Graded [Frontier] [Tribulation] Ryan's Tribulation of Precision

[Novama]

Mentions: Rev IX
OOC: advanced combat is in effect. death and maiming are possible. success will result in the right to buy S grade stat in precision. double points will be granted. posting pace is 2 days/48hrs.
Time: morning
Weather: cold and calm
TLDR: ryan starts at the base of the crystal spire. the top has what he seeks. the first floor challenge is a maze that he must navigate without touching any mirrors which are everywhere and blend in with the crystal.
Post Listening:

Crystal Spire: Trial 1

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Ryan Kylieth finds himself standing at the beginning of a dimly lit corridor, the first trial within the towering Crystal Spire. The air is cool and still, filled with a sense of anticipation. Before him stretches a pathway made of crystal, illuminated by a soft, ambient light that seems to pulse with a life of its own. The walls, floor, and even parts of the ceiling are embedded with mirrors, their surfaces gleaming in the low light, creating an intricate maze of reflections.

A voice, ethereal and omnipresent, resonates within the corridor, introducing itself as Thalos, the Proctor of Ascension. "Ryan Kylieth," it begins, its tone both welcoming and warning, "you stand at the precipice of your first challenge on the path to ascension. This corridor is your gateway, and the mirrors your adversaries. Let the crystal guide your steps, for the mirrors are not mere obstacles; they are harbingers of failure. To touch them is to invite disaster. Navigate with care, precision, and awareness. Your journey towards transcendence begins now."

As the voice of Thalos fades, leaving a lingering echo of power and promise, Ryan would have a moment to survey his surroundings. The corridor before him forks into several paths, each one as daunting as the next, with mirrors strategically placed to challenge his movement and decision-making. The crystal path offers a safe passage, but the mirrored surfaces threaten something unknown if touched. The maze would prove more challenging as he progressed, but this was just the beginning. (F grade challenge)

 

[Rev IX]

Ryan Kylieth
​

One day, a traveling merchant visited Stonewall brought a wide variety of goods. Curious, Ryan approached the merchant to see if he had anything for a smith like him. The merchant didn't have any smithing goods on him. What he did have, however, was a map. This map supposedly would lead him to something that would greatly change his way of work. Curious, Ryan took the map and set off on a quest for whatever this mysterious item or items were.

His journey took him to an equally mysterious crystal tower. An ominous visage, that's for certain. Nevertheless, he pushed onwards. At the entrance, a voice calling itself Thalos gave him a somewhat cryptic message. Which Ryan felt weren't good news at all. This reeked of danger, but his curiosity egged him on to face the challenges Thalos had prepared for him.

Which brings us to the maze of mirrors. Ryan stared intently at the crystaline path ahead, warped and distorted by the visage of countless mirrors and passages. He was confident in the fact he didn't want to know what touching these mirrors entailed, that was a certainty. So he took a deep breath to ease himself, and used [Supersense (Tremorsense)] to gauge the maze before him and not be caught off guard, scanning the whole crystalline structure, or as far as he could, to take the likeliest path to the maze's exit. Once he had a good feel for the path he would traverse, Ryan would move with precision and care. Not rushing, yet not slowing down unless a particularly tough motion needed to be done, in which case, he would take a deep breath and [Focus] to successfully move past difficult obstacles without touching any mirrors.

Actions
1- Use [Supersense (Tremorsense) B]
2- Movement
3- Use [Focus E] should it be needed

Novama

 

[Novama]

Mentions: Rev IX
OOC: advanced combat is in effect. death and maiming are possible. success will result in the right to buy S grade stat in precision. double points will be granted. posting pace is 2 days/48hrs.
Time: mid-morning
Weather: cold and calm
TLDR: ryan's skills were helpful but not as helpful as he would have liked. He made it through thanks to his armor. The 2nd floor trial was a narrow swinging walkway buffeted by magical wind. A fall looked deadly. The way back remained open for now.
Post Listening:

Crystal Spire: Trial 1

Ryan's reliance on his [Supersense (Tremorsense)] at the onset of his journey through the Maze of Mirrors proved to be both a boon and a limitation. While the subtle vibrations of the spire's structure revealed to him the presence of moving elements within the maze—panels that shifted and floors that subtly altered their orientation—it offered no clear map through the labyrinthine corridors. The crystal paths and mirrored surfaces, indistinguishable by tremor alone, became a puzzle he could not simply sense his way through.

His journey through the maze became a test of endurance as much as precision. Hours slipped by as Ryan navigated the complex array of reflections and crystal. The maze's deceptive nature led to several inadvertent contacts with the mirrors. Each time his hand or foot mistakenly brushed against a mirrored surface, the reflection captured within would meet his gaze, a sinister smile spreading across its face before the glass shattered. The shards, propelled by some unseen force, would fly towards him, a glittering storm of crystalline daggers. Ryan's armor shielded him from harm, but not without cost. Each encounter left its mark, a network of scratches etching a record of his trials across the metal's surface.

By the time Ryan discovered the staircase leading to the next floor, his armor bore the scars of his journey, a testament to the challenges faced and overcome. The relief of progress, however, was short-lived as he ascended to the second floor and was met with the next trial: The Gallery of Gales.

This new challenge presented itself as a vast, open space, dominated by a narrow bridge that spanned an abyss, its other side shrouded in mist. Almost immediately, Ryan could feel the force of the wind, a constant pressure against his body. Thalos's voice, ever-present, filled the air once more, "The winds of this gallery do not simply blow; they seek to cast you into the void. Your balance, timing, and precision are the keys to your survival. Navigate the bridge, and let your steps be swift and sure."

The winds were capricious, gusting from all directions with unpredictable intensity. Magical in nature, they seemed to respond to Ryan's movements, as if the very air were alive and against him. To cross the bridge would require more than mere physical agility and balance; it would demand a mastery of timing and an acute sense of the wind's rhythm.

The bridge, narrow and unforgiving, offered little room for error. Below, the abyss yawned wide, a reminder of the cost of failure.

This trial tested not only Ryan's physical capabilities but his resolve. The higher he climbed, the more difficult it may prove to return. Meanwhile, the way behind him remained open. Who knew when that would change.

Trial 2

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[Rev IX]

Ryan Kylieth
​

Ryan was having his doubts about this place as he traversed the mirror maze. As by then, he had been struck by the malevolent mirrors on more than one occasion. Was whatever item this place held at the top worth this and whatever more risks this "Thalos" character had in store for him. That said, it also itched his curiosity all the more. What was so important that was held behind several, potentially deadly, trials overseen by a spirit of sorts? That question is what led Ryan to the other side of the maze without regret... yet.

With a scratched armor, but steely will, Ryan looked around as he felt the winds of the next chamber shake him from all directions. He intently listened to the next instructions of Thalos intently. Balance, timing, and precision, huh? Ryan took a quick glance at the abyss below. Yeah, he definitely didn't want to fall. Ryan went over the words of the disembodied voice yet again in his head. True, if he went slow, he'd give more of a chance to the winds to throw him off, but if he went too fast, a small change in the wind could greatly affect his momentum and balance. He needed to hit that speed sweetspot, while being constantly on the lookout for changes in the wind, small as they were.

WIth a sharp inhale, Ryan prepared to run across the bridge. Focusing to slow down his perception of the world around him, while also sharpening his senses to focus on the path ahead. And as he exhaled, he was off. Taking every step with the utmost care, Ryan ran with an absolute focus. Adjusting his running stance at the slightest toss of the wind, and immediately correcting it as the wind would then try to throw him off from his adjusted position. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes like hours, quite literally. But Ryan didn't care, he wouldn't risk his life on trying to rush this endeavor. His plate armor wouldn't save him from this fall.

Abilities
- Inescapable Eye (Mark II) - Steady Hands E, Focus E, Supersense D (X-ray Vision, Bullet Time, Weak Point Tracker), Feature [360 Degree Vision], Feature [Darkvision], Appraisal D - Character focuses his mind to slow the world around him and analyze something or work on a specific task - D Grade - 2 post cooldown

Actions
1- Use [Supersense B (Bullet Time)]
2- Use [Inescapable Eye (Mark II)]
3- Movement

Cooldowns

D - 2/2

 

[Novama]

Mentions: Rev IX
OOC: No time machining. start your post in the third trial. no need for recaps of the 2nd trial. Be aware that the further in the list you must go to use a supersense, the higher the grade. Your cooldowns are not what you have listed.
Time: mid-morning
Weather: cold and calm
TLDR: Ryan made it through trial 2 but expended more of his energy than he realized. (B and C are on cooldown) He now had to hunt the hidden creatures that lurked in the forest of the 3rd trial to advance.
Post Listening:

Trial 2

After enduring a grueling passage through the Gallery of Gales, the narrow bridge left behind, the aftermath of the trial was visible not just in the environment but palpably felt in the air. Ryan's senses, temporarily dulled by the intense concentration demanded by the wind's relentless assault, slowly regained their acuity. The effort to activate his ability to perceive the world in slow motion, though initially met with resistance, eventually bore fruit after using up more energy than he wished. Despite the absence of any visible markers within the wind to guide him, this heightened state of awareness proved crucial. It allowed for moments of rapid reaction, narrowly averting falls that would have ended his journey prematurely, each recovery marked by the swift intervention of steady hands finding unlikely holds.

As Ryan steps onto the dimly lit ground of the third floor, the voice of Thalos fills the air, its tone both foreboding and instructive, "Welcome, Ryan Kylieth, to the Forest of Shadows. You find yourself in a domain far removed from the open skies and tempestuous winds you have conquered. This trial immerses you in darkness, a gloom that is not merely the absence of light but a presence that weighs upon the soul. Here, the dense canopy above steals away the light, leaving the forest floor shrouded in perpetual dusk. Silence reigns supreme, a cloak that masks the approach of danger and amplifies the smallest of sounds into thunderous echoes.

Your challenge involves hunters of the shadow, creatures that embody the essence of stealth. They are phantoms within the gloom, nearly invisible and utterly silent, making them indiscernible to the unaided eye. These predators are not merely inhabitants of this forest; they are its sovereigns, moving with such discretion that they might as well be one with the air itself.

Your task is to seek out these elusive beings and disable them. The forest itself conspires against you, with its labyrinth of trees and the ever-present mixing of light and shadow designed to disorient and deceive.

Remember, in this place of darkness, the hunter and the hunted are but two sides of the same coin."

Thalos's voice fades away, leaving Ryan to contemplate the challenge ahead, armed with the knowledge of what must be done. The trial was set, and the forest awaits. (D grade challenge)

Trial 3

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[Rev IX]

Ryan Kylieth
​

Taking deep breaths, and slowly readjusting his time perception, Ryan looked around the next test floor. A thick forest, which Thalos graciously proceeded to explain along with his next test. The long and the short of it is that he needed to "disable" the dwellers of this place. Odd choice of words, Ryan thought to himself. Were they constructs? Or he simply meant outright killing them wasn't necessary? Nevertheless, he would get nothing done dawdling around questioning what the words of his disembodied guiding voice meant exactly. So he slowly started to carefully tread around the area. Lucky for him, darkness wasn't much of a limiter, neither was an attack from behind. So for now, he just kept a sharp eye in as much details as he could catch, trying to figure out how these "dwellers" even looked like. All this, with his hand cannon in hand, as the words of Thalos echoed yet again in his head "...the hunter and the hunted...". Considering the dangers he has been through, he doubted these dwellers were welcoming in the slightest.

Actions

1- Use [Feature (360 Degree Vision]
2- Use [Feature (Darkvision)]
3- Movement
Cooldowns

C - 2/3
B - 3/4

 

[Novama]

Mentions: Rev IX
OOC: feels like this trial may be key
Time: late morning
Weather: cool and calm
TLDR: Ryan was ambushed by the enemy and nearly killed, his armor destroyed. He now faces trial 4 and must fix the broken down music machine or face the consequences of failure.
Post Listening:

Trial 3

In the dense and oppressive gloom of the Forest of Shadows, Ryan's efforts to adapt to his environment and anticipate the hidden dangers proved insufficient against the forest's more elusive inhabitants. Despite his enhanced senses, the gloom of the forest was a cloak too thick for even his heightened abilities to pierce well enough to find the residents. The forest's silence was a perfect accomplice to the predators within, their presence masked until the very moment they chose to strike.

The ambush was swift and brutal. Small, nearly invisible humanoids, composed of shadow itself, emerged from the darkness. Their forms, barely discernible against the backdrop of the forest, were as silent as they were deadly. Before Ryan could fully comprehend the situation, they were upon him, their attacks focused and ferocious. His metal armor, which had protected him up to that point, was no match for their shadowy assault. It was destroyed, torn apart as if it were made of cloth rather than steel.

Ryan found himself battling not just for victory but for survival. The wounds inflicted by the shadow beings were severe, pushing him to the brink of death. In a desperate bid for survival, Ryan's hand cannon blasted a burst of defiance against the encroaching darkness, the force of the shot powerful enough to scatter his attackers. The nearly invisible humanoids, for all their stealth, numbers, and ferocity, were momentarily repelled by the explosive force, granting Ryan a moment's respite and a narrow path to escape.

Bruised, bloody, and without the protection of his armor, Ryan made his way to the staircase beyond the forest leading to the next floor. The transition from the Forest of Shadows to the next trial was marked not by triumph but by survival. (B grade armor destroyed, -5 hp)

The staircase gave way to an expansive hall, unlike anything he had encountered within the spire thus far. Dominated by a singular, ancient instrument at its center, the space was vast and echoing. The instruments design was complex, an amalgamation of strings, pipes, and keys that suggested the craftsmanship and knowledge of a bygone era. The air vibrated with a palpable tension, as if the hall itself was holding its breath, awaiting the instrument to break the silence.

Thalos's voice, now a familiar presence to Ryan, filled the hall, "You stand in the Hall of Harmonics, keeper of the spire's ancient melodies. The challenge before you tests not your strength nor your speed, but your ability to listen, to understand, and to harmonize. To ascend further, you must tune this ancient instrument, restoring its harmony. But be warned, the discordant sound waves that fill this hall seek to unravel your efforts, to disorient and distract you. Success will grant you passage; failure will result in consequences most dire."

As Thalos's guidance faded, the first of the disruptive sound waves rolled through the hall, a dissonant roar that sent shivers through the air. These waves, unseen but overwhelmingly felt, threatened to overwhelm Ryan's senses, displacing the delicate balance of sound needed to tune the instrument. The challenge was clear: Ryan had to rely on his fine motor skills to adjust and align the instrument's myriad components, his auditory precision to discern the subtle imbalances in its harmony, and his focus to maintain progress in the face of constant, cacophonous opposition.

The stakes were high, for the discordant waves carried more than just noise. They were imbued with a destructive force, capable of inflicting grave injuries or even death upon those unable to withstand their assault. The instrument, then, was not merely a gatekeeper to the next level but a test of endurance against an onslaught that sought to break both mind and body. (C grade Challenge)

Trial 4

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[Rev IX]

Ryan Kylieth
​

Bloodied and beaten, Ryan reached the top of the stairs to the next floor. He listened to Thalos's words amidst labored breaths. While he somehow was not fatally injured, he could tell he cut it awfully close. Shaking the grim thoughts off his head, Ryan focused back on the task at hand. The smith sighed as he sized up the huge instrument, feeling a chill down his spine once he felt the first wave of disrupting noise. Ryan decided to take his time, as Thalos did say speed wasn't being tested here. Getting a feel for the instrument's mechanics and slowly figuring out how to adjust the tone of the several playing parts. To help himself not get too lost on the storm of noises Ryan focused his mind as best he could, so that the waves of disruptive noise didn't derail his progress or make him miss a piece to be properly tuned. Much like with the maze that he started off in, nice and easy was the way. With an attentive ear to any sound coming from the piece that was amiss. Ryan wasn't a religion guy, but just about now, he knew he'd need some divine intervention if he wanted to make it out in one piece.

Abilities

- Inescapable Eye (Mark II) - Steady Hands E, Focus E, Supersense D (X-ray Vision, Bullet Time, Weak Point Tracker), Feature [360 Degree Vision], Feature [Darkvision], Appraisal D - Character focuses his mind to slow the world around him and analyze something or work on a specific task - D Grade - 2 post cooldown

Actions

1- Movement
2- Use [Engineering E]
3- Use [Inescapable Eye (Mark II)]

Cooldowns

D - 2/2
C - 1/3
B - 2/4

 

[Novama]

Mentions: Rev IX
OOC: The end. Thanks for playing.
Time: noon
Weather: cool and calm
TLDR:
Post Listening:

Trial 4

The instrument before Ryan was a marvel of engineering and artistry, its complexity a challenge to any who dared to master its secrets. Ryan, leaning on his engineering expertise, began the meticulous process of adjustment. Each component of the instrument demanded attention, from the tightness of strings to the alignment of pipes, all while the air was filled with disruptive sound waves infused with magic, seeking to confound and derail his efforts.

Ryan tried employing his [Inescapable Eye (Mark II)] to augment his engineering, but he found himself too hurt and fatigued to leverage the power. His engineering knowledge would have to form the cornerstone of his strategy. He moved methodically, tuning each part of the instrument with a deliberate care, his actions guided by an attentive ear for the slightest discordance or obviously wrong setup.

Despite his valiant efforts, the battle against the instrument's eccentricities was fraught with peril. The noise, an ever-present foe, threatened to overwhelm his senses, a storm of sound against which Ryan stood unprotected. It was in one such moment of intense concentration that the unexpected occurred. A tool, chosen for its utility but proving unwieldy in the crucial moment, slipped from Ryan's weary hands. The imprecise application of force, a rare misstep in his otherwise careful approach, triggered a violent reaction from the instrument.

The malfunction was sudden and catastrophic, far beyond what Ryan could have anticipated. The ancient instrument, teetering on the edge, unleashed a devastating barrage of sound waves, each one a lethal force. Ryan, squarely in the path of this sonic tempest, was engulfed entirely by the assault. The waves, far from the non-lethal blows he had previously endured, became blades of pure force, slicing through the air with fatal potential.

In the midst of the chaos, Ryan's efforts to shield himself were futile. The sound waves, sharpened into deadly projectiles, pierced through, cutting into flesh and bone with indiscriminate fury. Each hit sending him stumbling or whipping back, spraying blood as he went. The air around Ryan was filled with the sound of his own demise, a requiem for a valiant last stand.

Time passed. Ryan found himself awakening not amidst the ruins of his trial, but in the relative safety of a bed within the nearby town. Days had passed since he was discovered at the spire's threshold, barely clinging to life, his body a scrap of flesh from all the wounds. The townsfolk, having found him in such a dire state, had brought him back, nursing him back from the brink with their care and the healing arts at their disposal.

As consciousness took hold and the fog of near-death experiences began to clear, Ryan's senses returned, greeted by the sterile air of recuperation and the soft murmur of concerned voices around him. Yet, it was the sensation of absence that drew his focus, a void where part of him should have been. Beneath the layers of bandages that wrapped his body like a cocoon, a stark realization awaited him. His right arm, once a limb relied upon for crafting, combat, and care, was now a memory, severed halfway down the bicep.

Where flesh and bone had once formed the structure of his arm, an arcane halo now encircled the stump. This mark, composed of demonic-looking musical notes, pulsed with an energy that was both mesmerizing and malevolent. It was as if the very essence of the Hall of Harmonics had claimed a part of him, leaving behind a reminder of the trial's catastrophic end. The halo resisted all attempts at healing or regeneration, a curse that would mark his failed attempt at the spire and potentially cling to him the rest of his life if he let it...

The End


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[Novama]

Isekai Hell Grade​

Novama Rev IX

A valiant effort, but sometimes these sorts of rp's go this way. But no need to leave empty handed.

Aftermath
n/a

Rewards

Points
Novama - 7pts (narrator)

Ryan - 14pts
acquired mandatory title [Maimed] - Ryan was badly injured and suffers -1 grade to any action that uses his hands due to the suddenly lack of one. Prosthetics, healing, and further amputation do not alieve this condition so long as the curse etched in his flesh remains. A grade healing or equivalent can heal his body of the curse. Maimed title may be used to narrate your own rp to quest for a healer capable enough to cure or otherwise relieve the mechanical part of the affliction on Ryan. Alternatively, the Maimed title may be used to run an rp where you play out Ryan's affliction and cash the title in for x2 points as if it were a world rp, but doing so will leave Ryan afflicted indefinitely. (does not stack with other point boosting effects)

item acquired [Hellish Harmonics] - a demonic halo floats around the arm stump in the air and flesh of the arm. A curse by an accident in the Hall of Harmonics. The curse hums with a certain resonance. Learning to tap into it may assist in ascension. But until such knowledge can be acquired, the curse mark can also act as a natural catalyst of the D grade and include the indestructible properties of an orichalcum item. Any magical abilities produced with it are accompanied by music.