INTO THE VOID

[oneandmikleonly]

[A STUBBORN AND FOOLHARDY GROUP OF EXPLORERS FALL ASLEEP AND SWIM INTO A DEEP DARK OCEAN ABYSS

There’s no punchline that’s actually what they’re doing. ]

((you can go ahead and join in even if you didn't sign up for the mission in the planning post! read here for info and assume you got a brief background rundown. there’s toplevels for different bits of the trip; go ahead and poke around wherever you want to be and jump each other freely!

if your character would ask a question or perform a particular important action at some point that isn't covered yet, please check with the mods directly at that comment for results!))

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I. THE LONG WAY DOWN

[oneandmikleonly]

[The way to their destination is long, even in a dream. There are a few added benefits to this, though; on the way down they’re able to locate a few familiar fish faces. The first of these are the baby Cute Fish. They’re not able to provide any coherent or useful information, but they are a bright spot in the journey nonetheless. They follow along for a ways, trying to play with whoever gives them attention. Everything from tag to nuzzling to tickling is fair game to them.

Further in, though, they’ll meet the friendly creature, familiar from the drone's video, who has a little more information to share. It’s quick to point out that they shouldn’t be there--only the strongest creatures should be in the Void, those willing to attack on the sick and cranky Dragon’s command. It has no desire to attack them, thankfully, and in fact feels the need to protect them and warn them not to attack anything themselves. Since they insist on continuing their journey, it stays with them for a while. Maybe it’s a nice time to start up a conversation with a giant motherly whale?]

[intranslatability]

[ since ada believes this will be nothing more but a reconnaissance mission, and knowing who will be going along with it, she finally relents to eve's pestering and lets her take control for now. seems like a good arrangement for them to have. it'll allow her some rest as she stays in the dreamworld and eve gets a chance to stretch her consciousness, so to speak, by traveling away from ada. everyone theoretically wins long as nothing goes wrong.

(though if anyone who asks where ada is, they'll get a mumbled reply from eve that she had a... bad... stomach... or something... they're twins but its not like they're attached or anything! hahaha... anyways-)

eve tries to speak with the others as they travel on, her voice soft as if afraid to be too loud as she tries to learn names and faces from the group. she seems mostly curious about what they do on the base and what they were doing prior to their arrival.

at one point she even attempts to speak with the creature! no harm in that, right? ]

Thank you again for accompanying us. It's very kind of you to do.

itt: what is in a name?

[onethousen]

[ Chihiro is glad that she doesn't tire in the dreamscape like she does in waking life; it'd make this exploration still difficult, and it's already frightening enough... while also exciting. She makes herself keep focused based on what all the older, more experienced people have said.

It's as they've been speaking with the friendly creature escorting them that Chihiro comes to ask if it calls itself by anything in particular. Learning that it doesn't, well. She faces a conundrum. The lovely creature doesn't have a name, and doesn't particularly feel an affiliation to any one name, but will allow them to choose one to associate with them.

Time to poll the audience. ]

They deserve a name. Um... does anyone have any suggestions?

[intranslatability]

I was thinking of 'Salacia' in my head. The Roman goddess of saltwater. [ it seemed fitting enough with how she heard the stories of the goddess being kind and vigilante, patient and generous.

if eve seems surprised to see chihiro here, she keeps it to herself as she speaks to her. ] What do you have in mind for her?

[onethousen]

[ Chihiro shakes her head, floating still in this landscape in a way she doesn't quite manage the same while awake. ]

I hadn't decided. I haven't had to give anyone a new name before. As long as it's a good one, I think anything we come up with together will be nice. Salacia is the name of a goddess, you said?

[oneandmikleonly]

She reminds me a little bit of URSULA, don't you think? It'd be confusing to have two notable people on this planet with that name, though.

[onethousen]

With how she wants to help and to protect? I agree. Though you're right, two URSULAs would be too many, if we can help it. Though any one name can belong to several people.

[ She wills her own silence with a sort of humming energy, thoughtfulness lending itself to emotion while she considers possibilities. ]

One of the others was suggesting Salacia. I was thinking even Cia-san might work... or maybe Otohime?

[ She doesn't know. What about a name for all on her own? ]

I think Mamori would also be a nice name. It's kind of related to the idea of being a protector.

late to my own post with sbux

[oneandmikleonly]

[Mikleo's been chatting quietly with the mamawhale since she showed up, relieved that she's just as friendly in person as she seemed on video; anyone near him might catch bits and bobs of a worried telepathic conversation about the Emperor's sickness, and then finally a vision of the Emperor itself that he's passing over to her. there's one major difference from any image of the Emperor seen thus far: the creature's crawling with blotchy black blobs and specks, like a localized and visible plague.

the whale sends back something like an affirmation, and he thanks her and shifts further towards the rear of the group again, pinching the bridge of his nose as he digests the information.]

So if her illness and malevolence are one and the same, then...at least that simplifies things a bit. But what could its source be...?

[onethousen]

What exactly is malevolence?

[ Snippets of chatter might have made their way to her, but overall, that's more because of her own silence and tendency to fade back and listen as they've been moving along. Mikleo dropping back is an opportunity for her: mostly to ask the wrong question, but it's a start. Chihiro wants to be helpful, and so not interrupting others has felt most helpful so far. ]

[intranslatability]

Malevolence?

[ well now. she had to admit that mention of 'malevolence' was… intriguing to say the least.

picking up the telepathic communication, eve tried to give the two privacy but she gleaned enough information from what she heard to understand that this is quite serious. well, of course it is but…

she never heard the others speak of that specific thing before, this malevolence. ] If this is the illness, more less, does it mean its infectious? Should we approach with caution?

II. THE EMPEROR'S ANSWERS

[oneandmikleonly]

[First things first. Once they’re deep enough, the group’s following the sound of the Song sung deep below, until they finally come upon the mostly-unseen Emperor. The dreamscape and their greater connection to it helps them here; when they send their first wordless feelers of friendly curiosity and the desire to help, it seems to help diminish her frustrated wariness and make her answers clearer to everyone.

How are you trapped? What can we do for you? Why are you helping us? Those questions at least are being asked and answered, to some extent.

But what else do you want to do here, or to find out from her?]

[imsorey]

[Sorey listens intently to the Emperor's responses as they ask their questions; he does his best to keep a reassuring and open connection with her, to help ease the frustration of being stuck. By the time she's answered most of their questions, though, he's frowning a little at the malevolence emanating from her. It doesn't seem to be enough to turn her into a hellion, but for a creature as massive as her it's still concerning. It only increases his desire to find a way to get her out, to see if it helps. He steals a look at the rest of the group to see if they've got any thoughts.]

I'm open to suggestions if anyone's got them.

[smileyfaced]

She only exists on this plane.

[Dreams are tricky. But given their recent leap in abilities...]

Fortunately, we've been able to reshape our surroundings. I think it's obvious. There's strength in numbers. If we work together, we may be able to help her.

[aspearing]

[ If this a dreamscape, it seems likely that they'd be able to help her using just that: their dreams. However, that's the part where she feels nearly useless. She's never attempted to change anything on her own in the dreamscape, and has only observed what others dream.

Still, she wants to try. ]

Is there any way that we can change things through means other than force here?

[braavado]

[With the others already chiming in with suggestions, Korra simply voices her agreement; teaming up with their new dream-shaping abilities seems like the best way to free the Emperor.

She frowns slightly, though, as she tries to send feelings of reassurance down to the cave and receives some feedback in return. Is that some negative energy she feels? She glances over at Sorey.]

Is it just me, or does she feel kind of...off?

[onethousen]

[ Chihiro has curled in on herself in thought. She doesn't feel malevolence, but from talking with their escort earlier, she has her own concerns and answers that don't make much sense. ]

Why would someone not want a cure? I mean... sorry. For a way to get her out... I think what everyone else is saying should be possible. If we're working together, thinking about the same thing.

[oneandmikleonly]

[he also keeps glancing uneasily in the Emperor's direction; the malevolence isn't nearly so bad as the Dragon's but still a very bad thing to see, on a sentient creature so powerful.]

Everyone's right. It looks like dream-shaping's the most ideal option for now. Good thing lots of us got some practice in, huh?

III. THE DRAGON'S FURY

[oneandmikleonly]

[Their audience with the Emperor over, the group is changing directions in the Void, following the Void Song to track down the unfriendly Dragon.

Unfortunately, it’s much less willing to communicate with and answer them, even though some people in the group sure are trying hard to ask! It doesn’t take long before it’s actively attacking the group, hurling huge masses of seabed and geysers of lava at them, drowning out their questions by pounding them with fire and rock. BOSS...BATTLE…? ATTEMPT TO CALM IT DOWN? Or maybe you’re just trying to dodge and hustle out of there, holy shit, no one asked for all this violence.

At least no one can die or be injured in the dreamscape, but it’s sure still going to feel like that happened, if something hits you hard enough.]

embarrassingly tryhard demon child

[smileyfaced]

[Violent as they may be, most creatures in the ocean were harmless if you left them alone. Rule of nature: don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. The group's made remarkable progress despite whalemama's warnings. The Emperor, antsy and suspicious as she was, willingly helped them when it was clear they came in peace.

The Dragon is a different story.

Once the talks break down and a crap load of lava starts flying at them, Chara doesn't bother to try calming it down. They've been clipped in the shoulder by a stray chunk of seabed. Blood dissipates around the water, but they don't seem to be concerned. If anything, they seem almost excited.

If your character is still trying to talk some sense into the rampaging creature, Chara will throw their good arm out in front of them.]

Save your breath. Talking doesn't seem to be the solution here.

[Their pupils have been steadily expanding, threatening to engulf the red of their irises. Chara is filled with DETERMINATION.]

[aspearing]

[ This was something Alisha had expected to happen - or one of the situations in mind. Still, she can't help but be terrified for the others as that lava starts flying at them. She keeps an eye out for the others the best she can all while trying to protect herself.

She eyes Chara, brows furrowed and mouth pressed in a thin line. She holds her lance tightly, prepared to move as soon as she needs to. ]

Can you fight? Otherwise, please find somewhere safe!

[braavado]

[Korra uses her earth bending to direct another chunk of seabed away from their group, grimacing when she spies Chara's injury.]

I'm getting that feeling, too. Still...if it's really sick, it seems wrong just leaving it here without trying something.

[onethousen]

[ Words are her best, leading offense, next to swift movement. Chihiro's learned how to dodge and curl herself away when she must; to an extent, calling on what she can manipulate in this dreamscape allows her some freedoms of reaction times she simply doesn't have in the waking world.

Chara's out-thrust arm cuts her off, looking to them with a firm sort of silence, one where her listening is near palpable alongside the different shade of determination: getting through. Talking to those who aren't listening is nigh impossible, but it doesn't mean one doesn't try.

Her eyes are drawn to the darker dissipation around their shoulder. ]

You're injured!

[ Not surprising with what's going on, and not the same here as it would be in the waking, but still distressing; still nothing to shy away from. Molten rock is lobbed upward, cooling in slow degrees. Too slow to make it anything other than flowing rock as it's heaved their way, the Dragon lashing out with what it has on (metaphorical) hand. Cue her focus being trying to clamp down on Chara's dreamscape injury, firming her expression even while she has no idea how to deal with the massive fit being thrown by the being down below. ]

You're right. When someone doesn't want to listen, talking isn't going to help. But what are you thinking of doing?

[oneandmikleonly]

[oh my god, Chara, this is why he worries. dreamscape injury or not, he thrusts a spell of healing their way, Resilient Aid a brief blue flash against their clipped shoulder.]

We didn't just come down here for nothing!

IV. AND AFTER...

[oneandmikleonly]

[Want to regroup, catch your breath, and perhaps lick your very metaphorical wounds after all the excitement is over? Or maybe you want to talk about what you just experienced, turn over ideas for what to do next, or hug someone, or swim right on home...up to you.]

pointlessly self indulgent but /thumbs... up... on the surface in dreamscape afterward

[onethousen]

[ She's quiet, listening to anyone willing to speak after the fact, finding her eyes drawn surface-ward more often than not. Chihiro swallows, moves when a group moves back, toward the safer waters.

Then she swims. Swims, but doesn't swim toward much; swims up, because the most pressing urge she has right now is to breach the surface and breathe even when she knows she's only dreaming. It's an urge that carries in her emotions, touching on anything nearby, lingering once she's passed. The homesickness, the heartsickness, and the driving need to get up. Even breaking the surface isn't enough, surrounded as she is by then with figments of her own memories. Fat fish ghosting by on the wings of birds, the light of this place unable to drown out the light of a sky. A living world, and a living entity. Part of it lived above the surface too, but no amount of manipulation could change the idea of this sky to match one of her own. She'd have to be below for that to work.

There's a logic to what she does manifest, the serpentine form of a dragon easier than even Haku's human form. He's a person she's left behind, and one day, some years from now, she's certain they will meet again. He'd promised. She has faith in that promise. It makes it easier to bear him as a memory where the thought of her parents makes her stomach feel small and her chest constrict. He swims around her in the water, going still when she turns to face him, mane and whiskers still in constant motion. Her face falls, and she kicks out, swimming closer, reaching out to touch a memory that stays as still as she can remember him holding in front of Zeniba's cabin. She buries her face against his forehead, letting her tears fall like the saltwater that sheds off her face, dripping off her hair. ]

I'm not going to forget them. [ Her parents, but she doesn't name who. ] How are we going to help them? [ The Emperor and the Dragon. She also doesn't bother naming either. ] It feels so big. Does that ever get easier?

[ It's her memories, and her mind, supplying only questions and silence as answer. The form of the dragon Haku could be simply stayed as he was, watching through green eyes. Solving problems this big felt impossible; but even at the thought, she knows she can't give up. It's her form of determination mingled in with stubbornness, knowing she'll keep trying regardless.

Knowing that while she might be escaping in the moment to a friend in memory, that she has friends and companions to turn to and rely on here, too. It makes it easier to let go, running one hand over Haku's maned face, pulling her head back and rubbing at her eyes. ]

I guess it doesn't matter. I've still got to do everything I can either way.