DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

[phantasmods]

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

Comments

[windowsexplorer]

Maybe it's a giant animal instead. Like a polar bear, or a walrus.

[Yeah, Meredith's just walking up and jumping into the conversation without a word of explanation. It's investigating, that's what matters!]

[motherfucking_ghost]

Maybe? But that'd feel like a major non-sequitur at this point. ...Which means it'd almost feel like home.

[windowsexplorer]

Oh, have crystals been a theme before? I just got here, so I've just been seeing things like the foxes.

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Oh, shit, are you new? Like you just showed up in all this snowy bullshit and everything?

[windowsexplorer]

Yeah, it was really neat. "Adventure in another world" stories don't usually get nested like this.

[byanyother_name]

Crystals have been a slightly persistent theme, yes.

[Kurama shakes his head, expression concerned but also a little...distant? He is one of the ones sensitive to the Fragment's presence, and half his attention is on that, how strong it is here.]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by nested in this case.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Listen, uh, I dunno that coming along is a great idea when you don't know what you're getting into? With fractured primordial planet spirits and all.

[windowsexplorer]

Nested, meaning I was already having an adventure in another world, and I got pulled away from that one to another world. Like that movie about the dream thieves.

[Church gets s surprised look. She doesn't get warned away from danger often.]

I don't think I can not come along. Not with how big the questions sound here. If I try to go back up now I'll fall right back down.

[fistsofchange]

Yeah it's a pretty steep tunnel.

[MORE PEOPLE JUST JUMPING INTO THE CONVERSATION I promise she was here all along.]

[burninglight]

Don't look at me, I'm not flying all of you out of here.

[stavros]

I don't even have my Ride Viper.

[Says the girl in the -- what is she wearing, that can't be suited for the cold.]

But if we're all able to make the journey, I don't see why not.

[foolishjustice]

[...Said girl is getting a coat held out toward her by a teenage boy in a prince costume and bright red mask with a truly ridiculous beak.]

I can understand curiosity, but you really should defer to people who already have some level of understanding of the situation.

[stavros]

I -- I'm fine!

[Icon.]

I've got enough Platonic Power to handle extreme temperatures. I thought that was why you were dressed like that.

[motherfucking_ghost]

At least if we all do it together, even the people who don't understand should be pretty safe, right? Not that I think this should be dangerous, but...in case it is.

[windowsexplorer]

If it isn't safe, it's actually better that I don't understand yet. [Yep, she's just tossing that out there with no explanation.] I don't need to lead the investigation or anything, but I really have to at least tag along.

--also I'm a magic robot so I'm fine. [She adds this last part hastily, lest she be the next one to get offered the coat.]

[foolishjustice]

[With the assurance, he does put the coat away...though it's impossible to tell where, as it seems to just disappear.]

One of my powers protects me from ice right now, so the cold isn't a problem for me.

[He taps his mask briefly.]


And...I suppose I don't see a problem with people tagging along. Just listen carefully if one of the people who's more experienced here tells you to do something.

[stavros]

[Hammerspace doesn't get more than a small, knowing nod from Kokoro.]

Joining an established group generally means that.

[phantasmods]

[ At the back of the cavern, the sound of an indistinct voice suddenly echoes. ]

[motherfucking_ghost]

Whoa! Did you hear that?? Hello? [Magnus Church is gonna rush in for all that talk of, y'know, potential danger and all, maybe hold him by his scruff or something.]

[burninglight]

Wait, don't run off on your own.

[luckily we have an ardyn to grab his arm]

Is anyone there?

[phantasmods]

[ Just that indistinct voice echoing back. Now you're paying attention, though, something else becomes clear; it's not just indistinct, it's garbled. It almost sounds like trying to listen to someone talking underwater. It's impossible to make out what they're saying... just that it's coming from deeper in the caves. ]

[windowsexplorer]

There's definitely someone there.

[With Ardyn occupied holding Church back, there's no one to prevent Meredith from taking off in that direction! (I mean, there are actually like four people who could do it, but shh.) At least she's walking, not running.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

Something, anyway. I don't think we're gonna understand it from here. [We can walk instead of rush in, that's...fine, he just wants to nyoom.]

[burninglight]

Right. Just be cautious, all of you.

[nyoom is ill advised but let’s go]

[fistsofchange]

It’d have to be pretty darn scary to be a problem for all of US.

[Lin patted Ardyn reassuringly on the back, before pressing on.]

Don’t worry, we’ll be careful.