Trial By Fire - Exalted 2e IC Thread

[Rykon]

Aredin reaches for the Old Realm pictogram "A" and taps it with his fingertip.

 

[Sherwood]

The screen changes to show you a menu of options, many of which don't make a lot of sense to you, but there is a map function, and a key marked 'help'.

 

[Rykon]

Aredin starts by tapping the map glyph to see if it presents data as detailed as Ragnar's Artifact.

 

[Sherwood]

The map is very complex, showing you a city in three dimensions, with a lit up spot showing your current position. It can zoom in to show a lot of detail.

 

[Psychie]

Darian looks at the map in amazement. "This is bigger than I had even imagined it could be! Look at it! This must be one of the most incredible marvels of the First Age ever!"

 

[Rykon]

Aredin appears intensely focused but nods to Darians words. "It certainly is fascinating, but we need more data on what exactly we have on our hands here. Let's see... what were those bizarre functions all about."

Aredin looks for the help glyph and attempts to close the map view if it's not immediately visible. If the help glyph only pertains to the map, he notes the functionality but endeavors to return to the home screen and press help again.

His goal presently is to acquire an understanding of the capabilities of this so called Titan.

After taking note of what he sees, he glances around for anything resembling hearthstone sockets or ports that could read the crystals dropped by the enemy spellcaster.

 

[Sherwood]

Not only are there sockets that look like they could fit a hearthstone, but there are spaces that these crystals are obviously designed to fit into.

 

[Rykon]

Aredin rolls his neck to give it a few pops then cracks his knuckles. "Let's start with something I'm pretty sure won't activate anything nasty." He pops the Gem of Legendary Leadership from his Daiklave and mounts it to the terminal, linking Metagalapa with the Pyramid of the Sun. In the event that the machinery appeared to require more geomantic power he popped out the Gem of Grace he recovered from the old tomb and slotted it into the machine as well.

For now, Aredin wanted to withhold anything that might contain Deathlord Influence from a terminal with control of the mountain. At least until he felt confident with his mastery of its machinery.

 

[Sherwood]

With the addition of the hearthstones, the light of the terminal gets brighter, obviously reacting to the power being given off by the stones. It is also reacting faster to your keystrokes.

 

[Psychie]

Darian, while looking over Aredin's shoulder, says, "Well, that does seem to be doing something. I wonder, what the help key would do?"

 

[Rykon]

"Alright Darian, let's see what we can learn from this thing... Everyone feel free to slot your strongest hearthstones. We may need more power to bring out its full potential." Aredin mutters, starting to scroll through help menus on the various commands.

What actions are available to the Titan? Is there anything that references the Sword of Creation or the Blessed Isle?

 

[Sherwood]

When the help key is pressed, a small serpentine figure appears in the corner of the screen made of golden light. In a musical voice, you hear, "Greetings, Noble Exalt! I am TARU. How may I be of assistance?"

 

[Rykon]

"Hey there buddy. I need to know what all this place is capable of. We Solars have been away for a long time and much has been forgotten. Do you mind educating us?" Aredin said in Old Realm with a gesture to himself and the spectators at large.

 

[Sherwood]

The image on the screen bobs about a bit. "That is a very large question, Noble Exalt, and one that this terminal does not have the full security clearance to be able to provide. Can you be more specific in your query? Or can I direct you to the command center, where you can provide your security codes for full access?"

 

[Rykon]

"Yes, direct us to the command center." Aredin commanded. Once they had directions and the explanation concluded he would then inquire. "By the way, if I inserted any of these crystals here at this terminal... Are there any risks of possession, takeovers or anything like that?"

 

[Sherwood]

TARU's response is, "Negative, Noble Exalt. This terminal lacks access to the station's core command stack. Do you require guidance to the command center?"

 

[Rykon]

"Before that, let's read these crystals." Aredin says aloud, slotting each of the gems dropped by the Abyssal spellcaster.

 

[Sherwood]

TARU bobs in the air happily. "Of course, Noble Exalt! Accessing data now!" Two displays come up in the air, both begin to rapidly fill with symbols. The first shows a collection of file folders that are also filled with data codes, numbered one to thirty. Very detailed. "Noble Exalt, these files are all encrypted, and I cannot open them on this terminal. They require a higher access level than this panel has."

The second screen is also filled with codes. TARU pops up in this screen. "Noble Exalt, these appear to be your command and access codes for Scattered Petals of the Thousand Toothed Blossom. As I indicated before, though, this terminal does not have full access to the core command set. You will need to go to either Engineering or Command to have full access.

 

[Rykon]

"...and these commands won't execute without my direction, yes?"

 

[Sherwood]

"That is correct, Noble Exalt." TARU seems to be very pleased to be of service.

 

[Rykon]

Sherwood
"Very well, please direct us to command." Aredin concluded, waiting until they had directions before collecting all slotted stones and crystals and moving on.

 

[Psychie]

Darian lets out a low whistle. "It seems that the Abyssals have left us quite a gift."

 

[Rykon]

"That they have darling. Looks like these crystals have the key we need to activate the city, among other things." Aredin said with a smile.

 

[jaydude]

Annika would regard everything warily. "Let's just hope we don't do anything that causes the entire mountain to drop out of the sky."

 

[Rykon]

"From what the terminal spirit said, we'll have the chance to verify what everything does before it runs over at command. I wanted to make sure all of this ancient tech wasn't going to surprise us since this Deathlord has us at such a massive disadvantage when it comes to using this stuff."