DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE REEF

[phantasmods]

Expedition day dawns, as usual, with an android mass text -

Okay, so, this time we're aiming to go out and stabilize the Fissure in the reef you can see up a little to the north of here. The waters are usually pretty calm this time of year, so if you can swim instead of needing to take a boat, that'd be a great help. We only have a few of them.

Also, I know that last time was a mess, so I'm just gonna say this: If you need to get out for any reason, just send us a message and a picture of your location. We'll get a drone out to you as soon as we can and bring you home. No questions asked.

( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ Stay safe out there! When you're ready to go, meet us down at the beach. The rocky, sparkly one, not the sandy one.

Unlike previous expeditions, this time there's no rooftop sendoff - instead, as Charm noted, the tables are set up on Glitterstone beach, along with a series of boats pulled up on the sand. Two rowboats that could maybe sit six people but probably better suited for four, a trio of inflatable rafts (with motors attached to the back, all mismatched) of about the same size, a two-person dinghy and a long canoe that could hold two or three.

Besides the little fleet, there's also the usual bagged lunches (in gallon ziplocs this time, and other such watertight containers), and every boat is equipped with a large number of those chepa dollar-store water bottles, all with their airtight store seals. There's also a selection of life vests and other floatation thingies in a box next to the table. Strange hovers over the setup, checking watertightness of a handful of first aid kits with a spritzer and a bucket to submerge things in. They give a little wave to anyone passing by headed to the boats.

For those who opt instead to swim, everything seems perfectly normal until you reach the border of the Fissure... When, very suddenly, it isn't.

Comments

[dubiouslychthonic]

[She smiles wryly.] That sounds like it has a story behind it.

[beguiledcard]

[ It's not until after he's been healed, but he will be noticing her...!

After letting Goro know, he's swimming over to cast Salvation on her! He's... nearing his limit, but this might be able to help her with her eyes? At the very least, it should help with her tail! ]

I'm doing okay, but what about you? Did that help?

[meowna]

Oh, is it a show? That would explain it, if it's popular enough!

It's a pretty crazy world, but once you understand the rules, it can be pretty amazing, too.

[theosophomoric]

Not always. And we must be careful to stay out of the sunlight afterward. But yes, as long as the body's reasonably intact and the person wishes to return, it's usually possible.

[meowna]

Every trial? You were at court?

[Morgana's ears flatten under Akira's hand in confused displeasure. He's not sure why Akira would be bringing bentos to a trial, or why it would remind him of death, unless it was a murder case, or capital punishment verdict..... but then again, those are reserved for murderers, aren't they? Serial killers and really heinously brutal murders. That..... doesn't really make sense, though. He said he was only gone for a little over a month, right? So..... why would there be multiple trials in a month, let alone all reminding him about death?

That's..... he's not sure what other possible explanation there could be, though. Either way, he doesn't like Akira's tone, or the way he's struggling to speak. He pushes his head into Akira's hand, nuzzling against him in hopes of offering at least a little encouragement.]

[beguiledcard]

... Kind of.

[ He's hesitance... ]

The place I was in, we were forced into some difficult choices. One of those choices almost forced me to do something that I know I'd regret, even now...

[ ... Yeah, he's being kind of vague, isn't he? He takes a moment to pet Morgana before he continues. ]

Put simply, we were forced into a few situations where one of us was expected to kill another person and fight to get away with it. I... never gave in, but some people I care a lot about... did.

[ A pause... ]

They always held a trial after every murder. The only way for the majority of the group to continue living... was if we caught the killer. But... whenever the killer was caught, they died instead...

[meowna]

That..... who would do something like that?

[Yeah, he's definitely horrified. It sort of confirms his line of thought, only in the worst way possible..... But the motive eludes him. What kind of disgusting, twisted, distorted heart could possibly dream up that kind of scheme? How horrible must their Palace be? How did they even get away with something that would require such elaborate set up and control?]

[meowna]

[He'd rather she asked first, but he'll accept the pets regardless. ♥]

Then I guess it's safe to say I'll be sorry if anything happens, because I'm pretty sure even my other form isn't big enough for any of these.....

[meowna]

Heh..... This is a wooden ship, isn't it? It's half rotted away already, nobody is going to care if we damage it a little more. Who cares about latches when we can just hack through the door itself?

[Morgana flutters over the railing to come take a look. It shouldn't be too bad, he's sure; he's got swords, after all, and even underwater, he can put plenty of oomph into them--wind magic may not be very good for hurting things underwater, but it's fantastic for making strong currents to propel things with.]

[beguiledcard]

[ His exhale is tense. He immediately wants to end this conversation; thinking back to this isn't good for the situation, given they have to get on with a mission. He shouldn't be upsetting Morgana before something like this, damn it.

Really, he's been putting this off for so long... it's no wonder it came out at the worst possible time. Hell, he... should stop putting things off, period. He did that with Makoto, and then Makoto vanished... and then, even when he came back, things started-...

... Hell, even... Ann--... ]

It was part of the Reaper's Game. [ holding a blink ] I'll give you more details on everything, once we're back... but... [ managing a small smile; it's an attempt at being reassuring ] We did defeat her - the one responsible. After that, those who died were given a choice of either returning to life or joining the big fight. And those of us who were never killed...

[ Something in his expression falters. There's something very big that he's avoiding saying, and it might be all kinds of obvious in how he can't look Morgana in the eyes? ]

Well, we have some decisions to make as well. The point is, everyone is out of there now. But that game is why-... [ hesitance; his expression is straining the tiniest bit ] I struggle to sleep. That's what I dream about, almost every night.

collectin' his sweetsuits and jammin'

[founderinglight]

[For anyone who hasn't been completely blinded, there's a streak of blue as the room goes dark again, cutting through the expanding cloud of blood. The warp trail resolves itself beside Astolfo, and Izunia puts a hand on his shoulder.]

Still with me?

[meowna]

.....Right.....

[The Reaper's Game. Even the name alone sounds ominous and deadly. So whoever this madman was, she went by The Reaper, and this was all just some kind of sick, twisted game to her? At least they defeated her in the end, and people were brought back to life, but..... Even beyond the question of how they resurrected the dead, just how long had that been going on? How many lives had been destroyed and stolen? Had they managed to bring back everyone who was killed?

He guesses that'll be something to "look forward to" hearing about when they get back, huh? At least Akira trusts him enough to talk about it. Morgana bites back a sigh, instead licking Akira's hand; have a kitty kiss, Akira, he wishes he knew how to make you feel better after something so traumatizing.]

Sounds like you need to take up lucid dreaming, or something..... But until that happens, maybe you should start packing your lunches in brown bags instead of bentos.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Astolfo’s eyes seem somewhat vacant, though it’s unclear whether it’s due to the barrage of light attacks (that he had, unfortunately, been in full view of) or as an after effect of the Siren’s control.

He gives a nod, and meets Izunia’s hand with his own, giving it a shaky squeeze.]

[founderinglight]

[He sees that look, and just squeezes back before wrapping a tentacle around Astolfo's waist.]

Don't worry, I've got you. Let's get out of here, that thing's blood can't be good for any of us.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He gives another nod, and the words follow some time after it.]

Yeah. [He’s still clinging onto Izunia’s hand, and doesn’t seem like he’s going to be letting go anytime soon.] Thank you.

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna is briefly blinded, but it wears off when the siren dies and the battle ends, because that's just how things work. (What? You say it doesn't work that way for the rest of you? Weird.)]

I am fine. We've won!

LET'S POKE A BODY

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna surfaces for a moment to give a wave and make sure certain people up top don't think she's dead or anything, then goes back down and hangs around in the area for a while, waiting for the blood to dissipate because ew that's gross.

It's still kind of unpleasant when she finally approaches the body.



Arianna chooses to check the corpse, looking for any useful bits or similar SWEET LOOT.]

[press_start]

Yes! Different kinds of care means they grow up into different things, and that’s important to keep in mind when you play. It's more than just a different design, each pet you raise has their own personality.

[Normally she's snoozing on a couch.... now she's so animated- so animated by Chiaki standards, at least, which objectively still isn't much- her eyes are almost anime eye-sparkling. Should’ve run when you could, Shido-san.]

[press_start]

[She muses over this momentarily. That’s certainly a lot to drop on a girl with no context, but she’s got it. ‘Persona’ start with the same letter as ‘Pokemon’, and it makes sense that they’re that kind of mechanic.]

Ah... It’s good to have different specialisations, I think. In a party you’ll have more bases covered, so I don’t think it’s a bad thing to not be the best at some things.

To get to Level 99 at all.... that's a great achievement already.

[riderofcharlemagne]

Chance-based weaponry?

[You have his interest even more.]

How does that work?

[biddentodance]

[...Hm. So they do succeed. Good to know. His fever has him a little too dizzy to pick up on subtleties at the moment.]

So you...have some other world you fight in, instead? [Their focus has definitely been on time, but Mitsuru's father did say Shadows could manipulate space as well...]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[You see, on one hand, Astolfo really likes recounting his adventures, and would otherwise jump at the chance to go on about it, let alone require prompting.

But, this was Shido.]

Nnnno. I won't do it.

[He seems to be protesting more against himself than against Shido.]

[nojohnyouare]

[Mai breathes hard, trying to stay awake, but the spell definitely heals up her tail. She rubs her eyes and look at him.]

Thank you. ...You did a lot.

[nojohnyouare]

[Mai is struggling to not pass out, but Akira's healing helps a lot with that. She turns to Arianna and immediately swims over to her.]

Hurt?

[...wait.]

...Did I put that in your hair. I can't remember.

[have_hat_will_travel]

[... Once the fight's over, it takes Pidonus a second to say anything.]

... Sorry for using my powers on you...