:quality(75)/curiosity-data.s3.amazonaws.com/images/content/thumbnail/standard/e08157f8-0b8b-495b-ba6e-af374c49d84b.png)
the depths below.exploring the caverns.All of you will have the same entrance into the caverns -- it will involve going underwater and traveling about one hundred feet through a tunnel which breaks into into a massive cavern, full of air. The breeze is mysteriously fresh, for being both underground and underwater, and before you are three massive dark tunnels. It's hard to decide which one to go toward, but inevitably, you are drawn toward a specific tunnel.
For your top level comments, include what group you are in your subject line. . You will be in the caverns for roughly one week's time in order to get to the information at hand. That doesn't mean you have to stay below that long, but be prepared to pack whatever you need in order to live down there for that long There will be fish to hunt in the waters and the water itself is fresh, but sleeping on the cold marble-like surface might suck, especially if you're wet. And . . . once you get into the meat of things, what are you going to find? group a.
The tunnel by which group A travels down is narrow, to the point of claustrophobia. And along the way, you will run into several obstacles. You will have to travel through underwater tunnels that, again, are narrow and claustrophobic. Stalagmites and stalacites make navigating through the waters treachorous, and getting stuck is not an impossibility.
Additionally, as you move through the pathways (both water and not), you begin to notice little lights flickering in the water. At first, you think it may be crystals sparkling in the water . . . but upon closer inspection, you begin to realize that they are bioluminescent eels. How cool! However, about halfway into your journey, you begin to notice that theyre getting a bit . . . larger. And, should you allow yourself to be attacked by them, not only do they bite, they seem to suck out your energy. These eels feast on magical energy, and suffering a bite from one of these eels will completely eradicate your Astoria granted powers for five hours. Have fun with that.
Finally, at the end of your journey, you will reach what feels like a dead end . . . in that you come upon a small alcove type area, with no discernable exit. And, upon the far wall, you see what appear to be cave drawings. Intricately carved into the stone, with a language surrounding the pictographs that no one understands, are what appears to be two women. One has longer hair, to her shoulders, holding a white orb in her hand. The other, with cropped hair, appears to be holding a blackened orb in her hand. Their arms are intertwined, connected, but there is a large fracture in the rock, scorched across the woman drawn in white, as if someone (or something) has attempted to blast it to bits.
Eventually, upon some investigating, you come across words that you, somehow, do understand, scrawed in a messy text, carved into the stone. Those words?
group b.
The tunnels that Group B heads down are considerably wide, all things considered. Most of the journey in the tunnels for Group B is above-ground and doesn't involve going underwater . . . which may be a good thing, as the water pathways in this tunnel are deep. The water is still crystal clear, but you somehow still can't see the bottom of it. It looks as if it goes on forever . . . and ever . . . and ever . . .
Eventually, though, you come into a second massive cavern, with a huge underground lake. The lake is full of dark shapes that dart underneath the surface -- horses, with the tails of fish, as they pop up to the surface for a gulp or two of air. But when they notice the strangers on the shores of their territory, they circle ranks and edge themselves closer . . . and if you get too close to the shore, you may feel teeth sink into the edge of your coat and an abrupt tug to be pulled into the water.
To be clear -- the kelpies themselves are not particularly violent. However, they've never seen otherworlders like you before, and are definitely scared. Not fighting against them will ensure their slow trust, and they will generally leave you alone. But if you attack them? They'll fight back, and they will drag you down to the depths below without a second thought in order to protect their own.
Eventually, you come across a third massive cavern, with another underground lake. The water seems to sparkle with energy -- tiny lights dance across the water, skipping across the surface without a care in the world. Touching the water will result in temporary paralysis of whatever you use to touch it -- magic, so powerful that you cannot possibly comprehend it. The energy is too much to handle, and you, too, cannot see the bottom of this lake. However, scattered across the walls, are runes carved into the marble. It's a language you do not understand, but you do come across something that you manage to understand . . . tucked amongst the runic symbols:
 group c.
Group C enters into a beautiful crystalized tunnel, with white crystals jutting out into the tunnel. It looks beautiful, but it makes for treacherous going -- the crystals are razor sharp, and sliding through them requires elegance and grace to avoid being turned into ribbons. Move slowly -- you need to in order to make it through this maze of crystals.
Eventually, you make it to a wider tunnel with various deep pools of water scattered along the floor. The pools seem to be endlessly deep, reaching to impossible depths that you cannot see. However, the pools seem to have an . . . alluring feel to them. You are drawn closer to them, curious, inquisitive . . . you want to get into them . . . and if you dip into the pools, watery arms of the sprites that live within these pools glide around you, and coax you into the depths below . . . but you feel calm, serene. Hopefully someone is looking out for you.
But as you move through the tunnel with the pools, you begin to notice signs of life. Not necessarily plant life, or animal life, but signs that people are here. There are footsteps from one pool to the next, wet markings that seem to be permanently wet no matter how much you wipe them away. There are watermarks along the walls, handprints against the marble. And as you begin to walk, begin to notice messages scrawled along the walls, carved deep into the marble.
Every single word is the same.
group d.
Unlike those below the surface, the lakeside shores of Lake Dona seem to be relatively peaceful. Nessie is lazily swimming around and offering rides to those that need it, and campfires are soon built up around this makeshift camp of those who are sitting around to wait. The network does work with those in the caverns, so keeping in contact is far easier than it was in Struxta!
However, in the last days of the investigation, as Group A, B, and C begin to discover the messages in the caverns, storm clouds begin to roll in. It begins to downpour, a frightening crack of lightning streaking across the side with alarming regularity. And, on the final day of the exploration, a voice seems to float through the deluge. And it isn't Astoria's. But it seems to be . . . odd. And suddenly, a message appears on your watches.
¿ɯǝ ɐǝɹɥ ʎon ɐɔu ˙nʎo ɥǝdl ʇo ǝuǝp ᴉ ˙ʎno ɥǝdl ʇo ɐʍʇu ᴉ ¿ɯǝ ǝɥɐɹ nʎo ɔuɐ
What in the hell could that be?
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acatalepsy_logs2018-10-04 09:55 pm
no subject
Clear ones would be fine. I'm going to see if I can use them for proper fortune telling once they're cleaned up and shaped properly.
But.
[ ... ]
I like red, blue, and yellow ones as well.
[ switch representttt ]
no subject
[ never hurts to be sure! especially if playing with the fates and fortunes are involved. ] Thanks for agreeing to the arrangement, by the way.
I know you must be pretty busy with the others, so I'm glad you're willing to entertain this deal.
no subject
[ yet, like he sort of expects it. ]
I digress. You would be right in assuming that's in order of importance, and I look forward to seeing what you might bring back ♪
But enough of that. What type of fortune would you like, for your first one? I can do a general one, as in for your luck; romance; the future; and so on and so forth.
no subject
on the other hand...
he looks to the left.
he looks to the right.
he looks to the left again.
he looks to the right again. ]
Just to be clear - Are these readings confidential? Only between you, me, and stuff like that?
Because, not gonna lie, I'm really interested in getting a romantic reading. For scientific reasons, of course! Just to get an idea of how this will work and stuff and getting a romantic reading seems to be the best way to do it.
[ suredaylight.png. ]
no subject
Of course they are.
Do you have someone in mind? ♪
no subject
Her name is Dialup. Dialup vis Pietpeal. She's one of my friends and she's really funny and smart and one of the first friends I made. Ever!
I was kind of wondering if there was a possibility between the two of us??? I like her but, sometimes, I feel like she treats me more like a little brother due to our age gap. I think she likes me but I don't know if she likes-likes, you know? Is there a chance?? At all???
[ he needs to know!!
... in the name of science, of course. magic science. ]
no subject
her name is dialup. he's never had to deal with dial-up before, he's sixteen. ]
That depends. What is your age gap, exactly? And what are her relationships with other people like?
While you tell me about these things, I'll consult my tools, and let you know the answer your heart seeks.
no subject
[ when your dad's race can reach to the billions, that is considered a reasonable enough age gap. perhaps the closest age gap he can have with someone from his father's race, given how, um, weird day is. ]
Dialup is really good friends with the rest of the fireteam we're part of! Emergency Aid, our medic, and her are pretty close. They like to talk about history and philosophy and stuff like that. They've been best friends since they were kindled, if I'm remembering my talks with Emer right.
Nightbreak, our leader, and her have a weird relationship? Like sometimes they'll get into these big fights over stuff - the Legacy War, how to approach things, stuff like that - but I can tell they're close. Nightbreak is quick to defend Dialup if someone's mean to her and Dialup is helping Nightbreak how to read and write.
Sometimes I catch one of them staring at the other all intense like but I think it's to make sure they're safe, you know? We're a team! We gotta have each other's backs.
no subject
also oh no that... sounds... not great for day. but maybe there's hope, be optimistic, fate can be swayed and etc. ]
When they catch the other staring, does the starer quickly look away...? Or is it held?
no subject
If it's Nightbreak, she gets reaaaaal flustered and looks away. I tried to talk to Nightbreak about this but she gets all huffy and stuff.
If it's Dialup, she smiles at Nightbreak and that's when Nightbreak gets reaaaaal flustered and looks away.
[ daylight... no... ]
no subject
I see.
To me, it sounds as if you have no chance. At the very least, Nightbreak-san has a crush on your Dialup-san.
Dialup-san may simply be friendly, but I wouldn't discount her feelings either.
[ natsume— ]
But: fate is not set in concrete.
Being persistent with your feelings can prove to be the key to success, though being too persistent may ruin it instead.
The only way to be sure of it is to take it within your own hands and confess.
Regardless of the answer, I believe it will go well. She seems kind, and you seem to be fairly happy-go-lucky.
There's no harm in speaking your feelings clearly to the person you like, anyway.
no subject
nightbreak?
dialup??
really???
really, it seems, for he's waiting for the 'joke!' message to come in but it never comes through.
he's torn between feeling distraught by the idea of him and dialup not being compatible and impressed that natsume was able to divine that. he really can divine the future with being able to pull out such amazing information! daylight is suitably awed when he can push aside his nervousness. ]
And what if she doesn't return the feelings? What do I do then? Say sorry? Pretend it never happened?
I don't want to make it weird between me and Dialup. She was the first one on the ship who was friendly to me and everything.
no subject
Chances are she'll be the one apologizing to you.
Regardless, don't apologize for how you feel. Simply accept her answer and, eventually, move on. It may ache for a little while [ or longer, if you're a petty jilted lover ] but eventually, you'll arrive at happiness once more.
(Pretending it didn't happen may inadvertently make things a little awkward between the two of you, hence why I'm not advising that in any capacity.)
no subject
much as it'll hurt to have his feelings being turned down by her, daylight still wants to be friends with her. she means so much to him and, well, he's just happy they know each other at all. ]
I'll keep this all in mind when I speak with her again! Thanks so much. You're really good at this!
Maybe I should give this advice to Emergency Aid. He seems to really think he's never going to have a shot with this Hypothetical Middle Friend of ours. This advice could help him out a lot.
no subject
And certainly you should. It's a magician's desire to see each person in the world happy.
If my advice can help another person out as well, then I'm satisfied.
no subject
Oh wow! That's so cool!
No wonder you're amazing at this. You have the flair for it, for sure. It must be really exciting to follow in her footsteps.