godly dungeon - theta caverns

[sageofdawn]

[ zenos had offered them a game. either way, who knew who'd be the viceroy of dalmasca after this? celcus was awoken. celcus was unsafe. all that thancred knew is that he needed to save him from awakening inside garlemald - and y'shtola had come with him.

before the two could set off to rescue celcus, there was a semi-familar clicking. though gaius had begun to live in the shell of the primal alexander, he often used those fully under his will, those in the onemind, to communicate. after all, he couldn't just go out there. he was a monster, bug fused with garlean. he was less willing to be seen then even regula and his tiny sahagin, who could at least pass as au ra (like y'shtola) if he needed to go out there.

but the mechanical gnath let out a few clicks, and began to explain. there were mountains near to garlean territory, with many passages. a few of his men had gone to investigate, to see if he could see the state of the country he died for. a small bit of him wanted to see how he had been remembered. however, a strange machine had greeted them. it looked almost like the dormant omega, but... smaller. and redder. this small omega had destroyed those bugs - squashed them, and absorbed their very aether. if it was eliminated, the path would be a safer one then heading there from the doman side, where men were still fighting and alert. he still was curious about the burn, about areas where aether was drained from the land, but that was not the point of this mission.

they had a loyal soldier to save. primal or not, secret spy or not. though he was loathe to admit it, gaius was on their side now, and was acting as the leader he was. he would lead in that buggy form, hoping that the strange child omega hadn't altered the caverns too much... or that the ascian had not begun to move, playing their games with mortal men.

odder still, lahabrea had wished them luck as they left. it was becoming clear that he was disliked by most of the other ascian, and clearer still that he was slowly adapting to being mortal. adapting to being mateus, and their ally. he had even begun to garden again, though his fingers werent as apt as ascian ones. igeyorhm had also wished them luck, and given them some potions and other drinkable items she'd slipped from a client or two.

it had taken a week for y'shtola, thancred, and gaius to get to the entrance of the cavern. even with y'shtola having a second sense for navigation, and thancred being able to feel the mountains though his very essense, the territory was dangerous. thancred would still be able to sense the caverns, sense how things were - however, there were blind spots, full of queer aether.

(the fact that thancred and y'shtola had sex a few times on the trip also made gaius feel awkward, like he was taking care of teens. their curse still was not cured.) ]

Once you have found and eliminated the puer Omega, there will be nothing preventing us from retrieving and returning your Goe. As long as it patrols these caverns, it may attack when we are carrying the compromised soldier.

[ ah. so thats the rank that gaius thinks celcus is... or deserves? its not clear, as the gnath shakes a little, cutely. ]

Comments

[wordsinthesoul]

[A different approach had sounded like their best plan. Maybe they'll visit the Burn another time- but right now there's something of a time limit. (And- well, there hadn't been time to get the curse cured with it, either.). It was strange to be wished luck by Lahabrea, but… he's glad of it, and of the provisions Igeyorhm gave them.

He wonders if it's the small omega that's caused those strange pockets in the caverns. It doesn't seem as though those would impede their trip too much, but… he's concerned. If they end up cornered, they'll be in just as much trouble.

He nods.]

Were you able to tell whether there were any areas where the Omega patrolled regularly?

[that is cute! And Goe…. A supervisor, or ruler of a territory- it makes sense.]

[theblackawoo]

I didn't. [ Gaius said. ] However... there was something I noticed. [ a beat. ] An absense of something.

There were no beast who was alive in there. However, there was a cultivated garden - devoid of edible plants. That may be our first clue.

[wordsinthesoul]

Then it's been… eating everything in there? A garden…. That seems odd for Omega, but- it's somewhere someone would go. I think- what if we took a look?

[theblackawoo]

I can lead you to it. [ he clicks a little, as he begins to scurry - y'shtola following, quietly. ] I doubt it's Omegas'. Before your Calamity, there were those who were annexed from Garlemald and had no rank, but had been brought to the capital as slaves.

[wordsinthesoul]

All right. [he's going to move carefully as well, then, watching out for anything strange.] Ah…. And they might have grown these to help feed themselves?

[theblackawoo]

They may have. Resourceful Spoken like that should have gotten a title and a right to survive - but Garlemald is corrupt.

[ the tunnels seem fine right now! a bit of the walls seem to be stripped of even moss, however. slightly shimmery, slightly... slimy? ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Corrupt? I didn't think I'd hear you say that. What makes you say so?

[he rubs a finger along one wall, curious.]

[theblackawoo]

My Vath have heard disturbing rumours. [ click, clink. ] Use of augmentation to control their own men, and desires to simply destroy Eorzea. Not just that, but using fear to keep the populace in order.

[ But as Thancred would touch it, it would... sting. Almost acidic, it seems the thing on the wall is trying to dissolve stuff. It's spread too thin to hurt anything, but still...! ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Augmentation- altering them? That's… despicable. [he hisses.] Well. I'd far rather not have that.

[he makes a startled sound, pulling his hand back.] That- ah. That was a bad idea.

[theblackawoo]

Yes - stealing their minds. [ gaius scratches himself again, until thancred pulls back. y'shtola moves to examine him and it. ]

...This isn't natural. A side-effect of Omega?

[ But as she said that, the group finally arrived at the garden. The room was circular, kept bright by weird glowing orbs in the air. Plants that weren't eaten? More of that odd slime coated the walls, but not the floors. The room itself also seemed slightly foggy, the air heavy. Vines tried to climb the walls, but were killed - at least, over most of the wall. Some of them had grown over and up the walls... at least three bundles of vines.

Footsteps echoed. But the stems of the dead plants seemed familiar as well - at least, would to Thancred. There's a bundle of soft grass that seems to be untouched in the very middle of the room.

But as they entered, the passage they came from seemed to vanish, seemed to not be there anymore. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

How does that make them any better?

[he holds his hand out to her.] Perhaps…. I thought it seemed more mechanical, but perhaps it adapted…?

[He's rather impressed by the setup! It's unusual- although the plants do look familiar, and he ventures forward, kneeling to take a look at them.] These seem… like some of the ones Lahabrea's raised…? [also strange.

…ah. That's not good news, is it.]

[sageofdawn]

[ His thoughts exactly, but it seems they're puzzling along now. So Gaius will click a little, frustrated. ]

From what I have learned of Omega, it adapts. And if this is a smaller one, it may be different further.

[ Y'shtola goes to examine the plants as well, listening to Thancred. ] The ones he planted at your home--

[ Why did she suddenly stop talking? Because the ground is... wet near to that center. Muddy. And unstable. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Right. It probably still has a way to grow…

Yes. They're… being looked after, I think. But it's odd- did he come here before? Or after?

[ah. He's going to come closer, and crouch down to take a look at that, too.]. That's different. Let me see…

[let him poke at it with a stick or something- this time he won't directly touch it!]

[accidentalchaos]

[ It takes a few days, still, to get to the end of the mountain. But now the two deity can sense where to go, it's a lot easier - and there's still no beasts. Theta had drained them dry. They may have noticed the beast skittering around sometimes, but not paying attention to them.

But at the end? Shit. It's Zenos, waiting. Standing there quite emotionlessly. Gaius stills at seeing him, not showing any weakness. But where's Celcus...?! ]

...Nearly two weeks. You're fast, Oschon and Llymnaen.

[wordsinthesoul]

[They still have their strength- trying to push through quickly but safely.

Thancred breathes out a sharp breath, stopping short. He keeps an eye on Zenos, though his gaze flickers away- his brother…?]

Ah. That seemed to be all for the better, if we were.

[He doesn't trust what Zenos could do with more time, after all.]

[accidentalchaos]

...You want him.

[ It's said so casually, as one would talk about the weather. As one would give idle chit chat - but instead, it's about the one who was taken. It's even colder what he says next: ] He will not know who you are. But if you are fine with that...?

[wordsinthesoul]

Of course.

[A step forward, and he glowers. Ah- something like before, then? Save that- this time, Celcus has been woken to a primal's power…] He's my brother. I'll remind him, if I need to.

[notcred]

This shall be... interesting.

[ Magic flickers (wait, magic?!), and quite suddenly, out appears... well, it looks like Celcus. But he's garbed in different robes, a gift to suit the Primal. His gaze is gentle.

Zenos then whispers to Celcus, before any of them could speak. Gently, in a voice not like Zenos at all. ] These are the ones who threaten to wake you and your followers. [ Celcus looked - there was a flicker of recognition in his face. Elidibus didn't know, but this couldn't break that bond.

Still. His followers came first. ] ...But why?

[wordsinthesoul]

[His eyes widen for a moment, at the magic, but- then it's forgotten as Celcus appears. Thancred takes another step forward, focusing on Celcus- glancing at Zenos a little.]

…Celcus. [He reaches out- holding one hand out.] I want to see you home, and safe- but I can't promise that dreaming will bring that.

[notcred]

[ Celcus... doesn't take that hand, backing away a little. There's a soft smile on his lips. ]

My men have been a lot happier since I awoke, dearest brother. They've not needed to fight, nor have they needed to struggle against inequality.

[wordsinthesoul]

[He withdraws a little, tucking his hand against his side for a few moments.]

Happier- because of the dream? Or because Garlemald has changed in truth?

[notcred]

...The former. But is it not nice to live in bliss, as our world falls apart? Garlemald is to fall, one way or another.

[ He slowly tilts his head towards-- huh?! Zenos vanished. Slowly, Celcus frowns. ] He... no, the entire royal family is far too twisted. Garlemald will suffer - why not give some some reprieve? Some rest?

[wordsinthesoul]

Maybe so, but- the world could be better. I want that- for you, for us- for them. [Celcus cares about his people, right? Then… that makes sense, surely.

Thancred blinks, surprised- did he- he showed magic earlier, did he teleport? He frowns.] If they're as twisted as that- something ought to change. But that's not a permanent answer, brother.

[notcred]

Brother, the ruling family is controlled by Paragon. I brought up concerns, and yet-- [ he stops himself, hands bunching into fists. a fear flashing though his eyes - Gaius seems about to question it, but Y'shtola stops him. celcus seems close to snapping. ]

The world will not get better - I've seen it. We've seen it, brother. [ he says, stepping forward. ] Let the bliss take them-- let it take you.

[ oh fuck. he's trying to temper them - wait. they're immune, right? from the gentle blue flames. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Wait- controlled? [a somewhat baffled glance towards Gaius, but- is there any reason he would have known, really?]. It would- surely be difficult, if they're so deeply entwined.

It can- but it will take time. Please-

[he flinches, as the power washes over them, arms up. But the flames don't burn as he would expect, and he calls out.] Celcus- Celcus, please! Stop this!