Event || Mysterious Fathoms Below

[eternitymods]

Who: All characters who signed up
When: June 23rd-25th
Where: Ka'Pandol, the underwater city
What: While the outworlders and their guides are touring the new arena at Ka'Pandol, the city begins to flood. It is up to them to activate the ancient drainage system beneath the city before the Blitzball Association is forced to cancel the upcoming tournament.



The Zora guide, Pharce, is leading the group from the Curti Center through the center of town, waxing poetical about the legend of the First Zora, when the sirens begin to wail. At first, the residents of Ka'Pandol wave it off as a drill, but the sirens do not stop, and as they walk, the visitor shoes are beginning to get soaked through with sea water that is slowly rising.

"Come along, quickly, all of you!" the guide calls, leading the group to the Bureau of Tourism near the city center. As they walk, the group will see the aquatic residents quickly deploying bubble helmets around their 'exotic' pets -dogs, cats, parrots, squirrels- heads, just in case City Management takes their time righting whatever issue the dome is having.

"Inside, please. Safety first is our motto, so let's get you outfitted," Pharce says, waiving them inside. Each person is given one of the patented Ka'Pandol Bubble Helm, which will allow them to breath comfortably for several hours. Those that cannot swim are issued an emergency life vest as well.

The water had reached knee-level now. An emergency evacuation message broadcasts from loudspeakers.

"Well, yes, you could...but where's the fun in that?"

Pharce waves at the Hypello gift shop owner, and the two bow their heads in discussion for a moment. When they part, Pharce pats the Hypello (whose nametag declares him 'Shtan') on the back.

"My good friend will lend us some of his wares, if you will join me in saving the city. We wouldn't want this little mishap to delay the big game, after all."

Those that agree to hold off on fleeing the city will be split into groups and given instructions on where to go in order to help the sinking city of Ka'Pandol.

Comments

[regisrex]

Thank you, all. And... [ Regis gives Salieri a smile that would have seemed reckless, except that the fact that leading is something he has trained for and is good at makes it far, far more complicated - and possibly slightly out of place on the twenty-year-old's face. ] Don't mind if I do.

[ And Regis swings himself down through the trapdoor. He knows Clarus will glare at him as soon as they're both on the same level, but he's been listening to the sounds coming up, as well as the introductions, and he's reasonably sure that what is waiting for them down there is... nothing dangerous.

He's ready and watchful, anyway.

Though he's correct, this time.

And, once everyone else is down, he'll go looking at things. Like peering close to the algae. Examining the fish. Definitely reading the inscriptions.

Most of all, peering at the gloom beyond what is immediately visible. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Finn readily agrees with Clarus and follows right behind Regis to get this whole thing over with. He's not thrilled about being here, either, but someone needs to do it. Then again, it's not a bad thing to try memorizing everyone's skill sets. He just hopes the whole bard thing won't actually be necessary but prefers that over his lost harpoon gun.

And now they come to the chamber. ] Why are fish kept in tiny tanks in an underwater city? [ A city currently filling to the brim with water, at that.

He frowns and walks over to the forlorn looking blob fish to read the inscription. He kinda wants to break the poor thing out. ]

[zanarkandian]

[Tidus approaches the tank with the lone fish with a similar thought. It's really very strange.]

Or maybe the question is...who would leave them here? People don't usually come down this way, right?

[aethereally]

[Salieri stopped to admire the yellow-finned fish. Why would you keep fish in a tank under water?]

Hmm. I suppose you keep them like this for the same reason you'd keep them in a tank above water. This isn't the ideal environment for them. But you're right, why keep them down here? Someone has to be caring for them, right?

[failtsuninari]

Two groups in two separate tanks, huh? Either they don't get along or they serve a purpose to someone. It seems too much of a roundabout place to hide pets though.

[Kenichi glances at both of the tanks. Something about that blobfish, besides its sad looks, got to him.]

That lone one especially looks like it doesn't belong here. Creatures evolve to live in specific areas after all. The more extreme the conditions, the stranger their traits sometimes get. Maybe it belongs in deeper waters than here?

[eternitymods]

[Why are the fish here, indeed? They seem healthy enough, at least. The tropical fish flit around excitedly as the party approaches. The blob fish...kind of hovers, with its unblinking eyes watching their movement.

The inscription on the tropical fish tank reads:
There are two chocobos in front of a chocobo, two chocobos behind a chocobo and a chocobo in the middle.
How many chocobos are there?

The inscription on the blobfish tank reads:
What did the ocean say to the shore?

So, make of that what you will.]

[regisrex]

[ On his way past the fish tanks, Regis notes the two riddles - and the blobfish tank one makes him twitch a smile - but he waits until everyone has seen both. ]

Well then. We have a number and a motion. [ He likes puns, okay? It's a thing. ]

Though I can make arguments easily for five or seven or nine, on that one. [ He nods, easily, towards the tank of tropical fish. ] Thoughts, anyone?

[melodiouspacifist]

Oh man, I'm not good at math.

[Because that's what this is, right? Ugh.]

I've never heard the ocean talk. You think it does in some places?

[I mean, if there are talking mice, there's anything, right?]

[hatejakku]

The ocean doesn't speak.

[ Duh, Finn! He sighs and bends forward to look the blob fish in the eye... The dull, unmoving, unblinking eyes. ] If the ocean spoke in some places, then most of us wouldn't get the question right. Maybe- [ He pauses then blinks over at Regis. ] Wait, what motion?

[ Then he points at the yellow fish. ] I thought that one was five? [ It could be something else? Or, wait, there could be an extra one in between-

He was gonna get a headache. ]

[zanarkandian]

Nah, it doesn't talk. All you hear is the crashing waves. Maybe some birds.

[He's so lost, but speaking of birds, he's gonna take a crack at that chocobo riddle. He pulls random things out from his pockets and lines them up as chocobo stand-ins: a potion bottle, a wallet, his silver pendant, a deck of cards, and a novelty blitzball keyring. He starts lining them up on the floor, initially in an X shape.]

Okay, let's figure out these birds. Two in front, two in back, one in a middle...that's at least five, unless it's...

He frowns at his little display and arranges it again, all in a straight line while he works out where to put them next.]

[failtsuninari]

[For Kenichi, one look at the blob fish's inscription and Regis's comment was all he needed. Those years of collecting dad puns at his entire family's expense have paid off.]

Geeze, whoever created these puzzles was better a number based ones than riddles. Of course, the ocean said nothing, it waved.

[He crouches down to take a look at Tidus's attempt to visualize the first riddle.]

I don't think it'll be a very large number. Usually, with riddles, it's a matter of perspective.

[aethereally]

Riddles... [Salieri sighs. How dull.]

Two plus two is five, so, it's got to be that, right? There's nothing left for us to assume.

[But it IS a riddle, so he's expecting it to be tricking them somehow. As for the other one...]

It's a riddle, gents. The ocean doesn't talk except metaphorically. It'll be something silly I'd bet, along the lines of "Do you mind if I crash with you"?

[eternitymods]

[The tropical fish dart around in their tank, weaving around and swapping places with one another. As of yet, nothing happens with the tank.

The blobfish's mouth opens, and closes, and opens again when Kenichi uses his honed dad-skills. It appears to be...laughing...although it still looks like the saddest blob. It drops down to the bottom of the tank and flaps its fins.

In the blobfish's pedestal, a piece of stone drops out, revealing a hole with two Light Blue Gems. An icy blue color, they are both carved identically and have a flat side and a rounded side.]

[regisrex]

[ And Regis's attention sharpens the moment that the blob fish moves. He gives Kenichi a thumbs-up, yup. Puns are the thing, then walks to stand in front of the tropical fish. ]

Five.

[ He can make arguments for seven or even nine easily, but, sometimes, the simplest answer is best. ]

[lordshield]

[The older man peered at the inscription on the tropical tank for a moment, honestly too unsettled by the blob fish to look at it too long. Did they have those on Eos? He hoped not. Ugly.]

I believe it might be three. The riddle doesn't specify that it is referring to the same chocobo each time. So a chocobo is in the back with two in front of it, a chocobo is in the front with two behind it, and there's a chocobo in the middle. Just a theory.

[He's not much of a riddler, but he is a problem solver and finding loopholes became a specialty of his when he began writing snd revising laws. A glance back at the blob fish tank and he gives an approving nod to Kenichi.]

Well done.

[hatejakku]

[ It... waved... Finn stares down at the two little gems. ] Oh. [ That really feels like a trick question!

As much as he's unsure about touching things, Finn removes the two gems and turns to the group so they can all get a better look at them. He puts the two flat ends together and sighs before studying the carvings. ]

This seems like a really weird way to get to the drainage system...

[ But then Clarus takes his attention away. ] Oh, you're right. There's different answers, but the smallest number has to be correct, right?

[aethereally]

[Salieri snaps a finger and points at Clarus.] Now that sounds right.

[But he's more interested in whatever those gems are, and he joins Finn to take a look at them.]

Hmm, those are nice. Might make a nice set of earrings?

[zanarkandian]

I don't think that's what they're for...

[Tidus lines up three of his trinkets in a straight line and counts them both ways, satisfied. Now to clean up his mess.]

Right, so. Wave three? Third wave? And we're using these, somehow?

[eternitymods]

[The tropical fish do not make the party do the wave or anything like that. As soon as the group settles on their answer -3- three fish dart into the little decorative castle at the bottom of their tank. A moment later, a hidden compartment at the base of the tank opens, dropping out two Purple Gems. They are similar in size and shape to the gems from the blobfish.

At the far end of the chamber, a section of wall rattles and lifts, allowing the party to progress to the next room.

When the party chooses to move on, they will find... two more tanks, with two more riddles!

One has no visible creatures inside, but has a number of rocks stacked together that could offer a hiding place. The inscription on this tank reads:

Three lives have I.
Gentle enough to soothe the skin,
Light enough to caress the sky,
Hard enough to crack rocks.

The other tank contains a puffer fish. The inscription on this tank reads:

I can be broken without being held. ]

[regisrex]

[ And Regis beams at Clarus, because, well done! And then he crouches down to pick up the gems. ]

If these are dropping, we might as well pick them up - we might need them further down.

[ And he was right in front of the tank already.

He'll make sure the other two are also recovered, before moving in to the next room to read the next riddles. The first one seems pretty easy to him, all the circumstances considered, but the second one makes him squint for a moment, then his eyes flit to Clarus and he steps closer to the older man. (Clarus never broke any. But did Regis hold up his to his Shield?)

His word is soft but clear. ]

Promise.

[ Hes sure others will also figure it out, but... he wants to say it, himself. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Finn was a little exasperated to find another room with more tanks and more riddles. Like... wouldn't it make more sense to just keep a lever behind a locked door? What is with all of this nonsense???

But no, okay, he walks over to the first riddle, trying to ignore the lonely puffer fish that he can't save. He also hears Regis' answer, but doesn't really register it as he stares down at the first tank.

Three lives or phases. Gentle on skin. Light enough to float. Hard enough to- ] Water!

[ Then he glances around at everyone and straightens himself up. ] Um, I mean- I think it's water, right? It sounds like water. [ He apologizes if he ruined any moments. ]

[zanarkandian]

Hey, good one!

[Tidus grinned at Finn encouragingly, flashing him a thumbs up. He then turned his attention to the other riddle. He's not usually a puzzler, but after a few moments' thought, his hand drifts to his chest.]

Well you don't hold a heart...not literally. Doesn't stop it from breaking.

[He says it with his usual smile, but he's quick to shake his head and refocus.]

[failtsuninari]

[Kenichi looks at the gems and the tanks. At both Regis and Finn's answers, he nods.]

Hmmm, water and promise are probably the answers like you guys said.

Still, I wonder if there's a connection to the fish in the tanks, the answers to the riddles and those gems. I'll keep track for us just to be safe. This really has to be the most convoluted security measure, I've ever seen though.

[aethereally]

[Salieri goes over to check out the pufferfish. It's cute!]

Water definitely has to be it, right? I was thinking "heart" for the other one as well, but "promise" is also good. I suppose there's nothing against multiple good answers, is there? Let's hedge our bets!

[eternitymods]

[In the seemingly empty tank, an eel pokes its head out of the rock formation, an expectant look on its face. It bobs its head in a nod, and a panel within the tank's base opens, revealing two Green Gems.

The puffer fish swims first toward Regis, then to Salieri. It sucks in water, puffing itself up. The panel opens, revealing two Yellow Gems. Sometimes, it seems, there really is more than one answer to a riddle.

The next door opens, revealing the final chamber of riddles. Two more tanks.

One tank contains clams nestled at the bottom. The inscription on this tank reads:
I can bring tears to your eyes;
resurrect the dead,
make you smile,
and reverse time.
I form in an instant,
but I last a lifetime.

The second tank houses an octopus, who waves a tentacle at the party as they enter. The final riddle reads:
What is the name of the Eidolon of Water?]