quest log | following rumors

[moustre]

Who: Those signed up for the the High-Risk Quest "Following Rumors".
When: 06/10 to 06/13
Where: A cave deep within the Wilde.
What: From the quest information itself: "A few of our divination experts have spoken of a cave untouched by the corruption in their scrying, which is right exciting! We'll be sending in our Witches as well, but I'd like to offer this opportunity to those who've come in through The Looking-Glass House, too. It should be safe enough for just about anyone to visit, so find a friend or two and come on! Stuff like this is a rare find, dearests - it might give us a good hint about how to combat our corruption problem, too."
Warnings: In various prompts: spiders and other insects, corpses, risk of injury or death, magical corruption, physical sickness, hallucinogenics, and other imagery that may be disturbing. Each prompt header will be labeled with the appropriate warnings, so make sure you choose what you're comfortable dealing with, either ICly or OOCly! Additionally, sign ups aren't closed - if, after reading through the log, you'd like to sign up, you can still do so and play on here at your leisure.



The Way There

Most journeys into the Wilde don't actually go too far; those that do travel outside of the city end up somewhere in the land between, with its smaller patches of growth that feel as if they should be part of a forest, or at the very edge of the massive forest that seems to be ever expanding. Even now, new sprouts push through the dirt, some even as tall as a man despite being obviously new - they're still green and flexible, without any noticeable bark. The quests the Wilders take - and have put out at the Coven, as far as last month went - go a little deeper, to where the trees become far more autumnal, colored in golds and browns and oranges.

The cave spoken of is deeper still.

As the group marches in pairs, the trees turn from vibrant summer green and lushly decorated in flowers and fruits to the tell-tale colors of fall and winter, their bark gradually becoming more and more marred by an inky blackness that's sticky to the touch - sap, bleeding from the cracks between the bark. What animal life had been at the edge of the forest fades into a hollow quiet, the air becoming more oppressive - not unlike a certain shared dream experienced not too long ago. The silence is unnerving even to those with iron-clad hearts, giving off the feeling that something is about to happen -

and then suddenly, the feeling disappears, even as the quiet remains.

The area around the cave is lush with foliage; the trees look healthier than their counterparts outside of it, their bark free of any leakage and their branches hardly out of control. Closer inspection shows this is due to scraping and trimming, and after some discussion, the Wilders and Witches set up camp outside of the cave and gather together the group. Everyone is given the same basic necessities and instructions on how to use them, in a bag containing:

• A grappling hook enchanted to return to them with a tug
• Around twenty-feet of rope
• Three spell scrolls (a light spell, which will conjure a small ball of light that shows about a radius of twenty feet around the caster and lasts as long as the scroll remains in one piece; a minor healing spell with three charges; and a single-use flare spell that can be used as a distraction or to call for help, should the need arise)
• A tinder kit
• One day of rations
• A ring that glows when danger is nearby; it's enchanted to fit on anyone's finger, regardless of size

For characters unsuited footwear-wise to spelunking, they'll also receive a pair of sturdy boots.

The mission is simple: explore the cave and report back with their findings. It isn't just those who signed up going in; other Witches are suiting up to head in as well, talking in low voices about the probability of something like this even existing, especially with how deep they are in the Wilde. It isn't as if they're anywhere close to the center, but it's still in Wilder territory - they're far enough out that a few of them are nervous about encountering one of the bigger variety of Shades. Despite the reassurances that this cave is clean, and the fresh feeling it gives off, the murmurs continue until the mission officially begins.

Smugha Cave

The cave itself feels refreshing compared to the oppressive air felt on the way here, not unlike an oasis in a desert. Cool in temperature and a little damp, it's mostly dark aside from the sunlight coming in the front and the bio-luminescent cave flora that climb the walls - though those are still too dim to really see by. Heading further in reveals sharp cliffs with stair-like structures carved into them, inviting an easy way down into the depths, and landing at the bottom of these is a wide, dark room, even colder than the last.

It's time to start exploring.

I. The Water (cw: magical corruption, physical sickness)


For a cave located in the middle of the continent and in the depths of the ever-reaching forest, there certainly is a lot of water. Damp to the point that it might be considered humid if the cave was any warmer, puddles form beneath long stalactites, and shallow pools of water pour into each other from landing to landing; they populate the floor too, making walking a little treacherous. A few of them glow and glimmer with a faint, pale blue light from the magic runes found around them - these ones, at least, can be read. They're not so different from the script used in Aefenglom itself, though the way they've been carved into the stone makes them a little sharper in shape - for those in study at the Coven, or in spells in general, it's evidently a cooling spell. That isn't so hard to figure out though, as the pools of water surrounded by them have a pleasingly cold temperature, while those without them are near scalding. A few of the latter have runes around them, but they're not glowing like the rest - feeding a little magic into them changes this immediately, and steam rises in a sudden blast as the water cools rapidly. The opposite can be done for the colder pools too - taking their magic somehow or ruining the runes will make them bubble and boil as they surge in temperature. It'd be best to mind oneself around these, as unlike in a dream, any injury sustained in the waking world is a little more permanent and painful.

Three pools in particular have to them a translucent green shimmer, made a little more blue-green by the cooling spell carved and activated around them; they're deep enough to wade into, or even just sit by and rest one's feet in - both of which feel like very attractive ideas to anyone who looks at them a moment too long. The water is pleasantly cool, and those who take a quick rest in them will feel more refreshed than they have in years. Their worries will fade, the anxieties they've held in the back of their mind seeming to slide off into the water, but in place of it something new occurs: within fifteen minutes of resting in the pool, they'll begin to feel sick, and grey spots begin to appear on any wet skin. Longer than that, and those residing in the water will find their spots turning black instead, and a lot harder, too. This affects Witches quicker than it does Monsters, curiously enough - for Monsters, it takes almost double the time. Getting out and getting dry will temper the effects back down, though the feeling of being not quite refreshed lingers.

That isn't all the water the cave has to offer - the large cavern has a sudden, massive drop in the form of a sinkhole on about halfway across the room; it leads to a similarly massive underground lake. Traveling around the rim of the sinkhole shows there's multiple waterfalls pouring into it soundlessly, pooled together from the pools of water running into one another. Thankfully, there's another way down other than just diving headfirst into the darkness - twin tunnels on each side of of the sinkhole, not quite natural in nature, lead down to the lake in a gently winding slope.

Starting shallow before getting much deeper in the middle, the lake also has an inviting feeling to it, stronger in its suggestion to simply take a load off, to let anxieties and worries simply soak and sink away in its pleasantly tempered waters - but it also has a stronger reaction in those who enter its depths. Within five minutes, those within it begin to feel sick, the grey spots showing up on their wet skin, and the rate of their blackening and hardening is quicker as well. This, once more, affects Witches quicker - and, just like before, getting dry will make alleviate the sickness and the spotting both, with the discomfort lingering long after.

In both the upper and lower caverns, there are tunnels leading to other parts of the cave - they might just be worth checking out...
II. The Upper Tunnels (cw: risk of injury, spiders and other insects, hallucinogenics)


The tunnels leading from the upper cavern stay relatively horizontal, with small hills and valleys among their turns and a lower ceiling that might have people higher than five-and-a-half-feet ducking a little; they're more like a labyrinth than anything else, with empty metal sconces beginning to appear further within them. Sharp, thick nails have been hammered into the stone as well, with leather pouches rotted and torn hanging from them - whatever were in these hasn't remained, either due to wildlife or decay. Small rooms and caverns shooting off from the tunnels hold much of the same, albeit with a few other items: jackets and other clothing, Coven robes, specially-tailored Monster wear, instruments with snapped strings or clogged holes, candles burnt to the wick. One room in particular holds a few bookshelves, though the wood is also in poor condition due to the dampness of the cave, and the books suffer for this as well. What ones can be made out seem to be standard fare: the type of books one might expect to find in the fiction section, ranging from romance to horror to fantasy, and a few Coven textbooks on spellwork, specifically basic transfiguration. Not all of this is so old, however - some of it seems newer the closer explorers get to the "end" of the tunnels, either landing them in a room or at an ordinary dead-end.

Unfortunately, the tunnels aren't as safe as they seem: giant spiders make their homes among the caverns and tunnels, made obvious by the webbing that appears before their funnel-like traps. They range from the size of large dogs to horses, but all of them have the same venomous bite that causes hallucinations, deliriousness, and fatigue. Among giant mushrooms whose spores paralyze those who breathe them in live similarly large millipedes, incredibly long and vicious; they attack in pairs, but thankfully just have very, very painful bites. Last but not least are bats - regular sized, plentiful as they might be in any cave, and just as annoying, too.
III. The Lower Tunnels (cw: risk of injury or death, imagery that may be disturbing, corpses, physical sickness)


Meanwhile, the tunnels leading from the lower cavern have higher ceilings and are mostly flooded (about waist-high) due to the nearby lake; water permeates through the rock in rivulets, darker than the lake above, and give a similar effect to the water in the lake itself. Thankfully, they're also mostly iced over - walking on them takes practice and a careful eye, considering the ice is thin in places. The air becomes more frigid as the tunnel dips down, with smaller caverns sharing the same fate: covered in ice and icicles, their entrances sometimes a little too squished to get through without breaking the ice or being particularly small in stature. Those traveling might notice a trend if they look a little too closely at the clearer parts of the ice as well: scratch marks gouging into it, as if something'd been trying desperately to get out. The longest tunnel opens up into a frozen room, as tall as the lower cavern itself, sconces lit with pale blue fire - magic, and obviously so. The walls glitter beautifully with the light, but looking down into the depths below, past the sheet of ice that allows travel, reveals something horrifying: dozens of thin husks and corpses of animals and adventurers both, held in place by the ice as it stretches down like spikes into the water. Witches, Monsters, Shades, other creatures - not a single one spared, with a mix of infected and non-infected among them.

These tunnels aren't exactly safe either: ice-breathing salamanders the size of elephants can be found resting in some of the caverns - though they might be hard to see, given their pale white and blue scales. While not infected (curious), they're incredibly aggressive and attack those who wake them or get too close. Their bites can inflict frostbite the same as their breath can, so caution is advised in dealing with these. When killed they remain intact, their blood creating an extra layer of ice on whatever it touches due to its chilly temperature, not unlike liquid nitrogen.

Unfortunately, they're not the only things those adventuring in the depths have to worry about. To be precise, Shades of Monsters and Witches also roam some of the tunnels shooting off from the larger, main one; the latter pulses brightly with white veins of magic on their blackened skin. Both types of Shades are sluggish, likely due to the cold and the lack-of pure magic, but are experts on dealing with walking on ice. The Witches in particular are ticking time-bombs, every spell they cast - primarily of snaring-type spells, desiring the magic and flesh of whom they capture - risking an explosion, but when they do supernova... It's fairly localized to somewhere between five to seven feet of the Shade in question. Those within that radius, however, will feel physically sick and find their skin or fur-scale-feathers-so-on turning into sharp, black shards of ice and infection due to the corrupted magic exploding from the Shade.

Either way, once killed the Shades fall apart and turn into thin, brittle corpses of what they used to be; they're old enough that when touched, they simply crumble as if made of ash.
IV. Outside The Cave (cw: nothing)


For those seeking a little relaxation or recovery can make their way back outside - or be helped that way, given their flares. There, Witches can take care of them, food can be shared, and in general, people can take a breather. As the first day closes, and the cave proves itself to be bigger than expected, Witches will also offer to teleport people back to the city should they wish to go - staying would be nice, but they aren't going to force anyone to stay who doesn't want to. They'll also be collecting information from those who've ventured inside, encouraging each person to share with each other their findings as well.

(Note: Essentially, this is more of an open/breather prompt, considering the heavier nature of some of the prompts above; any injuries or infection sustained can be healed here, extra supplies can be gotten, as well as anything that might need specialized storage - such as bottles, cages for small animals, and so on. Characters can be teleported back to Aefenglom in small batches occurring every hour should they choose, but they cannot be teleported back; it's a one-way trip. Otherwise, at the end of the three day stay, the same trek will be made back to the city, and the quest will be considered "completed"... Until further notice. Any questions can be asked here.)

Comments

Symon | OC | Merrow

[honoraboveall]

Just a header with individual starters below. Let me know if you wanna plan something, and hit me up at at frickincheng on plurk, or feel free to PM this journal!

For Waver

[honoraboveall]

He had split off with Lyr, exchanging a kiss and 'good luck' at the sight of the massive lake. It was clearly something suited towards his own nature, something that he could explore in way that Lyr simply could not. He was careful to stash away his clothes and sword, neatly hiding them away from prying eyes under some loose rubble before slipping into the cool water.

The change happened almost instantaneously, his legs fusing together, gills fluttering open between his ribs. He was strong, powerful and utterly at home in this environment and the water seemed to beckon to him; he hadn't had much time since his changes to really experience the water, and despite the danger bubbles burst last his lips with his delighted laughter and he shot forward like an arrow through the darkness exploring.

Perhaps since he hadn't experience the feeling of swimming in his merrow form that he conflated that feeling with the preternatural calm and enjoyment the water gave him. But then it was too late, even as he forced himself to surface, to get back to the edge.

He managed to get to the edge of the lake, and lay there, gasping, and shuddering. His form shifted back, but he barely even noticed the shift as he shuddered, his skin mottled with grey patches, the early sign of rot. It was agony on his gills, the corruption spreading to the delicate membranes, stiffening them, making it difficult to correctly seal them, now that he was on land. He struggled to breathe then, his body caught between two forms of breath unable to do either. Gooseflesh prickled over his skin, and his breath rasped through his lungs, and the dry air seared at his gills as he lay there, shuddering, teeth grinding together, trying to gather his strength enough to sit up.

[tryhard]

Waver saw him by chance. He was trying to work his way back up to the higher portion of the caves, skirting the water as much as he could and avoiding the strange, eerie feeling it gave off that seemed to want to pull him closer. Lancer was nowhere to be seen, and that was also part of the problem-- but before Waver could make his way very far up the winding trail that led away from the lake, he heard the frantic splashing. It cut through the unnatural calm silence sharply enough to make him jump, and when he turned to look -- half-expecting some horrible abomination rising from the depths -- Waver saw the shape of a broad-shouldered man dragging himself onto shore. As he watched, the man (Monster) shifted, though the change seemed oddly erratic. The tail became legs, fins fluttering and receding in parts. He didn't get up.

At first, Waver didn't even recognize him. He hadn't been that close, and he didn't rush over right away, frozen by his own fear at being in this creepy cave by himself with whatever atrocities were in here with them in the dark. But the seconds ticked by, and he didn't run, either... and the man didn't get up. Even from here, in the echoing openness of the cave, Waver could hear his ragged gasps.

It was the scent that drew him, finally, almost unconsciously. Somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a twinge of familiarity that tugged at him, dragged his mind from its frozen hesitation until his feet were moving and he was running and then he was there.

"Sy- Symon?"

If Waver had been horrified at his transformation, this was something else. It wasn't fins and scales and becoming whatever beasts they'd been warped into by being pulled into this world. This was a sickness, a corruption. Waver was reminded of the dark rot seeping from the forest trees on the way here, of the shades they'd been told about in the wild infected by the Cwyld.

Was it the same? Would it spread?

He stopped again, freezing just as he knelt and had started to reach out, and stared wide-eyed at Symon's gasping, naked form.

"Symon! What happened?"

[honoraboveall]

Symon coughed, gasped wetly, his gills fluttering helplessly in the air, trying to expel the water that was still tainting them. Lady Denholm's charm lay on his chest, a fine, hairline crack over its face. The grey didn't seem to be spreading, but it stretched over his pale skin a network of taint and pain.

The man pushed himself up, bracing himself with his hands pressed behind him. "Swam in the lake," He managed to get out, his normally smooth voice rough, weak. "Something...there must be something in it, in the water maybe." He coughed again.

[tryhard]

Poison or a curse-- or some form of the taint that was infecting this whole land? Waver winced just watching him, horrified.

He looked like he was about to collapse again even as he tried to push himself up, and when he started coughing with that awful, rattling noise caught between his lungs and his gills, Waver's hand closed around his shoulder to brace him before he lost his balance.

"Hey! Hang in there-- Don't pass out on me, come on... Breathe."

But that was the problem, clearly. Was he unable to transform back to a form better equipped to breathing on land? And he couldn't exactly go back in the water...

Shit. What was he supposed to do?

Waver looked around frantically, but there didn't seem to be anyone in the immediate vicinity.

"Where the hell is Lancer?" he muttered, entirely to himself, and dragged his supply pack around onto his lap to root around in it as quickly as he could, digging for the healing scroll he'd been given. He only prayed that it actually worked for him.

[honoraboveall]

Another cough wracked Symon, but with a strange, trembling effort, despite the burning in his gills, he forced them closed, sealing them off. Finally then he could draw a full breath, the dizziness and darkness fading away. The grey spots though weren't changing, but he forced his head look, watching the young man man rifle through his pack.

"What are you looking for?" He asked, his voice hoarse.

[tryhard]

"Heal scroll," Waver snapped back, the curtness stemming from stress more than anger, though he really wanted to scold Symon for swimming in that stupid, clearly ominous-looking lake in the first place. Considering his nature, the way this place was affecting them all, he supposed it wasn't entirely the man's fault, but--

"There, found it. I swear, this had better work..." He was mumbling mostly to himself, tense and fingers slightly shaky. He couldn't use magic here, but he'd been assured the spell scrolls could be activated by anyone, and Waver didn't exactly think he had the time to worry about how it worked right now.

Then again... it occurred to him he really didn't know how it worked, if it was localized or something that would affect the individual as a whole. It seemed so vague, so imprecise, nothing like the sort of magecraft he was used to. But it was all he had. And all he could do was pray he really could still activate it.

"Symon. Look at me."

He pressed one hand to Symon's chest, the other tight on the scroll, and spoke the words that enabled the spell.

[honoraboveall]

Symon turned, looking at Waver as commanded, his eyes oddly in their fish form, pupils round and dark the brilliant blue of his iris filling of the entirety of his eye. The gaze was locked, his chest rising and falling in a strange quick tattoo.

But the gaze was broken as the spell hit him. Hit perhaps was not quite right, it wormed into him, sank into his bones, curling through his flesh, odd and foreign as it forced its way within him. His screwed shut and his hands reflexively sprang open, and as they did, a small shower of jewelry tumbled from his clawed hands, rings, slim necklaces, and even a bracelet. They were all covered in runes as well, but the symbols were slashed through, rendering them useless.

But despite the strangeness of the magic, it did its work and the strange grey marks pulled away, the burning in his gills receding. Symon relaxed, leaning back in clear relief, eyes fluttering shut.

"Thank you." He managed, after a moment.

[tryhard]

Waver watched, nervously, gripping the scroll as it worked. He could sense its magic but as if from far away, as if through a film of strangeness, a barrier he couldn't cross. He wasn't a mage anymore.

But--

But still, it worked. Somehow, miraculously, it pulled the awful cursed marks back, dissipating the corruption slowly, tugging against the tainted greyness to give Symon room to breathe.

Waver exhaled too, relieved. He didn't want to watch the man die, even if he was a bit of a jerk.

"Y-you're welcome..." he breathed, pulling back to put the scroll away.

"How do you feel?"

[honoraboveall]

"Much better." Symon pulled his legs up, arms braced on his knees, leaning down to catch his breath. More and more of his merrow features disappeared, but the scales remained, speckling his skin, following the lines of his spine and shoulders. After a moment he sat up and looked at Waver.

"Well," He said his voice mild, "I can't recommend you getting in the water." As he spoke, he groped for one of his treasures, fingers caressing over his hoard.

[tryhard]

"Of course not..."

As the urgency of the situation dissipated and Waver became more assured that he was going to be okay, he also became all the more aware of what state Symon was in: that is, stark freaking naked. With his mer-creature body morphing further into a more land-dwelling one, that nudity only became more obvious and more distinctly... well, human male.

Waver looked away, face coloring. He focused instead on the ground, and the bits of gold and baubles. He didn't think he had the wherewithal to scold Symon right now, after all, even if he'd been foolish to jump in the water. Clearly, he'd suffered the consequences. Waver wasn't sure he could face him without distraction until they figured out something to rectify the nudity situation.

In the meantime, he was definitely curious about the jewels.

"What are those? Do they... do something?" He meant the runes, though they seemed worn down and scratched.

[honoraboveall]

Symon did not miss the flush spreading over the young man's cheeks, and a puff of something like laughter slipped past his lips. To be fair, this was the young man who had refused to undress when they shared a bed, so he supposed it was to be expected. Seemed like a strange thing to fuss about given the situation, but here they were.

"I found them in the lake." He scooped them up and presented them to Waver, letting the young man see the dull tracings of runes, now scratched out. "Runes here, that match the pools, also all scratched out. I think I'm going to take them to the coven to see what they're meant to do. All of this....has to be connected, I feel. "

[tryhard]

"That's not a bad idea," Waver had to admit, examining the jewelry -- and the runes -- curiously. He doesn't even try to touch them, though, too wary of whatever taint the water held, just in case. He had another healing scroll, but he really didn't want to have to use it.

"I'd be interested to know what they say."

In the meantime, he was digging in his pack again, and eventually pulled out a thin blanket he'd brought along.

"Here." Waver nudged it at Symon, still averting his eyes from the obvious places.

"Where'd you leave your clothes?"

[honoraboveall]

"Thanks." Symon looked at the blanket for a moment and then used it to briskly wipe himself down, drying himself. He looked at Waver a moment more, and then stood, wrapping it around his waist, though for for Waver's dignity than his own. "I have them stashed nearby, it won't take me but a few moments."

He was right about that as he briskly strode to his clothes, uncovering them and his sword. The blanket was put aside, neatly folded. He dressed swiftly, buckling his sword into place, running a hand through his damp hair, before striding back to Waver, handing the blanket back.

"Were you traveling with anyone else? Or alone?" He asked.

[tryhard]

Well. At least he'd been smart enough to hide his things somewhere close. Waver didn't watch, out of politeness and embarrassment, until Symon returned. He eyed the sword curiously, but also refrained from asking as he took his damp blanket back. The spell scrolls still in the pack, Waver didn't actually put it back yet, but tied it to the outside for the moment, then stood.

"No. I was with Lancer, but we got separated."

[honoraboveall]

"I was with someone, but our separation was planned." Symon looks down at this slim young man, who doesn't appear to be armed at all. Likely a liability, but he had just helped out Symon in a big way, and he figured he owed it to him. Better to pay off a debt sooner rather than later.

"Would you like me to help you find him?"

[tryhard]

Waver did not carry a sword or other visible weapon, but now that the emergency situation had passed, Symon might notice as he's looking Waver over that some of his Monster characteristics are just starting to show. His nails are long, sharp, fading from the natural color they'd been before to black at the points. And his eyes look darker too, reflecting the low light; he isn't even using a torch. The rest of him still looks mostly human -- the ears too pointed, but passable, teeth too sharp but not obvious.

His jaw tightened, frown deepening.

"Honestly, I just want to leave." A beat, a sigh. Frustrated and unhappy. Waver clarified, "But not without him. I don't think my watch thing works down here. And he'd refuse to leave before finding me, so... yeah. Let's go."

[honoraboveall]

Already starting to change. Better find a bond, boy, if you don't want to lose yourself. Symon didn't say anything; the young man had already proven that reasonable discussion wasn't his strong suit.

"Then let's." Symon's eyes flicked to Waver's pack. "Though, two things. Do you have any more of those scrolls that might be useful, and do you know where he might be?" After speaking he stooped carefully gathering up the jewelry he had found. A pause and then he slipped on one of the necklaces, a fine golden chain hung with a glinting ruby, and then a heavy signet ring. It's flat surface was bloodstone, a deep, rich green flecked with red. The stone was heavily carved, clearly meant as a stamp for a heraldic sigil, a rampant crowned griffin and he slipped it on the ring finger of his left hand. The rest were all secreted away in his pockets.

[tryhard]

"Yes, and... no."

Waver considered, peering up the winding paths leading up and away from the lake. It still made him uncomfortable to be around, but if he didn't look too long in the water, it wasn't as much of a draw as he imagined it must have been for Symon, considering what he was becoming. Waver watched him put away the jewels, still wary of them, but didn't say anything to stop him.

"The healing spell should have another use or two, but I don't know how much of its stored power it took to heal you, so don't count on it. I also have a flare and a torch."

That's the good news. The bad news...

"But I don't know where Lancer is. We got separated upstairs. There were some--" He almost says 'monsters,' but that means something else these days, and he's starting to just avoid the word entirely.

"...giant bugs."

[honoraboveall]

"Giant bugs?" Symon sighed, low, in the back of his throat. Of course there were. He had had some experience with giant spiders, which was as a whole, uniformly unpleasant. "Well, that can't be changed. But we should pick up another member of my party to help us. Then we go upstairs and find your Lancer." Which, seemed like a strange name for a man (or woman?) but then again, so was Waver, so Symon wasn't going to bring attention to it.

"Sound like a plan?"

[tryhard]

"All right."

Plan enough, at least. Having another person with them seemed like a good idea, so Waver nodded and gestured for Symon to lead the way. He followed closely, clearly still on edge, and didn't talk much as he kept an ear -- and a nose, apparently -- out for any signs of more creatures like the ones he'd encountered further up.

[honoraboveall]

Symon's stride is long, but it's clear he's cautious, his hard eyes gaze sweeping back and forth, taking in everything, the tension coiled tight up his spine. He had his sword drawn, the naked blade glimmering in the semi-dark, its edge as cruel as winter.

As they started to round a corner there was the sound of footsteps, and Symon stiffened, waving for Waver to be silent. His movements seemed to flow, easy and fluid as water as he turned the corner, sword raised.

Waver wouldn't be able to see his face, but he would be able to see that tension just flood away, see his sword arm drop and hear him, the pleasure sincere in his voice. "Ahh, my darling this is where you've gotten to?"

[tryhard]

Waver froze when Symon drew his sword, sniffing the air instinctively to catch the new scent but lingering behind him. His fingers twitched, new claws ready as his only means of self-defense right now-- but thankfully the stress turned out to be unnecessary.

Though he didn't relax the moment Symon did, Waver figured out quickly it must be the companion he'd mentioned.

He shifted his gaze to the newcomer curiously, taking in his polished appearance that seemed so at odds with this whole place and everything they've just been through. Waver himself looks a bit dirt-smudged and disheveled, and though it might not seem too drastic to Symon or Lyr, he knows he didn't have claws like this when he first set off for this stupid cave with Lancer. As far as Monster characteristics go, though, they're still subtle: dark, reflective eyes, pointed ears with only the barest hint of fur at the edges, sharp teeth he keeps anxiously tonguing in a developing bad habit.

Waver purses his lips, glancing up at Symon as if to make sure he is 'quite alright' after all.

"Something like that. It's fine now, I think..." Symon hadn't been fine at all, but now he seems energetic enough, so Waver leaves it at that on his end.

He nods at the stranger in greeting.

"Hello."

[honoraboveall]

Symon's gaze is quick and subtle as it flicks over Lyr, quickly checking for anything that might be amiss with his partner. A little more of that tension oozed from his frame as he confirmed that yes, nothing was wrong. "A little bit of trouble, but ah, credit goes to Waver for fixing it."

"We're on a quest now to find his partner." He continued on, his sharing a quick, subtle look with Lyr. Turnabout is fairplay.