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

Oh...! I think I heard about them! I didn't realize that was your whole mission statement. "Raiders of the Lost Arts" kinda sounds like you steal relics and stuff, honestly. Not that I think I could come up with a better name.

[Embarrassed, Darin runs his hand through his spiky blue hair.]

Well, if you're offering...I could use a little more water. I didn't realize how thirsty I was getting with the way this miasma messes with your senses.

[He's embarrassed because he's normally better prepared. But he's never encountered a place that could strip you of so much so slowly. He's thankful he stumbled upon Turo when he did.]

That sounds nice. I wish I could have lived a life like that. All I ever knew up until recently was my hometown of Kenmore and the nearby capital city Arclight. As much as I wanted to travel and explore...well, it probably wasn't the best idea for me.

Given what 'raider' tends to mean, it is understandable. Part of it is likely what we find we do keep simply to study, further our research, in hopes of using it for the better. I tend to write up reports, sending copies to the Archival Conservatory on Elah, given I am originally part of the Paladins since arrival here, so anything helpful can be catalogued there as well. [Even if he didn't have full faith since a few incidents of- well, corruption amongst the higher ranks. So much they seemed to keep to themselves rather than share on all sides when it could be better to.] At least what information is fit to be catalogued, filling in some spots or record new flora and fauna.

It is a thin line, given anything turned over to the Paladin side as such would be locked away only for them to study. May not know if they discover anything- but I digress.

[He'd found a place amongst them, and knew that he was with good people. Some rougher around the edges in some ways, but it was company he had grown to deeply enjoy.

Speaking as he pulled out a large canteen, leaning to better hold it out for the offer-]

I make sure to carry enough to share, given I have an item that allows me to carry quite a large abundance of food and drink.

[That smile kept to something soft- Turo tended to over prepare with the thought of others in mind, and for good reason. Rather be able to help as much as possible, even if in only small ways.]

Work in the Great Crater of Paldea kept me rather tied down. [He was never meant to leave, no thought of it in mind. The crater and its lab, the research stations, to be all he was meant to know first hand simply due to natural limitations.] It was difficult not to at times be envious of the young students and trainers, having the entire region to explore with growing bonds with their pokémon and fellow trainers.

I may not know why it might not have been the best idea for you- but you've that chance here, even if not the world you knew.

Yeah, honestly...I'm kinda glad I wasn't picked up by the Paladins. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of pirates by any measure. In fact, I kinda hate 'em. But at least as a Corsair I've got my freedom. I'm not exactly good with authority.

[Darin laughs in spite of himself. Honestly, once upon a time, he and his brother wanted to be knights. To use their strength and power to bring about change in their country. But when Dromas died, Darin lost his way.]

Sounds like we're both being given second chances though. One thing's for sure...people here are a lot more welcoming. Part of the reason I never went anywhere is because I didn't want to get harassed for the way I looked.

Freedom is well worth it- we happen to be a crew mixed of Corsair and Paladin, given armada matters little so long as you're dedicated to the cause. [Dongfang could come off on the wrong foot, but he was also a very dedicated captain. Turo knew he was safe there.

... the man really had made sure Turo knew that, too. It was difficult not to be touched by it.

His head tipped a little, breaking off a piece of sandwich rather than taking a direct bite.]

The way you look? Ah, pardon the question. The world I come from is much different from most I have gathered, and you would not look out of place.

Oh, don't worry about it. I don't mind talking about it.

[Darin gestures to his hair with one hand.]

Where I come from...blue hair isn't exactly normal. Anyone with oddly colored and vibrant hair like mine is said to have demonkin or beastkin lineage. It's a bit of a black mark in my kingdom.

I see. We have something similar with those who have yellow eyes, them having Zoroark blood somewhere in their bloodline. Of course, as far as I know, they are treated no differently given most no longer know the myth.

[Had mostly to do with times further back when the variant of Zoroark that had yellow eyes existed.]

Of course that was also back before humanity and Pokémon lived and worked together in harmony.

Huh...it sounds like those old prejudices died out. Honestly...I'd love for something like that to happen in my world.

Supposedly the eastern continents have entire societies of people with hair like mine but...no one's allowed or willing to go there. They're completely isolated. Kinda breaks my heart a bit to think there's entire people and cultures being ignored out of misplaced fear.

Fear is a powerful emotion, and easy to be played upon for those who wish to keep some power they fear losing. It is used to gather people to unite, and no good ever comes of it unless those gathered are trying to better understand what is feared and... perhaps show there is a better way.

[History told of that quite well after all, thanks to a certain professor who made it his mission to document as much as he could about pokémon.. and the humans who did work with them at their sides.]

... It can also push people to wear themselves so thin because of what it is they might fear.

Preaching to the choir, Doc. Things back on my world weren't exactly the best. At least in Alvale. I never got to travel to any of the neighboring kingdoms. I always hoped that I could before things got...er...messy.

[Before he was framed for an assassination and had to go on the run, that is.]

So...you Raiders, you looking to hire a smith by any chance?

It may not be your world, but you do have that freedom and more here, at least. The culture between various islands can be vastly different, along with what else can be part of the natural 'land' of them.

[Things that could be looked forward too, despite any issues that could come wit home.]

Honestly? One would likely be rather valued, given we have had to outsource a few times to those in Eltrut. [A brief pause-] Have you ever spoken with a man some know as Dongfang? He is our captain, and I understand his manner of speech can make quite the impression. He does all he can to ensure our safety, and is as curious about this world as we are given he wanted to create a crew like ours.

Can't say I've ever had the pleasure but if he needs a dedicated smith, I'm the guy to turn to. I've devoted a little over fifteen years to the craft. Started when I was about ten years old.

My entire purpose as a smith is to make things to protect people and from the sounds of it, that's what you guys aim to do.

You would have been wonderful help when we were looking for someone who could aid in the creation of stainless steel, as with that it sounds as if you have quite the amount of work under your belt. [He had been the one to search for a blacksmith willing, and who had a forge able to take the heat and everything necessary.

With some compensation.]

Moon Supreme will likely wish to speak with you himself, but of course I will tell him of your interest and that I believe you would be an immense help. When I first joined he wanted to speak with me to make sure I would be a good fit, and be able to follow his orders. As I said, the way he speaks can make quite the impression, but he means well. Even that is some part of looking out for us, as we are his people.

Well...truth be told, I'm not really good at taking orders unless they're commissioned work. I guess I've got a small problem with authority.

[He shoots Turo a sly grin.]

But that doesn't mean I'm against working for the greater good. I've got my pride but I know when to put it aside if it means doing the right thing.

So, feel free to have your boss call on Darin Altway. I'd be more than happy to lend a hammer and an opinion, even if the latter isn't wanted.

That I can understand, as it can feel as if they know better than you do- or something along those lines. Yes?

[Seemed to be the case whenever it di come up- still, there had been a soft chuckle.]

Next there is time for me to catch him, I shall certainly do that. Otherwise I am certain we can always find other ways to work together- I am rather interested in what we could manage in collaboration.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

<< july open log: into the abyss >>

LEVEL ONE

LEVEL TWO

LEVEL THREE

LEVEL FOUR

LEVEL FIVE

LEVEL SIX

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