acatalepsy_logs | cavern explorations.

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cavern explorations.

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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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[He tried his best, really, but that Hank doesn't fall for the admittedly lazy trick, Noct just gives a little laugh and instead shakes his arms out. Peeling his jacket off his own shoulders to shake it, then taking that towel to hang on top of his head for a little bit, trying to dry his hair before he lets it hang around his shoulders, Noct slogs his way out of the lake finally and squeezes his wet shirt to his feet.]

I'll dry soon enough, half of my clothes are sort of built for wild travels... but I'll definitely take you up on the jacket since it'll take forever for the leather to dry.

[The only thing that doesn't dry quickly like the rest of his clothes - usually swapping it out for his sleeves and vest weren't ever a problem though, and something in Noctis misses his fishing attire all over again. Stretching, scratching idly at one of the bandages on his arm, he flicks his hand and pulls his fishing rod out of nowhere.]

So just hungry are you feeling?

I don't know, but I'm not the guy who just had some big adventure getting chewed on by weird shit in some haunted underground bullshit.

[Hank slips his jacket off, taking one of the weird fruits he promised out of its pocket and holding both out. He doesn't know what the thing is exactly but it tastes kind of citrusy, so he's assuming it's not a vegetable. As he does his eyes flicker over Noctis, trying to get a good idea of how much damage that not-entirely-hypothetical chewing did or didn't do.]

So, if this takes too long we can just cut it short and go figure something else out. How're you feeling?

[There are very minor hints of bleeding through the straps of cloth used for bandages, but overall nothing seems too serious - at least for a glance, but there is a notable set of thin lines on either side of Noct's neck. Reaching to accept one of those fruits with a curious look to it, raising it to sniff and pick a little at the skin as he tries to decide if it's more like an orange than an apple, Noct gives him a thoughtful hum.]

I'm feeling alright, it isn't like I won't get to sleep in tomorrow, so it'll be better with a full stomach, right? We should try the other side though, getting away from where everyone else is coming up. The fish are probably already all stressed..

Stressed? You're full of shit.

[Hank walks as he talks, heading toward the side of the lake that's closer to the temple. The fruit situation Hank leaves for the kid to figure out - if he had to figure out how to eat the damn thing, so does Noctis. He walks slow, his posture slumped and tired, and his voice has less zip in it than usual, but he doesn't mind the walk. It's good to see Noctis again, after worrying about him for all that time.]

What, like, as in one fish swimming up to the other like 'oh hey Carol, I've been so uptight lately, my doctor says I just have to lower my blood pressure'? Did those magic eels knock you on the head down there?

[The way he takes what Noct means by the fish being stressed - he does let out a laugh and he follows, peeling the skin anyway on this mystery fruit before he takes a bite. It makes a little bit of a mess down his chin, but it's the citrus taste he finds really good. Maybe it's been too long since he's gotten a fruit fix, because after that first bite he keeps working at it, wolfing it down and only spitting out the few seeds it seems to have.

Still, his eyes eventually come up on Hank's back and he can note just how tired he is...]

Hah, no it's more that they're not as likely to feel like seeking food when they want to stay alive. Hey, were you sleeping alright out here? It sort of looks like there was a whole campsite set up over there, you know people could have just stayed in the temple. [Now he feels a bit guilty for offering a meal he hasn't even caught yet - they can try for a little bit, but Noct thinks about how long it usually takes to catch anything. Then he goes quiet for a minute, figuring out how to say-]

Do you want to go back to the temple instead? See what we can scrounge up? It might take a while, to fish anything out.

Nah I'm good. It's just good to finally be doing something other than just... waiting, you know?

[He watches Noctis, quiet for a second before giving him a brief half-smile.]

It's good to see you. Oh uh, also, should be another one of those fruit things in that other pocket in my jacket. Brought two. [The second one was maybe kind of sort of for Hank if he'd happened to be in the mood for it, but it'd been mostly for Noctis.] But yeah, it's a pretty long trek from here to the temple and back, so some of us stayed here a couple nights. God, it's been actual decades since I slept on the ground like that.

[Thinking about it makes him roll his shoulders to try and stretch them, grimacing a little.]

I hope whatever you guys did that might or might not of made all those storms come in right at the end was worth it. But I guess you're sick to death of talking about all that creepy shit, huh?

[So all of this is relief - what a stubborn old fart. He doesn't want to say as much even if he gives that simple good to see you. Smiling despite the mess of fruit on his face, shaking sticky fingers before he steps aside towards the lake again to rinse his hands and mouth, Noct wipes his face the best he can before he trots to catch up. He won't be going for that extra fruit even if he makes that note with the mention, but the smile lingers as he watches that shifting and stretching.]

Take a pillow next time, maybe your back till take to it if you're stuck doing it enough times. [Teasing even as he feels good about the whole thing, Noct finally steps up to walk next to Hank, reaching to start fixing the lure on his pole.]

Not really though, it was sort of fun just to get away but not... get away from this world, you know? The temple is a pretty familiar sight, and most of us have learned how to get places in the forest even if it still takes some caution. [Pausing to stoop down, rooting in the dirt with his fingers for a minute before pulling out a worm, Noct holds his pole under his arm as he baits his hook with quick fingers.]

Ugh.

[That's an involuntary noise, the tone of which matches the grossed out expression on Hank's face as he watches the worm. His grossed out expression half-fades as he looks up and away from it but, ew, Noctis. Ew.]

So you're bored, huh? God, hope I don't get so bored that I'm willing to dive headfirst into all that bullshit just for something different. If I do, though, you gotta remind me to take that pillow.

[Oh yeah, was that a tease? Well, it also might be a good point.]

The older you get, the more pillows you need in weird fuckin places. But uh, yeah, you said you've been moving around a lot before you got here, right? Or something like that? I guess I'd sort of get it if you just needed something to do that bad, must be weird being cooped up here like we have been.

[What else is he going to put on the hook, hopes and dreams? He does crack a little cheeky grin at Hank at that reaction to baiting his hook, and when he wiggles the lure there is just that hopeless little stretch the worm gives. Coming up to the shore far enough away from the group still coming out of the lake, Noct casts out a line. They can still walk a little and he can trall the lure, maybe get something in the shallows, but he has to think about it for a moment on just how cooped up he feels.

It is a bit like being stuck, they've stayed in one place longer than they have in.. a very long time now - even since leaving Insomnia, Noct's group couldn't stay in places for long. Looking over after setting his reel and preparing himself to start fishing for hopefully one large enough catch for the both of them, Noct smiles again, quieter.]

We hadn't stayed in the same city, or town, or village.. even in Eos. Insomnia was the last place we really stayed at for a long time, because we lived there. It was huge, sprawling, self-sufficient even, we never had to lower the wall really.. just draw it's borders in closer until all we had left was Insomnia.

[Luckily Hank's recovered from his residual ew by the time Noctis starts talking about good old home, because what he says sounds - not heavy, exactly, but not light and cheerful either and Hank wants to listen as closely as it deserves.]

That sounds kind of like being cooped up, too. [Hank says it calmly and carefully, just an observation.] But coming from a guy who only ever left his own city a few times in like, fifty three years, maybe that doesn't mean much.

[He's not going to ask directly about the circumstances, the probably-a-war, anything like that. But he will sort of leave the door open for the conversation to go there, if Noctis wants it to.]

[He's right, that the residents of Insomnia were essentially cooped up - refugees pouring in from everywhere they could, many sections of the city being deemed 'zones' and Noctis really hates the thought that some didn't get in, when they could have helped those people. Why they bothered separating people at all, it would have been something he changed. Breathing in slowly, eyes out on the line in the water and wondering if he should have brought his flashlight after all, Noct exhales before he looks over again.]

I'd never really realized how big the world was until I was out in it. I don't regret getting to see it, it's really something else. It isn't home, but it is, sort of. [But what he does regret is the suggestions of never looking back, that he has to keep moving forward.] You can look at maps and be aware but being out in it and seeing the different people everywhere and understanding.. I wonder if that's part of why.

[Looking back to the water again, he clicks the reel a couple of times, his hands steady even if he keeps talking.] I think my dad wanted me to experience it, even if he sent me out to Altissa ahead of the treaty to protect me. He knew it was going to go downhill.

That's what dads do. [Hank watches Noctis another second before looking out at the water. This might go a little less painfully for the kid if he doesn't stare.] Try to look out for you.

So, you're thinking that's part of why he sent you out? Wanted you to expand your horizons, help you understand the world better?

Mm. Part of it. The other part... home was about to become a war-zone. I was still sort of wrapped up in.. [Noct trails off for a moment, trying to remember just where his head was - of course it was on getting to see Luna, on the chance they could get to connect again, that the olive branch was their marriage.] I'm engaged. He told me to go greet my future wife in Altissa.

[Looking up now instead, like the sky has something more to it than the night settling in, Noctis can't help this wry smile.]

I should have thought on it better, instead of running out the door, because heckling him at the car was the last time I saw him. Giving me some smile because I told him to be polite to our guests when they were taking everything but Insomnia.

That's how it happens with a lot of people, you know. Most people. That's not on you, not having some... you know, some kind of big final goodbye. You couldn't know.

[Hank studies him, trying to watch for signs the conversation's too much, whether he should change the subject, then follows the line of Noctis's fishing pole out toward the lake again.]

[Noct won't look over, but it's easier to look at the sky, to look at the water. He never quite had the time to confront these feelings before, and having someone greet him for coming back from something like this - it's reminded him again of just how much he misses his father. Hank being an older guy who has given Noctis the permission to go at it in his own pace, and just let him talk, and having all of this suddenly free time to think.

It's been on his mind, ever since he thought he was seeing him in the hallways with that fever.]

I should have known. I could have done better. He could have let me stay, and we could have fought together, I wouldn't see it in the newspaper days later that my home is on fire and my family is dead. [His voice quiets further, a little waver to his tone, before he absently pulls on his pole to reel again, just a couple of clicks.]

[Hank sucks at his teeth, then looks directly at Noctis, whether or not the kid decides to look back at him.]

There's a lot I don't know about what you can do, where you come from, what it was like. But I've been cleaning up after- after really awful shit for pretty much my whole adult life, I know a little something about that. And what I know? It's that people don't have nearly as much control as they wanna think they did. You might be... the source of all... magic, or...

[It honestly takes an effort to say that that way, to mention magic seriously, without derision or irony, and his sentence slows down a little there with the effort. But he does it.]

Or whatever, I don't know. But that doesn't stop you from being a person. Doesn't matter how 'special' you are, you were just a guy living his life. You couldn't know.

And I know I'm not going to like, magically convince you or anything. You can't... you kind of can't stop thinking you had something to do with it, you know? Even when you know-

[Hank sighs and looks away, just for a second, his jaw working. He can cut that off right there; this isn't about him.]

But I want you to remember it, okay? That you're just a person, and that things happened that were completely out of your control. I'm not gonna ask you to promise me or anything, that you'll remember that, whenever you start thinking- you know. But I'd feel a little better if you tried.

[He is grateful for it, when he hears him work through the words, that Hank is touching slightly out of his comfort zone in admitting magic like this, so Noctis does turn his head throughout the words. His expression is quiet and his eyes are sad, but he listens, like he should have listened all that time ago. He knows, he agrees somewhere in there, that he knows he's human and he's always hated how the pressures of becoming King make him feel less like one just for the sheer capacity of magic he can provide.]

I... yeah. Becoming King doesn't.. change that I've always been human. [He doesn't look away, even if there's a tired smile slipping onto his face in admitting so - because he's right in this regard. Noct could have tried to pay more attention, but he hadn't. The past doesn't really change no matter what you want or how long you think about it, does it.] Thanks, Hank. I'll try to keep it in mind. [Even if he doesn't look twenty for a moment, because the weight of it all sits there on his shoulders and premature aging has always been a Lucian King trait.]

For all the things I can do with magic, mind-reading and foretelling aren't on the list.

Yeah, see?

[Hank doesn't quite smile but his expression's almost there, appreciative of the little maybe-joke about mind reading and future fortune telling whatever. It's an acknowledgement, in any case, and that's more than Hank thought he'd get - it's sure as hell more than he'd give, if their little talk just now was reversed. Hank doesn't think about that little factoid too much, but he is aware enough to appreciate it, that the kid's not fighting him on this like he expected.]

No one can be everywhere, know everything. No matter who they are.

[He's quiet for a second, watching the water, listening to the bugs, thinking before looking back up, a little apologetic.]

So, uh. If you wanna be alone right now you just say the word, okay? We can put a rain check on this if you, uh, if you want to.

[It's something he wants to try to remember, but that weight of the crown almost impresses upon him how much he has to not be human. It's a reminder though, of something even his father would have tried to say at a point - and something Noctis witnessed enough in watching his father age so must faster than ten years should have.

Only lowering his attention back to the water with a little tug he feels, knowing through all of the talk that this is likely the fish he has been looking for, Noct gives the rod a little pull - just a few clicks again. He won't scare it off with all of this.]

No, I'm alright. I think... it's good to confront this. I don't think I'd have had time, if I didn't come here and have this downtime to really think about it. [Sure the caverns were a great distraction, and his sleep schedule has adjusted itself to the kind amounts of time they've had to rest, it's better than being on the road running constantly. Looking back over and giving a smile, then pulling the rod much more swiftly, Noctis starts to reel in the catch that tries to run. He waited a perfect amount of time to nail the hook, so there's really no escape for this fish.]

That's pretty mature. Not 'mature for your age' or anything, I'm not trying to be that kind of asshole, just uh, in general.

[He studies Noctis a second more, then steps back in case that fish Noctis is reeling in tries to make some kind of great escape.]

Funny, I hear a lot that my reckless nature is immature.

[Giving this quiet laugh even as he reels, Noctis feels himself swelling with a little pride at that anyway - Hank isn't his father, he isn't someone he need to impress, but hearing that he has made a mature decision is nice. It feels good, to do the right thing, even when the reality is scary as shit. He doesn't step back with Hank even if he understands why he does, but he gives him a little smile as he finishes reeling and reaches, pulling up the rest of his line - yeah, there's a normal looking fish on this one, and Noct is somewhat grateful it didn't put up nearly as much of a fight.]

There we go, looks like a trout. We can probably get a couple of fillets out of it.

Yeah well, mature is in the eye of the beholder or, you know, whatever. So, I can just about get the old stove back at the temple working without setting myself on fire, so we can head back there if you want. We could stick around too, but you'll have to do the campfire thing if we do. I've never done that shit before, especially not without a lighter.

[Unhooking the fish and carrying it by the jaw and gill, Noct lets his fishing pole disappear in that simple blink of an eye, and moves to put his other hand along the trouts tail to get a good grip.]

I'd offer a campfire, but I'm honestly not great at them either. Let's head back to the temple, the sink is probably the better place for cleaning this up too - and I think I can at least start a fire in the oven.

[Hank nods, takes a couple steps away from the lake, then starts walking back. In the wake of the conversation they just had he thinks he should maybe let the mood settle, let the kid think whatever thoughts he needs to be thinking right now until they get back to the kitchen, so that's what he does, unless Noctis happens to be in the mood to talk.]

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cavern explorations.

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