@Grandmaster | Audio

[paletteswap]

Greetings.

I'm sure we've all seen Clara's post. Without Doctor Solis no one can be revived, making death permanent and meaning we all must exercise additional caution around our lanterns. It's critical we get to the lab and retrieve the notes that the Doctor left, then perhaps we can bring back those who have fallen or understand more about the portal that was used to bring us here.

I have a vague idea of where the lab is, but it's several hours out and I don't want to have a group of us wander aimlessly looking for it. Does anyone here have a better idea of how to pinpoint it? There's an image of stars taken from the doorway of the lab if anyone knows how we could use such a thing to navigate.

Fjord, could the tunnels you found possibly connect to the lab? Do you know which way they were leading?

Comments

audio

[fjorgedinfire]

I'm, uh. Not terribly sure. Fifteen minutes west and maybe an hour south? We went under the river, so we must've gotten a good bit of distance in, but the path on the other side started spiralling. I'm not sure what direction we ended up heading in, but there weren't any other ways to go.

You think you got any ways to break down those locks, though? Otherwise you ain't getting out of those tunnels.

[paletteswap]

That depends on what the lock is made out of and if destroying it is a good idea. Depending on what's on the other side it might be prudent to be able to close the door and lock it back up.

That sounds like if it does connect to the lab it's in a roundabout way. Hm.

[fjorgedinfire]

Metal an' electronics. Maybe ask Soldat for more info on that, that's about all I can say on it. I ain't too familiar with how it might work.

If we can follow the path overhead, just walk in a straight line on land instead of through the tunnels, we might just be able to find the top half that way. Could be dangerous, though, since it'd probably involve walkin' through the forest.

[paletteswap]

Without knowing whats on the other side of the door, it might be equally as dangerous. So either path has drawbacks.

Through the forest has less of an opportunity to come across bodies, however. Since you've already encountered what's below.

@purin; audio

[flangirl]

Hello, sir! I don't think we've met. [ The voice is young, kind, sugary-sweet and CHIPPER. ] My name is Pudding!

Thank you for organizing this! Clara gave me some information on the facility itself, and some other documentation I don't know how to make out on my own.

I'm also a decent cartographer and navigator, though most of my experience is sea-based. I'd be happy to help draw up a rough map to give an exploration team a better idea of where to head!

And, I've been keeping track of our supplies as much as possible and cooking in The Invincible with Soldat, and I'm an experienced chef, so if you'd like me to make up travel rations for an exploring party, I can do that!

I've also been reading the log book, or what of it's been updated on the network, and there are some notes from the dreamers' excursions in there.

[ She'll attach written parameters, a three-dimensional map, notes on the PORTALEXPERIMENT and a scan of Dr. Solis' whiteboard covered in equations and diagrams. (All of these are publicly uploaded to the network for anyone to see / use / threadjack.) She'll also add the link to the log book. ]

[paletteswap]

[Oh no she's so helpful. He's pretty charmed by all this.]

Hello Pudding, I'm Kuai Liang.

That is a lot of information, that'll be incredibly helpful - thank you. Considering so much of sea-based navigation is done through stars and we seem to be adrift in a black nothingness with only stars to see, that might translate over. A map, even if we have to deviate from it due to terrain, is better than nothing. If you can assist I would be glad for the help.

As for the equations and diagrams and the portal experiment, someone other than me will have to interpret it. That's far out of my area of expertise.

[You can't punch math. But hopefully someone can look at that and see what's going on.]

We shouldn't need rations on a journey of a few hours ... but that said, we can't be sure we won't get lost for days. Better to be prepared and then not need.

[flangirl]

That's what I thought, too - I mean. I certainly hope no one will become lost! But there's also the chance Dr. Solis' tunnels won't open, and the terrain above them is rockier or otherwise ugly and difficult to traverse. A few hours could turn into a long day at least under good circumstances. I'll start preparing some things right away.

[ We'll just not touch on the bad circumstances right here... ]

I have the information I sent to you just now, the map on the network, as well as the - spherical picture? Clara sent to Sora. I can begin with those.

If others who have gone exploring have maps they've made, or estimates on their travel distances, I can use those, too. The more information the better!

[paletteswap]

We've not gone out far enough that way to make sure there aren't rivers to ford either. Which I would probably be able to cross but not get others to the opposite side along with me. For how little we know there could be another lake between us and her lab and the only true access is the tunnels.

[Now he needs to think about bringing rock climbing and river fording gear along with everything else. With the luck they've had there'll be a volcano or something.]

Would you like to be our navigator? Having someone at a home base who could track our location and let us know if we're off track, would be incredibly beneficial.

@Ultra_Magnus, audio

[legalcy]

I received the floor plans for the office. I can attempt to locate Clare's energy signature, but we would have to be close in order to find her. It's difficult when I do not know her species.

[paletteswap]

That'll be helpful once we get there. But getting there will be the difficult part.

How close? I wonder if this is something we could see if she can maybe send out some energy pulse you could track?

[At least he assume she's a she. She also seems to maybe be a computer so he's not really sure.]

[legalcy]

I estimate about 20 feet, but this is only based on my past experiences. I wouldn't depend on it.

@silent | voice

[callada]

The tunnels sound pretty direct if you can work out the password. Shame she couldn't give it over the network, but I guess I don't blame her.

I also saw she said there was a torch there. Have they all been accounted for?

[paletteswap]

A torch and the Doctor's lantern. Neither bode well. Do we know how many torches there were to begin with? Did Rastus track them?

As for the tunnels, there's a chance I could shatter the lock, depending on what it's made out of, but it seems unwise. We'll likely want to close it back up if what's behind there is something horrible.

[Pretty likely given this place. Also if it was that easy he assumes Soldat could have punched it open, but maybe by their powers combined...]

[callada]

I don't know the exact numbers. I'm sure Rastus did. I think we had a hundred to start with but I don't know where they all are now, or how many we have in total. Guess that's something we need to do ourselves, now.

Fjord said the locks were some sort of series of numbered buttons. I'd try to figure out what the sequence is before we start breaking things. Looks like it's from that siege, when a bunch of people fell asleep, and that some of those people saw the lab in their dreams. We had a meeting afterward so everyone could share what they learned, which means either Cao Pi still has the minutes from that meeting, or they ended up at the town hall - oh, and Fitz is the one who saved all the records.

Guess we'd better track him down.

@HK

[catholicisms]

Solis herself said that she used the tunnels are connected to the church. It's a good lead.

( he's ... slightly hesitant to suggest this, but, they are in the middle of desperate odds and even more desperate measures. )

We should try and think of potential codes over guessing. Still, I have ... good senses. I might be able to figure out which numbers she was using. I might even be able to hear the difference between the right button and the wrong one.

Text @ Soldier (sorry Matt :( )

[worthallthis]

I can show you the keypad under the church if you want to try it. I didn't notice any difference in sounds except when the number key was pressed. But you may hear better than I do.

[catholicisms]

( someone else touching it is bound to make it a lot harder to isolate which ones had been pressed repetitively by Solis, but... it's still worth a shot. )

I imagine I do. ( he's not elaborating, but yes, his senses are pretty good. )

It's worth a try. Especially if we can't think of anything else. But I'd be able to get a better read on it before it's been touched by too many others. I'm sure I'd know right away if I can help or not.

[paletteswap]

Did she say why they were locked in such a way? If there's something dangerous down there it would be best to be prepared for it.

[catholicisms]

Not that I remember. I think it was more a matter of protection. She mentioned that past groups were hostile toward her. It makes sense she'd put security measures in place. Not to keep something in, but to keep people out.

Either way, even if there is something dangerous... finding her lab is the best option we have. We should be ready for a fight, if it comes to that.

voice; @bacura

[mellowyellow]

[Masaomi has nothing useful to offer. Absolutely nothing. He is the deadest of weights. Nonetheless...]

I'm going with you guys.

[paletteswap]

This is not an escort mission so that you can continue to flirt with her.

[mellowyellow]

That wasn't just flirting! [Orly?] I promised I'd find her!

voice; @username (A few days later)

[immortalaccursed]

So? Learn anything more about the lab?

[paletteswap]

We've narrowed the location down somewhat, between the chart that Sora received and the map that Pudding was able to recreate we have a fair idea of where it is.

Unless you're inquiring about something else to do with it?

[immortalaccursed]

There are maps? How fortuitous!

I'd daresay we'll know the lab when we see it. Our little AI friend mentioned a torch was visible from the window.

Or you'll know the lab. You're leading this expedition, yes?