[CLOSED] Zahliyaquest...2

[purifier]

Who: Zahliya, Luca, Joshua, Wolfwood, Dipper, Mamika, Siffrin, Loop, & Kiera
What: A gargoyle needs task-doers for character development
When: Mid-August, yes during the rainstorms, good luck
Where: ??? :)
Warnings: Typical Sticks trigger warnings apply, suicide, time loops resulting in multiple character deaths, Wolfwood just shot someone executioner style, more to be added


OOC notes, here is a rehash of your rules:

• Mod tags will come either a) after everyone involved has tagged in or b) after 24 hours have passed since the last mod tag. This means if you are absent for any reason, the thread WILL move on without you.
• Interaction in this log will be redeemable for MAIN AC, not just Bonus AC like most of our NPC threads.
• This questline will shape Zahliya's outcome for the rest of the game, and may or may not result in an almost-full Corruption cure and therefore gamewide impact. I will let people know midway through the quest if he's currently aimed at aggression/confidence/staying in the Grove, or if he's on passive/indecisive/leaving the Grove.
• The old OOC plotting post for this is here!

Comments

[theuniverseleads]

[That booming voice makes them wince, briefly reminded of the King. Oh dear. He sounds mad.]

... Hmm, nope! I'm good, thanks! [Yeah, no, they were willing to give reason a try before but that's not the voice of someone open to negotiations. It would take longer than they have to talk him down from murder. Not worth it!

Different plan, different plan... they turn around to address their party.]

Well, nothing we do here will change the past, but should we still try to prevent his release? You know, since he seems so eager to kill all of us. I don't think he's in a very merciful mood today.

[lupusxylem]

Prevent?

[Didn'tcha hear what Beiwe said?, he thinks. It's inevitable. They can't change the past, right?

But he's reminded of how violently Vash reacted to learning about their soon-to-be future. How hard he tried to find a way to change it. And how it seemed...it seemed to all amount to nothing, in the end.

And yet.

...

Wolfwood sets his jaw, pulling his gun up off his shoulder so he can set it down on the ground in front of him, gripping the skull-shaped gear at the center and twisting it sharply at a 90 degree angle.]

...do you got somethin' in mind?

[leggierissimo]

[ aw. rip to the frog, the poor thing just keeps getting obliterated for science. ]

Well, whatever we do, at least we know how close we can get before getting kicked back to the spawn point.

[ Joshua shrugs, not bothering to spawn another Noise. No point in it, it's served its purpose for now. ]

Personally, I don't see much of a point in trying to stop it. We can't change anything, so why bother? I'll just observe while it all goes down, thanks.

[theuniverseleads]

Uh, really? I could think of a pretty good reason to try.

[They gesture at... not the frog, because it got vaporized, but also that's exactly the point they're making here. Might be a good idea to NOT unleash the wrathful fallen god while they're stuck in this time rift? Maybe??]

I just don't think it'd be that hard to like. Ask them, maybe? The people who come in here and break everything? Ask them not to that?

Or we could just watch! I guess! And then die, probably! Whatever you guys want!

[cryopathy]

[trying to convince the intruders not to do what they... literally have already done sounds like a major waste of energy, but, hey...]

I see no harm in trying. We'll likely die anyway and get a chance to see how it actually happened, afterward. At least in attempting to speak to them, we may learn more of their motivations.

[purifier]

[Alright kids, vote now on your phones: Are we Trying, or are we Dying?]

[lupusxylem]

[Hm. Seems like he might be the proverbial tiebreaker here...

He sighs, heavily.]

While I'm inclined to agree that there prolly ain't a point in tryin' if us gettin' shredded is inevitable, it might be. I dunno. Cathartic?

[He readjusts his gun on his shoulder.]

I honestly don't give a damn at this point. Joshua can keep lookin' at the temple and we can go talk to the caravan freaks. Deal?

[leggierissimo]

[ Once again, Joshua shrugs. ]

Sounds fair to me. Knock your socks off. I'll be back here taking notes.

[ And listening in mentally, if he can. He isn't sure how well that part will work, but he won't know if he doesn't try. ]

[theuniverseleads]

I'd rather try something than do nothing... honestly, that ambivalence isn't healthy. Maybe you all should go to therapy after this. [but not Loop they're normal]

Well, whatever. Maybe we'll unlock a secret cutscene if we try it! Let's see what they have to say!

[purifier]

[Okay I love y'all, the caravan freaks are outside trying to break the doors in. The question for y'all is: How are you going to get outside? Are you going to open the doors or are you going to go out the sunroof in the other room, or,]

[leggierissimo]

[ Well, since the rest of the group wants to engage Team Breaking & Entering out there, Joshua will give them a little hand.

Mentally, of course. Effort? No thank you, he's allergic.

The group trying to break the doors down from outside will receive a simple little mass brain-SMS courtesy of Joshua. It's in his voice, as all mental transmissions of direct thought are, and he's looping the rest of Team Temple in on it, too. Just so they're aware of the massive amount of effort he's putting toward their goal, here. ]

Hey out there. Maybe don't knock down the doors so hard. Wouldn't want to hurt the innocent folks stuck in here, would you?

[sticksandbonesmods]

( outside, callisto is directing the attempts to pry open the locks. except... somethings not right. the trees are too still and something is watching them. but she can't turn back now.

that's what she thinks before something is in her head, talking to her- )

What the fuck.

( one of the lackeys pauses to look at her and she waves them off, turning around and crossing her arms. )

Don't fuck with me. If there were innocents, that bleeding heart Aldric would be here trying to get them out himself.

[leggierissimo]

[ Oho! ]

Well, that's a bit rude, isn't it? You're making some wild assumptions there. And you know what they say about assumptions.

[sticksandbonesmods]

( callisto scoffs with a roll of her eyes. )

The forest is weird, you expect me to take you at your word?

[theuniverseleads]

Take our word for what? You haven't even accused us of anything, silly!

I'm curious! What do you think is going on here? [why are they even here, besides... curiosity, maybe? but it'd be pretty lame of them if that's all they needed to unwittingly release a vengeful god]

[sticksandbonesmods]

( a new voice. what the fuck. )

Sugar, you aren't helping your case. Pay attention to your fellow intrusive thoughts.

[theuniverseleads]

Aww, come on! Humour me! You're the one knocking on the door to an ancient, cursed-looking temple, the least you could do is introduce yourself first~

[sticksandbonesmods]

It's just an old temple in faewoods. Ya set out enough treats and the fae'll overlook anything. ... Or curse a few people, but that's what the lackeys are for. Somethin's worth all the fuss and I'm not lettin' some creepy little fuck in my head stop me.

[theuniverseleads]

You're the type to kick a hornet's nest looking for honey, aren't you?

[They pause, humming thoughtfully. Doesn't seem like she'll be easily convinced... but she doesn't seem to know what she's doing, either. So maybe it's possible?

They look over at their other two party members with a shrug. Well? Any fresh ideas?]

[sticksandbonesmods]

If the honey's gold enough, sure. This is hardly my first time in the depths. Aldric's just overhyped it- spooks easily. And you're just some mindgames to throw me off.

( callisto rolls her eyes again and turns back to check on her crew.

...

...

something's not right. but she can't turn back now. )

[lupusxylem]

[God Wolfwood is so tempted to say something catty to this bitch. He would have if he didn't have the character development to be JUST enough to stop him from being impulsive.

For now.

He doesn't want to muddy the waters by introducing a third voice, so he chooses to keep his silence for now, focusing on listening instead. Of course, he has to trust Joshua and Loop not to fuck this up so like guys just don't fuck it up-]

[cryopathy]

[as established many times, kiera doesn't give a fuck. they chime in with a tone ten levels more condescending than callisto, yet somehow still so deceptively sweet.]

Oh, darling, hornets don't make honey.

[like, they aren't specifically trying to convince her not to break in. they just can't resist being a smartass to the person ultimately responsible for the fucking mess they're all in.]

[sticksandbonesmods]

No shit.

( callisto sighs. )

WHAT is so hard about breaking open an old door? It even has hinges, ya lunks!

[leggierissimo]

[ Tuned in as he is, Josh can hear that! ]

Wow, where'd you learn to break into buildings? Consider me impressed.

Aaaaand a bit curious as to what you're trying so hard to get in here for. Entertain me? More than you already are, anyway.

[sticksandbonesmods]

It's so hard to find good help.

( josh may get passive flickers- the men in the caravan, following her not for coin or any emotional bond but they're useful and think she's attractive, and they've deluded themselves into some sort of loyalty out of it. it's not her favored method, but it works. and if something happens, they make good shields. )

No one knows what's behind the doors. That's what I want.

( answers. the unknown, pried open from even the most hidden relics of the path. )