[table] [row][cell][h2] [color=palegoldenrod]L O R A L I E[/color] & [color=darkorange]S H A R O D[/color] [/h2][/cell] [cell][right] [sub]pre[/sub]6 days, 19 hours and 42 minutes and counting to floor collapse [sub]post[/sub]6 days, 11 hours and 10 minutes and counting to floor collapse Floor 1 Viewers: 0 | Followers: 0 | Favorites: 0 [/right][/cell][/row] [/table] [hr] Sharod took a second in the bathroom, looking at his reflection before they ventured back out into the dungeon. The concept of looking at himself in such an unfamiliar place was odd. Everything around him was new- his weaponry glinting from his knuckles. Blue-green glue has deepened to a sickly gray/black stain across his clothes. A 1990s Denny’s bathroom, walls yellowed with age, pink and blue painted tile dispersed in a sea of white. It’s familiar. But there is a sense of dread about all of it. [color=darkorange]”Just keep going. We’ll rest soon.”[/color] He’s wearing black Carhartt pants, tan timberlands, a light blue plaid overshirt, and a white t-shirt. His hair is pulled into poufy long locks. The back half of them are pulled into a pony tail. He unbuttons the dirtied shirt and is visibly pleased when it’s unmarred. His boots are fairing much worse. Leaning over he splashes water on his face, scrubbing the spider juice from his skin. When he’s finished, he looks up from the basin to the mirror, and for an instant, he sees the toilet behind him rather than his face. He blinks hard, by the time his eyes are reopened, he’s there again. Fear highlights his features- what is that all about? Was there a bug in the game? Was this mirror virtual? Reaching up, his fingers slide under the sides, top and bottom of the mirror. Maybe there’s a button here somewhere. He finds nothing. So he leaves. Loralie is sitting in a booth, her eyes glued to the spinning logo on the tv in the restaurant. Maxlo is banging pots and pans together somewhere back in the kitchen. Sharod sighs- [color=darkorange]“Lor- we should get moving again.”[/color] For a few beats, silence surrounds them. It’s the rustling of her clothing that finally breaks it. [hr] They spend several hours fighting more derby spiders. Only one set that really matched their last set of opponents. When they’ve destroyed their sixth spider gang, Loralie’s starting to look and feel very rough. Her chest is painful, and while their health totals are high she feels exhausted. Sharod feels like if he has to move another inch he’ll keel over. They’re nearly level five now and they’re starting to feel the XP gain slow down. With their inventories chocked full of boxes to open, they wordlessly agree to head back to the safe room. Luckily, they’d already made the call to start backtracking to the Wing Snob. When it comes into view, they stumble inside. Sharod says nothing as he crawls into a bed in their rented rest room. [color=palegoldenrod]”I’m not sure I’m going to get used to this.”[/color] Loralie is sitting on the side of her bed, facing away from him. The first few fights they fought she’d put her anger into it. Yells and grunts powered her swings. The last two? She’d been deadly silent. [color=darkorange]”If you do- I’ll ring your bell myself. You’ve got to hold onto what makes you, you dude. This place is already changing us.”[/color] He shuts his eyes. Laying flat on his back he lifts his arm to cover his eyes from the fluorescent lights. Loralie looks over at him at his revelation and then she falls into bed. Where- it’s lights out- for just a little while. When they get up, they open their next set of loot boxes, and head out. [h3]Notable Loot[/h3] [center] [table][row] [cell]NEW ACHIEVEMENT!! - L Groundskeeper [hr] You've now killed more spiders than most pest control services. Considering a career change? [hr] REWARD!!! Bronze Exterminator Box [hr] Contents: 1x Mana Potion, 1x Thick-Soled Boots (+1 passive resistance to ground-contact damage. Sludge trails, hot surfaces. Useful more than exciting.)[/cell] [cell]NEW ACHIEVEMENT!! - L Form Is Temporary [hr] That was a clean machete slash. Don't get used to it, you’re not consistent. [hr] REWARD!!! Silver Momentary Brilliance Box [hr] Contents: 1x Antidote Vial (single use — clears all poison stacks instantly) 1x Health Potion[/cell] [cell]NEW ACHIEVEMENT!! - S That Worked? [hr] It really shouldn't have. But it did. We're as surprised as you are. [hr] REWARD!!! Bronze Happy Accident Box [hr] Contents: 1x Full Stop Bandages, small gold, 1x Throwing Knife[/cell] [/row] [/table] [/center] [hr] It’s pretty quiet until they reach a new section of hallway they aren’t familiar with. Sharod rolls to a stop but Loralie’s been on autopilot. She powers ahead, and Sharod barely dashes in after her. Just in time too- because once he’s though the threshold- music begins. The Dungeon AI takes on a sports announcer tone with the next announcement. [color=gold]"[b]B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-BOSS BATTLE"[/b][/color] Sharod thinks he’s going to be sick.