escordvi | << july open log: into the abyss >>

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<< july open log: into the abyss >>

This is our Open Log for players to have an easy opportunity to tag others and have fun with prompts that deal with current happenings that are not covered by our MANTA Board quests. Sometimes we provide extra quests at the bottom, but oftentimes we just let the MANTA Board cover it. Players are free to include MANTA Board quests in their toplevels!

ALL THREADS CAN COUNT 6PTS.

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada Choice.

TOPLEVEL DIRECTORY (Updated July 17)

LEVEL ONE

A strange island seemingly appearing overnight can be seen on the horizon very close to Latrommi. The island is extremely large and is surrounded by tall dangerous mountain ranges which will make it hard to dock and explore further. But if crews and explorers can make it through and over the mountains they will find a massive deep crater in the center of the island that looks so deep it looks as though they're looking into a dark endless abyss.

Mysterious as it is, adventure, vast treasures, and perhaps other important relics and information can be found, making the journey a worthwhile one. However, word will eventually spread as early explorers warn of thick, poisonous gasses that worsen the further they descend, so caution will be needed and better preparation taken as everyone learns more about the abyss.

Travelling down into level one of the abyss seems safe enough. There are old abandoned hemp ropes, wooden bridges and pathways that spiral downward towards the middle, making it easy enough to get down to the jagged ground, rocky cliffs and grassy plateaus below. This level is illuminated by strange balls of bright sun-like energy in the air that follow travellers around for hours. So despite it being a part of the abyss, it is very well-lit and almost sunny to explore. And while this level doesn’t seem dangerous, spending too much time on this level will have explorers experiencing mild dizziness, because a strange abyss sickness will start to seep into travellers…

🍃 Leafy dragonlings. This level is overrun with tiny baby dragonlings that have mastered the art of looking like tree leaves. They are hard to see and often camouflage into the surrounding trees and brush. But they are mischievous little things that want to bite and snap at travellers. Be careful dodging them or they might try and knick a finger off.

💧 Steamy waterfalls. Some beautiful waterfalls can be found that pool nice hot steamy water at the bottom of them. These waterfalls are incredibly relaxing to enjoy, although the longer someone might spend in the hot water, the hotter they will feel. The hot water tends to make people feel particularly heated or aroused. So be careful if sitting in the hot water with another person. Or enjoy!!

🕰️ Platform jumping. With all of the ropes and old wooden platforms littering the cliffs and plateaus, it might be a fun challenge to test one's climbing and jumping skills by hopping from one rickety platform to another. Just be careful because if something breaks from under them, they'll be falling for quite some time…

🔸Ruby dust. Strange pockets of fine ruby dust can be found all over the ground and embedded in the mountainous walls. The ruby dust is hard to collect since it’s so fine. Yet, it is warm to the touch and might be valuable if one can collect it somehow. Beware: if any ruby dust is inhaled, it might induce some terrible migraines.

🍄 Mushrooms. Huge mushrooms can be found all over the place. So huge that they can be climbed on or used to make giant hats. None of them are particularly tasty to eat and if they are eaten raw, they’ll more than likely give people a nasty stomach ache. With the proper preparation and cooking, these mushrooms make excellent medicinal and herbal soups. Try making camp and cooking with them. Just add the right seasonings to make it taste decent.

LEVEL TWO

Level two of the abyss doesn’t seem much like an abyss. Descend far enough down and travellers will find themselves in the thick of a giant forest heavy with massive plants, flowers, and bushes. This level is completely overrun with wild bioluminescent plant life that might make it very difficult to traverse. It is full of glowing exotic plant life including strangling figs, hanging vines, and abnormally coloured cacti. It might be handy to keep a sharp weapon to cut the plants down to size. The biggest areas to note on this level of the abyss are two very large flower fields that look frighteningly similar. Spending prolonged amounts of time on this level will induce nausea, headaches and numbness of the extremities. It seems that the abyss sickness is heavier and noticeable here… But one can still continue.

🌼 Flowers of fortitude. These delicate teal-coloured flowers are often called Life Flowers and breathing in their pollen and scent will cure people of their ailments. If anyone has any injuries or illnesses from coming this far, the flower pollen will do wonders in easing any pain or clearing any nausea. They are natural painkillers, and they might be useful to collect to ease the coming effects of the abyss sickness.

🌼 Eternal fortunes. These delicate blue-coloured flowers are often called Death Flowers, breathing in their pollen and scent will likely kill a person. They look awfully similar to healing flowers found in the area so travellers should be careful when testing each. Inhaling the pollen will aggravate and inflame current injuries as well as accelerate the effects of the abyss sickness. However, could there be a better use for such dangerous flowers?

🌿 Herb-of-grace. Another powerful herb can be found at this level that might be useful to collect. The well-sought-after “Herb-of-Grace” that can be used to cure powerful petrifaction. But the special herb is guarded by a Froghemoth, a huge amphibian-like giant with long tentacles and webbed feet, that will fight tooth and tentacle to keep the herbs all to themselves.

🌲 Upside down trees. There are many trees here that have somehow grown upside down. The leaves and branches are connected to the ground while the massive roots grow out of control and reach for the higher level of the abyss, and it’s as if the roots are reaching for the sun and sky. Try exploring the roots by climbing them or hacking some of them away to collect,and perhaps see what happens if they are planted outside of the abyss. If they are planted outside, the roots will grow rapidly towards the sun too, but no leaves or branches will sprout, and they will start growing strange glowing pear-like fruits, too…

🌸 Pretty pollen. Many of the plants down here have strange side effects if they are inhaled or consumed. One notable thing is the pretty pink pollen fluff that floats in the air. The pollen can make the nose itch, but it also makes travellers feel warm and lightheaded, and they will feel pleasantly dazed and euphoric. All their troubles will just float away…

LEVEL THREE

Deeper still, the third level proves to be a bit of an outlier to the rest of the dark abyss. A large rustic village can be found here that is surrounded by a forest and rocks. The village is made up of several small wooden homes made of roots and animal bone all interconnecting with planks and rope bridges. It's a quiet place, littered with carvings and paintings of giant whales on many walls too, hinting at a cute and deep love for them. Half the village seems empty but there are many old rooms to rest in. And there are some small, mute knee-height village folk living here that will happily provide medical care, food and washing rooms for free, and they will offer everyone hot baths in wooden tubs as well as provide dry clean clothing. This Is a nice place to call a checkpoint and a resting area.

🎁 Trinket trading. The residents here may not be able to talk, but they do offer some great trades for small trinkets and talismans that might stave off the later levels of the abyss sickness. People can trade something valuable that they own to them and they will provide a protective item in return, but there are no tradebacks! Also, everyone should be careful with what they trade because some of the village folk might try and swindle them!

🥩 Monster eats. Seeing as this is the abyss, there aren’t many conventional ways to raise food and eat typical meats here. The village folk provide charcuterie boards of strange-looking meats that have been cooked for everyone to enjoy, but the meats are all monster bits—barbequed insect legs, roasted beast paws, slices of marinated green and blue steaks, huge pieces of deep-fried tentacles, plates of multicoloured eyeballs in sauce, bowls of bizarre monster eggs and more…

🥕 Plant vegetables. Despite the plates of monster meat, people might have a chance to help the locals plant some actual normal food. They have several wooden garden boxes that have been set up in an attempt to grow fresh vegetables. Help them by planting purple carrots, pink yams, eldritch potatoes and other crops in hopes that they can flourish down here and help diversify the local cuisine. And maybe help one's stomach in the process!

🚪 Building up. The village is also extremely run down. In return for being so hospitable, travellers are encouraged to help the village by restoring old buildings, building new rooms and reinforcing the wooden structures already built down here. Perhaps they will find a dusty relic or two while helping out?

🔥 Bonfires. Has anyone noticed that there are little to no abyss sickness effects on this level? It might be because of the village and their ability to stave off the sickness using various bonfires lit all around the area. The bonfires are cozy and relaxing, and permit the village to live without fear of getting sick. Take a rest next to a bonfire, ease the abyss sickness and share stories and plans for the levels to come.

LEVEL FOUR

Once they have rested and wish to brave the deeper levels of the abyss, level four proves to be a very challenging area. This area is dim, musty and little grows here besides resilient weeds and grass. There are a few reservoirs of water to be found but the rocky and dead ground leaves little to be desired. Luckily, it is dimly lit on this level with some moon-like balls of energy that float overhead. Because of the emptiness, it leaves this level prowling with dangerous creatures that are extremely hungry and bored. Spending time on this level will induce intense pain and bleeding throughout the body. So, it is recommended that people only venture this far if they are well-equipped and prepared for the trip.

🧛 Vampires. Vampires! Humanoid creatures that stalk the darkness looking for victims with supple necks to bite into and drink from. Vampires stalk level four of the abyss as if it is their domain, confident and ready to hunt for a taste of blood. Yet… There is something very strange about these vampires. Their limbs are too long, their fingers nearly dragging across the ground and their legs are gangly and bent the wrong way… If someone is bitten or scratched by one of these creatures, they will be inflicted with vampirism. They will grow fangs, their eyes will turn red, and they will gain an insatiable thirst for blood. The only grace is they won’t grow longer limbs. Escaping the abyss and seeing the sun will be the only way to cure this vampirism, but maybe they can manage their vampirism and continue on?

👁️ Eye of the beholder. A giant floating eyeball with four fanged tentacles prowls this level of the abyss. It has a massive mouth filled with hundreds of slimy teeth and is terribly hungry. It will hunt down anything that moves, using its large sharp tentacles to grab its prey and rip it apart to eat. To slow down its potential snacks, the giant eye has the ability to turn creatures to stone with direct eye contact, as well. Anyone running or battling this creature should avoid direct eye contact with its giant void-like pupil.

🐑 Creature burrows. There are big creepy holes of all sizes that can be found all through this level. The holes are filled with dusty roots and soft materials such as bird feathers, animal fur, ripped cloth or dried grass, and it appears that some sort of creature lives inside these burrows. Those who are brave enough can try blindly sticking their hand inside one of these burrows to see what they can find. They might touch something soft? Or something scaly? Something slimy…? If they can get over whatever they feel, they might be able to pull out rare monster eggs that are both delicious and fetch a good price back on the surface.

🗳️ Boxed in. Walking along, people might suddenly find themselves falling into a random pit with whoever they are travelling with, and people will find themselves suddenly boxed into a tight space in the ground. It’s dark inside, but just light enough to be able to make out their companion’s features. No one will be sure if this is a creature that has swallowed them up whole or if this is a hallucination, but being boxed in together does do one thing. The effects of the sickness still hurt, but being tightly close to another warm body seems to ease the pain, and they will feel rested inside of this cramped space. Stay as long as one needs to, and rest and cuddle up tight with their companion. Or try to wiggle out and escape.

🧰 Treasure gacha. Finding relics and treasure on any level is possible, but level four proves to be rich for treasure farming. There are so many hidden chests and buried caches to find in the ground. Comment below in the designated toplevel for the mods to roll to see what kind of treasure they might find buried here. What they find will be entirely randomised and there are no promises if the relic or treasure found will be useful or not. But keep digging!

LEVEL FIVE

Entering the deepest parts of the Abyss will be the darkest challenge yet. This level appears to be one massive stone labyrinth-like maze that is covered with clouds of thick fog and hazy, smoky ash. The massive walls of the maze tunnels are old and cracked and bits of glowing fungus and thorny moss grow across the cracked stone, and the ground is uneven, littered with heavy dead roots and jagged stones. The darkness is so heavy and threatening here that one can almost feel it weighing on their shoulders. Like the other levels, the abyss sickness grows stronger here and prolonged time on this level will challenge explorers with hallucinations, blindness, deafness or the loss of all feeling. This level plays tricks on the mind and steals the senses everyone has always relied on… Should they keep going? Or return home?

😱 Hallucinations. A bitter white fog permeates through this level, clouding over the top of the maze and flooding through the tunnels. It is heavy and when inhaled, it burns the nose and eyes. Getting the fog inside the lungs will bring about terrible hallucinations of one's deepest fears. They will see them come to life before their very eyes, and these hallucinations will seem so real that they feel like they could reach out and touch them. Worse still, if they are with someone, they will be able to see the same hallucinations. Whatever one is scared of, they’ll see too. Beware whatever it is, be it dogs, cats, drowning, darkness, spiders, people in costumes, being naked in front of a crowd or more…

🌘 Maze tunnels. Exploring downward through the maze tunnels is tricky. As explorers move, they will find that some of their senses will start to fade or numb. The more they explore, the more their senses will fail. Eventually, they may find themselves without their sense of hearing, sight, touch, smell or taste. Maybe one sense will fail completely, or maybe a few of them. It will make escaping or exploring the maze tunnels that much more difficult, especially if they lose the sense that they rely on most.

💎 Elemental gemstones. Just like the rest of the abyss, there is great treasure to find down below. The maze is rich with elemental deposits that glitter and glow, and beautiful gemstones are embedded in the walls and ground that are ripe for harvesting: rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and all kinds of other gemstones. What makes them special is that all of these glittering gemstones seem to pulsate with some sort of elemental energy too. Travellers should do their best to harvest fire rubies, ice diamonds, water sapphires and more… They could be incredibly useful for power sources, magitech upgrades or fitting a ship with elemental components. What a find!

LEVEL SIX

The deepest and most dangerous level of the abyss. The abyss sickness is the worst here and explorers will experience a deep loss of their humanity or even death. This place is colourless and lifeless and everything seems black or in grayscale; it looks like ash or snow is falling from a “sky” that doesn’t exist. The pathways and tunnels here are barren and empty and nothing grows. Strangely enough, broken ships can be found down here as if this used to be where oceans flowed, now abandoned, broken and dry. Few people will be able to reach this level without several trips into the abyss to build up resistance to the abyss sickness. Only those with the most mental fortitude and physical strength should attempt to explore this final floor.

There will be easy to find teleporters that glow a soft purplish color and have what look like wave like squiggle lines on the stone base. Stepping onto it will let them choose to either return to the village (Level Three) or the entrance of the Abyss.

Good luck...

👻 Heliobi. Energy-sucking ghost-like parasites float around this level. They take root in a host’s nervous system and slowly feed on their emotions and energy. They will use the host’s deepest darkest desires to create wild delusions and manipulate the host like a chess piece. The host has no choice but to obey and is possessed. If left long enough, the host will no longer be who they once were and will be exhausted by the heliobi. To stop these creatures, an “evil binding matrix relic” will be needed to imprison the abominations. Perhaps they can find an old one abandoned somewhere, or maybe one of the village folk gave them one.

🍳 Mirrors. Odd floating crystal mirrors appear out of nowhere, unsuspended, and seemingly floating about like they’re alive. If someone looks into them, they will find a perfect mirror image of themselves. However, there is something uncanny about the reflection: it looks … too happy. The longer they look, the more they will feel… happy. The reflection will make promises to them about how happy they will be if they stay here, and not return to their former world, or their life on the surface. They will slowly be convinced to stay here forever, unless someone can break them away from the mirror.

💀 Undead Sharkenbear. Be careful of the massive undead creature prowling around. This creature is the size of a house and looks to be part bear and part shark. It has the huge, hulking body of a grizzly bear while sporting sharp-toothed shark heads for arms. It’s rotting, drooling, and hungry for blood and will attack if it picks up a scent. Luckily, its bear head is completely blind, but that doesn’t mean the shark arms can’t see anyone… Explorers should be careful if they pick a fight!

⬛ Ancient tablets. Scattered throughout this level are rusty ancient “tablets” that can be found buried in the ground or hidden away in or under old broken debris. These tablets appear to be made of a thin sheet of metal and have odd holes punched through them. No one knows what these thin card-like tablets are for, but they could be important. Collect them and bring them to the surface to be researched…

🪑 Bench. There is a single bench. It is abandoned and lonely. No one is sure how this bench got here, but it seems like the final destination. The end of it all. The place to sit and rest your weary feet. Congratulations. They have reached the end of the abyss. How do they feel?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Level One

At The Precipice 🧭
[Really, the travel had not been that difficult- mostly because Turo had the large Miraidon with him. The paradox pokémon could travel just about any terrain, and seemed rather eager to show just that; a reason there'd been little issue in helping others along the way.

Now? Well, now Turo stood just at the abyssal crater's edge with a hand rested there on the Pokémon's neck; staring downwards. All too familiar and strange all at once, the first time he had been on this end of it all—]

At least we know that we are well equipped for this endeavor- right, Miraidon?

[A sort of electronic trill came from the large creature. Turo took a deep breath before he was hoisting himself up onto the creature's back once more.]

Well then, vamos—

[Catch a ride?]

Leafy Dragonlings & Ruby Dust
🐉
[An initial run-in with the camouflaged dragonlings had nearly caused Miraidon to toss Turo off it's back- given how quickly the pokémon had moved at a few of them trying to snap at them in passing and Miraidon quick to snarl; it was the bigger badder thing! Respect them!

... Which honestly ended up with a situation of Turo standing with several of the leafy dragonlings clinging to his lab coat as they ate little snacks, one wrapped around his hand with it's own so he could get a better look.]

I do wonder if that jaw strength increases as you grow...

[Miraidon, too, was appeased by a much larger and sandwich-shaped snack nearby.]

🔶
[Turo was standing at an outcropping of where the ground was pushed up along the path, fingertips carefully running along a pocket within the stone- and coming away covered in glittering red dust. Rubbing fingertips together, gathering it up as his head tipped.]

Fascinating.

[Scientist gon' scientist, and collect what he could.]

Level Two

Flowers of Fortitude 🌼
[Turo's leather satchel had been carefully set nearby him, propped open, and a few different specimen containers were spread with a few lidded. Each contained something of the teal-colored flowers; including some soil samples that could be transferred to a pot at some later time if necessary.

Better to attempt growing them back at the Phantom Moon, right? Even some flowers still safely within soil was in one of those containers.

Currently he held a vial in hand, a mix of pollen and a solution in hand as he slowly twirled it to mix- and the solution turned into a glimmering teal color-]

Oh, I may need to set up nearby and see what I can put together in the field-- Ah, please watch your step! The pollen these flowers produce are potent, but at least medicinal.

[... he's going to be going to collect those Eternal Fortunes soon enough. Very carefully.]

Herb-of-Grace 🌿🐸

Watch your feet!

[The only warning before a large tentacle slammed into the ground, shaking the earth from impact alone. Darting by was Iron Valiant, making a show of cutting into that tentacle with a slice of it's polearm-like weapon to draw attention of the Froghemoth. Those glowing pink LED eyes focused.

... there was also a smaller metallic creature that seemed to be speed-skating on patches of frozen ground, spreading that ice to keep the Froghemoth stuck to one place and slow it down somewhat. Iron Bundle even jumping here and there.

Turo was holding on to Miraidon, using the Iron Serpent's speed and agility to also help keep himself on the move- he nearly had his hand on that herb!]

Level Five

Maze Tunnel Elemental Gemstones 💎🌘
[Turo had continued to push downwards, and for the time being the paradox pokémon were safely in their pokéballs- and those within their place in the pocket of his lab coat.

The maze was interesting- but what interested Turo more were the various gemstones he spotted, how they seemed to have their own energy. Closer inspection brought to him similiaries to the elemental crystals, but different.

Which was why that at any point within the maze Turo could be found carefully digging out various gems with an odd spoon he had found on a higher level. Just a bit of force and it sunk right through stone and allowed for him to extract a rather interesting emerald. He already had various other gems in his bag, but these were worth collecting- the things that could be done with careful refinement. Well worth pushing this far.]

--This could be just what I needed. [Speaking to himself, perched on that strange bit of crystal he had formed up to reach where he was on the wall.]

Level Six

Ancient Tablets ⬛
[... He had been wary, but pushing through- well.

There was the sound of stone cracking, overturning, and Turo was the source of it as he was kneeled down and digging. Could be a trick of the level, but there was a clear teal glow and color to the irises of his eyes; the whites had even gone black. Scanning the area as he pried up a thin metal sheet, holding it up for a better look-]

Could be something Moon Supreme would be interested in- perhaps Emet-Selch as well, and G'raha.

[-but how many had he found by now?]

B e n c h ❚══❚
[... It could be considered funny, correct? A sign that so many could recognize, simple in design.

His head tilted back, resting there, as Turo had settled on the bench with a heavy leather satchel set there at one side. Eyes closed and so very eerily still.

This... this was fine.]

Wildcard! 🃏
[Bring your own starter! Feel free to remix something above, or bring something for a prompt/Level not here. Can catch me in the game's Discord server or PM if you want something specific or to just check something.]

[Turo has managed to somewhat appease the dragonlings with snacks. Meanwhile Agatha is over here trying to very gently untangle one of the dragonlings from her hair.]

Bigger?

[She glances Miraidon's way now. It wasn't related to the dragonlings though, logic told her at least that much.]

Edited 2024-07-09 22:47 (UTC)

Oh yes- these are young, which is not uncommon given how well they can blend into places they choose to hide. [Very careful to keep fingers away from the mouth of the one clinging to his hand- rather it keep to that snack than have to deal with

possibly explaining why he didn't bleed if bitten.

Still, there was a cheerful sort of faint smile there as Turo spoke and Miraidon's LED eyes seemed to roll.]

The jaw-strength had now could be defense they have learned is also 'fun' for them, or their practicing for control as they get older and grow.

[Ah, Agatha seems to get what he means. She grins just a little at the way Miraidon's eyes seem to roll though.]

Makes sense. My cat loved chewing on things when he was little too and he's got an impressive bite now.

[Yes she sounds proud. Reaper was a mighty hunter!]

[There were a few invading one of the large pockets of his lab coat, wiggling about and might have found one of the honey and seed bars that Turo had in it. Oh well, there was reason he'd kept majority of the food brought with him in that odd lunch box he had now.

He still chuckled-]

Much like any young child, sometimes the best way to test an strengthen those sort of motor skills is by doing. Even if the game made out of it can be rather troublesome for anyone else.

[The biting.]

LEVEL ONE

LEVEL TWO

LEVEL THREE

LEVEL FOUR

LEVEL FIVE

LEVEL SIX

Professor Turo | Pokémon Violet | Paladin

Leafy Dragonlings & Ruby Dust

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flowers of fortitude

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Herb-of-Grace

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Level Five

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Herb of Grace

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ancient tablets

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Elemental gemstones

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