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

[reallywicked]

Seriously? [Faye's pretty stoked that most of her spells are working (so far) but she's getting more and more frustrated. So now there's a big sphere just hanging out in front of the ice wall, burning away (three more rounds of damage: 7, 4, 5)

[goodbyecaroline]

[ melting... melting... and melted. success! of course, they still can't see each other, so there's that. but the door lies open just beyond. ]

Well. What do you know. You completed an exercise designed for those of kindergarten-age intelligence without murdering one another.

I suppose that means we can elevate the testing level to accommodate your progress. Please proceed to the next chamber in an orderly, invisible fashion.

[charismapotion]

[ Mars' is thinking these people have some awesome fire spells. Because, they do. Like before he mentally counts so he can follow through last.]

[pathology]

[she goes forward like fuck this shit and tries her best not to backsass the computer. because the last time she did that SHE ALMOST DIED.]

[reallywicked]

[BRING ON THE NEXT TEST. Also can someone make them visible jfc.]

We may need to start playing Marco Polo.

[Not helping, Faye]

[undealt]

It will wear off eventually. [Dreary sigh.] Until the next bit of fresh hell, anyway.

[uncurse]

Seriously? Four sorcerers, and not one of us knows how to turn this off?

[ ridiculous. she is hiking forward to the next task. ]

[goodbyecaroline]

[ they head into the room labeled 03, and find themselves standing at the base of a very steep platform that rises thirty feet over their heads. on top of the platform is a door, and a big old red button. the floor at the base of the platform appears to be a panel that has blue lights around its four sides, with standing room for two people. another large red button is on the wall next to them. ]

This next test rewards the basic concepts of teamwork. You must work together to decide who will be left behind at this conclusion of this test.

[pathology]

[it's too bad they're all invisible bc astrid puts her finger on her nose like NOT IT NOT ME NOPE.]

[uncurse]

All right.

[ she paces forward, hands on her ... invisible hips. ]

It's only gonna keep getting worse. If anybody wants out, now's the time to say so. We're not gonna leave you here when we get out.

[charismapotion]

I'll do it. [ Mars spoke up his voice a bit Shakey. he's the newbie, expandable.]

It's not wanting out, more an feeling I need to be the one on this side. Go on.

[reallywicked]

No, shut up. There's a way we all go. There has to be. [because otherwise this is going to quickly turn into eenie meenie miney OH GOD FIERY DEATH. And Faye is not down.]

[uncurse]

All refusing to play by the rules is gonna do is get us all stuck. We can't come back and get him if we're all trapped in here too.

[reallywicked]

What if that's the game? Figure out a way around it? Because if we leave him here? He could die. And I'm pretty sure a cleric doesn't know how to wave a magic wand to bring you back to life when you're a pile of ash.

[pathology]

[she sighs and explains the game as ... she's analyzed in her head it to them. (wis 20 total)] We have to operate the panel to get to the next level. Two go up, then two more, then the last one is stuck because no one's left to push the button for them. Can any of you guys ... I don't know, do telekinesis or teleport or something?

[undealt]

I know one spell that might suffice- assuming it doesn't produce another undesirable effect. [HE HAS MAGE HAND NOW. MAYBE IT CAN BE USED TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BUTTON.]

[reallywicked]

I think I might have something that could work too. [She is okay with Gold stepping up but she's not leaving bitches behind. We are all in, fuckers.]

[uncurse]

Assuming it goes right and doesn't backfire.

[ JUST TO PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN PERSPECTIVE. begrudgingly, she adds: ] I might be abl eto do it, too. So who goes last?

[charismapotion]

I'll go last then, just in case. Ill trust in you guys.

[goodbyecaroline]

[ GLaDOS' voice cuts in, helpfully. ]

I wouldn't.

[reallywicked]

Shut up. [Faye growls.]

Emma, why you don't you an Astrid go first. [Astrid keeps having shit for luck here and Gold is... old. So they need to split the difference on keeping tabs on everyone. Which is hilarious since she can't fucking see people.]

[undealt]

[DOES THE INVISIBILITY EVER END.]

And then once Faye and I have reached the door, we'll try what spells we have that might allow him [HE WOULD BE GESTURING TO MARS IF HE COULD SEE MARS or if anyone could see his hands] to cross over.

[and hopefully not kill each other.]

[charismapotion]

No one asked you. [ He grumbled at GLaDos's chime in, then to Gold.] Sounds like a good plan to me.

[uncurse]

[ Emma moves to stand on the platform, turning to ... try and find invisible Astrid. Yeah. ]

I'm standing closest to the button. Astrid, you wanna stand on the other side of the platform? Let Faye know when you're on.

[ Since she's the one with the plan, Emma assumes she's near the button to press it when they're ready. ]

[pathology]

[being invisible kind of sux. it'd be cooler if she was the only one, but alas. she hops onto the platform, happy to be one of the first. praise jesus.] Okay, I'm on.