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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

[She breathes in deep and lets it out on an exhale.]

These new... claws... of mine should be strong enough to hold it still.

[The whale is not unlike the one that they had found and brought back to the Conservatory, although a little bigger. She could at least grab hold of it enough to try calming it down.]

... You will need to pull out the spears.

[....Ah.

Yeah, that would be certainly terrifying for a little whale, so his brows furrow a bit, but—]

It's our only option.

[He nods at her.]

I'll try and make it quick. Just be prepared to heal it once they're out as I can't promise they'll come out cleanly.

[She gives him a firm nod.]

I will.

[With that, she climbs down into the water, groaning at the way the blood laps at her as it continues to spill from the wounds on the whale's back.]

Sssh. It is going to be alright.

[It kicks its fins and wails, trying to swim away from her, but one of the spears gets caught on the grates and when it pulls on its skin, it's forced to stop. She feels terrible for having to do this, but as those claws form again, she reaches out and clamps them down around whatever part of the whale's body they can wrap around, mostly near its tail and its fins. As she suspected, it tosses and flails wildly, and all Benedikta can do is hold onto it, wrapping her arms around it as well to keep it from wriggling too much, hoping that it will help soothe it even a little.]

We are here to help.

Easy, easy now!

[He also tries to call out to it, but of course even if it could understand the fear and pain would override all reason. So, to reduce the risk of the whale being injured further or Benedikta getting hurt or pinned in the tank, he quickly reaches for that first spear. But as he starts to pull on it, he feels a strange resistance and looking closer he swears.]

Fuck, they're barbed!

[Meaning the tip has a hook, catching more of the flesh inside and it also means he can't just quickly pull it out like he initially planned.

Lying flat now against the grating, he grits his teeth and tries to carefully work the spear out instead, but this is going to be hard with the whale trying to pitch about screaming.]

Shit... Why would they...?

[Benedikta's stomach knots with dread and sickness, and it breaks her focus for just a moment. The whale almost manages to slip free, but she grabs on again quickly, cursing under her breath. She has to dig the claws in a little, squeezing, but there isn't much more that she can do to keep it from moving so much. It does, however, tire itself out so its movements have started to slow.

...

Sensing this, Benedikta starts to hum softly under her breath. Will it help? She does not know, but the splashing seems to have stopped enough that the whale can hear her. She hopes that it will at least be able to understand that they are here to help, not harm it.]

[He doesn't answer, instead just focusing on trying to quickly but carefully pry this spear tip out. He's at a disadvantage with the distance being as it is, but there's no way to bring the whale closer and he can't go down there with this arm. Not that it would help even if he could, the back would be so slippery and he'd need a blade to properly cut it off...

But he does notice how the whale seems to calm at her voice, so he takes the opportunity to focus, doing only small twists and tugs before he warns—]

This is going to hurt, hold on!

[—and yanks the spear out with a sudden jerk. There's not helping it—it will tear a bit, but at least it's a lot less than if he had just pulled it straight out before.]

[Benedikta's voice falters when he yanks that spear out, and she is ready with her healing winds as soon as it is. The sound that it leaves behind is deep, and more blood pours out of it before she is able to stop it. Green magic trickles over its back, and though it flails its tail at the pain, it slows again at the warm, soothing feeling that washes over it from the winds.]

I still cannot heal it completely, but it will at least stop the bleeding.

[She looks up at him, hopeful.]

Are you able to keep going?

[He grimaces when he sees the wound, but he'll throw the spear down, aiming right in front of the man that's still trying to crawl away, his scream ignored as he falls to floor sobbing.]

Two more... I should be able to. Just be ready for the same.

[If only she could give that man something to scream about right now, but all in due time. She turns her attention briefly to him, grimacing, and she can see the way that the crystal on his arm starts to fuse to the floor. ... Interesting.

But she holds onto the whale tighter, even if it has calmed significantly.]

Alright. Make these ones quick if you can.

I'll do what I can.

[With that, he grits his teeth and gets to work with the other spears, which are, as he feared, identical as the last. With tremors becoming more frequent, he works quickly, unable to take as much time as he'd like compared to the first, but now having a bit of a feel to it he can move quickly because of that as well. It's no less painful, unfortunately, and with each removal of the spear the poor whale cries out louder and thrashes more despite both of their efforts to calm and soothe it.

It does seem to know they are helping, but who would be able to stay calm during repeated pain like this? He can only be grateful that Benedikta at least seems to manage to hang on and able to use her magic to heal it. If only he had his lightning he could help cauterize it, or even some more medicine that's unfortunately been used up, but... No, no need to think about that. They're doing what they're can and there is some solace that the spears aren't in too deep. There will be scars, but they are not life-threatening, even without treatment.

With the final spear out and thrown to the ground, Cid he lets out a low exhale and shakes his arm a bit.]

That's it. Treat it best you can while I get to the gate.

[Having spent so much time and with those increased tremors, they're definitely running out of time, so he quickly makes his way over to the lever. At least this one isn't damaged so he should be able to open it more easily when Benedikta is ready.]

[By some miracle, Benedikta still manages to hold on. Even when it kicks its tail and flaps its fins, splashing her around in the water, she holds fast, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth. It's a tough job, to be sure, but the claws make it easier, and her wings help them stay afloat for the most part, spread out across the tank. She whispers soothing words and continues to hum to it, and that seems to help somewhat, though there is not much that she can do about the pain that it feels or the screams that it emits when Cid pulls out one spear, and then another. She can feel the warmth of her magic, however, and watches as it works its wonder upon the wounds, the bleeding stopping as quickly as it had started.

Really, getting someone more well-versed in whale anatomy would have been better, but seeing the way that it had been getting stuck on the grates and didn't know how to swim with them in, the poor thing probably would have drowned before they could get it to someone.

This is the best alternative, she tells herself.

And as the whale stops its wriggling at long last once the magic has finished and dissipated, she aways her claws and replaces her arms around its body instead. They don't reach all the way or hold it, but she presses her hands to its sides, rubbing soothing circles over its skin.]

Let us get you out, alright? We don't have much time left.

[She motions to Cid, and it seems to understand where he's going and what he intends to do, because as the island trembles once more, it carries Benedikta over as it swims slowly after him, still struggling a bit with moving.]

A fighter, this one. [She glances up at him.] This one will open?

Edited 2025-04-14 05:44 (UTC)

Aye, fortunately they didn't mess with hit.

[He turns the wheel, feeling it moving with only a little difficulty. Hearing the gears turning and clanking before it finally starts to move. Slowly the water starts to drain out and he'll call out to her as he grunts as it starts to stiffen a bit.]

Could use another hand here!

[He's working with one arm after all!!]

[She had wished to stay with the whale while they freed it, but seeing him have some difficulty...

Benedikta gives the whale a little pat on the head and it chirps at her as if in question when she swims away and climbs out of the water.]

Wait there.

[She points to the gate, and then stands on the other side of the wheel, gripping it tight with both hands. And, after a nod, she starts to turn it with him, the gate clanking and clanging as they move it.]

Shit, this is heavy.

[Another turn, another inch, until there is enough water and enough of a gap that the whale can swim through... but it doesn't leave just yet. It stares at them instead.]

[He's using his crystallized arm as a brace to help give some leverage, but it's only thanks to Benedikta's assistance that they are able to turn the wheel. It makes some sense for it to be difficult—wouldn't want the gate opening at the touch of a feather—but still. In their current situation, they don't need the added stress and difficulty.

So once it does open, there's a large exhale of relief before he... Sees the whale still there.

Perhaps he should have guessed this would happen.]

Go on now, there's more of you waiting through those channels. Just keep swimming and you'll get through.

What are you doing!?

[Benedikta takes a harsher approach, especially when the whale still does not move. Is it... waiting for them? If only she could understand what it's crying about.]

Hurry along. Now.

[Bubbles erupt from the water and there's a small blast of air that pushes the whale closer to the gate, and then nudges it even further to the other side. It seems to protest, but after one more screech, it turns around and swims down the channel with one last push.

Not that she can blame it. It was only a baby so it must have been terrified.

But as another rumble shakes through, this one stronger than all the others that they have felt so far, Benedikta's expression shifts, and she turns a hardened gaze to the man on the floor.]

What shall we do with him?

["Please! Please spare me...! They made me do it!"]

[If there's anything that convinces him to either try and find something to help speak with the whales or get another bloody tattoo for it, it's now. Even if they might not see them much after this, he has a feeling it won't be the last and it may prove useful in the future.]

It'll be all right, just listen for your cousins.

[For now, he helps Benedikta coax the poor thing, and once it's finally swum through the gate he lets out a low sigh...

...And turns back to the man. The crystal has spread further, both along the ground and up his shoulder. It's quite a fast progression, one that's different from his own. He can only guess it's a different type or perhaps from one of the defense systems that are said to be more fast acting. So he just stares at him, the clothes a dead give away of the truth, and after a moment he just smiles a bit.]

All right. We'll spare you.

[And with that, he climbs up to the top of the ladder before jumping down.]

[Benedikta takes the air, flying down so that she can land on her feet in front of the man. She stares down at him as he trembles, his lip quivering like he's trying not to cry. Pathetic, really.]

How long does the crystal take to spread, do you suppose?

[He looks up at her with pleading eyes, as if she is here to help him, but she simply fixes him with a bored look before she glances at Cid.]

At the rate it's going, might be a few more hours.

[A shrug.]

But it likely won't matter.

[And he'll just walk right on past.]

[Benedikta lingers, watching as he tries to reach for Cid when he walks by, only to be caught in the crystal.

"Wait! No, you can't just leave me—"

Benedikta interrupts his begging with a swift kick to his face, and he half topples over with a bleeding lip.]

Too bad. I would have liked to see how it works.

[There's just a dry smile at that since... Well.]

Unfortunate, but we have better places to be.

[As he speaks, they'll be able to hear the crystal spreading again, down the man's side onto the floor, trapping him in that strange lopsided position, and creeping further up his face.]

[She watches as the crystal spreads, intrigue and anger both masking the horror of it. She feels a tingle along her shoulders, that annoying reminder yet again. He tries to cry out to them, but part of his lips are sealed beneath the crystal now, and all that comes out is a garbled noise that sounds a lot like "please help". With one last lingering look, Benedikta turns on her heel and follows Cid to the door.]

Do say hello to the whales when you see them.

[Her gaze sits on the back of Cid's head as they exit the room, but she draws her focus elsewhere—on the corridor that they step into. Already, there is a wind.]

Which way?

That should have been the last one, so we just need to make our way down to where the main holding area is. Better to check and make sure the whales made it before we head out.

[Whoo he could use a smoke right now, but alas he doesn't have his cigars.]

If I recall, we should be able to take this path.

[Rumbles and shouts can be heard, and the walls and the floor tremble more violently this time as debris is shaken off the ceilings and into their hair. Everything seems closer, or they are getting closer to an exit. Either way, time is ticking and there is not much of it left, and that horrible feeling in the pit of Benedikta's stomach only grows. She recalls the shadow that loomed in the water and how it felt to watch those ships get scooped up by that giant wave...

Her feet carry her with more urgency as they rush through the tunnels and around corners, the wind at their backs to help them move. They pass more cells, Benedikta swallowing back the bile that rises in her throat and the bitter anger that comes with it at the sight of crystals. Shards of it scattered across the floor, chunks of it stuck to the walls, and there are a few with people still inside them, completely encased who can no longer be helped...

But she narrows her eyes at the trail of crystals, small as they are, that glimmer in the dim light.]

Cidolfus, look—

[Some of it crunches under her boot as they follow it... and keep following it until—]

Shit...

[Having gone in front of him, she now comes to a sudden stop when she sees what's in front of them:

Three people, most of their bodies now encased in crystal, on the ground. Standing over them are five guards and one of those large sentries that Benedikta had managed to avoid on her way down. One guard has one man pinned with his foot, another holds a woman by her hair and her throat against the wall as the crystal seals her to it, and the third victim tries desperately to slash at them with his crystallized arm but instead, he swings at the air and stumbles forward and to the ground and into a pool of his own blood.

And what's worse: there is a door at the other end of the corridor...]

[Staying right on her heels, he sees it all the same time she does and is momentarily left stunned. It's a horrific sight, and for a moment time seems to slow as his eyes take it all in. He's seen worse, both here in this world and back in Valisthea. Especially when he sees the face of one he recognizes who could have fled but instead had also worked to help others. He didn't know them personally, only became familiar in passing while he was down here.

But it's probably because of how similar this is to the fate of so many unfortunate Bearers that this all strikes a stronger chord in, how he is reminded of others who had sacrificed themselves or lost their lives in futility that makes something snap.

And in the next moment, Cid has rushed past Benedikta and slammed his crystalized fist into the face of one guard and stabbing them through with his sword.]

Cidolfus—!

[She shouts after him when he rushes past her, a pang of fear desperately tugging at her. But Benedikta doesn't wait. She goes after the one that is holding the woman by her hair, wings and claws already out by the time that she reaches him. She lands a kick to his face and takes him down to the ground, and she plunges the end of the talons into his torso, ripping him apart from the inside while the woman sobs, pressed to the wall as the crystal consumes her quicker than Benedikta can do anything about it. How is it...?

For a moment, she is too distracted to notice anyone else moving, but there's a blur beside her as a guard lunges at Cid with a bludgeon made of the same crystal.]

Shit. Behind!

[And he swings—]

ABDUCTIONS FINALE

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