CHAPTER THREE ♔ in an isolated system the entropy can only increase

[goodbyecaroline]

♬ the device has been modified - victims of science

WHO || Gold, Faye, Emma, Mars, Astrid, GLaDOS
WHAT ||  The Knights become unwitting test subjects for a psychotic AI  
WHERE || Luckman Industries computer-aided enrichment center, Germany
WHEN || May 31st/June 1st [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

Why Wynn ever thinks there will be such a thing as a 'simple recon mission' we just don't know.  

Several Knights were dispatched to a small isolated town in Germany where magic was rumored to not function, only to discover that the situation was a bit more complicated.  Yes, magic didn't function when attempted - sometimes.  But other times it had bizarre and dangerous side effects, including driving townspeople insane.  

Research led the team to a company called Luckman Industries who had bought digging rights to make a large quarry beneath the town, but further investigation revealed that they had actually constructed a massive underground laboratory instead.  Some sort of strange device stood at the center of it, magical in nature, but when they attempted to leave, they found the doors locked, and were forced into trying magic despite the potential side effects.

The spell seems to have attracted the attention of something within the building itself - a disembodied voice that's offered them a (mostly) pleasant greeting - to the Luckman Industries computer-aided enrichment center.

There will be cake.

Comments

[pathology]

This is such bullshit. [she rolls her eyes and emits the most petulant teenage sigh. actual adult astrid madchen.]

[uncurse]

Just ... calm down. We'll figure something out, all right?

[ she glances up. ]

Uh ... Look, we're not here for a stay. We were a little lost.

[reallywicked]

Are you really trying to reason with it?

[That voice isn't human okay. She glances up, not really sure whst to even do with this clusterfuck.]

What do you want with us?

[goodbyecaroline]

What do I want?

Why, your cooperation. You have all been selected as test subjects to further our scientific inquiries. Congratulations.

We're all going to have so much fun together.

[uncurse]

You've gotta be kidding me.

[ she goes for her phone except OH YEAH IT WAS MAGNETIZED TO THE CEILING. ]

Hey! Lady! We're not here for fun. [ just because she's not human doesn't mean she isn't a nice lady ok. ] We're not gonna cooperate with your tests.

[goodbyecaroline]

I thought you might say that.

To encourage active test participation, I will be implementing a reward system. Those who participate will be rewarded by not having one of their friends thrown into the incinerator.

[pathology]

So is that ... out of all of us, or are you making us pair up? [she wants gold; he's crippled and won't put up a fight. actual sociopath astrid madchen. SHE'S NOT STRONG SHE HAS TO CONSIDER THESE THINGS. also she still hates u glados.]

[goodbyecaroline]

That would eliminate the element of surprise. You like surprises, don't you?

[pathology]

No. [yes she does BUT THESE HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD SURPRISES THUS FAR.]

[undealt]

Perhaps we'd be better off if we just cooperated with the damned thing. It surely can't go any worse than arguing with it.

[100% done.]

[uncurse]

Fine!

[ emma sounds absolutely put-upon by having to relent to a fucking computer omg. ]

We'll participate—but when it's over, you tell us how you're doing this to the magic in the area.

[goodbyecaroline]

Oh good. I'm glad someone among you shows a scrap of intelligence. I thought I might have to grade your test results on a curve.

[ the magnetic strip above moves down a track, vanishing out a panel that opens up high on the wall to let it cycle through, along with their magnetized belongings. the panel seals over immediately after. ]

I'll do you one better than that. You're going to get to experience it firsthand. Isn't that exciting? Now is an appropriate time to express your enthusiasm for science.

[pathology]

What kind of science? [science is a broad term, ok. there are different fields. THIS IS HER BEING NICE AND PLAYING ALONG.]

[goodbyecaroline]

Luckman Industries represents the leading researchers into anti-magic technologies. Your participation today will help ensure the growth and expansion of this field in exciting new directions.

[undealt]

[WHOA THERE TERMINATRIX.]

Your industry is attempting to rid this world of magic?

[ARE THERE GOING TO BE TASERS IN THESE TESTS??]

[uncurse]

And you couldn't find willing participants? Look, we want what you're selling. We need a way to break a curse; magic's not cutting it, maybe Luckman technology can. [ but without taking away all of her magic. EMMA IS NOT ABOVE DEALING WITH THE ENEMY OK. ]

[goodbyecaroline]

Luckman Industries is looking to create a better world. Sometimes this requires being unconstrained by unnecessary concepts such as morality. Many of our tests may deter potential volunteers, so we simply find ways to draw magic-users into our doors. It was surprisingly easy. Next time, we'll just put a carrot on a stick.

[pathology]

Um, not a magic user here! Can I leave? [SHE'LL COME BACK FOR THE REST OF YOU. PROBABLY???]

[goodbyecaroline]

Is that so?

Well. I suppose that makes you the most expendable to our operations.

[ abruptly, out of the floor, two large clamps come up and secure themselves around astrid's ankles. the tiles she's standing on turn into a track much like the one on the ceiling, only this time, they start pulling her towards the opposite wall, about two hundred feet away. the wall there slides open to reveal a humongous burning-hot fire beyond. ]

Surprise. Your first test will be preventing your friend from being thrown into the incinerator.

[pathology]

[S C R E A M I N G. HER LIFE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.]

[charismapotion]

[ Well, this has the tallest nervous. That is not good at all. When Astrid was pulled over the incinerator his eyes got wide. Fuck]

Astrid! Shit, NO! [ he turned and yelled towards the voice.]

Woah! Woah, not cool! [ He looked around for any way to you know catch her or get her down without roasting them. (spt; 17)] So is magic off limits here too?

[ He's still willing to fry his brains here if it saves the one he actually has spoke to before. The others...eh. I mean, their his teammates..]

[uncurse]

ASTRID!

[ emma throws out a hand and casts close on the wall. one day, when they're out of this, she will sit mars down for a talk about not asking permission when they're in mortal peril. now just isn't the time. ]

[goodbyecaroline]

[ emma feels the magic manifest in her hand... and then fizzle out instantly as more sparks erupt from the machine. ]

Do you see that large device on the other side of the room? Yes. That one.

That is a Luckman Industries Eldritch Suppression unit. Or L.I.E.S. for short. Don't worry. The name is merely an unlikely coincidence.

In the process of creating a machine meant to nullify magic, we've discovered a great many kinks to work out. As of now, the machine boasts a fifty percent rate of success in canceling spells cast in its vicinity. However, instead of directly nullifying these spells, it will often cause magic to instead behave unpredictably. You are helping us to gather valuable test data by repeatedly utilizing different types of magic in a controlled environment.

In other words, sometimes your spells will succeed. Sometimes they will have unforeseen consequences. The only way to successfully use your magic is to continue casting it in spite of these. Good luck. And happy testing.

[ and in fact, the unforeseen consequences of this spell make themselves known to emma pretty quickly, because she's suddenly able to read the surface thoughts of everyone in the room for the next twelve seconds. no save. ]

[pathology]

[astrid's thoughts are all in german but "idiot" sounds about the same as it does in english so she can imagine these are not flattering thoughts. about her teammates. she's ... also simultaneously imagining her funeral with attica and adam weeping profusely over her dead body (which is looks like she's peacefully sleeping and not a roasted marshmallow) and arguing over who loved her more. y e p.] TRY HARDER!

[uncurse]

[ she lets out a sudden grunt and staggers backward, hand slapping to her forehead.

the images and sounds from astrid's mind are suddenly clouding her own—it really doesn't help that she doesn't speak german—and making it impossible to focus.

and everyone else's, ofc. give me your thoughts. ]