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]

[Ignis stopped just sort of 'don't tell me, it's a giant turtle' and managed a smile instead of friendly sarcasm.]

Sounds quite the sizeable partner. You must be the formidable pair, I'm sure.

[His Absol stepped a little closer for a better look, the Altaria behind him craning its neck over Ignis' shoulder.]

...This is Hemera, and the slightly uncoordinated bird is Highwind.

[azumods]

[Oh, hello - ]

We've done research on these in the lab - did Highwind just evolve recently? I think they tend to take a little while.

[discutio]

Just outside, if you can believe that.

[he is, fortunately, no longer a soaking wet cloud]

I'm not even precisely sure what he's called now.

[azumods]

Altaria.

[Without missing a damn beat.]

[discutio]

Oh. [Well, that was sure easy.] Thank you, that helps. You seem like quite a knowledgeable assistant.

[azumods]

I've been doing my best.

[discutio]

I think the same can be said of us, but we've been largely flying blind if you'll pardon the phrase. To be a little less delicate, most of us have barely the faintest idea what we're doing.

[azumods]

...You've been doing pretty okay. You want to learn stuff, and you want to help. It's important.

[discutio]

I can certainly agree that much is true, even for the mild disaster we tend to be under pressure.