Seaside 2: Rising Tides

[Deathkeeper]

Deep Ocean Machine

Well.
I suppose that is that.

The sub begins to slowly rise to the surface then, since there's not another option. And faster then, when the time starts ticking a bit faster. And faster still, when desperation sets in.

[Fenric]

Lonely Island

"Oh. Okay." says Ben, who'll just shrug and curl around the bench for a minute or two with Kate, because friends don't leave friends behind!
Then they'll hopefully head in together. Ben had been hoping to be the first ones in, but he can wait. It isn't a big deal.

The temple is very patient

The aura continues to get ever so gradually stronger and more distinct: unmistakably oceanic, now. Didn't the coatil say something about tides? I wonder if the tide is coming in now, and the aura is related somehow...

[Lost_Deep]

Lonely Island

Kate and Bella will head in (presumably with Ben), looking around. Of the two, Bella is actually more cautious. Kate is encouraged by the presence of other tourists around; but Bella hopes that whatever god was here isn't territorial.

[Deathkeeper]

Lonely Island

Ben is too unused to everything about magic to be rather discerning about the temple's aura. He's quite happy to trot next to Bella and Kate, snapping extra pictures in his head and enjoying the company.

[Fenric]

[Lonely Island]

The carvings inside lose none of their intricacy or skill. But as one contemplates the dragons without getting lost in the artwork, there is something to be found. Difficult to discern at first, but more obvious the longer you look: the dragons are all going toward an alcove to the left.

A couple other tourists seem to have noticed as well as they head to the alcove and peer in briefly before wandering off.

[Lost_Deep]

Lonely Island

Bella will notice it fairly quickly, pointing it out: "All the dragons are headed that way."

Kate blinks. "Are they? I... suppose they are."

[Deathkeeper]

Lonely Island

Ben cheerily trots over to the alcove. "Seems like it. Can't go against the grain, then. It is my duty to investigate." he says, spirits high as he goes over and shines a bright light from his mouth over it. Clearly there's some secret around, and there's no way he's passing up an obvious secret entrance or treasure!

[Fenric]

Lonely Island

Ben scarcely needs to do that much: as soon as he enters the alcove, a doorway in the back noisily rumbles open and his light illuminates a sizeable stairway leading steeply down.

It's not a temple to dragons: it's a temple for dragons!

[Lost_Deep]

Lonely Island

Kate and Bella try to peek around Ben to get a good look.

"Let's go down there!" Bella says.

"Bella!" Kate says, "This is like a dungeon entrance. We don't know it's safe, and given that it opened for a dragon humans might not be welcome. I appreciate that you're curious, and I am too, but this might be dangerous."

[Deathkeeper]

Lonely Island

"Of course you're welcome. You're my honored guests! And don't worry, you can just stay behind me. I can't really be permanently injured after all." Ben insists, taking a few steps down.

[Fenric]

Lonely Island

Down, down, down... the stairs aren't really all that steep, but the substantial width of the steps may be a bit awkward for folks not dragon-sized.

Sounds can be heard from ahead: the gurgling of water; and scratches, scrabbles, snorting, and sliding... The trio is far from alone, though no-one is visible quite yet.

[Recaiden]

[Arriving from the Shadows]

"Keiko, it's probably worth mentioning that I can't go swim in the ocean without magical help. I'm a freshwater Cleo."

Even standing here on this beach is a little uncomfortable.

"That's why I suggested you take someone else here."

[Fenric]

[Arriving from the Shadows]

Keiko blinks, and looks worried

Oh, no! I'm so sorry!

She thinks a moment, and concentrates a bit

Got it! Come on!

And she tries to sweep Cleo away from the uncomfortable salty air on another trip...

[Recaiden]

[Departing from the Beach]

"Aww, thanks for-"

And just like that, Cleo is swept away!

[Fenric]

[Inside Beach]

Not all that long after Keiko and Cleo leave, Yumiko pops out onto the sand! Hopefully bringing Ben along.

[Deathkeeper]

Inside Beach

Ben wobbles a bit, but lays down in the sand and gets himself steady.
"Oh, dear. That's something new. I guess one thing about having your job for as long as you have is getting used to just teleporting everywhere. It would have been a crazy idea to me two months ago." he says with a shake of his head.

[Fenric]

[Inside Beach]

Yumiko nuzzles Ben apologetically

I'm so sorry! It's true: I don't even think about it anymore...

She grins

Saves a lot on cab and bus fare, you know?

She winces

It is the only way to get back to my home, though... will you be okay with more trips like that?

[Deathkeeper]

Inside Beach

"Oh, it's fine. It's just a little weird the first time, you know? The bigger problem is going to be the water, I think. The only places I've really swam before are the pool back home and the water on this cruise I took a while back. It's...a lot warmer than it's probably over here. And I'm really not the kind of dragon built for diving. I'm going to need your help." he says to her, returning the nuzzle.

[Fenric]

[Inside Beach]

Yumiko enjoys the affection for a moment, then nods and backs up a little

Dragon Magic isn't just a cute phrase, Ben. Here we go:

And so, first she casts the promised Protection from Seawater over Ben's belongings

Then, the ever so useful Water Breathing and Freedom of Motion spells, that will let him keep up with her just as if he were a water dragon himself.

Finally, the spell that is usually put into rings: Zone of Comfort settles over Ben, and he should no longer feel the cold and wind.

She smiles

And just in case you're worried about duration: as long as we get back out of the water sometime this calendar year, you'll be fine.

[Deathkeeper]

Inside Beach

"Maybe next year we can go on a cruise together. Preferably one with less people and more room for big folks like us, but still. It's nice to have someone else figure out which places to go to and handle the details of getting there. While serving you cocktails. I'm fairly sure I have innate magic. I should really look into that sometime." he says, walking hesitantly towards the surf with her.

[Fenric]

[Inside Beach]

Yumiko walks forward, ducking her head into the waves that almost seem to politely stand aside for her... and Ben too, once he gets that far

Oooh! A cruise sounds like fun! I've seen advertisements for them!

And of course you do: all dragons do. You couldn't possibly fly without it - the aerodynamics just don't work.

But come on: the surf zone's dreadfully dull.

And she dives in.

[Deathkeeper]

Inside Beach

"Well, yeah, but I meant other stuff." he says, diving in after her. He's a bit too bashful to admit he'd rather be using goggles at this point, but as a dragon he's expected to not be such a wimp with this sort of thing and just open his eyes underwater. He has no way of communicating with her, however, and will simply be paddling as best as he can with her spell behind Yumiko.

[Fenric]

[Inside Beach]

The crashing of the surge zone isn't exactly condusive to conversation anyway. But once they're past the noise and out into the breathtaking spectacle and deep silence of the winter ocean, Yumiko notices the difficulty and layers another useful spell on: Telepathy

Derp! Talking underwater doesn't work so well without full helmets and radios!

The white winter light lances down through the water: low in nutrients and nearly empty of plankton, the clarity of the water rivals the best Caribbean lagoon.

Winter's the best time to dive, here. I've heard the plankton bloom gets so thick here you can't see three feet in the summer... Of course, that brings the fish, and this was a fishing village once upon a time you know.

She looks around

We'll probably have to go deeper to actually find anything interesting, though.

[Deathkeeper]

Inside Beach

Uh, sure. That makes sense. Let's not go too deep on my first dive, though. I wouldn't want you to have to give me more spells for the dark and the pressure. he says, mostly joking, though he does use his silly breath weapon to shine some light out of his nose.

[Fenric]

Inside Beach

Yumiko nods her agreement

Yeah! This is a date, not a dungeon-crawl: I want to see pretty shells and rock formations and stuff. Maybe catch a fish or two.

The beach drops off into the depths, and Yumiko follows it down at a reasonable pace. Ben's light is soon quite helpful, though the descent is slow enough that eyes have time to adjust. It's still disappointingly fish-free: the ones from this area have mostly migrated to more reasonable climates, and the ones that did not are hiding.

Shells there are, here and there... not much, though, and rather disappointingly brown and lumpy

[Deathkeeper]

Inside Beach

"Hrm. Maybe the more interesting critters and such are all in beaches farther away from the city. Maybe all the traffic scared them off?" Ben posits, not really having much to go on.

[Fenric]

Inside Beach

Yumiko nods, disappointed

Dunno... this is kinda lame so far.

The bottom levels off: the dim sky a good distance above. It is mostly still, very quiet, and while there is a fish or two visible in the distance there is no hope of chasing any of them. Yumiko sighs and is about ready to turn for home when something catches her eye

Oh! Over there... there aren't trees underwater, and no "petrified forests" around here that I have heard of. That must be a mast! Shipwreck! Come on!

And she starts swimming that way

[Deathkeeper]

Inside Beach

Hrm. Looks like it. Check for damage. Maybe we can figure out what sunk it? Ben suggests as they head over. He hopes it isn't crawling with nasty critters.

[Fenric]

[Underwater Shipwreck]

Yumiko nods.

The ship has been underwater a decently long time. All three masts are broken off fairly short, and the decks are clear of any sort of equipment but there are lots of barnacles and other sea encrustations. The structure seems mostly intact... at least what can be seen above the silty sea floor. It is tilted over at a small angle.

The deck is awfully clean: no rigging or anything. I'd guess storm.

Storm, though, is one of the less pleasant answers in a world with undead.

[Deathkeeper]

Underwater shipwreck

Ben, for his part, checks how many cannon-slots are in the side of the ship. He remembers that being a way of measuring size sometimes.
Do you want to check the hull for treasure? We'd need to find a big hole. Or make one ourselves.