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

[riderofcharlemagne]

How many shrimps do you have to eat before you make your skin turn pink? (Setting off/Early Dungeon)

[Of course Astolfo opted for swimming there instead of catching a boat. The ocean was so bright and blue and inviting, he didn't even need the excuse to dive in. With great excitement and speed, he runs in, stripped down to the bathing suit he'd often taken into the station's hot tub.

It's a pleasant swim, and one that is spent completely under the waves, enjoying the sensation of being completely submerged, light from the surface filtering around him. As he crosses the threshold into the Fissure...he begins to feel himself changing. Light pink scales begin to creep up his legs and forearms, and in a few quick blinks of disbelief he finds himself outfitted with a rather fanciful tail, fingers webbed in a similar manner, gill slits underlining his ribcage.]

Woah!

[He studies himself in awe, clumsily flopping around as he tries to adjust to maneuvering in his new form. He adapts to it rather quickly, perhaps in some strange application of his riding skills, and can soon be found dashing around excitedly.]

Coral Graveyard (Whenever)

[When it comes to exploration and adventure, sunken shipwrecks are really kind of the dream, and it's one that he didn't get to experience during his mortal life.

Astolfo swims around the wreckages, following fish as they dart around and make their home in the ruins, exploring every room and crevice that he can fit himself into, seeking both treasure and just examining the ships themselves. The variety between them sparks his curiosity, wondering what kind of times and worlds they might have come from.]

I'm a shark fighter, toughest man in the sea! (Whenever)

[Anyone that's known him for the slightest amount of time won't find themselves surprised seeing Astolfo grappling with a Panther Shark.

He doesn't seem to be distressed at all with the creature chomping at his forearms, pink scales flaking off with each bite. In fact, he almost looks like he's laughing...]

Graveyard

[foolishjustice]

[Astolfo's not the only one looking for sunken treasure. There's another merman down here, flitting between rooms excitedly. So excitedly, in fact, that he's not really paying attention to his surroundings like he should...careful, Astolfo, he's headed your way, but looking in a different direction.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[For once, Astolfo is the one paying more attention in this scenario. Must be some kind of Fissure effect.

He takes notice of the oncoming merman slightly too late, ducking out of the way quickly enough to just miss a full-on collision.]

Hey, if you're so pointy, you've got to be careful!

[It takes him a moment to really register the finer details of the person in front of him, but when he sees that mask, feels that familiar presence...]

Goro?! That's you?

[foolishjustice]

[The Fissure effect is called, Goro Akechi is a dumb excitable crow having too much fun.

He looks over just as Astolfo barely misses being crashed into. His eyes are a bit redder than they normally are, but the mask alone doesn't do much to hide the shape of his face below the nose, even if Astolfo wasn't one of the few who might recognize it.]

Ah, sorry. I got a little excited by the shipwrecks.

[He rubs the back of his head, tiny fins in his hair flattening it down in embarrassment.]

I do look pretty different, don't I?

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Overcome with curiosity, Astolfo circles around him, examining his new body to a degree some might find too intense.]

You look so cool! Black really suits you, you know?

[He eases off the inspection, remembering what they were doing here.]

Did you find anything interesting?

[foolishjustice]

[Some, maybe. But Goro's vanity just leaves him preening at the attention, fins perking up.]

I'm more fond of red, myself, but that's my other mask. My scales changed color when I put on Loki's mask.

I haven't found anything yet. Maybe we should look together.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[His fingers just lightly dance around the pointier spines that adorn Goro, and his attention snaps away when he mentions the colour changing.]

Really?! That's so cool!

[There's a twinkle in his eye.]

You should show me before we set off.

early dungeon

[founderinglight]

Well, you certainly look like you're having fun.

[As Astolfo swims in fin-fluttering circles, Izunia is a bit further down, having...

Well, some kind of time with his own new setup. He's wearing a smile, but it's a little strained from effort.]

I think no legs is much easier to gain control over than eight.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Upon hearing Izunia's voice, Astolfo eagerly darts downwards to meet him, a laugh escaping him at his tentacle troubles.]

I'm sure you can get the hang of it! Maybe you need to use them as just one whole leg, like this -

[He pushes his arms out in the water in front of him, fingers flicking out with each thrust as he propels himself backwards. He pushes himself a bit too hard, and dips upside down, plait floating in the water above him.]

Or maybe the whole thing is like a hand, and they're your fingers, and you've got to... [He wiggles his fingers about in some attempt at a crawling motion.] You know?

[You know.]

[founderinglight]

I think it's more along the lines of fingers, but - well, they rather have a mind of their own. I don't think a human brain is actually equipped to handle all of the sensory information.

[He makes a face.]

Did you know that octopus taste with their arms? Everything tastes like seawater.

[Well, now he does.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

Oh really?

[He does sound genuinely interested by that fact, however unpleasant learning it was for Izunia.]

I keep tasting it too, but that's probably because I keep talking underwater.

[Still upside down, he swims closer to Izunia until his tentacles are about an arm's length away. Driven by a curiosity over how they'd feel to the touch, he reaches out to give the nearest one a gentle poke.]

[founderinglight]

I can barely tell that I'm tasting it with my mouth at this point, it's taking some getting used to.

[He watches curiously as Astolfo approaches, and... poke. The tentacle is more than a bit softer than normal skin, and perhaps a little slick in that way that most undersea creatures are.

It also curls in response to the touch, like hey, what is this?]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He'd expected squishiness at least, but finding the skin soft was a nice surprise, and it wasn't as slimy as he would've anticipated. Overall, a pleasant tactile experience.

There's a giggle of amusement at the tentacle's reaction to being poked. It really did seem to have a mind of it's own.]

Sorry! I couldn't help myself.

[He gives a little wave, both that and the apology directed more towards the tentacle than Izunia himself.]

Graveyard

[makejapangreat]

[Shido's examining the ships too, and thus his attention isn't particularly on his surroundings— though he does look over his shoulder every once in awhile to make sure there's no panther sharks sneaking up on him.

When he rounds the corner, he nearly crashes into Astolfo, and in his surprise he lets out an alarmed noise, quickly (if a bit clumsily) propelling himself backwards as fast as he can. O-oh, it's... just him.

He lets out a breath of relief.]

I thought you were a shark...

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Astolfo yelps in response to being crashed into by something wriggly and unfamiliar, swivelling around and summoning his lance-

-and then he registers who's talking to him. The alarm on his face fades into annoyance, with undertones of disgust.]

Maybe I should've been.

[He briefly considers the weapon in his hand, but dismisses it in a golden glow as quickly as he summoned it. Beating on a defenseless eel man wasn't the style of a hero, even if said eel man had done terrible things to someone dear to him.

He sighs, and folds his arms, looking Shido up and down. He had to admit the eel thing was cool, but he wasn't going to say it out loud.]

What are you doing here?

[makejapangreat]

[... ah, he recognizes this one. First from their first meeting, and then from his response on the network. Should. Should he be wary? Are you going to try to punch him??

The glance at his weapon causes him to start and actually jerk backwards a bit. Please don't stab him...???? Though, then the weapon just disappears into light and he can't help but give a blink. That's... still going to get some taking used to.]

...the same thing everyone else is here for, I presume.

[helping . . . ?]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He won't be punching or stabbing any time soon, but the absence of his usual cheery demeanor suggests that Shido may still be on thin ice.]

Apart from that.

[Huff.]

In the shipwrecks. In this one. The one I'm in.

[The shipwreck being explored by Astolfo. Astolfo's shipwreck.]

I didn't take you for the adventurous type.

[makejapangreat]

[Ah. He casts a glance over at the ship they're next to.]

... boats are something of a hobby of mine. And I'm getting to see vessels I've never had a chance to before... and some that could never function in my world.

[There's just. A tiiiiny bit of excitement leaking into his voice, there... But then he looks back to Astolfo.]

And you?

[riderofcharlemagne]

[The excitement is more irritating than appealing. Why did this guy have to be interested in these wrecks like he is? He supposes that's just one of the many things he loves about humanity, the existence of common ground between enemies, the prospect of uniting on the same interest...

...but he is also flawed, just like humans are, and though he isn't one he's still going to carry over his grudge and not let himself be warmed to Shido.]

I was a famed adventurer in my life. Naturally, I want to explore all of this.

[He gestures to the wrecks around them, his theatrics dampened just slightly. Bringing his arms back down, he folds them across his chest.]

Haven't you heard of the paladins of Charlemagne?

early dungeon

[dubiouslychthonic]

[Jetshard's staying out of the water, though she's keeping an eye on the area near her inflatable raft. Not that she particularly knows what she'd do if someone did need immediate aid; she can't swim, which is a big part of why she's sticking to the boats in the first place.

But the flash of pink in the water below definitely catches her eye, and she leans as far over the side of the raft as she feels safe, trying to catch a better look at whoever or whatever's down there. The broad brim of her sun hat may obscure her silhouette somewhat, hiding her horns from below.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Astolfo happens to catch the silhouette from the water. It's attached to the larger one of the boat, so he has no hesitations in swimming up towards it.

With as much speed as his fishy form is capable of, he breaches the water's surface with a light splash, not likely to soak Jetshard to any great degree.]

Hi-! Are you thinking of coming in?

[dubiouslychthonic]

[Ah. Yes. Of course, she should have figured that that much pink in one place was Astolfo, shouldn't she?

Jetshard pulls back a bit as he surfaces; enough to avoid the worst of the splash, although not to stay entirely dry. It's not enough to bother her, though, especially in the morning sun, and she's perfectly cheerful as she answers.]

I think I'm going to stay in the boat for now. At least until we can see if there's any above water areas that we might need someone with legs to go into.

[riderofcharlemagne]

Aren't you a little curious what kind of fish you'd be?

[The ever-so-slight demand in his voice suggests that, even if Jetshard isn't, he definitely is.]

Come to think of it- do you have fish where you come from?

[dubiouslychthonic]

The sorts of fish my world has are part of the reason I've never learned to swim. [Along with the threat posed by seadwelling trolls and a simple lack of opportunity, but... Alternia's seas are as full of things that will attack an unwary troll as its sky or landmasses.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[That definitely gets his interest.]

Really? What are they like?!

[How many teeth? Spines? Claws? LEGS?!]

If you got in here, I wonder if you'd become like one of them, or a normal fish?