[METAPLOT] Treasure Trove (Squires' Finale - Part 4)

[Guardian_Iris]

All around the expansive darkness tiny little "peaks" and islands light up like light bulbs one by one, slow at first, then all at once. There were at least 25 of them. Some just looked like mountain peaks, some small islands as well larger ones. Each looking as safe as the one they were standing on.

((We are now assuming all pae are down on the small island.))  

[Antidia]

The islands sparking to life caught Alethea's eye. She stood slowly and stared directly at the island closest to them.

"Guys.... uhm, I think you need to see this," Her voice was low and ominous. She'd not even heard Genesis sputter to life. Not like she was expecting it or anything.

A beautiful young lady stood in the middle with a small child clinging to her side, looking pitiful and cold. Had they found more missing pae?  

[Teigra]

Eligor shot a grateful look towards Katya and waited to see the two ladies safely off the platform and descending below before he turned to the last hang-up. He could easily fly down himself, but time was running out for Kurt and the unconscious other draped over his shoulder. The mist crept closer, but now the fool was over there tossing stones off the edge. Okay, perhaps there was some sort of logic to his actions, but at this point, Eligor didn't have the patience to try and look for any hint of capability in the adult.

Honestly, he should just leave them there. Let the darkness take them. It would serve them right. For all the cost to save them, Eligor failed to see any way that these two could possibly be worth it all. Perhaps this was all just a mistake. All this for naught, all their losses...

Impatience and irritation grew to become something darker swirling in his mind. These two were worthless. They'd proven to be absolutely no help, despite the fact they should know this place best. They weren't worth the life of one Squire, let alone several. He would probably be doing them all a favor if he left them here to die. At least maybe the rest of them would make it safely out of here without these two costing them more lives!

The mage's knuckles paled from the force with which he gripped his staff as he unfurled his wings to prepare for take-off. The mist was closing in around them, their final minutes of safety shrinking to mere seconds. He took to the air with several powerful beats of his leathery wings, hovering briefly as he entertained a thought.

They could be rid of the dead weight here. Nothing they could do if the fools didn't value their own lives enough to save themselves, after all. It would make their own escape from this hellish place so much easier. He glanced downward at his companions below, then the lights swirling the water. It would be so easy to explain...

A few powerful downward thrusts with his wings gave Eligor some altitude before he looped back around and dove, taking careful aim and bracing himself for high speed impact. He needed the inertia. He dove low, adrenaline spiking at seeing the ground rise up so swiftly and so close, but he aimed his aerial shoulder strike for below Kurt's center of gravity to push him forward off the edge of the platform. The impact was solid and he only managed to keep himself in the air due to his preparation and as he re-stabilized and soared away from the platform, he called out loudly, "Look out below!" Kurt really should be thankful he was willing to put this much effort into saving him. He wouldn't be doing so again after this. And he was even considerate enough to have taken a glance and directed his shove towards a section of water with fewer lights below. Kurt should be grateful; but Eligor knew he wouldn't be.

The way he saw it, this was the last effort he was willing to put forth towards saving the useless fool. If he lived, fine, must be the Guardians' will. If he didn't? Well...

...the mage would lose little sleep over it once he and the rest of his companions got out of here safely as a result.

Having cleared the platform, the demon lashed his tail to change trajectory and began spiraling down towards the others below. His gaze was drifting over the shifting lights as the other small islands began to light up and the view began to clear. Relief washed over him at seeing Genesis stir, but the appearance of the two strangers on another jet of land swiftly stole his attention. His gaze narrowed suspiciously. More strange Pae who seemed in need of help? Didn't they have enough dead weight already hindering their progress?  

[Doof]

When Genesis sat up, it almost felt like light was flooding back into Katya's world around her and she sighed heavily out of relief.

No, wait, it was definitely getting lighter all about them.

At Genesis' question, Katya backed up a few steps towards her and replied in a nervous, soft voice "No, no I think we're all fine." She looked down to her comrade and extended a free hand to her, offering an assist back to her feet. "Glad to see you are, too." She glanced over to Genesis' side, encouraged by the apparently healed skin there, even if there were still streaks of blood all around it.

Before she could help Genesis to her feet however, an almighty splash nearby had Katya reflexively jerking backwards, torch held aloft, wings spread and tail swinging out and upwards. What in the world? Movement above caught her eye and she saw Eligor winging his way down, which just left...

...The rescuees.

That's when Alethea pointed out the two pae an island over from them. For real? They couldn't realistically protect the charges they already had, much less new ones. How could they have survived down here for so long, anyway?

Katya looked to the newly appeared duo, then to Kurt and Cria. Were they even trying to stay afloat? She cursed again. It was obvious who needed attention more immediately. She drew Genesis' sword from the straps of her pack and deftly flipped it in her hand so the she could press its grip into its owner's hand. "You dropped this." At the same time she drove the handle of the torch into the soft, damp earth, letting it stand there as a feeble source of light and freeing up both of her hands. She would likely need them.

Three steps forwards and a single wing-beat had her airborne again, cautiously gliding to Kurt and Cria. She initially grabbed them with a hand each, trying to power through the air while dragging them through the water, but this was too much to ask even for her. She wobbled to a halt in mid-air, then rather ungracefully splashed into the water just behind the two near-unresponsive pae. The water was bitingly cold, putrid-smelling and even foul to the spirit, it seemed. Now she was trying to swim backwards with each arm wrapped around a fully grown adult. Even with her huge wings and strong legs propelling her through the water, it took several long moments for her to cross the short distance to land. There she simply let the two of them go on the banks, rolling over to stand, but only managing to get to all-fours. head bowed down as she sucked in lungful after lungful of air, trying to recover. No, this wasn't a job for a tiny demon like herself. But this was one of the many things she didn't imagine she'd have to do in this surreal dungeon.  

[Guardian_Iris]

When Kurt and "Cria" touched the bank of the island, the soil shifted becoming loose and gravely. If the squires look closely, the ground no longer resembles a little island suitable to safely regroup.

They find themselves standing on various coins, jewels and golden relics. These are rarities among the Pae, as mining the ore for such luxury items is an uncommon profession, as are the crafters able to manipulate such a substance. Among the valuables are old goblets, jewelry and personal items. There are weapons and armor, and all things made from gold. The coins bare the faces of pae. Perhaps a pair of them are familiar to the young squires. Bejeweled cases and little boxes lay open to display the ornaments inside. This is such a grand collection of wealth! The treasures roll into the water and reveal to the squires that they standing atop a humongous hoard of treasure.

"Over here!" the young woman and little girl call out. They wave from their little island. The floating platform which they appear to be standing on looks firm.

But so do many of the other platforms.

The lights in the water grow nearer.

They have to do something or risk sinking into the tainted water and coming face to face with whatever has come to greet them.  

[Wolfs Heart]

"My thanks," Genesis responded to Katya as she accepted her assist in getting up. She found it strange that she was the only one who had gotten injured. If it had been an ambush, why had no one else seen anything? Were they being picked off one by one? Where had Kurt been when this had happened... but everything was growing muddy in her mind, nothing else mattered when the pain had overtaken her. Genesis narrowed her eyes. Something didn't feel right, and it wasn't just her confusion over what had happened to her. Whatever it was, it was going to have to wait until they found safety, if they ever found safety.

Her eyes followed where everyone else was staring at the other pae across the water, she instantly grew suspicious and all too gladly accepted her sword back with a firm nod, thinking she was going to need it. Still gathering her bearings it took Genesis a moment to realize what Katya was doing and she rushed to the shore to help Katya get the grown pae the rest of the way onto the island, staring warily at the lights as she did so.

Only for a moment though as the noticed the appearance of the island shift. This was all too reminiscent of the owl room, and the losses there still stung. "Don't touch anything." Genesis warned. The sense of dread in her gut was telling her they needed to get off this platform, but as she looked at the pae beckoning them closer, they seemed like a mirage drawing them closer to death. There were other platforms though, but if they weren't a mirage could Genesis live with the guilt of not saving them... She looked at the others, "I think we need to move..." Easier said than done, there was 3 among them that needed to be carried on.  

[FA Mysteries]

Darkness surrounds Dante. The low glow of each little island faded away, as did each of his comrades.

 

[FA Mysteries]

The darkness surrounding Dante starts to close in on him. He can't see the others. Their voices fade away but new whispers surround him.

"Poor silent wittle boy can't talk. However, will they find you?" came a voice from within the darkness.

"What ever will he do?" Came another voice.

"Can we keep him?" A child-like voice whispered so close it could have been right next to him.  

[EvilSilverDragon]

Something, from somewhere in the back of his head, sparked to life. His voice came out with oddly shifting volume, "Trap!" After swallowing whatever was stuck in his throat he spoke again, "Those aren't what they seem. Trap." His warning had a ghost of life to them but even the memories of his capture trauma couldn't truly liven up his voice.

Even with all they did to keep him alive, there wasn't any feeling towards any of them to spur more than a warning.  

[Menelie]

Dante leapt to his feet as Genesis came around. He felt a huge rush of adrenaline--his first real rescue! He'd done it! He might have done a little jig if not for the, y'know, real suspicious situation they were all in.

Dante ran a hand through his hair and took out his staff. He was leaning on it a bit more than usual--the healing and the rescue breaths had really taken it out of him. But the little girl caught his attention, and sent a pang through his heart. No child deserved to be down here. He straightened up, drawing from what reserves he had and preparing to follow the group.

Only, the group began to fade away. Actually, everything began to fade away. Slightly panicked, Dante whipped his head back and forth. What was happening? Had his sight been taken as well? He waved a hand over his head to try and get someone's attention, and signed "I can't see!", hoping someone would notice and come to his aid.

And then the voices started. Oh. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck and his forearms bristle. There was something else going on here. Dante tried to ignore the taunts. They sounded like childish bullies. At the very least he wasn't going to respond to them.

He gripped his staff with both hands and tried to get his bearings. He used the bottom of the staff to poke along the ground. Was he in the same place, or had he been transported somewhere? The ground felt the same under his feet, but if pressed he wasn't sure he could have described what the ground had felt like before, so he couldn't know for sure. He wondered if there was water nearby. He listened for the sound of it. He inhaled deeply, searching for that unmistakable odor that had assaulted them as they'd entered this space.

Guardians, protect me. Give me strength to persevere and to overcome. Give me your Light in this darkness and show your might through me.  

[FA Mysteries]

The same rotten salty sea air penetrated through the darkness. The whispering continued, but the voices muffled and faded away.

Hands crept up, grabbing at Dante's feet, trying to pull him down.  

[FA Mysteries]

When Alethea turns to her comrades, she will find them all gone!

The pair of stranded pae on the island across from the squires smile a big sharp toothy smile before diving into the water.

To the other squires, Dante and now Alethea have disappeared.  

[Doof]

Katya dropped her backside onto her ankles, heel sitting upon the damp ground with her tail and wings splayed limply about her. Now she finally unhitched her large, sodden pack, its dead weight having almost drowned her alongside the other two pae she’d just dragged out of the drink. At this point she assumed what provisions were left would be spoiled by the questionable water and most of the other items in there would be ruined or useless.

As her breath steadied, Katya finally began to take note of her surroundings again. Was she supposed to help the pair that Alethea saw on the other island now? She was near spent (and was convinced that they weren’t all they seemed) so she figured the best she could do was what she was always supposed to do- scout it out. Then, one of the others might be able to deal with it.

Well. Maybe not Alethea. She couldn’t exactly just fly over there. Where was she anyway?

The young squire shakily got to her feet and cast her gaze around. Wait. Where was Dante?

Somehow, she still had some adrenaline left and it kicked in right on cue. “Dante?” Her voice rose half an octave, betraying her anxiety. Had he already gone to help? No, Not without a translator he wouldn’t. “Dante? Where are you?” Katya repeated more urgently. She paced over to where he had been moments earlier, trying to find some sign of him but the pile of treasure they now stood upon didn’t yield any footprints.
 

[Antidia]

"Guys, what should we do about that?" She pointed at the pair on the island across from them.

They pointed back.

Why did that send a shiver down her spine?

The ground beneath Alethea's feet started to give, and she fell backward landing on her butt with a thud. The coins sank beneath her and she turned to crawl up and stretch a hand towards her comrades for aid. "Guys? Where..." They were gone. Not any trace that there even was a small group of pae standing behind her. "Oh no... oh no, oh no, oh no, this isn't happening!" She tried to get on her knees but sank further, struggling to stand.

She managed to get towards the center of the crumbling island, where it was a little more solid, to stand up. She put her arms out to balance herself and curse her stupid self for breaking her other wing.

"How am I going to get out of here?"

She was trapped on a sinking pile of treasure in a cavern full of water, and she couldn't fly. Great.  

[FA Mysteries]

The ground beneath Lailah's feet gives out, dropping her into the water.

To the others, Lailah fades away.