He will smile at their new team member. "I certainly glad hope you stick around and help out with the only game that matters right now: staying alive."
He looked awkward for a second worrying that he might have come across a little brusque. during his second tour he was reminded by the CO to remember that FNGs still required a little more empathy to help integrate them with the team. His CO was right of course, but after watching other squad members die it became harder and harder to feel for a F*****g New Guy who might get themselves killed just after he started to develop a strong attachment to them.

He straitened him self and gave the best genuine smile he could muster. "Let go put a good show on for the paying guests, with luck they will throw extra prizes to allow us to survive another day."

Chalei'nh's medical exam easily finds no damage at all, not even any blood. A fall from 8 or 9 feet should have done something to the human body, but wanderer bodies where more durable after the transformation.

As everybody gets introduced and gets off the floor, sounds of music could be heard from the other room. For those tv watchers, it sounds like the jingle for a sports program-with full orchestrion. However, the door resists all efforts to open-and there is no way to see what is going on.

It was then another hologram forms, this one standing among the wanderers and is very familiar to most of them.

Gallbry, or the semi-transparent image of her, is seen sitting on invisible furniture while drinking some sort of orange liquid from a strange looking glass that seems more like a plant. She sighs as she observes the group, and nods at Avilaya.

"Greetings wanderers. Wanderer Avilaya, I am your PR Agent Gallbry. I am sure you have questions, and I am not allowed to answer all of them. However, as your fellow wanderers will fill you in, I am your PR representative when dealing with the System AI and the D/Monix corporation. Feel free to start asking questions everyone." She sighs and takes another drink.

- "Ah, just the person i wanted to see."

Chalei'nh walked up to Gallbry, and tried to subtly feel around for anything she could sit on. If she would find something she would, otherwise she would remain standing.

- "I was wondering about the prize at the end of all this. While we would have an obvious desire to have our home planet returned to us, where we are from corporations tend to buy and sell assets all the time. What are D/Monix' legal obligations should someone defeat the Labyrinth, and what would happen should the winning contestant state a desire for something not or no longer within D/Monix' ownership?"

Avilaya stayed as still as she could while Chalei'nh examined her nose.  It was hard because Avilaya kept on trying to look up into the other womans face.  Keeping her eyes level put the focus on other things.  "Thanks.  I'm not used to making an entrance like that and that took me a little by surprise.  You are really tall.  I mean I thought that I was tall but you...you could play basketball."

She said that last part as she stepped back from the examination to greet the others.  Avilaya shook Malcoms hand first before addressing Nathan.  "Nice to meet you, Malcom and...hooded guy.  I'm looking forward to working with you, and making sure that we all get through all of this."

Before much else could be said, the semi-transparent image of Gallbry appeared.  "Gallbry.  Got it.  I guess new group comes with new PR agent."  Avilaya started.  "So, how are we doing in the ratings?  With the fans?  We have an interview coming up next right?  I've just been dropped in here, and I do appreciate that, but I'm not sure of the group dynamic.  Who's the cocky one, who is the smart one, the heart throb?  Which boy band member are we missing?"

"I think we're currently missing the smart, cocky, heart throb. You've got some pretty big shoes to fill." He says with a chuckle.

- "Hey, speak for yourself, i'm fabulous."

Grinning, Chalei'nh flipped her hair over her shoulder in a deliberately exaggerated theatrical gesture, using her wind magic to enhance the dramatic effect despite her hair being done in a long braid, not to mention the lot of them being indoors. She then turned to Avilaya with a half-shrug.

- "Anyway, never did basketball. Was more of a soccer guy myself."

Avilaya grinned back at Malcom.  It was good to see that this group had a sense of humour.  "Well, I'll have to rely upon my inherent star power and oodles of talent then."  She said airily, waving a hand as if to indicate that this was a common occurrence.  "I guess that makes you all my back up dancers.  Alright, Malcom.  Let's see some moves."

She didn't miss Chalei'nhs reply.  "Soccer...guy, hmmm?" Avilaya said with a smile and a knowing wink.  "So Miss Fabulous, if you don't play basketball, what do you do?"

- "Yep. MMO habit, felt the most appropriate. At least this way i can pretend it's some kind of VR game, plus it'd feel weird to have my dad bod do backflips all of a sudden. I know what i used to be capable of, and that ain't it."

Chalei'nh laughed for a moment, before turning to the matter at hand if she had interpreted Avilaya correctly.

- "Well, i'm pretty much a Monk fighting with my hands and feet, but i also have some minor control over wind so i can basically use that to punch people at a distance. Confident i could also break someone's fall using wind, though before we go jumping off cliffs i should mention i can only use it on one person at a time. And of course i've been looking into nonmagical healing, though i'd need some tools i can hopefully get a chance to buy on the next level, given that this is the first time the system awarded us prize money. Oh, and i'm good at sneaking around, though we haven't gotten to do that much."

She then looked around, waiting to see who would be going next.

"You are de Bomb" Nathan will wink and Chalei'nh. He will reply to Avilaya. "The hooded guy apologizes for his poor manners. My name is Nathan. I have no problem being one of you back up a dancers in a combat situation. I have moves that can help trip up and distract your dance partners. On the way to those combats I am usually up front  to spot traps before cause you harm and spot the enemy before they spot us. Recently I learned how to set up my own traps to provide early warning or preemptive mayhem." He will offer his hand but will take no offense if the gesture is not returned.

He will ask the PR agent. "Will we have a opportunity to either create or purchase gear before we get thrown back into the dungeon? Second I should have remembered to ask sooner. What are limits on what we can store in our HUD?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:07, Mon 18 Mar.

"You need to discuss that with your lawyer about your season contract. Before you ask, you don't have a lawyer, and you don't get one until we know you can survive down in the lower levels. D/Monix is also under no obligation to show you your contract, as you waved all rights entering the Labyrinth in the first place." She shakes her head.

"Company policy, not mine. As for your planet, because it did not register with the closest Starfaring notary, D/Monix is allowed to mine and develop your world as they wish, with some small resverantion made for the suriving populace that did not enter the Labyrinth. Trust me, those people are doing great either. At least you get a chance in here." She rubs her forehead, looking upset. "Again, Company policy."




Gallbry sighs. "I am not allowed to give you a Fan rating system yet. Your new interviews are Zork, Callifur, and Nork. Their show is the equal of a...sports panel? So it should be a friendlier sitdown than Quasar gave your fellow Wanderers last time." She says, taking a sip, and then breathing out pink smoke.



"Workshops and living spaces are available next Labyrinth floor, along shops. All must be purchased by yourselves, or by fan donation. Your extra dimensional inventory is limited by what you could personally carry. Anything beyond that can be stored in your living space-transferable from your current location to said living space. Living space access are only available in safe zones." The smoke caused by the liquid she is drinks orbits her head like a halo.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Mon 18 Mar.

Chalei'nh nodded. It had been the same question she had asked during their last conversation, only reframed in what D/Monix' obligation would be, so she had already more or less expected not to get an answer. On a more positive note however, it did open up the possibility of a followup question, and one she hadn't known she had been thinking about until it had been brought up just now.

- "I see. On that note, you mentioned 'lower levels' a few times. How many levels are there and, like with the lawyer example, what are the approximate breakpoints where we get access to new facilities and permissions? Since this is, after all, a contest, this means there is some kind of structure at play, which wouldn't have us endlessly clearing dungeon floors over the next hundred years or so, yes?"

Malcom chuckles at the idea of him being a backup dancer. "I'm a white biker. I can't even touch my toes, nevermind have any moves. Of course that was before I started the very committed cosplay of Archangel. Now who knows, I might even have rhythm I certainly can jump now."

Gallbry touches one of her pointed ears, as if listening to someone. "What? What do you mean, she's been there the whole time? I thought...dammit! Let me know this in advance!" She seemed disgusted with whoever she was talking to. "Well, it turns out you have another party member I was just made aware of. She is sorta a big deal with the fans, so after losing her first group of wanderers she should be a major asset. She is...uhhh...behind that chair."

Gallbry gestures to a lone chair against the wall. None of you see anything. Then, something very small walks from behind the leg of the chair...

While not entirely behind the chair in the sense that larger people think of chairs having backs and thus a zone behind them the small woman behind the front chair leg looks like she had been sitting on the floor under the chair, perhaps leaning up against one of the rear legs.  When it becomes clear that she is being talked about she leans out around the chair leg like it is some kind of tree nearly twice her height.

After a few moments consideration she hopes up into the seat of the chair with alarming ease, it isn't any farther than most humans could step up but at double her height it somehow just looks more impressive.  Waving a little hand over her head, and angled up to where she can see the PR agent she speaks in a somewhat quiet voice but nothing like the whisper one might expect.

”Sorry about that, I wasn't sure if anyone would need to be sitting on the chair and that sort of confusion can get very awkward very quickly.”

"Judge you by your size I do not. Hello I am Nathan" At this point in time all the less skilled or lucky were most likely 'recycled' by now this time it was likely she could defend herself
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Wed 20 Mar.

Chalei'nh was waiting for Gallbry to answer her question when she overheard her talking to someone over her earpiece. Would she even need an earpiece, knowing that while their powers and abilities were locked she was still very much Chalei'nh right now? Probably not. Regardless, she turned to face the not-so-newcomer, sending her a smile but not approaching in order not to intimidate her with the size difference between the two, given that she was the tallest out of everyone present.

- "Cheesy puns of being overlooked aside, welcome to the group. I'm Chalei'nh. ...Just to double check, you heard when we discussed what we could do, right? I don't mind going through it again, just asking if i need to."

Rather than try to sit in the chair, or lie down as she could easily do even along its shortest dimension, the little painted metal woman stays standing in the center of it as if she were on a stage or raised dais.  When her new allies address her and begin introducing themselves she turns away from the PR guy to focus on them.

”It is nice to meet you all, I am Heidi.  I am good at hitting stuff and a lot tougher than I look, I believe an MMO would call me a stealth tank.”

Avilaya was taking in all that was being said, and was about to mention what she did, when Heidi was introduced.  "A stealth Tank?  That will be interesting to see."  She said, kneeling down to get a closer look at the tiny metal woman.  She grinned.  "How do you tank being so small?  I guess we'll find out, eh?  Oh, I'm Avilaya.  Nice to meet you.  I guess you can consider me a striker so we'll probably be working together.  I can't help but think Fastball special when I look at you."

Avilaya had a sudden thought and turned to look up at Chalei'nh and chuckled.  "Heh heh.  Big woman, small woman, and me in the middle.  This is going to be a very interesting front line."

Malcom starts chuckling. "Hello Angels." He says in his best John Forsythe voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Thu 21 Mar.

"Anyways, your two new members should make up for the loss of your other members off on ad junkets." She sighed, took another drink, and blew out more mist.

"The recap episode should be starting soon, and you can watch it from in here. As soon as it finishes, walk through those doors. Remember, your fans are going to be out there, and your survival depends on those donor boxes. So do whatever it is you do, but don't be dull. That's all the advise I am allowed to give you by the rules. Within a couple of floors, you should be getting access to your fan feeds. And before you ask-that's all I can tell you about that. Good luck."

With that, the image of Gallbry vanishes. The AI's 'recap episode' begins, a hovering movie above you on the roof. You see many wanderers, some human some not, fighting the Bloat's minions. For those of you with the group in the last level, you see the wanderer group you met on the pervious level. All of them getting to the stairwell and making it down safely. You see your battle with the Bloat's minions at the frog village...but only about 5 seconds worth. You are also seen standing over the Bloat's corpse. Then you see a bunch of what looks like men in camo with machine guns shooting at the Florida Men Redcaps, only to eventually fall to them. You also see some sort of mutant alligators consuming some other wanderers. Very few seem to survive, expect for a man in boxer shorts and a leather jacket, who is carrying a cat on his shoulders who wears sunglasses. They also make it down the stairwell.

From beyond the doors, you hear a cheering group, and what sounds like three people talking nearby. You think that is your introduction.

Avilaya was a little distracted by everything going on around her that she caught sight of Gallery vanishing before the recap.  "Hey!  Wait!"  She called out.  "Don't we need wardrobe and makeup?  We need to look our best out there for the crowds right?  Or how do you guys want to play this?  If we need donor boxes then we should give the crowd something memorable."

Somehow managing a very realistic shrug with tiny metal shoulders Heidi gestures casually to wave away Avilaya's concerns, or at least suggest that she doesn't share any of them herself.  With a quick jumping flip up and backwards she grabs onto the top of the chair and tips it over backwards in what should be a crashing motion but instead places herself below it to crouch and absorb the impact with little more than a soft tick like one would expect from tap shoes.

Lifting the chair many times her own height from its back into a vertical position she carries it balanced that way through the now open doors out onto the stage before the cheering audience.  When she arrives she does something like the reverse of the procedure, throwing the back of the chair up as the legs come down, then jumping into it herself to finish the motion required to settle the chair on the stage with herself atop it.

Raising her voice to shout she can still only barely be heard even with the typical acoustic advantage of a stage, without the disruption of the chair trick to create a breath of silence she might not have been at all.  ”Hello everybody, how are we all doing this fine evening?”

Chalei'nh chuckled in response to Avilaya.

- "Yeah, pretty sure most of the footage we were on saw us with mushroom bits splattered onto our clothing, sick due to spores or beaten to a pulp like those guys with the guns from the recap. I'd say 'clean and healthy' is pretty much giving a good impression as it is."

Seeing Heidi walk out with the chair to make a show of her entrance, she turned to the others.

- "Shall we?"

After taking a few seconds to confirm her sash was where it was usually worn rather than the improvised balaclava she had used it as in the previous level, and straightening her clothes, she walked out onto the stage giving the audience a small wave in the process. Once at where they were supposed to sit down -- going by human talkshow logic there would be a couch or a line of chairs since they were scheduled as a group -- she made herself comfortable and crossed her legs as she sat down, calmly waiting for the others to arrive as well.

Malcom went for the gusto instead of the calm that Chalei'nh exuded. He leaped through the door and flapping his wings far more than he needed to get across the stage, soared over to his spot where he dropped to the floor, landing in a defensive stance for a two count. He then stood up straight, snapped his wings wide and posed for either the visible audience or for the cameras if that's all that's available.