melodiesoflife | Player Plot: The Crystal Caves

[ For a long moment, Sheena's quiet as she walks along, unaware of the others around her talking until Sparks repeats her words, snapping her to attention.

Not stopping, she turns to him and nods. ]

Yes. [ She hesitates. ] It's a very long story, and I'll tell it to you some time if you want, but whenever the world's mana was declining, those known as "The Chosen One" would go on a pilgrimage to the Tower of Salvation to bring mana back to the world. If they failed, they didn't come back.

They remained in the Tower of Salvation...entombed.

[ Hundreds...thousands...of Chosens who had failed swirling about them in the Tower. Not exactly an image you forget. ]

The shape and what it may mean reminded me of that.

[ Giving him a wan smile, she continues on, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead on Jade, this time paying attention to what's being said around her. After Sephiroth's comment about the way they arrived, Sheena tilts her head in thought, wondering what had happened before her arrival that she had appeared at the Crystal of Water. She's going to have to look into that. Maybe it's a clue to...something.

Like a lack of power in the other Crystals? Or it's a shared powered that moves from Crystal to Crystal? She shakes her head. She's really going to have to start paying attention more to things.

But oh, how familiar and similar to what she knows all of this is.

Except for the room they're in--although that one sword looks awfully familiar. Especially in light of Sephiroth's reaction to it. And Sparks' reaction to another.

It's like the Lunar gate...only this place feels more like a tomb than a salvation, leaving her to wonder what this is doing to her friend. Stepping over to the silver-haired man, she places a hand on his arm. If anyone needs a diversion now, it's him and Cloud. ]

Sephiroth? How about we grab Cloud and go with Selphie to scout ahead on the other path?

[ While more conversation goes on, he helps the pony up and smiles at her. ]

You're welcome. Please be careful. If there are any injuries, let me know. I can heal.

[ He added as an offer just in case she got hurt in any way. He turns back to Selphie she starts to speak. ]

It's truly saddening to see such things.

[ Seeing he hasn't been around nearly as long as everyone. There is a lot he has to learn. There's definitely an even more perplexed look at Sheena's reply. ]

[Rukia has no idea what happened here. She can obviously see that it's starting to shake and unnerve some of them, so she's hesitant to ask. Perhaps later, the next time they set up camp. In any case, the PKE meter isn't picking up anything unusual, so she lowers the device and nods in agreement. None of these weapons look to be in good enough condition to be moved or used.]

I agree. Let's keep going. We may always return to this spot later if we deem it necessary, now that we've been here once.

[As Sephiroth's eyes look for contact, Cloud's aren't there to respond in kind. The blonde is pointedly looking away from the other Hero. In all honesty he doesn't know what his own expression will show in this moment, and he doesn't want Sephiroth getting the wrong read even if this doesn't help much either.

But while this scene is shocking for the both of them it strikes their foundations in different ways. For Sephiroth this is a soul shaking moment, a confirmation of his future. For Cloud it's a reassurance, physical proof that the Other Cloud was indeed someone else.

But now isn't the time to talk about this. Not here in this chamber, not here in these caves.]

This was from the last cycle.

[Cloud's confirmation of K'pandolu's guess comes full of the heavy sureness of someone who saw what happened here. He glances at Sparks and gives him a serious look that would rest more often on his older self than his current self. For a brief second it's like that Cloud is the one running shotgun here.]

I can tell you all about it later. Not now. But if you want to stay and look around I won't stop you. There might even be a black crystal here for all we know but...

[He shakes his head before turning away. Giving Sheena a solemn nod he then begins to make his way out of the room and back on the path.]

[Jade looks from the old weapons to Cloud and Sephiroth, then nods. He recognizes both swords and while he doesn't know exactly what went down, he can hazard a guess. Whether he's right or not, dragging it out in the open here and now would be a bad idea.]

It doesn't look like there's anything else here. Let's go back.

[He can't say anything with the others around, but when he passes Sephiroth on the way back he raises a hand and gives one of the SOLDIER's shoulder pads a friendly rap with his knuckles. Eyebrows briefly raised in a silent question. Good to go?

Assuming the rest of the group follows him out of the chamber, they can proceed to the right path, which slopes gently downward and takes them deeper underground. As they move further in, the crystallized ground gradually starts getting steeper. Better watch their step...]

[As others comment and move around him, Sephiroth doesn't seem to be hearing them. He's drawn easily into staring at what he's now identified as -that- version of Masamune sticking out the wall. The amount of innocent blood that weapon had spilled, the betrayal that it stood for, everything else it could have achieved, it's sickening to have another stir to the foundation of the man he's trying to be. Not that monster.

As Sheena touches his arm, she might feel the involuntary flinch as the contact brings him crashing back to the here-and-now but then he looks down and to the side to catch her eye contact. Curious first, but then within just a moment there is something of a silent understanding as he nods and turns to leave this room-]

Right.

[He keeps his attention squarely on the path before him as they make their way back to the fork, not looking for Sheena, nor anyone else on the way. The fact that Cloud hadn't caught his look earlier, and by the words he'd heard there was the confirmation that just as he'd been inside that version of himself he never wanted to become, Cloud had very much been that Other Cloud. Sephiroth isn't sure that they've ever really told each other that, either.

As Jade raps one of his pauldrons, he flicks only an acknowledging look back over his shoulder. Much like with Sheena though, at least he seems to be getting the right-end of their intentions. It'll be better when they have other things in front of them.

Like the way that the ground is starting to become steeper and steeper as they progress down that right-hand path. Being somewhere near the front, it's not long before Sephiroth has to angle his foot falls and shift his balance a little so he's less likely to slip.]

It's starting to get steeper here, watch it.

[He calls back to those who might be further behind...]

[Levy lets out a sigh as the tension from the previous room begins to defuse. For a moment there, it almost looked like there was another fight brewing among their ranks. That's the last thing they need to do right now when there's so much at stake and so much to discover in these passages.]

Geez, you weren't kidding! We should take it slo-whoa!

[She slips a bit as the passage begins to slope, sliding a few inches and briefly bumping into whoever went down in front of her. It's a good thing her frame is so slight, so she's able to catch herself instead of sending the whole group tumbling forward.]

S-sorry! I probably should have worn better shoes for this...

[Her usual sandals don't give much in the way of traction.]

[ The impact against his back catches him a little off guard, though he probably should have been more cautious himself in the first place - having been in a bit of a slump ever since entering the caves, Ace takes it for a wake-up call for his own alertness. What he's seen so far has raised plenty of questions in his head, but none of them justified spending any more time in the caves than it's necessary - and so he saw it fit to refrain from commenting.

He clumsily tries to dig his heels of his boots into the ground for balance, but given the crystal surface, it turns out to be much easier to just continue the descent. After a few more steps, he manages to shoot Levy a quick, but friendly glance over his shoulder. ]

It's okay. Just plant your feet sideways and you're gonna be fine.

[ Though if it continues, somebody is bound to make the same mistake. ]

... We could use the walls for support. How does the situation look down there?

[Rukia's shuffling steps are unsteady at first, one hand trailing against the crystal wall for extra support. But as the trail descends deeper and deeper, eventually she thinks, why not embrace it? ~~There are benefits to being short and close to the ground.~~ Angling herself to the side, she quickens her steps and half trots, half slides down the curving path, her palm occasionally twitching back behind her to keep her tentative balance. It seems like they're actually getting somewhere at long last, and her mood is beginning to pick up.]

Nothing on the meter yet...

[Twilight's learned her lesson from the last time and has opted to start flying. The wonders of being an Alicorn.]

Be careful. If things are this crystallized, the floor's really going to be slippery.

That's cheating, Twilight!

[ Sheena had waited until Sephiroth had moved before venturing into the caves herself to make certain her friend was all right. And from the looks of things, he is.

But, she of all people knows looks can be deceiving.

Right now, however, she's focusing on keeping her footing while holding on to her PKE meter at the same time. Not exactly an easy thing to do as the floor's traction all but disappeared.

Giving up, on that, she lets gravity and her own skills take over and pretty soon, she's gliding down the slope as though surfing, her hand against the wall keeping her upright. ]

If you don't entirely fight it, it's not too bad--just stay close to the wall!

[ Noticing the number of people struggling to keep their footing the further they went down, Tear couldn't help but sigh. Perhaps it was her own advantage given her usual high-heeled footwear, but she seemed to be having little trouble with adjusting to the rapidly changing slope.

Carefully so as to not push anyone downward, she changes from her usual position at the back of the group to move up to the very front, figuring it would be more useful to fulfil her usual role of protector from there. And that way, she was ready to activate her Levitation ability at a moment's notice should someone lose control, and in the event they needed to escape immediately... She could Vanish or even Teleport in an instant. ]

We'll also have to worry about decreased visibility the more we go forward... [ So that warning from Dylas earlier, to not climb into the holes? Might just happen by accident anyway, if they stuck to the walls. ]

[Cloud doesn't have much to offer, his thoughts still chewing a bit over the sight they saw. He appreciates how everyone is letting it slide for the moment but he's sure there will be questions for him to handle later on. For now he focuses on what he can do.

Taking extra care considering the weight of his armor, he drifts to the front of the party, keeping his shield up as they move along. Tear's concern is a valid one, and they might as well have someone minding the defense in case they walk into a hungry creature of some sort.]

[As they keep heading down, the PKE meters will start picking up something. The readings are still faint, but grow increasingly high the deeper they get. Though, it's hard to tell what's causing the reaction...

The steep path ends suddenly. The Heroes have reached another chamber, this one much larger than the previous one. The size is made very noticeable by the fact that a mere few feet away from the Heroes, the ground opens up into an enormous chasm. With the mist obscuring their view, it's impossible to tell how deep or wide the chasm goes.

Suffice it to say, if any of them were to drop something over the edge, they wouldn't hear it land.

Thankfully there's a decent amount of space between the wall and the precipice, allowing the Heroes to sidle along the edge. It seems like a little further on, there's some safer ground to stand on... though there's also something encased in the crystal wall that's not human-shaped.]

All we need is for the crystals to become over-aspected and it'll be almost like the Burning Wall.

[For her part, K'pandolu's stayed back somewhat, to try to keep an eye on everyone. The chasm's hard to miss, but she doesn't have the best view of where it might end, nor whatever in the wall, at least for now.]

… Well. I suppose that means it's single-file, at least for now…

[ Eventually, Sheena had gotten the hang of looking at her PKE meter while gliding down the slope--sometimes even bringing it close to her ear to listen for its hum. Every other time, she hadn't heard anything.

This time, however, is different; she hears a faint hum. Dropping the meter to her side, she turns and applying pressure to both her feet and hands, manages to slow her descent so she can make it to the bottom without falling.

Which is a good thing considering what's in front of them. Sighing, she mutters almost good-naturedly and not entirely to herself. ]

I was wondering when the hole would show up.

[ Turning, she nods to K'pandolou. ] Sure looks it. Everyone be careful. [ Once again picking up her meter, she keeps it pointing straight ahead as she walks slowly along the "path", occasionally sweeping it out towards the cavern. ]

Miss Rukia!

[Chappopo collides against Rukia who was walking a little too carelessly, attention focused on the PKE meter instead of the gaping chasm just up ahead. She pulls up short, brow furrowed, then glances down. ...Yes indeed that is a very deep abyss, isn't it? What could be down there? And what's causing her meter to react?]

Thank you, Chappopo. I'm picking up something unusual.

[Her attention moves to the...thing...encased in crystal. Could that be the source? She frowns thoughtfully to herself, then passes the meter to her Moogle.]

Could you fly over there and get a closer look? Be careful.

Of course!

[Happy to be of use, Chappopo holds the PKE meter firmly in both paws as Rukia turns to press herself against the wall and move along the edge of the path.]

[The rational side of Selphie screams to tread carefully. The irrational side of Selphie however, says the slide right on down. What's the worst that could happen right? Thankfully, she's one of the last to descend and she's watched more sure footed individuals slip and slide their way down. She swallows the lump in her throat as she takes a few cautious steps forward every-so-often.]

Okay... not so bad...

[She shifts her weight carefully to try and keep her balance before she slowly inches forward. She can hear the conversation echoing up the shaft just as she loses her precarious balance and flails a bit.]

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!

[Is there anyone nearby to lend their clumsy colleague a hand?]

Wondering when it would show up...?

[Levy blinks, turning her attention to Sheena.]

You expected this to be here?

[She's already going over everything she's learned in her time here in her head, wondering if there's something she missed.]

[Though Sephiroth was near the front of the group, after giving the once-over of the chamber -or what he could see, at least- he hung back some to allow others to file in a single line first. It's a careful process and there are others smaller than him who would find it easier.

Besides, he'd rather be last across and make sure no one behind him will be knocked off by the sheath-harness of Masamune being diagonally at his back. Not to mention that he's already managed to pull a shoulder once in a previous battle before and doesn't want to chance doing that again.

It's a good job, in hindsight, as he's on hand as Selphie goes forwards to start to cross. She flails and he spreads his stance immediately wider and reaches out to place a firm hand on her shoulder.]

Got you.

[Perhaps rougher than most would have been he pushes towards the wall, to enable the girl to get her balance again. He'll even grip her fingers if she feels the need to ground herself by bringing her arm back in closer to her center. Sephiroth has come forward now though so he'll follow Selphie across; just in case.]

Jack stops his advance dead and shoots the other people around him a slightly annoyed look. First the chamber, now this. Jack raises his voice, and he gets a nice echo effect with the acoustics of the cave around them. "If anybody has been here before and one of those visions that we've been shown? Now's the time to speak up, kids. It's only the polite thing to do." Bad enough everybody else in this world is being mysterious with them without the Heroes doing it to each other.

[While Sephiroth takes the rear guard on the path, Cloud keeps to the front, ready to be the group's shield if need be. But as he shuffles along he gives Jack an equally annoyed glance.]

It's not like we knew that chamber was here let alone still standing. But I guess it's just like this world that certain things like this wouldn't reset when the cycle does. Jade, did you ever figure out why the Tower is able to do that? Maybe it's connected.

[He doesn't know what Sheena might have seen but he can't blame her for not talking about it.]

[Jade glances back to check no one's fallen off. Since everyone seems to be fine, he turns back to answer Cloud's question.]

I'm afraid not. The fact we're still running into Ancient ruins and technology after all these millennia proves not everything is reset when a new cycle starts. For that matter, if all of humanity were wiped out every time, that begs the question where the population of the following cycle comes from. Even with the souls being recycled, someone would have to give birth to the new generation...

[The PKE readings don't change when Chappopo flies ahead. It seems they only get higher when the Heroes are heading downwards.

What they find encased in the crystal wall turns out to be remnants of machinery. What the technology is for, it's impossible to say; but they can at least tell it's Ancient in origin.

Perhaps more importantly, there is a huge leaf-like platform extending over the chasm, easily big enough that the entire group could stand on it at the same time. It's the only thing that hasn't been encased in crystal.]

Well now... Looks like we're finally getting somewhere.

...Huh.

[That actually makes a lot of sense. Levy hadn't thought of it from that angle before. She'd been assuming the ruins and ancient technology were just pre-populated each time the cycle reset itself. Having it left over from previous cycles makes just as much sense, though.]

So if that's the case, and Rukia's PKE meter is picking up readings down here, have we found something like a wellspring of life energy? Is this where new souls come from each time the cycle is reset?

[Levy thinks out loud as she continues walking, making a beeline for the machinery. She doesn't know how to use it, and isn't going to try, but maybe there's something around that she can translate to help out those who can.]

That... actually makes sense.

[And Twilight takes a thoughtful pose as she flies over to the platform.]

Take the Lunar Gate, for instance. Not only do we have Ancient technology there, we also have technology from our worlds there, no matter how odd. If that's the case, then we can probably assume that everything that is encased in the crystallized areas are preserved if they're non-living. Or perhaps non-sentient.

As for where the next generation comes from... that's a good question. Didn't someone say someone tried to just kill Garland and let the world get crystallized? Either way, it's highly possible that the previous generation might end up surviving in some capacity if the Heroes were sacrificed sooner than later.

If that was the case, it would make sense as to why the Heroes are only remembered in stories because the Heroes arrived, did what they were supposed to do and then disappeared...

Sorry Sparks. This is what happens when I don't track a thread.

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