Week Six

[letsplayamod]

You've survived, for lack of better wording, the latest week of trials and tribulations. This one had been more costly than most: Typhon's machinations have brought your group to nearly half the size it was when Athena first brought you to this island. Whether it ends with him or with you is still too soon to make out. One thing's for certain. Things cannot be allowed to continue as they are.

Speaking of continuing, the next floor has been revealed to you. Just how far down this island goes is a bit of a mystery, but you get the feeling that you're close to something important. Maybe that thing Athena wanted you to find before Typhon does. You can ruminate on that as you watch the waters below. Waves still lap at the cliffs, but it all seems lower than it did weeks ago. Like the ocean itself is shrinking...

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Quark's Bar

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investigation

[markofnobility]

[The motive is distressing in a way none of the others have been. It is not bait. It is a threat. Some of the good mood he's been managing thanks to, well, being young and in love, seeps from him at it. Right after he can be found in the pantry going over the stores. He pauses at what remains of the tea and after debating with himself he takes a small pouch of the fruit tea that is closest to his favorite back home and puts it in his pocket, leaving the rest]

For a special occasion, I should think.

[Later you might find him in the new Music Room, exploring. He never picked up an instrument in his youth, but he always found them interesting. But it's the stage that draws him- thanks to Vanity's warning on the plaque he at least knows to stay away from the pool, but he has no issue using the stage itself to... practice singing! His voice isn't bad, actually, and the acoustics do him some wonderful favors. He's no professional, but the piece he's belting is clearly well loved and practiced. Some story of a girl who fell for a beast.

And even later he wanders into the Hall of Stories to investigate, stopping to try and decipher the tales shown on the walls. As well as oohing and aahing over the impressive suits of armor]

Music Room

[stringup]

[ Velvet is here to look at the Music Room herself, keeping in mind they should not feed the sirens, so to speak. When she sees Ferdinand, she doesn't interrupt him, just pausing to watch and listen.

...Oh, this must be the play he told her about... ]

[markofnobility]

[Indeed it is. Midway through it, it seems: Liora has already met the Hunter, and had spent time in his home. But every day and week she longs for home- and here, the Hunter, knowing what her fighting the Beast will mean, and tortured by his budding love, pleads:]

Drink deep, weary wanderer. For the rivers and the rains are fickle. But but my cup runs endless if only you would stay.

[Oh, that is familiar]

[stringup]

[ The moment when she realises Ferdinand might have meant that line romantically when he said it back then: ]

[markofnobility]

[As he finishes up the monologue he spots her and waves]

[stringup]

...Were you flirting with me back then...

[markofnobility]

Hm?

[he takes a moment to process]

Oh! At the bar... well, I suppose I was a little. Or at least trying to impress.

[stringup]

... ... ...

I'm the stupidest bitch I swear—

[markofnobility]

[He laughs and leans over to kiss her head]

Oh, I was so convinced that I was being snubbed!

[stringup]

And you sounded so disappointed that you had to stay to help Quark out...

[ Or, well, "help", since that was when Quark let Ferdinand behind the bar counter. ]

[markofnobility]

I was! I wanted to talk longer...

[stringup]

No wonder Quark had to talk to me...

[ She sounds so mortified at this belated realization. ]

[markofnobility]

Wait, he talked to you about me?!

[stringup]

Or, well, more like he asked me a few questions because he was concerned that bad shit would happen if you held my hand and he thought we were already dating but just bad at being subtle.

investigation

[letsplayamod]

[It's a long walk, and there's quite a lot to see.

Starting at the beginning, intricate shapes have been carved carefully into the stone, almost like little dioramas in the way they stand out. The first section appears to represent the island you're on right now. Gleaming golden buildings that dig deeper and deeper into the rock. Dozens of little figures congregate on it, taking in the splendor of this paradise.

One, however, skulks in the shadow of the island, away from the others. Plotting.]

[markofnobility]

Ah, a classic type of story I see.

[He strolls down, hands behind his back]

[letsplayamod]

[There's familiar areas, and unfamiliar ones. One area seems to be the outside place you've all long become accustomed to. With the cliffs, but no forest. And no living quarters with statues, either.

Again, there's story here. A figure wreathed in flame covets the power of light raining down from above. He seeks power. Envious, he goes off on his own.]

[markofnobility]

Before the forest. Very long ago indeed.

[ the flames make him picture Typhon, of course.

On we go]

[letsplayamod]

[Down to the lands he goes, searching. All around him, smaller figures are locked in violent conflict. Death haunts the land. The figure is uncaring.

Until he happens upon one warrior, all on his own. He requires help to slay his enemies.

That will be the one.]

[markofnobility]

[Oh this does not bode well. He peers at the warrior- do they look familiar at all?]

[letsplayamod]

[They do not. It's a smaller carving of a man screaming to the heavens. His enemies slain at his feet. He's been given the power to lay waste to all before him, a perfect little soldier.

But is the devastation worth it? All this bloodshed? It isn't a particularly happy image.]

[markofnobility]

[ Ferdinand stares at the little image for a long time. He knows whatever secrets this tale may have that could help them lay further down. Tangled more with the gods. But he lingers here instead. After a beat he pulls a glove off, touching the relief with his bare fingers.

For a soldier to be memorized in a temple like this he knows without viewing the rest that it won't be a happy end. Men like them are remembered for their sins far longer than their attenpts at goodness. If this story ended in peace it would not be told at all.

Eventually he sighs, moving on. ]

[letsplayamod]

[Indeed, the story may not be told at all. That's why it's here.

It jumps ahead. The same warrior has obtained the means to fight the figure who granted him strength on equal footing. A massive tangle of flame and spidery limbs shroud the warrior, who cuts them all down with mighty blades. He's done the impossible. A powerful beast has been laid waste to. The flame is extinguished and the figure lays at his feet.

Others look down from on high. Some with admiration. Most with disgust and apprehension. A few with fear.]

[markofnobility]

He actually did it...

[He moves onto the next part, brow furrowed]

[letsplayamod]

[The final part denotes a gradual climb. From the base of a mountain's cliffs, up a golden staircase, to a seat in the throne of great power. There, this warrior sits, hunched and scowling. As all around him, there's an air of doubt and fear. Whatever he did to deserve this, it mustn't have felt like enough to justify a seat on a pantheon.

But for now, that's where the story ends.]