This closed log is for the group who signed up to follow up the flower crystals from last month. All threads are worth 12 points.Along with the four volunteers who signed up (Turo, Shadow, Sherlock, Emet-Selch), a large group of researchers will head through the gate into "Ainomiad's Tundra." In the past year, the staging area has become more developed and the passages through the cavern more well marked and secured. Buildings have been constructed, capable of withstanding the cold, and scholars have been hard at work studying what's within the caverns.
The group will make their way to the deepest part, known as the "heart of the caverns," and will be surprised to find the frozen island that had disappeared in the middle of the frozen lake. It takes the place of the small shrine-like structure that was originally there, and a different pedestal now stands where the tree once stood on the island. The
spirit from before will also make a reappearance, and perhaps those who interacted with the joyful and sad spirits will find some resemblance in her. The spirit will guide the group to place the orchid onto the pedestal, and upon doing so the frozen surface will shimmer a dark, rosy pink.
Watching, the spirit will
smile and quietly whisper,
"She will awaken soon…" before disappearing.
However, before anyone can react further, the entire cavern trembles, a strange
dragon-like shadow seemingly swimming over its surface before a large crack forms on the back wall and a large portion breaks off, creating a new opening. From it, a blast of cold air floods the room, carrying an unearthly sorrowful wail before it dies down into silence.
Time to explore this new cavern!
The first area they pass through will be a long, dark tunnel that opens up into a huge cavern filled with tall, icy columns forming a catacomb of sorts filled with frozen remains scattered throughout. Because of the frigid temperatures, there is little to no sign of decay, and even the blood that had pooled beneath the bodies seem to have frozen in place, staining the frozen ground. The bodies are all riddled with wounds, the clothing of the fallen mostly or two different uniforms to clearly mark that the remains here are of soldiers or fighters. Who were the defenders and who were the invaders is unclear, especially as they are of different people and races, humans and beastfolk alike. But some bear an orchid insignia on their sleeve, similar to the flower seen in the temple.
The passage through will remain eerie and silent, however the deeper they go, some may hear the whispers of anguish and regret echo against the icy walls, the occasional sobs of those who mourned the fallen. They may even notice dried flowers and pennants, perhaps those who had come to leave tributes. Pictures of loved ones pressed into frozen hands. And eventually, pink candles float over the bodies, casting long shadows on the walls and the ceiling—shadows that seem to come to life and reenact the battles that must have occurred. It's then they may get a clue that this "cavern" may not have always been a cavern—that the icy columns they passed are not ice, but frozen trees.
Be careful—the shadows may move and enter the corpses to make them move and attack. The shadows may also try to lure them closer to the walls, pretending to be reflections of loved ones or a stranger trapped in the ice to drag them in instead.
As if to guide them past, pink flowers will float in the air to light the way. Should they manage to get past the catacombs, the group will see in the distance a
frozen city, a dome made of either ice or glass over it. The buildings within are somewhat preserved, but damage from attacks can be visible even from a distance. Once they reach the entrance, they will need to get through the
massive gate that seals it off.
Once inside the city, the group will find that it is
frigid and it will be clear that lingering too long without proper gear or warmth would be dangerous. Fortunately there is some tech and supplies available back at base camp, so returning to resupply may be the wiser course of action if they do not have anything or can make something on hand. Since the group is small, the main objective is
reconnaissance and to get a feel for what may be found in the city. Everyone needs to pair off and is given a flare to use in case of trouble. Here is what they may find and need to be careful of.
🌸
Flower crystals. Floating around here and there are flower crystals not too dissimilar to the ones that appeared during Winterstide. They tend to center around homes or places where people once gathered. Once touched, they will play a vision of a memory of what occurred in the place, usually a warm memory that depicts a fragment of the city's past.
🧟
Frozen enemies. The shadows from before will be lurking around here, and frozen remains will shamble along not to attack, but to try and grab onto people as if to keep them and drag them into the ice. They will even sing sorrowful songs, as if to trap their victim in mourning a dark moment in their life. There are other monsters such as
ice golems that will attack, so watch out for those, too.
🐺
Snow wolves. Fortunately, there will be some assistance in the form of snow wolves. Their coats are so pure in white they could easily be mistaken as ghosts…and it's still not clear if these wolves are spirits or not. Regardless, they will help guide and protect those who may need it.
🔔
Belltower. In the distance at the highest point of the city, something can be seen shining high atop a belltower. Reach it to discover another secret of this city.
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