eighth shot ⊗ open november log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various things
🕒 WHEN: throughout November
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except any potential violence against lettuce

⊗ a: task - flappy veg

[Guarding flying lettuce....is certainly something Eustace never would have found himself doing, yet here he was in one of the known locations where some have landed from their migration. Whether they're technically animals or not, Eustace couldn't understand them through animal magic regardless, but he's able to at least communicate that he's there to help and not harm. They seem a bit jittery with all the poaching around.

a. updrafts. The place they landed in is mostly a clearing, but there are a few "obstacles" scattered around in the form of tall rocks and small trees. While most of the Butterfly Lettuce remain on the ground vibing, some also choose to perch on the trees to prune their leaves. However, due to their physique and unreliable drafts at this time, they end up either flopping about or plummeting to the ground. Fortunately none are too bruised, but it's hard to just sit still when nothing much is happening.]

...Hold on, let me help.

[Either by picking them or using wind magic to create some wind to help the lettuce, Eustace can give them a boost up. It's still not perfect, but it works.

Some of the younger lettuce realize they have an on demand draft maker, and Eustace can also be found creating wind streams to help the smaller Butterfly Lettuce "flap" over a mini obstacle course as they play a game while also practicing their skills. It's good practice for him as well. For anyone who might there also guarding him, they can either assist or just watch out for any stray Butterfly Lettuce that flap in the wrong direction—or help catch any that might fall from their perches.

b. poachers. Of course not everything is peaceful. Eventually poachers will arrive. If Eustace is able to sense something amiss soon enough he could send out a warning shot before they enter into the area. If not, he's fully prepared to fight and bring on the thunder, er lightning. Help keep the lettuce out of the way or assisting Eustace in fighting the poachers!]

⊗ b: cure on cloud nine

[Having managed to avoid the basilisks and already wearing gloves, Eustace is prepared to help in retrieving the mysterious Nimbus flower deep within the Forest of the Felled. Having a lot of experience in infiltrating and dealing with traps, including those out in the wild, also helps. So while traversing through a particular are, his suddenly looks up and holds his arm to stop whoever he's with.]

Careful. The branches here have been cut and the ground looks it had once been cleared away. Better to go around.

[Although there are leaves and growth all over the ground, if one looks carefully there's a small patch that looks thinner compared to the rest, indicating that at some point it had been disturbed and recovered. Most likely a pit trap, but no need to try and find out.]

⊗ c: floor is lava

[Although he had (for some reason he still can't comprehend) been granted the both the knight and noble titles, he still hasn't accepted the new grant since it seems too much of a hassle and not really his thing. But he does go out to check on the new townships being built out of curiosity...and also because of the little prank that had occurred. This had to be the most ridiculous thing he's seen yet, though he feels he thinks that every month... After hearing about it and seeing it with his own eyes, Eustace just sighs as he first notes the affected buildings.]

...Rather than play this farce, wouldn't it be easier if I just transformed into a bird and fly directly to the circles to destroy them? Or shoot them down from a higher enough point.

[His hand is already on his holster. He just has to get up to a building and aim, and he has elemental magic on his side it should be easy right??? But will he be allowed is a different matter—

If anyone manages to convince him to do it properly, they better be prepared to join in and expect a riveting platform game where nothing is stable and teamwork is key!]

⊗ d: wildcard

[Although I only picked the cure part of the basilisk questline, I'm open to the other parts! If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[tantailizing]

[Hey, Zidane will keep his voice down... but he will think to himself how this cave could use something like a gargant. Maybe they could wrangle up something else because there's no way something else didn't live in these caverns.]

Just be careful, Eustace. No idea if your scent might bother them.

[He looks Somnus's way when he marks the wall and nods. It's makes sense to keep track to where they've been.]

[flamekthunder]

If I choose a reptile form it should be fine, but a fair concern.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if it's already sensed our presence among the other groups venturing here.

[Groups that may not be as careful as they are, though he wants to hold out some hope they are being at least a bit tactical and not shouting out.]

[luciing]

[ Thus the three continue down the winding and diverging mine passages, passing by abandoned equipment, rest stations, and piles of rubble from previous cave-ins. Somnus marks their progress upon the sedimentary halls as they go. Some areas within the mountain open up to larger, cavernous atriums-- large enough to be a lair for a dragon, perhaps-- while other tunnels lead to medium-sized caves, seemingly carved out by burrowing or hibernating animals. They trek through it all, making progress along the side of the Lotus Pod. More veins of the mountain are outfitted with rusted rail systems, and it is her that more of the borealis-like sheen of the labradorite decorates the uneven walls.

Next to one of the rail systems and a particularly gossamer facet of the cavewall, Somnus lifts a hand. ] Hold.

This must be the labradorite... [ If they don't find the dragon, at least they found this. He turns to face both of them. ] Let us pause here to gather some of this stone.

[tantailizing]

[It's a surprisingly quiet walk along the mountain path, or maybe Zidane was too used to most animals and monster to be so immediately hostile that they seek adventurers out instead of waiting for them to draw further into the depths. Which was a long thought for coming back around to the wall being quiet and maybe a little dull. At least there was taking a few photos on mute along the way - Garnet isn't here, but she would still be able to see it somehow - and maybe another day they could come back together.]

Hm? [He stops when Somnus says 'hold' and raises his eyebrow at the mention of collecting some labradorite.]

Uh, okay. Are you making an accessory later?

[flamekthunder]

[If anything, the quietness means the dragon is nearby or at least has passed through once while looking for its new nest. Eustace had been keeping an ear out for any hints from animals dwelling within the tunnels, but so far not much except for occasional lizards and small reptiles that scurry about. The miners' presence would have already sent animals away, a dragon even moreso.

By the time they reach the labradorite he's thinking they should try another way or section completely. So upon hearing Somnus's request, he frowns a little.]

...I suppose a break wouldn't hurt. Just don't take too much that you can't walk with later.

[Since they still have to continue.]

[luciing]

Nothing more than this satchel.

[ Somnus begins carving out the stone into a small bag.

...A knife isn't particularly a good carving-tool, but he makes due with some assistance of kinetic magic. As for Zidane's inquiry: ]

Labradorite is said to be useful to bloodmages. [ But, yes, the stone is probably pretty enough to be made into some sort of accessory or jewelry for the layman, what with its aurora-like coloring. ] I know not if they are used by them as powder or as pendants.

[tantailizing]

Oooh...

[So, Somnus could use Kinetic and Blood Magic? He'd keep that in mind. Well, he'll step forward and begin helping out with his own kinetic magic. Look, he learns pretty quick by seeing someone else do it.]

Well, we'll find out once we get some back. If it can help make blood magic more effective with less blood, that'd be great for a lot of people.

[flamekthunder]

[Knowing a couple of bloodmages himself, he's now a bit more interested in the stone. However, with his animal and elemental magic, he's not as well suited in mining out the rock and there don't seem to be any tools nearby.

Though at that moment, he hears a peculiar sound and so he might could work on their other task.]

I can't really help with the mining, however I think I hear a creature nearby. I'll try and communicate with it, see if it knows anything about the dragon.

[luciing]

[ Somnus is gathering a decent amount of the stone to suggest that he has some uses for the magic, even if he does not practice bloodmagic himself.

As Eustace parts from the two, Somnus stops scraping at the wall to smooth his thumb over the crevice he's just made. The labradorite's sheen refracts back the flickering light of the torch, causing a wave-like borealis to briefly cast upon the cave ceiling. It would make for a good decoration, if nothing else.

With one quick motion, he extracts the stone from its perch. ​With that, he concludes: ] This is enough.

[tantailizing]

Sounds good.

[So while Eustace goes to collect intel from the nearby wildlife, Zidane hangs back to help Somnus collect stone. He'll also pick off a few himself because the way they shine, he might be able to make a gift for someone himself with them. And aside from that, if he encounters some blood mages, he could share them.]

[When Somnus says he's got enough, Zidane stops carving at the wall, nodding.]

Alright. Let's wait for Eustace to get back.

[flamekthunder]

[It takes him a bit, but Eustace manages to track down the source of the sound he had heard: a small lizard scurrying about on the walls. In a quiet voice he calls out to it, the lizard initially startled at having someone address it and then discovering it could be understood. Well, mostly, when it doesn't talk a mile a minute or get distracted. But after listening to unneeded stories about the miners, the family, its many harrowing escapes from death, Eustace is finally able to get it to focus onto whether the dragon is nearby.

It is!



Just not down these tunnels. Who would want to go near a scary beast like that?? They might look similar, but really—

Eustace sighs and begins to tune it, letting it run its mouth for a few seconds before getting it back on track. Just as the lizard is about to give him concrete directions, he hears a strange sound back towards where he had come from...a sound that does not bode and he immediately has to abandon the lizard to run back.



About halfway between where Eustace was and where the two were mining were some tracks that led down another shaft and abandoned mining carts. Most were empty, but some held some equipment and other parcels. While he was gone and the two were mining, the weight of the items within one of the carts to slowly shift along the tracks. While the ground may seem level, in fact they are on a very subtle incline, and so bit by bit the cart had moved until it finally gained traction to roll down. It makes a loud CRRKKKKKKKSSSHHH sound as the rusted wheels grate on the metal tracks, catching the attention of all of them easily (and the sound Eustace heard).

Of course, luck would have it that some carts had explosives in or near them and the one that's rolling away is carrying some, something that Eustace quickly notices. So don't mind Eustace shouting—]

Stop the cart!

[luciing]

[ Pocketing the last bit of carved-out labradorite within his robes, he turns just in time to see Eustace running back towards them, signaling towards one of the branches of their path. Beyond it, the sound of rattling metal and screeching wheels on rusted iron reverberate throughout the mine.

Somnus has kinetic energy. Somnus could, probably, easily wield it to stop the cart from moving any further down before it becomes magically out of reach, but--

woosh

--There it goes without him stopping it in time, because the plot says so. Moreover-- ] Wherefore? [ Is his calm, collected question in response to Eustace's shout as he peers down the shaft.

Is there something special about the cart?? ]

[tantailizing]

[Zidane turns with an equally confused look as Eustace comes racing back, but turns his head at the screeching wheels. Huh, a cart - might help, but they didn't need it for what they gathered. Similarly, he has kinetic energy, but doesn't attempt to stop the cart because why?]

What's up? Why do you want the cart stopped?

[Yeah, there's something else in it, but was it important? Would it help them find the dragon, but destroy on impact if it crashed?]

[flamekthunder]

[WHY MUST HE FACE THE IMPENETRABLE PLOT ARMOR—]

It has explosives, do you need more than that!?

[He just clicks his tongue before he grabs the nearest empty cart.]

Ublnless you want to cause a collapse if that crashes and explodes into something, use your damn magic and get on!

[By now the runaway cart has picked up pace and disappeared into the darkness, so they need to catch up to it and fast.]

[luciing]

[ "--explosives--"

His expression immediately sets.


Yeah, no, he's already hopping in the cart. If Zidane also didn't do the same in that exact same moment, he's going to be magically manhandled by Somnus into the cart along with them, too.

Oh boy that's a steep plummet just a few meters away. ]

[tantailizing]

[... Explosives.]

Why didn't you start with that!?

[No need to handle him Somnus, he's all on board after him. And from the look for their ride ahead.]

Hold on--!

[flamekthunder]

[MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST STOPPED IT LIKE HE SHOUTED!!!!

And cue chase music as they rush down that steep incline, Eustace gripping the sides while positioning himself in the back to help keep this thing some sense of balance.

It's going to be a surprisingly crazy ride. They can hear and somewhat see the cart ahead of them, but the tracks ahead will split. The cart ahead had gone down one curve, but it managed to push the lever that switched the tracks.]

The lever!

[luciing]

[ With their combined weight helping to plummet their heir cart down the track, they're moving quickly, and if things go smoothly with this speed, they'll be able to catch up.

This will not go smoothly.

There's a small tch grunted under his breath, and Somnus reaches down towards the base of the cart they're in-- thankfully, not an explosive-- and tosses it towards the lever, hitting it once backwards with enough force to shift the tracks in the correct direction--

Which turns out to be a very sharp turn. They're going to have to counterbalance to not tumble off the cart. ]

[tantailizing]

[HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO KNOW IT HAS EXPLOSIVES!? Because what's dynamite and not a bomb?]

[Hurtling down the tracks, there's a brief scare when the lever path changes, but Somnus has it covered. However, the next problem is there's a sharp turn which meant they had to bank hard and counter the cart otherwise get flung out. Gritting his teeth, he's got this one, jumping to the opposing side of the turn and grabbing both Eustace and Somnus to join him.]

[flamekthunder]

[DOESN'T MATTER IF HE SHOUTS SOMETHING JUST LISTEN WITHOUT QUESTION???? IT'S EUSTACE?? HE DOESN'T SHOUT WITHOUT REASON??????

Eustace follows Zidane's cue and joins him in slamming his weight to help keep the cart from overturning as they take the turn. However, although it's mostly successfully the cart rocks and risks overcorrecting when the track straightens out. It's Eustace's turn as he summons a strong wind spell, using it to push against the other side of the cart to help balance it out. It's still rocky, but eventually the cart settles and they're back to racing away.]

[luciing]

[ The cart continues its descent upon the rails, sparking against each bump and zig-zag. Bats scatter in their wake, screeching along with the thunderous noise of the carts. Ahead of them, the cart containing the explosives continues to be out of magic's reach, and then it all be disappears past a curve into the shadowy void over a cliff. It's another plummet that curves into the depths of the quarry. Somnus holds onto the edge of the cart, casting out a flame into the open air to illuminate the cavern and the path ahead.

Except, there is no path.

This one leads to a break in the rails-- a jump-- from one end of the cavern to the other. ]

[tantailizing]

[Ah, never mind, elemental magic... but then who were the-- you know what? Not the time to think about that; not when the fire reveals there's a jump ahead. Now was there always a jump ahead or was it the tracks broke down over time? Not that the answer matters because Zidane grasps the side of the cart.]

Hold on tight!

[Because even using magic to make sure this cart gets across, the landing would be bumpy.]

[flamekthunder]

[There's not much he can do but hope for the best and prepare for the worst as he doesn't have any adequate alternative except as backup. However, Zidane pulls through and they cross the gap...!

But that landing is rough and as they bounce they risk derailing.]

[luciing]

[ The fall is jarring, but they make it with an uncomfortable lurch. Somnus grips the side of the car, and with some magical effort on his part, manages to stabilize it from tipping to far. ]

It flees. [ --the cart ahead of them, that is, and they'll have to pick up speed somehow in order to catch up with it.

Their other new problem?

A colony of bats, disturbed from the ruckus and adding a cacophony of screeching all around. ]

[tantailizing]

[With the cart stabilized, Zidane keeps his hold on the cart.]

Got it, keep an eye on the track...!

[Because he needs to duck down so the bats don't interfere while he concentrates on the cart and makes it speed up.]