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

[have_hat_will_travel]

[A combination of a good armor class and some lucky recognition lets Pidonus bounce the strike with one arm... Still leaving a good, solid hit that doesn't clear out all the way against her side.]

Crap!

[If too much of the mucus got inside her body... She needed to try and fight back, then. Quickly, she drew her sword, intending to strike at Wren using sweeping strikes - low damage, and mostly to try and put her on the defensive while she figured out some sort of plan... And quickly!]

[thoroff]

[Wren lets out an annoyed hiss as her attack fails to connect as she planned, which quickly transitions into a strangled gasp of pain. Quickly, she grabs her spear with both hands and moves to block the attacks with its haft. She weathers several strikes thus before she decides to take a different approach; she pushes back, relinquishes one hand's hold on the lance and immediately lunges at Pidonus, grabbing at her throat with her free hand, which happens to have claws every bit as sharp as her teeth.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

[Several strikes, most unsuccessful, told Pidonus one thing: Wren's natural spear skills were really good. Beating her into waking up wasn't likely... So, she would need to switch tactics.

Of course, she realized this at the same time as Wren... And, again, Wren got the initiative, as she shifted the grip on her spear to one hand and lunged at Pidonus, obviously trying to claw her throat. Besides the fact that that could be genuinely deadly even to her, it would stop Pidonus from speaking, which she needed to do to try what she intended to try.

Still, with Wren down one hand for this, the Succubus had an extra option or two... Like shoving the flat of her rapier against Wren's stomach to shove her back. If that succeeded... Then she'd have to try using her powers to get Wren to overrule the siren's.

Pushing her promise about her powers to the limit... But if it worked, hopefully Wren would either count it as self-defense, or forgive because she was trying to use it to free her.]

[thoroff]

[That hit does strike true, and not only is Wren pushed back, cringing, she loses her grip on the ancient spear entirely.]

Damn it...!

[Its velocity is severely dampened by the water, but it's still enough to distract her for a moment as she swims just a touch further away from Pidonus to retrieve it, though she doesn't turn her back on her.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

[And that second... Gives Pidonus the opportunity she needs, as she focuses on the power of suggestion...]

Do not obey the Siren's words! Follow your own will!

[If Wren didn't resist the spell - hopefully the surprise of the attempt would help - then she'd just have to hope the compulsion to not obey the Siren would override the compulsion to keep trying to fight Pidonus or defend the Siren.

If this failed... Well, Pidonus would have to come up with a plan B. Besides 'try again'.]

[thoroff]

[Fortunately, this does seem to have an effect. Wren's only just recovered Gungnir when she clutches her head with her free hand, grimacing. She manages to look back to Pidonus, no longer with murderous intent in her eyes, but simple confusion.]

What...

[have_hat_will_travel]

The... Whatever it is, was controlling you. We need to get back to fighting it - and quickly, before the...

[Pidonus looked down to her wound, and the strange mucus approaching it.]

How is it doing its work...

[Wren, you might be the best chance of making sure Pidonus doesn't fall under its sway!]

[thoroff]

[Wren follows Pidonus' gaze to the wound. Guilt wells up within her as she realizes it was her doing, but before she can express it, her tactical mind kicks in, and she takes note of the encroaching mucus. She looks back to the creature shrouded in the same miasma, then immediately grabs Pidonus by one arm and pulls her away.]

Be careful — I think it's that slime that's doing it!

[have_hat_will_travel]

[Pidonus is surprised by Wren's quick movement, but doesn't manage to protest with more than a squeak of surprise before she's - thankfully - clear of the stuff for the moment.]

T-that .... Uh, kinda makes sense?

It's not in my usual realm of effects I've seen, but...

[She doesn't seem to blame Wren for the attack at least.]

Now we just need to figure out how to strike the damned thing...

[thoroff]

[Wren grimaces in a way that makes it clear that she's still going to apologize her heart out... but later. For now, there's a battle to be fought.]

Yeah... I don't fancy getting close to that monster again, and all of my magic... well, neither fire nor lightning are going to do us much good underwater.

[have_hat_will_travel]

Yeah... Urgh, what a mess. The best patterns we have are-

[And then Pidonus suddenly spins away from Kurama, and moves to cover Wren's eyes before the very large wave of light launches out from Kurama's attack.]

Meep.