eleventh bolt ⚡ semi-closed log ➞ treasure hunt

[ramuhs]

Who: The Treasure Hunt Group, the Hideaway crew, and friends
Status: Semi-Open to anyone who has good CR with those in the group and would be interested!
Where: Mysterious island
What: Group sets off to find that treasure before that Hawk Jimins does!
Warnings: None...probably.

I. APPROACHING THE ISLAND

It's a bit of a sail to the island, so there is ample time while on the Enterprise II for those meeting for the first time to greet and get to know one another. For those who may not fare well with those rolling waves, there is enough medicine and rooms that can be used for their own comforts.

But as they near their destination, those tall mountain peaks rising up on the horizon, the once calm waters will turn choppy and darken, the skies shifting from clear blue to cold, bustling gray. As the crew work to keep the ship steady, they'll hear an ominous rumble and bellow before something long and snake-like appears. A large sea serpent, one that doesn't look too dissimilar from the one depicted from Alhaitham's treasure map piece (thanks man) rises up to attack the ship! It's all hands on deck as other smaller mobs scale and jump onto the ship—some sea krait that seem to act more like plundering pirates.

In fact, that's what they are—a band of sea pirates ready to try and take those seeking the "treasure" of the island. Well at least that's a good, if perilous, sign they are on the right track! Unfortunately for the krait, there's a prominent lightning user and many well skilled fighters so this shouldn't be too difficult, right?

II. ESTABLISHING A BASE

After managing to get through the battle, and navigating past some wrecked ships, they find a safe, secluded harbor to dock. This is mostly so they can avoid any potential other treasure hunters, like Hawk Jimins, from noticing. Hm, maybe they should have left that serpent alive for that group—

In any case, it's a safe place for them to dock, unload supplies, and start pitching camp. While the ship is also free to use for room, surely some may prefer sleeping on solid ground. The ship itself is also in need of repair after all that fighting, so most of the Hideaway's ship's crew will tending to its repair so that they can sail off at a moment's notice. After all, they have no idea what is on this island, and while they would like to find that treasure, Cid is not too keen on anyone losing a life over this.

They estimate to be on the island for a few days, and while they've brought plenty of supplies, it never hurts to stock up while here. Everyone is also expected to help out—no slacking off here! Getting water, helping cook, tending fires, helping with any injured or carrying things to and from the ship, every little bit helps! Even though there are many who are not part of the crew Cid will treat and expect everyone as if they are. But not to worry—it's still a friendly atmosphere, and in the evenings meals are always served with gusto and allow everyone to just sit back and relax after a long day of trekking through this strange island.

III. THE ISLAND

According to the map, these are the main features of the island:

• Large mountain range with
  
• some rivers that empty out into a large lake.
  
• There is a large settlement of some kind near it, with large fields and
  
• forests and hills surrounding it.

And while such features do exist, upon exploration the island is found to be...strange. Very strange. It's as if some kind of weather magic catastrophe occurred so that while there is a predominant type of environment, there are also large patches of...odd.

Overall, the island is gloomy. It is consistently overcast without much sunlight with a cold brisk wind that comes and goes. Not too cold to bring snow, at least not during this time of year, but cold enough to need a jacket at least. It's also gloomy enough to bring anyone's mood down if they're not careful. Most of the environment will reflect as much with plants commonly found in similar climes and the earth a bit hard and almost barren outside of the few forests and fields. Which seems a bit odd since the map seems to indicate something more lush... The animals are also not too extraordinary, and they will encounter common ones such as foxes, deer, wolves and bears closer to the mountain.

But then there are those odd patches, and they are not isolated or consistent to one part of the island or the other. A patch of forest swathed in warm sunlight—and always in sunlight even during the night. A part of the lake completely frozen over while the other part is warm, almost boiling, and yet another is perfectly clear, cool, and fresh. Rain falling on an open field. Torrential blizzard on specific spot on the mountain and searing heat where the snow has completely melted to leave barren rock right on the other side. These odd occurrences continue on and on the further they explore, and where two extreme climate settings meet there is a small area where everything seems to be twisted around. A tree half frozen and half burned. Flowers and brushes overgrown from constant rain and sunlight.

And somewhere in the center of it all is an old, long abandoned town. It's clear whoever used to live here moved out, or perhaps already plundered by someone else who has passed through, as there is not much left. Time has eroded much and plans have grown over the walls, but the buildings remain intact. The architecture is from a time centuries ago, but there are hints that this is not some backwater village. Remnants of old technology can be found, many of which are older—and in some cases more advanced—than what's currently around. Ice boxes and coolers, heaters, stoves, electrical wiring—things that could be found in current day Escordvi, yet in a place that looks to have been left behind hundreds of years ago.

In the nearby fields and farms, there are signs of "modern" agricultural technology. Devices that would have helped with plowing and sowing fields, irrigation systems. While they did not have modern Earth vehicles like tractors and used the still common use of large animals, the remnants of plows and wagons are well made and even have some kind of device or stone that reduces its weight, potentially to make it easier for those who push and pull it.

Such other things can be found around the town and farms, and it does seem as if it must have been prosperous. And yet, the current weather and how the fields now look barren with the ground dried and crack, make it seem it would have been impossible.

So how could all this be?

IV. TREASURE HUNTING

The answer to the strange phenomenon lies within the very "treasures" that they seek. While there could be rare valuables in gems and artifacts still stashed away somewhere, either by the original tenants of this island or by pirates and others who have come across this place, there is something that could be far more valuable.

There are strange relics, all of different forms, size, and functions that are near the strange weather phenomena happening all over the island. However, their exact location is still difficult to find, and then to even reach due to all the magic flux going around. There could also be monsters or animals whose nests or dens were made by the relic, and because of that they may be morphed due to the magic around them.

If successful, once removed from the land the relic will putter out and the magic will stop. Although the effects on the environment won't immediately go away, those with more active weather such as rain or blizzard will notice it starting to slow and calm. Examination of the relics will also reveal that they seem to be fragments rather than whole pieces, but they don't fit together. Hmmm. Attempting to use the relic afterwards will reveal that the powers have been significantly reduced, so while it will reproduce the weather effect from before, it will be much more limited in size, scope, and duration.

Scrounging around the town may not reveal much aside from old documents and blueprints of the tech and systems used by the people of this town. A few mention of "setting X weather" to different "levels," which sounds pretty strange, but perhaps it's a clue on the relics found on the island? However, there is a particular map piece that comes with a riddle:

Map Riddle Translation:

A treasure like any untold
Will be found by pirates bold
Seek where the weaver and baker meet
Along with the fishers and butchers on the street

Ruined now it may be
But the past you can see
Under the path, you'll then go far
To reach out among the stars

The location is definitely within the town, and for those who manage to uncover the secret entrance to this mysterious place, they will find the following:

The Secret Chamber:

Stony steps will lead deep underground to a large chamber that gets increasingly hot as one goes down. Not enough to be completely unbearable, but enough to wonder if a large fire or heater had been left. Inside the chamber, everything looks as if they were burned by some explosion. Charred remains of wooden bookshelves, tables, and chairs are the first to be seen, and at the back is a large stone table with a pedestal that used to hold something, but is now empty. Scorch marks are the strongest here, as well as the heat, and it's possible to detect strong, magical influence here.

Although it looks as if whatever survived the explosion had been removed, there are some scattered charred remnants of discarded papers that could hold clues of what this room was used for: torn pages about "harnessing the sun" and adjusting weather patterns, parts of strange illustrations as if to assemble something. There are also remnants of maps to other islands, some with large red X's that aren't ominous at all. Those random areas on the island that just have the sun on all day and night might have some relation to that. Perhaps finding all the relics that involve the sun might be different from the others? (Yes, go find them!)

Besides the treasure, there could be some valuable resources that could be found and taken back, such as foodstuffs, unique animals for their meat and materials, and some extra lumber for the ship.

V. WILDCARD

For anything else! As mentioned in the log, this will take a few days, around 3-5 days max and sometime early in the month. RP timey wimy shenanigans go— Although there's a lot of setting description, it's mostly to be a general idea for everyone to work with. Everyone is free to alter details and have fun with it to be more creative for the threads and findings! There is an ultimate treasure related to all this, so hopefully you picked up the hints 👀 But that can be a part 2 because there's enough going on and don't want to railroad this too much.

Make all the toplevels, pick any relic or place that interests you, and have fun!! There's no specific number of things to find and plenty of ways to overlap and have multiple versions of the same thing, so no worries on that front.

If you have any questions, there is a questions thread! Otherwise HAVE FUN.

Comments

Cidolfus Telamon | Final Fantasy XVI | Corsair

[ramuhs]

⚡ i. big snek

[He had hoped Alhaitham's map piece wasn't an actual warning and was more decorative or a trick to try and scare people off, but alas. It seems it was true and now they have a giant water snake and krait to deal with.

After frying a few krait with his lightning, he looks at those who have gathered around.]

Keep those snakes off the ship! Anyone who can fly, follow me—we'll deal with the big one.

[Who wants to join their captain to do a big boss fight? With Cid the main lightning wielder and being able to levitate and fly around, he'll be able to charge up and wield powerful lightning magic to try and keep the giant sea serpent away. Storm of lightning where countless bolts strike the giant beast, to conjuring spears to try and move in closer. Those who fly around will be great distractions as well to keep the sea serpent from targeting the ship.]

⚡ ii. tinkering around

[While he will certainly be out and about eying some of those strange patches of weather, he's mostly leaving it to the others to try and venture forth for their finds.

But for some time, Cid will be investigating the town, particularly out in the fields where he'll find those remnants of machines. Some of them are familiar because of what is already available, but others have unique features to them that he can't help but be curious...

...And try to put back together and get working again, even possibly trying to improve it.

This comes with mixed results:
a) Success! The machine will start to operate again, even if a bit wonky given the conditions.
b) Partial success! The machine starts! ...Annnd then it kind of coughs smokes and dies. Damn, what did he do wrong... Is he missing a part?
c) Catastrophe. Not only is this a failure, but it's causing havoc around the area. Help put a stop to it!!

As for what kind of machines Cid is tinkering with, there are:
1) a self-driving plow that has something of a rudimentary motor system through a system of gears and chains that allows it to move forward once cranked up
2) an automatic seeder that rotates around and spreads seed around in a wide area
3) a water irrigation system with pipes and hoses to automatically water areas
4) a special harvester made with some rotating scythes set lot to the ground and would be pulled behind a cart or wagon
5) a saw conveyor belt where logs at the saw mill travel over the belt to be cut by rotary circular saws that rise and fall on their own

There can be others of course! All of them can also be affected by that mysterious "setting X weather to different levels" instruction. As for how catastrophic a failure can be, it can be catastrophic and terrible as we want. That includes flying saws everywhere—]

⚡ iii. goats ahoy!

[Thanks to Cid somehow taming this herd, the base camp will have a small number of them around. They are quite partial to Cid and will listen to him, though with anyone else...well. They tend to be quite bossy and even try to "help" their new "master" by proving themselves as Corsairs and stealing things they think Cid might like. So those pants? That book? That plate of food that was about to be eaten?]

Does this belong to anyone?

[Cid will have to find the proper owner instead, giving a bit of a wry apology.]

Uh, don't mind the bite marks and slobber, should come out with a good wash.

[Anything can be taken, so have fun with it! Other options for this include any general mayhem and trouble the goats are causing. Some may even find some goats resting by Cid whenever he's not moving around and just resting at camp. At least they'll have a nice new source of goat's milk, cheese, and wool???

They can be even more of a menace on the ship, finding their masts a great place to practice their climbing and jumping skills. At least they are sure of footing and won't fall on anyone? However something else might fall and make swabbing the "poop deck" even more literal... Birds are so much better to handle—]

⚡ wildcard

[All other prompts are open! He's free to join someone for some treasure relic hunting, just pick a random weather combo and they gooo! Feel free to hit me up on discord or laenavesse]

II Disaster Cid

[wherethereislight]

[Hope he warned people to keep their distance, in case one of the machines starts to go haywire. Like a mechanical demon, the harvester has been let loose into the area, slicing and dicing through more than just the grass. It kicks up dirt behind it as it goes, grinding into sticks, rocks, whatever else. Seem like nothing it ate could slow it down. The path forward leads it toward the town. Even if no one has lived there for some time, clues can get destroyed, people caught in harms way.

It just so happens Shadow was in the area and seeing the potential incoming danger, will jump in to make it not an issue anymore. By shoving the harvester to lay on it's side. The machine to still whirs with life, scythes still rotating dangerously even if it can't move. A chaos spear forms in his hand in preparation to shut it down perminently if he isn't stopped.]

[ramuhs]

[Fortunately he did leave warnings to anyone who was around. However, that only works for those who are around at the time, and once he starts who knows how much time has passed for more chaos and such to occur. But he's not so surprised things kind of... Go off kilter. Although having Shadow's help is unexpected, it's not unappreciated, and fortunately that spear won't be necessary.]

I got it, Shadow!

It's going to get zapped by lightning instead, which will overload the mechanisms and stop it just as well...with maybe a few bits burned, but eh. That's what repairs are for.]

While appreciated, bit more salvageable this way.

[wherethereislight]

[But what does he destroy now? :(

He lowers the spear soon as Cid calls out, dissapating in his hand.] Watch what you're doing. [Hello, someone is grumpy, grumpier then usual.]

[ramuhs]

[Something that's not potentially valuable!!! Honestly, it's hard to tell if that's grumpier than usual. But he just smiles all the same.]

Aye, bit of a hazard when trying to figure out how this "old tech" worked.

[He's now reached the harvester and is crouching down, expecting it before he glances up at Shadow.]

Don't suppose you'd like to lend a hand?

[wherethereislight]

[He gives Cid a pointed look, crossing his arms.]

Didn't I help stop it? [That's your help. He's been a bit elusive around Cid this whole trip. Not wanting to do something untoward by being in their presence. He hasn't forgotten what they did on that crystal island. And yes, he's still not happy how things went. So any interaction has only been what's necessary.]

[ramuhs]

Then perhaps you should stay around in case it acts up again.

[Whether he noticed or not, Cid was naturally giving Shadow his space... Until now. But he won't push too hard, knowing how prickly the hedgehog can be.

Won't stop him from asking a few questions he's had over a certain network post, though, which will come in due time.]

I'll even let you break it if needed.

[wherethereislight]

. . . [He looks to the harvester, standing and waitng. This going into the village would cause issues and being given the ok break it if it acts up? Fine. Cid has managed to keep him here, for now.]

[ramuhs]

[Ah ha, he's managed to keep the grumpy one here! Success. There's a bit of a satisfied grin at that before he looks back down at the machine.]

Think you can give me a hand and lifting this over to that shed over there?

[wherethereislight]

[Keep smiling like that and he'll just leave this to the next sucker to deal with it. Also, already making him do all the hard work, old man?

...Well he did knock this thing over, he suppose. He walks to it's side, and proceeds to lift it back upright on his own. It's back to how it was, before it went on a rampage. You can push it the rest of the way, surely.]

[ramuhs]

[Honestly, he was expecting a flat refusal, so he's a little surprised but pleased when Shadow helps. And yes, he can roll it back on his own.

Now he could have just kept quiet... Despite how he may seem, although sociable Cid isn't a chatterbox and he can stay content to work in silence. However, he has questions. Once back at the shed, when Shadow thinks he might have some peace as Cid grabs his tool box and crouches down to investigate the harvester again—]

So, Amy is it? She's from your world?

[wherethereislight]

[And he will follow him from behind. Once at the shed, he moves toward the back, leaning himself against the wall where he had a view of the outside and Cid working on the harvester.

He would have preferred the work being done in silence, but this is Cid. He can't shut up. The subject moving to Amy though...he suppose she was a new face. Why talk to him about this? That's a question Amy could easily answer for him.]

What about her? [Just get to the point.]

[ramuhs]

Just thought it surprising you brought her along, and since you don't strike me the type to just have anyone join you, I can only assume you are friends.

[Is that straight to the point enough—

And with these kinds of questions, would he really want to Cid to hear the answers from Amy?]

big snek

[indispensable]

[If Alhaitham were asked he'd say that the fact that they were able to find any of this based off the few pieces they had is nothing short of a miracle. He doesn't know exactly how Cid's managed to pull it off, but its hard to not be impressed by the older man's resourcefulness... its certainly an asset, especially in these current times.

Still, no amount of resourcefulness can really prepare them for the giant sea serpent that'd decided to emerge from the depths. The good news is that now that Alhaitham is no longer totally rendered useless by being out at sea, he can actually help out for once.

He may not be able to fly, but height isn't much of a problem with his ability to flicker—and once he's gotten himself set up at the crow's nest, it's time to dish out some pain. Dendro projectiles in the shape of swords rain down from above, striking the snakes on deck, and when he's able to Alhaitham also tosses out some of them in the direction of the large serpent in the waters. It's hard to say if they will make their mark, but at least he can say that he gave it a shot.]

[ramuhs]

[Even if they don't make the mark, the serpent is forced to move when those projectiles come at it, and Cid takes that opportunity to hurl a few lances in the shape of lightning bolts at its other side. Which of course makes it angry to have its hide scorched so it swings back the other way.]

It's coming back at you, Alhaitham!

[indispensable]

[Cid's warning isn't exactly necessary, since its kind of hard to miss the lasing of a giant sea beast, but it is appreciated all the same. Alhaitham moves quickly, jumping right out of the nest before he can get hit; his glider unfurls itself as soon as he's in the air, and with how strong the sea breeze is it keeps him aloft.

As he glides Alhaitham takes the chance to throw out a few more of his Dendro projectiles; they don't quite hit, but they do graze against the beast, and with all the water around bloom cores pop up from the points where the reaction had occurred, though without anything to keep them suspended they all drop straight into the sea.]

[ramuhs]

[Even if they aren't direct hits, it's still doing good damage and keeping the leviathan on the move as Cid and others continue on their end.

Seeing him out on the glider, however, Cid will fly over to check in on him.]

Need any help?

[He had noticed those bloom controls just kind of fall.]

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham sends over a look to Cid when the elder man swings over to him, expression sitting somewhere between exasperation and disapproval.]

I'm fine. [He says, loudly, over the roar of the waves and the general chaos going on around them.] Just focus on your own battle.

[And maybe, you know, make good use of those bloom cores that he's making before they disappear into the sea.]

[ramuhs]

[Well maybe!! If he told him how!! He only remembers how Kaveh kind of self-exploded with them—]

All right, just don't get too caught up in the winds.

[Especially when he and Benedikta use their magic, tends to create a bit of a storm.

But at that moment the leviathan turns to them and he's quick to fly forward, sword in hand to try and get in a more physical hit.]

[indispensable]

[Aren't you a smart man Cid you're supposed to just know these things—

Regardless, Alhaitham nods, and as Cid returns to the fray Alhaitham finishes gliding across the distance to reach one of the other masts of the ship. The landing is nothing to talk about, but the important thing is that it gives Alhaitham enough of a footing to aim his gaze and activate his Vision as he flickers to near the top, giving himself enough height and leverage to resume his earlier attack. Dendro projections in the shape of swords rain down to the desk once more as he tosses more towards the beat, doing his best to deal whatever damage that he can inflict.]

[ramuhs]

[He'll figure it out. And that moment when by chance Cid is fired off his own barrage of lightning orbs, the bolts spreading out to charge over the sea serpent's body. In doing so, some of the bolts strike the cores that were out there to cause them to explode.]

[indispensable]

[With how scattered the Bloom cores get, it was a matter of time before one of them get hit with Cid's lightning, and Alhaitham watches with some satisfaction as the core catalyzes from the electro energy, turning into a streak of pure energy that hones straight to the beast and explodes right in its face. With the nature of Dendro its hard to say how much damage it's actually caused, but the screeching and thrashing that ensues suggest that its certainly nothing to be ignored.

Alhaitham uses his flicker to get himself upward and away, glider unfurling once more as he moves to another area. Staying in one spot is just going to open him up for attack, so its best to move after something like that since he has no doubt that the beast is going to retaliate fairly hard in response, and he's not going to let himself be the proverbial sitting duck.]

[ramuhs]

[Ah— Seeing the explosions Cid is finally reminded of the cores that Kaveh uses. Well, at least Alhaitham isn't blowing himself up with them— But he'll keep a lookout for them, targeting them whenever he sees them.

And as expected, the sea serpent lashes out in retaliation, its tail raising from the waters to try and smack not only those in the air, but also the ship. Seeing this, Cid shouts to those on the ship to activate the barrier, which goes up just in time. The tail will slam down on the magical barrier, and while it hold the first impact, it may not handle a second or third as cracks can be seen. Still, it's enough to buy enough time for Cid and the others to try push it back, Cid flinging spears of lightning to drive it further away.

Although they may seem like gnats against such a beast, they are doing considerable damage and just a bit more of a push will be needed... But at this rate, Cid may need to semi-prime to deal the final blow to this thing.]

[indispensable]

[Don't worry Cid, the only guy insane enough to blow himself up with them is Kaveh.

Thankfully, Alhaitham is still in the air when the sea serpent strikes back, but even seeing the barrier come up doesn't stop the way his heart briefly leaps up to this throat when he sees the beast fling its tail in his (the boat's) direction. Even if it holds steady, the resulting SMACK and vibrations that still carry across is nothing to shake a stick at.

Alhaitham uses his flicker to cross the rest of the distance to the other mast, tossing out more of his Dendro projectiles once he's set himself back up. It's a lot harder for him to land hits now since the monster is being driven back, but at least they're not entirely wasted as the projectiles making contact with the sea produces more Bloom cores, even if they can only be visible briefly before getting swallowed by the choppy waves.]

[ramuhs]

[LET'S PUT AN END TO THIS SHALL WE!?

Whenever he sees those cores, Cid will take advantage of them to shoot out his lightning to make them explode, doubling the damage Alhaitham is providing. Honestly these work out well since it means he doesn't have to form his own orbs that function similarly and thus saving some of his own energy. Energy that he will now need as this has gone on quite long enough.

Now considerably weakened, with scales ripped off from various attacks and the water churning red from the amount of blood spilled from the krait and serpent, it's clear if given more time they could either drive it back or kill it. But Cid can tell people are starting to struggle and there's no point in exhausting them further. It's also probably better if they kill this thing so they don't have to worry about it later.

So he's going to give one final rallying cry, for everyone who is able to fire everything they have at the serpent. As they do, he'll fly up and semi-prime. Thunder clouds have long since gathered above them, but once everyone has taken their shots, there will just be a loud snap, a sound so crisp and clear that it echoes through the air before a loud roaring BOOM follows as a massive surge of lightning strikes the head of the serpent. Electricity shoots down its entire body, the surge lasting for several long seconds that it even strikes the water to bring it to a boil.

When it finally ends, the serpent will fall lifeless into the water, the large waves pushing the ship back before it all settles. Any surviving krait will also retreat.

Seeing all this, Cid lets out an exhale before transitioning back and flying back down to the ship, shaking his hand a little bit. At least he's not hacking up blood when he does anymore, he still feels a little of that tingle.]