EVENT | LANDFALL | KITHIKA | BOTTLE

[cherrywood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: February 12th - 28th
Location: Kithika, inside the bottle
Situation: The discovery of an artifact from the first war against Malicant reveals the land of Kithika within a dimension of the Death Plane... and just happens to be contained inside a bottle.
Warnings/Rating: Please indicate content warnings in subject headers as applicable.

OOC INFORMATION ♦ CITY OF KEELIAI ♦ INSIDE THE BOTTLE ♦ THE WORLD EATER
Arriving in Kithika is unpleasant for the most part. Transport through the glass vessel deposits you in the middle of a thick and murky swamp, with air so hot and humid it feels as though one is breathing through a wet towel. This is a place of perpetual night and there are no celestial bodies visible overhead through the twisted vines to break up the blackness, making the only light visible that which comes clumps of marsh fungus that emit a steady glow in a variety of muted colours: pale blue, whitish green, watery mauve. The only other light comes from those who can generate it themselves and that will reveal numerous broad-leaved trees, in some places standing too thick to move through. Below, knee-deep water laps in swirls at their legs, accompanied by the occasional slithery feel of something moving in the bracken against wet limbs, gone before it can be identified. A variety of strange noises from creatures of the swamp fill the air with buzzing and hoarse croaking, interrupted by the screech of mosquitoes the size of hummingbirds darting past and hungry for a meal.

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OOC NOTE: Characters will not be able to progress past the Temple and the Grounds for 48 IC hours after which point, the way to continue onward to find the dragon will be discovered. The second log will be posted on the 17th, to help spread out the tagging. Thank you!

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OOC INFORMATION
Landfall Questions | Approved Item Requests | Player Plot - Kryptonian Rampage OOC

CITY OF KEELIAI
Emperor's Orders: Miasma Explained | Marshaling the Forces | A City Under Siege | Halting the Scourge

INSIDE THE BOTTLE
Crossing the Swamp | Decayed Grounds | The Sullied Temple | Stone Idols | Item Discovery

THE WORLD EATER
Battling the Dragon | Soul's Poison | Kryptonian Rampage | The Guarded Pool | Weighing the Options | Aftermath

Comments

The Sullied Temple

[cherrywood]

The temple itself in the center of the once-manicured grounds has a sort of desolate beauty to it. It was obviously well tended once upon a time, but now there are silk tapestries rotting on the walls, the paving stones are broken and cracked, the meticulously tended gardens overrun and great works of art in every medium have been destroyed or damaged. Everything seems to creak and groan and there are several areas of the roof that are entirely caved in. There is no sign of any sort of technology anywhere but some searching will yield braziers and candles which can be lit, as the phosphorous fungi scooped from the swamp will fade out eventually and this is not a place where you want to be caught without any source of light.

The temple has several rooms in various states of abandonment and ruin, providing a sort of base camp for everyone to discuss their next task. Further perusal of these rooms will reveal storage cases with extremely well-preserved foods and information as to which flora on the temple grounds are edible plants and similar materials for basic necessities, such as what plants can be used to treat injuries and what oily roots will burn like industrial wicks in the braziers.

There is a wishing pond in the center of the temple where people used to throw trinkets. In a language that is similar enough to Latin as to be translated by those familiar, a crumbling tablet next to the pond suggests it's considered GOOD LUCK to take something from it and to put something into it in exchange. These items from the pond can be taken out of the bottle once the corruption is dealt with and the characters can actually leave the bottle.

[open]

[hulkintraining]

By the time Teddy entered the temple he was drenched in swamp water and mud. When he had decided to enter the bottle and help defeat whatever evil that was at work, this was not how he had imagined doing it. The light of the fungi he had managed to pick up was beginning to fade but he kept it on hand as he slowly progresses through the temple. No way was he going to check the place out in the dark.

By the time he came across the wishing pond he had already swapped the fading fungi for a much more useful candle he picked up in one of the rooms. He approached curiously, kneeling down and shining the candle light just over the pond. With the light he could make out the shimmering of objects at the bottom. Numerous pieces of jewelry and trinkets. "It kind of looks like a wishing well. Except for being a pond and instead of throwing loose change in it people throw...other things."

It took a few moments for him to notice the tablet. But once he did he merely glanced at it and shrugged. It looks vaguely like a language he has seen before, but not enough to place it. "That's not very helpful," he muttered.

[spideyfanone]

Kurt had a natural talent for sneaking, and as he skipped candles without thinking about it (he could be over-reliant on his low-light vision) and avoided the water for the most part (avoiding wet fur was worth the time and occasional nasty welt that he got out of coming by tree). Aside from carrying a little more sulfur-scent around with him thanks to all the teleporting he had to do, he had all his usual advantages of shadow-colored fur and enhanced agility.

So popping out of a shadow and interjecting awkwardly without announcing his presence was entirely possible. That it wasn't actually a good idea didn't occur to him. There was a reason Kurt had gotten himself stuffed in so many lockers in junior high. "Good fortune, transport, something something, thing... change? No, don't think that's it. Bah. Switch?"

There was a lot of Latin in science class, but he had no grasp of grammar.

[hulkintraining]

Teddy jumped, nearly sending himself into the sky, when the other kid appeared from out of the shadows, attention focused on the tablet. Thankfully he had managed to suppress an entirely manly screech. He never would have lived it down if word had somehow made it back to Cassie.

After taking a moment to calm down Teddy took the time to study his new companion which his attention was held elsewhere. He looked very familiar, like a certain older X-Man he knew, but...younger.

"Um...Kurt? Did something happen to you?"

A trillion years late

[iguanasolution]

Frank was honestly used to 'evil things' not being quite like one had imagined. He hadn't been on the quest to the doors of death for that long before he had been brought here, but the time he had spent in the Argo II had been... intense, for lack of a better word. And Milyn had warned him they didn't know what they could find once they went inside the bottle.

But he had to admit the pseudo-wishing well made a pond was indeed kind of unexpected. He was honestly kind of doing his own thing, not paying attention to others before he assessed the situation- when he heard a familiar voice and walked towards him holding his bow close to him.

"What isn't helpful?"

[hulkintraining]

Teddy was still in a crouched position in front of the sign when Frank approaches. He face was set with exhaustion and confusion, his mouth pulled into a tight frown. He hadn't expected their trek through the bottle to be easy, but it would be nice if the signs and things were written in English. Or at least some other language he could recognize.

"This sign," he glanced up at Frank, shrugging,"I can't read it. I'm not sure any of us would be able to read it. It's not a language I recognize anyways."

a trillion and one years late

[langsyne]

All things considered, riding stowaway isn't a bad way to go. Instead of expending waaaaay too much effort and ammunition fighting off trees and bugs and other various creepy crawlies, Scott had instead mini-fied himself and hitched a ride on the shoulder of the nearest person to him. It'd been kind of a bumpy ride and yeah, it was probably cheating to go into the bottle that way, but hey, Scott's never been a particular stickler for the rules.

And it means he's alert and observant when he finds himself at the temple, a cluster of glowing fungi held in his gloved hand. Judging from a flickering globe of light nearby, he's not alone here. He ambles his way over to Teddy and squints at the tablet.

"I'm kinda sorta regretting never taking Romance Language 101 in school now because I have no idea what that says." But, more importantly: "You okay? Made your way through the swamp no problem?"

[hulkintraining]

Teddy was too busy glaring at the tablet to notice when he was no longer the only one in the room. It took hearing Scott speak to break him out of his thoughts. "Romance Language? You mean like French? I took half a semester in that before dropping. I'm pretty sure that's not French."

It wasn't any language he'd ever seen before, of that he was sure. Which made things more difficult because if he could recognize it then he could at least ask around and see if anyone knew that language. He could still do the same, he guessed. But it sounded like more energy than he had at the moment.

"I'm in one piece, to the disappointment of the trees. I think it rates a little higher than no problem though. What about you? You look like you managed okay."

Open;

[alphatar]

Carrying a small armful of food from one of the storage cases she found, Korra was nibbling on a well preserved fruit. This was the perfect place to stop and rest up a bit to recharge her batteries. Safe, quiet, and food.

When she found a room with water, which she saw as the chance to wash her face at least, Korra stopped at the pond and set her small pile of food next to it. Looking at the tablet told her nothing, the language wasn't one she knew, but her eyes fell on things that lay at the bottom of the water.

She knew a wishing well when she saw one. Fetching out the small knife that was in her boot, Korra opened it and looked at the blade; then to the pond. What to wish for though...

[bindsthedead]

"Korra?" Sabriel was carrying her own satchel of preserved food- dried fruits, hardtack, and jerky.

She gestured, the charter-light by her side bobbing as she did so.

"Do you think the water's safe to drink?"

[alphatar]

Hearing Sabriel made her do a double take. Why she was surprised to see the Abhorsen, Korra didn’t know. The bottle containing the realm of Death was right up her alley after all.

"I doubt it. There’s a lot of things at the bottom." She angled the knife down to point at the trinkets that caught the light next to Sabriel. "But hey, you could wish for clean water."

Cutting one of her fruits down the middle, she handed half to Sabriel.

open

[casaerotica13]

1- walking through the dark

Gabriel paced down the grounds, using his own to sight to look around at the place. He would just try flying again, but it didn't really work out all that well last time, did it?

Of course, he's in the dark because he thinks nothing of it at the moment, but there are some humans (or human like people) nearby, so he might as well light up the place a little, right? Right. Sure. It would be funny to watch them slam into a few walls or something, though.

A golden light pulses from his body. "In case anyone was wondering, I'm totally okay if you guys just want me for my body."

2- the wishing pond

This was something he was familiar of. It was one of those simple human things that he always got a little cute chuckle out of. Gabriel looked over the water after reading the little plaque... and decided to indulge himself a little more. Why the hell not? That swamp was hell.

So, yes. Anyone passing by will see an archangel on his stomach, reaching into the pool for some goodies.

1

[bindsthedead]

"I'm fine, thank you," Sabriel said, a small smile twisting her features as she conjured another light to join the one hovering by her knees.

"Although others may have some use for it- or a pack of matches."

[casaerotica13]

"Ain't got those," he said with a little smile. At least he was a Good Samaritan today. That's more than most days. "Nice trick."

Closed to Sharon Carter

[vdova]

[ She's sweaty, decidedly gross, and unhappy as she stumbles into the grounds of the temple, hair plastered to her forehead, her uniform suit sticking to her skin as she walks. It wasn't made to deal with this kind of weather, humid and sticky, and she resolves to, as soon as she's able, try and find something better.

The temple is a welcome sight, and Natasha climbs the stairs to it, pressing her back against the cool stone, resting her head against it and closing her eyes.

She hadn't expected this, hadn't really known what to expect to be honest, but mutant trees were not on her list of things that she ever wanted to deal with again. Especially not ones that screamed. She tosses aside the now dim fungi, and takes a deep breath, recalibrating herself and her surroundings.

First thing: Try to find a little more info on this place and how to set it right. Taking a deep breath, Natasha exhales slowly, standing up. There's no rest for the wicked, after all. ]

[agentx13]

No, by all means. Take a couple more minutes if you need them.

[ Sharon leans against a nearby pillar, cleaning her knife. Her suit is still clean and white, but she's more concerned with cleaning the inside than the outside. It might be clean, but she's been sweating up a storm here. Strands of hair are matted to her face, and there are some leaves and swamp gunk in her hair, though the bun has managed to stay in place.

She grins at Natasha. ]

Or we could go kick some ass. You know.

If you're up to it.

[ Challenge issued. ]

[vdova]

[ Challenge accepted. Natasha throws Sharon a look, coupled with a wry smirk. ] I was waiting for you to catch your breath.

OPEN

[bindsthedead]

Option A (before she touches the statue)

Sabriel had taken to exploring the grounds, a conjured charter-light illuminating the path ahead of her as she wandered through the rooms, taking in the sights and trying to imagine what things might have looked like before the entire place fell into ruin.

When she she finally reached the center of the temple, she let the light brighten, illuminating the pond, and all the objects littering the bottom.

Option B (after she touches the statue) Rationally, Sabriel knew she ought to get some sleep- she couldn't tell the time in this lightless realm, but she knew it had been long enough that she really should. Instead, she found herself leafing through the books she'd found- more often than not, not even reading what was on the page as she mentally submerged herself in the Charter, finding some comfort in its warmth and the way the marks swirled around each other as she tried to focus on a particular bit of advanced magical theory.

Option C (closed to Hans/potentially open to other students?)

Sabriel's smile was a little brittle, but it was firmly in place as she clutched a skull shaped pendant and surveyed the little training ground she'd marked out where the temple grounds met the swamp.

With an easy, practiced gesture, she conjured a ball of orange and yellow flame the size of a man's head- and then dismissed it, watching as it broke apart into four component marks that rapidly faded away.

Sabriel sighed, and began the process all over again.

B

[iwannabeadragon]

Having explored almost every inch of the area available and with no place left to go, Hawke tried the only option left to him: getting some rest. It proved more difficult than he hoped. Despite his bravado, everything about this place just felt wrong. It kept his body constantly on the alert making any sort of restful sleep virtually impossible.

If he couldn't sleep then he'd might as well do something of use. After grabbing another candle, Hawke took to patrolling the area. Someone might as well do it while they're all waiting for something to happen. It was then he found Sabriel.

"Nothing like curling up with a good book to relax when you're in the realm of the dead?" Hawke says as he approaches her. Notch, his massive warhound, trots by his side remaining vigilant.

[bindsthedead]

Sabriel looked up at him with a slightly distant expression.

"Yes," she mutters, though she smiles a little at the dog, "And trying to discover if there's anything in here that might be of some use." Perhaps they needed to enact some ritual, invoke some power- if the swamp had been trying to keep them out, surely there must be something here to stop the corruption. Perhaps it was in the spellbooks she found.

Open

[iwannabeadragon]

(A)

Ever the adventurer, Hawke can't resist exploring the remains of the decayed temple. His curiosity abounds as he explores its dark halls. The allure of finding a few more souvenirs within the swamp helps push him forward as well. Hawke knows well enough to remain vigilant however. The trees in the swamp proved to be annoying, but they've met no real danger yet. He can't help but feel that will change soon, and the last thing he wants is for that to happen in a dark hallway. It doesn't help that the light from his fungi fades more and more every second.

By the time his light finally fades he manages to procure a candlestick from one of the rooms. Lighting it in almost complete darkness proves to be a challenge, but he manages it. At least he can see again. Even better, nothing tried killing him.

(B)

When Hawke arrives at the pool he's not entirely sure what to make of it. He kneels down at the water's edge, peering into it. All manner of trinkets lay bellow its surface and one would think he hit the jackpot, but how did it all get here? If he has to guess, Hawke would call it some kind of wishing well.

After a bit more exploration Hawke finds the tablet. Too bad it's just as confusing as everything else in this place. Whatever that language is Hawke can't make heads or tails of it. For all he knows it could be warning telling people that the water will eat the flesh off someone's bones. Or maybe it could be telling that the trinkets are free for anyone to have.

"Don't suppose anyone can read this gibberish?"

B) HI GUESS WHO

[problematical]

"It's not," River replies, appearing beside Hawke with uncanny silent steps. Somewhere she's either lost or ditched her boots and is standing barefoot in the grass, oblivious or uncaring to how incongruous it is given this place's penchant for unhealthy flora.

"Not gibberish," she clarifies after a moment.

open;

[shorttempered]

[By the time Invincible reaches the temple, he's quite frankly exhausted. The environment had been doing nothing by trying to kill him since he got there, and at certain points he felt like this trek came closer to succeeding than some of his major fights back home.

It's an unfamiliar feeling to him, exhaustion. Since he got his powers, it had been something he didn't experience normally, as his powers push his endurance to the limit. But between the shrieking, the falling, the almost drowning, and then the attempted beatings by the trees, it had been just too much too fast, and his body hadn't had a chance to adjust.

Upon seeing the fountain, he sits on the edge of the fountain, for lack of better seating, to catch his breath and try to figure out how badly his ears had been damaged.]

[dracobin]

[Temeraire reaches the temple not long after, rising slowly out of the swamp like some horrifying prehistoric creature. The remnants of a few squashed giant mosquitoes dot his flanks, and the mushrooms tied to his harness are still glowing gently.

He squelches his way into the temple grounds, grumbling under his breath; it has been ages since he let himself get this filthy, and when he sees the pond, he wastes no time in plunging his face into it and shaking vigorously. It is a little small for bathing purposes, perhaps, but he will do what he can.

It is a moment before he looks up and sees he is not alone--but his expression brightens visibly when he does.]

Mark! I thought I saw you in the throne room: how long have you been here?

[flamingshortshorts]

[Toro was lucky in that he, Bucky and Jim had come in together, but it still had been a fight to get to the temple. He's dealt with man-eating plants before, but he'd really like to never do it again.

After they split up to go searching, Toro had been circling back towards where they came in, just in case one of the other two were done already. He wasn't flying this time, because conserving his energy was probably a good thing right now, still he didn't see Bucky or Jim anywhere.

But he did see Mark.]

You look like they put you through your paces out there.