sticksandbones | Event: Mizuki Quest

Hey ...quick question.

[Dipper has been staring at this tree thing for some time, while the others chat. Yeah, he's here also through a stubborn sheer force of will because multiple people have been lost to this damn band. Like hell would he not go looking for Mizuki the minute it was apparent he was missing. After that "dream" he had, he couldn't help but feel like something was going to happen.]

[The voice of Caerula Arbor kept ringing in the back of his mind.]

[Gnosis brings up a third Secret Thing and something clicks from his chat with Mizuki the other day.]

What happened to the original Firstborn from Mizuki's sect? Out of curiosity. Do any of you guys know?

I have never asked.

[ Unlike the others, Affogato may not be able to do much, but he's here on sheer ire alone. He's staring at the tree like he can combust it with his will. Mizuki is in there somewhere and he's determined to get the one he loves back.

Or not... depending on how long he has been with it. He knows enough about the hivemind to know Mizuki may be lost in it. ]

It was not something he offered and it was not something I wished to pry in to. Yet with what I do know, I can hazard a guess.

[ He reaches down to pat the little heart shaped jar tied to his side, the little seaborne Mizuki gifted him inside, doing it's very best wiggles. ]

[ Joshua, meanwhile, doesn't know enough about the Seaborn to really contribute to the discussion. He doesn't even know all that much about Mizuki, to be honest, other than the fact that Mizuki had been immensely kind and helpful. And now, for him to be missing...

The little Seaborn that he had come across certainly seemed concerned about something, though. It had wanted to go downstairs so badly, but it had been so afraid of the fire. He'd finally had to take it safely through in a pitcher of water in order to find out where it wanted to go, and... well, here he is, in the belly of the beast. Or, at the very least, at the mouth of it, judging by that dark entrance. ]

Whatever it is that's going on, I daresay we're going to have to go in there to find out.

[ He folds his arms, frowning at the darkness thoughtfully. ]

I can light the way. It looks like we're going to need it.

[ Looking up at the not-tree... It's certainly like nothing Jade has ever seen before. Admittedly, he hasn't spoken in-depth with Mizuki about the Seaborn, but he'll be sure to when they find him again. However, the merman, with his extensive knowledge of forests and the like hums in thought. ]

...This Arbor should be in water. It should be at risk of drying out like this, but it's still very much alive. I don't know how, but it's definitely doing so unnaturally... Interesting.

[ He can't say he's made a deep bond with the jelly - yet - but yeah, you'd have to be heartless to not like Mizuki. Jade is also just as determined to find him. Taking out his mage pen, he summons a bit of light onto the gem. Starting to step forward towards the archway with a smile, he looks back to the group. ]

Well then, shall we delve into the unknown and find our missing companion?

I can't say I know anything about the Firstborn. The Seaborn were widely not considered an issue where I'm from, and were you to ask anyone else from Kjerag about them, you'd get a shrug. I'm lucky enough to have access to certain files from Doctor Kal'tsit's laptop — but it contains terabytes of data, and I haven't finished reading all of it.

[And he's mostly interested in medical records and national secrets, oops.

To the others, he nods.]

Is everyone ready to set out? I'll let Joshua take the lead.

[Sesa can't help but feel a certain level of guilt, to be unable to properly answer Dipper's questions. He shouldn't, of course, when Gnosis is the smarter of them and can't easily answer either...especially when Seaborn weren't a problem in Sargon, but. Seaborn or no, Mizuki is his best friend.

Already, he's getting the gnawing insecurities of knowing that he very well may not be of much help, here. He isn't a proficient fighter, and he doesn't like conflict. If it weren't Mizuki...he doubts he would be here at all.]

Yes. I will take up the rear. Should we need to enter combat, my weapon does not handle close-range well.

[ Being in the middle is the best place for him, he knows this. Protected at the front and behind, able to cast what magic he needs without being hindered. But the idea of not being the one in there to be the first thing Mizuki sees rankles in his warped little mind.

Finally he sighs, grips his staff tighter, the metal rods on it jingling softly. ]

I am ready. Let us hurry.

[ Yet there's a growing sense of dread and it's only his love for Mizuki that prevents him from cowering out. ]

[No one is sure, which leaves Dipper to speculate on the situation quietly to himself. Mizuki had mentioned a mentor and people in his church who wanted him in a high position. If something had happened to this Firstborn, could it have a reason to target and hurt Mizuki? Whatever might be going on, Dipper has a bad feeling about it, much like everyone else.]

[He unholsters the Azure Pine and falls back by Sesa.]

Looks like we’ve got mid-to-long range covered. Let’s go.

[with... everything going on, livio hadn't even realized mizuki was missing. the idea that he is who the forest is possibly torturing deep within this tree... well. he'll be glad to remind the bastard that livio is one letter away from livid. tensing and relaxing his muscles to ground himself out of the last dregs of brand-dissociation, he steps up to those near the front.]

I don't got my guns anymore, but I can take a hit straight from hell. Let me be y'all's shield.

[ As a small note, for those of you who'd brought Seaborn with you, or just if you're paying any mind to those around the Arbor, as there are a couple lingering, they all appear to go up to the sides of the Arbor and just start... munching on the sides of it.

Don't internalize that too much. ]

[ Boy those Seaborn sure are just. Doing that. Huh. ]

All right. Livio, if you'd like to come up near me, then. Everyone else, please stick close. My light should illuminate a good amount of space, but the further back you are, the less I can guarantee you'll be able to see well.

[ From the outside looking into the doorway, it's nothing but pitch black darkness. Joshua has seen such hallways before, and there's likely no real chance of it getting any more light in there. He immediately calls a small ball of flame to his hand, setting it to float just above his head and slightly behind, in order to illuminate the path for those stepping in behind him as well as for himself. Drawing his sword, there's not much left for it but to take a step ahead, and take a step he does.

But he doesn't pass into darkness. Rather, the moment he passes through the doorway, the world abruptly lights up around him, and his eyes widen, fingers trembling on the pommel of his sword.

Before him lays the bailey outside of Rosalith Castle, just as he remembers it as a child. Bustling with the activity of the guard, tents set up with carts amidst them, the sun shining brightly on the pens where he'd watched his brother run drills so, so many times. The sweet smell of flowers mixes with the rich, earthy scent of dirt and sun-warmed cobblestones, and the breeze that lightly flutters the banners that hang to either side of the castle gates carries with it the warbles and coos of chocobos at the stables.

It's as if that night never happened... Like the destruction never happened. Like the last eighteen years was all a bad dream, and here he stands, still ten years old, Torgal still a tiny pup in his arms.

Joshua turns back, just enough to glance over his shoulder. The others are still here, visible behind him, standing in the bailey just as he is. Something nags in the back of his mind, that this is wrong, but... no. No, this is right. This perfect, halcyon spring day is exactly where he should be. So, he turns around, scanning the Bailey and then taking off after the form of his brother, of Jill, because they're here waiting for him. ]

[ But to everyone else, the moment that Joshua steps into the darkness, the flame above his head gutters out and the blade clatters from his hand as he crumples to the floor. ]

[ Trying to look around Livio is like trying to look around a stone wall. One that has a very nice ass, yes, but sort of in the way all the same. Even with the ball of fire over head.

But to the clatter of the sword and the thud of a body hitting the ground? He will finally lean enough around Livio to peek.

..........

Gripping the end of his staff he reaches it carefully over the distance and prods at Joshua's foot. ]

Is he dead?

[The moment Joshua collapses, Sesa goes very still. To them, it very much looks like he just...got sniped merely on contact with the entrance. But that doesn't make any sense, why would he-]

No! He can't be-

[Sesa starts forward, then stops just as quickly. What would he be able to do? He's not a healer, as much as he sometimes feels like he'd maybe be better suited as one.]

Someone check on him, quickly!

[ohhh, livio's instinct is definitely to either follow him or grab him, but... if joshua is dead or (hopefully) just incapacitated, he would be the same if he did. won't prevent him from snapping at affo, though.]

Don't just jab him! Does anyone have something to grab him with?

[like, if any part of joshua is sticking out of the "doorway," he'll do it himself! otherwise... anyone got a fishing pole or some shit?]

[ Given that he's probably closer to the front in their little line too, Jade immediately stops the moment Joshua crumples like a piece of aluminum. Peeking around Livio, he looks down. ]

...Oh my. I'll check on him- I'm trained in first aid and some healing magic. In the meantime, please keep a lookout for anything that may be lurking nearby.

[ Because a magic school of boys always has its incidents. Stepping around, he'll put two fingers to Joshua's neck to check for a pulse. ]

[ If Jade is brave enough to risk the darkness that Joshua has collapsed into, he will find that there is, in fact, a pulse. His breathing is even, as well. ]

[ Plays TAPS for Joshua....

When Jade steps over the entrance to get to Joshua's neck, he does not also crumple over. Congrats! Good luck, y'all. ]

[ Absolutely! Having grown up in the ocean, especially in colder, darker climates, the dark is like second nature to him. He'll probably be one of the first whose eyes adjust to it, if there is anything else that could be seen. Also thank the Seven he also doesn't crumple. ]

He's alive, and breathing evenly.

[ Does putting Joshua on his back glean anything? Any weird wounds or markings on his front that show something Hinky happened? Jade will also mutter a little spell to sense if there's magic at play. ]

[well. that's good.

while jade is looking joshua over, and since he hasn't collapsed too, livio is just gonna step to the other side of them. assuming being one foot deeper inside won't knock him out too. he'd rather not take the chance of something jumping out at them. his true calling: meatshield.]

[You guys are fucking disasters.

Gnosis will butt his way up to the front, stopping before Joshua's collapsed form and letting Jade do his thing — and then raise his cane up and cast Ice arts forward into the darkness.

DM does this hit anything—]

[ You hear something squelch inside. ]

[ In the meantime, Jade will be able to tell that Joshua seems to be asleep! ]

[ But he rolled a 19!!!!!!! This does not bode well for the homies.

He's also slightly ignoring the squelching. ]

...He's just asleep, it seems. I suppose the next question is: Will he wake up on his own, or will we also have to do so?

[While all of this has been Happening, Sesa has remained at the back, watching...listening. Staring into the depths of the tree and wondering, just what Joshua might be seeing in there. Because now that they've confirmed he's just sleeping...

Sesa's expression tightens.]

I think we're going to have to go in there. Whatever forces have caused him to faint I doubt are anything he can just wake up so easily from on his own...and everything to do with Seaborn circles back to the mind.

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