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Post by posy-punch on Jul 27, 2019 22:15:04 GMT -6
checkpoint!
Deciding that you all have found at least the general location of where the foals last were (seeing as there is evidence of play in the kicked up grass and spilled art supplies) you all make your way into the courtyard.
You take a few moments to look around, then, from the grate in the center of the courtyard you hear a long echoing sentence, "I-I don't like this either...," but after that? Nothing.
The kids are down there, but how?
You can choose to inspect the Grate itself, the Courtyard Wall, or the Cobble Path leading into the garden!
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Post by wulfeneit on Jul 30, 2019 9:57:13 GMT -6
Sergio - Guardian
Art supplies? The stallion’s brow furrowed. He shook his head. “Can’t say that I do. One would think it would be sensible enough to leave their studies at home. A boon for us that they hadn’t.” But children were rarely sensible weren’t they? He thought of his daughter and all the ridiculous things she did. Routinely. She made a hobby of it really, though it was never her intention to do so, foolishness seemed to be an integral part of her nature. Now and then he wondered what she was like in a past life. And if she had been so inclined for mischief than too. Perhaps not, and that is why she acted so in this life. Regardless, he was inclined to let her. Whatever made his daughter happy. A small muffled voice- the voice of a child interrupted these thoughts. Yet like the whispering summer breeze it was gone again just as quickly. If Sergio hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings he would have surely missed it. And then nothing. Now, Sergio felt concerned. The grate itself remained the only clear entrance but it was sealed shut... He thought for a moment, considering the grate, the garden and the cobblestone path. The garden may conceal the entrance somewhere, but the grate was right in front of him, and oh he was impatient now. “Let’s see about pulling this thing off,” he spoke after a beat of tense silence, tone harder now. “At the moment, this our only direct connection to the tunnel system down there. Until we find the entrance I consider this our best alternative.”
He turned to look at the grate now more closely. Searching for structural weaknesses to exploit.
Post: 6
WC: 275
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jul 31, 2019 15:12:40 GMT -6
Cinnamon - Talori - Cleric
She recognized those art supplies.
As the group moved towards where the children had been last seen, at the instruction of... one of the other adults... Cinnamon felt her heart rate increase ten fold. She was now a mom on a mission, as she knew for certain that Belle had, indeed, been playing with the children here. After all, Belle had purchased those supplies with her own allowance that she had gotten for keeping her room clean and helping her mother with the various tasks around the house. With a slow breath in, Cinnamon tried to calm herself.
It wasn't working. Wordlessly, she moved towards the grate, inspecting the area to see if there was any way for the group to get in, though she had no idea what she was really looking for, her worry pushed her forward.
"Oh no, oh no, ohnoohnoohnoohno." She breathed, feeling her panic pick up speed as she continued to think about what may have happened, especially as the echoes reached her ears. She flicked them back, almost as if she could brush all of it away and push the morning back to it's beginning.
She should've been keeping a better eye on her child. What if something happened? What if she lost Belle again.
Cinnamon wasn't sure she was breathing entirely. She felt light and dizzy, but still she continued to search, hoping to find a way to either open the grate or ... well do something so they could get to the children.
Post 6 – 255 Words
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 3, 2019 21:09:14 GMT -6
...
The grate flickers, but re-solidifies almost instantaneously. Had someone triggered a mechanism perhaps?
Maybe there is a trigger stone somewhere and one of you had stepped on it for a bare moment.
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Post by sansatine on Aug 4, 2019 20:57:39 GMT -6
Laurens
"Wait!" the mare called. She'd been watching where the source of the sounds had been coming from intently. "Everyone! What ever you just did, do it again!! The grate!! It... It vanished, but only for a moment! That must be how they got it! Only foals and gods are that clever..." Laurens called back to the others, pacing in front of the gate as if that would help it open again. The mealy mare was set on darting in if it faded again. Sure, she wasn't the fastest, but what she lacked in speed, she made up for in determination. Someone had to of done something to trigger that... right? Grates just don't flicker in and out of sight- or at least most grates didn't. Laurens felt bad for being so antsy. Nagisa would have the children back already. Well, in fact, she wouldn't have lost them in the first place. Nagisa was much better than her in that way. Much more organized and quite a bit more posh. Still she kept Laurens around for some reason- and she had put her in charge, so surely Nagisa trusted her. Yes, Nagisa trusted her, and she trusted Nagisa. They would find the children. 200 |
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Post by Kelpie-River on Aug 4, 2019 21:31:37 GMT -6
Moree || Cleric || Post Eight
The mare was beginning to go frantic as she searched around for some sign of the children. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her flesh felt cold despite the warmth of the Talorian sun beating down upon them all. She was beginning to have flashes in her mind as to what might be happening to the poor kids, despite the fact that she'd heard them, and they sounded okay. Still, she couldn't keep her anxiety from spiking, as she looked from side to side for some way to follow the children.
Laurens calling out caught Moree's attention, and she looked over to where the other mare was, curious. She hadn't seen the gate flicker herself, but she trusted the voice of the other Cleric, and so moved back to where she'd been standing a moment before.
"I can always see if there's a way to open the gate from the inside," she chimed in, as she looked around at the others. With her powers of intangibility, the mare could phase through the gate easily, as she had done when she'd taken a group of rescuers through a pile of rubble to reach the Divine when the Flight had captured her. But she remembered how exhausting that had been, and she hoped that there was another way to get them all through the gate so she could conserve her energy.
WC: 230
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Post by moonlightwalk on Aug 6, 2019 13:41:48 GMT -6
Linnea | Harbinger (Grand Cleric)
All in all Linnea was impressed, annoyed for sure, but impressed with the children's ability to get into an ancient labyrinth. She had to appreciate their sense of exploration, but also was worried about what damage they might do to the precious artefacts and pieces of history which might lay hidden down there. Frowning in concern, she helped in the search, quickly locating the grate they likely went through. She let out a frustrated huff as it solidified again, making it impenetrable. "We must get them out as soon as possible" she said decidedly, as if stating it, would speed on the process. "Who touched something, right now?"
One of her fellow clerics fell into a chant of denial and she took a moment to address it. "Child," she looked Cinnamon in the eye, "Please stay calm and have faith. We must trust the divine and keep clear head, worry will not bring these younglings back to us. Panic and fear clouds the mind when presented with a challenge we should have it clearest of all."
Her attention shifted again, eyes tracking the ground. There must be something they touched, things didn't happen for nothing. "What is something the children would touch, clearly they did or they would not made it through." Or so she figured at least as she poked awkwardly at a rock.
Post 3 | 224 words
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Aug 7, 2019 17:51:31 GMT -6
Cinnamon - Talori - Cleric
As somebody mentioned that the group must have done something to cause the great to open, Cinnamon took a slow step backwards, hoping to maybe hear a click or feel the ground slowly dip beneath her. However, she wasn't exactly sure if she had been the one to cause it, as she had been inspecting the grate for a solid few moments alone. With a frown, she continued to look at the item, hoping beyond all hope that they would manage to get inside.
All she wanted was to see and save Belle. Slowly, she turned towards the others as they began to discuss what could have been touched only by the children, giving the mare a few moments to consider.
"It has to be something out of place... surely. Belle is always so attentive when it comes to finding anything that doesn't exactly belong..." She was still looking around, but was now focused on what could be near the art supplies scattered about. Surely it couldn't be something hidden from view... unless it was at their level.
She frowned further. "Or maybe it is something more on their level? Maybe it's something some of us are too tall to see directly?"
Post 7 – 200 Words
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Post by iceenights on Aug 10, 2019 10:02:03 GMT -6
  
F R O S T I N E
of Talori
... ...
Voices echoed from within the grate, causing the small pegasus to look towards it as the sound faded. How did they get down there? She wondered, coming over to the group to similarly inspect the grate and she completely kept herself to the ground now with wings gliding to put themselves against her sides once more.
Joining up with others she stood nearby as she listened to them fret and panic ever so slightly. She herself of course was definitely becoming worried about the situation like the others, especially when she faintly heard the sound of water coming the grate below. Why was there that sound? There couldn't have been something bad happening down there could it? Shaking her head slightly she knew she had to relax even though they all likely were beginning to get severely stressed if things were going they way they were, but suddenly she heard the other clerics.
"What is something the children would touch, clearly they did or they would not made it through."
"It has to be something out of place... surely. Belle is always so attentive when it comes to finding anything that doesn't exactly belong..."
"Or maybe it is something more on their level?"
"Maybe it's something some of us are too tall to see directly?"
Frostine's ears immediately went up at those words and she remembered an obvious fact in front of them. She herself was the shortest member here, practically the size of a foal! But what could she do? Being short had no use if you didn't figure out how to put it to use! They had to find those foals soon as well!
... Unless...
With the metaphorical candle lighting itself above her head, she quickly cantered off somewhere else in the area. Maybe I could back track and retrace the foals steps? Oh Cascade give me a sign! Going over to a random area where signs of the foals had been she tried to follow the steps of where the foals may have moved as closely as possible till she got close to the grate, and from there - taking the words of Cinnamon into account - tried to think of how her child would've acted at the instance of the opened grate. Would she have rushed in or stopped? Likely stopped from what she could guess.
It only became a matter of having the right footing where it counted and she then worked on trying to place her hooves anywhere that seemed off nearby the grate.
She prayed that her attempt would work out.
... ... Word Count: 426 Post # 6 |
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 11, 2019 17:46:21 GMT -6
!
One of you hits the trigger stone fully this time, and the grate flickers open and stays open. Revealed is a staircase to a horizontal running tunnel. All of you, against your better judgment begin to go down the staircase.
You argue momentarily amongst yourselves: should you leave a weight on the trigger stone? What if some other children see the passage and think adventure!
Deciding not to take the risk, you leave the trigger stone as is, knowing in the back of your mind that it will likely time out and close the grate behind you.
With your attention now on the tunnel, turning right is impossible, even the smallest of your group won't be able to fit their wings through the narrow space. As you debate whether or not its more likely that the children turned left or right, you hear a noise, like rushing water, and then a small cry.
The children definitely took the right-leading passage.
And you cannot get to them, not here. But the grate behind you has sealed up. You have only one way to go. The left-leading tunnel is dark (almost pitch black), and water drips steadily from its ceiling. The depth of the water in the tunnels is quite deep, and judging by how it laps at your bellies, it is rising quickly.
You have to put your worry for the children behind you for now. You can't hope to save them if you yourself can't get out.
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Post by Kelpie-River on Aug 13, 2019 14:30:16 GMT -6
Moree || Cleric || Post Nine
It took some amount of scrabbling around the gate, and Moree wasn't sure exactly who had landed on the trigger zone, but at least they had opened the grate once again. With a sigh of relief, the mare followed the others through the tunnel, stopping when she came to a split in the tunnel. Based on the sounds that emanated from right-facing tunnel, the foals had taken the small craggy path. Moree guessed that she could have pushed through using her Blessing, but what if she got tired before the tunnel widened out? The idea of being locked in the solid rock, even for the few minutes before the feeling crushed her to death, sounded horrible. As the grate closed above them, Moree couldn't help but feel a shiver go through her. They had to find another way out, she supposed. And there was clearly only one way to go. "We have to get moving," the mare said, watching the water that seemed to be rising around them. It was cold and dark, and she did not favor the idea of walking through it, but what could she do? "We can't follow the foals; all we can do is hope that the two tunnels meet farther ahead. We'll be no use to anyone should we drown," she commented morbidly, as she started moving towards the dark path.
WC: 221
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Post by wulfeneit on Aug 14, 2019 9:53:59 GMT -6
Sergio - Guardian
The initial relief he felt as finally, somehow, one of them had managed to trigger the grate to open was short lived. The grate sealed shut, ominously behind them not long after they filed down into the tunnel system below. The sound sent a ripple of tension up his spine. Adding to his unease and frustration; the children had gone a tunnel too small for any of them to fit through. Even Frostine, as small as she was, could not fit through the narrow gap. With a sharp tsk between his teeth, Sergio cursed their luck. There was only one way forward now. The water reached his knee caps, he felt the steady crawl of the current and knew it was raising. Inky black and nearly indistinguishable from the low light of the tunnel. How troublesome. He glanced behind to check on the elderly mare and Frostine. Feathers and water did not mix. “Stay close.” He told Frostine, and felt a protective surge in his chest as he spoke the words aloud. He felt it was his duty to protect her, despite her lesser status in life. He nodded along to the words spoken by the cleric, Moree. “Well said. Tread carefully ladies, the ground may be uneven beneath us,” another step and Sergio uttered a sharp curse as his head knocked against the ceiling. “Ah, perhaps I ought to take my own advice first.” A dry chuckle and the hippocampus trudged forward.
Post: 7 WC: 242 |
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Post by moonlightwalk on Aug 14, 2019 13:38:33 GMT -6
Linnea | Harbinger (Grand Cleric)
Linnea felt rather annoyed when Cinnamon paid her no mind, her encouragment gaining no reaction. The mare’s nostrils flared, but otherwise stayed calm, silently blaming the youth’s growing disrespect for elders in general rather than the younger mother possibly having something against here. She just had to keep envisioning a better future and just grit her teeth for now. Instead she focussed her efforts on stomping around the grate, until finally the thing clicked open and they were able to go down.
The path revealed an old enemy of her. Stairs. Nevertheless she carefully made her way down, not letting her self be beaten, no. Not when there was history protect from grabby children’s teke. Well, that and making sure no child lost their lives in the maze of course. She didn’t want that happening either. Who knew what defense mechanism these tunnels held.
It would stand to reason the children took the smallest one. Again Linnnea was rather impressed with their sense of curiousity as a cry alerted them of their direction. Had her children ever displayed this sense of exploration of the world? Her brows furrowed, she could not remember. Either way, it was a path not taken by adults, passage too small for any of them. With the grate closed behind them, onwards it was. The water at her legs was almost soothing after the climb down, she let herself shift to waterform easily, making the movement easier. She half wondered where the tunnel would lead to, half listened to conversation around her. Her ears flicked as drowning was mentioned, thinking for second before... oh, right, she turned her head to Frostine, remembering pegasi did not breath underwater and drowning was very much a possibility.
She gave a small nod to Sergio, appreciating someone at least showed care for their wellbeing. “Perhaps a good gentlemen like yourself would assist the smallest amongst us?” She suggested pleasantly. “You do look quite strong and some of us aren’t as water adapted.” She inclined her head to Frostine.
Post 4 | 343 words
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 14, 2019 14:13:11 GMT -6
!
You walk for a few minutes, carefully keeping track of the rising water creeping up your bodies. A light flickers in the distance. Then, nothing. Another light, flickering in, then out. Then, another. You turn towards them. They are far off to your left, like an offshoot of the original tunnel you had begun trudging down. Another one flickers in a brief flash—illuminating just barely the symbol of the Qotoki gracing the new passage's wall.
You can continue going forward, or you can follow the new path.
Either, neither, or both could be a trap.
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Aug 14, 2019 23:42:02 GMT -6
Cinnamon - Talori - Cleric
Quietly, Cinnamon followed after the others without much of a word, the worry of the children being lost in the other path still gnawing at her stomach. However, there was no turning back, and as much as she wanted to find her dear, sweet Belle, she knew it wasn't going to happen now.
Slowly, they waded through the water, the mare staying silent for awhile as the group continued on. That is, until a flash of something caught her eye. Wordlessly, the glanced in the direction of the light and noticed the symbol on the wall. She frowned for a moment, debating on what to say, until finally she opened her mouth.
"Guys, the wall." She said softly, the water lapping at her sides. She wasn't quite as bothered by it as some of the others could have been, but that was mostly due to her ability to swim. She hesitated for a moment before moving forward, feeling uncertain of which option would be best.
Her gut told her to follow the image of the Qotoki, but she knew that it could be just as dangerous as going forward.
Post 8 – 195 Words
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Post by sansatine on Aug 15, 2019 13:11:22 GMT -6
Laurens
They walked down the passageway and the further they travelled, the deeper the water seemed to get. A few lights flashed and Cinnamon brought their attention to a wall at their left. A Qotoki was embellished on the wall. Cascade's messenger. Laurens spared a look behind her where the children were, no doubt, then to the water around her chest. Laurens was never sure of much, but something drew her to it. She touched the pearl on her forehead. Cascade had given it to her so long ago, now. Her goddess never failed her- she'd even blessed her with her likeness. Laurens had been left behind before in matters like these, and Frostine was beginning to struggle. She made a decision.
"Lets go left. It may be a trap but... I have this... Feeling. Cascade is telling me to at least investigate...."
The mare took a few steps down the hallway. She hesitated before taking another. Laurens was always faithful, but something about blind faith was inherently frightening. She was still. Waiting, listening, hoping- she didn't know.
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Post by iceenights on Aug 15, 2019 15:22:18 GMT -6
  
F R O S T I N E
of Talori
......
After a few minutes of trying did someone manage to open the grate. Hoping it was herself that unlocked such a thing, she cheered quietly in success, knowing they could get closer to finding and getting those children home. Of course the moment she peered down she became... Sort of scared. Pitch black... She could hardly see, though all of them went down regardless, with the united decision to not leave something on the trigger stone. On the way down she made sure the eldest among them was okay coming down, not wanting the aged grand cleric to fall down the stairs, using her wings as a barrier to hopefully prevent the mare from falling till they go into murky waters.
It was when darkness almost faded her vision did she began to grow sort of fearful, anxiety creeping on to her back like the arms of a ink colored monster.
It was unsettling.
To make matters worse the water lapped at Sergio's knees. For her however it was lapping just at her withers, soaking her attire and fur thoroughly with each second, and it seemed to be rising as well. "Oh dear...."
It was when a cry from the right passage and the sound of rushing water caught her attention did she grow even further scared. Hardly able to see around her she noticed the right leading passage, inspecting it and noting that it may be too small for even her but she tried slightly before turning away from it. At her small size she was too big even for that passage way. Only the left lay before them and she could tell even under nearly no light that the water likely got deeper. Being the only pegasus in the group worried her. "Only one way to go it seems." She muttered before turning her head to Sergio as he whispered to her. "Stay close." She heard him say before nodding her head to him, only to soon giggle in amusement when Sergio failed to follow his own words.
"Perhaps indeed Sergio. We wouldn't want the only guardian here to be out on the job now would we?"
Of course that statement was simply a few minutes ago.
After sticking close to the group of hippocampi as best she could, swimming and wading through the water, she found herself having some difficulties getting by. Her wings did prove to be some good floating devices but that meant nothing if she couldn't keep up or even stay afloat!
By the time they hit the fork in the passage ways, the water was up to her head and she opted to stay close to Sergio for assistance, with only occasionally hoisting herself up to get a better position as the water rose up against her. As the water level increased she grew in her worry, knowing that if it consumed every untouched area of the passageway she'd likely drown which was something she didn't desire! Though keeping a firm grip on to Sergio she watched a flicker down a new path, only barely seeing an image of a Qotoki down its depths. "I agree, we should go left. Whatever caused that glimmer could've possibly been the children, and that means they may have found something." She muttered, jumping against the receding ground to keep her head up above to get air.
The water may have seemed relatively fine for the hippocamps, but for her the water began to feel rough, dangerous, forceful and merciless. She could feel it begin to push her away from her group and forward down the path regardless of how she moved. Her small pegasus body wasn't strong enough to fight such a current, and soon after the water gave a sudden forceful push she was shoved down whatever path the group had decided on. In this moment Frostine had to move herself around to avoid being pulled under, and has thus ended up on her back, holding her breath as she floated along her wings which acted like rafts.
Off to adventure I guess?
... ... Word Count: 678 Post # 7 |
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Post by wulfeneit on Aug 15, 2019 21:48:19 GMT -6
Sergio - Guardian
Much to his displeasure, the water level rose quickly. Like any child of Cascade he enjoyed a good swim, felt just as much at home in the ocean as he did on land, but with current company the tide only served to vex him. As dutifully as he was able, Sergio stuck close to Frostine’s side, in clear agreement with the words of the aging mare. He lent her his strength and blocked the bulk of the current where he was able. As the tunnel got darker and the water got deeper, something changed. There... a light. Sergio frowned and as he got closer he could make out the shape of a Qotoki, etched on the wall. A sign of luck and a messenger of the Goddess. Normally, such a sign would be reassuring, but in a place like this? He hesitated, brow furrowed. His trust in Cascade was absolute, but that trust did not extend to suspiciously placed signs of hope in a desolate quickly flooding tunnel. The water rushed against his legs, lapping nearly up to his belly. His frown deepened. They didn’t have much time to consider but it seemed at least three of the mares were in agreement. He couldn't let them go on without an escort now could he? “Now hold on Ladies, allow me to-” he didn’t get to finish that thought. A splash and a gasp. His eyes widened, alarmed to find Frostine on her back and drifting away on the current. “Not so fast chickpea!” With a loud splash of his own, he spun around and hoisted Frostine out of the water and onto his back. She did not weight much, even while soaking wet, feathers burdened with water. “A little early in the day for a bath, don’t you think?” He shot her a smile but his eyes were far less jovial.
Post: 8 WC: 307 |
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 16, 2019 1:19:50 GMT -6
!
The tunnel you've chosen almost feels wrong. There's something off about it. A minute change in flooring, perhaps? Is the water flowing differently here? You have no time to decide quickly, for the next step you take does not meet the ground. The water holds suspended for a mere moment, and then rushes down, down, down, sending you sliding with it. The water pummels itself into a pool waiting at the bottom of your tumble, and your fall is broken in it—perhaps a litle roughly, but all together you are unhurt. As you swim out of the pool, you look around you, the walls are lined with imbued stones that cast light on your way. There is a staircase in the distance going up, and hopefully out. A few seconds later, you hear the sound of rushing water, then see a group of children tumble into a pool near you. They emerge and call out, "Help us, please, it was so scary!" Your heart thuds and immediately you go to usher them out of this place.
Congratulations on finishing Talori 806: Seekers! Rewards will be distributed after the chapter's close! You may now post wrap-ups!
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 23, 2019 18:52:12 GMT -6
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