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]

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.

[windowsexplorer]

[Meredith immediately stops and siiiighs.]

That's almost as bad as asking what could go wrong.

[fistsofchange]

What?

[windowsexplorer]

Talking about how unlikely it is that we'll have a problem basically guarantees we'll have a problem.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Can we just collectively agree to not jinx ourselves?

[burninglight]

Please. Let’s just keep going and not do anything stupid.

[stavros]

[Kokoro walks forward carefully.]

There's been worse, but be cautious.

[phantasmods]

[ Eventually, the little group will find they've reached the back wall of the cavern. Or at least, what appears to be the black wall of the cavern. It's hard to tell, because the entirety of it had been swallowed by a single gargantuan crystal, glowing softly and providing most of the light in the room. For those of you who investigated the crystal in the basement at the Silvereagle Manor, it looks to be the same kind. It's so clear and shiny you can see your own reflections in the surface and–

Oh, hm. You might want to do a quick headcount. There's one person too many in your reflection on the crystal's surface. ]

[burninglight]

[THIS IS FINE]

Stay behind me. Don't touch it.

[Let's just...carefully step a little closer to get a better look at that extra reflection.]

[windowsexplorer]

It's beautiful...

[LOOK AT IT! LOOK.

Oh and this reflection business is weird.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

You get that we're gonna touch it because that's probably how we communicate, right?

[burninglight]

I know, but you and I are prepared for what might happen. The others likely aren't. Besides, I want a better look before we make any physical contact with it.

[fistsofchange]

[Lin did not touch the crystal but she did get closer to it to inspect it. Which is how she noticed the extra reflection. She checked behind her to count everyone, then peered back Olay it, confused]

There’s...Someone inside it? Can you all see that?

[windowsexplorer]

Yeah, I see it. Unless...

[Meredith turns to look and make sure there isn't just an extra person standing there with them.]

[phantasmods]

[ No extra person! They seem to just exist inside the crystal.

The reflection... moves? Kind of? It's hard to tell because it's pretty indistinct. Everyone else is in pretty sharp focus, but when you try and clap your eyes on this extra reflection, your brain just sort of refuses to pick out the details. There's a wash of what looks like long, red hair and a smudge of what looks like dark brown clothes but other than that, it's impossible to pick anything out.

Either way, it seems to be leaning in closer to its side of the crystal, like it's trying to get a better look at everyone. You all hear another echo of that strange, indistinct voice. It's clearer now that it's not actually talking, but making approximations of speech and words with great effort. ]