He smiles again.
<aberrantArtificer> "Perhaps..... perhaps thou shalt join them?"
<aberrantArtificer> His smile quickly vanishes to be replaced by gritted teeth and a frown.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ass..... fuckin ass. He's on his way here right now."
<C_Juan> "Who's on his way, what are you on about?"
<aberrantArtificer> He begins sort of mumbling to himself.
<aberrantArtificer> "Maybe I'll just take care of him here myself too...."
<C_Juan> "Who's on his way?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Should be fun...... no problems....."
<aberrantArtificer> "Hmmmmm...."
<C_Juan> "Oh for pete's sake stop talkin' to yourself like a psycho and tell me what's happenin'?!"
<aberrantArtificer> *ANSWER HIM.* Sensasasprite shouts forcefully.
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai looks up, gently stretching his single black wing behind him.
<aberrantArtificer> "FUCK YOU."
<aberrantArtificer> "Thou shalt find out for yourself..... if thou survives."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ass shall introduce thee to..... my beauty."
<aberrantArtificer> He makes a flourishing gesture to the black feathered mask on his face.
<aberrantArtificer> "I don't have to tell you fuckin SHIT you whiny sonuvabitch."
<aberrantArtificer> He takes his book with both hands and flips to a particular page, walking towards you and Sensasasprite slowly.
<aberrantArtificer> Make a perception check
<C_Juan> ((How do I roll again?))
<C_Juan> ((I'm bad at this))
<aberrantArtificer> ((type !roll followed by what you want to roll))
<aberrantArtificer> !roll 1d20-2
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20-2 --> [ 1d20=6 ] | {4}
<C_Juan> !roll 1d20+2
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=13 ] | {15}
<aberrantArtificer> You recognize the book at the same, or at least a really similar book, that Nickolai decaptchalogued the restrained Sensasasprite from earlier
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai looks up from the book and stops walking, looking at the two of you. He clenches his jaw in concentration and you see the black feathered mask on his face glow purple.
<C_Juan> "Sensei. Now."
<aberrantArtificer> A single black spectral wing appears where his missing wing is, eerily contrasting his real one.
<aberrantArtificer> As Nickolai raises the book so you can see what is written on the page, Sensasasprite floats directly at Nickolai with incredible speed and swiftness.
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite swipes the blade through the air, cutting a great many pages of the book in half before connecting with Nickolai's chest.
<aberrantArtificer> A great many things happen all at the same time in a flurry of activity and sound.
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai emits a noise that you can't really place, but it grates on your ears. It sounds like a strange cross between a blood-curdling scream, a laugh, and a sigh of pleasure and satisfaction.
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai begins to fall to his knees, but his spectral wing glows purple and keeps him aloft even though he is pretty much totally limp now.
<aberrantArtificer> Secondly, a bright blast of purple lightning cracks out from his mask, striking Sensasasprite in the chest and sending him flying backwards.
<aberrantArtificer> Thirdly, Nickolai's book and the severed pages flutter to the ground as a shower of various items appears out of nowhere and flies out in random directions.
<aberrantArtificer> You see some of the pages are covered in sketches of various things, and that as the items appear, the sketches vanish from the pages.
<aberrantArtificer> A large pot of some sort of soup flies at the wall and crashes with a tremendous CLANG sending steaming soup flying everywhere.
<aberrantArtificer> A pile of golden daggers materializes and scatters outwards in all directions.
<aberrantArtificer> A young man with gray skin, horns, and a cracked porcelain mask on his face also appears. He is covered in blue liquid and looks heavily wounded. He is bound in a variety of ropes and he flops to the ground with a dull THUD.
<aberrantArtificer> A collection of brightly colored juggling clubs appears, scattering in various directions and bounding around the room.
<aberrantArtificer> Finally, what looks sort of like a metallic breastplate with... some sort of modifications on it appears and clanks to the floor in a pile of metal, catching the young man on the ground in the knee. He hardly reacts, but you can detect a faint flinch.
<aberrantArtificer> Make a Dexterity check.
<C_Juan> !roll 1d20+3
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=2 ] | {5}
<C_Juan> ((Fuk))
<aberrantArtificer> One of the golden daggers catches you in the knee, and some blood starts soaking into your dress slacks.
<aberrantArtificer> !roll 1d4 damage
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d4 --> [ 1d4=4 ] | {4}
<aberrantArtificer> ((how much health do you have left?))
<C_Juan> 36, according to the doc
<C_Juan> Although I'm going to say less
<C_Juan> Probably around 30
<aberrantArtificer> k
<aberrantArtificer> Thats all the crazy stuff that's happening for now, so go ahead and do stuff
<C_Juan> > Juan: Take the knife from your leg, and charge at Varney with the sword. Throw the knife at him if you can.
<aberrantArtificer> Roll for attack with the knife. (dexterity)
<C_Juan> !roll 1d20+3
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=6 ] | {9}
<aberrantArtificer> The knife sails over Nickolai's head
<C_Juan> Stab Varnegs
<C_Juan> And send his face into the needle
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite slams into the side wall, clutching at his chest where he was struck with lightning as you charge at Nickolai. The man on the ground moans in pain as Nickolai continues screaming.
<aberrantArtificer> Roll for attack with the sword
<C_Juan> !roll 1d20+3
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=13 ] | {16}
<aberrantArtificer> Your sword plunges into his side, and Nickolai's screaming/laughing intensifies. The color seems to be draining out of his chest as blood pours everywhere.
<aberrantArtificer> A bright bolt of purple lightning jets out of the feathered mask and hits you in the shoulder
<aberrantArtificer> !roll 2d6 lightning damage
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ] | {7}
<aberrantArtificer> You take 7 damage as purple crackling electricity flares over your left shoulder and arm.
<aberrantArtificer> Make a wisdom check.
<Gudic> !roll 1d20+1
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=17 ] | {18}
<aberrantArtificer> As the lightning hits you, everything around you spins and you fall to your knees. You feel like nothing is ever going to make sense again as a flood of anger inexplicably washes over you. You are eventually able to come to your senses, seeing the young man, Nickolai, Sensasasprite, and the collection of objects around the room.
<aberrantArtificer> You can't help but still feel some of that lingering anger.
<Gudic> You have a job to do, and you're going to damn well do it. Shove Nickolai's face against the needle.
<aberrantArtificer> You see your katana and Sensasasprite's blade embedded in Nickolai's chest, and his torso is bleeding everywhere and draining of color. The effect seems to have stopped spreading though and you don't see the blades glowing or humming anymore.
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai floats there by his spectral wing, and you grab him and pull him over in the direction of the slab as he continues screaming.
<aberrantArtificer> Make a strength check
<Gudic> !roll 1d20+1
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=13 ] | {14}
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite is slowly pulling himself up off of the ground, watching you, the young man on the ground, and the screaming Nickolai with concern.
<aberrantArtificer> You are able to slowly drag him through the air towards the slab. He is surprisingly muscular and you can tell even through his clothes that his body is covered in all sorts of gnarled scars and wounds from the past.
<aberrantArtificer> ((astrices are Sensasasprite))
<aberrantArtificer> *Hurry, my boy....!*
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite floats over to the young man on the ground, restrained in ropes, to see if he is okay.
<aberrantArtificer> You get about halfway to the slab when there is a flash of red light.
<aberrantArtificer> In your arms, Nickolai continues screaming but he begins laughing as well after the flash of light.
<aberrantArtificer> You hear Sensasasprite yell behind you.
<C_Juan> Keep going. You have to do this.
<C_Juan> Get to the needle.
<aberrantArtificer> You continue making your way towards the slab, Nickolai still screaming and laughing as you go. His screams of pain seem to be gradually waning as the draining properties of the blades in his torso wear off.
<aberrantArtificer> From behind you there is a loud roar and a purple flash of light. Sensasasprite flies past you towards the opposite wall as you continue pulling Nickolai towards the slab. He fires a jet of black energy his whithered hands towards where he is flying from as he is thrown at the wall.
<aberrantArtificer> You hear Nickolai's voice behind you grunt in pain.
<aberrantArtificer> And his voice coming from the nearly unconscious body you are dragging towards the slab
<aberrantArtificer> You're about 10 feet away now.
<C_Juan> Get him to the needle.
<aberrantArtificer> You continue forging forwards.
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasa hits the wall opposite you and sinks to the ground, clutching his side where there is purple smoke eminating from a large singe mark in his robes.
<aberrantArtificer> You are five feet away from the slab now. You feel a gentle breeze blow over you from behind you.
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai.... a different Nickolai than the one you're currently holding.... floats past you and alights with his wings on the opposite side of the slab as you.
<aberrantArtificer> He holds the restrained young man with gray skin, horns, and what looks like blue blood covering him.
<aberrantArtificer> "HA!"
<C_Juan> "You've gotta' be shittin' me."
<aberrantArtificer> "Well done, my friend..... well done....."
<aberrantArtificer> "Something fucking wrong?"
<C_Juan> "Well, you for starters."
<aberrantArtificer> "Didn't expect to see TWO of me???"
<C_Juan> Continue the plight toward the needle as you talk to him.
<aberrantArtificer> "Well two is all thine eyes shall behold this fine afternoon."
<C_Juan> "I'm going to presume that you're one o' them future versions then."
<aberrantArtificer> He holds out his hand in a stopping gesture as you approach with... other him, nearly unconscious.
<C_Juan> "Try'n' desp'rately to save yourself."
<aberrantArtificer> "Course I fuckin am. Came back here right after I managed to fucking rip myself off this FUCKING needle!!!"
<aberrantArtificer> "You got no idea how much that hurt, you sonuvabitch."
<C_Juan> "Oh, I can imagine though."
<aberrantArtificer> "Have you ever tried dying over and over when you keep coming back to life?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Drained. OVER AND FUCKING OVER AGAIN."
<C_Juan> "No, but I know a thing or two about agony."
<C_Juan> "And we both know that you go onto that needle either way."
<aberrantArtificer> You are about a foot away from the slab when Nickolai lifts up the man he is holding and drops him on the slab between the two of you, seemlingly effortlessly.
<aberrantArtificer> "Yes, it seems you FUCKING beat me there!"
<C_Juan> "I'll make you a wager Varney."
<aberrantArtificer> He raises an eyebrow at you.
<aberrantArtificer> "What dost thou propose?"
<C_Juan> "You need your past self intact, and I want a way out."
<C_Juan> "I'll toss Varney here aside, if you offer me and Sensei the way out of this place."
<aberrantArtificer> "Hmmmmmmm......."
<C_Juan> "And I'm taking the greyskin with me."
<aberrantArtificer> "What does he matter to you?"
<aberrantArtificer> "He may be a teammate of yours, but he has expired his usefulness. I have seen it."
<C_Juan> "Well, I hate to see a man tortured, let's just say."
<C_Juan> "He could be of use."
<aberrantArtificer> "Yes, he could."
<C_Juan> "Much like your own past self could be of use to you."
<C_Juan> "I'm sure the torment you experienced isn't something you wish to feel twice."
<aberrantArtificer> "Thou has a need. Thou needst to escape and that requires someone to die."
<aberrantArtificer> "I already felt that FUCKING PAIN. Doesnt matter anyways."
<aberrantArtificer> "We cannot have paradoxes floating around here now, can we?"
<C_Juan> "Looks like you called my bluff."
<aberrantArtificer> "Did I?"
<C_Juan> "Indeed."
<aberrantArtificer> He grabs the gray-skinned man and shoves him forcefully down onto the slab's needle.
<aberrantArtificer> "Looks like I did. Huh."
<aberrantArtificer> The needle pierces straight through the mans chest, and he begins writhing on the slab as the needle glows brighter and brighter.
<aberrantArtificer> Within 5 seconds, all color has drained from him and he lies still on the slab in a pool of blue blood, but the needle keeps going.
<C_Juan> "...Fuel. Huh."
<aberrantArtificer> The body eventually begins smoking slightly and rapidly turns into a skeleton which falls to the floor in a clatter of bones.
<aberrantArtificer> "FUCKING DRAINED. Completely."
<C_Juan> He drained the greyskin, drain him.
<aberrantArtificer> Make a strength check.
<aberrantArtificer> !roll 1d20+5 dexterity
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=14 ] | {19}
<C_Juan> !roll 1d20+1
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=6 ] | {7}
<C_Juan> Oh come on...
<aberrantArtificer> You heave the nearly unconscious Nickolai in your arms downwards towards the needle, but his spectral wings holding him upwards makes it difficult.
<aberrantArtificer> The Nickolai on the opposite side of the slab reacts in time and holds out a clawed hand to oppose.
<aberrantArtificer> He grins maniacally at you.
<aberrantArtificer> Then there is a flash of red light behind you.
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai looks up and his smile disapears completely.
<aberrantArtificer> "NO! YOU FUCKING DID THIS TO ME WITH YOUR FUCKING RICE SPRITE! I WILL--"
<aberrantArtificer> He is cut off by the Nickolai you are attempting to push down onto the needle suddenly falling down, face first, onto the slab.
<aberrantArtificer> Where he used to be floating, you see.... yourself.
<aberrantArtificer> After withdrawing his hand from Nickolai's back where he was helping you push him down onto the needle, he silently holds his hand out for a fistbump.
<C_Juan> > Juan: BUNP
<aberrantArtificer> The best bro fistbunp ever happens. You made it hapen.
<aberrantArtificer> The Nickolai you shoved onto the slab is writhing and screaming again, bleeding onto the slab, but you notice he isn't being consumed like the other body was.
<aberrantArtificer> He stills, seemlingly drained, and then all of his blood spilt everywhere begins flashing in a rainbow of colors and he comes alive again.
<aberrantArtificer> Only to begin screaming as the needle drains him again.
<aberrantArtificer> http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/mspaintadventures/images/2/2a/03850.gif/revision/latest?cb=20111203201721
<C_Juan> "So, what do I do with Varney now?"
<C_Juan> "Leave him there to power the slab?"
<aberrantArtificer> The Nickolai across the slab looks at your furiously and peels back a tattered section of his doublet, revealing a black scarred wound in his stomach where the copy of him that is currently on the slab is stabbed by the needle.
<aberrantArtificer> "You. YOU FUCKING DID THIS!" He yells at you, pointing to the scorched wound.
<aberrantArtificer> ((angle brackets are the other version of Juan))
<C_Juan> ((Got it))
<aberrantArtificer> <Eh. Jus' leave 'em there.>
<aberrantArtificer> Other you points at the furious Nickolai.
<aberrantArtificer> <You're going to leave now, Varney.>
<aberrantArtificer> Nickolai stops yelling abruptly and grins, sticking his tongue out at the two of you, playfully.
<aberrantArtificer> "COURSE I am. I was just gonna.... have some fun."
<aberrantArtificer> *No...... No, you twisssssssted man....... no your time isssssss.... done here.*
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite floats up behind Nickolai, holding hands with a stranger who walks towards Nickolai.
<aberrantArtificer> Roll an intelligence check with advantage (that means two rolls and you take the higher)
<C_Juan> !roll 2#1d20+2
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 2#1d20+2 -->  | [ 1d20=6 ]{8}, [ 1d20=12 ]{14}
<aberrantArtificer> You remember this dude's outfit.. sort of.
<aberrantArtificer> He's wearing a black cape with a maroon mask on convering his eyes. He has a large ruby gun holstered at his waist.
<aberrantArtificer> He deftly runs up behind Nickolai and jumps on his back, wrapping his arms and legs around him with a nearly emotionless expression on his face.
<aberrantArtificer> This looks like the guy you met when you went to that lab.
<aberrantArtificer> When you met Varney for the first time.
<aberrantArtificer> It was him and that scientist lady.
<aberrantArtificer> He said he was you from that doomed timeline or something.
<aberrantArtificer> Before you get much chance to think, the man pulls out a pocketwatch, hits a button, and he and Nickolai vanish.
<aberrantArtificer> The room is now silent, save for Nickolai's screaming on the slab.
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite looks on in shock, and other you stands there silently staring at you, brushing some dust off of his suit.
<aberrantArtificer> The scorched skeleton on the ground continues to just sit there being a skeleton.
<C_Juan> Decaptchalogue the bag of rice on the head of the Varnegs, that should stop him moving any time soon.
<aberrantArtificer> You do so.
<aberrantArtificer> The bag of rice you once were considering prototyping before you found that note... now flobs on to Nickolai's head with a dull thud.
<aberrantArtificer> It also has the pleasant result of muffling his screams.
<aberrantArtificer> Ahhhhh, much better.
<aberrantArtificer> <Thats better.>
<aberrantArtificer> <Thanks>
<C_Juan> "So real quick, d'you mind tellin' me how t' use that watch?"
<aberrantArtificer> He looks down at the watch and points to it
<aberrantArtificer> You see the face and maroon hand glowing brightly in the middle.
<aberrantArtificer> I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII are all glowing brightly now, and VIII is blinking as Nickolai is drained yet again.
<aberrantArtificer> Soon VIII begins glowing too and it moves on to IX.
<aberrantArtificer> <That other guy, he's gonna come back sometime and explain it all to ya'. Basically you gotta turn the maroon hand to set what ya' want the watch to do.>
<aberrantArtificer> <Then hit the other buttons to set the time t' make the watch do stuff, then hit the bit button at the top t' go.>
<C_Juan> "Right. So where to now?"
<aberrantArtificer> <XII is the time travel ya' want.>
<C_Juan> "What's at XII?"
<aberrantArtificer> <Five minutes into the future. Then after you talk with that guy, go 14 minutes into the past 'n help yourself shove Varney onto that slab.>
<aberrantArtificer> He points to Nickolai on the slab. The watch is on X now.
<aberrantArtificer> <Setting the red hand t' XII. Thats time travel mode. The other numbers do other shit or somethin'.>
<C_Juan> "Mmkay, I s'pose I'll figure it out soon enough."
<C_Juan> "Thanks."
<C_Juan> Set the red hand to XII, and do as the Future Juan says.
<aberrantArtificer> The watch appears stuck. XII is currently filling up it seems.
<aberrantArtificer> <No problem. Just doin' what I already saw me do.>
<aberrantArtificer> <'Parently thats really important or somethin'.>
<C_Juan> Wait until XII is usable, then jump.
<C_Juan> "By the way, it's probably about high time I get a better gun."
<aberrantArtificer> XII fills up, and it seems Nickolai stops being drained.
<C_Juan> "Any idea where to find one?"
<aberrantArtificer> <Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. No, I got nothin'.>
<aberrantArtificer> <I was going to talk to Faerzen after this, or maybe some other people in the game. I dunno.>
<C_Juan> "Well 'kay, looks like I'd better be off t'en."
<aberrantArtificer> <Somebody's gotta know somethin'. Sensasasprites probably got a bunch of stuff to say too.>
<C_Juan> "Actually, good point."
<C_Juan> "I should check up on 'im."
<C_Juan> > C_Juan: Check on Sensei
<aberrantArtificer> <'kay, Im gonna go 2 hours into the future from here. 'Parently thats when stuff opens up.>
<aberrantArtificer> <Peace.>
<aberrantArtificer> He pulls out his stopwatch and fiddles with the dials a buttons a bit.
<aberrantArtificer> He disappears in a flash of red light.
<C_Juan> "Sensai, are ya' okay?"
<C_Juan> "Looks like ya' took one 'ell of a beatin' from that laser."
<aberrantArtificer> He seems to be laying on the ground, sort of unconscious, clutching his side which is still smoking purple smoke.
<aberrantArtificer> He starts mumbling incoherently.
<C_Juan> "Sensei?"
<aberrantArtificer> He continues mumbling, but slowly seems to start to be able to form words.
<C_Juan> "Sensei, what is it?"
<aberrantArtificer> "musfsgaddssssss......... musssssssst....."
<aberrantArtificer> He repeatedly clenches and unclenches his fists.
<C_Juan> "Sensei, what's wrong?"
<aberrantArtificer> He tenses up, still sort of mumbling incoherently, though he looks very distraught. All at once, he bolts upright, eye sockets glowing purple and an expression of pure rage on his face.
<aberrantArtificer> He screams at you
<aberrantArtificer> *I WILL STOP THEM NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!!!!*
<aberrantArtificer> *IF I HAVE TO STOOP TO MURDER IT WILL BE OF NO MATTER!!!!!*
<aberrantArtificer> He bolts at you as you lean over him and wraps his arms around your throat in fury.
<aberrantArtificer> While not as effective as you know it would be were he actually alive, his whithered spectral hands still attempt to strangle you.
<C_Juan> "Sensei... the bolt... manifests your rage."
<C_Juan> "Don't let... that rage consume... you."
<C_Juan> You say to him, or try to say.
<aberrantArtificer> *I WILL NEVER LET YOU MONSTERS CLAIM VICTORY!!!! THE FILTH OF THE BLACK KNIGHTS WILL NEVER BESMIRCH THIS LAND AGAIN AND IF I HAVE TO HUNT EVERY ONE OF YOU DOWN I SHALL!!!!*
<aberrantArtificer> His hands around your throat seem to waver as you force out your words.
<C_Juan> ==>
<aberrantArtificer> His arms continue shaking as he stares at you, rather ineffectively grasping at your throat. You're not being strangled anymore, but it still is definitely hard to breathe.
<aberrantArtificer> *THIS WILL BE THE END OF YOU!!!! I CANNOT...... I CANNOT LET....*
<aberrantArtificer> You take 2 bludgeoning damage
<C_Juan> "SENSEI, SNAP OUT OF IT!"
<C_Juan> "YOU'VE JUST DEFEATED NICK, DON'T LET HIS MIND GAMES DEFEAT YOU!"
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite jumps back in surprise, collapsing against the wall from sheer exertion and exhaustion. His hands fall from your neck to his sides, the purple fades from his eyes, and he stares at you in complete shock.
<C_Juan> "You feelin' better there, Sens'?"
<aberrantArtificer> *I.........*
<C_Juan> "Don't worry 'bout it."
<aberrantArtificer> He sits there in silence, looking utterly exhausted, confused, and.... ashamed.
<C_Juan> "You owe me one though."
<C_Juan> You wink back at Sensei, then realise that now probably isn't the time for jokes.
<C_Juan> In all honesty, you need to be less insensitive.
<aberrantArtificer> *D...... Did....... it work?*
<C_Juan> "It worked, I think."
<aberrantArtificer> *I tried...... to sssssssstop him........ he copied himssssssself.........*
<C_Juan> "Yeah, and so did I."
<C_Juan> "Well, 'e's gone now."
<aberrantArtificer> *He wasssss charging you with..... a sssssspear........*
<aberrantArtificer> *I tried to ssssssstop him with........ thissssss ssssstrange new body......*
<C_Juan> "Well, I'm still 'ere, ain't I?"
<aberrantArtificer> *It hasssssss....... abilitiesssssssss, you know....*
<C_Juan> "What sort?"
<aberrantArtificer> *I am sssssstil....... learning...... I am afraid your old man issssss..... a bit ssssslower at learning all of thesssssse new trickssss......*
<aberrantArtificer> *When he wassssss charging for you...... while your back wasssss turned...... I blocked him with ssssssome sssssort of beam....*
<C_Juan> "Hmm? I ain't heard of anythin' like that before."
<aberrantArtificer> *It halted hisssss progresssss towardssssssss you....... while you were carrying the other..... him.*
<aberrantArtificer> *He ssssstopped attacking you...... but I dare ssssssay.....*
<aberrantArtificer> He looks down at his side which has stopped smoking now.
<aberrantArtificer> *He changed targetssssss......*
<C_Juan> "Knowin' this place, it's prob'ly some time thing."
<C_Juan> "But 't seems interestin'."
<aberrantArtificer> *I am ssssssory, my boy....... that I abandoned you at the end.......*
<aberrantArtificer> *I have failed..... in my duty assssssss your protector.....*
<C_Juan> "Well, 't ain't your fault."
<C_Juan> "Same thin' almost 'appened to me."
<C_Juan> "Well, 'cept mine was directed at Varnish instead."
<aberrantArtificer> *I am pleassssssed that....... desssssspite the sssssshortcomingssssss..... we were able to sssssucceed.... together.*
<aberrantArtificer> *What do you mean....... it almosssssst happened to you....?*
<C_Juan> "Angry beam thin'. I got hit with it."
<aberrantArtificer> *Hissssss lightning....... affected you too....?*
<aberrantArtificer> *You are to be commended for your........ resssssilienccccce.......*
<aberrantArtificer> *I am ssssssorry to sssssay I........ have a much worssssssse hisssssstory than you......*
<aberrantArtificer> He shudders slightly.
<aberrantArtificer> *I thought...... thosssssse daysssss were behind me....... but that man........ he hasssss the power to forccccce one to relive your worssssssst hoursssss......*
<C_Juan> "I haven't had too many hours, so that's prob'ly why I wasn't hit real bad."
<aberrantArtificer> *I am ssssssorry..... you did not need to ssssssssee me like that.......... I tried to put thosssssse daysssss behind me......*
<C_Juan> "R'lax. You got through it without beltin' me up too bad."
<aberrantArtificer> *That wasssss..... one of the reasssssonssssss I decccccided to be your ssssssensssssei, you know........ to pussssssh mysssssself to....... sssssstay true to the Ssssssamurai code........
<C_Juan> "You've got an iron will, Sens."
<C_Juan> "You did good."
<aberrantArtificer> *Thank you for your...... encouragement......*
<aberrantArtificer> *Your sssssstyle wasssss alwaysssss....... unconventional, my boy........ but you were on track to be a....... better ssssssamurai than I ever wassssss.......*
<aberrantArtificer> *Your moral character...... and dedication are admirable my boy......*
<C_Juan> "Nah, you're the fighter here."
<aberrantArtificer> *I want to ssssssay what I never got to sssssssay before...... that man interrupted ussssssss jusssssst now.......*
<C_Juan> "I can obey the code, but it takes somethin' else to be a warrior."
<C_Juan> "And you've got that somethin'."
<aberrantArtificer> His words break slightly as he tries to say what he means to.
<aberrantArtificer> *I alwayssssss.... told mysssssself that you would need to earn...... thisssssss.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *I-I...... dare sssssay you more than have now........ ssssssso it issssss time I finally tell you for..... the firsssssst time....*
<aberrantArtificer> *Juan..... I am sssssssso proud of you.*
<aberrantArtificer> He reaches out his arms and embraces you with surprising strength and vigor for a whithered ghostly old man.
* C_Juan has no idea what to do. Perhaps Juan should hug back?
* C_Juan just goes with it.
<C_Juan> > Juan: Reciprocate
<aberrantArtificer> His rather bony and yet skeletal body feels a bit odd beneath your arms, but you return the embrace.
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite continues his rather unusual display of affection.
<C_Juan> "Oh, I almost forgot."
<C_Juan> "Before this battle, ya' said you 'ad somethin' to say."
<C_Juan> "What was it?"
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite pulls back from the hug and looks you in the eyes.
<aberrantArtificer> *That......*
<aberrantArtificer> *That wasssss it.*
<C_Juan> "Mmkay."
<C_Juan> "I'm proud of you too buddy."
<C_Juan> "Ya' did good."
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite smiles weakly.
<aberrantArtificer> He reaches out and ruffles your hair.
<aberrantArtificer> *Alwayssssss helping......*
<aberrantArtificer> *Thatsssss my boy.*
<aberrantArtificer> He smiles more broadly with a toothless grin.
<C_Juan> "Anyway, I've gotta duck off 'bout now."
<C_Juan> "Time shenanigans and all."
<C_Juan> "Sens', do you mind grabbin' my shoulder real quick?"
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite floats upright.
<aberrantArtificer> *When are you.... going?*
<C_Juan> "To where I told myself to go."
<aberrantArtificer> *When.... isssss that?*
<C_Juan> > Juan: Wait for Sensei to grab your shoulder, then travel forward to the other Juan
<C_Juan> "A few minutes from now."
<C_Juan> "I've got a meetin' with me."
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite puts his hand on your shoulder, gesturing with his other hand to the slab with Varnegs and the glowing rainbow pool of blood and bag of rice.
<aberrantArtificer> *Are you.... forgetting your watch...?*
<C_Juan> "Good point..."
<C_Juan> > Juan: Captchalogue the Sword in Varney's chest and the Watch
<aberrantArtificer> The sword disappears from his chest and goes into your sylladex.
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite retrieves his blade while you go to the watch.
<aberrantArtificer> It is still mounted in its slot, and all the numbers are glowing maroon now.
<C_Juan> > Take the Watch and rendezvous with your future self.
<aberrantArtificer> You pop out the watch with a bit of effort. It sits in your hand, warm and slightly humming with energy.
<C_Juan> Head to the Future.
<aberrantArtificer> You twist the dial to set the maroon hand to XII like you told yourself to do before.
<aberrantArtificer> However, pressing the button doesn't seem to do anything. You feel a hum of energy so the watch is definitely doing something, but you don't feel transported anywhere.
<aberrantArtificer> At least... anywhere besides the time you're already at.
<C_Juan> Press the button on the right-hand side
<aberrantArtificer> The ticking of the watch accelerates significantly and the hands spin around rapidly while you hold the button in. When you let go, the watch returns to it's normal rate of ticking. It's about 20 seconds further ahead than it was before.
<aberrantArtificer> Nothing around you seems to have changed, however.
<C_Juan> Hold it down until you get to five minutes further than now. Try again.
<aberrantArtificer> You do so. Pressing the main button again, there is a hum of energy and a flash of red light.
<aberrantArtificer> The bright light temporarily obscures your vision of everything around you but you can soon see again
<aberrantArtificer> Everything looks pretty much the same as before, except it seems much lighter in the room. There seem to be quite a few torches placed around the room that didn't used to be there.
<aberrantArtificer> The Nickolai on the slab is now gone, and there are a bunch of bloody grains of rice strewn about the stone slab.
<aberrantArtificer> Sitting on the corner of the slab is a young man dressed in a maroon and black suit with a fabric mask over his eyes. He has a dapper hat on.
<aberrantArtificer> It's the same dude you saw in that one lab, and the same one who tackled Nickolai and disappeared with him out of nowhere just a moment ago.
<aberrantArtificer> He turns to look over his shoulder at you immediately upon your red-lit arrival.
<aberrantArtificer> "Hey."
<C_Juan> "Hey, I'm supposed to be meetin' somebody here."
<C_Juan> "Seen 'im around?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Who told you that?"
<C_Juan> "Fellow from about five minutes in the past, and somewhere in th' future."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ah. Makes sense I s'pose."
<aberrantArtificer> "Probably you after you leave here."
<aberrantArtificer> "You've got a lot t' keep track of here now, ya' know."
<aberrantArtificer> "Where'd ya' come from?"
<aberrantArtificer> He puts his hands on the bloody slab and scooches himself to turn his whold body to face you, no longer looking over his shoulder.
<C_Juan> "I just came from trappin' a dude under a bag o' rice."
<C_Juan> "Doesn't look like it held him for long."
<aberrantArtificer> He looks down at the slab he's sitting on, picking up a couple bloody grains of rice stuck to his fingertips.
<aberrantArtificer> "You're lucky ya' got outta there in time, ya' know."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' got no idea what he's done."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' didn't have much time before he woulda fucked ya' up really damn bad."
<C_Juan> "I know 'e put an end to a whole universe, but that's about it."
<aberrantArtificer> He reaches up to behind his head and fiddles with something for a moment.
<C_Juan> "Who are you, anyway?"
<aberrantArtificer> He finishes untying the know and pulls off the mask, revealing his face to you in its entirety.
<aberrantArtificer> You see your own face looking back at you, but.... not quite your own. You see your eyes, but.... they look weary. The mask was apparently concealing a massive scar slashed horizontally across his face, and he looks to be several years older than you. He is very poorly kempt despite his dapper attire and he looks very battle-worn.
<aberrantArtificer> "I'm you."
<aberrantArtificer> "But spent three fuckin' years with Varney there."
<aberrantArtificer> "That changes ya'. Trust me."
<aberrantArtificer> "Seems like so long ago when ya' suddenly appeared in Fae's lab."
<aberrantArtificer> "How'd ya' even get there anyways? Thought I timeproofed the whole place."
<aberrantArtificer> "Maybe ya' haven't been there yet and ya' gotta go there later."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' got any idea what I'm talkin' about?"
<C_Juan> "I was there, yeah."
<C_Juan> "Dunno how, but I was."
<C_Juan> "Walked through some door and ended up there."
<aberrantArtificer> "Heh. Story 'a my life."
<aberrantArtificer> "Dunno how, but I was."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' never know what this game's got up its sleeve."
<C_Juan> "Yeah, it's turned out t' be one hectic bat-shit mindfuck o' a day."
<C_Juan> "So, what do I do now then?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I always thought number 'I' was bad.... looks like ya' somehow managed t' get it worse than me."
<aberrantArtificer> He looks down at the blood on the slab again.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' had no time at all, 'n Varney's had way too much time hoppin' around this timeline makin' a fuckin' mess of everythin'."
<aberrantArtificer> "Yet ya' took that from him."
<aberrantArtificer> "Nice work."
<aberrantArtificer> "I did some hoppin' around here. Looks like this is the end for him. Ya' took the rest of his time from him."
<aberrantArtificer> "From here he's headed back t' mess with Lyra, then he stalks Fae t' the trial, then he's gone."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' don' have t' worry about 'im takin' revenge on ya' for this. Ya' took care of him."
<aberrantArtificer> "How'd ya' do it anyways?"
<C_Juan> "It'd be lame as shit if I said friendship and teamwork, so I'm just gonna go ahead and blame 't on my awesome grit 'n' brute strength."
<aberrantArtificer> "Well o' course it was your awesome grit 'n brute strength. We both know that."
<aberrantArtificer> "I mean how'd ya' do it? What'd ya' actually do 'n what happened?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' gotta start thinkin' about this stuff now, ya' know. Ya' never know when you're gonna run into somethin' ya' gotta go back 'n do t' complete the loop."
<aberrantArtificer> "Kinda sucks, but ya' get used to it. If ya' don't do it right, everybody dies."
<aberrantArtificer> "If you're number 'I' dungeon here was anythin' like mine.... ya' already found out about havin' t' make sacrifices t' keep everyone from dyin'."
<aberrantArtificer> "Did ya' have that room with the knife 'n gun? With those screens 'n people dyin' if ya' took too long?"
<C_Juan> Yeah, I found that.
<C_Juan> "What other rooms did ya' have?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Hmmmm..... 't was so long ago..."
<aberrantArtificer> "I remember a room with a giant monster....."
<aberrantArtificer> "Another had a buncha' fire 'n shit in it..."
<C_Juan> "How many rooms were there?"
<aberrantArtificer> "There was this one with a long mirror in it on the wall 'n at the end I had t' fight my mirror image...."
<aberrantArtificer> "Fuck I don't remember."
<aberrantArtificer> "More th'n I wish there were that's for sure."
<aberrantArtificer> "They were all connected t' this room with a whitherin' tree on the floor."
<aberrantArtificer> "I don't remember how many rooms there were. Why do ya' ask?"
<C_Juan> "Well, because we're in one o' the rooms."
<C_Juan> "O' the first dungeon."
<C_Juan> "So if ya' know how this goes down, then you'll know if I'm done wit' this place."
<aberrantArtificer> "......oh."
<aberrantArtificer> He sits there, suddenly silent, looking down at the slab he's sitting on."
<aberrantArtificer> He fiddles with some of the bloody grains of rice on the slab.
<C_Juan> "Somethin' wrong?"
<aberrantArtificer> "This....."
<aberrantArtificer> "Well fuck I dunno how t' say this smoothly."
<aberrantArtificer> "This shit that went down here wasn't anythin' like what I did."
<aberrantArtificer> "This slab was s'posed to be.... for me."
<aberrantArtificer> "I finished up my hoppin' around here fixin' shit... I even left ya' that note about prototypin' Sensei rather than that rice ball."
<aberrantArtificer> He tips his hat at Sensasasprite, who bows deeply.
<aberrantArtificer> "See.... ya' kinda' took a shortcut here."
<C_Juan> "I was supposed to sacrifice somebody, wasn't I?"
<C_Juan> "Instead, I broke it and used Nick."
<aberrantArtificer> "Theres twelve o' these dungeons around the land. I, II, III, all the way up t' XII."
<aberrantArtificer> "Each of them end in a slab like this..."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' gotta get someone from a doomed timeline t' die on the slab... 'n they power your watch up another notch."
<C_Juan> "Except I got Nick, instead of you."
<aberrantArtificer> "Thats why I was headed here...... t' die."
<aberrantArtificer> "Looks like ya' beat me to it with Varney."
<aberrantArtificer> "Guess ya' took all the time ya' needed 'n now ya' don't have t' go t' all the other dungeons. Ya' got all the time ya' need right there in your hand already."
<aberrantArtificer> He bends down and picks up the charred skull with horns, looking at it solemnly.
<C_Juan> "Who was that, by the way?"
<C_Juan> "The Greyskin."
<C_Juan> "I ain't never seen one o' them before."
<aberrantArtificer> "Looks like 'e got caught in the crossfire. Fuck."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' shoulda tried t' save him...."
<aberrantArtificer> "Guess ya' had no idea who he was though."
<aberrantArtificer> "He coulda helped ya' if you'd kept him alive."
<aberrantArtificer> "Varney killed 'im in my timeline too...."
<aberrantArtificer> "'is names Petrus. He was one o' your teammates."
<C_Juan> "So we' got greyskins on our team too?"
<C_Juan> "What sort of other crazy species' have we got workin' with us?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Had, ya' mean."
<aberrantArtificer> "Unless Varney hasn't got t' Tarane here too."
<aberrantArtificer> "Fuck, I was hopin' Petrus would make it here."
<aberrantArtificer> "He's the one that predicted all o' this shit with Varney was gonna happen. All the people dyin'. Real fuckin' good Seer 'o Life."
<C_Juan> "Seer o' Life?"
<C_Juan> "What the shit's that?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Just a name. Everybody's got one."
<aberrantArtificer> "If ya' figure out how, ya' can get powers from it. Petrus was really damn good at readin' people 'n what they wanted 'n where they were headed."
<aberrantArtificer> "We're Rogues of Time. Pretty baller if ya' ask me."
<aberrantArtificer> "From the looks of it, ya' already stole a buncha time so ya' got that part down."
<C_Juan> "Stole time?"
<C_Juan> "That sounds fuckin' awesome!"
<aberrantArtificer> "Yeah, it pretty much is."
<aberrantArtificer> "Loada good it did me though."
<aberrantArtificer> "I really thought we were gonna fix it. I really did."
<aberrantArtificer> "Fae 'n I were tryin' so hard but everythin' was just too much."
<aberrantArtificer> "Pretty sure she's dead now too. Varney took her. I'm glad I don't know what he's doin' t' her I'd probably wanna kill myself if I knew."
<aberrantArtificer> "Its my fault. I'm sorry, I want ya' t' know that."
<C_Juan> "Don't give up just yet, sonny jim."
<aberrantArtificer> "I thought I could steal us 'nough time t' get our shit together.... turns out it just made this mess. He took that watch from me, ya' know. That's why he's here in the first place."
<C_Juan> "Don't beat yourself up about him, we already beat 'im up, so there ain't a thing to worry about."
<aberrantArtificer> "We?"
<C_Juan> "Yeah, I'm sure you were there."
<aberrantArtificer> "He already beat the shit outta me 'n stole that watch last time we fought.... unless...."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' mean I was back there when ya' were fightin him?"
<C_Juan> "I thought I saw you back there, yeah."
<aberrantArtificer> "What'd I do?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Gotta do the loops, ya' know."
<C_Juan> "You tackled him, 'n' gave me enough time to put the past version o' him on the slab."
<aberrantArtificer> " 'Kay sounds like a plan. I'll do that.... 'ventually."
<C_Juan> "Y'do have a watch, right?"
<aberrantArtificer> He reaches inside his jacket and pulls a pocketwatch out of a pocket, holding it up for you to see.
<aberrantArtificer> "Made a new one, yeah."
<aberrantArtificer> He puts it back in his jacket.
<C_Juan> "Right, d'you mind tellin' me how to use one of these things?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Lemme see yours."
<aberrantArtificer> He holds out a hand.
<C_Juan> Hand it over.
<C_Juan> "You better give it back though."
<aberrantArtificer> "Hey, I'm not Varney here."
<aberrantArtificer> He takes the watch from you and holds it so you can see the face.
<aberrantArtificer> He takes the dial on the top and twists it to move around the maroon hand to different numbers.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' set this t' what you wanna do, then ya' use these buttons t' set what time ya' wanna do that."
<aberrantArtificer> He presses and holds the right button and the watch speeds up. He then presses the left button and the clock hands spin backwards.
<aberrantArtificer> "Just press both of them t' get it back to wherever ya' are now."
<aberrantArtificer> He presses both buttons at the same time and the clock hands rapidly reset to the current time and resume ticking along normally.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' push the big button on top t' do the shit ya' set the watch t' do."
<aberrantArtificer> He holds out the watch to you.
<aberrantArtificer> "Make sense?"
<C_Juan> "Sort of."
<C_Juan> "Somebody said that if I wanted to use time travel, I had to be on XII."
<C_Juan> "What do the other numerals do?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Yup."
<aberrantArtificer> "Other stuff."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' were gonna learn that in all the dungeons but I guess you're not gonna do that anymore."
<C_Juan> "Yeah, I suppose not."
<C_Juan> "Mind fillin' me in then?"
<aberrantArtificer> "It's complicated. You're gonna have t' figure it out yourself I'm pretty sure it's important for your quest or somethin'."
<aberrantArtificer> "Seein' as this is number I right here though I can tell ya' what that does."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' remember the big 'I' on the rocks when ya' came in here down the big stairs?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Well 'I' 's gotta do with the rocks floatin' in the air everywhere."
<aberrantArtificer> "They're displaced in time. Shards. Fragmented. Ya' can control when they're displaced by settin' them usin' the watch."
<aberrantArtificer> "Somewhere ya' can make a buncha rocks into an entrance t' dungeon II but ya' don't need t' do that now."
<aberrantArtificer> "I'm sure ya' can figure somethin' else t' use it for though."
<C_Juan> "Right, manipulatin' rocks sounds cool."
<C_Juan> "What else?"
<aberrantArtificer> "The other numbers do other stuff, most o' its on your land kinda like the rocks. Gettin' all eleven o' them was a big deal 'n then ya' get time travel as a reward... but ya' got that now so I guess your reward is figurin' out what t' do with the other eleven now."
<aberrantArtificer> "If ya' go away from the water up into the hills from your hut, there's a little village."
<aberrantArtificer> "That's a good place t' start I think."
<C_Juan> "Okay, one last question."
<C_Juan> "How the fuck do I get out o' the dungeon now, and where are you gonna go when I leave?"
<C_Juan> "You said you were doomed, what does that mean?"
<C_Juan> "This isn't really one question anymore, but whatever."
<aberrantArtificer> "Three answers for ya'. I dunno, I dunno, 'n it means I'm fucked."
<aberrantArtificer> "Did ya' tell yourself anything back there? Ya' said ya' saw yourself who told ya' to come here."
<C_Juan> "Well, he said to come here."
<C_Juan> "Then he said to go back and do some shit."
<aberrantArtificer> "Well ya' probably should do that then."
<aberrantArtificer> "As for me? I dunno now."
<aberrantArtificer> "I kinda.... thought I'd be dead by now. Didn't really plan this far."
<aberrantArtificer> "I mean... I'm gonna die soon anyways. That's just how this doomed stuff works, but I don't want t' do that just yet."
<aberrantArtificer> "I've got some ideas."
<C_Juan> "Ideas like what?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Fae gave me a book before Varney took her."
<aberrantArtificer> He suddenly looks very solemn again.
<aberrantArtificer> "I got a lot t' work with."
<aberrantArtificer> "I'll figure it out, just kinda wing it ya' know?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I 'ready planned once for my death I'm not gonna do it again any time soon."
<C_Juan> "I've got an idea. Go back to Faerzen."
<C_Juan> "Surely the watch can send you back there."
<aberrantArtificer> "Why do ya' think I should do that?"
<C_Juan> "Because, it looks like you deserve a bit o' a rest."
<C_Juan> "A chance to do something else."
<C_Juan> "To just enjoy things for a bit."
<aberrantArtificer> "...."
<aberrantArtificer> "Really?"
<C_Juan> "Really."
<C_Juan> "Just do it."
<aberrantArtificer> "....'Kay, I guess."
<aberrantArtificer> "It's just..... she's gone now."
<aberrantArtificer> "Everyone's gone."
<aberrantArtificer> "I don't know... I dunno if I can just.... go back there 'n relax knowing what's gonna happen."
<C_Juan> "It's already happened, and you got your satisfaction watching Varney die once for each person he killed."
<C_Juan> "We're never gonna escape this bullshit by fighting it forever."
<C_Juan> "Take a break, Juan."
<C_Juan> "Do something worthwhile."
<aberrantArtificer> "This is worthwhile."
<aberrantArtificer> "I hope."
<aberrantArtificer> "Makin' sure that nobody else has t' fuckin' go through what I did. What we all did."
<C_Juan> "I can do that for you, don't worry 'bout that."
<C_Juan> "It's time. You can't change it too much."
<C_Juan> "Just live your days with your friends."
<C_Juan> "Let me take the burden for a bit."
<C_Juan> "I'll run the errands."
<C_Juan> "Just live, Juan."
<aberrantArtificer> "...."
<aberrantArtificer> He silently looks down at the bloodly slab he sits on.
<aberrantArtificer> "......Thank you."
<C_Juan> "No probs."
<aberrantArtificer> "I... don't think I coulda' said the same thing in your shoes."
<C_Juan> "I'm sure you could've."
<aberrantArtificer> "'Least not after these past three years."
<C_Juan> "We're one in the same, just in different shoes."
<C_Juan> "We still came from the same place."
<C_Juan> "We're still warriors."
<aberrantArtificer> "You bet we fuckin' are."
<C_Juan> Fistbump Juan
* aberrantArtificer BUNP
<C_Juan> "Sometimes though, even we' gotta know when to drop the sword."
<C_Juan> "You've done enough fighting for the whole crew here."
<C_Juan> "You've seen some shit mate."
<C_Juan> "Do something that's not shit for a change."
<C_Juan> "Give me the list of what needs doin' and I'll get it done."
<aberrantArtificer> He stands up, facing you. You realize he is taller than you as he stands and despite seeming somewhat more bare-bones, he is also quite muscular.
<aberrantArtificer> Deft fingers reach inside his jacket pocket once more.
<aberrantArtificer> "Funny ya' mention that."
<aberrantArtificer> He retrieves a golden envelope from inside his jacket pocket, the glittering parchment sealed with a glob of red wax stamped with a gear shape overlaid by an ornate "J".
<aberrantArtificer> "I was gonna give this t' ya' before I... ya' know. Died."
<aberrantArtificer> "I've been doin' a lot of hoppin' around here fixing things up before 'n after Varney."
<aberrantArtificer> "Turns out Fae's really good at knowin' how t' manipulate him so I've kept him off of mosta' the important stuff."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' just took care o' the last of his time here in this timeline so ya' don't need t' worry about 'im anymore, okay?"
<C_Juan> "Mmkay, thanks bro."
<C_Juan> Take the letter
<C_Juan> "So 's'there anythin' else I need?"
<aberrantArtificer> "In my hoppin' around I found a couple things ya' gotta make sure ya' do. I didn't want t' interfere too much in case I influenced anythin', so some o' the stuff in there's kinda vague."
<aberrantArtificer> "I'm sure ya' can figure it out you're smart 'n determined."
<aberrantArtificer> "I've refused t' visit the end 'cuz I don't want t' know if all this work or not until it happens. You're the one that this is all for anyways, I'm just on the sidelines now I can't win I had my chance."
<aberrantArtificer> "But I do know that ya' don't have much time."
<aberrantArtificer> "The end is gonna come up faster than ya' think."
<aberrantArtificer> "If there's one thing you're good at though, it's dealin' with not havin' much time."
<aberrantArtificer> He cracks a smile for the first time.
<C_Juan> "Well, we'll find out about that much soon enough."
<C_Juan> You pause for a couple of seconds
<C_Juan> You extend your hand
<aberrantArtificer> He extends his, clasping yours tightly.
<C_Juan> "Good luck wit' the future, say hi to Fae for me."
<aberrantArtificer> "Will do."
<aberrantArtificer> "Good luck with the future, say hi to Fae for me."
<aberrantArtificer> "Do ya' know what?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I forgot what its like t' have me around t' help."
<aberrantArtificer> "It's damn awesome."
<aberrantArtificer> He shakes your hand firmly.
<aberrantArtificer> "I think.... I think I may just be able to say...."
<aberrantArtificer> "We got this."
<C_Juan> "Yeah, we've got this."
<C_Juan> "I just hope you can enjoy what time you've got left."
<aberrantArtificer> He releases your hand, looking at you with a bit of a grin still.
<aberrantArtificer> "Don't worry. I'm gonna do what I can."
<aberrantArtificer> "Don't think we're not gonna see each other again tho'."
<aberrantArtificer> "Ya' saved my life. I'm not gonna abandon ya' completely. I'll see ya' again. I'm here t' help too, ya' know."
<C_Juan> "Yeah, but at least promise me you'll take it easy for a bit."
<aberrantArtificer> "'Course I will. Ya' got my word on that."
<C_Juan> "I'll see you 'round then."
<aberrantArtificer> He takes a step back, turning to Sensasasprite.
<aberrantArtificer> "Pleasure t' see ya' alive again, Sensei. Keep bein' a badass."
<aberrantArtificer> He bows deeply.
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite bows in return.
<aberrantArtificer> *As the fierccccccesssssst of..... bearsssss showssss love towardssssss itsssssss children...... sssssso doesssss a sssssamurai care for hissss family.*
<aberrantArtificer> *Thank you, my dear boy.*
<aberrantArtificer> *...... for everything.*
<aberrantArtificer> *You have paid a great priccccccce....... and yet you ssssssstill remember to take time for...... your old man.*
<aberrantArtificer> *Trusssssst me, my boy.......... even thossssse three yearssssss isssss not enough to..... break the Juan I know. You are sssssstil....... as fierccccce a companion any could assssssk for.**
<aberrantArtificer> "......Thanks."
<aberrantArtificer> Alternate you looks at you, then at Sensasasprite, then brings his right hand up to his forehead to salute both of you in turn.
<aberrantArtificer> "Remember, we got this."
<aberrantArtificer> "Never give up, never give in."
<aberrantArtificer> "Peace."
<C_Juan> "Peace."
<aberrantArtificer> He pulls out his pocketwatch and holds the backwards button for some time before hitting the main button on top and disappearing in a flash of red light.
<aberrantArtificer> As he disappears, you notice something doesn't feel quite right.
<aberrantArtificer> There's something scratchy on your wrist inside your sleeve.
<C_Juan> Roll up your sleeve and take a look.
<aberrantArtificer> There's a small slip of papers rolled up that falls out onto the ground.
<C_Juan> Read the papers
<aberrantArtificer> One of the slips has, in very familiar handwriting, a single sentence message: "Go get 'em."
<aberrantArtificer> The other slip has what seems kind of like nonsense on it
<aberrantArtificer> There are two "words", written in the same handwriting, each 8 characters long.
<aberrantArtificer> However, the two words just seem like 8 random numbers and letters of various cases thrown together.
<aberrantArtificer> That alternate you must have slipped them into your sleeve when he shook your hand or something.
<C_Juan> Go back 14 minutes like you told yourself earlier. Go get 'em.
<aberrantArtificer> You hold down the backwards button to 14 minutes back in time. As you wait for the watch to go backwards, Sensasasprite speaks up.
<aberrantArtificer> *I bessssssst..... ssssstay here, my boy.*
<C_Juan> "Suit yourself then, Sens."
<C_Juan> "I'll see you later then."
<aberrantArtificer> *I ssssshall..... wait here for you.*
<aberrantArtificer> *One thing.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *I sssssssaid I wassssss trapped here....... by that twisssssted man...... for a cccccentury.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *During that whole time....... I only sssssspoke to one perssssson.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *In the blacknesssss..... I could hardly tell who.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *It wassssss him. You. The you that jusssssst departed.*
<aberrantArtificer> *He came...... and sssspoke to me....*
<aberrantArtificer> *Vissssited me.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *He.... may be the only reasssssson I am sssssane today, my boy.*
<aberrantArtificer> *And you..... were sssssso kind to him jussssst now...... eassssing hissssss great pain....*
<aberrantArtificer> *You amaze me sssssometimesssss, my boy...... here, and after three yearsssss of torture.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *But I ssssshould not keep you....... you have busssinesssss to attend to.... You are to be very bussssy now.*
<C_Juan> "Thank you, Sensei."
<C_Juan> "I'll see you soon."
<C_Juan> Go back fourteen minutes.
<aberrantArtificer> You press the button and everything vanishes in a flash of red light.
<C_Juan> Look around.
aberrantArtificer> You see your environment come into few somewhat slowly from your eyes adjusting to the bright flash of light.
<aberrantArtificer> You see your own back, exerting great effort to move a floating Nickolai towards the great slab in the center of the room. The other Nickolai is currently yelling at past you.
<aberrantArtificer> The scene plays out as you remember it.
<aberrantArtificer> You help yourself stab the stunned Nickolai on the slab after Petrus is consumed, the other Nickolai begins attacking you, and the alternate version of you appears and tackles him.
<aberrantArtificer> The two of them vanish to who knows where and you talk with your past self.
<aberrantArtificer> It's weird saying all these words you already heard yourself say.
<aberrantArtificer> Part of you is a bit worried you'll say the wrong things and screw up, but it kind of just comes naturally. Like what you would have said anyways.
<aberrantArtificer> Past you then expresses concern about Sensasasprite and goes over to check on him over against the wall.
<aberrantArtificer> "Actually, good point."
<aberrantArtificer> "I should check up on 'im."
<aberrantArtificer> You remember yourself telling you when you were in your past self's shoes that 2 hours is the hot time to go to, so you let him know you're headed out.
<aberrantArtificer> You say, "'kay, Im gonna go 2 hours int' the future from here. 'Parently thats when stuff opens up."
<aberrantArtificer> You say farewell. "Peace."
<aberrantArtificer> You set your watch to about 2 hours in the future and hit the button.
<aberrantArtificer> There is a red flash of light again.
<aberrantArtificer> The room is as you remember it when you were talking to your alternate self.
<aberrantArtificer> The torches still line the walls, but they seem quite a bit more burned down and are a bit dimmer.
<aberrantArtificer> The blood on the slab has started to dry, forming a dark red crust.
<aberrantArtificer> Sensasasprite stands... er... floats rigidly by the door, keeping vigilant guard.
<aberrantArtificer> *Welcome back...... my boy.*
<aberrantArtificer> *You cccccertainly..... took your time in returning..... here. Did you.... encounter any problemsssssss?*
<C_Juan> "Nope, just tyin' up loose ends."
<C_Juan> "So 'parently this is where stuff opens up."
<aberrantArtificer> *Could you have not..... returned ssssssooner?*
<C_Juan> "Yeah, I could've."
<C_Juan> "But I was told to come here now."
<aberrantArtificer> *Interessssssting.......*
<C_Juan> "Time travel's like that."
<aberrantArtificer> *Nothing of note hasssss occurred sincccce you left.*
<aberrantArtificer> *The peaccccce and quiet hassssss...... actually been quite nicccccce.*
<C_Juan> "Somethin' tells me it won't last long."
<aberrantArtificer> *.....Alassssss.*
<aberrantArtificer> *Sssssssso what do you intend to do...... my boy?*
<aberrantArtificer> *Do you have any ideassssss...... about how to esssssscape the clutchessssss of thisssssss ssssssteafassssst tan sssssstone?*
<aberrantArtificer> *I have sssssearched for nearly a hour........ and found no esssssscape route.*
<aberrantArtificer> *I doubt brute forccccccce will do much to move....... thessssssse great sssssstonesssss.....*
<C_Juan> "I'll try."
<C_Juan> Set the Maroon hand to "I" on the watch, see if that "lifting the stone" thing works.
<aberrantArtificer> You set the maroon hand to I and the watch awaits further instructions.
<C_Juan> Try holding the button on the left hand side
<aberrantArtificer> The hands on the watch begin moving backwards in time, increasing in speed the longer you hold it.
<C_Juan> Look at the rubble
<aberrantArtificer> The tan stone forming the walls of this room doesn't seem to be affected by you pressing the left button.
<aberrantArtificer> The watch hands are now spinning very fast you have no idea how far back the time currently is. At least a week for sure, probably more?
<C_Juan> Go back to the time you were at, then press the button forward a week.
<aberrantArtificer> You release the left button and the hands stop moving, awaiting execution of your instructions. Based on the dials in the center of the watch, it looks like you went back a couple years. You then press both buttons at the same time to quickly reset the time like alternate you said, and then accelerate the time on the watch to a week from now.
<aberrantArtificer> The watch awaits execution or further instructions, and the rocks don't do anything yet again.
<C_Juan> Go back to the present point in time, and try to move the rocks by force.
<aberrantArtificer> You again return the time to the current time and go up to the wall.
<aberrantArtificer> Make a strength check.
<NOTTyche[Dice]> rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=3 ] | {4}
<aberrantArtificer> You proceed to push with all your might against the stone wall. It does not move.
<aberrantArtificer> *Are you...... expecting sssssssomething to happen, my boy?*
<aberrantArtificer> *Assssss I sssssaid...... I already sssssssearched and attempted brute forcccccce..... myssssself.*
<aberrantArtificer> *Did your...... timekeeping deviccccccce malfunction? It did not...... sssssseem to do anything to me...*
<C_Juan> "It didn't?"
<aberrantArtificer> *Did you.... think it did?*
<aberrantArtificer> *It appeared to me...... you were sssssimply ssssssetting the time.....*
<aberrantArtificer> *Did you...... change your mind about actually..... ussssssing it?*
<C_Juan> "Oh, I'm a bloomin' numbskull."
<C_Juan> "Oops."
<C_Juan> Use the watch on maroon setting "I", hold the left button and then press the red button.
<aberrantArtificer> How far back do you go?
<C_Juan> Try about a week first.
<aberrantArtificer> The hands spin backwards and you stop them when you get to about a week in the past.
<aberrantArtificer> Hitting the red button, you feel the watch hum and all the rock around you momentarily glow red.
<aberrantArtificer> They sort of blur, and you can see strange changes happening on their surfaces.
<aberrantArtificer> The tapestries soon roll up and vanish, and some of the spirals and carvings etched into the stone uncarve themselves. A couple of the cracks in one of the rocks seem to vanish suddenly, and it abruptly shifts backwards a couple inches.
<aberrantArtificer> Then the glow stops and the stones come to rest again, apparently now a week further back into their past.
<C_Juan> Check if the door is still obstructed.
<C_Juan> Look around
<C_Juan> Check for an exit
<aberrantArtificer> The red glow does not seem to have illuminated or affected anything else in the room but the rocks. You go up to the wall and physically examine the changes you saw take place before your eyes, and they are indeed there. The tapestries have vanished, the carvings are gone, and that one stone in the center of the wall has moved backwards a couple of inches.
<aberrantArtificer> It looks like there might be a bit of light around the edges of the stone? It's hard to say, you might just be imagining it? The stone did move when you used your watch.
* C_Juan said that was when everything opens up, but perhaps it wasn't time you were supposed to be bending.The rocks move in accordance with the "I" setting on the watch, and that was the only setting that you were supposed to have at this point. Therefore, if it "opens up in 2 hours", you need to travel 2 hours forward on the "I" setting.
<C_Juan> Return the dial to the present point in time, and go 2 hours ahead on the "I" setting, then press the red button.
<aberrantArtificer> The red glow returns, and almost immediately the block scooches forwards, returning to its original position. The cracks reappear, as do the tapestries.
<aberrantArtificer> Right before the glow disappears and the rocks arrive at two hours in the future, you see the whole room violently shake.
<aberrantArtificer> All of the rocks heave around haphazardly and you see the rocks on the ceiling cave in!
<aberrantArtificer> Half of the room is now covered in rubble and a bright beam of light shines in through the newly created hole in the ceiling.
<C_Juan> Look up
<aberrantArtificer> It's hard to tell exactly where the light is coming from since it's so bright from everything you've been seeing down here.
<aberrantArtificer> However, you do feel a light breeze wafting down the hole that smells very light and fresh, totally unlike the stagnant musty air in here.
<aberrantArtificer> The cave-in seems to have made a pile of rocks on the floor here, and the hole you're looking up through isn't vertical.
<aberrantArtificer> The hole in the ceiling goes off at an angle and the rocks make a sort of haphazard path up that you could probably try climbing up if you wanted to. Hard to tell exactly how hard it would be.
<C_Juan> Try to climb up
<aberrantArtificer> It really is quite an arduous workout, but the rocks are small enough that you can climb up them okay. Thankfully the hole isn't vertical. That would be some seriously difficult climbing.
<aberrantArtificer> You near the top and Sensasasprite effortlessly floats past you out of the opening.
<aberrantArtificer> You eventually pull yourself out of the tunnel and you find yourself on top of a grassy hill overlooking the bay and rock wall you entered the dungeon through.
<aberrantArtificer> It looks like the rock wall with the giant 'I' and staircase collapsed and that's what caused the cave in. Convenient, you were able to get out at least.
<aberrantArtificer> The bright light coming from the sky glints off of the water down below and from the numerous glass shards that litter the land. A gently breeze blows through your hair.
<aberrantArtificer> It really is quite relaxing. Nice to be out of that mess down below you.
<C_Juan> Go back and bring Sensei with you.
<aberrantArtificer> You head down the hill to the path that you took to get up to the wall in the first place.
<aberrantArtificer> It goes along the shore where the waves continue to be suspended in displacement, along the field of wildflowers and berries, and back to the base of the hill your house sits on.
<aberrantArtificer> You are greeted with a very strange sight.
<aberrantArtificer> The hut you fought those imps in earlier now has an enormous hole in the roof!
<aberrantArtificer> On top of that, the other half of the hut has some sort of enormous tower growing out of it.
<C_Juan> > Juan: Boggle vacantly at shenanigans.
<aberrantArtificer> It looks almost like somebody just copied and pasted the hut over and over again and it now extends quite high into the sky.
<aberrantArtificer> *Hmmmm.*
<aberrantArtificer> *It lookssssss asssssss though....... ssssssomebody hasssss been bussssssy.....*
<C_Juan> "Looks like it."
<C_Juan> "Who the 'ell turned the house into a fuckin' spire?"
<aberrantArtificer> *Your sssssserver player.... I would guesssssssssss.*
<C_Juan> You decide to ignore it. Of all the things that have happened today, this is by far the least surprising.
<C_Juan> You decide that it's high time to go home.