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]

So they're safe…. It was meant for you, you know. [he'll help gather some of the supplies up at that, frowning.] Near-feral? Would they recognise us?

[are they likely to be in trouble? probably.]

[smoltol]

Listen, not-Deidrich. They've not seen you before. I doubt they'll be as kind as I was.

[ y'shtola rolled her eyes, as she gathered some as well. nerobot is gonna lead!!! ]

...So they won't. I'll leave Celcus up here, Thancred.

[ he'll be safe. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

That's about what I would have expected, yes. I'll be careful.

All right. [just- a little forehead kiss for protection, first. And then he'll follow after nerobot.]

[smoltol]

[ Gently, nicely, Y'shtola also gives Celcus a gentle long-lasting regen spell.

But the strange mirrored room is missing now, likely consumed. The path is twisting, but the robot is swift.

They get down to the bottom. Where the meteor fell. Well, the so-called meteor. And... there's a mount-sized dragon snarling there. Also a small robotic cat and a patchwork fat cat. ] This is it - our little house.

[wordsinthesoul]

[It's quite a trip, but he keeps up- stopping when he spots the dragon, staring. This… is also not what he expected. He eventually drags his gaze to the smaller duo, before looking after the area.]

You've done a reasonable job with it, I'd say! Ah… should we have introductions?

[smoltol]

Depends on if they want to-- ah. Of course she would.

[ Who? The patchwork fat cat is crawling towards them, purring. Though their aether, their aura... it's strong. A little weaker then them, moving to beg for some of the food. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

She? [Oh- one's approaching. He crouches down, fascinated by her aura- strong, and a little oddly familiar. He reaches to unpack some of the food, holding it out to her.]

Hello. You're a sweetheart, aren't you? What can I call you?

[resetto]

[ Yeah Theta Weapon is gonna be wary, as he gives food to the snarling dragon. Watching, amused, as Y'shtola is gonna begin to note the enviroment and move to help the others. A little.

It took a little, but then almost using telepathy, she talked. While nibbling food - seeming to look at the robotic cat. (It's free aether!) ] Um... Bolormaa. [ She is wary - his aura is wrong, there shouldn't be others... should there? (Her voice is so similar to Minfilia. Exactly like it.) ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[He does eye the dragon warily- wondering. But perhaps he'll be calm after eating…?

G'raha's coming a little closer, but warily- taking a step and then seeming to waver, squinting at these two. They seem familiar, but- this is strange. Still- he's hungry enough to look for what he can take.

Thancred stares, grip loosening. But- Minfilia's back home-?] Bolormaa? Ah… I'm sorry, it's just- you sound very familiar.

[resetto]

[ bolormaa noses some over - getting between this strange thancred and g'raha. she'll protect. she's good at protecting. right?

but her focus does not waver, between nibbles. ] ...As do you. Who-- what are you?

[wordsinthesoul]

[He feels as though he should help protect…! But he's still not doing too well, and she is good at protecting- so he huddles next to her, taking the food.]

Ah- me? I'm- Thancred. I was born to the role of Oschon.

[resetto]

...You're not Thancred. [ She says straight-out, as Theta Weapon seems to bweep a little. So the telepathy can be heard by all of them. ]

That's what I tried to say - you shouldn't have gotten your hope up. He scans similar, but his aether is far too Umbrally aligned. [ casual jerk robot as is... giving slime to the dragon? which is fusing into? ]

[wordsinthesoul]

I… no, I am. But- some things are different, it seems- and we know of separate reflections. Ones where, presumably, we're… different from each other.

[h u h. that's weird. but he's a little focused for now- trying to convince them, as G'raha stares, pausing in eating to make sense of this.]

[resetto]

Different reflections-- iterations, or something else...? [ She seems to be thinking it over, reaching her stubby little paws out towards him. ] Ah-- um. Iterations are different versions of the same events. Over and over, though I-- oh.

[ the oh? from the dragon shifting, lifting his head. Speaking in Dragonspeak, a tongue the deity would get though Echo-esque ability. ] We fell though reflections. We were attacked during it - I dropped many of our allies. [ o h... the dragon looks guilty, as it lays down again. ] She misses family. Me, too.

[wordsinthesoul]

It might be that- given we seem to be as different as I think we are. One… well, myself- and one, the Thancred you know. [he's going to reach out, too, just touching her gently. G'raha sits up, watching intently- before Cid speaks, his head turning.]

Attacked- by… planesgorgers, perhaps? They were- family, then? They… if you made it through, perhaps they did, too.

[resetto]

...Not the children. Shinryuu himself struck. [ ......holy SHIT. they saw and survived it? but he is back to being re-formed by the bweeping theta weapon.

but she lets herself get touched so very gently. cautiously. ] ...Then I'd not exist for you. It was only due to deeds in mine that-- I'm sorry, Thancred, for my rudeness.

[wordsinthesoul]

Shinryuu!? You mean- the true Worldeater!? Yet you still arrived here… I'm impressed.

[his touches stay gentle, stroking only a little, carefully.] I… you still remind me of Minfilia. But she is here…. Thank you, Bolormaa. I hope we can be friends.

[resetto]

[ He nodded, weakly. But Theta Weapon almost seems to smirk. ] Now do you see why we're so damned hurt? Hells, I even tried to fight him. Didn't do much, but that's what it's like when you're programmed to fight.

That's because I am-- [ no. she's not minfilia. ] Minfilias' memories and hopes, given form, when time corrupted. An aspect of Hydaelyn.

[wordsinthesoul]

Yes. I… could have only imagined what damage it was able to deal…. I'd imagine it help. [he hopes, at least.]

Given form-? You did say… there were deeds- that lead to your existence? Did someone… call for you?

[resetto]

...In order to try and save those who'd already perished, my Urianger-- well, the Urianger I knew-- used a spell given to him by Elidibus. [ would ascian have the same name? but she gives a soft little whine. Though she's repeated this a lot, or so it feels. ] It set time backwards, but, uh. Only for our plane. T-the plane needed Minfilia, but she was with Hydaelyn. So I was made.

[wordsinthesoul]

Elidibus approached your Urianger, too? [he's…sort of sorry for Elidibus, but- he still hisses.]

Since Hydaelyn exists… ah, in another place- so it seems to me. And it gave us the opportunity to meet…. May I hold you?

[resetto]

...He did. We had no idea he could-- what his limits weren't. But it gave us time to prepare for the Worldeater - and, uh. It changed a lot of us.

[ ??? And she suddenly looks wary again. she's finished eating the solid bits of the food, so... ] Well, um. If you promise you won't hurt me.

[wordsinthesoul]

I'm not sure what limits he has. He's… very strange. I'm glad to hear that- though- how?

[G'raha moves to cuddle against her a little, eyes cautious- but he seems more settled. Ready to eat again.]

Of course not. [he reaches out to hold her- just in a very gentle hug.]

[resetto]

[ And as she's hugged, suddenly - there's no longer a patchwork fat cat, but a gentle Au Ra-looking lady. With eyes not quite right, and scales that glimmered like crystal. She keeps her tail close to G'raha, though...!!

And doesn't hug back. ] I don't know how, but, um. Lady Minfilia said that her Thancred used to be a Hyur, until-- well, until everything went back. I wouldn't know. And, I don't think Theta Weapon existed back then...

Excuse you? I did exist - simply not as an automation. Not that I recall that - why would I want to? Much better this way. The Return changed the very fabric of our plane - still don't know why. Something preventing erasing time before Dalamud fell?

...Um. I don't think we should argue-- it's a lot to take in.

[wordsinthesoul]

[He makes a startled sound, but adjusts his hold so that it'll be more comfortable for her. She looks… quite different from what he'd have thought of, but- lovely in a way, too. G'raha's staying close, nibbling on the aether left behind- also strange to Thancred's eyes, but still nice.]

…huh. Well- I am Hyur…

Oh- you weren't? That's interesting. [he's wondering- because from how Theta's been sounding, he has a suspicion.] In other words- that that was such a cataclysmic event as to to affect it permanently?

Mm. [he hums.] Still- if some of us were changed from the spell- that's strange, isn't it?