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

[founderinglight]

No harm in finding out?

1/2

[myocordial]

Hm...

[He considers the question. He really hadn't bothered to try at all. And after that high, well, it was even lower on his priority list. But, there really is no harm in it.

Heart glows gold and...]

2/2

[myocordial]

[...immediately sinks down like a rock.

But he looks as he should. Legs and everything. Guess robo-shark can only go so far.]

[founderinglight]

[Well, the sinking isn't that surprising, really?

Let's be real, Izunia is perfectly happy to take the chance to spend less of his energy tentatreading the water, and sinks after him.]

Hmm. Interesting. Nothing much changed at all, it appears.

[myocordial]

I'm grateful that's the case. I'd prefer for this form, at least, to stay unchanged.

I don't think a tail would suit me like this.

[founderinglight]

Probably not. It does raise interesting questions about how the magic in this region works, though.

[myocordial]

It's magic.

So the answer is probably bullshit.

[He's still high enough to not give a fuck about phrasing that differently.]

[founderinglight]

...Yes, very likely, but I'm still interested in the technical details of that bullshit.

[myocordial]

[He crosses his arms and shakes his head. Such casual body language even when he looks like this.]

Suit yourself. I don't even bother trying to understand why magic does anything.

[founderinglight]

[I mean he's talking to a guy who is currently half octopus and has also been a sky-scraper-sized statue? What about this is weird?

Izunia just shrugs.]

It's an academic pursuit I enjoy.

[myocordial]

Well.

[And with a gold flash, Heart turns back into his previous form again. Because the shark form does make getting around the water easier.]

Do tell if you figure anything out, but I won't be holding my breath.

[founderinglight]

I'll keep it in mind.

[Surely he can figure something out, but. but. He needs more data, okok.]