genessia | I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME IN A MYSTERY RESCUE MISSION!

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I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME IN A MYSTERY RESCUE MISSION!

[Sometime around mid-month, a text message goes out to the general public.]

WANTED

Adventurers strong enough to brave the high seas
Doctors, healers, and those inclined to render aid to the suffering
A worthy crew
Explorers
Those inclined to solve mysteries

Interested Parties Report to The Maelstrom at Fayren Harbor
Anchor Weighs at Dawn June 20

*~*~*~*

[Dawn at the Docks - June 20]

[In spite of the early hour, Fayren Harbor is bustling with activity as the darkness thins. Fishermen who've been out all night rush to bring their fresh catch to the market, while others who will be out all day race to be the first out to sea, and first to the best fishing spots. At the far end of the harbor an enormous clipper towers above the everyday ships, drawing a crowd of gawpers who, after being yelled at a few times by the workers hurriedly trying to load her, have the decency to stand back and let those who look to be on official business move freely. At the top of the gangplank a man with a clipboard hurriedly checks lists and directs those bringing cargo aboard, while an oversized, burly man with blue skin and shark features watches, balancing in a crouch on top of the rail. Though he isn't saying much, there's an air of authority about him. For any wishing to enlist, the fishman would seem a good person to talk to.]

[Fair Winds - June 20-21]

[When the supplies for the expedition are loaded and the tide is nearing its peak, Namur hollers for all hands to gather on deck for a quick briefing, the sun beginning to crest the horizon and make the sails glow as he speaks.]

A'ight y'all, thank y' for answerin' the call t' come an' help. We got a whole colony a folks that's gone missin', an' I ain't gonna lie, I ain't got any idea what we's gonna be in for once we reach the island. No one's been able t' get there since they gone, or at the very least ain't no one bothered comin' back, an' folks is worried they mighta met a dreadful end if y' catch my drift. This voyage's gonna be dangerous, but I know we's up t' the challenge. Whatever quarrels y' got with each other, leave 'em on these shores, cuz from now on 'til we make it back we's all on the same team, workin' for the same goal. Watch each other's back, keep each other safe. If we do that, there ain't nothin' that's gonna keep us from hittin' our target.

When we get there, there might be folk that's sick, or maybe they don't want us botherin' 'em, or maybe somethin's already botherin' 'em an' they'll need our help gettin' rid a the pest. We done our best t' have somethin' ready for everthin' we could think of, but that don't mean we thought a everthin', so look sharp an' keep yer wits 'boutcha! Any kinda weird shit make sure t' report it t' somebody, preferably me or one a my kin. Enchantments an' curses ain't outta the question here, so if y' see somethin' strange, say somethin'. Easy as that.

Meantime, I 'xpect all them that knows their knots t' make theirselves useful gettin' this ol' girl t' run. The rest a y's gonna make yerselves useful in the galley, keepin' shit clean, an' learnin' the ropes. Don't wanna hear no bitchin' 'bout chores, we's all gonna be doin' 'em, so don't even start! Don't be stealin' each other's shit, an' definitely don't be showin' yerself for a shitty traitor. Them's the rules! Don't like 'em, get yer ass off the ship!

All that said now, let's get this baby out t' sea 'fore we lose our tide!

[There's plenty to do, both in getting the Maelstrom away, and in keeping her plunging dauntless through the open waters. Keeping sails trim, keeping the decks clean, keeping the crew fed. And plenty of opportunities to get to know the other members of the crew a little better. Namur will encourage those that don't know how to sail to learn from someone who does. It'd be a shame if all the experienced sailors became incapacitated without passing on at least the basics.]

[The Storm - June 22]

[There'd been some good cloud cover the day they set out from Fayren, enough to mottle the sea with sun and shade and provide a strong wind to speed their rescue mission. But the further from shore they ventured, the thicker the clouds became, and soon the experienced sailors would likely find themselves watching the sky with trepidation. Distant thunder rolls over the waves, until suddenly and without warning the wind abruptly shifts direction, and the distant storm bears down on the clipper with astonishing ferocity. Namur screams to be heard above the wind whistling through the shrouds.]

ALL HANDS ON DECK! GET YER ASSES TIED T' THE SHIP AN' GET THEM SAILS STOWED NOW! THIS AIN'T A JOKE OR REQUEST!

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[Romantic, right... Trunks resisted rolling his eyes. Although he did look at Ted quizzically with the other's words. But he was more than alright with waiting for the other to come back armed. Trunks had his sword, and any battle would be a lot harder with the dampening effect on all of them.

Still, once they were ready--at least as much as they could be since they didn't know what they'd be facing, it was into the forest.

Where no one had seemed to want to go, and that was rumored to have dangerous beasties and critters.

Both as alert as they could be while keeping an eye on the stone as it acted as 'radar', it wasn't quite obvious when they had company. It was the faintest movement, almost pulsing, that alerted the pair. Soon enough it was obvious what was oozing towards them.

And 'oozing' was the right word, as at first it wasn't easy to distinguish from the undergrowth except for the pulsating motion. Some kind of slime or something close to it. Heading their way, and big enough to make it hard to go around.]

What is...y'know, never mind.

[Ewww. Trunks also really wished he had access to his ki again. He did not want to get close to whatever this was.]

Ideas?

[Ted's tread was arrested at the sight of that. For all his tangos with monsters, all had been aesthetic enough for a face, or at least eyes. A pulsing mound of gelatin was novel. Points for originality. Fortunately, it was as sluggish as it looked, allowing time to backpedal while he thought.]

Suppose this won't be any good.

[He laughed a little at his spear, almost certainly vain against a giant mold. Mold, mold...that gave him a few ideas.]

We'll need something to work on the cellular level. Don't suppose you've brought any bleach with you, eh?

[Though at this point he'd take any chemical, so long as it was acidic or basic enough.]

Edited 2019-08-25 03:00 (UTC)

[A blink, as Trunks had been thinking similarly about how his sword wouldn't do much good here. Give his brain a moment to reset from the seeming-non-sequitur, before he smirks.]

Not really, but I brought a lot of other stuff including lots of medical supplies.

[Backing up a bit, before pulling out a larger capsule case than he usually carried. One eye on the pulsating ooze or whatever it was that was coming towards them, the other searched in the case before pulling out two capsules.]

Didn't think basic chemistry would be called for on a rescue mission... I have anti-septics, and I have salt. Think we can dissolve it or at least repel it enough, with those?

[Since Ted clearly seemed to have some plan or idea. If not, well, Trunks was willing to try his suggestion as he pressed the button on each capsule, then tossed them lightly a foot or two away from them. Definitely away from the...whatever it was though too.

Two crates appearing in a poof, one with a giant red cross on it and inside clearly-labled sections and supplies. Including spray-anti-septics. The other wasn't marked, but Trunks dug into it and pulled out a canister of salt, tossing it to Ted.]

[That's good; Ted's brain short-circuited for a second there, and forgot that bleach didn't really kill the thing; might even feed it! Phew. Vinegar would be more to the purpose. Wow, look at those physics-defying capsules. For once, Ted wasn't the hoarding master. He'll have to plot his revenge later. For now, the first thing he takes is a surgical face masks, then flings another to Trunks.]

If it reproduces like others, it's through spores. Let's not breathe any. Salt will do well!

[It'll dehydrate it, at least, and so he'll chuck all they've got. That should shrink it down to size! But will it be enough to finish it for good? Anti-septics are antibacterial, not anti-fungal, but perhaps there's some overlap. He'll rack his brain for the appropriate stuff in the medical crate, leaving Trunks to scour the other.]

Garlic, vinegar, tumeric, baking soda--whatever's there! Ah!

[Hydrogen peroxide, that could leave a mark.]

Any spray bottles there?

[He could deliver it close and personal, but that's risky. In pulsating bounds, the green colony draws closer...]

[Trunks isn't usually the 'hoarding master' either--but this had been a rescue mission into relatively unknown territory. So he'd tried to be prepared for reasonable contingencies and possibilities. Especially since, with Capsules, he had the resources to do so.

Surgical mask on, he's pulling more salt canisters out of the crate before pressing-a-button to re-encapsulate it. Back in the case it goes.]

Lemme check--what're you thinking?

[Running through the inventory of what he packed, had he packed spray bottles?]

That hydrogen peroxide is best delivered from afar. I'm sure we've both fine pitching arms, but I'd rather not test its reach with the mere bottle.

[He swished the container at Trunks with the label facing his way. The effervescence of the solution would penetrate the membrane and do all sorts of nasty things.]

Thank goodness it insists on staying grouped up. Lord knows this would be leagues harder if it split.

[Don't jinx it.]

Don't give it ideas, assuming it's intelligent and understands us.

[Trunks is trying to remember what he'd packed and pulled for this trip, pulling out another capsule. Looking at it, then back in the case and going for a different one.]

I think this one has a spray bottle or two.

[Another push of the button, and light toss--and then he's pulling the lid off the crate, with a puzzled look.]

How, what? I do not remember packing these...

[Seriously, he didn't remember packing super-soaker type-water guns. But honestly? He'll take 'em and they'll work better than spray bottles in a way. Tossing one Ted's way as he keeps the other, then re-encapsulates the crate. Into a pocket for now, along with the case.

Keeping an eye on their oozing opponent.]

[It didn't look intelligent, but Trunks is probably right to be cautious, unfun though it may be. He swipes the gun out of the air, twists the cap off the tank and the bottle both, spilling some in his haste. The threat drew nearer, yet nearer!]

God preserve us, hahaha.

[He can't help but laugh at the absurdity; fighting an oversized mound of mold with the power of anti-septic and squirt guns. What heroes. Filled, Ted continues the game of catch by lobbing the peroxide back.]

All right; let's teach the error of having a membrane so permeable.

[On three, two, one: fire!]

[Trunks learned early on to use his brain as well as muscle. It also won't be the first time he's fought alongside someone who's sanity he's questioning. Then again, there was that classic saying about 'desperate times' and stuff.

He's already fixing up his own super-soaker though, even if he's giving Ted a few wary looks. But he catches the peroxide-bottle, and is soon ready enough. They can clean up the container-mess later, time to deal with this oozing-gelatin-what's-it.]

[It's hella dealt with! Streams of liquid death violate its fungal boundaries, killing it from within. "Ahh, I'm melting!", it would say, were it like the Wicked Witch of the West. To Ted's displeasure, it wasn't, and withered with no drama whatever.]

Let's not tell 17 about this, eh? He'd be livid to know we slew such a unique creature with such extreme prejudice.

[He keeps his soaker and his eyes trained on it, speaking more flippantly than he knew.]

Of course, I speak optimistically. I doubt it's gone for good; single-celled organisms that bunch up like that--if my guess is right--are hard to exterminate entirely. Well, vanquished enough for our purposes.

[The monster had seemingly evaporated and either died or dispersed into disparate parts as though a storm drain lie underneath.]

Thanks for your aid; Lord knows how we'd fare without your casual violation of physics. I'm afraid I'll need you for a while longer yet; let's hurry and find what we're after lest it reform. Mind your step.

[Truthfully the slime seemed more menacing at the thought of it being smaller and less obvious. Wouldn't want to be sneaked up on.]

[Honestly, Trunks thought Seventeen would be amused and oddly pleased to have indirectly inspired this plan. If he'd be angry, it'd be that he didn't get to join in. Ted's words and jovial-ness about it all just brought an eye-roll from Trunks. Still not at all sure what to make about him either, but they were stuck with each other for the moment.

Onward then, following the 'rock' as it lead them deeper into the forest. Eventually though they came to a cave. A moment's pause, and then an unspoken agreement from the two, before the headed in. Thanks again to the 'casual violation of physics' as Ted referred to it, that were his capsules, they had access to a flashlight and other tools.

Because this cave was huge. With a jungle inside of it seemingly. Trunks didn't know magic as well as Ted did, but he knew more than enough to recognize that weird structure that resembled a double-altar. That it was seemingly natural only made it more creepy. Heading deeper, they found an underground lake.

Once again, there as an unspoken agreement that they'd go deeper. Not that it was easy, but they managed it. On the other side of the lake though, was likely what they'd sought even if they didn't know it yet. ]

...Alright Ted, you're more knowledgeable about magic than I am--what's all this mean? And don't give me a non-answer or mis-direction.

[OOC: Ted can describe the cave and take it from here. Yes, they can indeed store things in capsule-crates easily.]

[Hours of hot 'n heavy hand-holding later, they arrive to their ultimate destination. Along the way, Ted asks Trunk what he's done on the island so far, and pays especial interest to the talk he had with Mensch, the rock's owner. So that's her game. He's uncharacteristically quiet the rest of the way, thinking of what he'd have to do to end it.

What a cave it is. His eyes naturally pay heed to the prominent altar. One he might understand; two's a stranger mystery. Already his mind spirals off into the symbolic importance of duality and the "number of love" before Trunks' question rivets him back to reality.]

...Ha, what an offensive insinuation.

[Spoken like one unfamiliar with offense altogether. But fair; he was a little misleading about the rock. He takes a moment to think.]

Only in the general; never practiced the occult myself. The particulars are usually arbitrary anyway. They mean whatever the magician would like them to mean. Still, sometimes the objects are significant...

[As they arrive to the shelves of seemingly random clutter, he sinks deeper in thought. Like one younger, he looks with his hands instead of his eyes.]

Have you ever taken the trouble to count just how many of the islanders there were? Not including ourselves.

[Ted didn't; bad with details like that. But if the items are intact and exact, there'd be that number minus one. How curious. When he comes to the stopwatch, he pauses with obvious concern.]

...For us, I believe it means we should take everything that isn't nailed down. I hope your capsules are to the purpose.

[Happily, they are.]

For me, I'm afraid it means the end of one lead, and my search for another. If you're satisfied, let's leave this place with a breadcrumb trail behind us should we need to return.

[I.e., he's gonna have to have a little Ted-a-tete with the magician in question. He'll be surprised if it ends bloodlessly.]

Edited 2019-09-08 22:57 (UTC)

[Trunks reached up a hand to his forehead with a sigh, shooting a look at Ted.]

Does that mean we should destroy the altars or not? Because from what little I know about magic and associated things--that will either be very good, or very bad. But if we also don't know what it is, then we don't know if it's doing good or bad.

[Another sigh, but Trunks honestly doesn't want to mess with it. Not when there's more to explore. Then, especially when they find the treasure-trove on the other side of the lake. He's already pulling out and reshuffling stuff into capsules to make room. Keeping track of what's what.]

I'm not an idiot Ted, even if I'm not as familiar with magic as you are. I can guess that these belong to our missing royals, among others.

[He's not pleased either, to realize who the likeliest person controlling this is. It's not something he and Ted should decide alone however, but tell the rest of the 'rescue' group.]

[That makes him chuckle.]

You see an altar and your thoughts turn immediately to destruction. I don't know whether that's encouraging. How would we? Did you pack dynamite too?

[Confronted with the occult=thinking about breaking things. Man after his own heart.]

Here's a magical epigram: "Hair of the dog that bit you." We may need it to disenchant the islanders. For something more down-to-earth: "Never break anything till you know what it was made for." We're not yet like the doctors confronted with the appendix. Let's wait till either comprehension or desperation.

[But then, you didn't have to be a magician to know what an altar's about. Sacrifice. Given the island-wide identity crisis going on, it wasn't hard to guess what. The only question was how, and how to undo it. Violence, per Trunk's train of thought, was looking likely.

How kind of Trunks, then, to keep the non-stop comic relief going.]

Ahehe, I didn't say you are.

[Though he would say he'd have to reckon the rest of the crew stunningly idiotic if "Mensch did it" wasn't their very first suspicion. The only controversy is what to do about it; a controversy Ted would like to quietly handle on his own, preferably without counsel from those who couldn't put two and two together.]

Edited 2019-09-09 04:44 (UTC)

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I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME IN A MYSTERY RESCUE MISSION!

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