voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-09-15 10:09 pm

Onward: Red

Travel

The biggest problems on the way to the volcano are, perhaps, to be expected. Years of molten flows and heaving earth have left the landscape twisted and in constant movement, sections of the surface sinking or rising depending on the movement of the rivers of magma beneath. It makes for slow, bumpy going whether on foot or in a vehicle.

The fire dogs mostly prowl in the distance, but a few packs get brave enough to dive in and attack. They attack in their packs of three, though they are more likely to attack those at the back or side of the group, catching any stragglers or those that have decided to go it alone. They are pretty interested in the crystals, singling out those who are carrying them and harrying them with nips and lunges.

As the sun sets, the sky darkens and the earth, in contrast, seems to glow brighter. Faces tinge red in the fires and flows of the Flamewastes, and the volcano spits fire endlessly ahead.


The Firehearted Peak

It only takes about half a day to get to the volcano, which is pinpointed on their SCA map and highly visible besides. The entrance is obvious, a cleft in the rock at the side of the mountain. It’s hot here, incredibly so, the heat draining. But, oddly… it’s bearable, more so than they might expect. The path takes them around tunnels and across exposed streams of lava, over small rocky bridges over partially crusted-over liquid.

The tunnel is only half an hour’s walk, before it opens up into a rough chamber formed by layers of glittering metal and molten rock. In the centre there is a ball of fire, floating freely. It pulses with heat, and for those with any such senses, deep magic.

The crystals need to be held within the chamber, as close to the glowing core as possible, for at least three days. As the days go by the crystals will begin to grow brighter as magic gathers within them; their glow will synchronise with the flickering pulses of the Heart.

This growing power, however, draws in the creatures of the Flamewastes. Fire lizards, having stayed hidden and skittish on their journey, now join the dogs in attacking, pouring through the main tunnel and smaller passages in the layered walls to attack the chamber, intent on reaching and consuming the magic within the barrier crystals.


Fire Sprites

The attack from outside the mountain continues but as the days go by the volcano itself starts attacking, the proximity of living beings to its heart provoking a response. Fire sprites, clusters of sparks and embers and tendrils of fire whip out of the lava towards anyone who draws close. They are drawn to body heat, or to warmth of any kind. Tendrils curl around limbs, burning and dragging them towards pools of lava.

Others form walls of fire, trying to separate people from the main group or render the heart inaccessible. Cold drives them into retreat; water, if it does not immediately evaporate in the heat of the mountain, does likewise. The area directly around the heart, strangely, remains largely unaffected; any sprite or flame that strays into its aura is absorbed into it.
seacub: (: ' D)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-03 09:27 am (UTC)(link)
Hahaaaa...well. "H...honestly, I don't think I understand it either, so that's okay? I'm sort of just figuring it out as I go."
stillnewatthis: (green means go)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-04 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
"I hope that is not overly dangerous. This seems like a bad time for experimentation!"
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-04 12:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, so far it's going alright..?"

It is Very much a bad time, but fortunately he's doing well! "I know roughly what he can do, at least."
stillnewatthis: (orisa)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-05 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"Then that is at least something. True experience only comes from active use and practice after all. I am learning a great deal from this!"

Even if it didn't look like she was advancing herself past 'point at enemy, fire at enemy'.
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-06 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah?" He doesn't quite realize that's where she's stuck at. "...How uh... ...How old are you?" She seems to be a robot, so he supposes she's probably been working at this for...well, just as long as she's been around.
stillnewatthis: (determined)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-07 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Only a few months, and most of that time has been spent on the train. I was not active for long at all." Which caused Orisa some amount of consternation, feeling as she did that she'd let Efi and Numbani down.
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-07 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Only that old!?" Woah!

"I guess technically you've had everything longer than I've had Weather though, so it's not really a bad thing huh..." Ahah. "...I guess there would be a lot to learn still though then..."

Between the two of them, they're doing pretty great balancing combat and speech though. Naturals, true naturals. "...You seem really strong, if that helps..?"
stillnewatthis: (yellow glare)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-07 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"I was designed to be. The OR-15 omnic model line proved inadequate to defend Numbani, so Efi believed that one capable defender would be of more use than several weaker ones." At least against a specific danger... though Orisa intended to oppose every single one, and be the hero Efi believed she could be.
seacub: (: ' D)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-10 11:13 am (UTC)(link)
"A designed hero..." Heck of an upgrade.

"I guess then...when you get back, you'll have lots of practice then huh? So you'll be even better at defending them."
stillnewatthis: (stop!)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-11 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
"That is correct! Integrating all data into updated battle tactics and metrics is a valuable means of improvement. Although these updates cannot be outsourced at present, so I must compensate for that." She had only herself to rely on here...
seacub: (PLEASE LISTEN TO ME OH GOSH)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-11 10:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Is there a good way to work on something like that without outsourcing?"
stillnewatthis: (doomfist)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-12 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"I will learn through direct experience. I can't complain, it is how humans and even most omnics do." Really, she had just lost an advantage, not been set back!
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-13 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh! So there's nothing stopping you from having this ready for home then...phew."

Good, it would be a shame to lose it!

Unfortunately that's precisely what would happen. Ah.
stillnewatthis: (focus)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-14 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, maybe relevance. Earth does not have fire sprites in volcanoes we must keep away from orbs and so forth." But hey, maybe she could imagine them as drones or something?
seacub: (it's fine i can see fine)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-16 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
"I guess not..? But there could be someone who fights with fire, right? And...you could end up stuck somewhere, and have to protect someone until some help arrives! Stuff like that."
stillnewatthis: (orisa)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-16 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"I will not say it's impossible, although I would attempt to relocate that person to safety." Going through terrain if necessary! Property was nothing compared to human life.
seacub: (: ' D)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-17 10:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Right- I guess...we can't really predict what kind of thing could happen though, so you'd be surprised what kinds of things we can use right?" That's how he's looking at it anyway.
stillnewatthis: (victory)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-10-17 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Everything is a learning experience! If I think that way, I can always improve!"