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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Because he didn't want to rush in and listen in!!

But it seems that it doesn't matter too much, and he'll just quietly knock against the doorframe. Or, well, what was left of it.]

You look like you could use some help.

[His voice will of course startle them, and when they turn and look...

"AH! It's him! How the hell—"]

[Benedikta, meanwhile, is still so very lost and confused and angry. She isn't sure what to think of this—them recognizing him, the crystal that spreads through, talk of needles. It doesn't take much to put two and two together and figure out, but she stands there in shock for several what feels like very long moments.

"Grab him!"

One of the men rushes at Cid, but Benedikta interferes. With a loud WHOOSH, she's crossing the room with wings out, colliding with the man and sending them both crashing into the table.]

What is this!?

[Cid doesn't move, not even when he is threatened, because he knew. He knew Benedikta would act, and while he hates how she would have to learn about it like this, there is something cathartic in seeing her release her rage in his stead. He had already sated his own need for his revenge earlier when he escaped, so perhaps watching the others get slaughtered would be therapeutic. Or not, he doesn't know. He actually feels rather empty about it.

But one of the men will drop the papers when she sends them crashing into the table, the rusted chains rattling against the wood. On those papers she will see his name, diagrams of the male body and where they had injected the needle that caused his arm to crystallized. Notes of rate of progression, plans of where they would try next. Just those simple pictures would be enough to tell her as Cid will remain silent where he is.]

[With one of the men pinned to the table and the other staggering back against the cabinets in fear and shock, Benedikta's eyes flick down to the papers that have scattered across the table. She sees Cid's name, sees the notes and the diagrams, notes on "crystal's progression" and "test numbers", sees the needles and the chained cuffs...]

Is this true? Is this what I think...?

[It's hard to tell whether she's asking Cid, or the men, all of them, or simply herself, but when the man gulps beneath her, she takes him by the collar and slams his head against the table with a force that rings through the room.]

IS IT TRUE?

[She looks over at Cid.]

[A part of him does wonder if he should take those papers... Wonder what it is they were able to find. Would it do anything for their own curse...?

But otherwise he maintains that empty seemingly indifferent expression even when Benedikta looks at him.

And just nods.]

[He does not even need to nod. His silence and especially that look on his face tells her everything that she needs to know, and that these two men had played a part in it all.

There's a moment of dreadful silence, like the calm before the storm over a vast, endless stretch of sea, during which the two of them seem to understand what is about to happen to them. There is the briefest flash of yellow around the rims of Benedikta's eyes, Garuda stirring once more in response to that spike of fury in her. But it is only for that split second before it is all of her own anger, all of her own pent up rage that comes pouring out. She is tired and spent after searching for him for so long, and to find out that while she had been looking for him, scared for him, that this is what they had been doing?

If only she had been smarter. If only she had been faster. If only she had been there when they took him so that they would not have hurt him at all. She should have been able to save him sooner.

She feels sick to her stomach with anger with herself and with these people. These despicable people who would dare harm the man that she loves.

There's a crash of metal from somewhere in the room, the rattling of cabinet doors, the shuffle and tearing of papers as they are picked up on the wind that grows and grows, creating a small but powerful vortex from where she stands over the table, clutching the man beneath her.

The other tries to lunge at her, but in the blink of an eye, she shifts. Her body pulses with magic, the marks glowing bright, and in the next second, she is impaling each one of them with those large talons again. They make choked noises together as blood spatters over their work, over the table, each other, and over Benedikta.]

If only I could make your deaths slower.

[But with the thundering booms from outside and the never-ending quakes that shake the entire island, she knows that she cannot give herself or Cid that satisfaction. She supposes messy, painful deaths will have to do.]

I hope you see my face while you burn in the depths of hell.

[And with a roar, a shrill scream that shatters through the room and the halls, the wind bursts outward and Benedikta slices through them both with a squeeze until she hears their ribs crack.

But she is not finished because they are not dead yet.

She drops them both to the ground and slashes at them, again and again and again, tears burning her eyes as she screams at them, as she tries to force back the memories of their past. How she felt when she first found out about the curse on his arm. How it felt to touch it for the first time, those little speckles of stone. How angry she was then. How her own feels as they still spread across her shoulders.

That they would dare treat him like some toy... Like some test that they could torture over and over...

And with each memory, each thought, comes another slash of her claws, tearing them apart, until their screams die out.

It is not until she is finally out of breath, her face dirty with sweat and blood and streaked with tears beneath the rippling magic, does she turn around to look at Cid, her chest heaving, the two men as good as dead on the floor at her feet...]

[Perhaps he should have tried to stop her from losing herself, but he ends up just staying where he is, not even batting an eye when some blood splatters in his directions. In some ways it reminds him of when she tore apart the slave trader, a time that feels a long time ago.

The screams of the men are replaced with the screams other victims he could hear taken to this room. Screams and pleadings for mercy before there is a sudden, eerie silence followed by the sound of something heaby drafted out, or the wheels of a cart rolling out. Or those who tried to fight and were beaten mercilessly to silence, their fate unknown but could sometimes be surmised by the talk he would hear later.

Even his own on the first day...

The pain that comes from his arm is what pulls him back to the present, not realizing his right hand had moved over to press against the hardened crystal of his other hand. Instead his eyes see the carnage Benedikta has left and meets her gaze, his own still calm despite the slight grimace.

It must seem strange how calm he appears despite off the mess. No anger or relief, not when concern over her actions. There's just... Nothing.]

[For a long time, she just stands there catching her breath, her once-white wings now smeared in red blood folding around her, the magic pulsing brightly on her skin and in her eyes. She almost looks semi-primed, though it is not quite that, the magic in the air as the wind continues to swirl around them her own. They start to calm the longer she looks at him, and papers flutter and metal clangs as it's all dropped to the floor, and the room falls silent. Even the sounds of the ruin happening outside is drowned out by her breathing.]

Cidolfus...

[Her voice comes, and it's broken from the screams that tore through her throat.

Straightening, Benedikta senses that something is very off about his silence. That he is not as unaffected as he might seem. Her gaze flicks to his arm, to the way he grips it with his hand, and for a brief second, there is that overlap of old memories and new. New memories that she wished she hoped would never come to pass.]

What they did...

[She can't even form the right words, even if she wanted to, but she growls the words out anyway as she flings another sharp wind at the papers and the supplies, sending them flying against the cabinets in the back of the room with a clatter.

And then she is rushing at him, practically flying at him. She does not care that she is bloody or completely out of breath, run ragged by everything that has just happened. She wraps him into her arms and pulls him into a kiss, wings cocooning them safely and protectively for just a moment.]

[When Benedikta speaks, his attention goes to her and he can see the storm of emotions in her eyes. It's now that he feels some guilt and regret that she had to learn and see it like this, but that all is momentarily blown away when she throws herself at him. His right arm naturally goes around her, although the grip may feel a little lighter than usual. His reception of her kiss is also softer and lighter, as if he's just mostly quietly accepting whatever it is she wants to give.

And finally, he'll have some words to say.]

I'm all right.

[She has far too much to give, and he will feel every one of those emotions—anger, guilt, regret, worry, and then more anger—behind the fierce yet somehow gentle way that she kisses him. Her forehead presses to his when he speaks, one hand cradling his cheek while the other moves to grab hold of his left arm.]

No.

[He needn't be that way with her.

And as her fingers graze over the crystal, she fights a sob.]

I am sorry that I was not here sooner.

[Her touch is like a salve he didn't know he needed, his eyes briefly closing as he savors that warmth. And while he can't feel the one on his arm he can imagine it.]

But you are here now.

[It's his turn to soothe her, hand going to her cheek and thumb brushing under her eye.]

Edited 2025-04-11 13:50 (UTC)

[He should not be the one comforting her! But she trembles with fury as his thumb brushes away the tears on her cheek.]

I could have stopped it... What did they do...?

[She knows that they have to keep moving, and that rumbling reminds her that they should, but her fingers grip his crystal arm tight, nails digging in where he can't feel it.]

[He starts to answer, but the tremors do give him pause. So there's a moment of silence as he stares at her with that troubled look before gently reaches for her hand and squeezes it.]

I'll explain it all... I promise. But it would be better if we didn't have an island about to come down all around us.

[She makes a choked, displeased sound in the back of her throat, pressing her forehead firmly to his. She looks like she is about to protest, and she is, but the rumbling and tremors make her pause too, and all she gives him is a slow exhale.

A sigh that does nothing to calm the storm that still continues to roil.]

Fine. Where do we go next?

[The tanks. He mentioned there being more tanks.

But he might feel that wind picking up again, trailing out of the room and into the hallways.]

Believe they're down this way.

[His hand tightens over hers as he leads her down the hall, quickly stepping over bodies of both guards and a few prisoners were unable to make it out alive. Those are the ones that will make Cid pause, glancing at their crystalized or bloodied forms in their cells before moving.]

[Benedikta's eyes skim past those in the cells, that sense of dread only provoking her anger further. She tries, in those few moments when her gaze rests on the bodies, not to let herself imagine Cid in their position, or her. The stones on her back throb obnoxiously, and she gives her shoulders a roll, her wings shivering from the motion, before she hears footsteps and steps ahead of Cid.

And whatever poor soul rounds the bend—fortunately for them, it's another guard trying to find their way out—does not make it a step beyond that because Benedikta is lunging at the burly man, knocking him back into the wall behind him and thrusting her sword through his chest. He slumps to the ground with a choked noise and she moves on, completely unfazed by the kill, flicking the blood away and hunting for her next as she take Cid's hand again.]

Did they keep you here, too?

[There's only some slight surprise more at the suddenness of it all than the act before he just continues along with her.]

Aye. It seems they had different types of cells and "containment" throughout this place. Suppose better one of these than one of the hanging cages I've seen.

The what?

[It's probably exactly how it sounds, but that does not make it any better.]

What the fuck could they possibly do with those?

[An idle shrug.]

Who knows, I wasn't really aware of what was going on in them. I had heard some mutterings about them, but it wasn't until I was out could I see them.

But I will say, this is truly the worst I've ever seen.

[Benedikta has seen some truly horrible things—has done some truly horrible things—but none of them amounted to this. This makes what she had done in her past look like child's play, and it's a bit strange to think now how sickening it truly is.

She tries not to dwell too much on those thoughts, but it is hard as they pass the cells and she spots more victims, with some of the rooms almost nearly encased in the crystals by now.]

And they are doing it to the animals, too. [There's an abrupt WHOOSH of wind.] And for what?

[Speaking of, there comes a high-pitched cry from somewhere ahead.]

For whatever depraved "hobbies" they have.

[But upon hearing the cry, he looks at Benedikta.]

But we need to hurry—

[And then there are shouts, almost deranged and manic in the laughter as the cries sound more pained. At that, there are no words—they just need to run through towards the sounds.

It will take a little bit, the way obstructed by bodies and debris, but when they finally round the corner they will be met with a bloody tank, spears protruding from the back of a young whale floundering in the water with a group above the tank—a mix of guards and two of the "elite guests."

"THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" the crow screams, their once fine garments torn and bloodied as it claws at the whale trying to escape. "LOOK WHAT YOU DID!"

It's then they may catch a glimpse of a wing already turned to crystal, and they will have a chance to see another crow already submerged in the water, its crystallized head pressed against the inside of the tank's wall before it drifts back away.

Of course, they won't spend too much time taking it all in, or at least Cid won't. without his lightning, all he can do is grab a broken steel bar and hurl it right at the crow, impaling it through its back as Cid continues to rush towards the other mercenaries and guards that were gathered nearby.

He already knows Benedikta will be able to take care of most of them...or maybe he's not really thinking. Maybe he's seen this enough times that he just rushes in, anyway.

Regardless, none of these people will know what hit them—and they needed to hurry and save that whale before it's too late.]

[Well. It doesn't take much to understand what it is that's going on here, especially when the little whale makes distressed sounds from the tank, spouting water and kicking its half-crystalized fins while it tries to escape and shake off the spears from its back, the water staining a deep red with every desperate thrash of its body.

Neither the guards nor the elites seem to notice them at first, which is good for them. As Cid nails one of the crows in the back of the head, Benedikta goes for the guards that turn their heads at the sound.

"Who are you—!? You aren't supposed to be—"

That is all they are able to get out before Benedikta is rushing at them, wings spread and winds battering. She picks up two of them in her claws, squeezing them into a tight grip while a sharp wind lifts one off their feet and throws them back against the wall. They scream, and the other elite on the ground tries to scramble away. She lets him, trusting that Cid will be able to take care of him one way or another as she keeps the three guards pinned in place for a few moments longer before she shoves them down to the grates. They crash with a loud thud, held beneath Benedikta's claws as the whale swims beneath them.

And once she is sure that it will be the last thing that they see, she brings her talons down upon them with a scream, gouging at their bodies and ripping them apart in one fell swoop.]

You next.

[She snaps her gaze to the one at the wall, and all he will manage is a scream as Benedikta lunges at him, grabbing his face with a claw and twisting, snapping his neck with a loud and easy CRACK.

Her boots thunder against the steel grates.]

Cidolfus?

[Does he need her help?]

[As Benedikta takes care of the others and goes upward, Cid works his way to cut down the ones that remain on the ground, not minding the blood that flows as he ducks and weaves to cut down the ones that are left. It's just two, so not too much for him to handle even in his current condition. He even rams his crystalized elbow into one of their faces, shattering their teeth before slashing through their neck.

After the mini massacre is over, the only one left alive is a human man cowering in the corner pressed up against the tank, his once fine silk suit now splattered in blood and frayed in place. However, what's more interesting is the way crystal shards can be see crusting his neck, and seeing it...

Cid just snorts before looking up at Benedikta.]

Seems these fine gents had a taste of their own medicine. Not that it excuses what they've done.

[He then looks towards the whale still trapped in inside.]

Can you heal them?

[Benedikta looks down at the man and indeed takes note of the way Cid stops before him, not bothering to end it. An arch of her brow, a quirk of her lip, and taking that signal, she magics away her wings and claws for now and rushes over to the whale as it continues to thrash helplessly in the water, its cries echoing throughout the room.]

I could, but I need to get these spears out first...

[She tries to reach down, but she's just met with splashes.]

We need to hold it still.

Bit of a tall order with it being in the water.

[Seeing the man trying to slowly crawl away, he just stabs their leg, ignoring the pained scream as he slashes over the tendons of the second leg and walks over closer to her.]

Should I try jumping in?

ABDUCTIONS FINALE

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cw: violence and blood >_>

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