Player Plot: Let's Explore Mad'ni Shrine!

[whirluendo_of_puns]

Who: Everyone who signed up!
When: Around November 3-6ish
Where: The Mad'ni Shrine
What: Searching for the lost ruins beneath the Shrine!
Warnings/Notes: It's another dreaded water level.

Although the flight provided by Curti Center takes them as close as they possibly can, the Heroes still have to take a brief walk through the woods to reach their destination. It remains to be seen whether the trip will be worth it. After all, their hope of finding a Legendary Eidolon, or even just clues pointing to one, is based on little more than guesswork.

But, with the time ticking down towards the end of the world, they don't have the luxury of ignoring a lead, no matter how vague. A shot in the dark might be what saves them all in the long run.

OOC info and sign-ups are here!

Comments

Floors 5 & 6

[whirluendo_of_puns]

The right-hand doors on these floors are locked.

The series of corridors connecting the left-hand doors seem surprisingly straightforward this time... That is, until the Heroes find a more literal maze further in. The paths are very narrow and the walls of the maze go all the way up to the ceiling, creating an uncomfortably claustrophobic feel.

Still, with time and patience, they should be able to make it to the end, right?

[mythmaker]

Why did it have to be a maze...?

[Azusa's voice, sing-song even in a moment of complaint, echoes out into the maze. She has her left hand placed against the wall. Her sense of direction has never been her strong point (it's more like her greatest weakness), but with so many people around she's trying her best to keep up and put on a good show.]

If we keep one hand on the wall like this, we'll make it out. Right? I read about that somewhere, I think...

[immortalmarshal]

You're supposed to keep it on a wall facing the outside, last I heard.

[Whether or not she's feeling along that side, it's hard to tell, after a few twists and turns in this blasted maze. Cor glances around at the others in their group.]

Don't suppose anyone else have a solid sense of direction?

[It's almost a pity that they can't climb over the walls to see where they're going...]

[chatwithdeath]

The issue with the method is we'll be in here for potentially hours if not longer...

[Why did it have to be a maze? And what she wouldn't do for a minotaur being here right now and their bizarre, natural attune to labyrinths.]

I can make a mental map through vibrations, but unless something else begins moving inside, I can only 'see' so far around us.

[mythmaker]

Mm...it's not ideal, but if we get lost, won't we be in here for hours as well?

[She's doing her best to help. Left hand on the wall, step by step, the Hero of Light with the worst sense of direction continues to lead the way.]

My horoscope this morning mentioned good luck, so I have a good feeling about this. This has to be the right way.

[whirluendo_of_puns]

As they progress(?) through the twisting paths, Naomi may in fact sense someone or something else moving within the maze. Not just one, but several...

The others, too, may occasionally be able to catch the faint and slightly damp thwap thwap thwap of footsteps through the nearest wall if they keep their ears open. They're definitely not the only ones here.

[chatwithdeath]

They could probably progress faster, but they had to take their time and consider their options as they moved along. However, Naomi's eyes begin to shift this way and that as they move, and her steps are taken with more care.

"... We have company. Be on guard as we proceed." She said it low, but who could say how good the hearing of these unknown entities could be?

[mythmaker]

"Eh? Are you sure?" She shakes her head, immediately regretting the question. Of course her companion is sure; she should know better than to doubt her comrades just because she's alarmed. "Alright. I can arm myself without even lifting my hand, so we'll be alright."

A single Tarot card floats out from her sleeve and holds itself in front of her, tilting itself sideways as if threatening to fly forward like a razor at a moment's notice. True to her word, Azusa hasn't lifted her hand yet...

Wait.

"They aren't on the other side of us, are they?"

Let's just pretend he was here the whole time

[whirluendo_of_puns]

"Oh, I really hope not." Bringing up the rear, Uendo glances nervously over his shoulder. It seemed so sensible for a Summoner to stay in the back, but now he's just distressingly aware of all the unchecked pathways they've passed. There's a very real chance some monster could circle around and come up behind them.

The damp footsteps are moving in the opposite direction as the party, just on the other side of the wall on their right. The sounds pause for a moment as they come up to the party's position, but after a few long seconds, they continue on their way. Looks like they've gone unnoticed for now.

Haha sure sure

[chatwithdeath]

Naomi pauses in her movements, holding a clawed hand to the others in silent orders to halt and focuses. Just like Azusa feared, they were on the other side to the right... however, whether because of a dead-end or them going undetected, the footsteps move on.

"... Let's keep going. I'll do what I can and track any other movements, but we can't linger."

[mythmaker]

Azusa thinks it over for a few seconds. She doesn't want to rush through the maze, but if they are being circled by monsters...what are they going to do? This is a real ara, ara doushio moment. The dire kind. This is a lot more intense than getting lost in the middle of a supermarket.

"Let's move more quickly. Naomi-san is right."

With her left hand still on the wall, she starts to jog, moving forward more quickly, and she'll continue to do so until she's forced to turn or until the maze turns her around.