DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE SHORE

[phantasmods]

The morning of the 9th, everyone will get a message sent to their communication devices -

Okay, guys! I think we have enough stabilizers to try and get the shoreline stable. If you want to help out, grab your supplies and come on up to the roof!

When characters arrive at the roof, they'll find Top - with a wheeling table full of many copies of the same odd-looking device - the two exploratory drones, and a ramp down off the roof to the ground. (The latter looks a little hastily constructed.)

"Okay," Top says, picking up one of the devices. "Here's the stabilizers. Stick them to walls and stuff - mostly out of the way places where they're not going to get knocked off - and then press the buttons along the side."

They demonstrate, unfolding the set of legs at one end of the device before showing the buttons to anyone who's close enough. "Go ahead and take a couple, especially if you've got one of those space-saving inventories going on, I know there's like four of you with those? Strange got some first aid kits together, too, if you want."

Sure enough, another table nearby has the med kits... As well as traditional paper bag lunches, courtesy of Bottom. Don't question it too much.

"We'll be staying back here to keep track of the stabilization progress and work the drones," Top says, "but don't hesitate to call if you get in trouble! We'll send one of these guys down to get you an evac if you need it."

And with that, you're free to go down the ramp... Or to make for the beach however else you might choose to go.

Comments

[riderofcharlemagne]

I guess you don't really need one, being able to fly on your own...

[have_hat_will_travel]

... Well, uh. Okay. Didn't realize this was for a steed, but we can make this -

[CHOMP.]

It is on my stomach why is it on my stomach oh gods get it off!

[Pidonus: Not very good at paying attention. But hey, Astolfo, this might be a good opportunity to get on the eel!]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Astolfo's need to protect and help overrides his, rather selfish, desire to try to tame the eel.

Still, there might be a way to get two birds with one stone.]

Hey, get back!

[He grapples with the eel, hooking his lance under its jaw and holding the other end as he attempts to get on it's wriggling back, attempting to pull its jaws away from Pidonus.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

[That works enough to get Pidonus free, though there's some definite cuts in her - and they're not completely sealing.

Quickly, she backs off, hoping to keep its attention a bit more on her than Astolfo!]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He tries to wriggle onto it's back as he tries to restrain it...

...but in the water it's far too uneven footing, and the eel is just too slippery to get a good hold on, and he falls off it back into the water.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

... I appreciate the idea, but we're gonna need to capture it first! Do you have a net???

[riderofcharlemagne]

Ah...no.

[have_hat_will_travel]

[And it goes for Pidonus again - but this time, she manages to knock it aside with a surprisingly agile kick.]

... Any other ideas???

[riderofcharlemagne]

Nice kick!

[He tries to get between the eel and Pidonus in case it tries to go for her again, which proves a feat due to its considerable length.]

I didn't plan this far ahead.

[have_hat_will_travel]

... Okay, fair, but without a backup plan... We might need to try for a different mount. Or at least get or make some tools first.

[riderofcharlemagne]

Perhaps this isn't working...

[He sighs. Impulsive plans never go well, but will he ever learn?]

We should prioritize getting you safely back to shore.

[have_hat_will_travel]

[Pidonus responded to that by quickly letting her wings out, and moving to get to shore...

For some reason, the eel tries to dash past Astolfo to jump into the air to knock Pidonus out of the sky. A tail grab might be feasible!]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He reaches up for the eel's tail, and grasps it as best he can. The thing is still slippery and wiggly to all hells, so he doesn't hope to restrain it for long.]

Move!

[have_hat_will_travel]

[The grasp is enough to stop it's acceleration and send it flopping into the water, which lets Pidonus get back to shore easily enough.]

Urgh, why does that thing want a taste of me all of a sudden?!?!

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Astolfo attempts to follow suit, making for the shoreline whilst regularly checking back to see if he'll need to give the eel another hit.]

Maybe it thinks you look tasty?

[have_hat_will_travel]

... What makes a woman dressed in all black look tasty to animals???

[She genuinely doesn't know. Or realize she maaaay have just made a double-entendre without realizing it.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

Maybe they think you're some kind of prey.

[Like a shark-surfer-seal scenario.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

... Urgh. I'm just. Going to stay away from the water for now, then, I think...

[riderofcharlemagne]

It's probably for the best.

[He collapses on the sand, soggy, and somewhat exhausted.]

Well, we gave it a good shot didn't we?

[have_hat_will_travel]

... We'll get it next time. A couple more tools and a couple more plans and you can get it.

[riderofcharlemagne]

But of course!

[He grins, no trace of defeat in his face. With this look, you would think they had actually accomplished something.]

I've never been the type to give up, regardless of how wise it'd be to do so!

[have_hat_will_travel]

.... That's. One way to put it.

[Pidonus blinked.]

Nets. They'll be worth adding to the inventory in the future, I think...