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

Not nitpicking here, Frisk is just a smart cookie who notices things

[sassafrisk]

"Normally, I'd advocate against splitting the party because that's generally when everything goes horribly wrong, but we need to get this done fast and it doesn't really look like with have any other options." Frisk purses their lips, thinking. There were some things that were striking them as off about this situation.

"Two questions, though: one, if this was meant to be an emergency measure to help out the city when things get bad, why are they locking it behind a bunch of corridors with weird tides that make it hard to get through instead of just putting simple security detail on it? And this is only one part of the puzzle, the others probably have different security measures." Now, they could understand why this kind of thing happened in the Underground, grim as the reasoning was, but here....

"B, Madhuri, how the heck do you know French? Like, I'm pretty sure you and Adrien are from different worlds, nevermind how the Common Tongue thingymajig auto-translates so all I should be hearing from you is English. Of course," Frisk waggles their eyebrows, "perhaps there's a reason I hear your lovely voice speaking in the language of love, mademoiselle?

"I call dibs on Papyrus once we split, by the way."

[doodlebuginette]

It seemed like the combined efforts of everyone had given Sasami reason to pause, and for that she could breathe a sigh of relief. Her eyes went a little wide as the chest popped open and revealed... part of a statue? That was a little odd, but she supposed it made some kind of sense.

At least it wasn't a trap.

She couldn't quite fight the giggle that bubbled out in response to Papyrus' over-the-top exclamation. Maybe Frisk didn't need to be quite that careful with it, but she had to admire the sentiment.

When everyone started talking about splitting up, Marinette was torn. On the one hand, she really wanted to go with Adrien. But she didn't want to seem too clingy or make it seem like she was following him around. On the other hand, it didn't seem like anyone was eager to go with Komaeda, which could be a problem if they were splitting up into pairs. "Then I have dibs on Komaeda~" she announced, before scooting over to stand by him.

[despairing_hope]

"Oh? I would have thought you would want to go with someone else," he was truly surprised. He would have even taken the risk of going by himself if it made it easier for everyone.

"And I understand the misgivings in splitting up, however, this is exactly why it would be in pairs," he glanced towards Frisk unamused by their comment. "Most likely it's a protection system so people don't sabotage it. It is old as well, so there might be things that don't work the same as they used to. The tides may be due to the flooding as well. You're focusing too much on details that don't matter right now."

Through the West Door

[eternitymods]

[The water is currently still at the western-facing door. The group going this way can go right away. The current runs on a three-minute cycle, and if the party is still in the hallway when it begins again, they will be swept back to the alcove near the oubliette’s Northeast entrance and have to navigate the tunnels again.

The west path leads to a single chamber, containing two identical treasure boxes sitting side by side. If the group turns around, they will find an inscription above the door:

The path you think right, reconsider.
The other choice by far is better.

Other than the plaque with the inscription and the two chests, there is nothing of note in this room.]

[sassafrisk]

Frisk swims up towards the room with Papyrus, preoccupied with what could possibly be worth guarding with such extreme measures. Hopefully nothing they would have to fight. As soon as they come to the chest room and read the inscription, they raise a single eyebrow and turn to their companion. "My bet's on the left one. Gil for your thoughts?"

[einspine]

[Hrmmm. Riddles! Not a puzzle he encounters often, but Frisk's logic does seem sound enough. He glances from one chest to another, contemplating just a bit longer. It could be a trick, but...]

LEFT SEEMS STRAIGHTFORWARD ENOUGH TO ME! A LITTLE WORDPLAY, NYEH HEH HEH.

[sassafrisk]

Only hesitating for a few moments, Frisk goes to open the left chest. "This should go without saying, but since we're probably underthinking this, we should be prepared to run like heck as soon as I crack this thing open." Bracing themself, Frisk opens the chest.

[eternitymods]

[Underthinking? How about WONDERthinking!

The chest on the left side swings open to reveal another Piece of Statue. It is a curled tail, expertly sculpted.

Now, the only question is, is that it, or does the duo want to test fate and open the treasure chest on the right?]

[einspine]

Papyrus pumps a fist in the air at Frisk's glorious victory. Nyeh heh heh! He knew it! He knew they had it in them!

"ANOTHER PIECE! ANOTHER PRIZE!!! CLEARLY, OUR WITS CANNOT BE TAMED. WELL, MOSTLY YOUR WITS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE...

THOUGH NOW I AM CURIOUS WHAT LIES WITHIN THE OTHER CHEST. DO YOU THINK IT'S WORTH A TENTATIVE PEEK?"

[sassafrisk]

Frisk cups their chin in their hand. On the one hand, maybe treasure. On the other... "Don't you think that the fact that the possibility is so alluring is a sign that maybe we should back off? We've got the piece of the statue, we should probably head back before the current changes."

[einspine]

Oh.

Oh, that is a very good point. It could be a trap. It could set them back to square one! But what if it isn't? What if it's a boon? A gift? What if the riddle was a trick all along?

He fidgets and glances from one chest to the other.

"WHAT IF YOU START HEADING BACK NOW AND I CHECK THE CHEST? OR PERHAPS WE COULD BOTH BACK AWAY VEEEERY SLOWLY AND TAP IT WITH THAT SPEAR?

OR I SUPPOSE WE COULD JUST GO, BUT THEN WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT LIES WITHIN!!! OH, THE DILEMMA. THE DEEP, INTERNAL STRUGGLE! WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO THINK?!"

Through the North Door

[eternitymods]

[Water rushes past the north door. The current runs on a four-minute cycle, and if the party attempts to leave before the cycle ends, is still in the hallway when it begins again, they will be swept back to the alcove near the oubliette’s Northeast entrance and have to navigate the tunnels again.

The north path leads to a larger chamber, containing a single giant treasure box with a lock. A school of shimmering minnows circle this chamber. One minnow, a little larger than the others, has a special glint to it. When a person approaches, the school will swim in the opposite direction.

Other than the treasure box and the fish, this chamber contains a sealed door in the north wall.]

[songbird_slayer]

[Hmm... locked chest (darn it, she couldn't use Knock here) and some fish swimming around the room.]

Hmm... I suppose we left our lockpicks in our other pants?

[modelcivilian]

[Four minutes... four minutes, but he would keep his sword planted to avoid being swept away with the next churning current. He have a look around the chamber, frown at the locked treasure chest, but... but his eye caught something glint. Looking at the fish, he noticed something off.]

[Not even turning into his other self and the fish hold his interest.]

... Hey, is one of those fishes bigger than the others?

[songbird_slayer]

The fish?

[She tread on over to get a better look, even as the minnows fluttered away. Right, skittish little things, weren't they?]

It seems we've a leader of the school. But there's something odd about it. A clue...? I can't say I'm much of an ich... fish... doctor.

Hm, take the other side if you would. I'm going to see about catching it.

[modelcivilian]

[Ich... doctor? He'll refrain from almost laughing.]

Sure. I'll keep them from going too far.

[And he moved into position to let Madhuri do her thing at fish wrangling.]

[eternitymods]

[The strategy of one wrangler on each side of the school is sound, using the fishes' instinct to swim directly opposite of the nearest threat against them. With the effort primarily on Madhuri's side, the fish manage to swim above Adrien to freedom.

Perhaps some skills or abilities could give them the edge they need.]

[modelcivilian]

[If the fish were going to be difficult, it was a good thing Adrien also Job Classed Ninja. A little trickery, some parkour, and a touch of Ninjustu should be enough to further disrupt and let them catch their big fish.]

Through the East Door

[eternitymods]

[Water rushes past the east door. The current runs on a six-minute cycle, and if the party is still in the hallway when it begins again, they will be swept back to the alcove near the oubliette’s Northeast entrance and have to navigate the tunnels again.

The east path leads to a medium-sized chamber. The floor, rather than the stone of the previous rooms, is set with alternating black and white tiles (for those of Earth, reminiscent of a checker board). There is a treasure box on the very far side of the room. If the group turns around, they will find a plaque with an inscription on the wall above the door:

Forwards or backwards you cannot proceed.
Nor side to side, another direction you need.

Other than the tiles, the plaque, and the treasure box, there is nothing of note in this room.]

[doodlebuginette]

"Mmm... nope! I wanted to go with you," she told him matter-of-factly. "If I'd wanted to go with someone else, I'd have done it. Besides, it's better to not go alone~" Unless he'd rather go with someone else and he was just trying to be polite about it. But it seemed kind of silly to worry about it now.

Six minutes was easy enough to remember, and as long as they were out of the way in time it wouldn't be so bad. Getting through the hallway was easier than she'd suspected it would be, and once she was inside the room at the end of it, she turned to make sure Komaeda had made it as well.

Satisfied that they'd both made it in one piece, she turned to consider the chamber in front of them again. "Is this... checkers?" Or chess, maybe?

"So... What do you think?" she asked, turning to Komaeda.

[despairing_hope]

He thought about telling her how it was a bad idea to want to join him, nothing good would come from hanging around trash like him, but he hesitated. He could keep it to himself for a moment and focus on the puzzle. She was just trying to help after all.

"Too simple. Checkers or chess the moves can be the same," and before giving any sort of warning he stepped onto the board diagonally. It either worked out or didn't but he had confidence the e d result would be favorable.

[eternitymods]

[As Komaeda steps out diagonally...nothing happens. He is able to step on the black tiles and proceed further into the chamber. Is it luck? Is it coincidence? It's too early to tell at this point.]

[doodlebuginette]

As soon as he moved onto the board, Marinette's focus was dominated by how they were going to get through this. She'd never been good at chess, but she'd played checkers with her father or mother at least a dozen times.

What caught her eye, however, was the way he only moved diagonally. He hadn't stepped onto the white tiles at all, so she's going to assume that that's the way to go. Not wanting to stick around any longer than necessary, she hurried over and carefully stepped out too, making sure to stick to the black tiles and to try to follow his pattern. Hopefully that would get them through this in one piece.

[despairing_hope]

Not seeing anything bad happening and watching Marinette follow he preceded towards the other side, keeping diagonal.

It felt a little too easy, but at the same time it felt about right for RPGs.

"We should still keep an eye out, mechanics sometimes like to change to give a suprise," he knew it wasn't a video game, but it was hard not to make comparisons anyway.

[eternitymods]

[So long as Marinette and Komaeda keep their progress diagonal, they will be able to reach the treasure chest on the far side of the room.

When opened, the chest will reveal a Piece of Statue, the intricately shaped head of a serpentine figure. When it is removed, the adventurers will here an audible click from beneath the floors.]

Inside of the lid, they will find a second inscription.]

Two steps forward, one reversed,
'Til the chamber is traversed.