World Tree MUSH

    As the group pass where the echos of Cocolia and Bronya stand frozen in place, they find a gate, locked by a complex mechanism. March and Seele want to go back to a large construct that looks like a smaller version of the energy hub to see if they can reroute power, Stelle sighs a bit. "We could just cut it open... Talia's got that 'Cuts Everything Sword' right?" she suggests.

    Dan Heng headshakes though. "I wouldn't advise that... we are deep in the heart of the Fragmentum, the terrain around us is not entirely as it appears... cutting the bars could cause a reality tear, or explode into antimatter or something equally suboptimal."

    "Suboptimal he says... urgh, lets go take a look at that energy device... though I have a feeling it won't be the only one we need to find." remarks March with a sigh.

    The sequence of events is fairly mundane, tracking around the twisted streets that haven't been touched by human hands for seven hundred years, reactivating surprisingly still-running devices... finding Fragmentum monsters guarding some of the devices... and then, a weird rhomboid portal hanging in midair.

    Stelle snaps a picture, and sends it off to Welt on the express. "Huh... Mister Yang says this thing is a 'Cavern of Corrosion'... apparently they contain useful relics if you can survive to claim them." she shrugs. "Something to investigate later."

    Talia shakes her head, "I don't think it'd be a good idea." She says, agreeing with Dan. "BEsides, it can't really cut 'energy' per say." The Jedi approaches one of the portals, reaching out and sensing with the Force, to try and figure out just what it is.

    Well Jessica is pretty lost! It's not that the cat is dumb... far from it! But all of this is so far out of her wheelhouse she's now just letting the others figure out the details. In the meantime, she's repacking magazines with ammunition, checking her stores, and so on. "Sounds like it could be a good thing to check out when we're in less of a rush. It's not like everything waits around and doesn't do anything while we run down every interesting rumor."

    "If there is another way, it is best not to use force on a gate like this," Bi De agrees. "Though it is surprising to me how well these devices stay working. I have seen similar ancient devices remain intact for long periods of time... but usually they have at least some maintenance, even if by ritual and not true understanding."

    The portal is interesting. Clara is also looking at it. But rather than poke it and accidentally start a sidequest she moves on for now.
    Svarog has once again cloaked himself but there's no doubt he's nearby.
    Instead, Clara is looking at the big mechanism.
    "It probably won't work until we get the smaller units functioning." She points out. You know. The ones being guarded by fragmentum monsters. ... But I could..." She considers and starts futzing with the big device regardless.
    "Maybe I can perform a bypass and we won't have to deal with all the other units.

>> GAME >> Clara spends an Edge for: Mechanic Skills: Performing Power Bypass Hijinx

>> GAME >> Talia Kyras spends an Edge for: Talia is gonna do some MIND STUFF on the portal!

    It takes a while, but three devices are cycled. The last one is behind its own locked gate, with a big monster guarding it.

    Luckily for the group, they have an expert mechanic on hand. Clara's wizardry bypasses the final lock, and the gate swings open for the group.

    Meanwhile, Talia senses a multiply branching 'path' through some kind of sub-dimension, populated by Fragmentum monsters. Reality is skewed within, making it feel like looking through a kelaidoscope made by M.C. Escher. Thankfully the portal itself is an inert 'doorway', and must be entered to activate.

    Stelle answers Bi De. "Maybe the monsters are doing it." she suggests. It's as good a theory as any, since they're guarding the devices... apparently.

    As the group return to the main gate, to progress deeper, and follow after Cocolia and Bronya, Dan Heng asks a quesetion. "Stelle... can you recall the 'voice' you heard in those dreams you had?"

    Stelle blinks. "Is this really the best time?"
    "Yes, I think it is the most opportune moment... I know you're wide awake right now, but try, please."

    Stelle frowns, then closes her eyes, holding onto Dan's shoulder as she tries to remember, while not slowing the party down.

    <Danger... approaches... You must... eradicate... once... and for all...>

    Stelle's eyes suddenly snap open, "I heard it... the voice knows we're coming, and I think it's trying to warn Cocolia."

    "Speculation: The stellaron on this world, and the one inside of Stelle's body, are resonating together... communicating somehow." states Dan.
    "Huh? Stellarons can communicate? That sounds new." remarks March.
    "Well, there's never been a human who could accomodate a Stellaron within themselves beforer... so in effect, this is a new development."

    "Doesn't this mean we're walking straight into a trap?" observes Seele, frowning. 
    "With Bronya as the bait." agrees Dan with a shake of his head.

    "We can't go back, the only way is forward... even if it is a trap, there's only one thing to do." says Stelle firmly. She looks around at the others. "Spring the trap."

    Talia touches the portal. And it touches HER. She feels like she's seen the TIME KNIFE, like she's everywhere and nowhere at once. Talia witnesses events that have happened, haven't happened, and what MAY have happened if she made a single choice.

    It takes a moment before Talia is jerked back to reality, and she shudders and grips her head. "I...I think we found a pathway, but I'm unsure if we should go through it." She mutters, rubbing her head.

    She is still worried, what did Bronya find? Without backup, her position is likely very precarious.

    "I don't see other options. We need to save Bronya." Talia says decisively.

    "Well if we don't have a choice..." Jessica points out. "At least we know it's a trap, so... someone should spring it first and then we can come in from behind. Instead of all at once, right? But if they're very careful that may mean they can pick us off."

    Clara raises her hand.
    "I will not be springing the trap." She announces. "Mister Svarog says it would be bad for all of your health if I did."

    Hearing Jessica's suggestion, Bi De immediately raises a wing! But first he muses, "Objects of great power often have a connection. Speaking to one another... this does not sound surprising. I wish I knew more about such things, though."

    Then he clears up his volunteering. "This Bi De agrees with Svarog. However... if he is willing, I think that it would be best if I went through with him, as he was hidden. Of all of us I have some of the strongest defenses, and his ability to go unseen will provide great support, allowing me to hold off any attack until the rest of you can come to our rescue."

    Before Talia turns away to join the others, something thuds to the ground behind her, out of the portal. It bleeds off excess energy, shedding motes of golden light as it manifests fully in the 'real' instead of as an abstract conceptual element within the infinite time/space corridor, cleaved eternally by a giant knife. The object, is a gunslinger's shawl, pale leather brown, with a cream-coloured cloth underneath. It's clasped closed by a golden band and buckle, inset with a pale blue-green crystal.

    Stelle, Dan and March look between Jessica, Bi De and Clara. Stelle then shakes her head. "I'll spring the trap... you might be able to tank better, but I hit harder the more damage I take... if I can cave in Cocolia's skull we can end this now." she states.

    The group progress, heading through a few disjointed seeming streets. Like something forced a giant jigsaw puzzle together without caring if the pieces actually fit properly. On opening a smaller gate, past the larger one... more Echos can be seen, climbing the stairs just beyond.

    Dan interjects. "It seems the Fragmentum has as special connection with Cocolia. It's repeatedly generating forms of her image.

    The shawl will be more than welcome. Talia takes it and dons the garment. Ever since she (stupidly) threw aside her cloak, Talia's been shivering out in the city "I can work with this." She says with confidence as she follows the rest of the group.

    "Perhaps it's why she's so obsessed with it. Those who seek power loathe to lose control of it..." Talia muses darkly.

    "Maybe we should let big brother Bi De and Mister Svarog go? It was a good idea, I thought." Clara suggests when Stelle says she'll spring the trap. "Or we can all just go together like usual."

    "Hmm..." Bi De doesn't object to Stelle leading the charge. He offered, and has no problem doing so, but isn't going to take away her moment when she's the one with the Stellaron connection. "Very well."

    As they advance, he also notes, "Perhaps so. Perhaps that is why she thinks she can use it. But is she using it, or is this a sign that she is being used?"

    Jessica agrees, "It's a good idea, but I see Stelle's point of view too." She doesn't have any particular urging that way. She loads a magazine into her pistol and moves on after, hanging in the back with Clara. Both to help protect her, and because unlike Talia, Stelle, and Bi De, she's really more ranged than melee. She's kind of getting used to this.

    As the group approach, Bronya's voice can be heard. "I don't understand... Even if the truth is as you say, every generation of guardian has resisted the call of the Stellaron..." she sounds like she's pleading, almost. "Can all of them have been wrong, mother?"

    Cocolia's tone is a condescending comfort, "Do you still not see, Bronya? There is no right or wrong here. Some of them acted out of pride, others from shortsightedness... all of them human failings." The tone shifts to a disgusted one. "Our ancestors... including Alisa Rand... spent their whole lives trying to prolong this civilisation. Then, after all fell still, their memories were scattered by the blizzard." Her voice lifts again, dogmatic... almost deranged. "They spent lifetimes, writing songs of praise that lauded the bravery of humanity, but couldn't spare even a moment to look to the stars." Her voice dips, reverent. "To those entities of grater magnificence in the heavens above, a thtousand years is but a fleeting moment, the attainments of insignificant beings nothing more than a footnote." Her tone then hardens, anger creeping in. "I shall not follow the guardians' misguided steps down that blind alley of narcissism. If persistance is futile, then one must choose a new beginning!"

    Bronya's tone is unsteady, as if grasping for any kind of philosophical handhold against the avalanche of dogma coming from the older Guardian. "But, Qlipoth the Preservation... Are THEY not one of those Magnificent Entities you speak of? Is it not THEIR strength... that has sheltered Belobog this entire time?"

    Cocolia's echo scoffs. "The Preservation? Has the Preservation ever looked humanity in the eye? Nothing more than an arrogant delusion of the Architects!" Cocolia's tone then becomes smooth, sinister. "You will hear the real voice of magnificence, Bronya... Then, you will understand my choice."

    Passing this echo, the group emerge into what may once have been a Silvermane Guard Outpost. Supplies, barricades, weapons, ripped and collapsed shelters and tents, debris scattered everywhere. Corruption spires grow from the far side, creeping up the battlements like a cancer of reality itself... and a figure floats ominously, cape billowing in the biting winds, a staff held in their right hand... their armour and bearing make them look superficially like a Silvermane Guard or alligned with them.

    Stelle drops another Space Anchor, pulling bottles of some kind of beverage from within and passing them about. "Energy drinks, we may need the boost." she says, eying the figure, who hasn't moved an inch yet.

    Talia hears voices and motions for everyone to keep it quiet while she adopts a more stealthy pace, careful for her steps to be silent as she listens. It seems what they hear is merely a memory, an echo of the past.

    Damn. Only more breadcrumbs to follow. She takes a drink and slams it back like a red bull, drinking it down thirstily. Talia can feel her stats getting a buff, temporarily or not it'll do the job.

    Another echo... Another memory of Cocolia and Bronya passing this way. But then there's also the icy figure in the outpost.
    "Ah..." Clara murmurs.
    "That one looks pretty strong."
    She'll hang back and sip an energy drink.
    ... And be too wired to go to bed, later.

    Bi De will pass on the energy drink, given he isn't sure what it would do to his metabolism. He fluffs slightly, considering the Echo they just saw. "Almost complete. We should be getting close. It does look like Bronya is attempting to use reason but... it also looks like Cocolia is not in full possession of her wits. Perhaps corrupted. I do wish Ri Zu were here now... she was excellent at cleansing techniques."

    No way to be sure they'd work on this, but certainly better than anything Bi De would try.

    Jessica will take one of those drinks, flopping down to take a breather with a concerned expression. "It looks like she may be a victim too. Hopefully we can solve this without killing her." Sure, Jessica wouldn't shed any tears if she were FORCED to kill her, but that doesn't mean she'd LIKE it at all!