WEEK 3 CYOA: Ace, Temenos, Vane

[becomemod]

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[becomemod]

[ The doors are giving it their best shot to stay upright, but they judder when they're opened. Taking a look around the inside, it's not that big, and it's just as dusty and unused as would be normal. It looks like there's a place to put offerings, but even that looks broken. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ what if he just goes inside anyway to touch the place where you can put offerings. they've got nothing to give he just touch. ]

Kind of looks like a dead end, but if we need to take shelter at some point, this is better than nothing. [ some people have left for a month so who knows!! ] I guess we might as well explore the forest if there's nothing here? Depending on how long we're here we're going to need to find food and water.

[ sorry he is a forest survivalist at heart ]

[axeswing]

Yeah, a roof over our heads is better than nothing.

[ Is the shrine completely empty… not even a little spider friend to hang out with?? ]

Should we split up? Cover more ground and come back when we find something? Or at least before it gets dark. [ asks the man with a terrible sense of direction and will get lost. ]

[inquired]

[ hmm. to vane, first: ]

Stay close, for now.

[ is there any way to tell what this was a shrine to? he'll watch ace at the offering table vaguely warily, but then go to investigate the area, sorely missing a lantern. is there any way to tell what this is a shrine to? any symbols, or murals, or anything like that? ]

Perhaps. Somehow, I doubt we would have awoken right in front of it if it wasn't important.

[becomemod]

[ It doesn't look like there's any murals in here. There's something that could've been a sketch, but its faded away with time. Nothing happens inside of the shrine when Ace touches the table.

Outside, it sounds like there's something approaching. There's the sound of stone against stone coming closer to their location. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ well sounds in a forest is normal but stone against stone is very specifically not animals, so ace is turning towards the door ]

Hey, how good are you guys without your weapons?

[ this isn't a judgmental question so much as he is expecting a fight and is realizing he has no clue what their capabilities are ]

[axeswing]

[ Vane jumps a little upon hearing the sound. Obviously he was enraptured in the thought of finding a spider. ]

Uhhh, I’m pretty sure I can wrestle something reasonably big down to the ground?

Temy might be in trouble, though —

[inquired]

[ temenos is examining the sketch to try and discern what the fuck it is and wishing he had his powers in this moment when he hears the noise, followed by ace and vane.

.... and then just takes a step back to stand behind them? it'd be funny if i was like actually he's a jiujitsu master but no he is a useless, squishy caster who currently has no magic.

he pats them both on the shoulders. patpat. ]

I'll be counting on you.

[ thanks boys ]

[becomemod]

[ Taking a look outside, they can see three child-sized grey rock creatures walking up the stairs towards them at the moment. The aura around them feels strangely oppressive for how small they are. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ sorry wait he's snickering ]

Temy? [ hilarious. anyway, it's good to note he can probably count on vane to take care of himself because there are rock creatures coming up. this is not that weird to ace one piece who just sees weird ass people all the time so while he's peering at them and their Oppressive auras they're tiny sooo. he can probably not immediately attack and be polite

he's gonna take point and bow a little in greeting ]

Hiya. Sorry to intrude! We wound up here by accident. Is this your shrine?

[axeswing]

[ He just got out of killing a bunch of skeletons, so rock kids aren’t too bad? But they also appear so small…

Vane is gonna stand upright, appearing just a smidge taller.

Ace and Temenos can do all the talking, he’s ready to JUMP. ]

[inquired]

[ ace is nice and cute to these sweet little rock babies. temenos senses their nasty oppressive everything and feels rock creatures are rarely to be trusted.

he will be back here with vane, looking unimpressed but watching ace just in case. ]

[becomemod]

[ They're just little guys. They're so slow (rocks aren't know for their speed). Once they finally get to Ace, they can see the swirling dark aura around the critters.

And then one of them punches Ace. The blow is surprisingly strong for something so small. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ okay well the swirling aura of darkness does make him stand up and look wary because of Reasons, but he's not worried about the punch because he's fire and Wait Shit He's Not Fire Right Now He Forgo

ow ouch owie his fucking ribs he stumbles back a bit and looks pissed ]

Okay, well, no one can say I didn't try-- [ anyway he is going to attempt to kick a little rock guy into another one to kind of make way, here. ] You guys might want to go!

[ "did he just tell vane and tem to leave so he can fight rocks" i never said he was smart ]

[axeswing]

[ The dark aura registers a little slower, for Vane, but it does trigger his immediate response to this situation: they'll need to fight. ]

What? No way! I ain't gonna leave you alone like that! [ No offense, but he's not just going to run off while Ace has to deal with little rock critters. ] Temy, just stay behind us and if any of 'em break through start running!

[ That said he will attempt to throw a punch at one of the rock critters. 16 is the highest number I've rolled since this game started. ]

[inquired]

[ oh shit rip ace.

well, listen. see, he would attack if he could but there is nothing unless you're going to tell me there's a stick i can use to bonk somewhere but even that's kind of useless. he could almost predict vane just running into battle in perfect unison - sighs, internally, because Some People Are Just Like That, and just takes another step back, looking around. ]

Stop calling me that, Vane. [ he sounds so unbothered.

anyway yeah let the punchy types fight. are there crumbling pieces of shrine that can be shoved into the way or leveraged onto little monstrous rock creatures? is there a way to trap them somehow? i truly cannot understate how absolutely fucking useless temenos is in this situation. ]

[becomemod]

[ It's very funny to imagine these incredibly slow rock creatures could possibly catch up to anybody if they were gunning it. Their movement range is so bad.

Vane successfully lands a hit on the creatures. It is exactly like punching a rock. Even though he connects, it takes very little damage, and Vane's knuckles are bruised. From punching rock.

There's some pebbles, around on the ground if Temenos wants to use those.

It sounds like something else is approaching. There's the sound of flapping wings, and rustling bushes. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ they are punching rocks. this is stupid. well, it's sort of like training at home, but it's also stupid. especially when there's a lot of other sounds nearby that are probably not forest related ]

Tem, Vane-- let's leave. Maybe we can drop the entire place on 'em.

[ he is not one to run like....... ever but also they have no real reason to be here and he doesn't feel like being surrounded?? and if the shrine is this shitty maybe there is a support pillar they can keep??

anyway temenos hid behind them but ace will actually pull him with him so he's sorta shielding him with his body when he goes to bypass the rocks to get out of the shrine properly. vane has earned allowed to defend himself rights tem has not ]

[axeswing]

[ Sometimes you just punch rocks? He's punched so many things, and despite his knuckles now bruised he's only shaking it with a mild look of pain. It's brief, a split second, as he pulls away. The sound of whatever next might be approaching makes his stomach twist with the idea that they just might be screwed. ]

Gotcha!

[ Ace is so smart. We have one and a half braincells in this party.

But as Ace runs off with Temenos (gay) he'll shield them from behind, ensuring that if the rocks attempt to attack them once again he can at least... take the blow... yeah. ]

[inquired]

[ okay listen temenos would normally have a remark about how he doesn't need to be protected, because it feels like every time he's with these types he's Being Protected, but... right now he absolutely needs to be protected, like. bad. so! he's not fighting it, letting ace pull him along and watching the rock creatures.

he will not pick up pebbles, but he will look for said structural pole while they're walking back and away from these creepy little dark aura things? the weird noises catch his attention too, and he will remind them both, ever the cynic - ] Even if we do, I've a feeling there are going to be more.

[ which means they need to find a way to fight them! and fast. thankfully those animal sounds will probably be helpful ones. ]

[becomemod]

[ If they look towards the direction of the approaching noises, they'll see a group of creatures. Even if they don't look, this group of animals will prevent the rocks from approaching.

"We were moving as fast as we could!" Says the flying one, hovering closer to Temenos. They blow a burst of wind at the hostile creatures, which does more damage than wind would normally do to rock.

"We will certainly protect you!" From the one that looks like a bunny. They do a little pose like they're the line of defense. Even though, they're so much shorter than Vane.

"We're here now!" From the one in fur. They give a worried glance back at the group, and plant themselves firmly between the danger and Ace. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ Well Okay he kind of stops because it seems rude to run away from little protector animals and looks at the other two like ???? ]

Uh. Thanks? [ ??????? ] Who're you?

[ this is maybe not the time for introductions but they're talking like they were coming to them On Purpose, so, that's interesting? ]

[axeswing]

[ ACE YOU'RE LITERALLY STOPPING FOR INTRODUCTIONS I'M CRYING!!! ]

What're you doin', little guy?

[ Vane will just pick up the bunny in his arms. This is his now. ]

[inquired]

[ this is not that weird actually. he watches this wind spell go, mildly fascinated. orange mahina? that you? ]

...well, this is certainly unusual.

[ uhh. has he learned beast speech suddenly. ]

[becomemod]

[ "I'm Gabumon- should we fight them?" They look between Ace and the rocks. He gets the sense that Gabumon will listen to orders or suggestions from him.

The little rabbit is so startled to be picked up, "I'm Lopmon, and I'm protecting you." Which is very hard to do when they aren't even on the ground. A little rude, Vane.

The orange one looks back at Temenos, and he gets the sense that they'll listen to whatever orders or suggestions he gives. They just barely manage to dodge the rock creature's punch by flying further up. "I'm Patamon." ]