hugtopia_logs | feb catch-all

[ Acknowledging Calda with a nod, she agrees: an updated map will be useful even to their own purposes.

--Ah. Their warping will always impress her, and there's a delayed beat after Noctis materializes from his light next to his sword before she responds. ] Like a higher starting point to initially warp? That sounds like a good plan.

[ Nodnod. They should be heading outwards anyways, and she's prepared to step in that direction.

Does Somnus actually need a higher starting point, she wonders... ]

[To Noctis, he nods. A higher starting point will at least make the upward trajectory easier to maintain. Before that, he would confirm that there's nothing else they want to investigate before moving onward. He looks from Noctis to Pyra.]

Will that be all?

[ Months ago when they were allowed to help with repairs on the breach, she recalls seeing large, heavy chunks of debris propelled by the storm to strike the barrier. The weather doesn’t seem as intense as it did then, but if Somnus is going to be heading up into the air, he should be cautious. ] Mm... If you climb too high into the storm that it obscures the ground, it might be better to take multiple photos at a lower altitude and assemble them into a larger landscape later. Er, if you can manage.

[ She honestly does not know how far and for how long either of them can take their warping abilities, and she won’t be disappointed if Somnus comes down with only a few photos to share. ] Oh, and... be careful when you’re up there, okay?

[ With a smile directed towards him, they begin to set off again, this time northward. She keeps her eyes out for any taller remaining buildings, all while keeping her own communicator ready.

...Would it be too inappropriate to ask for a group photo? Probably. Somnus is Somnus, and Noctis seems completely on edge. ]

[Northward yields them a dilapidated tower that stands taller than the remains of the buildings around it.]

I shall return.

[With those simple words, Somnus warps to the top of the tower, then again into the sky. He all but disappears from view within the storm, where he goes as high as he can reach through a series of warps. Looking down, visibility is indeed poor; he nevertheless snaps a photograph before free falling to an altitude he finds more reasonable. Then he warps from one point to the next, maintaining the same distance from the ground as he proceeds the way Pyra suggested by taking multiple pictures.

He's no photographer, but these will do. Before long he returns first to the tower, then to his companions next, at which point his feet touch the ground for the first time since he left.]

[He tries to keep watch around them at the same time, but he's not especially attentive; Somnus warping through the air is incredibly distracting, mostly because he makes it look so easy and natural, it's a little unfair. His own warping skills have always been comparatively lackluster, so it's a little like watching the best of the Kingsglaive train, all the mastery and finesse born from a life of fighting wars and fending off daemons. He's gotten better than he was since leaving Insomnia, sure - out of necessity - but he still had a habit of warping right into a Giant's punch or something equally stupid. Somnus looks a bit like he was born for this.

...Well. Considering their bloodline, he was, but so far down the line Noct can't help feeling envious.

That isn't what they're here for, though, so as Somnus returns he shuffles from foot to foot and tries to pretend he wasn't doing exactly what he was doing just now.]

How's it look up there?

[ And off Somnus goes, this time warping up the entire length of the building and then higher into the sky. From there she spots the few flashes of blue, divine light that mark his warps across the area as he takes pictures of the ground.... ]

It's like he's flying... [ She comments, absent-minded. OOps, right, her voice carries through everyone's comms, so the both of them might have heard it. Is at this point that she notices Noctis' awkward shuffling as well. Looks like they're both impressed of the older king's abilities, too.

Smiling as Somnus touches down, she makes her way over to stand beside him so that they all might browse through some of the photos. When they return, they can start assembling it into a proper map of this northern portion, but as she takes a look through them now: ] ...It... seems like the wall had been further out at one point. If that's true, then we're still not even outside of this city's residential areas.

[ They should head out further, but there is also this tower near them. Hm. What do. ]

[Noctis makes it obvious by trying not to make it obvious.

Somnus dismisses the communicator while Pyra speaks. The gods truly are dying when evidence of their once waning power surrounds them. He wonders how long it'll be before their company empties out of former city grounds, and if the city's wall receded more than once in its history. Regardless, it's time to get moving.]

The passage of time has eroded the tower. It has naught else to offer.

I think that describes most of the buildings out here. The whole place is a wreck.

[Certainly gives credit to the claims that the world is falling apart. At the very least, their little corner of it has been doing very badly for a long time.

He sets his hands on his hips with an impatient huff. They don't have much time, so they can't waste it standing around deliberating.]

So what else are we looking for, here? You wanted samples, right? Besides the air and the dirt, what would help the research you guys are doing?

[Maybe they can keep an eye out for hints of something related to those subjects. He's done some survival training, he can solve ancient puzzles and stuff! But he doesn't know research and his warping is lackluster, so he's trying to feel a bit more useful as the third member of the group.]

Samples of metal from structures that are still standing. [ A city like this, even worn down, is bound to have some. ] If its structure has remained intact for all of this time, its composition is vital for us to obtain.

[ At this, she looks to the tower again... It's half collapsed on itself. Maybe they'll find something better further out. ]

Organic samples, too. [ She looks from Somnus to Noctis, then to Calda, and then back northward. Time to march, and as they do, she'll continue to speak through the comm, if either of them should decide to warp to keep lookout. ] There was mention of plantlife and, ah, I believe-- lizards? Still out here. [ Or so she's heard. ] I'd prefer living samples for smaller creatures or plants, but anything, even fossilized samples, we should bring back with us to analyze their genome.

There were also those gigarachnids, whose blood contained a toxin. This toxin produces the same effects as those experienced by the wall breach a few months ago. The expression of this toxin was not coded for in their original genome, from what I could discern... They seem to have been mutated by it.

[Calda peers up at the tower, studying what's visible of its construction from their position, and makes a disapproving noise.]

Don't know if you'll get much from the building... the resources in this region are kinda limited, I'd guess it's the same as this bod of mine, that's why it holds up decently out here. But, uh... listen...

[There's an unsubtle clanking noise as she shifts from foot to foot, somewhat nervous body language exuding from her metal form.]

You folks are tough, yeah? With your swords and your- zooming around. And you're out here, so you're not afraid of getting into danger...

[Could she possibly sound more reluctant, the longer she goes with this?]

[And Noctis perks right up, because of course he does. That thing! That he's good at!]

Is there something to fight? We can handle it.

[ ...If she didn't know better ~~which she doesn't~~ it almost sounds as if Noctis is wanting to fight something.

Patiently, she waits for Calda to answer. ]

[She waits for an affirmative - or at least acknowledgment - from the majority before she sighs and half-turns to point in the distance, beyond the tower.]

About half a month ago I was scouting around this area, and I caught signs that something might be... nesting, for lack of a better word. The storm was raging pretty violently at the time, and from the noise of whatever it was, they're either too numerous or too big for just me to take 'em on, even if I'm, you know. [QUALITY BEEF.] ...Look, I'm not supposed to show you. Please do not tell the council if I show you. But if you want, we can go there.

[Yes, yes, very quality beef. Calda certainly made short work of the dirt, and that's not sarcasm speaking.

It isn't Somnus' intention to look for a fight, but a preemptive approach to hostiles has always been his solution. Calda's going beyond her station, and he won't squander the knowledge she's imparted. Besides, it'll give Noctis a place to concentrate all that nervous energy.]

You have our word.

[There's a moment more of resistance, but it isn't long- she'd already made the offer, and their time out here is limited, after all. Best not to waste it. She does huff and point a sharp finger meaningfully at each one of them in turn, first.]

You all best promise to turn tail and run if things get too hairy, got it? And if I say the word, we're out of there. I'm not going back on interior duties, I'll go raving mad in a week.

[And with that she turns and leads the group off in the direction she'd indicated, her pace steady but more careful than before.]

[Noctis uses every ounce of willpower to not fistpump at this unexpected conversational victory, because that would be incredibly irresponsible and childish, not at all princely. He does grin at the other two, though, and starts off after Calda's clunking footsteps. It isn't reckless if you're careful about it! And so what if he's itching for a bit of action? It's been months...]

You heard the lady. Don't fall behind!

[ .....Oh wow, he’s excited to seek danger. Hm. Hmmmmmmm.

She glances at Somnus, then back at Calda and Noctis as they begin moving forward. Well, alright then. Adjusting the strap of her pack over her shoulder, she follows them while keeping vigilant of their surroundings.

It feels strange to her to be walking for so long without holding a hand. ]

[Somnus exchanges glances with both Noctis and Pyra before they go on their merry way. Keeping his senses on high alert, he lags a step behind to watch the rear as previously discussed. It won't do to give Calda a poor showing before they even make it to the nesting spot, and all of them will suffer the consequences if they do.]

[Calda guides them down a side road - if one can still call it that - and through a path around a handful of buildings, a route not especially difficult to follow but one that she'd clearly mapped out before. As they go further in, she slows her movement and quiets her footsteps as much as a hulking robot can, which considering her size is quite a bit, actually. She stops at the corner of a building though, bending down to whisper in their direction,]

I don't dare go closer, or I'll wake the whole nest up if anything's out there; the rest of you would have a better chance of sneaking in. No worries, though, I'll be right behind you if anything happens.

[If they look past her, they ought to be able to see what she's indicated: through the dust and the wind, tucked away between two broken buildings, there's a white shape sticking out of a collection of stones and dead brambles, long and curved with several obvious humps. It could be a number of things, including a skeleton... or a living creature. Something glistens on one of the white lumps.]

[Noctis pauses to look, then glances over at Somnus.]

You can warp with other people, right?

[If something goes wrong and they need to get out fast, Pyra'd need a quick escape route, too. Getting Somnus to take her with him is a safer plan, with how unreliable his warping is still.]

[ Looking Beyond Calda, she can make out what appears to be bones. A nest, however?

Her attention returns to them when Noctis asks a question of Somnus, guessing that he might want Somnus to warp her out of the building of need be. To the detriment of their exploration, she still does not reassure them that she might fend for herself with abilities she has yet to reveal. This is a risk she knowingly takes. ]

[The implication is also obvious to Somnus. Pyra is more than capable of taking care of herself, even if he himself is largely unaware of what she can do. While she needs no mortal to guard her, he nods in lieu of saying anything, then turns his attention to the indiscernible shape in the distance.

Noctis' role in this expedition is the vanguard. Somnus, poised to warp into the scene at a moment's notice, will wait for Noctis' advance and respond accordingly to what he sees or otherwise senses.]

[He's not a thief or exceptionally stealthy, but thankfully Noct's had to do enough sneaking around in Nif bases or daemon-infested caves that he can act accordingly. Very carefully he edges forward, watching where he steps and keeping aware of his surroundings, trying to keep close to the edges and spots to take cover behind in order to stay hidden from whatever's out there that might see him.

Eventually he has to leave the more protected area, though, as there's a wide space between himself and the white shape in the dead grass. He gestures behind for them to come closer - safe so far - before venturing further out. It's so quiet now, eerily so. Even the distant howling of the storm is buffered by the buildings around them, and while it's convenient for noticing anything that might be nearby, it doesn't help his rising dread that implies something is absolutely coming to ruin their day. That's how these expeditions always go back home.

Nothing happens as he draws closer, though, and when he finally reaches the shape he gives it only a passing glance before he tucks himself away into a corner of one of the busted buildings, back out of sight, and peers around to get another look. The shape is definitely a skeleton, he can confirm that much now, a tall, long-necked creature curled up in the nest as if it had laid down to sleep and died that way. There's a nasty black film beneath it, like a slick of dried oil, and a single long, curved horn poking out of its skull, the other side broken off apparently, and a shattered, sharpened snout. There's also... huh.

He pulls out his comm and texts to Pyra:]

flower??

[Something's actually alive out here?]

Picture?

Is it safe for me to head there, too? [ Whether alive or dead, that he's discovered that there is a flower is significant enough. If he gives her the okay to proceed, with a nod towards Calda and Somnus, she will quietly trace Noctis' movements to his location.

She would like to observe it for herself, if not collect it for a sample. ]

[Pyra's role is support, which means they'll be better off if Somnus goes with her instead of hanging back. If and once Noctis gives the okay, they leave Calda, who should be more than fine on her own, behind to investigate his discovery. Somnus doesn't ask what it is, because he'll be seeing it soon enough.]

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