Test 5.

[azumods]

VERITY The journey this month has been easier on you in several ways; despite your losses, your numbers have been bolstered by the addition of two more this month, and unlike the unforgiving terrain on the way to Lake Acuity the routes to Lake Verity seem downright hospitable - they're straightforward, the climate is far more temperate, and there are patches of cheer visible here and there along the paths in the form of those brightly-colored flowers, even as you make your way toward the lakefront. But the lakefront itself is perhaps unsettlingly silent; a reminder, perhaps, of what you're here to do, of the importance of your task. You'll reach the lake sometime in the evening. The sun isn't down yet, but it looks as though it won't be too long before it dips below the horizon; there's more than enough light for you to see what the lake itself looks like, however - the water is still and clear, to an extent where you can see straight down to the bottom regardless of how deep it gets. There's no bridge or other way to cross over the lake that you can see, but once again there's a large rock formation rising out of the center of the lake and a good-sized opening in the stone, leading to what's likely a system of caverns further inside. Your exploration starts here, next to the crystal clear waters of Lake Verity; what happens next is up to you.

Comments

[discutio]

Allow me to summarize this clearly as I'm able.

Our group hails from worlds separate to this one, apparently pulled here as some effort on Galactic's side to spread their influence and seek out more foot soldiers of a sort. The majority of us awoke--or at least, became aware of ourselves--in Veilstone City, where we met and spoke with Cynthia. She helped us find some measure of our bearings and informed us of the lake guardians. To my recollection, she gave no indication that she had been away from the region for any extended time. That was the last we've encountered her directly.

[azumods]

[...Okay, hang on, you're gonna need to back up several hundred steps here probably.]

Spread their influence...where? They've already...changed the universe, I don't...

[discutio]

...truthfully, I'm a touch unclear on it myself. The implication so far as I understood it would be that our own homes were in danger, though I can't speak much to verify if that's the case.

[azumods]

[...Oh.]

That can't happen. We can't...let that happen.

[discutio]

Exactly our perspective. Which is why we've been traveling to help the guardians. Hesitant as we are to trust Cynthia's word, we haven't much else to operate on.

[azumods]

...She isn't wrong. She knows the legends as well as anyone. She isn't dragging you down the wrong path.

[discutio]

So far, what she's told us has shown results; everyone but Galactic themselves seems to have improved drastically as we've gone along. But given what you've said to us now I confess myself suspicious of her all the same.

[azumods]

I don't like her. But I like Team Galactic less, they're nowhere near the same level.