[Game 21] Through The Train

[arsgoetia]

The marbles from each group are inserted into the pupils in each door. The eyes blink, unnervingly, then seal shut. All at once, the lights dim down in each compartment and fade back to quiet darkness . . . though you still see the occasional spark of magic along the windows and edges of the train.

You still have no electricity, and your magic is still dampered.

You can, at least, proceed through, either back or forward along the train. The compartments are arranged in approximately this order:

[#1 - ??? - Open] - [#2 - Sariel's Group] - [#3 - Elluka's Group] - [#4 - Maon's Group] - [#5 - ??? - Open] - [#6 - ???] - [# 7???]

Comments

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

A disruption effect? And silver, as opposed to the gold we've seen...that seems significant.

It doesn't seem like it will be much use here, in any case.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

"Yeah, I think it's meant to disrupt things. Like smuggling a bomb on the train but probably with less explosions."

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

[nods]

Then we should bring it with us. Perhaps we can use it to stop the train, if we reach the engine.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

"I don't think it'll do anything to harm the train," Hale says. "I think it might be disrupting us."

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

...now that is a different matter entirely.

[examining it again, trying to see if there's anything he can determine about how to shut it down]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

As you examine it, it tries to lure negative emotions out of you. It seems to take them as its fuel.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

[hmm. what if...

instead of that, disciplining his mind and focusing on positive memories, trying to send them instead]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

The object flickers, dimming momentarily.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

[raising his voice to be clearly audible]

Everyone: draw up your most positive feelings and focus them on the artifact. They seem to weaken it.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[troublebrewing]

Really...?

[Robin will focus on the object again, though she's a little hesitant, and focus as hard as she can on the feelings she has for her family--for Kieran, and Tristan, and Sariel, and Elluka, and Sera, and Leo, and Itachi, and Madison, and Kano, and everyone. maximum family overdrive.]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[monere]

What, for real?

[thinks about

stealing old men's band t-shirts]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[bowtiedbones]

Um! Okay!

[thinking about the feelings of SUCCESS whenever she pulls off a big summoning, or just the warm fuzzies of hanging out with her pet familiars]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

"Well, isn't this hokey," Hale says. He closes his eyes and puts a hand over his heart.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

It's harmless to try, and if it fails, I do have a fallback, though it's far more...disruptive.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[ancestuous]

Ah...

[He thinks of waking up to sunlight and a blue sky... He remembers the salvation of another world from Darkness, the joy and relief as things ended well and the people saved.]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

[thinking about afternoons teaching Misaya, mostly, and scenes from his old life, long ago]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[onelastknight]

Does it...?

[ I will think of, a garden, and of hope??? ]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

As you all focus, the orb dims and flickers more and more, a static and sharp electrical-looking wave running over its surface, until finally it goes entirely dark.

It doesn't seem to have fully solved the problem—there's still some degree of powercap, for example. But some of the oppression seems to lift...

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

Everyone who has a phone: your phone starts to buzz and ring.

[bowtiedbones]

If we try to ward it, do you think it would it break the ward or rebound on itself?

[arsgoetia]

"I'm not sure," Hale admits. "Might depend on the ward? If it's disrupting us, it might not even let a full ward get up."

[bowtiedbones]

I'll test it then! A beginner's ward only takes two seconds to make anyways.

[which is just a chalk circle, like a Do Not Cross line, so she's going to draw one of those around the suitcase and its orb]

[arsgoetia]

It doesn't seem to have much effect.

[bowtiedbones]

[well it didn't explode, so

sketching out a more elaborate circle with sigils to reflect magic inwards and others to direct overflow out to pool in other, smaller circles. lots and lots of spirals going on here]

[arsgoetia]

[Still not much effect. But...]