: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
Got it — A4.
[Matches the designations of the other androids from her world, and Connor doesn’t mind the perception of uniformity in his mind.]
I know it’s difficult to not remain focused on the status of those in the caverns, but I promise that we all have good sense enough to let you know if we discover anything worth sharing.
[Connor, acting like he can speak for everyone.]
Trust me, A4. I’m not the reckless sort. [(HE IS.)]
no subject
...Just be careful. Don't get pulled into another lake. Keep an eye on everyone else.
[ He has her reluctant trust. Still, she has her worries. Sorry, she thinks he might be like a weak Scanner type android that needs protecting. ]
no subject
But he hears that concern in her tone, and as his own personality dictates, he wishes to quell it.]
I’m keeping observant, don’t worry. And if it comes down to it, I do possess an array of combat subroutines — though utilizing them against strange creatures might require a little creativity on my part.
no subject
Frowning at her device, which thankfully cannot be seen. The last time she separated into groups was with her squadron and it ended in failure. (And in a way, a success according to Command.) She doesn't want something like that to happen again. ]
I might be underestimating you a little. It'll probably be fine... you're a smart guy!
[ Her response is spoken with a sheepish laugh, as if it would make all her worries go away. Or she's merely covering them up. ]
None of this freaks you out, at all? Oh! Or it's kind of like what you said about humans. [ Even if you aren't human. ] Excitement over solving a mystery!
no subject
Something like that. It only makes sense that I would gravitate towards what I was designed to do -- investigate. [But a correction should be made-] I'm not afraid though, and that's not just bluster. I lack the ability to feel fear.
[N...ormally. But he's not going to get into that.]
no subject
When he says that he doesn't have the ability to feel fear though, she makes a face at her device. This must be all part of being calm and professional. ]
...No way! All androids are afraid of something. Stop trying to sound cool.
[ Well, it doesn't sound like he's trying. But that just sounds absurd to her! Otherwise, he'd be just like a machine... (which is not wrong.) She's thinking more along the lines of enemy machine lifeforms, as well as all the very emotional androids from her version of Earth. ]
no subject
Regardless, Connor’s reply is oddly precise, oddly quick.]
I’m not trying to sound “cool”. I’m just relaying to you the truth — the androids of my world aren’t programmed to feel fear. Not something so... raw and emotional. We’re expected to adhere to certain degree of self-preservation, of course, and I’m more attuned to weighing risks over reward, advanced as I am.
But fear isn’t part of the equation.
no subject
[ It's not that she's buying into the explanation. More of an amused noise when she notices how quick his response is. ]
Let me guess. This subject has come up with you before.
no subject
...Yes. And the answer is always the same.
no subject
Soooo, you really don't feel fear? You're not afraid of getting hurt or anything like that? What about other emotions? You seemed... happy around Nessie.
[ Not at the same extent as how she very openly displays her happiness and affection, but still. He looked pretty content! ]
no subject
That's not- [Wow they've really barreled headfirst into a subject he does his best to avoid 24/7.]
If I display anything that can be perceived as emotion, that doesn't necessarily mean that it is. I'm designed to integrate smoothly with humans, and can act accordingly; and displaying is not the same as feeling or experiencing. Does that make sense to you?
no subject
She is... a little disappointed. Geez, she doesn't want to think he's closer to the enemy machines from her world. Or maybe he's more like one of those support units that the new models have. A Pod? Except Connor is very not box-shaped. ]
So you're telling me that you acted happy around Nessie.
[ Which is only an example, but wow. Poor Loch Ness monster. ]
no subject
...In a manner of speaking, yes.
[He can't help the way his mouth keeps threatening to tug into a frown.]
Though my curiosities at the time were very genuine.
[As if that makes it a little better.]
no subject
[ The slight dismay can be heard in her voice. She may have shared the same genuine delight as Nessie by having Connor within their company at the time. Just two androids and a giant cryptid hanging out. It was fun. ]
Hey, you ever wonder if you could evolve? You know, to actually feel and experience those other emotions.
no subject
That would be problematic, A4. If I thought that I was genuinely feeling emotions, it means that I'm housing errors in my programming that need to be seen to as quickly as possible.
Let me turn the question back around to you: Do you believe that you, an android, experience actual emotion?
no subject
She can be easy to read, at times. Her squadron had varied personalities, as well as including androids that who were better at keeping their emotions in check. A4 is clearly not one of them. Command had described her to be kind of unusual for a combat unit. ]
It feels genuine, to me. I know it's something programmed, given to me.
Us YoRHa prototypes... [ A beat. Referring to herself as a "prototype" is painful to say. She still feels like the "new" model, due to the timeline difference of being from years before 2B and 9S. ] we're given false memories. They feel as real as the memories I have—you know, the war I've been fighting and hearing your voice now... that's real. The same can be said for my emotions.
Actual emotions or not, I can't tell the difference.
no subject
Feeling that emotions are real, yet knowing that they’re a result of programming is a strange half-way point. A compromise that almost contradicts itself. Connor isn’t sure how well he can reconcile with that, if it were a choice he would have to make.
He can only think of Amanda’s disappointment, chiding him for becoming distracted.]
Why do YoRHa androids need to be pre-programmed with false memories?
no subject
[ Her squadron was used for experimental data, nothing more. It was a suicide mission for data, but Command told her different. Destroy the enemy server, that's all she knew at the time.
Now the subject has the potential to stray towards something she doesn't want to talk about. Knowing Connor, she's suspecting more questions. For a moment, she sounds hesitant. ]
The rest is... confidential.
[ Partly true. She doesn't exactly abide by most of Command's rules anymore. She just doesn't want to talk about it. ]
no subject
He notes her hesitation. His curiosity certainly isn’t quelled by it, though he does consider how to skew his words into something less pushy than his usual default.]
It makes sense. The androids of my world were preprogrammed with base personalities to fit the job they were tasked with, though that never manifested itself as actual memories. I won’t pry further if you’re not free to explain, but— Well, if you don’t mind me saying so, that sounds needlessly overcomplicated.
no subject
[ She won't deny the complications of it all. Her personality was pre-programmed, though it's not something one would expect in a weapon made for war. Emotions interfered with her mission and at the same time, provided useful results. The Council wanted diversity, making them like their human masters.
Letting out a small huff, as if to try dispelling the air of seriousness in their conversation. ]
This isn't faaaiirr, Connor! [ Back to her loud whining. ] You got me all talking about myself.
no subject
He adopts a tone that sounds a little like teasing; is it redirection? Maybe. But at least half of it is sincere.]
You don't like talking about yourself? I don't mind hearing it.
no subject
[ She responds, cheerfully singsong for a moment, and perhaps helping to steer the conversation back to an earlier subject. "Another time" might be awhile. It's dependent on the situation. If she's going to talk about herself, she'd rather talk about cute clothes and animals over anything straying dangerously close to her tragic backstory. ]
Anyway, like I said before— be careful. I know you said you don't feel fear or anything like that, [ And it's still pretty weird to her. ] but you're gonna worry a ton of people if something happens to you.