DUNGEON LOG: AMESTA FOREST

[phantasmods]

Hello everyone!

Up and the others think that we have enough stabilizers ready for the next expedition! We're going to the forest to the south this time, but it shouldn't be too far for anyone to walk. If you're REALLY going to complain, you can talk to Top on the roof and catch a ride on one of the drones like before.

The scenery's really nice, but there's definitely some kind of magical effect going on in there - as far as we can tell, the day doesn't progress inside the forest. It's stuck a little while after sunset - probably when the Fissure first appeared? (°ヘ°)

Be careful out there! Don't be afraid to call for help if you need it and we'll send a drone your way! o(^▽^)o And Strange says no stupid stunts this time, got it? (；¬д¬)

You'll probably see a big tree on your way there, before you're under the cover of the forest! That's the Infinity Tree, it's a really big willow. Charm can probably tell you more about the mythology if you're interested. He's gonna meet you guys there at the end of the expedition, so try to work your way in that direction as you go!

(｡･ω･｡)ﾉ See you when you get back!

After Down's message, characters will find things set up much the way they were last time on the roof. Top is making last-minute adjustments to the drones, and there's tables with food and medical supplies set out - the latter a little sparse compared to last time, so hopefully you kept your first aid kits from before. The table of stabilizers, on the other hand, is much more full.

On your way, you might also see some of what the construction drones have been putting together so noisily these last few days - there's the metal shell of a building, similar to but smaller than the Station, to the immediate west, just off your path to the forest in the distance. Nothing much indicates its function as of yet, though there are significantly more windows.

To the southwest stretches the border of Amesta Forest - about a mile distant, though still easily within sight. As promised, the Infinity Tree sticks up from the far edge, easily visible for those who need a landmark either now or later in the dungeon. If you get lost, you can probably find your way up a tree somewhere to get a perspective on it, and which direction to head in.

The silver mist doesn't begin until some distance into the forest, the time of day gradually changing to the eternal twilight mentioned as you approach the boundary of the Fissure itself. There's no distinct border, just a slow shading towards late afternoon and then sunset while the mist increases around you.

And as the mist wraps around you, and exhaustion you might have felt from the walk out here starts to evaporate... You've well and truly arrived, now. Better keep your eyes open.

Comments

[thoroff]

[That's strange, but it won't deter her. She wraps her other arm around Prompto too and lifts him to his feet. She keeps a firm hold on him, knowing it'll take him some time to settle.]

That is a very good question that I wish I knew the answer to.

[photoshooter]

[Thank the gods for strong, independent tacticians. With Wren's help, Prompto manages to find his feet, but it's a trembling, newborn fawn-level precarious thing. He sticks his hands in his armpits and tries to get his bearings.]

Nngh... crap, sorry. I don't know how to... make all this stuff go away s-so we can see where we're going.

[thoroff]

Don't apologize. It's not your fault.

[She doesn't let go of him, but does loosen her grip just a little so that she can turn her body to look around.]

[photoshooter]

[Well, there's the Infinity Tree, at least, towering over them through a gap in the ill-defined prison and laboratory walls. Prompto nods to it, hands still too cold for pointing.]

Um, as long as we stay to the left of the tree, we shouldn't fall in the lake...?

[thoroff]

[She follows his gesture with her eyes, and nods.]

Good call.

[For a moment, she says nothing further, but eventually she looks back to Prompto, her brow once again arching in concern.]

Are you ready to move?

[photoshooter]

[He blinks, gulps, then nods.]

Yeah. I-I'm okay. [He says--you know, like a liar.] Let's go.

[The faster he can get away from all this, the better.]

[thoroff]

[That sounds incredibly fake but calling him on it probably won't help anything so she doesn't.]

All right.

[And off they go.

For the moment, Wren simply walks in silence. If Prompto wants to talk to her about... all this... she'll be happy to listen, but she isn't going to pry.]

[photoshooter]

[It's not like he wants to, but also, Prompto's never done companionable silence particularly well. After a while, when the details of the dream begin to fade around them, he finds his voice.]

Sorry. That you had to...

[He trails off again. She already told him not to apologize, after all.]

...How much did you see...?

[thoroff]

I won't lie, there was... a lot.

[The sight of all those people in tubes is one she's not likely to be forgetting any time soon.]

[photoshooter]

Man...

[His heart sinks down into the soles of his boots.]

I-it's just nightmares. I don't... none of that matters anymore.

[thoroff]

...No, it doesn't. Not at all.

[Her voice wavers in such a way that she's clearly not just saying empty words to make Prompto feel better. If he remembers what Robin told him a day or two ago, he should understand.]

[photoshooter]

[He remembers.]

...The one who... designed all of that, he's gone. I killed him myself. He won't hurt anyone ever again.

[thoroff]

Good.

[Said without a millisecond's hesitation. She's not one to dance on anyone's grave, but... honestly.]

[photoshooter]

[And because he remembers, he goes on:]

He was my...

[The sentence sticks there, though, in his throat. His mouth stays open a second like the words might just fall out if he waits long enough, but then he closes it, and his eyes, and just breathes shakily out.]

[thoroff]

[Oh. Prompto definitely doesn't need to finish the sentence for Wren to grasp its meaning, and just as he goes quiet, she stiffens, her only immediate response a muted gasp. Silence reigns for several more seconds before she speaks up again, still quiet.]

...I'm sorry.

[That he had to deal with that, she means — is clearly still having to deal with it.]

[photoshooter]

[He shakes his head slightly.]

It's not like I knew him, so it doesn't feel like that. But I... it was a nightmare, just living through meeting him. Really finding out where I was from, and. What he did.

[thoroff]

Yeah, I... I understand.

[Again, these words could so easily be a hollow platitude except that they aren't.]

[photoshooter]

...That's all, I guess.

[Of course it isn't all. But sharing anything more means opening a hole that might never close--a fall into dark that might never lift.]

Just one more real battle, and. It'll be over for good.

[thoroff]

[After seeming to mull that over for a bit, she offers him a small smile.]

Well, I'm rooting for you.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto blinks and, as a watery smile wobbles its way onto his face, too, chuckles faintly.]

Thanks. Um, wish us luck.

[thoroff]

Of course. If there's anything I can do...

[Just putting that out there.]

[photoshooter]

Just--just don't tell anyone, please. About the things you saw here. The people who need to know already know the important parts, so...

[So it's fine. They don't need to see what he saw.]

[thoroff]

[She nods.]

I understand. I won't speak a word.

[photoshooter]

[He lets out a sigh of relief.]

Thank you, Wren. It means a lot to me.