October Event: Crystal Clear

[lifeaftr_mods]

OCTOBER EVENT: CRYSTAL CLEAR

Who: Everyone!
What: Your exploration takes a turn.
When: October 20th - 26th
Where: The caverns situated underneath Ensō
Warnings: Character death, body horror, descriptions of illness. Please mark any additional warnings as needed!

Part I: Attack, Attack!
Congratulations! You've successfully gone where no Storyteller has gone or can go, and woken up in the network of subterranean caves buried beneath the island's mass, along with your designated supplies: a miner's cap, a week's worth of food, and both your knapsacks and their collective contents. And the further along you go, the vaster and more sprawling these almost labyrinthian tunnels seem to get. There’s certainly evidence that civilization once thrived here - old buildings hewed from the rock of the cave walls may very well contain old tools, or even salvageable supplies. Careful examination of structures and cavern walls alike will reveal sigils resembling those carved on the doors, each of which will need to be destroyed entirely at the Storyteller's behest. Whatever was down here was advanced enough to dwell without sunlight. But that raises a rather pertinent question...

If there were once people here, where did they all go?

Fortunately, one will soon discover that there's plenty of natural light underground, exhibited by the crystalline growths on the walls. None of them appear to be dangerous, and those attracted to shiny things might even find them useful for picking up or chipping away in order to better light their way. The crystal has about the thickness and hardness of quartz, and bathes its surroundings in a luminous green glow.

The closer you come to the center of the mass, however, the denser the crystalline growths seem to become, until one has to be quite ingenious in navigating them. Eventually, they'll simply be too dense to be squeezed through, even by the smallest and most agile of your number.

That’s when they it will start to become apparent.
Something in the crystal is moving.

Huge chunks of crystal are starting to detach from the center and move slowly, inexorably, toward those unfortunate enough to have explored the caverns. Unmistakably humanoid silhouettes, distorted by awful crystalline growths, most of which have completely swallowed any recognizable features.

...most.

The good news is that the creatures can be shattered, and beaten back. The bad news? Well...

Part II: Retreat, Retreat!
Those who get close enough to the crystalized beasts to get a good look at them will soon make a horrifying discovery - the fact that, underneath those thick layers of luminescent quartz, there was once something that might have been recognizable as human. These quartz monsters aren't native to this region, or indeed, to any region of the island at all. They were formed.

Formed out of the very crystal that you explorers have been touching, picking up, sleeping on, and just generally remaining in prolonged contact with ever since you set foot down here.

Indeed, anyone who has been in contact with the crystal for extended periods of time - sleeping on it or getting dealt a swipe from one of the crystalized monsters, for example - will find that tiny, quartz-like growths have started to sprout on their skin as well. Once the virus has taken root, it will spread rapidly until it has swallowed you whole. Indeed, the unpleasant symptoms will reveal themselves within twenty-four hours of the initial exposure: in addition to clusters of crystalline growths pocking the affected areas, the inflicted will begin to experience intense stabbing pains all over as the crystal begins to grow - both inside and out. The transformation is slow and arduous and painful, and vocalization tends to be one of the first things to go once the crystals sprout in the mouth and throat. Within the span of about three days since the initial exposure, the transformation will have sheathed most of the physical body in crystal entirely, sealing the victim in a humanoid cast of glasslike green.

It has not been confirmed if the inflicted are sentient and aware of their state of being once they are completely consumed. Whatever their intentions, those are easily overridden by the virus's innate desire to spread to as many organisms as possible.

As this is an event with a high risk of death, the Storyteller will impose death penalties for one week only. Additionally, deaths succumbed during the event count towards the character's total. There is no known cure to the virus, but that doesn't mean characters can't or shouldn't try!

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] October 20th: Spelunking begins. Points of interest will be provided.
[ ♆ ] October 22nd: The Quartzalcoatl make their presence known.
[ ♆ ] October 24th: The final sigils are broken, and the Storyteller will return all uninfected to the Islets.
[ ♆ ] October 26th: All deceased will be returned at midday, suffering from a reduced death penalty.

Event Specifics

[ ♆ ] If your character perishes in this event, please let us know!
[ ♆ ] For those who opted out, please see the top-level below!
[ ♆ ] Item claims can be found on the OOC plotting post here!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

I've only done what is necessary. I can hardly help anyone sitting alone in a corner somewhere.

[Terra, honey, don't put him on a pedestal. He's blind. He'll just fall off!]

The Storyteller is quite aware of my limitations, I assure you. We spoke of them when I first met them. No, either they don't care that dropping me into the caves alone makes it very difficult for me to assist in this exploration in any meaningful way or it is possible the sigils messed with their power enough that we all didn't end up where they planned for us to.

[Ignis honestly favors the former over the latter, but he can't logically discredit the latter either. Not until they know more about how the sigils work.]

[esper_magic]

[ No no, it's fine, it has handlebars. And if you should've thought about that before you went out of your way to be so damn nice, and offer to help her and everything! ]

But... they sent us here specifically to find out what was past the door, didn't they? I'm sure they wouldn't intentionally .. [ She's... a little too trusting, even after what's been done to her. ]

It would be to their benefit if you were able to help out, wouldn't it? Maybe... if the sigils did mess with their abilities, it at least put you close enough to someone who would be able to help you? [ In that case, her. ]

[shatteredlenses]

[Handlebars? Really? What kind of pedestal has handlebars?

Trust. Ignis wishes he could still trust the Storyteller so unconditionally, but he can't. Not when he has the fate the Astrals decreed for Noctis thousands of years ago so near the front of his mind. Not when the Storyteller took away their right to choose if they would help just as much as the Astrals took Noctis' right. Currently, he just wants most divine entities to take a long walk off a short pier.]

That is true. In fact, I should be grateful that they dropped me next to one of the kindest and most trusting people on the island. Do you think you could describe the setting around us to me? I've been trying to feel my way around, but you can surly imagine how slow a process that has been.

[esper_magic]

[ Listen. She never made things before she thought it needed handlebars!

Part of her says she shouldn't trust the Storyteller so much, but she felt like she owed it to him, at least a little. Maybe. Although with this incident, dragging people out from their beds and positioning them like they were chess pieces... she didn't like it, one bit. She smiled softly. ]

..maybe I shouldn't be so trusting. But I trust you. [ Always would. ] And I trust Noctis, and Prompto.

[ Now, at least, and that was on him vouching for them. She also trusts Ardyn to an extent, kind of a little maybe almost. As he asks her to describe the area, she nods not that he can see it, glancing around them. ]

Alright. Um... there are a lot of ..tunnels that wind about, and there are old buildings - like this might have been somewhere lived in at one point, long ago. They're carved out of the rock, ..I think. And there are glowy crytals in the cavern walls. I can.. probably pry some free.

[shatteredlenses]

[A fond smile crosses his face when she mentions trusting the three of them.]

And we will do everything we can to be worthy of that trust. Some people just trust easier than others do. There's nothing wrong with that as long as you try to keep an eye out for those who would abuse that trust.

[CoughArdynCough]

People lived down here? How astounding.

[Ignis takes a careful step forward, leaning his head back as if he were going to examine the walls and ceiling around them. He can't of course; the gesture is merely born out of years of habit.]

Do any of the nearby structures look safe enough we could explore them?

[The crystals seem so mundane in comparison to the idea of exploring an ancient abode that he doesn't even comment on her offer to pry some free of the walls.]

[esper_magic]

[ She smiles a little, though it faded again. ]

That's easier said than done, I think. [ Her idea of someone that's untrustworthy is someone that doesn't come right out and attack her, or who isn't mean from the getgo. People who were kind or at least polite CoughArdynCough tend to not get distrusted. ]

It seems to be the case. I wonder how the people all managed to leave. [ Well... they could have died. But then what happened to the bones? ]

Um... I think so- they look stable enough. At least these ones do, I'm not certain about the ones further in. We should be fine, if we're careful?

[shatteredlenses]

It is one of life's never ending lessons.

[He holds his arm out to her, knowing that as much as he wants to keep taking careful steps of his own, he's just asking for trouble.]

Lets look a little closer, shall we? Carefully. We might find the very answers to those questions inside. My guess is that they were long gone by the time this place was sealed up, but that leaves the question as to why it was sealed then. Did they seal it on the way out? And why did they want to keep the Storyteller out so badly?

[esper_magic]

[ She fortunately catches on quickly when he holds his arm out to her, stepping closer to take his arm and run off into the darkness with it. MINE NOW. carefully so she could better guide him. ]

All right. The ground is a little uneven here - [ She moves, giving little tugs to gesture which direction he should step that would best not cause the both of them to stumble until they were on more even footing. ]

And.. there's an archway here. I don't see any kind of door though. [ She'll step through first though, carefully and effectively being his seeing-eye-esper (helpin him SEE *BRICKED UNDER A CAVE IN*) considering his musings. ]

Maybe... they wanted to protect their secrets from anyone who might come into the caves? ....or maybe there was something in here they were trying to keep from getting out?

Yay! There is the 'seeing-eye-esper' joke I was itching to include in my last tag but didn't! LOL!

[shatteredlenses]

[A nod of acknowledgment is the only answer that Ignis gives to begin with, focusing his attention on learning how she's going to guide him. Everyone does it a little differently, and he's slowly getting better at picking up on the cues they give instead of having to request they all do it the exact same way.

When they get to the archway, he reaches out with his free hand to trace his fingers over it while she moves farther inside.]

See anything interesting?

[Ignis isn't sure how much space there is, so he remains in the doorway to make sure he doesn't crowd her.]

I'm worried it may end up being a little bit of both those things. There are many stories on my world of people digging far enough into the depths that they eventually unearth something that would have best remained hidden.

LOL!! Oh god and I was going to apologize for that :D

[esper_magic]

[ She's never led a blind person before so she wasn't..really certain of what was the best way to do so. So settling on just giving a light touch to indicate direction seemed to be the best option for her. ANd hopefully him. ]

Um... well there's some broken pottery..? [ What does he consider 'interesting'? ]

And more of those green crystals. [ They're kind of pretty actually. And glowy. Maybe she could decorate her little cabin with them and make it look nice. ]

It smells very ... musty in here. [ Kind of cross actually. She circled the room a bit. ]

No, it seems completely cleaned out. [ Minus the clean. ] There aren't even any books or anything.. and I don't see any sigils either.

[ She glanced over to him. Unearthing something that should have remained hidden? ]

Like monsters, do you mean?

What? No! Never apologize! :D

[shatteredlenses]

Hmm... Curious. Those green crystals really are everywhere down here, aren't they? I wonder if they are natural formations or have some kind of magical origin.

[They are probably just an odd natural thing. It's not like this is Final Fantasy or anything.

All right, crystals aside...]

So either they had time to take most of their belongings with them or someone came through and cleaned this place out. Of course, considering the musty smell...

[And, oh boy, is that making his nose twitch in a not pleasant way. Seems like his hearing isn't the only thing getting stronger.]

...it may be so much time has passed things have simply broken down. Not everything is so long lasting as pottery.

[A certain, though reluctant nod answers her question.]

Unfortunately, yes. Monsters among other things. There are a lot of unpleasant things that thrive in the dark.

Oh well then if I don't have to apologize... *licks the crystals*

[esper_magic]

They don't... 'feel' particularly magical. [ They felt like normal crystals to her. Though admittedly that odd sense she got from time to time was not the most reliable. ]

Maybe they're natural, like the cave rocks? [ Something is shifted as Terra moves some broken pottery aside, sighs faintly - then acks when it ends up stirring some dust. ] GAH..!

[ The next thing heard is a series of sneezes handily muffled against her cape. Yeah maybe..maybe don't move the dusty stuff, Terra. Or breathe. ]

It's... really VERY dusty ... [ She coughs a little. Poor Ignis probably is going to get the sneezies too now. GG Terra. ]

Erm.. maybe we should move on. [ She hesitates a moment. ]

It.. sounds like it's dangerous to travel alone, in your world. [ Hers too, probably, but she's focusing on him. ]

Ack! Don't lick those! You don't know where they've been. (Aside from in a cave, but...)

[shatteredlenses]

Perhaps. This place has been closed up a long time. They would have ample opportunity to form undisturbed.

[Ignis is about to ask what she's moving around when her exclamation and sneezes give him warning that he might want to cover his mouth. The dust cloud he smells settle over them a moment later makes him glad he does just that.]

That seems like a wonderful plan if there is no more to see here. Lets get into some fresh air.

[Carefully, he steps back out of the door so she can move passed him and into the main cavern.]

Unfortunately, it can be quite troublesome to travel back home. Attacks from the Empire aside, there are a great many dangerous creatures that roam about. Things grow even worse at night when Daemons spawn.

Awwww D:

[esper_magic]

[ Good choice, she would have felt bad if her shenanigans made him sneeze the way she had. ]

All right. [ Not that the tunnels were that much more fresh but compared to the dusty shelter- yeah. Carefully she slipped past him, and once she was in the clear she glanced at him, then carefully held out her arm so she could help guide him again as they walked. ]

Well.. even though we didn't find out much in there, it's a good thing to know that the people aren't here anymore. It means there is a way off this island ..and probably a way back to our homes. Wherever they may be.

[ Wait what was that? ]

Daemons...? What are daemons?

[shatteredlenses]

[As much as he wants to correct her assumption that the people here went home--he has a very bad feeling it's much more likely they died here--Ignis doesn't say anything. To do so, well, it would feel like kicking a puppy or snapping at Prompto when he's already kicking himself about something.

Fortunately, if not a pleasant topic, Daemons are at least easier to talk about.]

I believe I mentioned before there is a plague that affects my home. We call it the Starscourge. It primarily works in two ways. The organisms that make up the plague eat light meaning the more of them there are, the less light reaches the ground. The second affect is the one that relates to Daemons. The organisms can infect both humans and animals transforming them into terrible, violent monsters that appear only after darkness has fallen.

[esper_magic]

[ She'll revise her hope when and if she actually sees those crystal creatures, because... that would be far too much of a coincidence. Absently she nods at him confirming he mentioned the plague before - then quickly adding a vocal affirmation when she quickly remembers he wouldn't see her nod anyway. ]

That's awful..! [ She inwardly grimaced - "awful" seemed like such a poor adjective for something like that. Something that could infect humans and animals. ]

Is there... no cure for it? No way to stop the plague or ..turn the people and animals back...?

[ Boy it's a good thing they're not going to come across anything like THAT here. Eyein' those crystal creatures. Eye. Ballin'. ]

[shatteredlenses]

The Oracle has the power to heal and hold back the plague to a degree, but she is only one person--a young lady not so much older than I am, who has been fighting this battle most of her life already. To end the plague's reign for good, that is the job of the Chosen King and his alone.

[Ignis' blind gaze drifts from her to the ground and focuses there as he speaks. It's obvious that something about his last statement weighs heavily upon him, but if Terra is hoping he will explain why, she may be disappointed when he remains silent.

How can he tell her that not only is Noctis that Chosen King, but said King must die to rid the world of its darkness?]

[esper_magic]

[ ... what is it with cures and solutions having to be on the shoulders of ONE person alone? ]

...that doesn't seem fair. [ Not just that this Oracle is the only one who can hold back the plague, but that this Chosen King is also the only one who can stop it for good. And if he was the only one who could, why hadn't he?

She glances at Ignis, about to phrase that question herself, but something stops her. ]

... I'm sorry. Is ... it not something you like to talk about..?

[shatteredlenses]

In the eyes of the gods, it is merely cost-effective. They care little about fairness.

[Ignis wraps his arms around his waist, almost seeming to draw in upon himself. He shouldn't have started talking about this. It was a mistake. He's not ready, not even when the one listening is someone as caring as Terra is. Yet, to not answer...]

It's...difficult speaking about the future death of one who is like a brother to you.

BEHOLD THE MIGHTY TEAL DEER IN ALL ITS GLORY

[esper_magic]

[ ..then that probably includes the Storyteller. He's the god of this place, wasn't he? And yet there was something that still nagged at her.. fortunately -or unfortunately, she hasn't a chance to really give it any thought, her arm tightening on his in surprise at that.

When did Death factor into the conversation...? Who was going to die? She might be tactless, but she didn't want to upset Ignis any more than she already had. For her, death was just a part of life ..and many times caused by someone else. But she's also unfamiliar with how it feels to have someone so close to consider them family, let alone to talk about their death.

Even trying to put herself in his shoes it just... didn't connect. The closest she could fathom is if he himself, Noctis or Prompto were to die, but even that ...

She fell into a troubled silence for a moment, not sure how she could make it better - there was so much she didn't know about things like this. The curiosity was on the tip of her tongue - she wanted to ask who the person was. Was it someone here? He was close to Noctis and Prompto both wasn't he? She didn't like the idea of either of them dying, they were so kind. Possibly it was someone from his own world, not that it made it much better.

Finally, she gave a soft sigh, giving up on the puzzle for the time being. Poking at it from all sides wasn't helping, so she'd try to come back to it later. Firstly and most important was trying to cheer Ignis up.

...

She sucks at that too. But after entirely too long a time of her own silence, she slowly moved her free hand over his, brushing her fingers over his hand like she were petting a Chia-Pet. Had they such things. Ig-ig-ig-Iggy~ o/~ Hey she's trying to at least soothe him a little. ]

... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked.

[ There are just some things she needs to learn to not ask about, and though she's still curious, she's marking this in the 'No. Bad Terra' Book of Etiquette, Volume 2: How to Make and Keep Friends. ]

... do you want to talk about something else...?

[ What that would be she has no idea. At all. ]

It's so CUUUUUUUTE! :-D

[shatteredlenses]

[Death is suppose to be just a part of life for Ignis as well. It's a core part of Lucian culture after all. Honor to the Kings of Old who passed on their strength in death and waited for the day the Chosen came to wield their power as his own. Pride to fight to the death for hearth and home.

But now... Now that he knows the truth behind it all. The pain and the lack of choice. It was all suppose to be about choice! If there is none--if there is no hope for a better end--then what is the point?

Ignis fights back a shudder, using Terra's voice and touch to draw himself back from the dark cycle of those thoughts.]

It's not your fault. I shouldn't have touched upon such a topic in this kind of place. There are so many other things we should be focusing on. Why don't we move toward the next cavern and see if we find anything else?

You can keep it if you feed and brush and love it :D

[esper_magic]

But I did ask.

[ Bad Iggy, no taking the blame on her mistake! Her hand goes still on his again once they have stopped discussing unpleasant things like people dying and nasty McMonsters ]

Alright. [ That sounds fair - carefully his personal Seeing Eye Esper steers him in another direction, though she tenses a little bit. ]

The path is sloping downwards a slight bit here - I think we're starting to go down. Be careful - there are some.. uh.. spikes Stalagmites? They're growing up from the ground. But they're rock, not crystal.

[ She glanced around, intent on giving him as much information as she could. ]

There are more clusters of that crystal - more ..more concentrated in spots here. And I think... Hmm... I think I see one of those sigils the Storyteller told us about. Behind the crystal.