Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

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Kannon
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kannon » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:13 pm

Whatever might have scared off the previous spelunkers, didn't hold back the current ones.

Soon, the source of the glow became apparent. It was a wondrous network of some fungus or fungi the mycelium of which stretched like network across most of the ceiling, walls and floors. Here, it didn't reach into water.

Image

[Source of light no longer necessary]

But there was something peculiar about it. There was some undulation, a pulse, spreading across it with speed which made it almost imperceptible. There seemed to be some common denominator between this and the glow trees...

[Education or Ecology vs. Hard. Anyone's success suffices. Ambrose has a Boost.]
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Ambrose Pantazis
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Ambrose Pantazis » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:22 pm

Disabling his glowglobe, Ambrose waded forward to study the fungi. Taking note of the pulses, he pulled a commlink out of his kit and switched it on, scanning for the same repeating interference they'd detected before.

-----
D1, Evening, Scattered Bodies, Glowy Shrooms, Ecology, 4adv for boosts: 1eP+2eA+3eB+3eD 2 successes
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Player Pool: 8 Advantage, 1 Triumph
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Kannon
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kannon » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:31 pm

It was indeed similar, though deep in the cave it was hard to imagine any other response than static. But he was quite sure at this point that this form of life, and some other forms of life around here, were able to produce or channel electricity. One one hand it was no biggie, his own nervous system depended on it. But what he saw seemed like a concatenation of electric currents, high-voltage.

They were standing in water...
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Efren Lanville
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Efren Lanville » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:33 pm

Efren looked at the light show with a controlled fascination... After all, the last shining things nearly killed them all in the sky.

He was unaware of any predicament they may have fallen into without advice from the more learned folks of the party.
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Kiran Alsahar
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kiran Alsahar » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:38 pm

Kiran frowns at the fungi. "Bioluminescent?"
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Ambrose Pantazis
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Ambrose Pantazis » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:40 pm

Looking back to the other two, he advised hurriedly, "We should get out of the water. This stuff is packing an electrical punch like those manta birds."
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Kannon
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kannon » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:48 pm

Onward, the basalt seemed to be more geometric, hexagonal, like with the cliffs outside. There were steps and ledges and stones that were neither fully submerged nor too close to the mycelium, but every third of them or so was positioned too close for comfort, putting them at risk of a narrow shave with either. If electrocution was indeed real here, they would risk it.
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Kiran Alsahar
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kiran Alsahar » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:56 pm

Kiran steps out of the water to the sides. "Mm... I wonder if it grows closer to the ocean? It's a risk, but I'd like to continue. "
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Ambrose Pantazis
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Ambrose Pantazis » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:59 pm

"No risk, no reward. We proceed."
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Kannon
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kannon » Mon Jul 29, 2024 9:03 pm

[That's Hard Coordination with a Challenge Die for each. But in addition to Pool Boost, you can Assist each other. Kiran can add a Force Die to the roll. Failure means 10 Strain - Soak. Failure with Despair means 20 Strain - Soak. One Cool roll is allowed before proceeding to clear off some of the remaining Strain.]
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Efren Lanville
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Efren Lanville » Mon Jul 29, 2024 9:25 pm

Efren took a deep breath before following after Ambrose and trying to match his movements.

He wasn't successful, however, and ended up zapped by some angry fungi.


----

D1 Spelunking Cool: 4eA 1 success, 3 advantage
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So... heal 1 strain. Now -3 from when we started the day. 11/14. Advantages go to player pool?

D1 Spelunking 3, Assistance Check, Coordination Ambroze, Bonus from Advantage Pool: 3eA+1eP+1eB+2eD+1eC 0 successes
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10 Strain-6 Soak= 4 Strain

7/14 Strain

(Gonna be afk for a bit so said I was following Ambrose)
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Ambrose Pantazis
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Ambrose Pantazis » Mon Jul 29, 2024 9:54 pm

Seeing the perilous path presented, Ambrose changed their order and took the lead. Efren called out from behind to try and guide him, but Ambrose was running on instinct. Unfortunately, his instincts were bad and he got punished for it as his foot dipped into the stream and electricity arced up his leg and through his body.

On the other side of it, he sat down and looked back, "So... don't do what I did there."

-----
D1, Evening, Scattered Bodies, Cool Recovery: 2eA 1 success, 2 advantage
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2 adv banked
Player Pool: 11 Advantage, 1 Triumph
1 strain recovered, 6/13

D1, Evening, Scattered Bodies, Coordination, Efren Assist boost, 4adv for 2 boosts: 4eA+3eB+1eC+2eD 1 failure, 3 advantage
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3 adv to reduce Strain
Player Pool: 7 Advantage, 1 Triumph
10 Strain - 3 Soak = 7 Strain
10/13 at Threshold
(Edited to reduce Strain instead of bank adv)
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Kiran Alsahar
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kiran Alsahar » Tue Jul 30, 2024 1:42 am

Kiran nodded and closed their eyes, concentrating for a moment before starting to step carefully. Rather than rushing ahead, they move slowly and confidently, avoiding the the electrified fungi. They stepped over to Ambrose and kneels down nearby. "You okay? How's your leg?"

Cool: 2eA 1 success, 3 advantage
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Coordinating, assist from Ambrose to use Agi 4, Force, Pool Boost, 4 advantage for 2 boosts: 4eA+3eB+1eF+1eC+2eD 2 successes, 3 threat, 1 Dark Side
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Ambrose Pantazis
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Ambrose Pantazis » Tue Jul 30, 2024 1:57 am

"I've been better. Been worse too, but this definitely ranks up there."

He shifted around in the cave to face Efren, "How about you Lanville? Looked like it got a piece of you too."

Ambrose looked around for Mr. Bravo who taken his own route through the mushroom infested cave. The bird seemed less than thrilled to be underground. Our maybe it was just the company it was keeping.

He turned back to Kiran, "Nice job getting through there. Might have you lead if we go back that way. Personally, I'd rather find a new route topside."
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Kannon
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kannon » Tue Jul 30, 2024 3:08 am

[Pool: 10/1 vs. 3/0]

Image

The electricity-imbued nature in the lava tube had punished mistakes in their footing by painful but non-lethal voltage that raised the hair on their bodies but in the end didn't prevent them from reaching the bottom. Mr. Bravo had somehow avoided the contact with the fungus by some smart flying.

The underground river had been moving down through several small rapids, knee-high steps, that would suddenly end in a large grotto the size of an ancient cathedral. So far, the current had largely prevented the mycelium from spreading into its bed. Down here, where it poured out into stillness, no more. The cavernous space was well-lit, like from thousands pale cyan candles. In addition, the window-like opening on the other side of it brought to them both spot-moonlight and the roar of the crushing waves. The sobering scent of iodium and salts carried throughout as the sea must have poured out into the space from that opening on occasion.

The place awed and exulted. The majesty of it was hard to ignore even for a soul not bent on aesthetics.

And yet, this is where they found the scattered bodies. About a dozen of them littered the floor of their tomb, in various distances from where they stood, in various states of consumption and decomposition. However, the explanation why they were scattered like this didn't lie alone in the current carrying them from whence the group had approached. High above on the ceiling, where the mycelium was thickest, dozens of manta bids perched upside down, like bats, moving in soft undulation like drying laundry on light breeze. They seemed to be largely inert, slumbering, or given the pulsation at the end of their tales - charging? They rustled when the group entered the cave, but otherwise didn't move.

This couldn't be told of what was happening in the many pools dotting the floor of the grotto. Blue-laden, they swarmed with little mantas amid larger sack-like egg cases. Some of the bodies lay half-submerged in those pools, and were probably fed upon.

They *could* try to discern something about the bodies from where they stood, without risking entering the cave and facing whatever the reaction of life within it would be to their intrusion. But if they did want to intrude, a pathway of hexagonal steps where fungus didn't spread, probably because of crystallised sea salt had blocked its development, could be charted...

[Perception Hard with a Setback for observing from the spot, Stealth at Hard with A Challenge Die for trying to approach some bodies for closer examination. You can try different things and present your own ideas and I'll determine rolls for them. Non-stealthy hopping into the cave is also physically possible...]
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Ambrose Pantazis
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Ambrose Pantazis » Tue Jul 30, 2024 5:00 am

A moment of elation at having found their objective was immediately replaced by a moment of dread at seeing what else occupied the space. The bodies were so close, but so far away.

In the dim blue light of the cavern, Ambrose couldn't trust what he saw from this distance. The bodies needed closer examination and that wasn't the kind of dangerous task he would delegate. If anyone was going into the mantas' den, it was him. Although he'd like to turn around and leave, the corpses in front of them might hold a secret that could help them on their mission. He'd said it himself earlier, no risk, no reward. It was time to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy.

Preparing to enter, Ambrose donned the thermal cloak from his kit in hopes it would help obfuscate his presence. He also fit the rebreather over his face, just in case. Lastly he took out his flaregun and made it readily available, in case a hasty retreat was needed that it might offer some distraction.

"Stay safe. If things go bad, cover yourselves and get back to the team." He ordered Efren and Kiran before slinking along the hexagonal steps to the bodies.

-----
Statement: "Salvation through duty / Excess brings success"
D1, Evening, Scattered Bodies, Stealth, 6adv for boosts: 1eP+3eA+3eB+1eC+2eD 0 successes, 1 threat, 1 Triumph
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Player Pool: 4 Advantage, 1 Triumph
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Kannon
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kannon » Tue Jul 30, 2024 5:15 am

[Keeping Threat]

In the end, he couldn't traverse the area quietly. At one step, just near a spawning pool, his booth crushed a saline crystal and a chunk of it fell into the water with a loud splash. The little mantas got stirred, obviously, jumping more than flying out, sending high-scale screeches to echo within the grotto, and they dived right after.

There was a moment of tension. The mantas above rustled, but there was no immediate reaction...

[Waiting for others to choose their course of action.]
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Efren Lanville
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Efren Lanville » Tue Jul 30, 2024 2:29 pm

Seeing the predicament that Ambrose ended up in, Efren put his training knowledge to the test and decided to draw attention away from his friends so they could inspect the bodies closest to them.

He inched his way around the pool with the babies and pulled out a stick of meat rations. He began pulling them into small bites and placing them gently on the surface of the water to draw the little ones away from Ambrose.

It appeared that some of the little creatures started to come over at the prospect of food.
----

D1 Spelunking Survival, "Roots" Statement, Avg: 2eP+1eA+2eD 1 success, 3 advantage
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I've lost track of the pool.

3 Advantage added to it though.
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Kannon
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kannon » Tue Jul 30, 2024 2:36 pm

[Pool: 7/1 vs. 4/0]

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That did seem to help as the little mantas got drawn to the offered food, with curiosity at first, only then with appetite. Stepping forth got Efren into proximity of one of the bodies previously hidden below the rock he now stood on, so he had to look at it while feeding the animals...

[Thanks to Efren's distraction, Kiran's next difficulty is decreased by 1. I will provide the description of the bodies once Kiran has moved.]
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Kiran Alsahar
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Re: Day 1 | Evening | To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Post by Kiran Alsahar » Tue Jul 30, 2024 4:44 pm

Kiran kneeled down to check on the closest body. If necessary to find out more information, they would even find something to turn it over with if it would give more information.

Perception, Hard, setback negated by Keen Eyed: 2eP+1eA+3eD 1 success
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