Parted Puzzlers

Parted Puzzlers
Date	2024-08-30
Storyteller	Doug
Tier	Trainee
Player Characters	Dr. Theodore Rex, Jade, Joyuese, Nho, Pashiro
Rewards	250xp, 70gp, Mechanical Claw
Result	Success
Author	Unseelie
Downtime	0

Associates rescue two merchants from a simple but dangerous puzzle.

Log

Excerpts of Memory Database of Round Table Associate 'Nho'. Provided as log for the expedition 'Smell of the Game'.
Note: Memory format determined to be incompatible with most present beings. Previously provided text logs of write accesses also claimed to be 'Incomprehensible'. Testing beta version of 'informal database input/output translator' tool.

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Documenting newly encountered associates: 'Dr. Theodore Rex', 'Joyuese', 'Pashiro, The Wind Song'.
Documenting current party: 'Dr. Theodore Rex', 'Joyuese', 'Pashiro, The Wind Song', 'Jade'.

Acquired background information: Deadly puzzle toys have appeared repeatedly, force those solving them into deadly games.

Received mission objective: Rescue two travellers trapped in puzzle for 52 hours.

Observation: Council employs extensive security even for puzzles determined to be weak.

Puzzle solved by party member Dr. Theodore Rex.
Party moved to different space consisting of quadratic grid with fields, some of which emanate varying energy levels.
Party split:
1. Dr. Theodore Rex, Joyuese, Nho in north-east. Large area with minimal energy signature surrounded by areas with small signatures.
2. Pashiro, The Wind Song in north-west. Small area with minimal energy signatures surrounded by varying signatures.
3. Jade in south-west. Singular field with middling to high energy signature.
Observation: Possibly a pocket dimension.
Observation: Space monitored and provided with irregular commentary.

Observation: Energy signatures correspond to number of dangerous surrounding spaces.
Observation: Stepping on fields not yet emanating energy causes them to start emanating.
Conclusion: Energy signatures of neighbouring areas often allow determination of exact position of dangerous spaces.

Faint screaming can be heard from two fields.
Updated objectives:
1. Reach fields likely containing missing travellers.
2. Provide safe escape path to travellers.

'Game' complicated by addition of enemy spider construct. Later determined to be capable of movement without activating plates, distribution of bombs, and obscuring of revealed energy signatures.

Party hampered by increased gravitational pressure. Effect successfully countered on Nho by inbuilt gravitational generators.

Documenting: Several party members shown to be inpatient and foolhardy.
Note: Foolhardy actions not discouraged as long as sustainable, as they reveal the values of many fields.

First traveller freed by Dr. Theodore Rex. No return path provided, as path taken leads through a dangerous field.

Documenting: Joyuese continues to take impatient risks when lacking the constitution to resist further dangerous fields.
Observation: Unconscious beings slowly absorbed by game area. Sufficient time for rescue manoeuvres provided.

Second enemy spider construct released as observer considers progress 'too easy'.

Enemy spider construct manoeuvres easily countered.
Second traveller freed by Nho. Return path provided but not taken, as traveller fears passing by the enemy spider construct.

Third enemy spider construct released, likely for the same reason.

Second enemy spider construct eliminated by Joyuese.

Dr. Theodore Rex transforms into T-Rex.
First enemy spider construct eliminated by Dr. Theodore Rex by tripping it on a dangerous field.

Travellers escorted to area border by party members.

Observer expresses concerns about lacking difficulty of the game.
Observer expresses happiness about people solving their puzzles again.

After rescue, travellers incapable of opening boxes of any kind. Likely curse.