Seaside 7: Seven's the Shark

[Shadowcaller]

Seaside 7

What is this place? Seaside is exactly what it sounds like, a sea.

Isn't there already a sea in Outside? There is an archipelago outside the cost of outside but Seaside is the ocean outside that coast.

So how can I get here? Seaside is actually more connected to the rest of the nexus than one might think. From the ocean you could reach HALO, Inside, Outside, Riverside, Random Places, The Hunting Grounds and other locations you can justify being near the sea. There are boats and planes going to every major island in the ocean so a PC can easily get to Seaside from any of those locations as well.

But what can I do here exactly? Seaside is made for sea-based plots take take place under or on the sea. Raiding pirates and vikings, giant sea monsters, sunken cities, great reefs, eldritch jellyfish, underwater exploration, volcano islands inhabited by mysterious natives and epic battles both under, on and/or above water.

Seaside is a vast ocean which links many of the major cities within the Nexus as nearly all rivers eventually end up here somehow. You can probably find a lot of the garbage and filth from the cities washed out here near the coast. But the majority of the ocean is clean, far from the city centers of inside and riverside.

Seaside have it's own cities instead both above and underneath water populated by all manners of underwater creatures who can't live above land or too far away from the water. Here you also find sailors, pirates, submarine crews, vikings and other air breathers that are associated with the sea.
The environment these people live in can be from tropical coral reefs and sharks to frozen seas and ice bears. While I maintain a number of locations in seaside (see the list below) anyone can feel free to make up what exactly exist in Seaside as long it's primarily connected to the sea. For more land bound adventurers there is Outside and if it doesn't fit there either Srs or Silly plots might be what you're looking for.

SC owned locations in Seaside
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Spoiler: The Crystal Pinnacle

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Upon this mighty glacier stood a enormous demonic fortress from where they raided large parts of seaside. However, now little if nothing remains of the fortress or indeed much of the glacier as it was hit not only once but twice by goblin-made nukes. Instead, it has been reduced to a frozen wasteland filled with radiation. In the center are the two craters left behind by the nukes which have been filled by water and floating sheets of ice. While the water have mostly protected the wildlife from the radiation there are rumors of mutated demons still guarding the treasures they had stolen from the many settlements they attacked. Exploration of the pinnacle should for this reason be considered dangerous.

Spoiler: Galespire

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Over the sea of storms towers the spires of the rather aptly named city of Galespire. A symbol of arrogance some would say as it's location would be completely uninhabitable if not for the large force walls protecting it from the extremely violent storms that build up nearly every day. But it was not the arrogance of man that had built this place, it was the ethereals, energy beings from a world far from the nexus.
With a reputation of traders they had apparently thought the nexus being important enough to set up an entire city here, though who they had done so on an island in the middle of seaside is anyone's guess. The city's trademark is its many bridges and floating spires reaching up to the sky. The majority of the city is in fact flying above ground with only teleportation being able to take a person in-between the different sections of the city.

Under the protection of the force walls other beings have decided to settle down here, building up a form of undercity out of shackles and huts nearby providing a sharp contrast to the advanced Galespire. While these settlers now live under the ethereal collectives laws they are not allowed to share their technology with outsiders.

Spoiler: Bayside

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A buzzing port city not too far from Galespire and one of their most important trading partners. Generally you can't go to Galespire without passing Bayside first as only they have the captains crazy and skillful enough to sail into the sea of storms.
The city have under its long existence been claimed by a good number of different pirates and warlords which still somehow hasn't affected it's trade. The citizens of Bayside simply don't care who they're ruled and have learned to adapt to even the harshest of systems rather than trying to resist whatever new warlord that's parading into town.

That said, the current ruler is Don Juliano Karnago, an upstart goblin pirate that raids both the sea and the air with his fleet of ships and airplanes.
He has adapted Bayside to not only accommodate ships but airplanes as well with a primitive airport build in the middle of the jungle that his air pirates use as a base. Anyone is welcome to the city however however, as long as they're willing to risk being in a pirate bay.

Spoiler: Ithki-Ithki Isles

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Spread across an archipelago of smaller islands is the home nation of the seaside goblins.
While their technology isn't as advanced as the ethereals they have far better living conditions than the rest seaside and even have their own navy protecting them from slavers. But it hasn't been needed in many years as the goblins have a 'understanding' with most slavers and pirates operating out here and is even rumored to partially practice slavery themselves.

Despite that the goblins have advanced enough technology that slavery shouldn't be needed such rumors persist thanks to the high number of goblin crime lords that come from the isles. Such as the leader of the infamous KABAL, Anton Kelligan and Don Juliano Karnago the ruler of the pirate port of Bayside.

Spoiler: The Sea of Storms

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The Sea of Storms is very appropriately named, as the violent, ship-ending, storms here are nearly constant. Countless of ships, both air- and seabased have sunk here, creating the so-called ship graveyard that is rumored to be in the very center of the sea, a huge swirling whirlpool that pulls everything sunk here into it.

The sea is quite obviously cursed, some say as a divine punishment for some long-forgotten civilizations sins, others by some angry sea entity, what is known however is that whoever braves these water is either a treasure hunter or a foolish landcrab. As a precaution, the ethereals have set up a warning system around the sea to warn those uneducated of the dangers that only they consider themselves powerful enough to brave.

Other owned locations in Seaside
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Spoiler: Raptor Isle

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This lone island sits on its own surrounded on all sides by mildly turbulent waters. Contained within are a number of settlements from ninja villages and small towns to big cities rivaling Inside, separated by uninhabited areas where cow-sized monsters roam. The technology of the area tends towards the futuristic.

Most of the island's visitors are numans from a certain other world, whose occasional faulty portals drop them here. Some choose to stay, and those who choose to return home know they have a home away from home waiting for them in the Nexus.

(The above basically means that characters from Eagleverse first end up here.)

Run by: Meltdowner (aka Purple Eagle)

If you want a permanent location added to Seaside, PM me and it will be added to the list.

Spoiler: Previous Seaside Threads

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Seaside 1
Seaside 2
Seaside 3
Seaside 4
Seaside 5
Seaside 6

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Thinking about roleplaying in the Nexus? Come say hi in our Discord!

[Ironsmith]

Elster
As the drones release Diablo, he picks up speed again, jumping onto the handholds built into the leg. He climbs furiously, giving a swift kick to the drone that's trying to drag him down by the legs. He needs to get that one drone off the 'Mech before it finds the manual override switch on the cockpit, concealed behind a removable panel right next to the entrance.

[Elster]

Unfortunately, this is the sort of situation where the drones will excel. As Diablo climbs, he'll find that they have no trouble at all catching up to him; they can get a decent start just by jumping, and their light weight makes them swift climbers. Once they're on him, they'll clamber their hands over him, tugging at his shir lt and arms and any other hold they can get, trying to pull him back down. With three of them dedicated to this task and a fourth on the way (it needs a minute to recover from having its optical sensors misaligned by a well-placed kick), they might not have such a hard time doing that.

Meanwhile, the one on the cockpit finally spots the panel and quickly punches through it, feeling around for the release.

[Vahnavoi]

[Shore of a Distant Island]

"My name is Calm Reed, from Vigil," the monk tells Rachel before she departs. "So you can find me there if you need it." Calm Reed then goes back to studying the map. This is too great a distance to cover in her skiff, alone. She'll need to report back and organize an expedition...

If she wanted to hurry, she might be able to find volunteers for an expedition among the locals. They aren't professional soldiers, but some are still armed to defend their homes against occasional pirates or bandits. Though she might have better luck closer to the target destination. She might want to take the island ferry herself to get there.

[Meanwhile, on a volcanic island]

Where magma has burst its way through ocean floor and formed new ground, there is a mound of obsidian, slightly too regular in shape to be completely natural, near which stones sometimes roll uphill. A large rodent, hairless and eyeless, circles around it, sniffing the air as it goes. It is hoping to find more of its kind - to eat. It is starving, for little life has made its way to the newly formed island. Sadly for it, most of its kin have already fled into the sea, either drowning or swimming to better hunting grounds. The gnawed bones of few that didn't make it litter the ground. But maybe it will get lucky. Maybe something will wander into its territory so it can finally satisfy its hunger. Something like a bird. Or a seal. Or a hapless human...

[bc56]

Elster
Diablo drags himself and the clinging drones a few steps higher. He leans to his communicator. "Open the door." The door rapidly swings open with a hydraulic hiss... Hopefully hitting the drone and knocking it off the mech.
"Close the door." Hit or miss, it swings closed again. Meanwhile, Diablo takes the soldering light and grabs onto a handhold tightly with one hand, pointing the light at the drones with the other. "Are you going to let go, or am I going to make you let go?" He's not even sure if they can understand him.

[Ironsmith]

Elster
Diablo drags himself and the clinging drones a few steps higher. He leans to his communicator. "Open the door." The door rapidly swings open with a hydraulic hiss... Hopefully hitting the drone and knocking it off the mech.
"Close the door." Hit or miss, it swings closed again. Meanwhile, Diablo takes the soldering light and grabs onto a handhold tightly with one hand, pointing the light at the drones with the other. "Are you going to let go, or am I going to make you let go?" He's not even sure if they can understand him.

[Elster]

The drone that was attempting to get into the mech gets clocked by the door for its troubles, taking a blow across the face and knocking it down a short distance, where it regains its hold and scrambles to get back to where it was... without much success, so far.

Meanwhile, it appears the other drones understand full well what Diablo is implying by pointing the cutting tool at them and demanding they let go. This evidenced by the fact that they all simultaneously reach for that arm, attempting to wrestle it from his hand.

[bc56]

Elster

If they're all reaching for his weapon with one arm, they're only holding onto Diablo with one arm each. He quickly moves the light away from the grasping hands and points it at the gripping ones in turn. He doesn't need to cut them deeply, just enough that they let go.

Hopefully that works, because supporting all their weight with just one arm is tiring for him.

[Ironsmith]

[Elster]

When he burns through the wire control the first drone's grip, it sends it plummeting down to the deck, hand flapping uselessly as it lands back-first, staring up at Diablo lividly.

It's about this time the others return to trying to pin his arms against the mech, while the one at the top finally regains its hold, turning to face Diablo. "Stop this. We do not want to hurt you. Surrender the weapon and we will allow you to leave the boat at the nearest isle, unharmed. Do not force us to become violent with you."

[bc56]

Elster
"What, and just let you take my livelihood and my only ticket home?" The other drones are down by his legs, so pinning his arms will be tricky. "You want it?" he waves the weapon in the air, "Catch!" He throws it at the drone like a dart and uses the likely distraction to pull himself up the last few rungs to the 'Mech's shoulder, where he can shove the robot off.

[Ironsmith]

[Elster]

This results in two things happening, one good, one bad.

The good news is that Diablo's plan goes exactly as anticipated, distracting the drone long enough for him to fling it bodily off his mech. It hits the floor with a clatter, scrambling to get the penlight.

The bad news is, he still has two drones grabbing at his legs, and by now one of them has probably succeeded, and is crawling onto his back.

That, and Diablo is now effectively unarmed.

[bc56]

Elster
Against machines that weigh about 10 pounds each, Diablo is never unarmed. Also he still has his pistol for all the good it will do him. He grabs and wrenches at the machine, but it's got a good hold now. "Damn you, let go!" He maneuvers himself closer to the cockpit, he needs to be ready to pilot as soon as possible. Just has to get rid of one last robot first.
He draws his pistol and presses it up against the machine's head. He doesn't expect it to work, even at such close range, but it's worth a shot.

BANG!

[Ironsmith]

[Elster]

At this distance? It actually does something. Besides likely damage Diablo's hearing, that is. In this case, it will also be damaging the drone's vision, leaving it blind in one eye; no points for guessing which one. The physical shock of a bullet passing through the drone's optical sensor also has an adverse effect on its servo controls, causing it to momentarily release its hold on Diablo; just long enough to be shaken loose.

[bc56]

Elster
His hearing's not great as it is, this will just keep it on the path to eventual deafness.

With the drone removed, Diablo opens up the cockpit and jumps inside, closing it as quickly as he can behind him. He crams the battered neurohelmet onto his head and grabs for the controls. The 'Mech's reactor begins to hum and its systems power up.

It's time to clean up around here.

[Ironsmith]

[Elster]

As the mech powers up and whirls to life, the drones take this time to get off and away from it, backing away slowly onto the shipping containers behind it. They're probably going to need the cover. This really doesn't bode well for them.

However, as the mech powers up, that same five-tone tune will start playing on its radio. It's picking up that signal from somewhere, but there's no accompanying identification... at least, not in a format the mech will recognize.

[bc56]

Elster
Diablo mutes the comm. No need for that noise right now. He pushes his 'Mech forward, firing lasers from the bulky devices attached to the machine's forearms. The four beams of searing red light are much more powerful than small arms fire, and he sweeps them across the deck at any drones that he can easily locate. He's a force to be reckoned with now.

[Ironsmith]

[Elster]

The lasers cut through anything in their path, whether that be one of the drones, the steel cargo container it thought it could hide behind, the container behind that one, the deck of the ship, the fuel barrels belowdecks, or the unfortunate fish that happened to be swimming by.

Thus outmatched, the remaining drones retreat belowdecks, the edges of their escape hatch glowing red as they attempt to seal off the route and prevent Diablo or Duffle from following.

[Morty]

[Expedition into the Dark]

A Vigil airship is making its way towards the volcanic island. Calm Reed doesn't have a very precise idea where they're going, but she knows the general direction. The creature Rachel took to GLoG was probably heading more or less straight, as they were trying to get away from their point of origin. Hopefully they can find a trace of this "dark" once they get there.

[Vahnavoi]

[Expedition into thw Dark]

The volcanic island is visible from far away. It probably looks more dangerous than it is from high up, with pillars of smoke and steam rising up from where molten rocks is still pushing up through the crust and flowing into the sea. There is a large, already settled area to land on, however, around an oddly regular obsidian mound. It almost looks like a small pyramid!

There is, however, some strange turbulence right above it. It's only noticeable via mild sensor disturbance high up, but gets stronger closer to ground. Trying to land near the mound could prove disastrous. It's like gravity is pulling the ship into more than one direction. It's not much, but definitely a sign that something's odd here.

[bc56]

Elster
Diablo doesn't try to cut open the ship to get at those drones. That's a terrible idea. Instead he gets on the radio. Hopefully he can broadcast and Duffle will hear him over that weird signal. "They've been cleared off the deck, but they've sealed themselves below. It's your ship, how do you want to proceed?"

[Rebonack]

[Expedition into the Dark]

Aboard the airship today is one Geneva Richards, hippogriff, scientist, engineer, and VIGIL expert on all things teleportation and spatial nonsense. For quite some time she had been picking up some very odd anomalous reading son her instruments, what she assumed initially to be just 'noise', but after hearing that an expedition was being prepared she decided to look into the matter more closely.

Some form of anomaly in the direction the expedition would be heading in.

This was certainly worth looking into.

"The gravitational sheer is definitely getting stronger as we get closer to the island," Geneva says, examining her augmented reality display as they approach the volcanic island. "Landing nearby might damage the airship. I would suggest we lower a skiff and make the rest of our approach on the water."

They wouldn't want their airship to be damaged by the gravitational sheer.

While Geneva could certainly fly back to VIGIL most of the crew aboard the airship can't say the same.

Having to swim home from the island wouldn't be a fun time, even if the entity that was encountered on the coast had apparently done just that.

[Zefir]

[Expedition into the Dark]

Mia the high priestress of the machine go is also present, since you can allways need someone to fix the ship and the crew. Especially if things are kind of abnormal. She also has her personal devices to scan the area ans noticed the strance anomalia.

"I agree. Somethings odd there. I couldn t say what happens if we would land but the water approch should be safer."

[Ironsmith]

Elster
Diablo doesn't try to cut open the ship to get at those drones. That's a terrible idea. Instead he gets on the radio. Hopefully he can broadcast and Duffle will hear him over that weird signal. "They've been cleared off the deck, but they've sealed themselves below. It's your ship, how do you want to proceed?"

[Elster]

There's a moment of silent contemplation before a reply crackles over the comms.

"Scuttle the ship. A malfunction on this scale represents a danger to anyone who comes across it; containment should be out top priority. We can always come back for anything else."

[Expedition into the Dark]

A Vigil airship is making its way towards the volcanic island. Calm Reed doesn't have a very precise idea where they're going, but she knows the general direction. The creature Rachel took to GLoG was probably heading more or less straight, as they were trying to get away from their point of origin. Hopefully they can find a trace of this "dark" once they get there.

[Expedition into thw Dark]

The volcanic island is visible from far away. It probably looks more dangerous than it is from high up, with pillars of smoke and steam rising up from where molten rocks is still pushing up through the crust and flowing into the sea. There is a large, already settled area to land on, however, around an oddly regular obsidian mound. It almost looks like a small pyramid!

There is, however, some strange turbulence right above it. It's only noticeable via mild sensor disturbance high up, but gets stronger closer to ground. Trying to land near the mound could prove disastrous. It's like gravity is pulling the ship into more than one direction. It's not much, but definitely a sign that something's odd here.

[Expedition into the Dark]

Aboard the airship today is one Geneva Richards, hippogriff, scientist, engineer, and VIGIL expert on all things teleportation and spatial nonsense. For quite some time she had been picking up some very odd anomalous reading son her instruments, what she assumed initially to be just 'noise', but after hearing that an expedition was being prepared she decided to look into the matter more closely.

Some form of anomaly in the direction the expedition would be heading in.

This was certainly worth looking into.

"The gravitational sheer is definitely getting stronger as we get closer to the island," Geneva says, examining her augmented reality display as they approach the volcanic island. "Landing nearby might damage the airship. I would suggest we lower a skiff and make the rest of our approach on the water."

They wouldn't want their airship to be damaged by the gravitational sheer.

While Geneva could certainly fly back to VIGIL most of the crew aboard the airship can't say the same.

Having to swim home from the island wouldn't be a fun time, even if the entity that was encountered on the coast had apparently done just that.

[Expedition into the Dark]

Mia the high priestress of the machine go is also present, since you can allways need someone to fix the ship and the crew. Especially if things are kind of abnormal. She also has her personal devices to scan the area ans noticed the strance anomalia.

"I agree. Somethings odd there. I couldn t say what happens if we would land but the water approch should be safer."

[Expedition into the Dark]

Unsurprisingly, Dr. Khafir doesn't weigh in on the issue of landing. Since they departed from VIGIL, she's seemed to have her head literally and metaphorically in the clouds; the others would find her staring off into space, muttering wordlessly to herself, and abnormally resistant to making small talk. This apparent distraction stems from her having directed her attention to her remote viewings; as they approach the island, she's going to attempt to scout ahead with her clairvoyance, checking for any information they might find helpful upon landing. Forewarned is, after all, forearmed.

Her "eye" will arrive on the island long before they will. In the hours between their launch from VIGIL and their arrival on the island itself, Khafir will be attempting see everything she can about their destination, including an interior view of any readily-apparent structures. Of course, that might not tell her much; aside from the fact that it's miles away from her, Khafir's third eyesight isn't any better than that of her other two, and she won't be able to see much if there's not active internal lighting. At least her prodding isn't likely to trip any alarms; unlike many other potential clairvoyants, Khafir's method does not use any psychic energy and should be virtually undetectable.

As they make their final approach, Khafir will finally snap out of her trance and set about the task of compiling her findings into a map, which she will copy and distribute to her coworkers. While she won't say so even if asked, she hopes this will be taken as an early sign that she may prove useful; she doesn't get to come on these expeditions often and doesn't want to disappoint their superiors with a lackluster performance.

[bc56]

Elster
"If those machines won't survive underwater, you've got my approval. You might want a safe place to stand though." The ship will be sinking shortly, Duffle shouldn't go down with it.

[Vahnavoi]

[Expedition into the Dark]

Khafir's scrying does not show much more than is visible from the air. The island is few kilometers across, centered around two craters formed around volcanic vents. The edges of the craters form two crescent-shaped hillsides, which slope and turn into lifeless obsidian lowlands towards the sea. There are many spots along the coast to make safe landfall, but no great harbors.

One of the lowlands is dominated by the odd pyramid-shaped mound. It stands oddly distant from the hills and does not look like it could have been formed by natural lava flow. Khafir's scrying may notice the large, hairless rodent stalking around, as well as a few scattered bones. These misplaced signs of life are clearly centered on the mound. Trying to look inside the mound, however, proves futile: there is nothing but impenetrable blackness there.

[Morty]

[Expedition into the Dark]

"I agree. We will approach by water," Calm Reed says. She takes a look at Khafir's map. "This strange mound is our most obvious target. As it appears to be the center of whatever is happening."

[Rebonack]

[Expedition into the Dark]

"I'll scout ahead and begin setting up some of my equipment outside the anomalous structure. That should give me plenty of time to have everything set up and ready to begin taking readings by the time the rest of the exploration party has arrived," Geneva says, flicking her AR display out of her fiend of view with a precise eye-movement. "I'll be in touch over the communicators. If anything alarming happens during the boat ride inform me immediately."

That said?

She'll spread her wings and take of from the deck of the ship in a hover before slowly picking up speed toward the island. She'll land some distance away from the pyramid itself and begin slowly making her way toward it across the naked obsidian, pausing every three meters to take another reading on the gravitational distortion surrounding the object.

This is all very exciting!

The more Geneva knows about diverse forms of space manipulation, regardless of the form that technology takes, the more she can apply that knowledge to her work on bridge-building. A completely new find like this, created by some unknown actor, is exactly the sort of project that Geneva lives for.

Once she reaches the threshold where she begins 'falling' toward the pyramid she'll begin beating her wings, using her flight magic to maintain her position as she gets to work in earnest. Geneva pulls out a rock drill and a probe, poring into the volcanic stone before setting the probe firmly in place. She'll work her way around the parameter of the pyramid, setting her sensory equipment up in a precisely arranged spetagon. Unless, of course, something decides to come crawling out of the pyramid to harass her.

Once in place, the probes will begin taking precise readings on both the area's magical background and convolutions in the fabric of spacetime.

[Zefir]

[Expedition into the Dark]

Mia nods and heads under deck to make the preperations for the watering. It's not much to do so she will also grab her stuff for the landing and prepare. Shouldn't it be kinda hot on the island? Just for the fact it has the steam, smoke and still active vulcano? She will try to scan the area for that and also for any substances that might be dangerouse. After all it is common to have sulfur in the area around vulcanos.

[Ironsmith]

Elster
"If those machines won't survive underwater, you've got my approval. You might want a safe place to stand though." The ship will be sinking shortly, Duffle shouldn't go down with it.

[Elster]

"They won't. They're not designed to be waterproof, and even if they were, the bottom of the ocean is a hell of a place to stress-test that. I doubt they'll-"

The comm crackles vivaciously, distortions in the signal causing the remainder of Duffle's words to be lost to static. Fortunately, Diablo won't be hurting for someone to talk to.

"Do not destroy this vessel. There are over two hundred people on board who will be killed if you obey the captain's orders. That is a loss which cannot be tolerated."

[Expedition into the Dark]

Khafir's scrying does not show much more than is visible from the air. The island is few kilometers across, centered around two craters formed around volcanic vents. The edges of the craters form two crescent-shaped hillsides, which slope and turn into lifeless obsidian lowlands towards the sea. There are many spots along the coast to make safe landfall, but no great harbors.

One of the lowlands is dominated by the odd pyramid-shaped mound. It stands oddly distant from the hills and does not look like it could have been formed by natural lava flow. Khafir's scrying may notice the large, hairless rodent stalking around, as well as a few scattered bones. These misplaced signs of life are clearly centered on the mound. Trying to look inside the mound, however, proves futile: there is nothing but impenetrable blackness there.

[Expedition into the Dark]

"I agree. We will approach by water," Calm Reed says. She takes a look at Khafir's map. "This strange mound is our most obvious target. As it appears to be the center of whatever is happening."

[Expedition into the Dark]

"I'll scout ahead and begin setting up some of my equipment outside the anomalous structure. That should give me plenty of time to have everything set up and ready to begin taking readings by the time the rest of the exploration party has arrived," Geneva says, flicking her AR display out of her fiend of view with a precise eye-movement. "I'll be in touch over the communicators. If anything alarming happens during the boat ride inform me immediately."

That said?

She'll spread her wings and take of from the deck of the ship in a hover before slowly picking up speed toward the island. She'll land some distance away from the pyramid itself and begin slowly making her way toward it across the naked obsidian, pausing every three meters to take another reading on the gravitational distortion surrounding the object.

This is all very exciting!

The more Geneva knows about diverse forms of space manipulation, regardless of the form that technology takes, the more she can apply that knowledge to her work on bridge-building. A completely new find like this, created by some unknown actor, is exactly the sort of project that Geneva lives for.

Once she reaches the threshold where she begins 'falling' toward the pyramid she'll begin beating her wings, using her flight magic to maintain her position as she gets to work in earnest. Geneva pulls out a rock drill and a probe, poring into the volcanic stone before setting the probe firmly in place. She'll work her way around the parameter of the pyramid, setting her sensory equipment up in a precisely arranged spetagon. Unless, of course, something decides to come crawling out of the pyramid to harass her.

Once in place, the probes will begin taking precise readings on both the area's magical background and convolutions in the fabric of spacetime.

[Expedition into the Dark]

Mia nods and heads under deck to make the preperations for the watering. It's not much to do so she will also grab her stuff for the landing and prepare. Shouldn't it be kinda hot on the island? Just for the fact it has the steam, smoke and still active vulcano? She will try to scan the area for that and also for any substances that might be dangerouse. After all it is common to have sulfur in the area around vulcanos.

[Expedition into the Dark]

Khafir briefly watches Geneva for any signs of trouble, dispassionately following her flight with her gaze. It's a good thing she can't feel envy, as she completely agrees with her assessment of the situation and has some interest in studying the anomaly herself... but, obviously, lacks the tools to do it. For now, she will have to be content with the prospect of analyzing the data with Geneva when she returns.

Like Mia, Khafir also begins making preparations for landfall, though it's more in the sense of arming herself. Turning her third eye back to the rodent, she starts the process of preparing her tranquilizer gun, making estimates about the creature's weight and filling her capsules to contain half of a dose necessary to take it down; if they encounter anything smaller but still lethal, she doesn't want to kill it, and she's confident in her ability to get multiple shots off if the rat proves to be a problem. Then, in case the tranquilizers are ineffective, she also packs a high-caliber handgun; while she would prefer to not do lethal harm to the local wildlife if she can help it (that would just be bad practice), she isn't about to run the risk of harm to herself or her coworkers over the issue.

Thus prepared, and with her Hotbox strapped to her hip, she makes her way to the skiff, turning her gaze back to Geneva for any further developments.

[Vahnavoi]

[Expedition into the Dark]

Geneva might notice there are two thresholds, one roughly hundred meters away from the mound, and the other just ten meters away. The first is far less dramatic than the second, mostly a slight disturbance in her sense of balance, while the second is strong enough to make "down" feel like towards the nearest side of the mound.

Once her equipment is in place, she gets a glimpse at why gravity is distorted in such a peculiar way. The above-ground mound is not the true center of the distortions, insofar as the phenomenom can be said to have a center at all. The obsidian shell conceals within itself a more regular structure that appears as impenetrable black box on her sensors. Said structure is shaped like a regular octahedron, extending far underground, being as big as two Kheops pyramids stacked on top of each other. Flow of gravity is directed towards each of its sides in a very artificial manner. The existence of the first threshold appears to be an artefact of how the effect from below ground portions of the structure adds up with normal gravity.

Measuring background magic proves trickier. At first, her sensors return no unusual readings. Then, they spike and plateau at tenfold the usual background. Her instrumentation is fine, so there is no reason to think either reading was wrong - more likely, there's some nasty probe effect going on here, where what's being measured is reacting to her attempts to measure it. Geneva might want to have Mia take a look at it.

As for Mia's own musings, the ground temperature across the island is still elevated, but not dangerously so on the lowlands surrounding the mound. Good boots are enough to make walking there tolerable. They are also in wide open air, so as long as they don't go walking on lava streams and stay away from pillars of steam, there won't be any danger breathing the island air, unless you count pervasive sulphurous stench as such. Seismic activity is still high, but risk of catastrophic eruption is low.

Meanwhile, the large rodent has heard Geneva moving around it territory and is doing its best to sneak up on her. Khafir can see this with her farsight. The creature is smaller and slower than Geneva, so it can not be said to be a major threat - she might not want to let it bite her, but even if it attacks her, it should not be hard for a hippogrif to trample or peck it to submission. The rodent is around the size of a large capybara, so if Khafir is familiar with that animal, that can be used as reference for choosing the right kind and dosage for tranquilizer.

All in all, they are well prepared to make landfall.

[bc56]

Elster
"You think you're clever, you mechanical *****. You don't steal my stuff and threaten to kill me and get away with it. I know there's no one else aboard, and if there was, you'd kill them if I let you live. So long, sucker!" Diablo aims straight down and fires his lasers, cutting through the hull.
He's a mercenary. He leaves the hero business to his boss. And he's killed more than 200 people in his career. He's not going to easily change his mind.

[Aurora Alchemi]

[Romantic Dinner]

The witch pauses at the question. "Right, er... He is a warrior. One of the stronger of the Ulfen, a warrior through and through. Not the best looking, but a pillar of leadership and strength, and very useful in.... Most situations where one doesn't mind being a little intimidating, really." It's almost as if Ukry is referring to a completely separate individual. It feels very much like a method actor talking about their favorite part in a play, except that each mask is valued and welcomed as a favorite in it's own way. It'd almost be caring and wholesome, if it were not also a hint of the horror beyond view. However, then Reinholdt throws out the quiet question. The witch's first answer is almost automatic; instinctual and self-protecting. "Like Grimm and Pyrhra? Only two." It's a safe answer, shying away from the real question, an artful dodge in the duel of wits....

But then the soft touch from Rein's hand reminds the witch that this isn't a fight, that there isn't a reason to completely hide or run right now... And for a moment, Ukry's eyes settle into the corner of the room, as they think how they might answer. Even though the last statement might be plenty, a soft answer follows the moment of thought, this time much more honest. "W-we... don't want to answer that, at least not right now. W-we are sorry for that weakness. But... If it makes you feel any better, not as many as there once were, and none in a very long time." There is a tiredness in the voice, weighted with the harshness of a soul that made the choice to live this way, and yet often regrets it in the quiet times, those still moments when your own demons come back to haunt you.

Fortunately, not every question of the night pulled so deeply at the hem of the witch's guise. "Oh my my, there must be a quite accomplished mixer, or group of mixers within that abode. We remember making a few of those ourselves, once upon a time. They all can have their uses." Now it's Ukry's turn to be comforting to Reinholdt, the soft squeeze of the witch's warm hand coming with a heel turn on the dark nature of such drinks. "Why even lighting one on fire can be most useful when mixed with other drinks. It's painful, sure, but some of the most horrid of paracites and wilting fungal curses can be removed with the right preparation and those drinks. Perhaps We can show you a better use for them, some time?" There is a weak, but comforting smile, a signal that the witch didn't mind what effect they had been used for before. Indeed, it seemed if Rein was willing to not run when the witch brought out a mask, the witch certainly wouldn't run from the darkness in Rein's own past.

Reinholdt's smooth romantics do succeed in distracting the witch, a fresh flurry of blush dusting their features. For a moment there is a longing cling as the suavely alluring partner pulls away, but Ukry does manage to stay in their own seat. Barely. "W-we... we have no doubt that you can keep that promise. H-hee... And, we guess... we welcome it... Dear." It's small, but there is meaning in that word, heavy with attachment. "O-our smell?! You... you like it? We... spent a few hou- A-a reasonable period of time! Choosing it for you. I-it's a little difficult to find g-good combinations sometimes." And there it was again, the witch who had never grown past maidenhood.... who had never allowed themselves to grow past those young fascinations in any reasonable way. So old and wise, yet young-at-heart and naïve.

"A-a cute... maid outfit??! But we don't... it might not match our jewelry... and..." The weak protests pause as Reinholt entreats further, Ukry's upper teeth biting gently into their lip. "Ok. We could do that, but you will have to help us find a good outfit then. We wouldn't know at all what to look for on ourselves. U-usually it's Pyrhra that gets dressed up." There is an awkward, but endearing little nervous rub of the witch's free hand on their arm. "A-actually, it might be nice... to have a few new outfits. We could... shop around, for each other, maybe?" Ukry looks over, the soft lilac of flustered emotional magic crackling in the air, but an equal amount of earnest hope that they might be able to dress Reinholdt up some too. "N-not that we have to like it or anything!" A feeble attempt to save face thrown in at the end.