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seaboards ([personal profile] seaboards) wrote in [community profile] escordvi2025-04-05 01:09 pm

« mini manta board log: abductions finale »


ABDUCTIONS FINALE

This mini log is for the Special Quest listed on the April 2025 MANTA Board. All threads are worth 12 points.

Somewhere far out in the ocean, many days away from where the leviathans currently drift and settle, rests an "island" that can only be described as a beautiful abomination. Completely manmade, at first it looks to be an island of crystal and mist, its colors shimmering in the moonlight to give it a mystical aura. But every so often, when the mist moves and the light happens to pass through the crystal, large shadows with large fins and tails can be seen trapped within. Moving in closer will reveal even more than just crystal—large curved bones protrude here and there, but they are still placed carefully, supporting the crystals that make the island. In the front the bones arch around to look like the skeletal form of a massive whale, the tail deep into the water and a magnificent palace made of crystal and bone on its back. More bones curve around the tail with floating crystal lights illuminating the path down towards the island, the waters stained red.

Several luxury yachts are docked along the pearl studded pier, the sound of music, laughter, and other party making sounds drifting through the wind and echoing throughout the island. Inside the mansion, a number of rich, elite members of society are reveling in the ambergris wine and staring up at the numerous crystal statues of people and animals lining the walls and even hanging from the ceiling. Their eyes sparkle through the clouded haze created by the sweet fragrance that permeates throughout the building.

A stark contrast to the groans and cries that drift from deep, deep down beneath the island, where the crystal and rock form numerous dungeons and caverns housing those who were taken in for one reason or another. Whether they were arrested or kidnapped, they had been rendered unconscious and found themselves in these dungeons for the past few days, even weeks and months. Their tattoos wiped clean and stripped of their powers, the trapped are contained in all different ways: locked in barred cells, sometimes chained to the wall; locked in small isolation rooms, crystal from the walls slowly creeping closer towards them as if to swallow them; hanging in cages over tanks of water where others struggle in their water confinement. Humans, animalfolk, animals, riftfarers, and locals alike—all scattered throughout a giant dungeon and all in some process of being crystalized to become the next grand centerpiece to be put on display. It all seems hopeless…

…Until an ominous song echoes throughout the island, a sound so deep and raw that it rattles both the giant bones and those of the living. A song of no words yet sings of death and doom as the waters around the island begin to recede, making the structure suddenly sink down and slam into the ground. The seafloor, now exposed, reveals piles of bones and barely decomposed bodies of untold numbers of whales of all ages and sizes along with other remains of the victims that were once held on the island over the past few months. As the waters continue to recede and reveal the ghastly graveyard, the waters begin to rise and rise and rise to form a giant ocean wall, a massive shadow slowly passing before disappearing.

And riding at the top of those waves is a fleet of ships, Corsair and Paladin flags whipping in the wind. It is a partnership formed by the renowned Stormbringer and Royal Fortune captains, Fiona "Redbeard" O'Malley and Miranda "Wavebreaker" Thorn, both of whom are ignoring orders from the higher ups to work together, with Miranda leading the fleet through the violent tides, living up to her reputation as the "Wavebreaker". Lines are dropped, row boats surf down the wall to land on the wet sand, and people rush out towards the doomed island.



⚔️ Insignias. Due to the distance, the effects of the insignias on everyone will be lessened a little to allow cross-Armada interaction for longer periods of time. Otherwise, the effects are still active and while there may be some remedies around the mansion, it's still so new there wouldn't be too much.

🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Escape. Due to the sudden drop of the island, some doors may have broken open or sealed even tighter. Chaos will have erupted so the guards may also be scattered and confused, making escape attempts much more viable. Just be wary of the crystal golems and mechanical sentries that will be roaming through the lower dungeon.

💎 Crystallization. The crash has activated the magic system that will seek and target anything that appears living and try to fire a blast of cold air that will crystallize the area hit, similar to ice freezing over. Some fire more concentrated "goop" of crystal that will quickly solidify and start growing to encase the target.

🤖 Defense systems. Defense systems outside the island are still active. The "underwater mines" are now settled on the ground and while easy enough to avoid, some may still detonate. There are also sharkfolk mercenaries that will rush out to fight anyone they see. For those who may try to sneak through, there are some hidden entrances now made available, many of the larger crystal structures cracked to reveal ways in and out. However beware of the leeches that might attach to those not careful. They're mostly harmless, but instead of blood they will drain one's energy if not removed quickly.

⛓️ Arrests. While some may be quite happy to just stab their captors and those operating this island, taking a few back for questioning would also be worthwhile, especially since clearly a number of powerful people are here. But there are also some well-known riftfarers in the mix…

🪦 Underwater graveyard. As the tide recedes, it will reveal an underwater graveyard. Anyone rushing in to help with the rescue efforts or escaping might recognize partial or whole remains and bones of not only countless whales, but of animals and people who had been taken as well. The Captains are asking people to find and take back what they can find, whether they are remains or mementos, so that they can have a proper burial.


The raid is thorough and brutal, more and more of the island rumbling as it is gradually destroyed from within and without, ships firing cannons to chip away at the structure. However, they cannot stay forever. Once more the seafloor and the waters start to tremble as a high pitched shrill call pulses through. It's enough to knock anyone off their feet, even stun them for several seconds before there is a whisper of hundreds of voices. Voices so low and eerie, filled with a hatred that claws directly into the minds of all who are there:

"Drown."

That is the final warning before a large red eye glows from behind the waves, so large and bright it could swallow the island itself. Then the once high walls of water start to tip forward, a slow drip before it all starts to cascade downward and rush in to flood and destroy the island completely, crystal and bone shattering into oblivion.

As everything is flooded over, whales and dolphins will rush in to rescue those they can while orcas will move in to hunt down any criminals who managed to escape the first time, biting into their limbs and throwing them high into the air like toys before breaking them with their weight. The fleet of ships that had remained behind will sail in close to pick up those still stuck in the water.

It will be a long voyage home, and those who are injured or have the crystalized effects will receive immediate treatment with Eltrut able to provide more full treatment.

If you have any questions, comment here.

seasaltkeys: (Charging into battle)

[personal profile] seasaltkeys 2025-04-08 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Everything had gone according to plan. Roxas had got the key, and then waiting for the opportunity to start unlocking cages. And it had worked. Not that it ever wasn't going to work, or so he keeps telling himself. But the extra help is welcome.

He works as fast as he can, unlocking doors and tossing keys around so that everyone else in this prison can escape. He's stopped caring if there's a good reason for anyone to be in here because in his mind there isn't. But it would be so much easier if he could use his keyblades. And if his arms weren't crystallizing in a way he doesn't want to think about.

There isn't a lot he can think about now. Beyond arming himself and setting off on his own quest. He's got a bar from a prison door and a mission.]


Axel! Axel!

[He runs off in the direction he last saw him in.]
ramuhs: (⚡ 042)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
[It takes him another moment, but when he feels her embrace his arms...well, his good arm will naturally go around her. While he can move his crystalized arm, it's certainly not with the same mobility and he just exhales lowly as he presses his face and then his lips against the side of her head.]

I knew you'd find me.

[Although his voice is still a bit rough, it still carries the same warmth and a bit of relief.]
Edited 2025-04-08 04:00 (UTC)
emberized: (Friendship | With Rox)

[personal profile] emberized 2025-04-08 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
[They most certainly would. Then again when wouldn't they? Definitely a time to doctor their reports, if they didn't just burn them outright.]

"You know me." [He lightly raps a knuckle against his head] "Tough as ever."

[The relief is twofold, even as Axel's eyes take in the shiny glimmering patches on Roxas' arms that definitely weren't there before.]

"Not my first lockup."
velocityraptor: Credit recadreuse (pic#17383440)

[personal profile] velocityraptor 2025-04-08 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hawks licks his lips, but since they're sitting there and not able to move, he has time to swipe some jerky too. ]

I'm hungry but we didn't have time...it's fine. I'm okay. I can go longer without food.

[ Except the way he's looking at the food is almost feral. ]
wherethereislight: (just a scratch)

1

[personal profile] wherethereislight 2025-04-08 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
[The area shakes again as there's a sound of several explosions. There were flashes of light coming from the passageway. A flurry of destroyed sentries come tumbling into the room, some hitting the water and sinking into the unseen bottom. Coming up from behind, kicking aside the broken machines is Shadow. He tosses aside an arm that once belonged to a crystal golem into one of the pools of water as he surveys the room he had entered. Another room full of prisoners, with another setup.

He sees a few cages that had fallen into the tanks full of water. Unfortunate souls within them at varying points of decay. He glances above, some getting precariously close to their demise. Help will come for them soon now that he's thinned out the guards and defenses. He was about to leave until he picks up a distinctly familiar voice among the prisoners, shouting. Looking back up, he searches for the source of that voice.]
garudas: (🗡️ 312)

[personal profile] garudas 2025-04-08 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
[She sighs with relief, some of that tension in her deflating. The soft, subtle glow of her magic over her body pulses with it.]

Of course I would.

[Her arms cling to him tighter, pulling him in closer, ignoring for a moment any aches or strains he might still have.]

I am sorry I did not find you sooner.
ramuhs: (⚡ 263)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Thanks to her magic, there's a lot less of those aches as he just holds her tighter.]

No... I'm the one is sorry for putting you through all this.
garudas: (🗡️ 330)

[personal profile] garudas 2025-04-08 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
[She lifts her head from his shoulder and kisses him, more of that magic unintentionally passing to him, and when she pulls back, she has the glowing marks like feathers across her cheeks, dim but there.]

You ought to be. If you were not just drowning, I might kill you myself for it.

[There's a chirp from the tank behind him, and a splash as the whales resurface when the wind starts to die down.]

They were trying to keep you safe when I came in.
ramuhs: (⚡ 091)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Now that he is more aware, he catches that faint glow, and his brows furrow for a moment... And that magic. Is she doing it on purpose, or...?

But then the whales catch his attention and he glances down with some troubled appreciation.]


Did they now? Then I owe them my thanks as well.

[They chirp and splash a little more happily before there's another tremor. He looks back at her, his eyes lingering on this marks again before he glances around.]

But we need to hurry and get them...out...

[It's then that he notices the damage to the grated ceiling and he can only stop and stare dumbfounded before he looks back at her.]

Did...you...?

[WELL OBVIOUSLY YES but she should understand his surprise that's quickly changing to concern. Did she...semi-prime? Was that really Garuda he had felt?
emberized: (whatchagotthere)

[personal profile] emberized 2025-04-08 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Axel has since given up straining against his bonds and has instead taken to frantically bashing at the chain with various other chunks of the crystal cluster cluttering the floor.]

"Come on, come onnnn."

[Wasn't it said that the one thing that could chip crystal was itself? Or was that only diamond? Either way there is a countdown happening in a language Axel can't discern and he needs to get out and get out NOW. He drapes the chain around a particularly large shard and picks up another piece to begin to bash anew when--]

"Roxas?"

[It's faint but.. yes.. yes he heard it. Axel practically sensed the former Nobody before he heard it.]

"ROXAS!!"

[The stupid machine in here is loud though; the round chamber deep and closed off enough to have a bit of an echo. Even if he yells, there's no telling how far the sound will travel. Roxas might run right  by if Axel can't tell him he is there. He has to find a way to tell him!

With renewed purpose, Axel starts chucking crystal at the iron door again.]


"IN! HERE! I'M!!"

[The iron door has no slats from the outside, built practically into the wall, not unlike a kiln or hatch into a submarine. Little sound escapes, but the rhythmic vibrations reverberate through..]
garudas: (🗡️ 169)

[personal profile] garudas 2025-04-08 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
[She's smiling down at the whales apologetically when he asks, and she thinks she understands his question, but she takes a lucky guess anyway.]

Semi-prime?

[She had seen the way his eyes had paused on the broken grates beside them, so that would be the most logical conclusion to draw.]

I... do not think so. But something happened.

[She looks at her hands, and though they are back to normal now, they still glow gently with the magic under her skin.]

Garuda called to me, and I... listened. But it was not her magic in the end that I used. I am not sure, but...

[There's a second low rumbling sound from somewhere outside and the entire dungeon trembles, and Benedikta stops and shakes her head.]

I will have to explain later. We need to get out.
Edited 2025-04-08 04:53 (UTC)
ramuhs: (⚡ 236)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
[He's still staring at her in some disbelief. Not Garuda...? Then if she didn't semi-prime...

But she's right, this is unfortunately not the time for it and he nods.]


We need to open that release gate.

[He points to the iron doors barely visible from where they are.]

I was working to open the valve when something hit my head...

[He swears under his breath as he looks over to where he had been.]

And looks like that got damaged. Dammit.
telepathicignorance: (Thoughtful)

[personal profile] telepathicignorance 2025-04-08 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Hawks, most of that stuff is designed to be eaten on the move. And that stupid robot hasn't finished making a second pass of the corridor anyway.

(Admittedly, eating and walking is kind of hard when you can barely manage the walking, but still.)

...You can't hear very well without your wings, can you?
velocityraptor: Credit recadreuse (pro heroes 064)

[personal profile] velocityraptor 2025-04-08 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's quiet as he chews, because he's not done thinking about it as he eats. ]

It's different. I should have relatively normal hearing but I don't usually use it? [ Hawks rubs at his ears lightly. They're not bothering him but it's weird. ]

It's like if the volume is usually a thousand, right now it's down to like five. At least I use my vision far more often.
garudas: (🗡️ 093)

[personal profile] garudas 2025-04-08 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
[It is a very long story, and she looks at him, then at the whales, and then down to the pool beneath them.]

Release gate?

[She pulls back and shifts so that she's looking further into the water and the iron bars that he's trying to point to.]

How do we open it? What does it do?

[That is to say... tell her what she can do and she will do it.]
ramuhs: (⚡ 003)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
[He looks at her and he has an inkling of what she's thinking.]

From what I figured, there was a wheel that you could turn to open the gate. But that's now broken so the only would be to somehow pry them out or break the wall.
ramuhs: (⚡ 241)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
[There's a swear as he sees that spear coming and he has to roll out of the way, hearing the unfortunate target get speared through.

Well, at least Shadow won't be aiming at him unawares, but it's clear he's continuing the job. Not seeing any point to stop him, Cid just shakes his head and moves, considering to just let the hedgehog continue when he sees someone struggling with some kind of handcannon. Where they got that, he doesn't know, but does it matter? It's clearly aimed at Shadow and while he's fairly certain Shadow could avoid it, there's no point in taking any chances.

So he'll take the opportunity to run up and use the sword he's "borrowing" to try and cut the would be handcannoneer down. Because of the sand his speed is slowed, but it's enough to slash at the arm, forcing them to shout and change their aim, making the ammunition hit the boat right behind Shadow before swinging at Cid who just moves to avoid and keep them preoccupied.]
ramuhs: (⚡ 031)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
I'll take whatever you can spare, Alfyn, but I can manage well enough until this all over. So save the best for those who may need it more.

[Again, of course he would put himself last, but he still thinks he's relatively better off than many of the other prisoners that had been trapped down here.

But he also can't help but chuckle at that.]


And not to worry. I think I might have heard her...somewhere in this place and I have no plans in staying longer than needed. Can you give me a quick briefing of what's going on?

[Since they have a moment, might as well try and get caught up on things.]
ramuhs: (⚡ 259)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Uh huh.]

Regardless, I'm only writing. I won't hurt myself doing so.
telepathicignorance: (SIGH)

[personal profile] telepathicignorance 2025-04-08 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
So it's there but it's all muted and jumbled because your brain hasn't adjusted to it yet.

(He's probably used to having to tune most of what he hears out.

Well, they can at least hear pretty well.

They sigh.)


It's at the end of the hall now, I think.
Edited 2025-04-08 06:07 (UTC)
garudas: (🗡️ 170)

[personal profile] garudas 2025-04-08 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
And that would free the whales?

[Sensing what it is they are talking about, the whales make their way over to the gate that Cid has mentioned, albeit awkwardly and crookedly, their crystal fins making it difficult for them to swim in a straight line. And never before has she felt more urgency to free them than she does now...]

I could dive beneath and try to do it. Same way that I had broken this.
velocityraptor: Credit recadreuse (Hawks 11)

[personal profile] velocityraptor 2025-04-08 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, that sounds right but medical things are kind of above his head anyway. Hawks' brow furrows. ]

I'm sorry. [ He mumbles again. ] I haven't kept up with my training enough. I will be better.

[ This never should've happened, he shouldn't have been caught. ]
wherethereislight: (percieved)

[personal profile] wherethereislight 2025-04-08 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
[What are they doing...? As the gap between them closes, he gets a better visual of Cid's current condition. They should not be trying to assist, especially when he didn't ask for it. With a groan, he's going to grab hold of his next target by the leg and just throw them into the handcannoneer. Still dealing with the problem.

He'll have a disapproving look when Cid looks to Shadow next time. You know what you shouldn't be doing right now.]
telepathicignorance: (Talk)

[personal profile] telepathicignorance 2025-04-08 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
You're not in trouble, Hawks.

(How long are they going to have to keep repeating that, they wonder?

The heavy clanging footsteps pause at the end of the corridor. Chris holds their breath as they wait, silently willing the damned thing to leave.)
ramuhs: (⚡ 018)

[personal profile] ramuhs 2025-04-08 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
It will at least take them out to another area that will bring them closer to the exit. There are numerous chambers like this and, from what I can tell there are different channels, but they all lead to a larger area. That's likely where they had originally brought them in and forced them through.

With the waters receded, they'll need to stay there with the main gate weak enough that once the waters rush in, they'll be able to swim free.

[A small exhale.]

That's the plan, at least, and at least a better chance than here. So if you truly think you can do it...

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