SCARY TOWER SIEGE #3

[capitalm]

Who: Tar Pit Rescuers/Captives
Where: That tower that just erupted out of the tar.
When: Saturday March 15th, around 6PM for when they appear.
What: A creepy looking tower pops out of the tar pits and superheroes come to fight it and save its captives.
Warnings: Violence, body horror, mind control, fucking creepy bullshit.

A spiral tower looms ahead, sprouting from the depths of the La Brea tar bits. Cyborgs swarm the grounds, and energy weapons defend the fortress.

Eventually you find your way into a shallow subterranean cave, or what resembles one in form, at least – while the uneven cave walls resemble those of a naturally formed cavern, there is little stone to be seen. Instead the interior's surface is a strange metallic substance, a translucent black shot through with veins of pulsating light.

The only place the glistening black metal doesn't cover the stone is around the edges of the assorted pools and lakes that dot the expanse of caverns. They don't contain water, though – instead they're filled with a thick, opaque black substance. That's right – underground tar pits. A few of them are host to a struggling robotic creature or one of the mutilated cyborg animals that has toppled in and been unable to free itself. The others don't seem inclined to help – both they and the substance that covers the rock everywhere else give the tar pits a berth of at least a foot or two wherever they can help it.

The cage you find yourself in, along with those of your fellow captives – made out of the same dark metal that coats the walls – are for the most part located in those areas of the cave system where there are also the most tar pits. As one moves to higher, dryer ground, the number of cages decreases, while the concentration of machinery jutting from the ceilings, walls and floors, not all of it with clear purpose but all of it strange and organic-looking, increases.

The ceilings are low, and the tunnels linking otherwise separate tunnel formations are narrow, and easily blocked by protrusions of metal and machinery that part, apparently autonomously, only to allow through one of the robotic or cyborg servants that patrol the caves.

This location is smaller than the others, but it still digs deep into the ground.

[OOC: There will be specific mod NPC posts made within each rescue log for dealing with the central hub of the AI. Remember, if you want to fight one of the Nightforce, ask a mod.]

Comments

[sciencewizard]

[Through good timing and economic use of powerful magic bolts, Miriel has made it into the larger subterranean cave where the unusual metallic substance she tested covers all surfaces. She wanders the cave and its network of tunnels, looking for captives, allies, or the mastermind behind this.

When cyborgs attack, she is quick to dispatch them in the simplest and least draining manner possible. It sure would stink to be stuck without magic down here, but Miriel is willing to take that risk. To be honest, her scientific curiosity is getting the better of her in this situation. She wants to use this opportunity to find out what's really going on.]

[rememberyousoon]

[Nilin had found her way into the tunnels mostly by avoiding direct conflict. She can take a few of the weaker monsters at once, but if she wants to get to the bottom of this she can't get stuck taking down every single monster she comes across. She's only been down here a short while but Nilin already feels a foreboding sense that she's going to get lost.]

[She sees Miriel up ahead just as she's starting to suspect that she's already been down this passageway. She keeps her voice low when she calls out to her, but it's loud enough that it carries.]

Miriel!

[sciencewizard]

[Miriel whips around to face the source of the voice. Hearing her name while she's not dressed in civilian clothing makes her stomach clench instinctively; someone has discovered the link between her identities. The rational side of her – which is most of her – says that this must be someone who already knows who she is, and that this person simply did not see the need to use her alias.

Upon seeing Nilin, Miriel curses her own carelessness. Nilin had gotten her real name through the cell phone contact, and Miriel had completely forgotten to mention the name/alias distinction to Nilin amidst the cyborg business. At least this is happening in a weird underground tunnel, where nobody can overhear.]

Nilin! [She goes back down the tunnel toward Nilin, lowering her voice as she nears her.] Are you well?

[rememberyousoon]

Few scratches, nothing I can't handle.

[She looks behind her, keeping an ear out for any of the monsters that might be lurking down the pathways.]

What about you? Not having any trouble, I hope.

[She speaks casually, but her tone and body language makes it obvious that she's on edge. She doesn't want to be caught in a corner against one of the bigger creatures, but something as simple as fear isn't enough to make her turn back.]