Player Plot: The Crystal Temple's Secret

[princeandscholar]

Who: Characters signed up for this quest
When: 12th
Where: The Crystal Temple in Sen Devadatta
What: The Heroes of Light vs. Bahamut's Temple
Warnings/Notes: None


IC | Arrival

After a long flight to the Empire, a visit to Parasraya, and a meetup at the capital, the expedition members are loaded onto vehicles and delivered to their destination: the magnificent Crystal Temple. Alas, there is no time for a leisurely tour as the company gathers outside with caving gear and weaponry.

Once all party members are assembled, Orcelito addresses everyone:
"Thank you for coming. I know it was a long flight and there was a lot of preparation. Your presence here is appreciated, and we will be underway shortly.”

He gestures towards the Crystal Temple. “Two teams will be escorted into the basement of the temple. The rest will travel into the forest to look for a way in through the network of caverns. We have leads on where to start searching, so we can make the most of our time.

“As mentioned in the letter, the ruins have deteriorated over the years. Bahamut’s Temple is ancient, and parts of it are no longer standing. I’ve been told that some areas may be flooded or unstable.”

Orcelito pauses, scanning the group. He lowers his tone as he adds, "If you find evidence to suggest someone has tampered with the ruins recently, let me know. As well, please refrain from disturbing the ruins more than necessary. We are here on the Empire's good grace, after all."

And one more thing. "I understand it will be inconvenient, but the order not to use the Mognet is especially imperative while we're here. If you need to send a message to another team, ask one of the Moogles. They are here to help."

From where she hovers by his shoulder, Marigold waves the free paw that’s not clutching a lantern. Those traveling with their Moogle companions will notice they've been given similar lights.

Finally, he smiles; Orcelito may not know everyone here, but he's committed to leading each of them out safely. “Don’t take unnecessary risks. Look after each other.”

Once the orientation is complete, the parties are split. Orcelito turns to lead the way into the temple where a researcher stands ready to guide them to the basement. The other group will find a vehicle waiting to carry them to the forest nearby.


Team Thread Links
Team A thread: Orcelito, Tidus, Rutile, Naoto, Snow White
Team B thread : Ashelia, Castor, Terra, Klonoa, Frisk, Madhuri
Team C thread: Finn, Regis, Adrien, Sephiroth, Ursula, Papyrus, Kanji
Conclusion

Comments

I'll RNG for Rutile's Tabula Rasa ... Naoto got it!

[princeandscholar]

When Snow White attacks from the front and Naoto pelts it with light-enhanced shots from the side, the Ancient Mimic howls, staggering back, two of its six legs collapsing under it and the other four shaking as it struggles to remain standing. The light spreads more vicious than a burn through its gelatinous body, searing it far worse than the Broil did. Wobbling, the mimic rises again, it's lid trembling as it coughs out a Cackle. (And the party's Attack plunges by 10%.)

Orcelito steps to the side, moving along one wall in hopes of getting behind the monster. Ice... that's a good idea. He can restrict its movement so it can't lunge again. "Prepare to get behind it! Freeze!"

The cold wind is barely felt in the already chilly room, but the Mimic's lower limbs and body are incased in ice. It chomps its' lid, flashing sharp teeth, straining to break free.

Meanwhile, Rutile will find the air coming out of the hollow is stale and less humid; aside from this opening, the area beyond may be completely sealed. It’s pitch black inside, but if they shine a light within, there’s a small room with a corridor leading to the side – probably to the area that is inaccessible from the main hallway. (And while the party could squeeze through the openings, it’d probably be best clean up the venom still sticking to the edges before trying!)

[poisonwish]

Snow White scrambled back to his feet. Now that the mimic was immobilized, it was easier to run around to the back of it.

Once again, at its weak spot this time, Snow sent Dual Sacre at the creature's wood-like body. Maybe this would end it for good.

[pishirogane]

The Mimic might be immobilized, but Naoto needed to move and quickly reload. Also, with the ice, she decided Ifrit couldn't risk melting it free and the ghostly beast shifts, becoming more serpentine as Leviathan materializes.

With a fresh clip, Concentrate is passively activated as Naoto took the next shot from the front at the Ancient Mimic - hopefully with the elemental coat still on - again going for the mouth while Snow White attacks from behind. Following the single bullet shot, Leviathan would douse it with Tidal Splash.

Final Summary for Team A

[princeandscholar]

The ice restraining the mimic shatters from the blows, and the damage is done. The enchanted wooden casing the mimic used to protect itself falls in splinters. From the broken back, it appears a mass of thick, ebony sludge crammed into a box. The water rushes through the room, diluting and washing away the venom.

The mimic staggers and falls forward. It does not get the chance to rise again as Orcelito casts Morpheus's Embrace over it. With a final strike, the Ancient Mimic enters eternal slumber.

(Since it will take a day or so for the Ancient Mimic's corpse to dry out, the party members are free to harvest some of the poisonous goo while it's available. Properties are as laid out in the Libra scan; remember to handle with care!)

With the mimic taken care of, the party members can now squeeze through the holes into the adjacent room. Sure enough, the doorway leads past the blocked hall and into the rest of the building the group couldn't access before.

This place has a distinct musty smell, but the air is noticeably drier. Seems this area has been sealed off for longer and protected from the local monsters.

The passage leads past two rooms with long tables and chairs. But the real prize is when the hallway opens into a large room at the end of the corridor, and the party finds something particularly special!

Lining the walls of the chamber are bookshelves housing a collection of tomes! Though they were carefully shelved for their centuries-long sleep, the pages cling weakly to the deteriorated spines and the covers are heavily discolored and threatening to fall off. Many of the titles on the spines have faded to illegibility. If they open one with great (GREAT!) care, what little ink persists to show on the pages is indecipherable. Hm… if you can't read it, perhaps someone who's a native can?

(Once the Crystal Temple staff is called in to investigate, they'll be able to confirm that these books are written in Old Vaikunthan, an early form of Vaikunthan which was used a thousand years ago. The researchers will express surprise that the party can't make heads of tails of it; from their perspective, the Heroes are speaking Vaikunthan, so Old Vaikunthan should be at least a bit legible. It's strange, that.)

But for now, the books will have to stay here. Reluctantly, Orcelito reminds the group that it's time to rendezvous with the other team. Perhaps they also found something of interest?