abraxasooc | EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 1)

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EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 1)

Event #12 - COORDINATION (1)

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[ always nice to have enthusiasm, even if cas is entirely distracted, looking back and forth from geralt's hair to nero's hair. is there another surrogate child geralt's acquired? and if they're only adopted, how do they keep ending up with the same hair? anyway, monsters. ]

Sure. But the current idea is... not to kill it. [ Cas looks to Geralt for verification. ] Right?

[ not that cas wouldn't love to kill it off completely, that'd be the most ideal option, but they aren't in much of a situation for try-try-again, without any reliable way of healing up or replacing resources in between. ]

Unless you have a means of keeping the body from disintegrating after? We could try burning, but we're all at a fraction of our powers, and the fight isn't without risks. [ hence: acid burns. ] How many times are we willing to risk mortal wounding with depowered healers for the sake of trial and error?

[ impaling them with the claws may be a good option too, assuming they aren't immune to the toxins they carry, but again - if it doesn't work, how many times are we going to try this? ]

Edited 2023-02-26 20:05 (UTC)

Mm-hm. [ Yes. Confirmed. No killing. He sympathizes with Nero. Geralt, too, prefers his monsters dead, but in his experience the best way to put down a beast that refuses death and is capable of reforming is to burn it to ash.

They do not have a means to produce a fire that will burn it to ash. At best, they can char the corpse. Unhelpful.

Besides, they've still got the option to kill it once it's trapped. If it seems on the verge of breaking loose, they can stab it then. ]

Best to trap. [ Geralt steps forward. ] We need a lure. And somewhere to hold it. Within a tunnel, perhaps.

[ Shoving it down a pit would be better. Regrettably, they're already all in the pit.

He nods at Nero. ] You'll help?

[Don't you dare say it.]

If the point is keeping it from coming back, I'm just saying. Anyway, I'm willing.

[To be fair, this is the first time in his life he's ever had to worry about, uh. Healing. So that's... a thing. Not that Nero was about to volunteer anyone other than himself for -- Burns. He might not be feeling one-hundo-percento, but how're a bunch of dime-store cultists going to stop him from healing?

He considers Geralt's insistence. Trap, then. He nods.] I was born to be bait.

[ castiel resigns himself to be forever perplexed by the mystery of geralt and his somehow all white haired protégés. (do they start out with white hair and that's what gravitates them to him, or does he dye them after??) complex thoughts going on here while the other two verify trapping. ]

That does still leave us with the issue of closing it in. The rocks we weighted the net down with weren't enough, and it nearly overpowered each of us last time.

[ granted, they're both at a sliver of the power they should have, but point still stands. they'll need something heavier than any one or even two of them can lift to keep this thing contained. ]

We'd need something that takes at least three or four of us to move, and how do we keep the creature in the tunnel while that's underway?

[ unless they can somehow collapse a cliff from above, without crushing the monster inside, or opening up another way for it to tunnel out. ]

[Mat might regret this. In fact, he's sure he'll regret this. And most of his is screaming at himself to stay seated and shut up....

But he doesn't.]

...I know how to trap things. Bet we could rig something that'd keep it held long enough to close it in proper.

[ Steve's been listening with rapt attention since Castiel first started speaking, observing the plan slowly developing as everyone throws their thoughts in. Despite what some people here might think, he's happy to fall silent and simply listen to others in situations like this, his strategic mind hard at work but waiting for the right time to actually speak up.

It seems like they're all more or less on the same page when it comes to this monster needing to be trapped to ensure their safety, even if the acolyte's intentions for them are still unknown. They'll all sleep better if that thing is out of commission. ]

Aloy and I found something. A tunnel that's seen better days. [ He looks at Geralt here, the one who'd mentioned a tunnel before, before gesturing to Aloy to add her two cents. ] We might be able to trap it in there, and if any sort of heavy lifting is needed, I'll do what I can.

[ His enhancements aren't working as they should, but that's the case for everyone, so he doesn't think he needs to specify. ]

It's a tunnel, so we'll have to block it from both ends.

[Although given this crew, that doesn't seem like it will be the difficult part. The hard part will be luring it inside.]

But it seemed pretty unstable, when I explored it. Wouldn't take much to collapse the whole thing.

[They'd lose access to it, but maybe it's worth the risk.]

[ soon, their group of three becomes five, and this is beginning to look like it could work with news of steve and aloy's newly discovered tunnel. cas rolls the plan through his head, trying to imagine all angles that might go wrong. ]

We'd risk killing it with the collapse, but if the rock fall is short and controlled enough, it may just compress. Perhaps if we temporarily fortify both ends, attach vines to the structure, and pull them free once the creature's inside?

[ cause a collapse at both ends, leave it squished somewhere in the middle? either way, they'd know in a handful of hours if they'd accidentally killed it. but how to get it in there, and keep it in there, long enough to collapse it.

A very, very terrible idea occurs to him. He's clearly reluctant to ask, but live bait is better than dead. ]

Can any of us... crawl very quickly?

[ and is possibly batshit insane. ]

[ Coordinating teamwork is frankly not Geralt's expertise. Or rather, isn't in his interest. He lets Castiel take over once he's said his piece, curious if anyone can arrange a plan that'll work.

Thus far they have a hole in the wall, vines, and a question as to how quick someone can crawl. Not particularly promising. But it is a start. Not like the creature is going anywhere. Still skittering above, he presumes.

He watches the exchange for a while longer. Mm. He doesn't think they can determine what to do with this supposed tunnel or how to block it off until they examine it for themselves. ]

Where is the tunnel?

This way.

[She remembers, even though it's getting harder and harder to keep track of things down here, especially time. This tunnel, however, was memorable if only for the skeleton she pulled out of it, so she leads the group over and peeks in to confirm.]

Seemed unstable, when I went through. Like it could collapse easily, if you're not careful.

Heeey, Aloy! Nice find.

[Yeah, they're close friends, obviously. You guys should be jealous.

And like he told Steve, no way she'd be soup. And no way she'd sit around with her thumb up her ass, either. It doesn't surprise him at all, a few days in, that this is the group stupid enough to plan on this sort of shit.

For the good of all the pit people.

To Castiel, Nero is serious when he answers:] Not exactly a rock climber aficionado, but I can move fast when it matters. [Not as fast as usual, as he should be, but he's not the only one. Either way, this is important. He gets it done, or he doesn't. He's not a worrier.

When they all gather around to look into the tunnel like it's a particularly fascinating bit of geography, it doesn't... confirm anything. It's a fucking tunnel. If he trips dramatically at the last moment and doesn't make it out, then he better be real comfortable kissing some claws.] I wasn't playin' about being bait. But I'll bring in a body if you want. Whatever keeps it distracted long enough. Just make sure both ends are plugged, and don't hesitate.

[ Steve follows along with the group, settling in near Aloy so that he can confirm that this is in the fact that crevice she crawled through before, with the tunnel waiting beyond it. When she was in there before she opened it up a bit, meaning that the monster and potentially Nero could get in now.

This is something Steve knows how to do. A group of people with a variety of skillsets, all of them trying to combine them together into one master plan.

So, hey, it's strategist mode coming at you. ]

I can make sure to plug off this end with debris. [ He'll need to make sure he piles some of it close by the crevice's entrance so he can be fast about it, but that's fine.

He glances to Nero then. ] You lure it in, then get the hell out once it's followed you. [ He turns toward Mat and nods firmly to the kid. He's been quiet, but what he's offering shouldn't be forgotten. ] You'll have set up a trap in there ahead of time, to make sure the monster's held in place while Nero gets out.

Then we need someone to trigger the cave-in. [ People who can potentially climb to a higher part of the cave and disturb that part of the tunnel enough that it collapses. He glances back to Aloy and Geralt. ] Can you two handle that?

[ And finally, Castiel. ] And you can wait on the other end of the tunnel to block it off once Nero's clear.

[ A fullproof plan? Maybe not. But it's something. ]

Edited 2023-03-02 18:29 (UTC)

I'm going to need vines. Long ones, if possible. And I'll need someone to help me in setting it up, if we want to do it quick.

[Mat's already mentally mapping out what will work. A tangle-trap, he thinks, to hold it without mortally wounding it. It likely wouldn't hold the thing for a very long time, but long enough to give them the advantage he'd guess.]

I'm assuming we want to do it quickly.

I can help collect materials.

[ Cas volunteers, at least for gathering long vines, not sure how well he’ll fit in the tunnel. But Mat is one of the people his brother asked him to look out for and he’d been meaning to catch a moment with him.

Thankfully, Mat doesn’t seem like he’ll be playing bait for this endeavor, so the objective of keeping him alive will be considerably easier. Nero’s clearly more than happy to keep play chicken with the ceiling cryptid. ]

[ Geralt's also perfectly willing to let Steve be bait, but Nero damn near leaps at the opportunity. Shocking.

He tilts his head, which passes for agreement if you squint. Yes. He can collapse the tunnel.

Though. Hm. He scrutinizes Nero up and down. ]

You don't resemble prey. [ It's the tail, lined with armoured spikes. And Nero's inability to give off a non-threatening aura. Unless they slice his arm off again, he's not certain Nero makes the most desirable meal when the monster's been tricked once before. Less than 12 hours ago. It'll have learnt.

They need more than that. ]

I'll find a fresh corpse. [ Must be one around. Why waste it. ]

Don't gotta tell me twice, Boy Scout. [He says to Steve, rolling his eyes. Not like he was really thrilled to be dancing in a dead end with that motherfucker, but there's not anyone else who he trusts can do it with how they're feeling.

Well. Do it, and survive.

Nero gives Geralt a shove on the shoulder.] First time for everything, old man. So we've got a plan. Trappers, and movers, and -- well. Bait.

[He doesn't miss the glance at his tail. Look. It's like a worm on a hook. If he has to give it up, then -- he'll give it up. Still makes good bait. It twitches at the attention, same way he gets in his head when anyone comments on it.]

What? I'm not good enough? [Maybe some time ago, Geralt's words, sensible as they are, would've picked at his nerves.] Don't say you're gonna slather me in corpse juice.

Edited 2023-03-07 06:13 (UTC)

[ Using a corpse as easy prey is not a bad idea, and Steve doesn't flinch at the suggestion. Not that much of a boy scout, it seems. What's dead is dead. They may as well make use of it or they'll end up the same way.

At Nero's question, Steve cuts in. Mainly because he doesn't know if Geralt's even going to dignify that with a response. ]

The corpse will lure it inside, and then we'll rely on you to make sure it's in position after that. [ Steve figures that's what Geralt has in mind, anyway. ]

All right, let's gather what we need and make sure the trap's in place before we place the corpse. We can reconvene here. [ The more of this that they have ready before the monster shows up, the better. For Steve's part, he'll be dragging some debris over to plug up this side of the tunnel. ]

[Aloy, for her part, knows what she has to do. She's probably one of the more adept climbers in the group, so she declares herself responsible for causing a rock fall at one of the entrances. She waits for everyone to take on their assignment, and then works on finding an expedient way up the wall above the crevice. Luckily, there are handholds, and while the rest of the group gets to work, she starts scaling the wall.

The ledge she finds is not large, but there's room enough for her to push some promising-looking rocks off of it. Once she assesses, she gives Steve a wave from her perch.]

Ready up here.

[ A few rounds of sniffing and digging later between he and Castiel, Geralt emerges with a suitable corpse. It's oozing blood from a freshly torn throat. It'll do.

The nearest volunteer, Geralt'll pass their bait onto. It'll need to be someone else; he's not about to fit all the way in that damn crack in the wall. ]

[ after many vines cut and many dead people sniffed, Cas helps Mat to assemble the traps within the tunnel (hopefully Mat's willing to crawl in for it, Cas is also a bit too broad to fit in there).

Somewhere overhead, the sound of skittering claws on rock drifts down, and Cas looks up to follow a shadow across the ceiling. Hopefully Nero's somewhere on hand. ]

Now or never. [ He takes a couple steps back, and leans to murmur to Geralt. ] You don't suppose it remembers us, do you?

[ they may want to make themselves scarce, if they don't want to distract from the actual bait. ]

Edited 2023-03-22 01:02 (UTC)

[ Geralt's expression is skeptical on instinct. Then: ]

Mm.

[ Fair point.

Perhaps it's best to take a several paces over here where they can't be seen. Not as though they're needed for the final steps. Provided the final steps go as planned. ]

Edited 2023-03-22 01:07 (UTC)

[Oh, he's always on hand. Even on two hands.

At least Nero's not the one mostly carrying the body, but he does wrinkle his nose at the casual way it's been executed. With the corpse in place and stuffed into the tunnel, it's up to him to squirrel his way in. Nero looks up with the rest of them, glancing at Mat.] Hope your trap's up to par, buddy. Now you all get the fuck out of here.

[Nero's not been bait, but he's been taken as bait enough times to know what's needed. Despite his protests, he does have corpse blood on him -- and against anyone's better judgement, he's cut open his arm across the forearm, if dead blood's not appetizing. One or the other. Someone's gotta be breakfast.

They need to do this, or it's just going to keep picking them off.

Once everyone is in position, whether out of the way or ready to spring the rocks, Nero plucks off one of his scales, dipped in some blood, and waits for the hedgehog-looking motherfucker to peak down, as if searching for its chance.

Nero chucks the scale right into its face(?).] Come on, you little bitch! Fresh dinner!

[It's the thrill of battle all over again, whether he's got the strength to back it up or not. Hedgehog gives a noise that's more of a hiss than a shriek, and begins skittering straight for him.

Nero ducks into the tunnel, fingers turning to claws as he ducks in and starts crawling, leaving gouges and drops of blood in its wake. As his tail whips, tempting as bait on a hook, he checks behind him to make sure it's coming.

Oh. Fuck. Yeah. It's coming.]

[ Every piece of the plan is place by now, and as soon as Nero wriggles his way into the cave, it's go time. Everyone else should be in relative safety, and as they expected, the monster follows the bait, dropping down from the ceiling and then sliding in after the sweet smell of both dead and fresh flesh.

From where Steve is, not far from the tunnel's entrance, he can mainly only go by what he hears, two sets of bodies moving as well as what sounds like Nero taunting the thing.

The trap springs and the monster screeches. As soon as that sound echoes through the cavern, Steve tilts his head up to where Aloy's waiting. ]

Now!

[ And Nero's going to have to get the hell out before the rocks come plummeting down. Steve, meanwhile, moves to block up the tunnel on his end by moving large rocks into place. ]

[Up on her perch, Aloy is relatively safe, though she's braced for action knowing it could change at any time. She watches the commotion below, trying to keep track of all the moving pieces--the last thing they need at this point is to collapse the tunnel too early or too late, and she can't see if Nero's made it out the other side.

Luckily, Steve is there to signal her. At his shout, she pushes with all her might, sending a cascade of loose rock down from the ledge, right on target.]

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EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 1)

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