Just Keeping Swimming | March Planet Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: Anywhere on Mafik
When: The month of March



[Welcome to Mafik, the water world! Hope you brought your best swimming gear and don't have a paralyzing fear of water, because that's all that's here! So get out those wet suits and enjoy life under the sea!

In other words, it's a mingle! ]

> System Information

Comments

[noprophecies]

[there are very few things that are capable of getting Tempest to change her mind once she's set on something, but when Erik tells her about the temples . . . with Erik promising to go with her, she finally leaves the Goldstone to head to one of the water temples.

At least it's something familiar in a way. She was used to dungeons from back home, with traps and monsters and puzzles of all sorts. It doesn't put her at ease, though, and as soon as they stop to look around or to discuss a puzzle or whatever, Tempest immediately latches onto Erik's arm.

. . . listen, it's like putting a cat into water. It can swim, but it doesn't have to like it]

Is this one similar to the other one you went to?

[exothermia]

[The first couple of times, Tempest's insistent grip on his arm had earned her a bemused look. Now, Erik's used to it. He glances at her and then around at the room, stone walls partly crumbled away.]

Somewhat. This one is in worse shape.

[Part of him doesn't think it's necessary for him to do this again, but he could use the distraction. Otherwise he would merely be tempted to go back to his room and spend hours staring at his reward from the first one he entered.

He shakes his head.]

It does look smaller though, at least from the outside.

[noprophecies]

[it's just Erik here, so that means she doesn't have to pretend she isn't bothered by any of this. But then again, she doubts she'd be here if Erik hadn't agreed to come along.

She frowns at the crumbled walls as well and wonders if its even safe for them to be there, lips pursing]

There is that. At least it isn't a bloody cave.

[there's always a bright side. Sort of]

[exothermia]

I take it caves are worse.

[He tugs at his arm slightly, warning her before he moves to swim up and examine the hole at the top of the nearest wall. It's too precise to be a natural result of decay. This, he thinks, is another puzzle of some description.]

This hole is about three bricks long, wouldn't you say?

[noprophecies]

They tend to smell terribly.

[among other reasons. She releases his arm and swims up after him, frowning at the hole as he points it out. She leans into peer a little closer]

About that, yes. Do you think something is meant to be placed in it, or is there something already there?

[exothermia]

[It isn't possible to see what lies beyond, just darkness. Erik traces the edge of the hole with his finger, frowning.]

Maybe. There were tricks like that in the other temple, having to put things in certain places. Are there any loose bricks in here?

[noprophecies]

[she pushes away from the hole and the wall to look down, then swims back to the floor a little awkwardly to look around. She will never get used to this swimming everywhere nonsense]

I would just stick my hand in there but I am not keen on losing another finger.

[at least she can still crack jokes]

[exothermia]

And I would rather not be responsible for that.

[Pushing away from the wall, he starts to skim the adjoining one, looking for anything out of place. He comes across one brick in a different colour - gold - and pulls out his knife to try and pry it loose.]

[noprophecies]

Since when are you responsible for me? Are you a babysitter now?

[she nudges some of the rubble with her foot, making a face as it crumbles to the side. There are a few, cracked bricks and she kneels down to find one that's in one piece]

[exothermia]

Hardly. But I told you about this to begin with.

[Erik finally dislodges the gold brick, only to find it's a facing... not a full brick at all. Turning it around, he notes the symbol on the back. Something like it was scribed on the front door to the temple as well.]

Check if any of the bricks have a symbol marked on them.

[noprophecies]

Yes, and if I do something foolish like sticking my hand in a hole, then that is not your fault, it's mine. Thankfully I'm not an idiot.

[she pauses at what he says and then begins searching again, this time checking all of the bricks. So of course the one she's looking for is at the bottom of them all. She brushes it off out of habit and stands up]

I've got one.

[exothermia]

Then we just need a third, if they're meant to go into the gaps.

[noprophecies]

This is a rather silly puzzle, yes?

[but she moves over to another pile, nudging the bigger pieces loose with her foot once more]

[exothermia]

[Erik returns to searching the walls, in case there's another one hiding amongst the regulars.]

Tedious, you mean.

[noprophecies]

At least there isn't—[she pauses and glances up at him, then shakes her head] Nevermind. If I say it, it might happen.

[exothermia]

Well-- best not to, then.

[After a few minutes of fruitlessly searching the walls, Erik chances to look up, and curses.]

It might be on the ceiling.

[noprophecies]

The ceiling.

[there's annoyance in her voice, but not directed at Erik. She shoves the pile hard with her foot to swim up, muttering her own curses along the way]

This damned place is lucky it is underwater . . .

[exothermia]

[He merely grunts, occupied in scanning all the ceiling bricks for any anomalies. These temple puzzles have proven to be maddening in some instances, and he doubts fire would help even if it were dry.]

[noprophecies]

[she swims to the other side opposite of Erik and begins scanning the ceiling as well, reaching up every so often to touch or tug]

Had I known it would be like this, I wouldn't have asked. My apologies, dear.

[exothermia]

Aurae, I knew this is how it would be. I spent half an hour in one room trying to find a keyhole.

[noprophecies]

Yes, but you are far more patient about this sort of thing then I am.

[exothermia]

Ah-- I have it.

[He lays his fingers on the brick in the ceiling and starts to pry it out. Once it falls into his hands, he gives it a displeased look.]

This is one of the more maddening tasks I've seen though.

[noprophecies]

[she makes an agreeing noise and swims up to join him]

Perhaps whatever tasks lay ahead will be less maddening, yes? Hopefully.

[exothermia]

[He sighs, and he's glad he doesn't expel air bubbles thanks to this water's odd breathability. Taking all three bricks in hand, he swims over to the gap in the wall and slot them in one by one.

The three flare with a golden glow, and then the bricks around them start peeling back like a heavy curtain on either side, opening up into a doorway. The next room lies beyond.]

[noprophecies]

[she makes a face as the bricks shift away, but begins swimming forward when the shifting stops, though trying not to get too far ahead of - well, Erik, her temporary "net" of safety]

I do not sense any magic, so that, at the very least, is an upside. The dungeons I would get sent to were filled with magical traps and other rubbish.