Archived:Mission: The Gilded Throne

Note: This mission is connected/influenced by the corresponding quest, The Lost Throne Quest.

Members
1. Strike, Mael

2. Josie, Mel

3. Asterick Seilers, RubyRose

Point Genesis
The party has arranged to meet at 527 East 72nd Street, New York.

Josie: ' sits down near the exit with a bag waiting for the rest

Strike: He arrives. Hey, you're here a bit early. Sits down next to her. I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to this.

Josie: 'really? why so??

Strike: Well, it's an opportunity to do something useful, to move towards my goal and to further the cause of the BC. Also... well... never mind.

Josie: nods as she looks away soo who else is going with us?

Strike: Good question. I believe her name is... Apostrophe? It was something odd. I don't really remember. I've never met her.

Josie: oh so we wait for her then?

Strike: It seems we'll have to. Did I tell you what this mission is about?

Josie: shakes her head no so what is it about?

Strike: Well, in the old stories Hephaestus once made a special, golden throne for Hera. It was a trap though. When Hera sat in it, it imprisoned her, and she could not rise. She could not even use her powers to escape. Eventually, Dionysus made Hephaestus release her though. No one has heard about the throne since, until just recently. Apparently, the pieces of the throne have been moved to Manhattan; where they were before, I do not know. The point is, they're underground somewhere, and it's our job to find them.

Josie: how do we do that exactly?

Strike: Well, I supposed we just need to scour the sewers until we find something. I know that doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun, but I can't think of a way around it.

Josie: if its for the mission ...I guess ok?

Asterick: She walks towards the two, Hmm? What's okay? Oh, I'm Asterick, by the way.

Josie: oh nice to meet you asterick

Asterick: She nods, then shrugs, Uh, you too, I guess. She turns to Strike, So I assume you are the leader of this mission?

Strike: nods I am technically in charge, yes. My name is Strike, and this is my... good friend, Josie.

Josie: smiles nice to meet you anyhow now everyone is here can we go?

Asterick: She shrugs again, Sure, let's get on with this

Strike: Strike stands up. All right, so the reason we met here at 527 East 72nd Street is because it is a dead end, and therefor has little traffic, meaning we can do this. ''Strike walks over to a manhole in the center of the street, takes a deep breath, and slowly lifts the cover off. He suddenly drops it off to the side and takes a moment to catch his breath.'' Those are heavier than they look...

Asterick: She frowns, Do we really have to go in there?

Strike: I'm afraid so. Don't worry, Manhattan sewers are spacious, and the alligator thing is a myth. Then again, that's what they said about the Greek gods.

Asterick: She rolls her eyes, Great. I'm so reassured now. ''Grudgingly she walks closer to the manhole. ''So, who first?

Josie: I'm glad we share the same opinion

Strike: Looks around. Well, no one said being the leader was going to be easy. He slowly lowers himself into the hole and calls up. It's all clear! There is a bit of dry space on the side of the tunnel, but it's very dark.

Asterick: She sighs, following Strike down the hole. This is not what I signed up for.

Josie : takes a deep breath before she went down I'm suddenly glad I'm blind..

Asterick: She turns towards Josie's relative position, trying to make her out in the dark. You're blind, really? I wouldn't have thought you were

Josie : smiles weakly really..

Strike: Hmm, I'd pay a small fortune to be nose-less right about now. Let's have a little light. ''Strike focuses his power to create a cube of light, about decimeter across. The light illuminates the tunnel, which is made of brick and slanted towards the middle. A river of slime runs down the center, but the sides of the tunnel are clean, mostly.'' This solid light stuff is still so weird to me... Strike wraps his knuckle on the cube and it produces a strange tone.

Asterick: She looks somewhat impressed, Well that's a bit better. So, how far should we follow this tunnel?

Strike: Until we find a clue or pass out from the noxious fumes. Let's go. He begins to slowly make his way down the tunnel, walking on the clean area around the edge.

Josie : she tries hard to follow them while paying close attention to the soroundings

Strike: Hey um, Josie. Can you tell where the sludge is from where the ground is? I just realized that might be difficult.

Josie : shrugs dont worry I;ve survived worse...

Strike: Well... OK. Suddenly a splash is heard up ahead.

Asterick: ''She stops walking, looking in the direction of the splash. Automatically, her right hand moves to her sword.''

Josie : takes out one of her throwing daggers

Strike: ''Strike reaches out and fires a light beam down the tunnel, illuminating it farther in. The light reveals a man in a white lab coat in the distance. He flinches and runs down a side tunnel.'' There is another person down here! Strike says so Josie knows what they say. He might have something to do with the throne! Strike begins to run after him.

Asterick: She summons miniature stars and throws them in the direction of the man, hoping to slow him, simultaneously running towards him

''The man yelps as he tries to avoid the stars. He trips, but quickly gets to his feet and rounds a bend out of sight. A strange creaking noise is heard.''

Asterick: She chases the man until he makes the turn, then looks around, having lost him. Where could he have gone? She hears the noise, And what is that?

Strike: Follows Asterick around the corner. Hmm, he couldn't have gotten away in such a short period of time, at least, not down this tunnel. Maybe there is a secret passage.

Asterick: She nods then begins looking around, hesitantly placing her hand against the wall of the tunnel, searching for grooves or other signs of an escape hatch.

Josie : finally reaches them you guys are fast..

Strike: I'm sorry, Josie. I didn't mean to leave you behind. We're looking for a secret passage. There might be air coming through the cracks or something. Can you feel anything?

Josie : takes a deep breath as she tried to concentrate yeah there is acctually...

Strike: Strike is searching the wall for cracks. Where is it coming from?

Josie : points to the middle of the wall there...

Strike: Thanks Josie, your the best. ''Strike draws his hunting knife and finds the crack. He tries to pry it open with the knife, but has no success.''

Josie : whats the matter??

Strike: Well, this certainly seems to be the door, but it's stuck. That man probably had a key or something that opened the door, but we don't.

Josie :hmm looks at asterick can you do anything?

Asterick: She frowns, looking at the door I could try heating it with plasma, depending on what it's made of, it might work."

Strike: Wouldn't that cause it to expand though? You'd have to heat it until it melted for that to be useful.

Asterick: Yeah...and I guess that'd take too long?

Strike: Probably, if you were doing this mission solo, but as it turns out both myself and Josie are rather good at heating things. If we all chip in, it might just work.

Asterick: She grins,  Awesome. Well let's get started, that man's already had plenty enough time to escape. She extends an arm and a beam of plasma intensifies in the palm of her hand, which she presses against the crack.

Strike: Strike's eyes and right hand begin to glow as he prepares to create a light beam. Um, can you maintain that beam from a slightly farther distance? We need to focus on one point, so if your hand is in the way you'll probably get burnt.

Asterick: She nods and backs away, giving Strike enough room to create the light. Josie, you want to join in?

Strike: Fires his light beam at the same point as the plasma beam. Yes Josie, we can't melt this thing by ourselves, at least, not within any pragmatic time frame.

Josie :snaps out of her stare oh sorry I thought I heard something...anyhow she called upon a heat storm as she blow at the door

''After several seconds that section of door is white hot. A few drops of molten brick drip down the side, followed by a large chunk of rock. The door, now too small for the opening it was blocking, falls inward, creating a monstrous noise as it falls down a steep set of stairs and smashes to pieces on the floor below.''

Strike: Excellent. Strike carefully inspects the steep the passage ahead. Well, it can't be worse than the sewer. He begins walking down the stairs.

Asterick: Let's hope not. ''She follows Strike down the stairs, turning around briefly to speak to Josie. ''Watch your step, Josie, there are steep stairs.

Josie :started to hover thanks

The First Hurdle
''Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, the demigods are faced with a long hallway, but one with a much higher roof. It is not lit. Footsteps echo from some distance ahead.''

Strike: It seems he did not get far. Strike frowns. But those footsteps... there seems to be more than one of him now, and are they carrying something heavy? ''Strike illuminates the passage, and quickly staggers back in surprise, almost running into Josie and Asterick. A trio of massive, humanoid forms lope toward them in the darkness.''

Josie :why do I feel there's something bad in front of us?

Asterick: She squints at the shapes, What are they?

Josie :flinches as she takes out her daggers I what ever they are they are not the welcoming committee...

Strike: ''Strike removes a rubber band from his wrist and stretches it. It morphs into a crossbow.'' Whatever they are, they aren't mortals or demigods. They must be some kind of monster, probably some kind of giant. I wonder how our cowardly friend got past them.

The giants pick up the pace and run towards the trio.

Josie :she makes a fog to surround the giants someone please tell that they have a plan?

Strike: Well, I don't have anything specific in mind, but if you want a plan I'll do my best. ''He fires his crossbow, hitting a giant in the arm. It lets out a bellow.'' OK, they barely fit in this tunnel. Try to hit them with projectiles; they can't dodge them in this constricted space. They have to hunch over a bit, even to move. That gives us a mobility advantage. If I can identify the monsters, maybe I can think of something else.

Josie :ok then want me to add rain?

Strike: Fires the crossbow again. If you think it will help, go ahead.

Josie :makes an isolated rain above the giants as she throws a few daggers their way

''The giants are not slowed by the rain, but the daggers deal them minor wounds. The first giant reaches the party and swings at the demigods.''

Strike: Jumps back to avoid the swing, but is too slow and is thrown against the wall.

Josie :as the first giant swings she felt the air current change thus quickly shed her skin to avoid it but it left her feeling severely drain

Asterick: She conjures up a large star, which she promptly begins to ride on, making her way towards the giants and slashing at them with her sword at high speed

''The first giant is caught off guard and blinded by the sudden brightness of the star. Asterick's sword slashes him to dust, but the second giant swings his fist directly at Asterick.''

Asterick: ''She is taken by surprise and knocked off the star, which continues zooming around. She gets up as fast as she can and takes a swing at the second giant again''

''The giant blocks the blow, hurting himself significantly in the process. The sword is lodged in his arm. With a heave, he yanks his arm back, sending Asterick's sword flying. The giant cradles his arm for a moment. He mutters to himself. ...only want a bit of demigod to eat... haven't eaten in ages... He raises his good arm to attack, but suddenly a crossbow bolt appears in his skull. He lets out a surprised yelp and crumbles to dust.''

Strike: So they can talk then? I guess that narrows down the possibilities of what they are.

Asterick: She shrugs. Well, why don't we try asking them?

Strike: I... well... that's a good point. What are you?

Giant: The final giant sneers. We are the Laestrygonians. Now that you've killed my brethren, it seems there will be enough of you for a proper meal! The giant produces a crudely shaped, stone mace and swings at Strike.

Strike: ''Strike quickly shuts off the light he was emitting, meaning Asterick's star is the only source of light in the tunnel. The star, being behind the giant, casts a strong shadow on Strike, who uses it to shadow travel out of the way of the blow.''

Asterick: With a little bit of strain, Asterick manages to create a living constellation, about twice her size, which immobilizes the giant while simultaneously attacking it

Giant: You cannot stop me fools, I am stronger than my brothers! The giant pushes the constellation away, then swings at it with his mace.

Asterick: ''She groans, becoming increasingly more fatigued and running out of ideas. While the giant is distracted with defeating the constellation, Asterick manages to retrieve her sword. ''This is not good, guys. I can try and summon an undead to come help us, but I doubt it'd help much.

Josie :I'm open for suggestion...looks at strike

Strike: We could try a joint attack. He my not be able to defend himself from all of us simultaneously.

Josie :nods ok what do you need me to do?

Strike: He whispers so the giant doesn't hear. Just get his attention. I'll try to knock him off guard so you can finish him off. Strike uses his amulet to melt into the shadows.

Josie: looks at asterick got any idea how we're suppose to do that?

Asterick: She shrugs, then throws a star at the giant Hey, you!

Giant: The giant is quick and blocks the star with his mace. Is that the best--Urk!

Strike: Strike comes out of a shadow and throws his weight against the giants leg.

Giant: Loses his balance and teeters, open to an attack.

Asterick: She quickly launches herself towards the giant and stabs him

Giant: Aaaarrggh! N-no! N-- He falls over backwards, almost landing on Strike, but turning into dust before impact.

Strike: Brushes the dust off his jacket. Well, that could have proceeded in far less preferable manner. Are quarry is probably long gone, so we can take a breather. Is everyone OK, Josie, Asterick?

Asterick: Yeah....fine... she says, breathing heavily, You good?

Strike: I've got a couple of new bruises, but I don't think I broke anything. Josie, how are you holding up?

Josie: was looking in her bag for some ambrosia but looked up to strike I'm fine

Strike: Smiles. Then if everyone is ready, we can move on.