Reality Rebellion

#46

There's a loud mechanical noise as the Blue Circle symbol is pressed by Devon's zany goat, and the symbol itself lights up briefly as it is activated. Unfortunately for the group, it was the wrong switch, so the door didn't open at all. Instead, the loud mechanical noise is coming from past it, deeper into the maze, and to the right.

Above them was a sudden scrape and crash, as something heavy landed on the thin, but impenetrable ceiling of the maze.

"Was that you guys opening the door? Or messing up for a second time?" Red growled, though slightly muffled out. He shuffled over, then waited. "Haha, I actually already know. Just a reminder that you are being watched, at all times. Honestly, you should have seen Devon's face when Arty there told him it was incinerated bone back there."

"Now... I think you should probably press another. Maybe get someone other than the goat to choose this time. Now I don't want to make any assumptions, but the dominant race on Pax now looks a bit like him, and man are they stupid. Might even wipe themselves out before you get outta there. We are partially to blame I suppose. They keep wandering into our mouths!"

Red chuckled, and the sound of a thunderclap could be heard.

"Anyway. Best of luck. No pressure or anything!"

#47

The Artifcer was considering isolating and blocking out the specific sound frequency of the red dragon when it finished it's taunting with the sound of thunder. Petty intimidation techniques that were ultimately useless on the Artificer.

Perhaps care wasn't the best option. The Artificer was more than capable of combating anything these creatures could send at it, and they were a single door from meeting it anyway. Perhaps pressing all of the buttons and facing down the hunter was the most efficient option.

Not the safest for the others, no. But then again the Artificer didn't care.

I SHALL PRESS ANOTHER BUTTON, IT IS TIME TO PRESS ON. WE HAVE SEEN THE GREEN BUTTON DELIVER FAILURE, SO I SHALL TRY THE RED ONE.

And with that, the Artificer pressed the red button.

#48

If the Artificers plan was to fully release the creature within the maze and put all of the others at grave risk, then that's exactly what it had just done. Upon pressing the Red Cross the icon on the door lit up and there's another mechanical sound of a door not their own opening, and, quite nearby them too this time.

The Green Plus door, what would have been the correct door, swung open afterwards, revealing a long dark corridor in front of them, and an almost immediate turn off to their right that led to a back wall they could see from their positioning by the door, though whether or not that had a turn off was impossible to see from there.

Lili burst into raucous laughter at this, before eventually managing to calm down enough to say "Congratulations, you've just used up all your tries and my pet can come and hunt you all down now. And he's dangerous, even to you machines"

POSITIONING SYSTEM PROCESSING

UNABLE TO INITIALIZE

MAGICAL INTERFERENCE TOO HIGH

POSITIONING SYSTEM FAILED

Jent · #49

Devon, infuriated that the beast within the maze was let loose, marched past the unlocked gateway. "We actually have to combat the beast? Even if I'm younger, be nice I have some kind of weapon to fight this wretched pet," he vented out. "Now your navigational system is malfunctioning? Perfect. Atrakinti!"

Personality overridden by the command, the goat addressed its summoner blankly. "Handles, jot down every detail of this maze as we go through, at least until Lord-Frizzy Pan gets itself back to order. If we reach a dead end, redirect us to the next corridor," Devon instructed. "Everyone else, run!"

#50

The Artificer began to follow the group, but it was not in a hurry. It was almost relieved, the machine was glad to be rid of the mortals pointless game, and wished to meet the so called hunter in the field of battle.

Blood would flow, and it would be glorious.

#51

((Which way are you guys going? XD. Just straight ahead?))

#52

You walk, or march, through the doorway into the next hall. You can either take an immediate right, or continue to the end of this stretch and travel the left there. You start to hear sounds... it's definitely movement, and it's close. One of these options will likely be more disastrous than the other, as several bad choices gave the monster time to catch up.

[POSITIONING SYSTEM PROCESSING]

Jent · #53

The Artificer in his grand prestige irked the man so. Devon quickened his pace as he flew past the nearest opening and ignored it, going down to the the next corridor. He rather face this beast head on than get sneaked upon from the side, at least then he have a chance.

"No dallying, keep moving!" he hollered behind them, making sure the goat still stayed ahead of them. Spitting out the piece of copal, he clutched it in his hand, eager to see the bend now.

#54

The Artificer casually followed Devon, irked that the mortal continued to give orders to his betters. Still, this was better than the creature cowering in fear because of some unknown beast in the maze. Perhaps Devon wished to face the beast in battle too. This would be... useful.

#55

Turns out going down the corridor is the better idea, as after the left turn at the very end, there's another left to an immediate dead end, a small alcove almost in the side that contained another pile of ash, this time, only on the floor. On their right side there's another long corridor, and simply turning that way reveals something else-there are false doors on the right wall, with one of them swung wide open and the Blue Circle symbol on this door flashing.

Behind them now is the sound of something moving, simply by going forwards it seems they've managed to dodge the monster, for now.

So the question now is-do you keep going forwards, or go for the doors? Or maybe there's something more you can learn from the ash pile?

POSITIONING SYSTEM UNABLE TO INITIALIZE

MAGICAL INTERFERENCE TOO GREAT

POSITIONING SYSTEM PROCESSING FAILED

Jent · #56

Still not blocked by a wall, Devon barreled through the open walkway, spotting the open door close by. "Keep going1" he clamored, punting the little goat past the archway as he followed suit.

#57

The Artificer had to begin taking long strides to keep up with the running mortal. It addressed Devon as it did so, wishing to understand his intentions.

TELL ME, IS IT FEAR THAT QUICKEN YOUR PACE? OR DO YOU WISH TO FACE OUR HUNTER HEAD ON?

#58

Depending on just how smart Handles was, Devon may regret kicking the little goat through the door, for the summons would hit a close by wall hard and slide down it. Followed by Devon, if he didn't check his pace.

The path behind the blue took a sharp left and led into a winding corridor, going left then left then left again sharply, where it sent them now into an overlong corridor, and at the end of that a right, another smaller corridor and then finally leading there to a sharp fork in the path. Here it was left or right?

Jent · #59

TELL ME, IS IT FEAR THAT QUICKEN YOUR PACE? OR DO YOU WISH TO FACE OUR HUNTER HEAD ON?

"I'd rather fight what I can see, not what I can't," he spouted back at the bothersome mechanoid. Clearly, this Artificer sure had the timing to pester him, already limited by this confined space against their mutual foe. The man grumbled as she swayed through the turns, halting at the forced pathway.

Pondering, Devon just went with his gut. "Right as rain," he rambled, bolting to the chosen corridor. Discounting Handles for now, his only means of summoning were his leftover copal pieces. Staring down at the fist holding the glowing rock, he tried to think of a decent means for it as he moved forward.

CaptainParrot · #60

Bulwark huffed in agreement with the Artificer and jabbed its spear at thin air, frustrated at being separated from this unknown enemy.