Welcome to Gaia! ::

The air is cold when you emerge from the tunnel, and it's as dark as it was when you were making your way here -- no, perhaps not as dark. You still only have the torches you brought with you, but the light seems to carry a little further, illuminate more of the room you find yourself in: which is a good thing, because you soon discover as your eyes adjust that you have emerged into an enormous, cavernous room, lit faintly by an otherworldly glow whose source you cannot quite ascertain. The ceiling is higher than you can see, higher than any ceiling you've walked under in your life. The floor is stone under your feet, cold and dry rather than damp.

There are other people here with you, you can tell immediately. Other, living, breathing, talking people, because they're doing all of these things as they stand around you and emerge from the tunnel after you. They have lights also and are collected into small groups as well. You all freeze when you notice each other, but for a moment or two that seems like a less present concern than where you are --

Your eyes adjust all the way. You're standing in a cavern of grey stone, before you a pair of colossal grey pillars, carved by an unknown architect. They lead into a greater room beyond. The pillars are flanked by stone carvings and unlit braziers, old and ornate.

Before you lies what seems to be a huge, dark, cold stone palace, and you are at the entrance.

Come to think of it, there's something under your feet.

Letters. Huge letters are carved into the floor beneath you, and as you squint to read them all together you discover they read, ancient and massive and silent under your feet:



[This is a Stage 1 puzzle thread for all players in this zone. Everyone may post to enter the thread from their previous Introduction Stage threads before the thread goes live. This portion of Stage 1 is a Meet and Greet period; nothing in this room will do you any harm. As soon as you'd like to move into the live portion of Stage 1, any character may move through the great archway and your stage will go live. On Friday, all threads that are not yet live will go live.

Stage 1 is a puzzle thread necessary to advance to the next part of Tartaros. Characters face a risk of death in this thread, determined by their actions. If a character's choice has led to their death, we will make a GM post informing you and you will be able to write a post describing the character's death, as in Barren Pines. Again, it is mandatory to pass through Stage 1 to advance through Tartaros -- characters who fail to show up for or advance through this thread will also be eliminated.

This stage is set up in a Choose Your Own Adventure format. Except when otherwise indicated, participants will be offered two or more choices to proceed. When posting they must indicate clearly in their post which choice their character is taking. Some posts and puzzles will be more open-ended, or follow a different format: this will be clearly indicated.

This is an activity for the entire group, but characters may choose to or be forced to split up once the stage begins. A 24-hour posting requirement is in place in all puzzle/CYOA threads.

Good roleplaying, common sense and ingenuity will all be rewarded -- leeway may be given at GM discretion to those who roleplay well, but do not expect this to protect foolhardy or suicidal behavior from consequences.

Good luck!]

'Abigail' was covered in grime, her uniform was covered in dirt and grime. A dress and heels weren't exactly the best tunnel crawling attire. Getting through the tunnel had been difficult at times, especially when she had to crawl and use one hand to keep Rufus, the rat hiding down the front of her dress behind a flask, from falling out. But in the end she, Mr. Darrow, and Ian had made it no worse for wear.

When Zanazziite crawled out of the tunnel her violet eyes widened behind her glasses. They went from a cramped space to a giant space. Without thinking she inched closer to Mr. Darrow. She felt safer standing next to the six foot tall librarian. Once she got over the shock of the giant room she realized there were voices and pinpoints of light. People! She heard Mr. Darrow echo her thoughts and smiled up at him. "Maybe they know a way out!" She looked back for Ian and smiled at him as well. "We might get out of here, Ian."

She stepped forwards after Mr. Darrow and nearly fell, managing to catch herself before she hit the ground. Her heel had slipped into another groove. "What is with this place and uneven floors." Heels were definitely a bad choice for this place. Straightening up she shook out her skirts and then looked down inspecting the floor. It looked like words, maybe Latin? She looked up at the older man, maybe he knew what the words were? But he wasn't telling if he did.

Hearing him ask about her (and Ian) she stepped forwards to stand next to him, wrapping her glove covered fingers around his hand. "I'm okay," All of the sudden a rat head poked out the top of her dress with a little squeak and then disappeared again, if you blinked you would've missed it. "And Rufus is okay too." She smiled a bit and glanced from the floor to the people. Which was more important? It didn't take long to decide. "Do you think we should go over there and see who they are?" She looked around for Ian again, wanting to make sure they stuck together.

Their trek through the stony maze had seemed like an eternity, but eventually, all things came to an end-- and a tenebrously lit entrance appeared before the crouching trio. Alcyone before Saiph, Saiph before Sirona; that was the order.

It took a moment for the sailor to take it all in. Sirona had always taken a pleasure in looking at the wonders of architecture, be it the Taj Mahal (a true measure of love), or Sydney's Opera House. Gaping, she stood trying to figure out where the ceiling even ended. Her eyes did not permit an answer to come. Finally, the presence of others-besides her newly-made allies was acknowledged. Her body was in flight-or-fight mode, but as of present, introductions were on the unimportant side of the spectrum.

With brown eyes squinted, Sirona could spot two ashen pillars that could possibly be the entrance to the heart of the puzzle. She was curious at what fertile mind could have created the monochrome landscape before her. Her eyes strayed to her feet, primarily because her big toe hurt- and she wanted to know the reason. But there were letters, words, and Sirona read them out loud. "Sepulchrum Pendragonum." Her voice diminished towards the end, fearing that they held a power of the sort. The only two words that came into mind were pulchritude and dragon.

She'd leave that piece for another to figure out. Finally, she looked back at Alcyone and Saiph, they had been scouring the scenery with their eyes as well. "You guys okay there?" Sirona inquired. Then she thought of the strangers that were in the same situation as they. "Do you think we should go talk to them?"

There had been times in which Alcyone felt that the tunnel was ever-lasting, or a trap that made the trio feel as though they would forever crawl on their knees in the dark and constricted pathway. She had been glad that she forgo her original slab of splintered wood as her weapon for the firepoker, as the latter was easier to hold on to one hand alongside the torch. She had a feeling that the moment she lost her firelight, she'd separate from her group and traverse a more unfortunate scenario.

When the light at the end of the tunnel suddenly blinked into existence, she could hardly believe it. The closer to the mouth of the cave they got the more spacious it became, and by the time the group were on their feet and stretching, they had arrived in their destination, along with a handful of other people she hadn't seen before. This would explain the voices, she thought to herself as she noted that thus far, everyone else wore very little that compared to the bodies she had seen before. Some she'd go as far as being very familiar, the ever-present tiara and ribbons giving their own vague identities away. She felt somewhat safer to see other senshi around.

When her eyes came along the tall and older gentleman, Alcyone felt surprised. She recognized Mr. Darrow from her study-stays at the library, and she couldn't think of a reason as to why he'd be here. She wouldn't be able to greet him as she normally would, thanks to her fuku; but she knew an ally when she saw one and it was best for allies to stay close.

"I'm fine, I suppose, given where we are," She answered quietly to Sirona. "I think it would be a good idea to form some ties with others, yes. The more the merrier, right?" Her phrase sounded unsure, but it was the best she had for now. These people were the first she'd seen alive, and hopefully if they worked together, they'd stay that way.

She began by venturing out towards the group with Mr. Darrow, and stopped a few feet away (they seemed a lot friendlier than the cross-armed senshi and the man with sunglasses). "Hello! ....am I correct in assuming that you all woke up here like we did?"

Ian had tried not to think about the implications of being in a rock tunnel. That there was rock above him, and he had no idea how much. His mind tried to figure, if that trapdoor that they had been unable to open was on ground level, just how far down they were, but his estimate did not make him feel much better. And if the trapdoor was still underground....

Naturally, the opening chamber up ahead, the additional sources of light, gave the boy some feeling of comfort, though. And, as they emerged into the chamber, seeing other people, also to some extent made him feel a bit better. More of them working together, more minds to put together to work towards a solution - it was some source of hope.

His body language did not likely reflect this, though, the way he held the torch in both hands except when he needed a free hand to fix his glasses. The red-haired boy remained quiet and looked around at everyone else who emerged from the tunnel, or who had apparently preceded him and Abigail and Mister Darrow through. And, as he was paying attention to the people a bit moreso than the floor, joined the others of his trio in tripping on the lettering.

Ian laughed weakly, sheepishly, and tried to shrug off the stumble as two other girls approached them ... though they both seemed more focused for the moment on the librarian. By their attire, they looked like the "senshi" he had seen on television and heard about in the papers, but was much more curious about them and less afraid than the reporters had tried to make the general public feel. And if they knew Mister Darrow, that meant they also lived close enough to the library. So there were some other familiar things from home in this strange place.

When he was introduced, the boy smiled shyly and switched the torch to his left hand to offer his right to shake. "Nice to meet you," he said; best to keep with propriety and politeness in spite of the amazing strangeness of the situation.

As the people approached them, which conveniently took the option of them approaching the people off the table, Zan's eyes widened slightly. There were four senshi, or at least they looked to be senshi in their skirts and such, now she really wished she had access to her antlers. Hopefully they wouldn't be able to immediately tell she was a Negaverser, hopefully she'd just come off as a sixteen year old girl that was overdressed for a dungeon crawling expedition.

She was so busy being distracted by the senshi that it took her a moment to notice the very tall black man with purple dreads. When she did the effect was immediate, she dropped Mr. Darrow's hand conflicted. It was General-King Charonite, he was dressed differently, but there was no mistaking those purple dreadlocks and that face. The thoughts ran through her head like a blur, the main one being should she keep up her undercover charade or should she go to the General-King? Swallowing hard she lifted a hand playing with her pearls. There was no code for 'I'm undercover because I don't think I can steal their star seeds and I'm basically helpless without my weapons' but at the moment Zanazziite really wished there was.

Glancing away from her General-King she looked over the senshi again, she'd never seen any of them personally, then again she was fairly new, she'd only been patrolling for a month. She debated whether or not to introduce herself and it seemed liked her decision was made for her when Mr. Darrow gave her fake name. The sixteen year old glanced to Charonite again to gauge his reaction when she was introduced as someone he knew she wasn't. While she thought keeping her cover could be useful she'd move to his side in a second if he demanded it of her. The General-King's wishes came before all else.

She was going to just stand there silently, but she caught Sailor Alcyone's question and felt the need to answer. While she was a senshi, sharing information was probably the only way they'd get out. Looking down to the front of her dress she reached in for the flask. Without the flask there for Rufus to curl up against the rat scurried back up to her shoulder staring at everyone with beady eyes. Holding the flask so everyone could see it the bluenette spoke. "I found this flask, it's full of some kind of oily liquid. And Mr. Darrow found some things." She didn't elaborate, letting Mr. Darrow explain his own finds. Every so often she looked back to Charonite, his presence was making her a slight bit nervous.

Sirona giggled at Saiph's remark and nodded towards Alcyone. It felt foreign to laugh, but at the same time, refreshing. Sirona waved towards her new acquaintances, Anthony, Abigal, Ian, Nemesis and Dude. She shook hands with the red-headed boy, offering him a slight smile, while introducing herself to five new people.

"Sailor Sirona, pleasure to meet you!" As far as she could tell, Nemesis was a senshi, Anthony was a middle-aged man, Ian went to her school. As for Abigal and Dude- they were of their own kind.

For a moment, she paused to stare at the way the blunette eyed the towering man. Did they know each other? She decided not to think too much about it, and turn her attention towards introductions.

Sirona continued with Alcyone's explanation, "Yeah. We were just in a torture chamber, and gathered an improvised weapon or two; but that's all." She nodded towards Saiph.

She eyed the blue-haired girl. Strange attire, but Ji-Yeon knew better then to question anothers' sense of fashion. A flask? She inspected it, questioning the liquid inside. It was probably the same liquid that led them to this place-- a coincidence? Or maybe it was one of those 'Drink Me' bottles like in Alice in Wonderland. Either way, Sirona didn't want anything to do with it.

"Hmm. I guess all of us don't have much of an answer," she concluded. "I can only wonder what that door must lead to..." Sirona speculated.

She then pondered the black-blue haired girl's description. "Haven't seen anyone like him. In fact, you're the only people we've met so far." she frowned with sympathy. She envied the female's courage, and added on, "We'll go with you-- there's strength in numbers."

As Nemesis answered, Tony scuffed his foot on the floor. Damon, he noted, keeping the description in his head. Just what was he going to do if he found the boy? If this girl, who introduced herself as Nemesis or... as a nemesis?, was off looking for this Damon, the chances of Tony crossing paths with her again were slim. Of course, the chance of him finding Damon at all were slim, so he didn't have to worry too much. He would just keep an eye out.

"...Dude?" he said, before clearing his throat.

"The torture chamber?" his attention snapped to the three senshi nearby, "Good heavens. And I thought waking up next to a chained up dead guy was bad. We passed by some torture chambers as we were on our way here, but I'll admit I didn't take the time to peek at them." He blushed a bit, feeling cowardly for that. He didn't see how he could be blamed for it, though, considering.

He smiled a greeting to Saiph and Sirona, trying to keep all the names straight in his head. He would certainly forget them, but he would do his best. At her question he shook his head slowly, though Abigail fielded it.

Then he remembered his map.

"Oh, I have this," he said dumbly, only after being cued by Abigail and then addressed directly by 'Dude'. He took the letter from his pocket, and presented the map. "I-It's a map. And there's a letter from one Lord Johannes Benedictus, Warden here, murdered by the guards in some kind of rebellion. I've got his letter, which he wrote while he was dying. Man of King Arthur."

It seemed like a good idea to compare notes, and see if they could come up with some kind of escape plan all together. The bigger the group, the better, he thought: safety in numbers. He was going on the dangerous assumption that they were all playing on the same team, but he simple could not fathom what kind of trap could be further sprung on them when they were already vulnerable and confused.

"Ah, wait a minute, you want to head out there? We've had quite the issue with finding doors that actually open, and when they do it's all been... very strange. I wonder if pillars are nicer..." He looked down at his map, as if it might tell them what was out there, but since this tunnel was certainly not on it, he imagined it was past its usefulness. "I mean, I'm very much for getting the hell out of this prison, and if we're going as a group that would be best. It wouldn't do, ah, Miss Nemesis, anyone any good if you went out there alone. If it's dangerous, I doubt you'll find Damon. Mister, uh, Dude... and Miss Sirona are right."