[Week 2] [Day 315]

[helborn]

Okay, two things. First of all, that raider they found all messed up in the dunes is physically stabilized but probably needs more healing... something seems messed up with her mind. I'm not great at psychic stuff, so if someone wants to see what they can do she's in the Factor tower.

Second - those kids they found today near the Shadow District? I peeked in on what the one who died saw. Some kind of blast at neck range, but there was one of those isopod things on the wall at the same height so I think it distinguishes between sapient minds and not. I don't know if that's helpful for anyone... I can pass the memory on if you want, though... you know. You'd be seeing from the perspective of someone who died, and I know not everyone's okay with that.

Comments

[comebewe]

So it's an actual physical attack? Not just more psychic bullshit?

I don't need the memory, but can you show us what the isopod thing looks like? I've been...thinking of poking around the place a little. It'd help to know what I need to teleport past.

[helborn]

Sure.

[And he sends over an image of a moderately large isopod.]

Though actually... now that I think about it, the guy had ducked down for something and then got hit in the neck. That's probably why he died while the other guy is just unable to walk.

[comebewe]

Thanks.

Thorne's overlay told us that something makes people 'fall to their knees in awe'. So there is some psychic bullshit, clearly. I figure the best way in is to avoid it entirely.

[helborn]

Maybe, but one of them clearly didn't fall. And unfortunately I don't see any ghosts around to ask.

No, clearly it's too much to ask on nearly every Jaunt... I mean I'm glad they're going where they need to go, but...

[comebewe]

Didn't fall? What do you mean?

[helborn]

Well, this guy got hit in the neck because he fell. His buddy got hit in the legs, which would suggest that he didn't fall. Either that or he got hit in the spine but I'm not sure if he'd have lived through that.

[letsgetdowntobismuth]

Not like it can't be both. We can do that now, don't see why they couldn't.

[comebewe]

Huh.

Wonder why he didn't? Maybe he had some kind of mental resistance?

[comebewe]

Maybe.

[they give a bit of a mental shrug]

Either way, we don't plan to get it it's range at all.

[helborn]

Entirely possible. I can check again if we find another corpse.

[helborn]

Possibly, in which case I might be screwed.

[There's the psychic impression of weak chuckling.]

[letsgetdowntobismuth]

I'm heads and shoulders taller than most of you guys, if it knocks me down it'll probably just hit my belt.

[Even her gem is about face height for most normal human teens, she's found.]

[comebewe]

You're planning to go in?

...Hasn't anyone here taught you to protect your mind, yet?

[helborn]

Good, I'll hide behind you.

[helborn]

A little bit. I'm not all that good at it, though.

[There's a ruffling noise before Bob speaks up from his perch in Liminal.]

Kid's an open book in most respects.

No one asked for your opinion, Bob!

[And just cawing laughter.]

[comebewe]

That's something, at least. Still, it...might be good to practice a little. At least in this world.

But if you want to get into the Tower, well. We could take you with us, when we teleport past the security system.

[helborn]

I'd appreciate it. At the very least between me and Bismuth we should be able to muscle through most physical traps.

[comebewe]

Err...

...Well I guess that's a plan.

[letsgetdowntobismuth]

[Bismuth can't help but laugh a bit at that.]

Don't you worry about a thing, Blue. This won't be the worst thing that's ever hit me by a long shot.

[helborn]

And I'll be fine if it gets a limb or something as long as it doesn't dent my false leg.

... I'm still paying off favors for it at home.

[letsgetdowntobismuth]

Fifteen feet's bigger than you think. It can be pretty easy to underestimate how close you think you are.

[comebewe]

We don't want to lose any limbs! I'm very attached to all of them.

[comebewe]

Not if we go up.

Who says we need to go in on the ground floor?

[helborn]

Then stay between us and you'll be okay.

[letsgetdowntobismuth]

You just keep an eye out for anything interesting while we take care of those defenses ourselves!