TDM #3

[calderaevents]

TDM #3

ARRIVAL (new characters only)

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

The Tavernkeeper offers more than just answers, of course. This is a tavern after all, and what is a tavern without drinks?

DRINK MENU (new characters only)

PUMPKIN SPICE The second this delectable drink hits your tongue, you have the overwhelming urge to tell someone a story - specifically about something unbelievable that happened to you, be it true or not.

BLACK CAT You finish most sentences with cat-like mewls, trills, and other such sounds.

SINFUL CIDER made from a particular variety of apples with a sharp intense flavor and a smooth caramel finish, the tart sweetness blends perfectly with the spices. Suddenly you feel like you need to confess something. Past sins? A deep, deep desire? A secret? Anything that you simply wouldn't admit under most circumstances, it seems like a fabulous time to unburden yourself.

BEETLEJUICE A Calderan fall delicacy, the drink is made by marinating beetles in a strong liquor reminiscent of malort. drinking 3 of them in a row is a common challenge, if you can stomach it...

HOT CHOCOLATE The standard fare with or without marshmallows. Drinking this makes you want to cuddle up with someone - anyone, really - especially by a fire.

RAMBLER You are prone to rambling and being generally more verbose than usual.

VANILLA BOURBON An aged bourbon with a strong vanilla finish… though be warned, it might make you more… vanilla than usual.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

---

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, with airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here, but due to recent events the amount of airships in the docks are limited. Travel is still possible, but there may be some delay while they ferry people back and forth. The locals speak of the day the sky fell and close inspection or further prodding provides new arrivals with some idea of what had happened a few weeks prior: a piece of Heaven's Bow had broken off, leaving many losing family members and friends to the tragedy. Attempts to rebuild are slow going.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

Down near where land meets sea, a large crater has formed from the piece of Heaven's Bow that landed there weeks before. Debris still scatters the landscape, and rescue efforts are ongoing even if hopes of finding people alive are slim to none these days. Broken columns of once majestic buildings lay in pieces, and the earth itself seems to be weeping with molten rock that has been unearthed by the impact.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

Much like the cities above, transportation is a little delayed. Much of the manpower usually kept for upkeeping the docks has been diverted to repairing pieces of the bubble that have started to leak. Not enough to truly worry the inhabitants of Salt Spire, but enough that it's slowing down a lot of other areas of the city while people work to fix it.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

Visitors in all starter cities are offered a standard home with basic necessities provided (your choice in design, etc.) that can house 1-4 people if they so choose. Home upgrades can be purchased via rewards.

THE SPIRIT OF FALL

With everything that's happened recently, Calderans are ready to fall into autumn. Harvests from Dryad territories are coming in strong with pumpkins and apples overflowing the markets--the harvests have been particularly bountiful this year, and the locals are certain it has something to do with the Visitors' efforts.

Given the extra bounty, a temporary café has opened in Grey Ward. Wander in with a good book and experience the aromas that will greet you at the door: apple crisp, pumpkin bread, cider donuts... the smell of all sorts of sweets and deserts with an autumnal twist. The pumpkin spiced latte seems to be a favorite drink among the locals.

Of course, it's not only Grey Ward participating in the fall spirit. Head to Heaven's Bow for tastes of all sorts of soups to warm yourself as the days grow cooler, especially where the winds are strong. Everything from pumpkin to roasted red pepper, most served with hot cider--spiked, of course, with a cinnamon-based whiskey upon request.

Far below in Salt Spire you can expect to find the market stalls serving hot pot and oden, a savory stew full of tofu, daishi, and a variety of vegetables and noodles. You might even wish to purchase sake that has been aging since the spring, its flavor a perfect complement to any meal--though steamed buns seem to be a favorite for social gatherings.

Whatever you might like to celebrate the comforts of autumn, the harvest is bountiful and Caldera seems to be healing--at least for the moment.

SHADOWS IN THE SEA

There's a buzz in Salt Spire that something is happening at the Fogbottom Docks. Upon investigating, Visitors will find lines of people waiting to hop onto the crystalline ship docked there, the side of it etched with the words: Princess Harriet's Haunted Boat Tours. Princess Harriet herself, a middle-aged Undine with wild curls of coral atop her head and a billowing dress of blue and green seaweed stands at the head of the ship, ushering people aboard.

"Welcome Calderans and Visitors alike to Princess Harriet's Haunted Boat Tour! Come and see the spirits that haunt the deep dark seas! Hear tales of romance, adventure, and tragedy like none you have ever heard before! Just 10 Bones apiece and we shall set sail once the seats are full!"

The seats are full quickly, but should you manage to get on board, the inside of the ship is large and dimly lit, blue flame candles casting odd shadows along the rows of seats and the others along for the tour.

The ship sets off out of Salt Spire and into the sea. Each landmark is met with a new tale of a different ghost.

"And here," Harriet chimes in. "In Cordelia's Rest. You know, it's said that those that perish at sea will often find their way here, following the light like a beacon. With it dimmed by unknown forces, who knows how many poor souls will be lost forever..." She weeps theatrically into her hand, stopping a few seconds later to continue speaking of the local spirits.

More stories are told with each stop - the tale of the Sylph and Undine lovers that tragically ended when the sylph tried to dive into the ocean to be with their lover and did not anticipate the fall (a story that, given Heaven's Bow's disaster a few months prior, unsettles many in an unintended way). Then there are the ghosts that haunt the Violet Drop - yet another with unpleasant implications given recent events concerning a certain Cult. But that did not stop Harriet in the slightest, who went on and on until the boat started to jerk wildly when they neared too close to Anchor Wash and its dangerous currents.

"Fear not, folks! I am sure that is just the thousands of ghosts of dead sailors that have- gods above, what is that!?" There is true terror in her voice as the ship shook and rattled, a massive shadow passing along the outside of it - large and indiscernible in its shape. For a moment, whatever it was seems to pass by without issue. But just as Harriet begins to speak again, the ship jerks violently, sending passengers flying into the sides of the vessel, into each other, and onto the floor. Harriet's assurances fall on deaf ears while everyone is shaken about like a toy in a dog's mouth, the ship creaking ominously. The helmsman shouts for aid through the bird-shaped communication device, but who knows how long it will be before help arrives.

They did not confiscate your weapons upon boarding, and there are rebreathers on the ship. Harriet shouts that someone has to help, because she's pretty sure ghosts aren't this strong. If you choose to assist and venture outside the vessel, you are met with the odd sight of shadowy tendrils wrapping themselves around the ship with the intent to crush it, the source of the arcane energy coming from a crack in the ocean floor below. Thankfully, the shadows seem to be corporeal enough to hit with mundane weapons - although magic ones seem to dispel them faster. Take them out and make sure you get back on board before the ship sails back to Salt Spire, those tendrils are dangerous, and being around them too long makes you feel dizzy and disoriented.

DECEASED BY DAWN

In the darkness of night, you feel... something. It claws at the edges of your mind and fills you with a feeling of dread, ice cold fingers wrapping around you as it pulls and pulls... You wake up in a strange, dark forest; the trees are too dense to see the sky, and there is no moonlight to peak through the leaves. There may be others near you or there may not, but as you wander it's clear that this is no place for mortals. You feel eyes on your back no matter where you go, your heart races because of this immense unknown and the strange situation at hand... What happened? Why were you sent here?

You are powerless. You could hide. Or you could fight.

A face you may recognize seems to duck behind a wall of bricks--was that there before?--and you hear a soft growl nearby.

You, and anyone you've found yourself with, are being hunted.

You have a sense that you need to escape the forest before the sun fully peeks over the horizon, or you may find yourself at the receiving end of a hag's hunting. Escaping the forest is straightforward enough: a portal that needs to be activated by collecting various items of import from your past, scattered throughout the forest.

Just make sure not to fall into any of the hag's traps, or you may find yourself deceased by dawn.

MURDER MYSTERY

The full bounty of the Dryad people’s harvest is on display, particularly the wide, colorful assortment of gourds from, you guessed it, Gourdmill. Loading up in a hay cart and touring the patches to select the perfect pumpkin is a long standing tradition–just don’t make too much noise about carving one where the locals can hear, because Gourdmillians get persnickety about that particular tradition (why waste a perfectly good pumpkin when a nasty old turnip from the Burrow is right there.

Speaking of the Burrow, the Berry Bakers are selling their famous hand pies in nearly every flavor of fruit tree and bush berry imaginable, and are trying something new to bring more attention to their little corner of the land: an escape room! Billed as “The Haunting of Hollow Barn”, it costs only a few bones for entry, and participating groups must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Old Farmer Kelly, who vanished this very month, from this very barn, long long ago.

The barn itself was in disrepair and had an eeriness to it already, but has been decorated with flickering lanterns, thick cobwebs, and scatters of bones (animal bones, but play along!). The first clue is easy to find: a cracked leather bound diary which seems to detail the farmer’s last night alive. Following these cryptic clues will lead the group to a hay bale, beneath which is a small compartment in the floor. This compartment contains a second clue: a puzzle box with a cylindrical lock. The symbols and the order they must be placed in harken back to an old nursery rhyme. Once unlocked, the puzzle box is found to contain four colorful, glowing stones, which, when held up, emit a light that reveals hidden messages painted on the walls. Following these messages and instructions will lead to uncovering four lanterns, each one the same color as the stone that revealed its location. Once the stone is placed inside, and the lanterns are placed on the right hangers, the group will hear a click, as the cellar door opens.

Descending the dark, musty stares, they will find the ghost of Old Farmer Kelly (definitely not a poor, bedraggled farmer whose wife talked him into this, doused with flour that puffs softly every time he tries not to cough), who recites a riddle: “Take me out of a window, and I leave a grieving wife. But stick me in a door, and I can save the poor man's life. What am I?” With the correct answer given, the ghost will declare that you have freed his tormented soul and as such you are free as well, and produce the key to the barn door.

Should one fail to solve the puzzles in time, one is doomed to perish in the barn and their spirit will haunt it forever (or, Miss Maisie Weston will retrieve you at the end of the time limit, and you don't get a prize). Any questions as to what actually happened to Old Farmer Kelly, and what the riddle has to do with anything, will be met with blank stares, a vague muttering attempt at a ghostly sound, and puffs of flour dust as he ushers you out; one must remember this was an elaborate mystery thrown together by a farming community, so please just take your prize (one free hand pie!) and move along.

QUESTBOARD

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's third TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly. The tavern and the offered drinks are currently only accessible to new arrivals.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored!

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

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Comments

[shark_girl]

She sent the anchor over without a moment's hesitation, making sure only that it was secured on the boat. "If they don't need the heads and they trust us, then easier not to bother. Really, I don't need the bones..." The money and power it gave was an added bonus. "I just think I'll enjoy knowing there's a few less murderers in this world. Sounds like I'm not alone in this."

As soon as the anchor went taut, she looked back at him and her teeth flashed, sharp as daggers. "You ready?" No, she wasn't at all bothered by a little blood.

[odare]

"Thought you wanted your gills to work again?" He asks, a brow raised. Isn't that why she's doing this? Either way, so long as she'll help him with this he doesn't really care.

"No, you're not. I'm sick of losing sleep worrying about the kids on my beach."

Finnick hops up onto the bow of the boat gracefully, offering his hand to pull her up with him so they can dive off the front. He checks that he has what he needs- really, all he needs is his trident and the backup water-breathing potion. Anything else will slow him down. He takes off his shirt.

"Ready."

[shark_girl]

She glanced over her shoulder at him. There was a wan way in which she smiled. "I want my gills to work... but I want to do what's right. And making sure these guys don't hurt anyone else? If I happen to get what I want? Bonus. I'd do it even if there wasn't a reward. That's all." She gave a nod. "Alright, let's do this thing."

She took his hand and got to the front, ready for the jump. She left her hoodie behind, down to a very simple swimsuit. She might not have been supernaturally fast, but her skin was still built for decent swimming. "Three..." two... one!

She jumped in, though once in the water, she'd let him take the lead. He knew where to likely find these bastards.

[odare]

I want to do what's right. Finnick is incredibly jaded by his own experiences, so the sentiment strikes him as naive, despite the fact that Finnick is actually doing it for the exact same reason. In fact, there is no reward for him now, since he already claimed his Bones for this quest. Perhaps he just hasn't... Admitted his own reasoning to himself yet, because he doesn't think of himself as any sort of hero. He feels more like he just has to do this without really examining why.

Still, her motivation being not just the money heartens him, and he nods.

"Me too. Let's go."

Once she counts down, he dives in after her with barely a splash. He pauses to make sure she's all good before swimming down ahead of her, motioning for her to follow him.

Breathing underwater still feels... Wrong, but it's also amazing. It's so much more freeing to swim knowing that he physically cannot drown.

He leads her down the side of an underwater cliff, and the purple glow becomes more intense. He's not trying to be particularly stealthy; he doesn't see much point in it now, since he plans to kill them on sight anyway. He searches around, wondering if there's anyone here this time. If there's anyone left to kill, even.

[shark_girl]

They shared that 'have to do it cause it needs to get done' piece in common. But he wasn't wrong about her being naive. That was one thing about her. She could have a hopelessly black and white view of some things at times. Still, it wasn't a problem today.

She was as fast behind him as she could, being a strong swimmer by nature. The rebreather was as wrong to her as the gills were to him, but she was keeping up all the same. When she saw the purple glow in the distance, her eyes narrowed and she nodded to herself, keeping the knife handy, ready to go.

There were shadows up ahead, motion. She gestured in their direction, baring her fangs. Were those what he meant?

cw violence

[odare]

He definitely clocks it, but no, it isn't an issue here. Nor is it really an issue in general- it's just a difference between them he notes. Really, it's nice that some young people can have hope for the world, or whatever. He thinks that sort of energy is needed, but it's not the kind of energy he has at this juncture. He's given up. Except... Not on beating these cultists, apparently.

He follows her finger as she points at the shadows. He didn't catch those. He nods, taking his trident off his back and swimming toward them.

It seems the scum are still multiplying like rabbits, and there's four of them here, convened and chatting. Thankfully, they do not currently seem to have a sacrifice, but it seems like they're getting ready to go find one, suiting themselves up and discussing plans. He looks at Tess again, making sure she's ready before beckoning for her to follow him and swimming right over to the cultists. Since they aren't busy, he figures they may put up more of a fight, and it's clear they're strong swimmers as all native undine are. One of them goes right for Finnick, and he slashes his trident at them swiftly. A small amount of blood blooms into the water, and the cultist tries to grab him, but he swiftly moves out of the way.

definitely violence... and death!

[shark_girl]

While Tess wasn't supernaturally fast, she was still a good natural swimmer. The woman had spent vast portions of her life swimming in potentially dangerous waters and knew how to handle herself easily here. As soon as they were moving in, she was coming right up with her fangs ba... damnit, rebreathers. Fuck rebreathers.

Whatever, she had the knife out and when another of them came at her, she took a swipe. As they tried to grab her, they blinked and pulled back, their hand in light pain for just a split second as they realized what her skin was like. It wasn't any serious damage, but ... the knife stab she followed up probably was a lot worse for them. Their bodies were on their way over, but hopefully she could reduce their numbers by one.

more excessive violence

[odare]

Fighting in water is one thing, and fighting underwater is much trickier. There's no solid surface to put your foot on to get any power for a good stab. You have to get creative. Thankfully, Finnick's always been pretty creative. He swims up, grabbing the cultist by the hair and bashing their nose against his own forehead. More blood instantly clouds the water, and while the cultist is stunned, he grips their shoulder and stabs them through the chest with his three sharp points. Pulling his weapon out then, he allows their body to sink.

He looks back over to Tess, ensuring she doesn't need help in a dire way at the moment, before heading for another cultist.

[shark_girl]

Oh, they were definitely both on the creative side. True, she wasn't in top form, but fighting and hunting underwater were normal to her. As soon as one of them tried to stick her with a spear, she grabbed for the haft of it. It barely missed, but that was all she needed. she gripped the haft, using it as leverage and one knife stab later four had become two.

She tried to keep a grip on the thing but it had too many barnacles and coral bits on it. It wasn't going to be any good for her, so she let it and the bleeding, grunting fool drop slowly into the water, just in time for her to see the two of them getting the same idea of reducing the number of attackers. However, as they tried to move to team up on him, she was swimming right up at another of them, trying to grab them from behind, to keep them held steady, so that he could either focus on one attacker or she could keep this one busy long enough.

Either way, they were kicking like crazy as she snarled at them.

[odare]

Tess seems to be holding her own, thankfully. He tries to get enough speed swimming toward the other two cultists to land a good jab, and thankfully does. However, that cultist is angry and quick, and swipes a dagger at his outstretched arm, slicing it open. Finnick recoils and puts space between himself and the cultist, needing his range advantage. He grits his teeth and swings, trying to land a slash on them.

[shark_girl]

She saw him get hit. She smelled the blood in the water. Not good. Probably something he could handle, but they didn't need him getting hurt too much. When one came after her, she swiped with her knife, forcing him back a little, allowing her to grab him from behind. There was a thrashing as she winced, her skin digging into him. More importantly, though, she was grabbing to hold on with her hands squeezing right on the bastard's gills.

He wouldn't last long like this, and she needed to get to Finnick quickly. As his form started to thrash less, she growled through the water, shark teeth very much apparent, just as the one went limp and she started to swim in Finnick's direction. Probalby not dead, but they could deal with him when he came to.

[odare]

This last cultist is fast, and it's hard to hit them without getting slashed himself. He's able to cut them up a bit and get another small stab in, but they're still not going down. However, the cultist doesn't notice that Tess is behind them, giving her a pretty good opening to do her worst.

[shark_girl]

If he was doing this good at keeping that last one busy, she was more than willing to come up behind and stab him in the back. Human sacrificing cultists didn't get any quarter of playing nice. Tess lunged in while he was focused on Finnick, the knife going in right below the ribcage and cutting upwards. There was a fountain of red and they started to wince, struggling as the knife dug in deeper, dropping their weapon even as she pulled back.

They were still clawing, but it was a losing battle now.

[odare]

Finnick watches the cultist's face twist in pain and dread as blood blooms all around him. Perfect. There's a satisfaction in it, taking down these people who harm children and other innocent people. Finnick feels he's doing his part to keep people safe.

As the cultist's movement slows at the rapid loss of blood, Finnick stabs them through the throat for good measure, then yanks them off his spear and pushes them downward so he and Tess aren't bathing in blood so much.

He surveys the area for further threats. They all seem to be at least unconscious now, so Finnick gives Tess a thumbs up and cocks his head with a raised brow, as it asking to confirm that they're all dead.

[shark_girl]

She swam down, and with a swift jerk of the knife-wielding hand, one last unconscious became one last dead cultist. They'd already said no quarter, and she meant it. Leave them for the fish to feed on. A look around and then she gave him a thumbs up in return, nodding and then gesturing to his arm.

They were alone. They should get that checked out.

[odare]

She's pretty badass, he thinks. She'd have slayed in the Games, but thank God she never had to worry about that.

He watches the bodies float downward, wondering how many are down there in the glowing purple depths and what might be left of them. It's not a fun thought.

His arm. Oh. He forgot about it. He can hardly feel it, given how cold his body is and the adrenaline coursing through him, but it's still bleeding. He waves a hand dismissively, his facial expression conveying that it's not a big deal. Besides, there's nothing they can do about it until they're on land again, so he points upward and begins to swim toward the surface.

[shark_girl]

She definitely would have been a scary thing in the games. When she went full-tilt in a fight it could get ugly at times. Watching them float and disappear out of sight, she nodded once and then put their deaths out of her mind. Death wasn't something she sought out, but it was also something she could feel very cool towards, all things considered. It was... natural for a shark.

As soon as he started towards the surface, she nodded once and followed at an easy pace. once in a while, she looked around, hating the way that the rebreather affected her ability to see unobstructed. her eyes felt so much more natural when there wasn't a mask and rebreather to work with, after all. Hopefully she'd have that back soon. As she made her way towards the boat and broke the surface, she took hold of any ladder to get up, scrambling up and offering him a hand to help him out.

"One less problem... four of them, in fact." Nope, not going to mourn them. Fuck em.

[odare]

Finnick surfaces next to her, chucking his spear into the boat as she climbs the ladder. He then climbs in after her, taking her hand.

"Yeah. Good work. Thankfully no dolphins that time, too. But god damn, there are so many cultists. I must have killed a dozen by now and they're still down there." He starts pulling up the anchor.

[shark_girl]

"That's how cults are. They send the expendables on jobs like this. There's always someone behind the scenes." She scowled a little. "I would hope Tr...this Triton would roll over in his tomb if he knew what they did in his name. I'm pretty sure the one in my world would flip his conch shell."

[odare]

"Well, if there's someone bigger and badder to fight, I'd love to find and kill them, too. Then these low-level freaks would hopefully stop spawning."

Finnick finally attends to his forearm, which is still bleeding. He looks around for some kind of fabric to wrap around it, but there isn't much.

"Pretty big oversight not to have a first aid kit on my boat..." He mutters as he rummages around.

[shark_girl]

"Finding whoever's responsible would probably help them at least stop recruiting new members, yeah." Of course they'd actually have to pull that off. She saw him looking around for something to wrap his arm in and frowned, going to help him with the rummage. "There has to be something that can serve. Worst comes to worst, I've got a shirt. We can use that and I'll get it cleaned after. Got a bathing suit on anyway."

[odare]

"I'll use my shirt, it's fine."

He finds his shirt on the deck and tries to wrap it around his arm, attempting to tie it with one hand and his teeth. Hopefully the blood stain will come out, and there's no weird fish bacteria on his shirt that'll give him an infection.

[shark_girl]

She nodded as he started to tie it off, taking that as good enough for the moment while she went to the ropes and started checking them, grunting. "Ok, but let's get you back to land. So we can get that checked out properly. Just in case." She did know the seas well enough that sea water wasn't always good for cuts.