[indiana jones theme playing in the distance]

[sageprincess]

Who: Zelda, Ain, Jakob, Minako, and Mordred
When: February 13th and February 17th
Where: Some abandoned temples on the Far Shore
What: Zelda's interest in the disappeared gods has been reignited and she's roped some friends into searching some empty temple for clues with her. aka Mission #40 x2

[See threads for details!]

Comments

february 13th, ain + jakob

[sageprincess]

[Who knows why she's dragged these two into her project today (aside from Minako being busy with her blind date event and Caster being on a road trip halfway across the globe), but it's not important. What is important is finding any clues as to where the old residents of of these abandoned temples dotted around the Far Shore might have gone. And that's why she's brought them to a group of buildings that looks for all intents and purposes like an old, traditional Japanese estate that's seen better days. Much like the ryokan from several months ago, many of the screens around the place have been torn or otherwise damaged, the various plants around the building are either overgrown or dead and rotting altogether, and the interior has been doing naught but collecting dust for who knows how long.

... It's a long shot, she'll admit that much. If the old gods simply poofed out of existence, then it's unlikely there would be any trail left behind regarding what happened to them. But it's not as though she has any better leads at the moment.

She coughs as she waves away some disturbed dust from her face, pausing momentarily in her search of a closet to glance at her companions.]

I do not suppose either of you has found anything of interest so far?

[Augh, she should have brought a face mask.]

[gentilitea]

[ It’s a welcome change of pace even if it does involve more work. More work, Jakob doesn’t mind so much—at least, not when it’s for a certain god he’s trying very hard to appease after evaluating his very bad behavior the last time he’d tried to be of service to her.

So it was with a very contrite spirit that he had followed her and Ain along, admittedly curious as to the nature of their errand, but at the same time mentally calculating how he might redeem himself before her.

So far, he hasn’t really found anything worth noting. With a sigh that does little to betray how irritated he is by this turn of affairs, he replies: ]

I’m afraid not, my lady. However, if I could perhaps tidy up this area, perhaps we might be able to unearth something.

[ With a strained smile, he adds: ] I’m a very good housekeeper, you know.

[abgrund]

[ It's a mystery whether Ain is aware of Jakob's involvement in the butler fight. He has not brought it up at all, suggesting potential ignorance... but one cannot also discount the possibility of his eyes.

Still, he is the perfect image of serenity in contrast to the both of them; his hair undulating just very slightly in an absent breeze. ]

Just a moment.

[ He could probably absorb the dust but that is Extremely Dangerous, so he should go for an easier route. He holds out a hand, and what seems to be two black leaves appear above his palm. Their porosity mimicks a material that he had seen and idly committed to memory. ]

Try holding this over your face. I think it should help.

[sageprincess]

[Whether Zelda is holding any kind of grudge for the butler showdown, she's not appearing to let it get in the way of her mission for today, speaking to the pair with the same prim formality as always. Jakob's suggestion earns a shrug.]

I believe it. [His ego might be easily bruised, but he's definitely skilled, she'll give him that.] If you think it might help, then by all means, do as you see fit.

[She's probably going to regret that blanket permission later, but for now it seems harmless enough. It's not as though she has any better ideas, anyway. She glances over to see Ain doing his Ain Thing, and... to her credit, she tries to hide the dubious look she gives the... fabric? before taking it as it's offered to her. Ain won't hurt her intentionally, she knows that much, so even if she's instinctively uncertain, she pushes past it to hold the voidcloth over her nose and mouth.]

Thank you, Ain. That is... certainly a useful ability to possess.

[Some time while all this is going on, a light scratching noise can begin to be heard coming from somewhere below the floorboards...]

[gentilitea]

[ Jakob likewise gives that cloth a dubious look, before taking it with a murmured thanks. He never really knows how to deal with Ain even on the best of days, but at the very least he trusts Ain not to harm them, so he puts that thing on. ]

Er, yes, well. As I was saying— [ He pauses at the light scratching noise, and turns to its direction with a look of dismay. There can only be one thing making that kind of noise in this kind of place.

With a sigh: ]

I do not wish to alarm anyone, but…I fear this place might already be infested.

[abgrund]

[ Perhaps right on cue, something pops out from beneath the floorboard - a pointed snout, black whiskers. And as most non-domesticated rats tend to be, these rat ayakashi are of the biting, ferocious type. ]

Please be careful.

[ This Ain says without glancing at the ground, though he does not need to. The shadow he casts begins to elongate, sprouting into two long tentacles tendrils that move to attempt a game of whack-a-mole. He's prepared to form them into a barrier if the rats decide to pour out of the floorboards, but for now he'll watch. It's probably important to keep the temple as intact as possible, and speed with an accuracy requirement isn't exactly his forte. ]

[sageprincess]

[Jakob's sigh is echoed through Zelda as she catches a glimpse of the tiny snout poking up through the floorboards. Ain seems to do well enough on whack-a-rat duty, but Zelda still calls--]

Come, Shuki.

[--and in a few seconds, a bright light converges upon her feet, transforming her shoes into a pair of black and white kitten heels. Some might question her judgement of keeping a soulless shinki when she has Minako, but... hey, Minako's busy! And this doesn't seem like that big of a problem, regardless. Zelda watches the floor for a moment, quiet and alert, but... the scratching seems to subside, and she clicks her tongue.]

I suppose that is a point towards this place being abandoned for quite a long time. Ain, I feel that of the three of us, you will have the greatest awareness of whether they intend to emerge again. If you would keep watch, then Jakob and I can start with attempting to clean this place.

[Yes, of course she intends to help with the tidying.]

[gentilitea]

[ Jakob doesn’t even want to know how he’s doing that, so he wisely turns to Zelda instead, ayakashi or no fucking ayakashi. ]

Yes, that’s—what? [ He doesn’t mean her soulless going into vessel form—it’s hard to judge her when both Add and Ain still keep theirs around—but her very suggestion outright horrifies him more than the rats do. ]

Why, you—you certainly needn’t go out of your way, my lady! I assure you that my domestic skills are more than up to the task.

[abgrund]

[ He inclines his head at Zelda's words, content at keeping to rat watch duty. He can swat them as they come up, and he could call for his own shinki if Zelda does not wish to step on small snarling creatures.

However, Jakob's outburst seems to warrant a response - it might be more conducive to working together if he can do something to smoothen Jakob's indignation. ]

I think it would be better to work with the lady if that is her wish, [ he suggests with a blink. ] That way it will be best for all of us.

[sageprincess]

[She's starting to think your priorities are a little wonky there, Jakob. Ain's speedy intervention keeps her from getting too frustrated though. She takes a deep breath before answering, and only has to clear her throat a little after doing so thanks to Ain's void-veil.]

Yes, I have utmost faith in your skills, Jakob, believe me, but even if it is only by a small amount, would four working hands not be faster than merely two? I did not ask the two of you for your aid in this with the expectation that you would do all the work yourselves.

[Geeze, what do you take her for, a princess that has actually been raised like one? Hah!

Meanwhile, some light shuffling beneath the floorboards resumes, but no tiny snouts emerge to get swatted. It sounds instead like they're moving to another part of the house...]

[gentilitea]

[ Someday he really will find himself a princess that’ll actually let him wait on her hand and foot, huffs!!! For now though, he has no choice but to relent. ]

A—As you wish, my lady. [ He’s still very unsure about this, but she’s the last person he wants to argue with, much as he’d love to bring up the old adage of too many cooks in here. ]

But… [ he stares uncertainly around them. It’s not just the floorboards that feel hollow—the entire place is. ] We must proceed with the utmost caution regardless. It feels as though this place might collapse on us at any minute.

FLIPS MY EXAMS im here

[abgrund]

[ Ain doesn't much have ears to prick at the movement of the rat ayakashi, but he takes note of it nonethenless. It seems to be directed down the hallway; they should be more careful when they go there. ]

Don't worry about the collapse. I can protect you so you can focus on the search.

[ They are bound to have more experience with this kind of investigations, so he's content with sitting back and watching, in a way. Since maintaining his strength to project his power at a moment's notice will take his attention, it's best to let the other two take charge. ]

[sageprincess]

Thank you. Both of you.

[She says with a nod, satisfied. Now, was that so hard? Just agree to her demands and she is a much more pleasant person to be around. Her own long ears make up for Ain's lack, noticeably twitching as the sound drifts farther away, but... such small nuisances shouldn't cause too much trouble, and they're here for information regardless.]

If this place has been abandoned for as long as the rumors suggest, then it is little wonder that it has fallen into such disrepair. Not having anyone around to tend to it for a year or more would do that to any building.

In any case, where would you suggest we start, Jakob?

[This time she'll follow your directions for real! Things seem to be quiet enough now that the rats have scurried away, so...]

february 17th, minako + mordred

[sageprincess]

[Hope springs eternal, whether her expedition with Ain and Jakob bore fruit or not, and there's no shortage of empty temples to scour through. So Zelda's back at it after giving Minako a few days to rest from her big event (and she will have rested one way or another, whether Zelda had to sit on her or simply trick her into it with some well timed puppy god eyes), with Saber in tow for some added muscle.

Which may possibly be needed shortly, as the great wooden doors of the stone structure she's chosen to investigate today aren't budging a single inch, no matter how much she rattles the handles.]

Hmm... it seems we may need to find another way inside.

[Though of course she's not going to be the one to suggest just busting the doors down, that would be silly! Surely, there's a less destructive way to get inside, though all the windows seem to be pretty high up...]

[reloves]

[ There was definitely some force involves with getting Minako to rest, considering she'd never do that of her own volation.. But thankfully it's really hard for her to resist Zelda, so the puppy god eyes are most definitely a fatal strike to her determination.

At least it means she's not going on this mission completely exhausted, which is probably for the better since you never know what happens on these missions. Heck, last time it wasn't even dangerous, yet it was still super exhausting. But right now she feels like she has enough energy to tackle the task of exploring this temple.

Even if they've already encountered their first roadblock. Minako doesn't look too troubled about it though-- ]

Can't we just go through the windows? [ She doesn't have the superstrength necessary to smash through a door, but she's more confident in her climbing abilities. She's as nimble as a monkey, okay.

Minako turns to look at Mordred, and it's suddenly like stars appear in her eyes. (Yes, she's still over the moon at having been her noble steed in a dream.) ]

What do you think, Saber?

[roundtablerebel]

[ Today Mordred has discovered the wonders of bubblegum and she's currently concentrating on learning how to blow a bubble when Minako interrupts her. She recoils slightly at the look she's getting, understanding exactly why Minako is looking at her that way but chooses not to address it.]

Uh?

[ What were they talking about? Oh right— finding an entrance! ]

Well, I could toss you up there, Antlers. Might be kinda hard to get down though, don't you think?

[ She grins and steps up to the entrance, shooing Zelda aside before making a thoughtful face. ]

Besides, I think I've found a faster way in.

[ Without warning she kicks the door with enough force to splinter the wood and burst it off its hinges. ]

[sageprincess]

[Zelda is... also lowkey aware of why Minako might be particularly charmed by Mordred at this time, but she will also keep her mouth shut about it. First rule of dreamwalking: don't talk about dreamwalking. In any case, she eyes the windows carefully at Minako's suggestion, though a part of her agrees with Mordred's assessment - she really doesn't want Minako to break a leg or something because of her long-shot idea.

Not that she gets much chance to voice her concern, because Mordred is shooing her away and oh no she knows where this is going--]

Saber--!

[Ah.

There goes the door.

Zelda takes a deep breath.]

Well... that is-- certainly the most straightforward option. Hopefully the god that resides here will be able to replace that easily should they return...

[And hopefully they won't be mad about the whole "breaking and entering" thing in the first place. The interior of the temple is quite dark from their position at the door-- well, doorframe, and the sound of the door crashing down echoed wildly from within.

The question is, who would like to take point?]

[reloves]

[ Minako would actually have no problem with getting tossed all the way up there.. she might not remember her life as a magical girl, sure, but somehow the idea of having to jump down from there doesn't feel all that bad or scary.

Then again, Mordred seems to already have found her own way in. Even Minako, queen of weird impulsive stuff, looks surprised when Mordred just literally kicks in the door - having to blink for a moment or two to make sure she's really seeing this.

Not that she's necessarily disapproving though, everything considered-- ]

Talk about making an entrance.

[ She's still very much without hesitation though, so Minako's already popping her head in to take a look around. ]

Maybe we're going to need some light? It's pretty dark in here!

[roundtablerebel]

Hehe~

[ Mordred grins at Zelda, waving off the property destruction concerns. She seems pretty chuffed with her handiwork and is already leaning over Minako to get a look inside. ]

If it's been abandoned this long they probably aren't coming back any time soon.

[ Peering in she can't make out much of the interior outside of the light that leaks in from the doorway. Mordred glances over her shoulder at Zelda and makes a chopping motion with her hand. ]

Antlers is right, it's time to bust out that glowstick arm of yours!

[ Or you know, a torch if they brought one. ]

[sageprincess]

Yes, well. We are here to see if we cannot find any clues as to where they went.

[But Minako and Mordred are cute and excited, so she supposes she can't be that mad. Even if she can't help giving Mordred a bit of a Look at the phrase "glowstick arm."]

All right, but make sure neither of you strays too far from me, then.

[She lifts a hand and, on cue, it begins to glow with a holy golden light, pushing back the darkness as she passes the shinki pair through the entrance, carefully stepping over the remnants of the door as she does. Her light (and her echoing footsteps) reveals a grand hall of stone. No windows dot the walls, obviously, or else it would not be so dark, but sconces that might have once held flame stand between large, grim-faced statues that line the outer edge of the room.

There's... some kind of structure or sculpture at the other end of the hall, but Zelda's light doesn't quite reach far enough to illuminate it completely.]

[reloves]

[ There's a bit of an elbow nudge in Mordred's side at the words "glowstick arm" and the corresponding Look from Zelda. Be nice to her goddess, okay! It's super light though, since she's still way too enamoured with the idea that Mordred considers her a friend and her personal idiot to really do anything.

Her attention immediately turns back to her goddess though the moment Zelda steps into the temple. Got to make sure nothing weird happens when she steps in, after all. But it seems safe enough, so Minako is quick to head in after her and smile at her. ]

You know it'd take a lot to take me away from your side! [ Self-aware, this one.. But at least it shows she's intending to be a good girl this once.

Regardless, she glances at the statues around them, not paying attention - or maybe just not having noticed - the lesser illuminated one further away from them. ]

Geez, these guys don't exactly look friendly.

[roundtablerebel]

What?

[ She gives the pair a curious stare but the reasons behind that look from Zelda and the subsequent elbow from Minako are completely lost on Mordred. But since Zelda uses her magic anyway she doesn't see any point in dwelling on it and instead follows the pair into the dark. ]

Yeah, seems like the previous owner had some weird taste in decor.

[ Statues aside, it's a little bizarre to be inside a temple that's so... lifeless. Mordred usually bounces between Yuna, Caster or Zelda's abodes and while each has a different feel they all share a certain warmth. This place has none of that.

As she peers around the shadowy space the sculpture at the end of the room catches her attention and she points it out to her companions. ]

Hey, what's that thing?

[ Sorry Zelda, she's just going to ignore the instruction to stick close for a second while she goes to see what it is. ]

[sageprincess]

[Minako's... loyalty, let's call it, gets a little huff of a laugh from Zelda, appreciating both her self-awareness and the fact that she's behaving. The same cannot be said for Mordred, however, as she almost immediately pulls away from the group not three minutes before they get inside.]

The same could be said for a number of the "new" temples-- Saber...!

[C'mon, she doesn't want to explain to your goddess how she lost you in an abandoned temple! Zelda quickly picks up the pace to keep up with the Servant, and as she gets closer her light reveals more and more of the sculpture at the end of the room.

It's another statue, but one that is much, much bigger than the ones lining the walls. The... man depicted cuts a rather imposing and monstrous figure with a knife nearly the size of our intrepid adventurers in hand, torso covered in a cape that seems to be made of straw and bearing the mask of a Japanese ogre upon his face. A plaque at his feet reads, "SHOW RESPECT, OR BE FELLED BEFORE ME."]

Please... do not run off until we have found some way to illuminate this place more thoroughly.

[If any of the girls look back, they might notice that the other statues heads have turned towards them, almost expectantly...]

[reloves]

[ Minako easily follows Zelda after Mordred - if Zelda says they stick together, then they stick together!! - even though she's definitely looking around her as they go, trying to take in the details of the temple.

The statue coming into view is definitely the thing that stands out the most though. When Minako stops in front of it to look up at it, it takes up all her attention. Something about it looks kind of familiar - that mask, maybe? It's not something she's seen often here in the Far Shore, if ever, but she knows it regardless. Maybe from stories from back when she was still alive, then..

Something gives her a bad feeling though, and as she glances over her shoulder and notices the statues' heads having moved, she quickly turns back forward to look at the biggest statue with a quick startled movement. ]

Saber, bow for it..! [ Practically hissing it at Mordred, even though Minako seems more worried than angry. It's not like she would order Zelda around, and it'll probably be fine if just the two of them do it, right? ] Or-- Or do whatever you did to show respect to people back where you come from!

[ "Saber" is not exactly the most Japanese name ever, after all. ]

[roundtablerebel]

Relax Princess, it's not like there's anything here but dumb statues, see?

[ Mordred gestures up at the imposing sculpture with a smile, clearly not very intimidated by the warning— or maybe she just didn't read it. Either way, she seems quite proud of the fact that she might have discovered one of the clues that Zelda is after even if she doesn't particularly care about the identity of some forgotten god herself.

Minako's sudden alarm immediately grabs her attention and she regards her friend with a mix of confusion and concern. ]

Huh? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?

[ She glances back at the statue, noticing the plaque before turning back to Minako. ]

You're not scared of ugly over here, are you?