Dark Descent - RPLOG

Participants

• Bleu
• Iao
• Narwen
• Pteryx
• Randel
• Waconet

Date

22/7/2026

Log

(Bleu) Bleu looks between himself, Randel, and Pteryx, and then looks down at his laser pistol. "Well, captain, I mean, I can't make any guarantees, of course. I'm not a physicist. The fabric of space-time is torn... But I'm a priest of Dionysus, so hey, maybe I can pour a few wine libations alongside blowing the heads off any monsters we might encounter... I mean, if there are any monsters."

(Waconet) Captain Eden appears to consider his options as he mulls over the groups responses, while Pteryx's response doesn't appear to leave him hopeful, having Randel's commitment to keep an eye on the moth winged hyena does lend some credibility that this gambit might actually work, and not to mention having such a high ranking priest from a divinity who is, at least tangently, familiar with what they're all up against. "Alright, if you believe you can resolve this crisis, we'll provide what support we can from here." He says, gesturing to both the rifle armed guards as well as medical supplies that the two were starting to unload from crates. "The apparitions will be drawn to any distraction that you may have while you step into the apeiron and while we've discovered that rounds on target are surprisingly effective, they will eventually swarm forcing you to retreat, lest they completely overwhelm your team. Our scouts have reported that the aperitions will try to drag any unconscious away. We don't know where to as in each instance the team was able to fight them off, and fell back to safety with their downed comrades." And with that, Eden dismissed the party to their own plans and the objective of stopping the leak of realties.

As the group departs from the field HQ they are now able to view the park's square in its fullest. The normally peaceful square is now bubbling over with the dark ichor flowing from the fountain. And while it is midday with the sun out, it is inexplicably darker than what feels as normal. The two siren guards stand idle, but with weapons drawn, ready to provide supporting fire should anyone find themselves distracted. The area is mostly quiet, with only the occasional sound of couriers arriving and departing with reports and directives, as well as the rare truck dropping off supplies or sand for more sandbags to be filled and added to the wall which is all that stand between them and the slow ominous rise of the dark pool. Looking over the darkened landscape, Narwen's cobbled together device starts spinning and whirring to life as the duct taped hoover starts spinning the needle and attempts to order packages with two day shipping from a defunct warehouse. But while the order fails to process, the needle does point in the direction of the fountain. Which may, or may not have been the obvious source of the dark ichor as it is jetted up and outwards from the fountain.

(Pteryx) Pteryx really ain't fer them front line fightin! If one of them others get hurt, maybe they could patch 'em up! But they're no stranger ta emergency situations! They're also real easy ta distract though! "Why's this place dark? Shiny sky light looks up!" A lotta guards 'round here... and whatever thingy then science skunk made is makin noises! "What was them thingy fer again science skunk?"

(Bleu) Bleu follows the guards to the square, readying his M4 Carbine, and looking around, with his ears perked as he listens for any unusual ambient sounds. "Yeah, Pteryx, I'm not exactly a fan of the darkness. Honestly, I should probably be more careful, in my condition, and not go in guns blazin'."

(Randel) As the group heads to the fountain, Randel starts to get ready as best as as he can. He puts on a very durable collar on his neck and takes the ID badge from his lab coat and clips it onto his collar. He then takes off his lab coat and puts it in his equipment back, followed by his baggy jean pants. In the process of disrobing his form shifts to that of a wolf. Not a particularly muscular wolf anthro, but a young good looking one, on par with native Fairhaven forms. He looks almost naked as his body suit shifts to match his fur color and texture, on top of his assets showing. Though, to some he very well could! Out of reflex he summons up his Nanomagic to create an illusion around himself, one that seems to best fit what the onlooker expects to sees. There is a feral look about his furry and muzzled face, but that fades as his claim demeanor comes back.

(Narwen) Narwen , gizmo balanced on his broad back, pads towards the sandbag wall and peers over it. "RSX security are great for beating up ferals and setting up perimeters, but I wouldn't trust 'em to solve a quadratic equation, let alone analyse a spatial anomaly. When they said black goo, I just assumed slimes had backed the sewers up again. But this is for real," he continues, gesturing at his device as though that made it obvious. "Spacetime isn't closed, and there's a, uh, discontinuity in the fountain. How to fix it, though?" He shakes his head. "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's a magical problem, and that it's going to need a magical solution. If there's a portal in there, are we closing it? Going through it?" He absently takes out a specimen jar and begins fiddling with it, but is defeated by the childproof cap.

(Waconet) The two siren guards from before are still posted nearby and are ready to provide any amount of support they can, if the amount of support is that of taking shots at any apparitions that appear nearby. The captain did say that they were effective at that so, the group should be fine. Probably. Bleu's caution is well rewarded, as with anyone examining him carefully would see he's about a week away from being due, and would probably need some help getting over the barrier anyway. The two siren guards take a glance over at the transforming Randel, but promptly disregard what they are seeing. That's not the wolf boy they are looking for anyway. The specimen jar sits within Narwen's paws idly, as if stubbornly refusing to open due to the money that the science skunk owes it for the last sample he used it for. The pool idly sits by as the fountain looms darkly ahead in the square. No anomalies in sight at the moment, but there's always the chance of a surprise.

(Pteryx) Pteryx thinks all them Bleu's money can sure buy 'em a lotta weapons! "Purdy hard ta see in them dark!" It would be real inconvenient ta try stitchin or bandagin folk in the dark! But always good ta have a flashlight! Speakin o' flash though, them shifter starts ta disrobe?! The moth winged hyena can't help but stare at the sight 'fore seein Randel turn inta sum sorta wolf form... purdy easy on the eyes a form at that! Quite a view ta appreciate!

Pteryx just looks completely confused at whatever them words the science skunk is sayin, they ain't smart 'nough ta comprehend all that! But magic solution fer magic problem makes sense! Shame they ain't know magic! Actual magic anyhow! Hmm, turnin ta them guards, they may as well wonder! "Any of them medical supply thins ya can spare fer whatever sorta trip we're doin? Ain't sure where are how we're s'pose ta go... sumwhere, though! But luck favours them prepared!"

(Bleu) "Fortune favours the bold," Bleu replies to Pteryx. "You're better read than I expected. Pliny the Elder famously uttered those words as he stood on the beach at Misenum, facing the full fury of the exploding Mt. Vesuvius, in 79 AD." The satyr ahems. "Sorry, I was a history major in college. ANYWAY." He checks his gun, then peers over the sandbags. "Can I get a little help over here?"

(Randel) The somehow not all that interesting and plain looking wolf boy walks up to pool with focus, starring into the inky abyss-like goo. "So this is how we enter?" he asks as he tests the goo with a claw-like hand, "I guess I'm ready when others are. I'll hold back a bit just in cause someone loses focus." His ears swivel back, listen for the rest of his team as he keeps an eye on the goo, and has claw-like hands open and looking to tear into something.

(Narwen) Narwen looks at the strange black substance with some trepidation as Bleu clacks up beside him. "We're going to end up in that, aren't we?" he mutters. "Ah dammit." He can't lend the heavily pregnant satyr a hand, but he can carry him: Narwen lowers himself loaf-style while Bleu slides on board next to the gizmo, then gets back to his feet and steps easily across the barrier, giving an extra little high-step as his hind legs go over. Once they're in, the skunk beast sloshes his way through the viscous liquid, shivering in discomfort as the fur at his ankles gets tugged at. "Well, let's at least try the obvious thing first, in case this is the one time it works," he says as they approach the fountain. "Brace yourself, nanite density's going to drop."

(Waconet) Pteryx starts to see something rather interesting happening with Randel, but is oddly confused, and realizes that there's nothing interesting about the transforming naked wolf boy, even before Randel mentioned that he's not interesting to look at, as the wolf's illusion nanomagic seems to take perfect hold of Pteryx's sight. Randel's proverbial testing of the water reveals that the temperature doesn't quite register. It's not ambient with the air, and yet, not hot or cold either. It's as if the temperature just doesn't seem to exist or matter within it. It's not uncomfortable, it... just /is/. As Bleu straddles upon his new noble skunk steed, the unsettling effect of nanite depletion his the center of the fountain, it sputters for a moment, but the flow returns to its previous normal rate, as if not a product of the local nanite bubble. But as you step into the pool, the errant thought of what it would be like to actually have Bleu ride on top of you at an actual pony show?

And with that bit of distraction, a single apparition appears before the group.

(Pteryx) Pteryx ain't got a clue what them Bleu meant! "Just hear folk say that a LOT when workin with emergeny situations, sorta ma job ta help with them sorta situations! Folk that're prepared ain't need as much fixin as folk that weren't! Ain't sure... whatever them hist tree stuff is!"

Wonderin ta how they would enter with them wolf boy wonderin 'round, the hyena gets an answer quick enough as them science skunk gets mounted by Bleu! Not the usual sorta mounted they think of! Less sex mountin more transportin mountin!

Them Randel wasn't that interestin a view after all! But what would be is sum sorta... shadowy thin? The mothly hyena ain't really sure what ta make of it? "Huh, where'd ya come frum feller? Ya uh, lost or sumthin? Is this fountain like yer home? Sorta makin a mess of them park with it leakin! Ya need a plumber or sumthin?"

(Bleu) Bleu settles onto Narwen's back, with a chuckle. "Hey, thanks, dude. I wasn't sure how I was gonna waddle over that there sandbag barrier." He gets comfortable, then peers back at Pteryx. "One of these days I'm gonna lock you in my bedroom and spend hours teaching you hist-o-ry. No sex, just a LOOOONG history lesson. With a slide projector..." Is he joking? But there's no time to care about that now, because suddenly a weird...thing, appears, and all at once the satyr readies his M4 Carbine. "We gotta hostile!" He points the weapon at the apparition, finger on the trigger. "Should I shoot?" He looks over toward Randel. "Any suggestions?"

(Randel) Randel keeps watch of the goo as he listens to the rest of his team enter. However his ears perk up when hearing something about nanite density going down and then makes a very uncomfortable grunt, as if splashed with a cold glass of water. "Fuck-" he growls under his breath, "It's magic, not nanites." His illusion collapses and shows him as he is, a good looking, but very much covered wolf anthro with a hoody of sorts. He glances around to see how the entery is going, but then sees a shadowy figure form. He then growls and moves to intercept it, making note to not get into the line of fire of the two guards. As he gets into position, he hears the satyr shout out the warning. "I'll pounce as soon as you shoot! Shoot if it acts hostile." he barks, squatting down and getting ready to leap.

(Narwen) Narwen shivers as an intrusive thought runs through his mind, then shakes it off to focus on the nanomagic. It doesn't seem to be helping, sadly, and it's probably not a good idea to suppress the team's nanite powers and healing if there's trouble coming -- not to mention, it's uncomfortable as heck -- so after waiting a few more seconds he shuts it off again. "All right, plan B!" he calls, then turns his head back to Bleu. "You got a plan B?" He takes a couple of cautious steps, putting his forepaws into the basin of the fountain, while circling away from the spectre.

(Waconet) As the group considers their actions, and Randel rallying the guards with an order, the two sirens readied their rifles and the moment Narwen stepped clear of the shadowy figure, they both opened fire on it. The first one getting a solid hit but the second siren missing, sending the shot harmlessly into the murky depths. The apparition seemingly unphased by the impact, floats over to the skunk and takes a swipe at the previously distracted scientist.

(Waconet) The figure swipes its ghostly claws at the beastly skunk, only for it to show even further, beyond being hit by physical bullets just a moment before, that despite appearances, its still quite affected by the physical realm as its claws bounce harmlessly off of your armored rainbow pants.

(Pteryx) Pteryx ain't ever been the academic sort o' lad, just spendin hours in sumone's bedroom without so much as givin 'em a handy ain't sound too fun! Other matters goin on ta wonder too much on that though!

Not very friendly them shadow thin is! Pteryx ain't no fighter, so they oughta look fer cover! Behind them guards? Or Randel and Bleu seem ta be ready fer fightin? But then shadow critter is on Narwen with Bleu on top o' em... Welp! If them shadow critter's ain't playin nice, neiter will this mothly hyena... well, rather them others if they can do this right! They wanna attack, let's see how they deal with a riot! Takin a deep breath, Pteryx rants and raves with a boomingly loud voice! "Hey shadow critter! We ain't hit ya first but ya go fer them science skunk! And yer flood them park with them weird soup! If yer itchin ta make a mess, hope ya ain't mind gettin cleaned up with it! Bleu's armed ta the teeth and them Randel's got a lotta shiftin tricks! And I ain't think they're just gonna stand while ya do all that! So clean up on isle you!"

(Bleu) Bleu looks down at Narwen. "Plan B? I've barely even formulated a Plan A, yet!" He holds onto the skunkbeast, and grits his teeth, staring at the monster as it makes a swipe at Narwen. "OH NO YOU DON'T! NO MORE MR. NICE GOAT!" He squeezes the trigger off his gun, popping off three rounds in quick succession, aiming for the center of the creature's mass, but not really having a good angle to aim at the moment, so he cannot be sure if he actually made contact.

(Randel) There is a feral growl as Randel taps into his form's behavior, leveraging its drive to protecting 'his pack' but still waits for the shots to be taken before attacking the interloper. Years of being shot while in the field, being mistaken as a feral, has made him acutely aware of lines of fire. There is an mean wolfish smile on his face when he hears the smack talk from the hyena. Wanting to drop this unknown thing fast, he goes all into his attack, pulling up a focused rage as he darts towards the dark figure. He is about to go for the thing's throat, but the rational part of his mind says that it might not have working anatomy given how it reacted to the bullets, and steers for center mass. Two claws aim for whatever chest the shadowy figure has, backup with a bloody minded will of removing it from this reality.

(Narwen) Narwen shakes his head, startled for a moment that these shadowy things actually pack a physical wallop. Before he even realises what he's doing, old instincts kick in and the skunk beast roars, fur and tail puffing out. He suddenly seems much bigger, lunging forward at the apparition and swiping with one heavy forepaw, long claws slashing across the ghost to knock it off balance before his jaws close around where its neck would be with a vicious snap. He dances back after the attack, growling, body automatically starting to line up the next shot...

(Waconet) The party fights back fiercely at the ghostly figure, but each time they think that they have a sure fire hit, it gleefully dances out of the way as if to mock their every attempt. But as the guards fire at it again, it calls back to the party, "My, my, what such a delectable group you are, you should all join me inside." It giggles gleefully "Or don't it matters not because in your riotous rage you were all focused on me, you forgot to look over each other~" The shade then submerges into the depths of the pool only to pop back up a moment later, along with two more figures who were holding onto none other than Cinnabun. Then all three drag the chocolate bun over the lip of the fountain's lip and dive into it. Pteryx hears the alluring call to follow in after them, to join them in the depths of... something he can't quite make out, but he knows he wants it.

(Pteryx) Pteryx needs ta catch their breath after all them rantin and ravin, they could've oversold it, but they ain't no fighter ta judge how others fight too much! Them commotion might just be what they need ta look fer a spot ta duck fer cover in! If them shadow critter ain't too angry at their words ta target 'em directly anyhow!

Seems them critter can speak! They could understand them?! Oh heck... Seein more shadow critters, they seem ta got... Them bun frum earlier?! And they're draggin 'em inta the weird soup! ...why do they think them soup is weird.. It ain't actually that weird at all! They sorta hear sumthin comin frum it, maybe there are more folk in there other than them bun! Are they missin out on sum sorta party down there?! They ain't wanna miss out on that! Maybe them bun just got their invitation in advanced! No point waitin 'round and missin all that fun! Runnin towards the fountain, they jump up, flappin their wings inta the sky! "Cannonball!" They'd yell 'fore rollin themselves in ta dive straight in!

(Bleu) Bleu bellows out an angry yell when his shots miss, and then he has to hold on tighter as Narwen lunges at the monster. The satyr is readying another shot when the monsters speak up, and then reveal... "A HOSTAGE! GET YOUR PAWS OFF OF HIM, YOU DAMN, DIRTY...uh...Apes?" His angry retort kind of sputter out at that point. He huffs. "Nar... CHAAAAARGE!" May as well follow Pteryx to rescue Cinnabun.