Project Paradox event log

[indigo_league]

Who: Everyone!
Where: EveryWHERE!
When: September 15-21
Summary: Wormholes have been appearing all over Kanto and Johto as a consequence of Silph Co's latest public meltdown mishap! Characters find themselves face to face with AUs of their own homeworlds. ((OOC details here-- Use this log for your wormhole toplevels!))

Comments

[paladinlost]

As I should. Discounting the eggs and the... hats, it resembles my home almost exactly, after all.

[On the one hand, as the person who actually know where to go, Cecil really should be the one to take the lead. On the other hand, the layout on the first floor is simple enough that there's no chance they're getting lost. For now, there's no trouble in allowing Loop to scout to their heart's content.

Besides, being in the back gives him better visibility against monster ambushes, despite the low light and the cloudy water that awaits them beyond the initial corridor. He knows what kind of critters to look for, and their usual tactics.

At his side, Rosie the Clefable keeps an arm up, ready to aim an attack at any threat.]

The bridges might look rickety, but fear not. They can easily hold half a dozen adults in full plate armor without breaking.

okay to have Loop's magic work? it's pretty comparable to low-level ff stuff

[loopsiedaisy]

[Oh.]

[There's a lot to unpack there, about this whole world-hopping thing. Loop decides they are going to deal with processing that later.]

...should you be leading the way, then? [Honestly, it feels kind of jarring to think about not being in front, and it's not exactly complicated to follow the water, but...]

[True to Cecil's word, the bridges are sturdier than they look. Loop has to pause for a moment when Alfinse abruptly scrambles up their leg again - he's seen Rosie prepping for battle and wants nothing to do with it.]

[Loop glances back to see what's spooked the otter, registers Rosie, and ticks their level of alert up a few notches. Maybe they should test if they can use Craft here - but they'll wait until they've crossed this next bridge, let's not risk chopping through a beam.]

Sure thing!

[paladinlost]

[Close by, a scaled green tail disturbs the water; Rosie turns to face it, ready to strike. Cecil himself, however, barely glances in that direction. He knows exactly what the place might throw at them, after all. Dealing with single gator is child's play.]

I can take point if you wish, but if you feel more comfortable in that role, I can also bring up the rear. The local monsters are not so strong that we need to optimize our tactics, after all.

[He wouldn't have let Rosie out if they were. He wouldn't have brought along anyone whose battle capabilities he hasn't vetted, even. Thus, personal preferences get to matter.]

Besides, this floor's configuration is relatively simple. The worst we could do is waste a few minutes.

:>

[loopsiedaisy]

[Local monsters, huh...]

[Loop trots off the end of the bridge and immediately turns to one of the tunnel's rock walls. They don't wink and attack fling out their hand with their index and middle finger pointed in a V, like they're playing a round of rock-paper-scissors.]

[Three slashes impact the wall as if from an invisible knife. They... don't do all that much, because, well, it's a rock wall. But Loop lets out a relieved breath. This is a very good thing, because Alfinse is the only Pokemon that ended up in the wormhole with Loop - their habit of keeping everyone out of their balls is really coming back to bite them!]

I'll stay in front.

[They eye the ripples in the water - but as long as nothing's actually jumping out at them, might as well keep moving.]

[They flash Cecil a grin.] I guess I shouldn't be sewer-ried about it, then~

[Across some more bridges, around a corner, down some stairs - oh no. Are they going to have to go into the water?]

[paladinlost]

[Well. Well. Battle capabilities now confirmed and vetted. There truly is no need to optimize their tactics, as far as Cecil is concerned.

Wait. That was magic. That was undeniably magic. Which means his own powers might work. No need to worry about any injuries incurred during their trip, then. In addition, his offensive options are now drastically improved. And if he concentrates, he could even teleport the whole group–

–right back in town, because that's the closest entrance. Damn it.

So taken is he by that thought that he almost misses Loop's next comment and that delightful pun. Luckily, there's just enough of his brain still paying attention to register it.]

I have absolutely no doubt we'll be fine. Water we waiting for?

[As he speaks, he raises a hand to summon a large ball of glowing holy energy. Not only is the visibility improved, but the Searchlight also seems to be... looking for targets on their path?]

[loopsiedaisy]

[ !! ]

[Not just a pun appreciator, but someone who puns back too! Loop grins wider, rotating to give Cecil a little appreciative (but silent) round of applause, and determinedly doesn't think about the last person who did that with them.]

[Alright, down the stairs, then... Loop hikes up the edge of their cloak before testing the depth of the water. Is this a wading situation, where the real problem is going to be that splashing through the water is loud, or is this a practically-swimming situation? If it's the former they go ahead and just wade in, trying to keep their movements smooth.]

[Alfinse, meanwhile, pokes his head back out of Loop's collar and stares at the Searchlight with wide eyes. His little head rotates to follow it. Is the light finding anything?]

[paladinlost]

[Cecil doesn't hesitate to walk into the water, which reaches about mid thigh on him. No currents, at least; that would have made crossing the cave much more complicated. He really should learn how to cast Float, one of these days.]

To our left, there's a jagged hole in the stone that leads further in. If we keep going that way, we'll reach an island of sorts. We can dry and warm ourselves there, before we move on.

[Somewhere behind him, the Searchlight suddenly emits a beam of light. A gator screeches in pain and swims away. He pays attention to neither of these events.]

[loopsiedaisy]

[If Cecil's up to his thighs, it's probably nearly waist height for Loop. And... it's been, quite literally, years since they had the experience of cold water getting into their boots. Wow, that's awful! They make a face, but don't complain.]

[Loop gives Cecil a thumbs-up for the instructions, searching along the left wall - yep, there it is. Unlike Cecil, they do tense up when they hear the screech, head turning. But they don't actually stop moving.]

[The hole in the rock opens up to a cavern, then narrows again - this time to a longer passageway, dark and full of the sound of echoing droplets. Loop trails their hand along the wall to keep their bearings. They're listening carefully for any disturbances in the water ahead, but for now all seems calm?]

[When the passage widens once more...] Is that the island you mean?

[(Alfinse, meanwhile, has vanished right back under the cloak. You couldn't bribe him to swim while there are gators around!)]