video; w/ Finn, Sam, & McCoy!

[hatejakku]

[ The video clicks on to show Finn looking off to the side like he’s distracted and already forgot he started recording. There are some sounds of hustling going on in the background, too, definitely signs of people around and work going on.

But he turns his attention back to the recording with a smile quickly enough. ]

Hi! Dr. McCoy, Sam Wilson, and I are setting up a small infirmary near the kitchens. More like a base of operations, too, since… the rest of the castle won’t stay still. If you need to rest, this may be the safest place for it.

[ Hurrying into frame behind Finn, carrying a portable medical cot beneath his arm, Bones gruffly interjects: ]

Tell 'em to make themselves useful and find us blankets and clean linens.

[ He hurries away, letting Finn continue. ]

Prince Charming over there means any help is appreciated.

[ Not actually Finn that continues - sorry, Bones, Sam’s turn to wander into frame and interject, a few cases of supplies in his arms, Redwing lazily trailing behind. ]

Entrance hall and kitchen seem to be the only safe spots, hence the location for this setup. Rest of the castle is a trippy, magic funhouse. Tried to map it out, but heads up: electronic scanners are useless in here, and scaling the outside only helps until you get in through a window - then it’s magic bullshit time again. So like Finn said, Camp Arkenstone’s open for business, but you gotta make do with camping gear to hang out. Speaking of - Finn, we talked about the buddy system…?

[ Finn makes a humming, confused sound and then seems to remember. ]

Oh, right! Yeah. If any of you want to go exploring, we have flashlights and other equipment gathered here. We also think it’ll be a good idea to always go out there with at least one other person. If no one’s free, me or Sam will probably be willing to go.

[ Finn shrugs. They’re a couple of pals like that. Then, Finn looks offscreen to where McCoy wandered off to. ]

Anything else we should add?

[ There's a muffled ah, shit, and a much louder: ]

Yeah!

[ Joining Finn and Sam, Bones looks ruffled but otherwise calm, glancing briefly at the tricorder in his hand. ]

Sleepers appear to be in a kind of stasis, like something you'd see in long-term cryo back home, minus the very-necessary equipment for that kind of life support. I'd say they're comatose, but their brainwaves read like they're in REM sleep.

[ He grimaces. He can't help it, not liking the lack of answers. ]

Consider Mr. Finn's suggestion to pair up, and Mr. Wilson's intel regarding the usefulness of any scanning devices very strongly. Viveca's serum is the only remedy we've got right now, and if you fall asleep out there by yourself, Lord knows how we'll find you.

If we have any more crew with medical experience, it's safe to say we're gonna need the extra help.

[ Exeunt McCoy, while he returns to their sleeping orber. Sam mouthes ‘Prince Charming’ and shakes his head with a grin, then adds: ]

One more thing… This place is full of tricks, right. If you come across anything noteworthy, share with the class? We’ll attach some general notes on the castle to this message, feel free to add to that.

[ Finn looks between McCoy and Sam, then turns to whisper to that latter: ] Who’s Arkenstone?

[ And that’s how the feed ends. ]


[ ooc: feel free to assume the general notes cover some of the architecture basics of the castle as per the mission log, and feel free to have your characters share any other fun things you have them come across for IC Info Exchange. Threadjacking highly encouraged! ]

Comments

audio; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

One of my bells might be able to help- Mosrael is called the Waker, and it can pull people out of sleep, even if that sleep had an unnatural cause.

It's worth a try, at least.

audio; un: mccoy

[homeostatic]

Bells?

( the heck? she won't be able to hear the massive shrug he's doing right now. beggars, choosers, etc etc. )

Look, if it works, it works. Stop by when you can.

audio; un: eleven

[savingthrows]

I can... find people. No matter where they are. Contact them. In my mind.

[ The words come hesitant. An offer of help - she hasn't really told many people about her powers, but they could be useful here - and she wants to be useful. ]

I can try to pull them from the dreams. Wake them up.

[ A beat. One of them called the castle a funhouse, and she just has to disagree with that. ]

I don't think. This is a very fun house.

[hatejakku]

I agree. [ It's NOT a fun house, you're right.

But that's not what he's wanting to touch on here. ]

I'm a little like that, too. Can sort of... reach out to people's minds. Kind of. [ Maybe. Unclear.

Anyway- ] You really think it could wake people up? How would you do it? Try to enter their dream or-...? [ Something else? Yes, the reason he wants deets is because he's about to try it, shh, don't worry. ]

Re: audio; un: eleven

[morethan084]

[So not only is she the youngest person on the station, she's also the youngest person Daisy has met with powers.]

You can enter people's minds?

Video | Sometimes later, after his group has raised the magic items room

[spacedisaster]

Ey, sweetheart, hello. [ Peter gives Eleven a smile, recognizing the voice. ]

Oh wow, I didn't know you had those powers, that's incredible. You can find anyone? Just like that?

[romancekiller]

How does it work? Do you need anything in order to do this?

thought-to-text | un: blue

[firstroar]

Have you also discerned where the intrusive sounds are coming from?
They do not match the acoustics when I speak aloud...it is very strange.

audio; un: mccoy

[homeostatic]

What sounds? You're gonna have to be more specific.

text; un: s.wilson

[unclesam]

That a localized phenomenon, or you hearing that anywhere?

action;

[droide]

[ Having been on her own personal mission to map out as many rooms as she can, Elthree has already been through the base camp once or twice. This time, however, she comes in with some precious cargo in the form of a certain ruggedly handsome captain, currently snoozing up a storm in her arms. ]

Got another one for you, boys.

[hatejakku]

[ Hopefully, the thing in Finn's hands isn't breakable or valuable, because he drops it immediately when he looks over at Elthree. ]

James? Is he hurt?

[ At this point, he's already made peace with the idea that they're all going to succumb to this at least once. It's just worse in practice. Besides all that, he's been worried that people might pass out on their feet and get hurt on the way down so-

Yeah, that's why he rushes over in a bit of a panic. ]

video;

[flickerandfade]

I'll be sure to stop in to lend my aid as needed. Thank you for taking charge of the situation.

audio;

[homeostatic]

Keep an ear open, Megatron, we may need your help sooner rather than later. Let us know if you find any supplies we could use.

Video. | un: stardust

[shadysided]

[Ziggy is kind of at this camp already, mostly because she’s on the last leg of healing up from her own awful injuries when she’d arrived on the Ximilia — but like hell that’s going to stop her, even if she’s slower to move and quicker to tiredness.]

My personal goal thing is to be, uhhh — “active support”, so just tell me anything you guys need help with, and I’ll get it done. Or whatever.

[She isn’t exactly a bright, shining beacon of cheering or teamwork, but she’s doing her best here.]

video | un: s.wilson

[unclesam]

Hey, Bowie.

[ Sam holds up one of the smaller crates he was carrying. He's wearing his flight goggles, and through the video feed it's apparent that some sort of information flits over the inside of the red visor. Sam looks briefly distracted, then shifts his focus back to her. ]

You more interested in packing first aid field kits for our exploration teams, or in keeping an eye on what my drone's seeing and noting down some stuff from outside the castle?

Action.

[groupiedrifter]

Oh my god, what massive dork named this place Arkenstone?

[Don't answer back that he seems to know the name, therefore making him just as big a nerd.

This isn't important. What is important is he's setting up his Ximilia kit in the small infirmary space, too — mostly just stuff you'd find on the station! State of the art microscopes, a little data entry handheld, some typical slides and equipment specifically for eyeballing organic materials that may be collected from sleeping folks. A needle prod for blood or a little pinch for tissue cells goes a long way, yanno...! It doesn't take up too much room at least. Technology's so splendid sometimes.

He yawns into his hand as he wanders around the newly established camp.]

I think after we're done here, I'm gonna rob their kitchen. Is it robbery if we rescue them all from a sleeping spell? I feel like that's just a cash deposit.

[unclesam]

Why, you wanna talk shit?

[ Good-natured, though Sam shoots Newton a Look. The guy might remember why that particular brand of nerd is fresh on Sam's mind currently. ]

Well unless you wanna contend with the dry emergency rations we brought just in case...

[ Sam makes a gesture. He'd honestly object if they were down in some decrepit village taking from the obviously poor, but... ]

Looks like we're stealing from the rich to save the poor, so. Call yourself Robin Hood and feast, I guess?

Video | Un: Star-Lord

[spacedisaster]

Good job and good advice, thanks for setting this up. If I discover anything noteworthy, I'll leave the information there.

I can't believe you named the camp after the Jewell from the Hobbit book. [ NERDS. ]

We're in a magic castle, there's even a hedge maze, and everyone is dreaming ala Sleeping Beauty...has anybody tried to wake people by kissing them?

[ Ey, he's just saying it could work because strangest things had happened. ]

video | un: s.wilson

[unclesam]

What, you want me to rebrand this shit every mission?

[ Amusement flickers across Sam's face, easy and companionable.

Besides, listen, he's in a vibe here, what with the surprise gift for Bucky he's 'ordered' from Viveca for after the mission. So really, it's not even Sam's fault - Bucky is the nerd, and Sam's just getting infected. ]

I think you just volunteered to test that theory at your earliest convenience, Quill. Just don't cry when you get slapped.

text; un: hgottlieb

[bijective]

I will join your group very shortly but there is something I'd like to inquire about.

The antidote. Viveca had emphasized that it only works once. That would certainly imply that this illness exhibits virus-like qualities where one may catch it again.

audio; un: mccoy

[homeostatic]

A solid possibility.

( Not one he's happy about, judging by his tone. )

Nothing in the tests I've run indicate a viral infection, or the presence of any other pathogens.

audio | un: silent

[callada]

I'll be in and out while I try and work out what's with the orb here, but if you run short on hands feel free to send me a message. I'm no doctor, but I do know first aid.

Could help carry folks back to base if they can't get there themselves, too. Just let me know.

audio; un: mccoy

[homeostatic]

Both would be welcome right about now. Folks are starting to get hurt in their dreams.

audio; un: nightmoves

[ruinously]

[ Dean is SO CRANKY about these rooms, wtf. ]

This place is like friggin' Hogwarts from hell. I'll be in and out, if anyone needs a hand.

Also, I apparently need to have a chick flick moment in regards to my goal, so. Anyone open to that, let me know I guess.

[hatejakku]

Wait, that's what they said? A chick flick moment? They're usually clearer than that.

[ Sorry, Dean. He's already trying to unravel this riddle the orbs supposedly gave you. But he hasn't seen any chickens, so-- ]

Text. un: Kirigan

[cruelyethuman]

Kaidan and I have found papers and scrolls in the library. They might be magical in origin, or written in a language neither of us can read.

I have enclosed a few pictures to this message, in hope that someone out there might be able to read them

[Attached to the message are 7 images as close-up as the Darkling can manage from the texts that they found.]

Text. un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

I can read them, but... they're going deep into the details of some sort of magic. I think it would be best if I could read them in person.

text; un:b1-of-a-kind

[thelastb1]

we found a room! [the link leads to an image of Roger, L3-37, Megatron, the Twelfth Doctor and Peter Parker standing in the room they found in the search request.] we also found some gold for the amulets and some gemstones in here. there's also a letter, which seems pretty important, so everyone should make sure they read that. [Attached to the message is a file that’s roughly equivalent to a pdf, but rather than showing the note it shows the entire romance novel they found in the room that the letter was found in.

Several minutes later, he changes the content of the message.] EDIT: WAIT WAIT I USED THE WRONG FILE. THIS HAS THE LETTER. [he corrects the mistake, attaching the file of the note they found.]

audio; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

I've been studying the papers Kirigan found and- whoever wrote them is a genius. This is magic of the highest level, and he's come up with applications for illusions that I hadn't even considered.

It's all- very complicated, but it describes how to make inanimate matter become self-aware, and work out how to travel between worlds- he even had notes about what he found in worlds he visited!

Audio | UN: Syrlya

[chronosynthesis]

I'll abscond with any linens I happen to find looking around.

Should we come across anyone trapped in slumber, is there space for them within... [A pause.] Camp Arkenstone? Our antidotes are limited, so it's possible someone could be asleep until we retrieve the orb.

[Or multiple persons.]

audio; un: mccoy

[homeostatic]

Space has been made, just get them to us. Same if you find any locals under the influence, I'd like to take a look at them.

( Does he sound hopeful, or just so forcibly neutral his usual gruffness reads as positive? Who knows. )

Posted a few days after his first reply

[spacedisaster]

Okay guys, some updates. Daisy, Clarke, Finn and I found a storage room full of fancy things and magical objects. In fact, Finn mentioned how the whole room on itself was magical, because it seemed to grow in size and not have an end, exactly, even if at some point we were seeing the same objects over and over.

We found a magic cloak, some medals that belonged to the Wizard and were carelessly stored in a desk drawer, a torn-off parchment with the title "Official Summons.", and a box that most likely contained the orb at some point. Finn could detect that he magic surrounding that box felt different than the rest of the room.

There was also a jewelry box with something alive inside, but by the time we managed to open it, it was gone. The jewelry box is in fact a music box and I don't think it will help us with the mission, but the melody is pretty sweet to listen to. Nessie likes it.

Ah, right, ...Nessie. In the storage room, we found a trap door and stairs that led us to a moat. It seems to be a place that's not anywhere in the castle but somewhere else. A cityscape can be seen, pretty and lively, but I am not sure where it is. In the moat lives an adorable while-dinosaur creature. They're very shy but easy to befriend if you don't startle it with sudden movements and feed it some fish.

voice; un: clarke

[romancekiller]

Camp Arkenstone? I'm guessing that is a reference to something but thank you for setting this up, the base camp is a really good idea. [the reference for this goes right over her head but doesn't dwell on that for too as she focuses on addressing the rest of what has been said with how she can contribute]

I've been trying to map things out using my sketchbook to see if I can pick up any patterns from the changes within the castle but aside from that I can help on the medical side of things too.

[unclesam]

You got any luck with that? For medical, it's pretty much all hands on deck. The doc is handling our sleepers and got all the fancy tech, but we can use extra hands on anything. Feel free to jump in, pack a few first aid field kits for any intrepid explorers etc.