( video ) [ BACKDATED TO LATE ON 4/9 ]

[heelies]

[ What broadcasts over the network is the picture of a peculiar pair: Achilles and Helga, serious of countenance both, as is each's modus operandi. The metallic shell of the submarine's curved insides serves as their backdrop. ]

I should like to call to assembly the members of this crew, and I understand that this is the best means by which to reach the ears of all men, although it is more to my liking to see those to whom I give these words. It is Achilles, son of Peleus, who wishes to speak to you: I have journeyed, with a crew led by gold-clad Gilgamesh and fair-haired Kida, to the darkest reaches within the sea, which lie beyond where the imagination of men can fathom. I shall tell of that to which we have borne witness.

Down there dwells Ryba, the goddess of the sea, who is Nalanni's sister. She knows not to where Nalanni has gone, for her eyes cannot see beyond that over which she presides - but we have her reassurance that Nalanni who delights in volcanoes has not vanished in full from this land, for she would know if such a calamity has come to pass. We are told that sea and rock are anchored one to another, as life is to death: either both must make this land, or nothing at all remains. Therefore, hope has not scattered to the wind.

Wave-ruling Ryba soon grew weary of our audience, and although she welcomes supplications the price she demands is steep. It is imprudent to test the generosity of the gods. Thus we parted with little solved: still, the answers she granted ought to be shared among all.

[ Helga looks as if she would have loved to interrupt him a fair few times already, but she kept quiet in spite of herself until now. Achilles, for his part, looks none too thrilled at having to share the floor thus. ]

Ryba has not been straightforward in her answers.

[ Surely, she hasn't shot a sideway glance at Achilles when she said this. ]

What we gathered from her is that the Dakal have been driven to (or near) extinction by the Nalawi during the war between them. They had been "sent to the bottom of the sea", either literally or figuratively. It checks out, if I'm allowed to hazard a guess: on our way to Ryba's lair, we came across plenty of wrecked submarines, none of which seem to fit in with the near complete lack of technology on Komo and the other islands.

The goddess mentioned one specific Dakal, who sold her soul in order to return to the surface world. In the process, she may have been granted powers by Ryba herself, but we do not know what became of her, what those powers were, or if she did anything with them.

I have been told by the Nalawi innkeep that minor gods exist alongside Nalanni, albeit no one worships them here. Ryba proves that they are tangible to the point of concern, so I urge all of you to take great care during your exploration.

Comments

video ; un: PARTY

[wardance]

[ hmmmm. ]

She means literally.

audio; un: adlantisag

[adlantisag]

[ Oh, to hear that, and to hear it from him--her mouth forms a wire-thin line. It's a good thing he can't see. ]

Say what you know.

[wardance]

[ His mouth twitches but he refrains from cringing since, unlike Kida, he does not have his face hidden. It does cross his mind to say he knows nothing, because that's technically true. But, that would also be playing dumb. As a general, he is more than well aware his conclusions are just as good as being told it outright, in this case.

It's just... this about to be some really awkward and slightly cruel irony... ]

The islands that the Dakal had settlement on don't exist. I thought maybe it was simply because they never did to begin with, but if the sea witch claims the Dakal were sent to the bottom of the sea, then she must mean literally. They sunk the Dakal islands... along with the Dakal. It's the only explanation that makes sense there with the other details.

[adlantisag]

[ Kida inhales sharply, teeth grinding together so hard they might make sparks. ]

They are more than they seem, then.

[ She tries to remind herself that they haven't lied. They are a people who hunt sharks and presumably once conquered volcanic islands with magic. They are only temporarily weak. But still, this hits too close to home. She can feel her throat become cloyed, stomach in knots as she sees visions of rising water, quaking earth, floes of lava--

Atlantis had sunk in less than an hour. The stories they would tell after its fall spoke of a single, full day for the water to settle. How long did the Dakal have? ]

She must have floated down there--'already bones', Ryba described her. We saw all their machines along the sea floor, in pieces.

[wardance]

[ Masamune pauses before speaking in reply. ]

...The Nawali... their government is made up of a select few members of equal ruling power and supposedly have the most powerful Gifts, right?

[adlantisag]

Yes. As we have learned, whenever a seat is freed, they hold a competition to determine whose Gift is strongest.

[wardance]

[ he smirks but it's somewhat bitter. ]

They know something the rest don't.

[adlantisag]

[ A hiss through her teeth at that. ]

How can you be certain? Have you confronted them?

[wardance]

No, but... Two things.

The Gifts are not inherent abilities of the Nawali. I'm not sure I'm convinced a blessing from a goddess can be randomly stronger in some. That would be favoritism because the blessing isn't dependent on their own traits.

A sinking of land makes no sense unless something is being hidden. Gintoki said they didn't know why they were at war, they just were. That reeks of belief that can only be accepted if the truth is known by the right people well enough to have it stay unknown. A council of equal members sounds perfect to keep everyone "in line".

[adlantisag]

[ It's been generations of deer since the war; she suspects time has only eaten their reasoning, as it does. He's not talking nonsense, though. ]

If you go to them--I will stand by you.

[ It's probably not a great idea to have her around, wound up as she is. ]

[wardance]

[ he also comes from a place that studies history of wars and tactics of other countries from 1400 years ago to consider things. His people don't forget, but he does know history is written by the winners and that people in his position or higher have to do horrible things for the greater good of their people-- even if their people would be appalled and ashamed at such tactics used. It's better to not let it curse their lives when they had no hand in it... it's less dangerous to government power and order to keep them never really knowing. ]

Last time you and Gilgamesh went near an official together... I'm still considering the fact you two met with a sea goddess and didn't piss her off by trying to punch her in the face before leaving proof of miracles existing.

[adlantisag]

[ OK ALL OF THAT IS TRUE, BUT.

BUT-- ]

Do not insult me as if you had defence of your own to offer! You tongue is hardly silver, Masamune Date.

[wardance]

Ah yes. Remind me the incident that makes you so terribly sure of this part about me. [ He is an excellent diplomat, he would have herknow!. ]

[adlantisag]

I do not recall you ever offering to meet with the king of Chantes! Or negotiation us out of anything.

[ Which means he ought to prove himself. ]

Voice | UN: ANIKI

[dokyuu]

[Pardon this sudden angry outburst]

That's not war, that's--!

[There's a sharp inhalation of breath, and then a pause.]

No wonder the last one made that deal.

[wardance]

Yeah. If it started as war, it didn't end as one. Did she just survive by a fluke, then, in order to make that deal? It sounds like she was physically incapable of returning to the surface world without the goddess's assistance.

[dokyuu]

She just... wasn't quite dead yet, from what I gather.

[Which was an awful contemplation on its own.]

'Already bones' is what Ryba said.

[wardance]

Weird question—where underwater did you guys find this sea goddess?

[dokyuu]

Real deep. We were following a trail of magic... took awhile. Not sure where it was in relation to the surface, though. Maybe one of the others knows.

[wardance]

... So, judging from your audience, what do you think's the likelihood that she would be cool with sinking the islands and the Dakal people were her exchanged sacrifice to do it?

[dokyuu]

I don't think she did. She really doesn't seem to care what happens on land. And she said...

[He pauses a moment]

She said the Dakal were the last before us to 'greet her' down there. But they were dead by that point. Doesn't sound like she dragged them down herself.

Then again, I'm not so sure I trust my own judgement anymore.

[wardance]

Yo, Ogre. Don't drag yourself down so quick, I need you up here.

. I'm not convinced they're all mass murderers. We're still missing a lot of information pieces.

[dokyuu]

Yeah...

[But he doesn't sound reassured, just frustrated]

Just starting to seem like they brought a lot of this on themselves.

[wardance]

They might feel it's been worth it.

[dokyuu]

With the way things are goin' for them now? I imagine they're regretting it.