Week 8.

[azumods]

WEEK 8 Snowpoint City remains as cold and unforgiving as ever, through no fault of its residents. The city itself doesn't seem to see much change in the passing days; there's something you'll all become rather aware of on Sunday as the day goes on, and after so long with no incidents along those lines it's likely an unpleasant thing to deal with. There's also the fact that the changes to the world seem to be slowing; though the one alteration that's immediately obvious is a major one, it seems that things may be beginning to stagnate again. Will there be a slip back into apathy again, if this continues? Or will the changes you've affected already continue to hold? Only time will tell, really. That doesn't mean that nothing has changed, however - thankfully enough, the slugs seem to be settling. Or...well, more accurately, once in a while they stop huffing at each other long enough to drive up piles of snow with their heads and stare at them like they're trying to work out what they're attempting to create, but at least it's a collaborative effort. Are they attempting diplomacy? It's difficult to tell; after all, they are just slugs. But at least there seems to be a little less open hostility. Improvement...? Perhaps. The local ghost Pokémon also seem to have taken an interest in you lately, though precisely...how is a little mixed. They don't seem overly mischievous or malicious - they seem about as odd as the rest of the wild Pokémon in the region - but they do seem more inherently trusting of you and your traveling group. They've taken to following you from time to time, and taking a general vague interest in what you're doing. So that's...new. CURRENT LOCATION: SNOWPOINT CITY POKEMON AVAILABLE: WITHIN CITIES SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY [OOC: Welcome to week eight of Azume; feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend.]

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

Oh oh oh, there's a thing under here!

[He exclaims and points down at it, rather than doing anything about it himself.]

[redbellion]

[ keith moves over from the wall over to where michael's pointing, slowly and steadily, until he looks down through the sheet of ice. ]

Another area?

[ well...he could just try to break it but that also seems like a bad idea. ] I can see if Red can melt it. Might be a better idea than smashing it and risk hurting whatever's underneath there.

[discutio]

Go ahead. I can have Favilla help if necessary.

[with a gesture to the Larvesta on his shoulder.]

What kind of 'thing' specifically?

[eudaimonikos]

Not sure, it was underneath the ice. It was small, though, about cat-sized. Domestic, not Janet.

[Lacking any fire-types, he'll just step back.]

I can have Quaver mimic the fire if need be, but I think you've got it.

[redbellion]

[ alright. keith nods, gently placing red on the ice next to him. ]

Go for it, Red.

[ the houndour starts channeling a stream of fire onto the ice. hopefully this one melts as opposed to the one that was blocking the entrance fo the temple. ]

[azumods]

[The ice will melt! And it looks like whatever was down there decided to skedaddle in a hurry, given that the sound of paws skittering down stone steps can be heard moving further down.

Once Red's done his thing, you get more stairs for your effort, and also-

...Dear god, it's another of those fuckawful noises. It sounds close, but it doesn't sound like anything is moving toward you, at least; however, in its wake is something that Keith may not recognize but Michael and Ignis probably will - that sense you got when approaching Azelf, the feeling that whatever is down there is likely very old, and very powerful, in a way that most people don't comprehend until they're faced with it.]

[discutio]

...

[That got Ignis to take half a step back, more caught off guard than outright afraid of that sensation. He'd dealt with gods plenty of times, there was no reason to hesitate now.]

Let's go. We've already made it this far. Stay close, and don't make any unnecessary movements.

[He curled his hands into fists, gestured for Hemera to take a step ahead so he could gauge the stairs without tripping, and continued forward.]

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael groans in the back of his throat and grumbles:]

You're not any older than I am, cut it out.

[Let's just climb on down there to prove how totally immune to that scary aura of power he is!!!]

[redbellion]

[ keith, on the other hand, is becoming more and more apprehensive about this; but ignis is right. they've already come this far. no backing out now.

it's certainly one hell of a feeling, though. he follows the other two, shaking off any feelings of dread, and he continues on with red continuing to light the way. ]

[azumods]

[The staircase is straightforward and reasonably brief compared to the initial one, the hewn rock eventually opening out to a large, open cavern, far larger than even the upper floors of the temple that you've seen; the floor is once again frozen over, though there are places to stand near the stairs themselves that aren't, and what's in the room is...

...Well, it's colossal.

Something that's likely described best as a golem is standing before you; it isn't moving, nor does it rush you when you enter its cavern, but it does seem to be the source of that odd, emanating aura that's permeating your senses and giving you the impression that whatever this thing is, it's seen a lot.

Its white and black body is scarred deep with gashes that seem to have long since scarred over, old injuries that have since healed over but not particularly well; its front is adorned with massive gemstones in red and blue and silver, patches of its body covered with odd adornments that seem to be moss of some sort around its feet and shoulders. Its arms are long and powerful-looking, encircled by black bands, and there are seven black holes on a bright golden area at the front of its "face" that seem to be blinking erratically once in a while.

As the three of you enter, it emits a low rumbling sound, but it doesn't shriek or let out another of those unholy noises; however, those black holes seem to be beginning to glow a bright red.

Whatever this is, it looks like it's seen many battles, not all of them the friendly or diplomatic sort that have been mentioned as commonplace in this world; at least for now, however, it doesn't seem driven to attack. However, it's enough to tower over you, even from this distance.]

[redbellion]

[ HOLY FUCK??? ]

Uh...guys?

[discutio]

Stay calm.

[He doesn't need to see it to know this is a Big Deal.]

Don't do anything careless. We're not a threat here, and we don't want to be seen as one.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah. Yeah, I see it.

[.....]

Pretty sure its eyes are glowing at us, but it's not shooting lasers yet, so I think we're good. Now, I'm sort of its peer - [Michael you are not] - which means this might be that moment we were talking about.

[The one where he ventures the dangerous thing first, you know? Michael steps forward (without Cat Janet, who has developed some standards), and lifts his arms a little at his sides. It's partially a greeting, and partially an indication that he's unarmed. You know, friendly demon customs!]

Hello, there! I hope we're not bothering you!

[discutio]

Michael, I swear on my life I'm going to explain to you in excruciating detail later why you're an idiot.

[redbellion]

What are you--

[ oh my fucking god. this is happening. this is really happening. keith is gonna try and clamp a hand over michael's mouth??? ]

[eudaimonikos]

[Through his teeth because he's still smiling:]

What, did you want to just stand here and all stare at each -

[JESUS CHRIST HE'S BEING GRABBED?]

[azumods]

[The golem doesn't move, but that red glow from its eyes begins shifting around, blinking in an odd pattern.

...It doesn't seem to be Morse code, for what it's worth here.]

[discutio]

For the love of...

[you two have fun. mom's going to see what he can do here.]

Please forgive our intrusion. And...just Michael in general. We don't wish to fight you; we came to investigate what caused this temple to be unsealed.

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael, an eternal being who existed when the planets were being formed, reflexively licks Keith's palm before extricating himself from the hold.]

Honestly, you guys! You can't just walk into somebody's ancient temple home and not acknowledge them! Were you even going to give it a "howdy"? "How's it going"?

[Straightening out his lapels with a few sharp motions, he turns again.]

Does anybody recognize that pattern? It isn't Morse. [.....] Well, okay, do you recognize it, Keith?

[redbellion]

[ god bless ignis, but jesus christ he's dragging his hands down his face. ugh. anyway.

in a hushed voice: ]

No, I don't, and for all we know it might be telling us to get out of here!

[takestheblame]

What can't be so difficult?

[Well, you're in the kitchen and she's staring at ingredients, Kiryu, what do you think? He realizes it's kind of a stupid question, so he changes it:]

Are you trying to make something specific?

[azumods]

[It emits another noise at that, low and shaking, and when it moves it's deliberately but powerfully - it doesn't move toward you any, but one of those massive hands forms a fist at its side as it rears back, driving it down into the ice before it with enough force to shake the very foundation of the temple.

...Make of that what you will.]

[discutio]

...Hm.

[You know what, this may as well happen.]

Perhaps we should take a step back. Slowly.

[eudaimonikos]

Don't start with that now, you ignored the terrible roaring just like the rest of us.

[redbellion]

Maybe because we weren't all up in its face like we are now!