balance_logs | Lunar Interlude 3

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Lunar Interlude 3

	What a mess.
	NAVIGATION

1. NEW RECLAIMERS

A. WELCOME WAGON

For the 14 of you who will be arriving today, the story is the same: though you may not remember it, there was a moment where you were living out your life, at home or wherever you were ... and then there was the moment the Hunger came. And amid the television static that is your memory of that moment, a hand reached out to you, beckoning your escape as the tendrils of darkness destroyed everything that ever existed about your world.

"Would you hurry this up, please? Your world no longer stands a chance. Come with me, we are the last bastions of hope for all universes everywhere. And we're going to need you."

And then, unceremoniously, you are dragged through the universal wringer and plopped down on the soft, though not quite cushioned, grass of the Moon Base Quad.

You're not alone, either. Along with the newest members of the Bureau, in a fashion probably not unlike this, there are people waiting here for you. People who wanted to see the heroes the Director has managed to bring in this time.

People who are excited to see what you're capable of.

You have a few minutes to talk with each other — or maybe lob a few questions at the impromptu welcoming committee, or any of the older Reclaimers who may happen to be nearby. But before long, you're whisked away to a different area of the Moon Base.

B. THE VOIDFISH

The 14 of you are quickly divided into three groups, and brought to the easternmost geodesic dome, to an elevator in a well maintained, but sparsely landscaped field. There's nothing particularly ominous feeling about the space — in fact, the two guards who greet you at the elevator entrance seem pleased with your arrival. You are, after all, one of the few chosen by the Director, the few who will reclaim what the Hunger has destroyed.

And in a few moments, you're about to find that out for yourself.

After a tightly packed elevator ride, your group is ushered out to a rather grand looking hall, banners of the Bureau of Balance adorn both sides of smooth metal walls. And inside the Voidfish's chamber stands a tank — impossibly tall, and soaked in a black ink that obscures whatever the tank may be holding.

You may notice a melody, someone playing the violin. It's a bard, on his third round of introducing Reclaimers to the Voidfish.

When he's finished, he pulls out a few pieces of paper — sheet music — opens a drawer at the bottom of the tank, drops the papers in, and shuts it.

And suddenly, it seems you've forgotten everything that may have been ironic about that melody.

If you seem alarmed, the bard takes notice of it.

"Yeah, man, like... don't think too hard about it, it's like that every time. I'm guessing you're here to be inoculated? Just a heads up, you might want to, like, seriously, hold your nose while you drink it down. It tastes wicked gross, man."

You sort of get the sense that he's said this speech once or twice in the past. It's well rehearsed, much like the stories you'd expect a bard to be able to recite.

"Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that you have a choice. If you drink the black stuff, you'll be able to hear through the, uh... Huh, how do I describe it? Through the [TSHCSCHTSHCHSC] sound. You guys like, hear that? Anyway, it's all about knowledge or something. I don't know, I'm just here to, like, feed the thing. We call it the [TSCHHSCHSCH], by the way.

So, like. You get a choice. You can drink it and understand stuff, or not drink it and then hear that crackling noise all day every day. If I were you, I'd drink it. But, hey man, I'm not like, your dad or anything."

The bard takes five cups and draws liquid from a spigot connected directly to the basin of the large tank. Stormy, muddy looking ichor is drawn into them, one by one. He offers each of you a sip.

Drink it (he wasn't kidding about what it tasted like), and you're inoculated to the wisdom of the Voidfish. You try to remember the song this bard played a few moments ago and the melody, the meter, every octave, all come back to you. And if you think back to your arrival, some of the things you may have heard other people in the Quad say, that simply sounded like static, are suddenly clear. Bureau of Balance. Grand Relic. Reclaimers.

Yet you still can't remember the Hunger or what it had done to your world. And as you look back to the tank in front of you, the water has become clear. There's a jellyfish, as tall as a building, floating within. You look into the body of the creature and you can almost make out a beautiful, tiny universe floating within it.

2. THE TEST OF INITIATION

With your new knowledge on the Bureau of Balance and your purpose here in tow, you are led without hesitation to the Arena, where the final phase of your initiation into the Bureau will be held. You are partnered up, whether it is with someone you drank the ichor of the Voidfish with, or perhaps even a veteran Reclaimer, who either stopped by to help, or simply out of curiosity.

After the proctor confiscates your weapons for the test, the room you are placed in is stark white — it sort of gives off the vibe that it was supposed to do something other than look so sterile once upon a time, but for whatever reason, that function is lost. With a sound similar to an airlock, the door is shut behind you, and the outline disappears, the lines of the door frame magically filled in with the rest of the wall.

Your task here is to escape. You are provided with the following tools:

○ A small flatware set from the café. Two forks, two spoons, two butter knives
○ A popular Faerun children's toy: "It's Elementary, My Dear Brewer: Chemist Set for the Discerning Beginner." It's essentially a simple chemistry set.
○ An inflatable hammer that plays one progressive note of a jingle a lot of you probably hate by now with every hit.
○ A wooden toy sword.
○ A plate of spaghetti — hear us out, though. Thanks to a Reclaimer who came before you, and thanks to the robot that's making your food, it's the kind of spaghetti that grants you extra strength for an hour after eating.
○ A crowbar, with a note attached to it: "DO NOT USE CROWBAR."

Seriously, don't use the crowbar — the purpose of this test is to assess your ability to find a solution outside of the most obvious one. The purpose of this test is to determine if you are capable of resisting the call of a Grand Relic.

Use your wits. Use the path actions granted to you when you arrived. Use any ideas your partner has. But do not use the crowbar.

3. NEWBIES AND VETERANS, AROUND THE MOONBASE

A. I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN

The Reclaimers were already sort of elevated to a certain level in the Bureau, as The Director's chosen few, the ones who were ultimately tasked with saving everyone, and the ones the rest of the Moon base is charged with assisting. And now that the Reclaimers have successfully brought home two Grand Relics, they're ... starting to become something of household names. Moon Base names?

The next time you wander into town — an old Reclaimer veteran or a brand new face — you may very well be accosted by a well-meaning, if curious admirer. And they have questions: Did you get to hold the Grand Relic? Is it true that you took out a sandworm by tricking it into tying itself in a knot? Can they see your weapon? Would you spar with them sometime? Maybe they're not quite this annoying. But still annoying.

You may need the assistance of another Reclaimer to escape from this wholesome new Adoring Fan of yours.

B. MALFUNCTION

Resting on the Moon Base is your time to catch up. Maybe there's someone you didn't spend a lot of time with in the Netheril. Maybe you're new, and you're still working on meeting as many of your fellow Reclaimers as possible.

Which is fair. These are the people you will have to cooperate with for the foreseeable future, so it's best that you get to know them as well as possible, right?

And then, one day, your Bracer buzzes with a message:

Hello!

Not all that curiously, the message appears to come from a username that you recognize. Whoever it is, it's another Reclaimer — one that you know well.

Much more curiously, the message is followed by an odd beeping, and a perhaps familiar two-toned sound of something shutting down. And when you try to message your friend back, you may find that:

For the next 24 hours, your bracer's translator feature is broken. You will not be able to understand Common — and when you speak, you won't be translated into Common. Have fun with that!

And yeah, that probably wasn't actually your friend messaging you. Add another mystery to your list of weird phenomena that needs addressing.

C. POWERING DOWN

This is meant to be a few weeks of rest while the rest of the Bureau prepares for your next mission. The Director, however, believes that this free time should be used to better oneself however they might see fit, and she certainly won't stop anybody who'd like to spend time in the areas they've visited previously — and any new Reclaimers who would like to learn a little more about Faerun.

Grab a pal and try these options, both on the Moon Base and beyond, on for size:

○ Stop Dying 101: Also known as Fatalistic Fauna, and Danger Sense to channel your inner barbarian. This is a class that was introduced after the first field mission that offers instruction on basic survival strategies when up against the more inhospitable areas of Faerun. The class is open to everyone, but if you have died at least once during the course of Balance, attendance is mandatory (Unless you're an old bird who was talked into teaching a class instead). Yes, that means you, Komaeda!

Curiously, the simulators for this class seem to be working just fine. Neither the Director nor the instructor are going to question it. The monster of the month you'll be facing is the Tarrasque (scaled down to size, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying) — are you cunning enough to escape the simulation? Or are you going to go against the point of the class and try to fight it?

○ Winding down room: A small room filled with the kotatsus brought back from Vista Virs, board games, books, and other quiet activities for one of the days where you're feeling a little more restful. At the front of the room, a keyboard and other instruments are waiting — unnamed Bureau members will offer a few quiet, soothing performances throughout the day, but you're welcome to play as well.

○ Visiting New New Aspen: You may have noticed that there's an enormous tree (You say Christmas, we say Candlenights) jutting out past the atmosphere, nearly touching the Moon Base itself. This was the site of the first field mission, and the tree stands as a monument to the Reclaimers first success in recapturing a Grand Relic. At the bottom of the tree, a peaceful town that cherishes the ornaments it makes sits. The mayor of New New Aspen, Matthew, will greet you warmly, and invite you to any number of ornament carving classes, or to dinner with his Aunt Laurel (She's a giant spider, by the way), or to even just spend some time with the giant cats that protect the town.

Perhaps worringly, though, the cat captain of the guard, Bread, is missing.

○ Visiting Vista Virs: A town in the middle of an unforgiving desert that was left completely destroyed. If you choose to return, expect to be put to work — you'll be gathering supplies, helping rebuild homes, or just comforting the Needlers, a race of catcus people who inhabited the town, who have lost everything.

D. THE MOON IS YOUR SPACE OYSTER (WILDCARD)

There are plenty of other locations around the Moon Base that you can explore at your own discretion. Feel free to refer to the Settings page for more ideas on what shenanigans you can get into.

Additionally, we'll be fielding Bender rolls again this month! If a food item was destroyed in a failed roll previously, you may roll to try to fix it. Bear in mind, of course, that you may make it worse.

Successful food rolls will stay in place at this time, and can be utilized how you like. Keep in mind that only one magical effect can be in place at a time.

blurb code by photosynthesis

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[Wash is skimming book titles, occasionally pulling one off the shelf and reading a few pages. He's studying magic today, and while he's been assured this is the shelf for beginners, it's still a bit beyond his comprehension right now. He's half-buried in a book on magical theory, trying to decide whether it's worth adding to his pile, when he sees a girl approaching him out of the corner of his eye and looks up. He doesn't recognize her - is she new?]

Yep. Were you looking for me?

[Also, who are you?]

[A pause, as his question sinks in and she seems to realize what she said.] I wasn't! [And then, a smile.] But I found you anyway!

[She casts a wide look around the shelves, a furrow in her brow showing some sheepishness.] I thought I'd try to find the poetry section, but I got lost, so I was hoping I'd see someone!

[That good mood is confusing but infectious.] Congratulations?

I...don't know if we have a poetry section. You could try asking the front desk.

[Provided she doesn't get lost on her way there.]

[She's quiet for a moment, absorbing these suggestions.] But I saw so many other books! [Like Adventure to the Northeast and Lowered Expectations!] There has to be poetry somewhere!

[Sayori is a little indignant at the idea that there may not be. Justice for poetry!

Plus, she was looking forward to the one thing that might feel truly familiar in this new place, and she's not sure what she'll do if it's just...not here.

She leans a little to look past Wash.]

...where's the front desk?

[We all expected this.]

[He has literally never seen someone this excited about poetry, and he's met Donut.]

I'm not the local expert. Just because I don't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[He pauses, then offers her the book he was looking at.]

Help me carry these back to my table and then I'll take you there.

Really? [She smiles appreciatively and then takes the book with a sure grip.] Thank you! Here, I can hold a few more!

[She adjusts her grip on the book and then holds out her arms so that a few more can be stacked atop the first one.]

Okay.

[He piles a couple of the (albeit smaller) volumes on, then picks up a larger stack for himself. There aren't many in either stack, but the extra pair of hands is definitely a help.]

It's over this way.

[He heads off to a study alcove, making sure she's in tow, and drops the books off at a table that's already piled high. Looks like today is hardcore study session day.]

You can put those anywhere - I haven't organized them yet.

Whooooa. [This is a lot of books! Sayori places her stack down a little less carefully than she should and then tilts her head a bit to read some of the spines.] You're studying magic?

[That is what the books indicate, but the idea does seem a little strange to someone who was previously nonmagical.]

[Wash is still nonmagical, but that doesn't stop him here.]

Yeah. It didn't exist where I came from, but it looks like it's pretty important here, so I figured I should try to understand how it works.

[It's a bigger undertaking than it initially seemed.]

Are you familiar?

Nope! [Such a jovial tone is probably not the way most people would admit to knowing absolutely nothing about an important subject.] Magic didn't exist where I came from, either!

I didn't really think about studying it. [Again, maybe not something to admit so cheerfully. She didn't even study at home...]

[Well, not everyone is as obsessive as he is. He shrugs.]

You're welcome to join me if you want.

Can I? [It's not as exciting to her as poetry, but it's probably not a bad idea to study stuff now that she can do magic...] The pamphlet said I can do magic now, so I should probably study, right?

[She sounds like she needs a little bit of convincing. But maybe if she understands it better, the idea of being useful in this way will be easier to digest.]

Wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it.

[He pauses. She doesn't sound enthusiastic, and throwing around magic with no idea what it does sounds like a recipe for disaster to him. Time to intervene.]

Yeah, if you can do it now, you should probably understand how it works. I mean, understanding meter and rhyme helps you write better poetry, right?

[People who read poetry also write it, right?]

Also, what's your path?

I'm a bard! [And, since Goro already asked, she volunteers:] My new skills are Bardic Inspiration, Healing Word, and Sleep!

[Her expression becomes thoughtful.] I do think about those things a lot when I write poems... [Learning basics and taking advice from Monika did make her poetry a lot stronger.

With new resolve, she takes one of the seats across from where Wash was obviously sitting before.] Yeah! Okay! I'll learn the meter and rhyme of magic!

Yeah, if you're going to use that magic, you should probably know how it works.

[Looks like that shot in the dark worked - better than he'd expected, if he's going to be honest with himself. He digs out the books that Sans had pointed out to him the other day and puts them in front of her.]

These are the basics. I'd take a look at the overview, then figure out what schools of magic your skills fall under and read more about those.

[Sayori takes the books offered and briefly looks over the titles before plucking out the one that seems best to start with. Overview, overview...]

"Abjuration?" [She has never heard of this word in her entire life ~~and frankly neither had i before i started playing dnd~~. She squints into the book as if that will make the context of these words clearer.] Ah...necromancy? Can people really do that here?

[Getting a little distracted, but it seems important to know if people can really create...undead.]

[Admittedly, necromancy had also been the first thing to catch Wash's eye, because it's fucking necromancy. That said, it's probably not a good thing for her to fixate on.]

Maybe, but I'm pretty sure bards can't. Figure out the basics first before you start worrying about that.

Okaaaay. [She does as he says, because the alternative is dwelling on matters of life and death and undeath, and that's just going to make this situation even scarier.

She does sink into her seat a little as she continues, though. She makes it a few paragraphs before realising she should maybe be taking notes. Thankfully, since she came here to read some poetry, she brought her school bag!

So she pulls out some (rather crumpled) sheets of paper and a pen, then flattens them out on the table and starts scribbling away. After a moment, she speaks again:] Do you study in here a lot?

[This looks familiar - several decades ago, sure, but Wash still remembers hating high school. Studying is a little different when it's a subject you actually want to learn about.]

Off and on, yeah.

[Says the guy with multiple stacks of books and documentation that's obviously cross-referencing them. He doesn't really do things by halves.]

[She peers at the impressive book fortress he has built on the table.] Do you always take out this many books?

[She's pretty sure she'd go crazy trying to keep track of them all.

But then, given an impressive enough poetry section, she might also find herself buried in books...]

Depends on the day, but...usually, yeah. They all wind up cross-referencing each other anyway, so it's easier to grab everything at the beginning than get up every ten minutes for a book run.

Wow. [She has never done that much research for something in her whole life.] I don't usually read books like this.

[By which she means nonfiction academic texts. Though she is now! She periodically glances between Wash and the contents of the book in front of her, occasionally jotting down key concepts. She's trying.]

[He sighs, marks a page, and closes a book.]

Honestly, neither do I. I really miss the internet.

But there isn't really another way to get this information, aside from getting someone to teach you everything, so this is what we need to do. It's not fun, but it's better than nothing.

Maybe someone will invent a magical search engine! [There is so much strange magic stuff here, this does not seem out of the realm of possibility.

After a moment, she sits up, suddenly at attention.] Hey, what's your name? I'm Sayori! [She needs to know who to ask for if she gets lost again, obviously.]

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Lunar Interlude 3

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