tampered | EXPEDITION PLOT | breaking through

EXPEDITION PLOT | breaking through

When; Backdated to September 4th.
Rating; R for swearing and violence. :)
Characters; Luke fon Fabre (

chosenfake) and his team of merry men (and women): Asch, Guy, Jade, Tear, Dean, Sasuke, Yuri, Dave, Rose, and Katara. And Klarth. And whoever else I'm forgetting.
Summary; TIME TO PUNCH OUT CTHULHU.

| DAY 1 | A Desire To Be Free
{some music}

[The sun is shining, the water is calm, and the sea is wide open. The shape of a large ship, complete with tall masts and huge white sails, rests offshore. Two rowboats sit in the sand, manned by rugged-looking sailors that don't really want to talk to anyone.

The Poseidon's Spear is surprisingly comfortable for something without any engines. Considering how unreliable technology is, and how bad Luke is at dealing with it, this is probably the safest bet. It has a wide deck and plenty of tiny places to get lost in. A sculpture of a fierce sea dragon clings to the front of the ship, daring anyone to mess with it.

Men and women sleep in separate, back-to-back rooms, but they're about as roomy as a summer camp cabin. And just as bunked. Storage is packed (but still has room for your character's things), the dining hall is relatively large, and the best view is from the captain's quarters. There are portholes scattered across the sides of the ship, but no cannons to be found. Part of the deal was that Luke's group would protect the crew.

There's still a little time before you set sail. What will you do?]

[ooc: ~~Please wait until I get all the sections up before commenting!~~ Okay, done!

Threadhop/threadjack to your heart's content. Thread order for the BARRIER SECTION will be first come first serve. Please jump into the AIM chat @ polyfieldtrip if you're tagging in so you know what's going on!]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Explore the ship, try not to get seasick, make fun of sailors, or just talk amongst yourselves before everything starts off.]

[The barrier shimmers ahead, a nearly invisible wall in the air, detectable only by the delicate instruments some people brought aboard.

With the help of the sorcerers in the party, an extremely complicated magic glyph has been drawn across the deck of the ship. Everyone who's contributing to the barrier's energy flow has a place to stand on it. At the forefront stands Luke and Asch, one hand each on the Key of Lorelei. For the moment, the boat has been stopped.

Luke glances around him, trying not to show how much he's shaking.]

Is everyone ready?

[ooc: please join the AIM chat @ polyfieldtrip if you're tagging in! This is for the people taking down the barrier.

Also, music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTl_hWZt8DA).]

Edited 2011-09-05 19:45 (UTC)

[The barrier has a hole! Good job! Everyone is scrambling to recover after that nasty surprise, however. A rowboat is poised to lower into the water.

Luke turns to face everyone, grimacing against the roar of electricity, the fierce wind and salty tide.]

If you need to go back to the City, get in the rowboat. Everyone, brace yourselves! We're going through!

[ooc: hey look more music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3XQXRhREb0).]

Edited 2011-09-05 19:46 (UTC)

[The barrier crackles with electricity and heals itself back up, leaving no trace of interference. The dim shape of the rowboat disappears as the expedition crew drifts further from shore.

The crisis has passed. There's no turning back. The weather bodes well for the journey, at least. Just a wide span of beautiful ocean and blue, cloudless sky.

Time to take a deep breath and thank your non-City deities.]

[ooc: You can make your own aftermath logs, thread here, or post to the Network, though beware that transmissions can be a bit shaky outside of the barrier. :) Have fun playing with that.

And because you probably didn't see this coming, music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT_qUOTxtuI)!]

Edited 2011-09-05 19:47 (UTC)

[The elusive ~leader~ can be found near the back of the ship, running through his mental checklists, knuckles whitening around the railing. He's pensive, but ready to put on a smile for everyone but himself.]

[It's not like Asch is trying to sneak up on the replica. He quietly approaches until he's a comfortable distance from the replica's side.]

What're you doing, hiding in the back like this?

[Somewhere in some small, still rational part of Rose's brain, there's a concern over just how useful she's going to be in destroying this barrier. Yes, she had some incredibly powerful magic at her disposal in the game world but she knew the City had dampened that somewhat and even at its height it had never been ritualistic.

Still, she had to try. At least she could channel her confusion and anger over her brief return home into something relatively constructive. She glances across as Luke, a stoic nod her only response]

[ooc: having trouble getting into the chat but here be Rose!]

[Rose arrives promptly, a small bag containing those possessions she couldn't send down sooner. She's also carrying a couple of blankets she finished the night before. What can she say, knitting soothes her.

Luke, naturally, is her first stop]

So, this is it. How many of us are we expecting?

[Of course he's not trying, but Asch's voice startles Luke out of his thoughts nonetheless. He wasn't expecting Asch to find him. Guy, maybe, or Tear, but... not Asch. His warm wash of gratitude is followed by something colder, like guilt, and then embarrassment.]

Asch...

[He looks away, touches his arm out of self-consciousness. He's shaking. He doesn't want the others to see him like this. Especially Asch, but-- he tries to sound lighter than he feels, anyway.]

You don't look worried at all.

[He straightens immediately, not wanting to look as down as he's feeling.]

Yeah, this is going to be our home for a little while... [He pauses to run down the roll call in his head.] One person is going back to the City after the barrier goes down, so that leaves us with eleven on the trip.

A not insignificant number, then.

[Certainly beat the four she was used to. She gives the ship a once-over, forcing down the mild anxiety over what they were about to do. This could prove to give answers everyone wanted, and it was down to her to help]

I hope no-one gets seasick.

[He's looking out toward the distance as if searching.]

Why should I be worried?

[Lies; of course, he's worried. But there's no point in admitting that to the replica, who seems anxious enough as it is.]

We knew this was going to be dangerous. There's no point in worrying about it now.

[He pauses briefly here before quickly adding the following.] And there's no turning back, either.

I know. [His smile hardens into a faint frown. He touches his temple.] But there's something else I haven't told everyone.

[He doesn't look at Asch.]

I'm not supposed to use my hyperresonance.

It's a little bigger than what I'm used to.

[That little remark makes him smile halfway.]

Seriously. I don't want to send anyone back because of something like that.

[Dean is trying to find places to store the mass amounts of weapons he's brought. He's probably going to go for stuffing the duffel under the bunk as best he can. You can catch him in the men's cabin doing just this. Once that's done, he'll explore as well, so bump into him walking about the deck. He's never really been on a boat like this before.]

[Holy crap that was a shock and it leaves Dean rubbing that spot on his chest just over his heart. He's been shocked like that before and it's not a good feeling. Once he recovers, he'll help get people in the rowboats settled and then go retrieve the weapons he stored earlier so that he can be ready for whatever lies beyond the barrier.]

[Luke is barely finished speaking when Asch spins and yanks the replica up by the fabric around his shirt-collar.]

Is that your plan for getting back home!? Leading a group of people on a dangerous trip and then abandoning them by dying!?

[Oh, hey, this again. Not like he isn't expecting it, but he's terrified for a faint moment that he might fall into the water. Luke doesn't know how to swim that well even after all this time. Not that he would blame Asch for throwing him in. Luke knows he's been an idiot about this, but he just...

He bites his bottom lip and stares back at his original.]

Asch. [Slowly, very slowly, he reaches up and places his hand over the one yanking him up.] I'm not turning my back on anyone... especially not you.

[There's some trace of pain there, and then he looks away. He's felt and seen Asch die not once, but twice.]

It's just that I'd rather risk my life doing something than wondering if I'll last until tomorrow.

I need to make this time count.

Likewise. But then, it is rare that I have been embroiled in something that required so many others to assist.

[And a matching smile]

Perhaps it might have been a pertinent question to ask of those who signed up?

You idiot! Was all that talk about going back home just a lie?

[Asch feels betrayed. He's the one who's supposed to die. Not the replica.]

Did you forget Van was here!? [Even though it's been a while since Vanhas been ~~dropped~~ seen in the City, this is still as real a threat as ever to Asch.] I thought you took care of him!

And how are you supposed to go back home if you die here!?

[Yuri hisses as he recovers from the shock - hair thankfully still in place - staring around curiously at the World Beyond the Barrier. It's not what he expected at all, but maybe that's a good thing. Smiling, he stands tall, hand on hip.]

Nice job, everyone.

[Pulling out his communicator, he sends Flynn a quick message.]

Ah... [He didn't mean to sound like he was a hero or anything.] Yeah. No one really sets out to save the world or anything. A-at least, we never did.

[His nervous smile fades, replaced by a blush. That's actually a smart idea. Too bad... Luke isn't one for smart ideas.]

They had the chance to say something when I told everyone we were getting on a boat.

[Exhausted by the use of his hyperresonance-- and shocked that he's still alive-- Luke slips to his knees, panting.]

We did it.

[He's shaking and sweating and wet and scared, but immensely relieved and excited.]

We did it!

[This again. Luke tries to pull away.]

Asch, I wasn't lying to you! The deities brought Master Van here because they can do that. They can bring dead people back to life like it's nothing!

I don't want to die. But my fonons are separating because of what happened at the Tower of Rem, and-- I don't know how much longer I'll last. If I sit around in the City, I'll definitely never find a way home.

[He sucks in a breath through his teeth, trying not to get swept up by his anxiety. And then something occurs to him. The frustration drains from his face, replaced by shock.]

Are you... trying to protect me?

Edited 2011-09-12 11:11 (UTC)

No, I suppose most don't.

[And a slight knowing smile]

That is true. However, that rather assumes people were paying attention to that particular aspect.

[Her subtle trolling really gets to him. He's still blushing as he looks away, rubbing at his arm.]

I just hope they speak up before we leave.

[Hey, she's just trying to help! Sort of]

I'm sure they will. And if they don't, that's their responsibility.

[Sasuke was just keeping to himself right then at first he came aboard the ship.

He just hoped something useful would come of this since this was definitely different than the previous attempts he'd heard about. Feel free to run into him as he explores]

[Recovering from what just happened, Sasuke looked around at his new surroundings. He wasn't sure what to expect but he was curious as to what was here since they made it past the barrier] Huh, so that actually worked.

[He throws his replica at the deck's hard surface, looms over him, and glares.]

WHO SAID IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH PROTECTING YOU!? [The bitter desperation in his voice all too clearly speaks otherwise.]

No one told you to sit around wondering if you'd last another day. I said I'd come on this mission.

[Asch is expert at keeping things on track here...]

There's a group of people who're following you, too, even though others think we shouldn't be doing this at all. If you're leading them into this, you should be the one leading them back out!

[Luke yelps as he's tossed against the deck, but he's okay. He supports himself on his elbows, ready to get up at a moment's notice. Of course, it's kind of hard when Asch is RIGHT THERE and insisting on intimidating the hell out of him.]

Asch...

[Maybe it takes a little pushing around, but Luke does finally get the sentiment. It's nothing new, but sometimes he needs reminding that Asch... wants him to live.

Luke needs to live.]

I know. [One of his hands forms a fist against the deck as he looks away.] Sorry if I made it sound like this was some kind of suicide mission.

... Can I get up now, or are you going to throw me overboard?

...

[Asch can't help wondering how stupid his replica is. Why else would he dump the replica onto the floor? He seethes, slowly exhaling frustration through gritted teeth.]

If I wanted to throw you overboard, I would've done it already.

[He turns away, contemplating as he looks out toward the distance but seeks nothing in particular. He's decided--he has to do everything he can to make sure the replica doesn't die. Somehow. If he's planning on using his hyperresonance, then Asch has to make sure he's nearby. He... can afford to lose a few more seventh fonons to make sure the replica survives.

It'll be alright.]

[Luke gets to his feet, brushes himself off, and stands beside his original. Not close enough to touch, but still enough to be felt. He watches the ocean for a minute, then rests against the railing, his arms like a pillow.]

This will be the first time we've ever done something like this. Whenever I asked you to join us in the past, you refused. I wasn't ready for it back then, anyway... I didn't think I could finish anything.

[He trails off, gloveless fingers tightening into his sleeves.]

A lot has happened since then. You probably think I'm stupid for feeling like this, but I'm still really happy you came.

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EXPEDITION PLOT | breaking through

RALLYING THE TROOPS

SETTING UP THE SPELL

THE BUBBLE BREAKS

BEYOND THE WALLS

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