Complete Dunnstads Ilmea's Lament Nooks and Crannies (ft. Brutus and Lily)

[Haru]

"Ha... It's surprising that you learned of so much. I hadn't expected you to come to understand this... Nature truly loves you, it seems, to have shared such a thing with you." The way he described such an event, he almost sounded miffed at the prospect of such an old event being brought to light. He had not expected to hear about such a thing today.

"And yet... No, Bruce, that's not why I brought us here today. I had come to investigate something on my own accord, one not-so related to my death. Come with me, if you so wish to see it."

The three took off to the beachside before clambering back onto the boat. The boat traveled offshore towards the blue depth within the center of the islands, and once more Haru stepped off the boat. Glancing up at the two as he stood upon the water, he spoke as water began to part from underneath his feet.

"I wasn't using magic to keep us afloat, you see. I merely knew that we could stand here."

Water sank and disappeared, yet a wave remained underneath his shoes all the same. Waves upon waves of a metallic sheen were beneath the sage, supporting him up atop the water. Now that the solar sheen had lessened upon the waters it was painfully aware to Brutus that the metal could be seen beneath the nearby water, as well.

The steel coiled like little whirlpools-Micromachines, Haru explained them to be, which fell off the titanic skyship related to his third death out in this ocean. They parted aside when boats passed by yet deliberately formed a floor anywhere else as if for humans to stand on. The machines formed a bridge across the islands, as if leading somewhere.

"...And I intend on finding out where they lead. I was going to do so as the two of you were resting today... Now that you know, would you still seek to know any further? I cannot guarantee your safety, my friends."

@Lucy @Brutus Dahlgren

 

[Brutus Dahlgren]

"Nanomachines," Brutus raised an eyebrow. His mind flashed back to the old classic retro videogame Metal Gear, and the cultural touchstone that had sunk into the grandiose collective memetic unconscious of mankind. Such an event had indelibly changed the fate of reality towards the path that it was now on. Entire wars had been waged over the higher concepts of that game, bad actors emboldened by the mere notion of restoring the American industrial complex. Even now he felt the need to utter the word son, perhaps go on a rant about 9/11 or making omelets, either way he would shake his head. If such powerful memetic artifacts were present than surely something important was afoot.

"Well then, go ahead and lead the way Haru." He would peer down at the not water, giving it a few test steps. He would turn to Lucy and chuckle a bit, leaning down so she could ruffle his hair, but then raising himself up out of her reach with every hop. "Oooh, so close, come on, just a little higher. Nope!" He would chuckle to himself as the woman tried to scale him like a mountain in order to achieve the sacred task of tussling his perfectly styled hair.

@Lucy @Haru

 

[Haru]

The sage Haru led the way out into the ocean's great yawning blue floor. They did not take the boat, for Haru spoke that such a thing may break the bridge and lose the destination. The journey of the three took them out into the dark space between the ring of islands, walking towards the center. It was growing more and more apparent as to which part of the water was the bridge and which was the endless depths as the ocean grew deeper and darker. Still, as they had suspected, a bridge there was nonetheless.

It led to a sight most strange-that of a staircase protruding from the waters. There it stood among the shifting ocean that occasionally broke the image of the bridge, standing there unmoving as a solid structure just barely visible in the horizon. It was as small and missable as a staircase normally would be in the distance, not to mention how it shared the color of the ocean-hued steel that made up the miniature machines.

"Oh, dear..." The words understated the worry that belied his voice. It was rare to find a building made of steel anywhere outside of Tertoria-least of all off the coast of Ilmea's Lament. The thought that this place was once where he had done battle in the sky led to one thought-this was not a natural construction.

It was a breach in the natural world.


Just to sate their curiosity, the adventurers three decided to look down further into the staircase to see what lie further in. They saw just what was expected-stairs without number, a facility that could otherwise never be seen from the Lament's surface. It went down and down and down... How far into the sea did this mysterious construct reach? Each and every panel pulsated like a beating heart. Each droplet of water that fell into the chasm would never be seen again. The deep well breathed as if alive, as if waiting for those watching overhead to descend it.

"...Absolver..." ​

The phrase escaped his lips without knowing. He spoke with horror. This place was far too large to account for everything that had fallen into the sea during the battle in the sky. It was too much-the steel had grown in Haru's absence. He informed the two of such, and came to a conclusion.

"We cannot explore this place. Not yet. We need a more capable band than what we have now-men and arms and bravery all. We must go back and prepare-return and search this place as soon as we can. We don't know if..."

If there would be a too late. He did not allow himself to say such dangerous, fate-spinning words.

The three found themselves on the boat again after some time. When they did so, it would be time to depart from this place, face a Fever most dire and only thereafter heed the Sage's words. This staircase remained the same, unchanging-waiting for them to return.

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@Brutus Dahlgren @Lucy

If there's something you want to go over, any time period, we could jump to and roleplay that. Otherwise, I'll close the thread.