the power of friendship.

[adelicateflame]

The Caves of the Arimoi are an extensive network of caverns, winding through the earth. Who maintains the torches which light each passage with a dim and flickering luminescence? Who placed here these treasure chest, filled with artifacts both ancient and obscure? What is it even doing here, as it is clearly not part of the Queen's domain? Nobody knows, or at least nobody is answering. But here it is nonetheless, and it is both ancient and strangely beautiful.

You are not alone in these caves, however. Echidna's children lurk, jealously guarding treasures and preying on unprepared explorers. Here a woman with the lower boidy of a dragon lurks, vicious teeth dripping with venom. There, a formless, shapeshiting mass strikes out with its terrible barbed whip. There, hydras and chimaerae patrol, and in some places the beautiful woman you stumble across may not be what she seems...

How are you supposed to make nice with creatures like these? That's up to you to figure out.

[ooc: A more detailed description of the Caves and Monsters can be found on the setting page. We will be tagging into threads with NPC monsters, if you have a specific monster you would like to encounter please leave a note in your thread.]

Comments

[ported]

Kris went to fill her bag and she stumbled slightly. Whoops, she caught her balance but a hand went to her face.

"...oh."

She turned to Akiha again with a smile. "I guess I'm really happy."

Those were tears on her cheeks. No, no one had ever said she was the most important unless it was on how to use her powers. Being Kris was suffering.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the tears. She stared for a moment, unsure how to react to that. After a moment, she decided she just... wasn't going to react and turned away from the alcove the chest and Kris were in.

Back to the magician, Akiha took some of her hair in hand and pulled it in front of her, idly running her fingers through it. "Then be happy, but wipe your tears and hurry up with that chest. We don't have all day."

[ported]

She cleans up and starts to scoop up whatever is left in the chest. Yeah, if Akiha cares to look, it's all gone and Kris doesn't seem like she's hiding it anywhere. Where is your physics now?

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha kind of forgot about physics with that whole tears thing. When she no longer hears the sounds, she glances back once and then takes the torch again as she starts to head back out.

Only she stops and looks down a few caves. "...which is the way out?"

[adelicateflame]

There is an excited giggle from somewhere unknown in the cave. Akiha may feel wind blow through her hair, signaling toward the cave to the right.

[ported]

"Uh-oh...."

Well, Kris was prepared for a fight if it came to it.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha immediately looked to where she felt the wind come from, her hair shifting to its bright red color as she readied herself as best as she could.

"Show yourself," she called out.

[adelicateflame]

Another trill of delighted laughter answered, and no figure appeared before them, but an odd little voice eventually called,

"What shall I show you?"

[ported]

"Where more riches are!"

Because money was the most important thing.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha cast a brief glance back at Kris and sighed.

"Don't listen to that idiot. If you're not going to present yourself, then leave us be," she called to the voice. "We're on our way out."

[adelicateflame]

The creature did not much care for the 'that idiot's' reply, hissing faintly. A coughing sound followed, then a spit.

A pair of gold coins landed on the ground at Kris's feet, rank and sizzling with poisonous saliva.

[ported]

There was no way Kris was touching those. Anything that sizzled wasn't exactly safe.

"....not exactly what I meant."

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha raised an eyebrow and looked over at Kris then in the direction the coins had come from.

"I don't like repeating myself, but if I must, I will."

[adelicateflame]

A crude imitation of Akiha's voice replied, "We're on our way out."

[ported]

"I don't think it wants to talk to you anymore."

[ritsu_kouyou]

Oh, she did not like being mocked. Akiha's lips turned up in a cold smile.

"There. Now I don't have to. Come on, Kris. We're leaving."