"..." Deep within her chambers, the High Queen of the Machina of Mankind, dressed in a new set of
queenly garbs, stared blankly at the message written on the letter that hovered before her, held on a stasis field. Eos planned to contact the Alchemist before, but she couldn't anticipate this change in the patterns.
With a touch of a holographic screen, the ruler of Machina broadcast her voice, along with a scan of Hohenheim's letter, to the units more apt to take part on the Alchemist's "game".
"Attention, all units receiving this broadcast. This is the High Queen of the Machina of Mankind, Eos. An unforeseen variable has altered the course of the war effort. The Alchemist of Genesis, a being that was banished to the edges of the Nexus eons ago, finally decided reveal herself through a test of aptitude aimed at the best agents of each faction. You are thereby tasked with taking part on this test and secure rewards both personal and to our whole.""Take heed, however, for my assistance cannot reach the Alchemist's laboratory. You'll had to take decision and consider resources based only on your individual capabilities. The other factions have been invited and likewise will take part on the tests. The probability of confrontation is nearly of one however, our objective is not the defect of our foes, but to conquer the Alchemist's challenges and come back alive. This will not be easy, only those who are sure about their capabilities and skills are to take part. Once you have made your decision, press one of the two buttons of the interface I'm sending to you. Accept, will transport you to the Alchemist's fortress. Decline, will ignore the challenge permanently. There'll be no turning back once you have made your choice. Be wise." Once she had finished laying down her instructions, Eos uploaded the teleport program for the Machina units that had been selected for the battle.
Opening a private line to Stark Zealot and Marquis following the first message, Eos said,
"A valuable prototype will have her baptism by fire on this mission. Both of you are tasked to watch over it, she must not fall of enemy hands, no matter what happens. Act with wisdom, the Alchemist of Genesis is being who powers are off the charts and she's said to be every bit as sadistic as she's powerful. That is all." After sending this last message Eos returned her attention back to the war effort, managing the forces of the Machina all over the Nexus with the same cold efficiency as ever. The fate of those who took the challenge were their own now.
Hohenheim, The Alchemist of Genesis
Current Location: Hohenheim's Castle
This sentence, uttered in a voice so condescending and haughty in tone that it could be long to none other than the narcissistic being known as the
Alchemist of Genesis, Hohenheim was the first thing to greet the players of Hohenheim's little game as the Alchemist cast her gaze at the representatives of the Triumvirate from the isolation of her study.
"I'll cut to the chase, since I do not expect you to follow my reasoning if I cared to explain everything in detail." Hohenheim's voice sounded once more as the eldritch mists of the chaotic space of the Nexus' border parted, unveiling her
castle/laboratory, finally.
"This will be a challenge divided in parts, before I explain what each part will comprise, let me tell you about the boons I prepared to help you overcome my game.""On each of the stages of the challenge, one member of each faction can call on my help. I'll draw a card from a tarot deck, containing on the Major Arcana and provide a boon, or a penalty, based on the interpretation of card in question, before discarding it. If you don't want to risk suffering a crippling blow, all you have to do is forfeit the prizes. Simple, right? But, there's a catch. Before you make the draw, you can choose whether the card will target your allies, or one of the opposing factions. Can you really trust that they'll forsake the chance to harm your allies, even if you don't want to run the risk of say, becoming my permanent 'guest', if you are unlucky enough to draw the Tower? Hahaha! Trust each other at your own leisure who cannot guarantee that the Star isn't an automatic win, making the risk worth it?"A long pause, intent to sow discord and doubt on each of the participants' minds, before the Alchemist resumed her speech.
"Well, then, now it's time for a rundown about what this little game of mine will be."~Stage 1: The Gauntlet~
"The first stage, will be getting inside the premises of my Laboratory. Now, now, it may look like a simple enough task but, of course, I have a few cards up my magnificent sleeve. To begin with, you'll find that such a narrow bridge will barely allow for the passage of a few of you at a time, depending on size, maybe only one. You'll have to find a way to handle this bit of logistics on yourselves. Also, there's only one available entrance, that is the main gate, which is as wide as the bridge. Don't try to fly, escalate, dig --or whatever else you can do-- your way around the castle. You'll find that the barriers I set, along with the natural instability of the Nexus' edge, will get you on an unsavory fall down the interdimensional pit where dying won't bring you back. Hahahaha!
Oh, and in case any of you can teleport, open portals or the likes of it, know that if you try it to bypass my challenges, you are going to find yourselves prisoners of my dissection table within a very short order, since I hacked the space around my domains to redirect any teleportation that's intent to break my challenges to my dungeons. You are free to use such powers during fights and to teleport objects, but none of you will be getting in, or out of my domains without my permission. Capisci? My dear Juno, in case you are part of the ones out there, as I know very well you are... know that even my powers cannot control your mastery over Space and knowing the threats are only good to make you behave even worse, I have special proposal just for you. If you play by the rules, like a good girl, whether you win or not, I'll give you a ticket for an all-paid dinner and a night with a certain someone you are quite fond of.""One last note, don't try to block the path for too long, much less destroy it. There are automatic defenses meant to avoid that a smart ass or another do this. It's a notice for your own continued health."~Stage 2: The Ascension~
"Next is the second phase. Once you get inside the castle, you'll find the entrance lobby. There are three elevators there, pick one --they will work regardless of size, weight, etc.-- and you'll be lifted to the next stage of the challenge, take it again and you'll come back to the lobby. Both the up and down path are precisely timed, regardless of any movement related powers you might have. No tricks, no treachery. Simple enough, right? Think again... Hahaha!
First of all, each elevator can only take one individual at a time, try to fit two or more in any of them and you'll be on a way to my dungeons as well. Just like before, don't try to block the elevators, it'll not end well. For those that stay on the main lobby, know that I'll not let you stay alone for long. Some of my precious creations will join you while the others escalate. What is a party without a warm welcome, right?"~Stage 3: Chillin Out~
"The third stage is more or less like the second and the first combined with a cool twist. Cool, hahaha! Once the elevators bring you to it, you'll find yourselves at the storage vault for some of my experiments. It's comprised of a number of cryogenic pods, naturally the temperatures there are very low and highly unadvisable for long term presence if any of you is too fond of exposing too much skin.
All you have to do is navigate through this maze and find another set of elevators that will bring you to the next challenge. These elevators work just like the others, but there's a catch, they are marked. One for each faction, if you try to ride an elevator that's not meant for you... well, I guess your subintelects can figure the standard penalty for not following the rules, by that point, right? If you want to by pass this little maze by brute force, you can always break the pods. Just be aware that my babies don't like to be awakened early, in fact they get rather aggressive when done so.
By the way, if you bore me, I can always send some of my child to play with you."
~Stage 4: The Last Leg~
"Fear not, if you manage to get this far, know that this is the last stage of the challenge proper. All you have to do is defeat the guardian I have set there and take the only elevator that there's there to get to my chambers. This time there's no trick, I swear. You can always try to avoid the challenge and climb the elevator without fighting. If you'll be able to or not is another story. Hahaha!"~Finale: Genesis of the End~
"And finally, you'll be graced with the chance to meet I, the Alchemist of Genesis, face to face for one final talk. What will be of this stage? I can't even imagine. Surprise is the best thing of life, isn't it?
Just to make it clear. The first one to arrive at my sturdy will earn a reward for their faction. However, I'll hand personal rewards for all who I think are worth it."Once she gave a complete rundown of the challenges stages and conditions, Hohenheim went quiet for moment to let everyone piece the information together. That is, until her haughty voice sounded again.
"That concludes everything. One last warning, don't dilly dally too much, the main gate will only be open for a set amount of time. Once it closes, no one will get in or out of my Laboratory. For obvious reasons those who stay behind will be considered losers and teleported back to their pitiful dwelings." 
CamiCat,
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