The Day o' Davy Jones

[thepiratesdevil]

August 31st - September 7th
Isla Empieza

OPEN TO ALL PLAYERS, CURRENT AND PAST!!





The time has come. The way to Empieza is open. The mists still swirl around and the low, greenish cloud hangs heavy over the island, flickering with green lightning. But now there is a way to get in and a place to weigh anchor. The Navs seem to have stopped functioning, though. Pity.

In any case, there is a path to the central plaza of Empieza, bordered on either side by mist that feels caustic to the touch and seems almost ready to break free. From either side and within the mist are screams that linger as they fade, rattling growls, and other sounds that could induce nightmares in even the bravest of souls.

And somewhere in the mist lies Davy Jones, the rest of the shards, and a battle that will decide the outcome of this world...and yourselves.

Comments

The Forest, The Cave, The Heart

[highseasmods]

Those who, through curiosity, a vague premonition, intuition, bad directional sense, or just plain luck, reach the edge of the forest will start to hear a muffled thumping sound like a drum beat.

The mist seems to be thinner here and there seems to be a pathway, however faint, through the forest and to a certain cave located in the center of it. Though the mist is thin, the beasts are even more dangerous and not even the purest of water can keep the nightmares and distractions totally at bay.

Surviving that and reaching the cave, you will find a dark passage leading down and down, where the drum beats match the push and pull of the ocean. You can smell the sea air, growing stronger as you make your way down. Where the cave will lead may seem like a dead end, except for a pool with red light that pulses in time with the thumping.

A long swim will get you to the heart of Davy Jones, and the massive shard which lies embedded in it. Will you give it to Scurvey Dog afterward and see what she makes of it? Try to keep it for yourself? Or just destroy the thing in hopes of destroying Davy Jones himself...or perhaps you think destroying it will get you the shard?

The choice is yours.


[Mod Note: As for who gets the heart -- well, basically, if you really want it, thread this out and within three days we'll RNG it with those who have actively been commenting... Unless you decide amongst yourselves!]

[letteropener]

Celestia blinked through the mist with teleport after short-range teleport, dodging the beasts that surged through it as she pressed ever closer to the cave. Her wings beat powerfully, a shimmer of sunlight surrounding her as she gathered her power and held it.

She had not worn it since the disappearance of her ursine crewmate, but today the pony wore her duster. If nothing else, it would serve as armor and protection, or at least keep the mist from soaking her fur.

Not that it wouldn't get soaked in a minute anyway.

[yourotherleft]

Zoro's appearance at the cave entrance is completely and utterly a fluke. Terrible sense of direction indeed, he totally meant to be going straight for Jones! And he was, so he thought, but several monster carcasses later and he found himself looming out of the mist with a familiar sight ahead. White wings were easy to spot against all this lurid green.

Trudging out of the darkness, Zoro had two of his three swords bared, and was already scuffed up. The blood on his shirt, however, was not his. "Oi, Celestia!" he called as he came. "Is this the right way? Where's Jones?"

[chasing_waterfalls]

     Next time, he was sticking with someone else- but it was only because he'd come to realize how terrible Zoro's sense of direction was that he hadn't wanted to leave him to wander on his own. Lyrik was at least glad to be with someone who knew how to take care of those monsters at least.

     "Ah! Thank goodness!" he exclaimed as they met up with Celestia. "Miss Celestia, are you okay?"

[letteropener]

Well. Celestia had hoped to obtain the shard herself, but of the potential others who might come seeking it, she could trust Zoro at least. And probably Lyrik as well. The important thing was preventing anypony from misuing the shard even out of good intentions, and these two likely couldn't and likely wouldn't.

"I'm quite all right. But the path beyond looks to be a swim. I'm not certain you're at the right place for the fight, Zoro, but there is work to be done here nonetheless."

[yourotherleft]

Zoro had sensed someone behind him, a familiar signature, so he wasn't entirely surprised to find Lyrik tagging along. Poor hid had to watch a lot of blood and guts, though. He nodded to acknowledge his presence and then walked up to Celestia.

"All right. I guess since you guys are here, I can help you out. If there's any more monsters ahead like the ones I just cut through, you're gonna need it." He knew Celestia could more than handle herself around monsters, but it was the principle of the thing. Zoro's deepest instincts were to protect his crew, and there were now two of them here, might as well protect them, come hell beasts or high water.

[chasing_waterfalls]

     The young water dragon forced a smile at Celestia. "At least I know I can handle a swim. I'll be happy to leave any monsters to you, Zoro." After all, water was more so his territory than all this, sword at his side or not.

     At least with water nearby, he could assist in some fighting that way if need be, but Celestia had cleared out quite a bit herself before they'd reached her.

[doomkitty]

[while the three of them were chatting outside the cave entrance, a certain winged feline slipped behind them and into the cave, where he felt the draw of some dark magic. He had hoped to go ahead and obtain it while they were distracted, but balked when he saw the water. This was going to be more annoying than he thought...he despised water and swimming of any kind, and trying to swim through some narrow watery cave with his large wings wasn't something he could just wholeheartedly dive into]

[they'd likely find him still looking at the water contemplating what to do about it when they made their way inside]

[letteropener]

Oh wonderful. This just kept attracting more people.

"It is probably safe," Celestia said, before she tucked her own massive wings tight around her, then plunged into the water without hesitation.

[yourotherleft]

Zoro looked at the water, contemplating. He didn't have a problem taking a swim either, and he could fight as easily underwater as he could on land, but Celestia's power and Lyrik's very existence were good reasons to let them handle it unless they called for help.

Meanwhile, he turned to this winged guy sitting by the water. Zoro didn't know him, he'd never seen him, but he didn't resemble any of the nightmare beasts he'd been fighting all day.

"What's up with you?" he wondered bluntly.

[doomkitty]

I wouldn't be so sure.

[he responded to Celestia without standing up. But as soon as she turned her back to dive in, he hurled an explosive fireball of black fire, which can burn and boil even water, at it. It'd impact just before she hit the water if she didn't do anything about it]

[he then stood up, glancing at Zoro disdainfully] what's up with me? Get in my way and you'll find out.

[he opened his paw to summon a wicked-looking weapon surrounded by some strange black magic that seemed to devour the light out of the air around it]

((Ooc: For organization sake were you guys wanting to adhere to a posting order or just wing it?))

[chasing_waterfalls]

     Lyrik had been about to shout at Celestia to wait before the other figure cast some sort of spell. The young dragon yelped, staring a moment before he looked at catlike being.

     "What is your problem?!" he sputtered. Was this guy one of Davy Jones' minions?

     Since Zoro was addressing the guy, Lyrik turned his attention back towards the water, moving his hand. The water leaped up and gathered into a sphere to contain the black flames, and the boy flung it away from them, watching the hot water run off the walls.

[letteropener]

Thank you, Lyrik! Celestia's bright form vanished into the water with a flick of her iridescent tail. Leaving friends behind to fight battles for her was not something she liked at all, but... well, in Zoro's case at least, she didn't doubt he'd prefer such a battle to coming for the crystal with him

[chasing_waterfalls]

     Seeing that Celestia had gone ahead, Lyrik looked back to the other two before nodding. He knew Zoro could cover things. Hopefully there wasn't anything underwater like the last time, but the dragon wasn't about to leave a girl alone!

     "Please try not to kill him, Zoro!" he said before turning to dive into the water after the winged pony, swimming quickly to catch up. It was so dark and it made him wish he had one of the Light Dragon's light orbs, but at least he could follow Celestia and that red glow, eerie as it was.

[letteropener]

The Princess surged out of the water on the far end of the swim, gasping for breath as she stuck her head back into the air once again. Dripping and sodden, her wings plastered to her body and her mane and tail dragging, bedraggled, on the floor, she was as far from a picture of royalty as could be.

Unsteady on her hooves from a lack of air, she stumbled forward, he gaze fixed on the heart that pulsed before her. The very air hung thick with inimical power, pressing against her like it wanted to consume her. Maybe it did. The shards could corrupt and be corrupted.

Perhaps they could also be purified.

Celestia parted her lips, seeking for her voice, but for a moment it failed her. But she was a Princess, an alicorn... a Straw Hat, and there were people relying on her.

Softly, against the darkness, she began to sing.

Sometimes I lose the spark...
Living in the dark...
How I wish my song could be a sign.

The tip of her horn began to glow with sunlight as she found her center and her strength. Lifting her head, the alicorn put more strength into her words.

Sing it like a bird.
Sunlight in my words.
Learn to sing the golden sun to shine.

Shine on, shine on me.
Shine on, shine on me.

[chasing_waterfalls]

     Lyrik was more impressed that something so gangly can swim so quickly. If he'd known that she hadn't the ability to use magic to help her swim, he would have lent her his power. It wasn't obvious to him that she'd been holding her breath until he came up after her, seeing her gasping.

     "Uwah, you must have amazing lungs, Celestia..!" he couldn't help but sputter.

     She certainly had a one track mind though, already focusing on the source of that eerie red glow. Lyrik was surprised they hadn't even paused to take a look at it, but if this thing was just a gigantic version of the rest that they held- he glanced at the smaller ones he had on him, one still thrumming anxiously- then maybe they worked the same way?

fight thread here

[yourotherleft]

As Lyrik deflected the magic and Celestia dove in, Zoro's focus zeroed in on the interloper. Whose crew was he from? Was he one of the monsters after all? That sword certainly had his attention, and his lips curling in a smirk as he drew Wadou Ichimonji and placed it between his teeth.

"Sounds like a deal to me. I'll be your opponent."

All the better to let the others get away, and do their thing. Zoro did not hesitate, springing from his place and slashing with all three swords, one after the other, to drive the winged stranger from the cave and away from his crewmates.

[doomkitty]

[Venour gave a snarl of irritation as he was prevented from going after Lyrik or Celestia by this unusual swordsman. He found his technique of using a sword in his mouth almost comical, yet he couldn't deny its effectiveness as he struggled to block all of the incoming blows with his black-glowing pole arm in this tight space. He couldn't use his wings here, either. He'd have to get out of the cave to fight this guy effectively....which meant the other two would get far ahead]

You'll pay for being a pain in my tail! [he growled as he swept a paw at Zoro, black fire blasting from it towards the warrior's face to back him up. When the fire cleared he'd see Venour's tail end as he ran to get out of the cave]

[yourotherleft]

Zoro shifted to place all three swords in a joined block, letting the black energy hit and then deflect away to the side. It was a suitable distraction, he was still poised that way when his opponent fled. Zoro didn't usually pursue cowards who decided to run, but he had a strong feeling that this guy wasn't going very far. That, and he couldn't let him try some kind of sneaky strategy to get around him and chase after Celestia and Lyrik. So he ran after the winged guy, swords held low and ready in case he was ambushed just outside the cave.

[doomkitty]

[Zoro's instincts proved to be correct. Venour did stay close and did try to ambush him as soon as he emerged from the cave. He'd find the spear end of Venour's weapon thrusting at his side as soon as the malevolent cat had a clear shot at it]

[yourotherleft]

A ping against his haki sense warned Zoro in time not to take a spear through the ribs, though the blade did rip through the loose front of his shirt as he jerked to the side to evade it. His boots skidded across the dirt until they found purchase, while he slashed downward at the weapon to deflect it out of the way and give himself an opening to charge the wielder.

His focus turned laser-sharp, his good eye following the movement in the dim green fog and his haki on high alert as he went back on the attack, bringing the two swords in his hands into a parallel position and swinging outward, from the side, in a Nigiri Hirameki. Whether or not it hit, he was already moving into the next move, bringing the parallel swords around to slash again in a diagonal Samon.

[thetruehistorian]

Robin sat next to the red pool, her head bowed and her hands folded demurely in her lap. This was it. This was as far as she could go. It was funny, in a way. No matter how hard she tried, no matter how determinedly she worked or studied, putting her life on the line, putting others' lives on the line, things always, somehow, managed to turn out this way. Another dead end. Another path she could not follow. She'd wished for death, the last time she'd found herself deep in an underground cave, facing the gaping maw of failure before her as the world above heaved and crumbled. It was all so very tiring. Did any of it have purpose? They fought so hard for a few shards, only to be given, in a moment, the ability to call them together in swarms. She'd studied day in and day out for months, she'd been possessed, in order to learn less than what someone said to the whole world in a matter of breaths. Why? The glowing red water swirled, rippling with each drumming heartbeat. Robin stared at the concentric rings radiating out from the middle, hating them, despairing. Perhaps this was her fate after all. A reminder of things past, a premonition of what was to come. Luffy had bought her more time, shone a light into the darkness of her cursed life, but she'd wound up here, again, in spite of him. She could struggle, and she could fight, but someone else would be the victor. She'd only make things complicated. She'd only get in the way. Maybe she shouldn't be here. But she didn't know where else to go. The world was ending, and she was powerless to stop it. Elsewhere, her clones fought nightmares. It wouldn't be enough to make a difference, but for a time, at least, she creates a refuge in the cavern surrounding the pulsing pool, a place of brief respite for those who may have already gone ahead and need to fall back, or a chance for those who can move forward to catch their breath before diving in. It isn't much, but it's all she can do.

[yourotherleft]

When the cave began to rumble and collapse, Zoro's only thought was his crew left inside. Once his battle was concluded, he raced back in to see if there was anything he could do to get them out of there.

Celestia and Lyrik seemed to already be nowhere in sight. But someone else had slipped past him while he was fighting the wingy guy, someone who really shouldn't be buried in the rubble nor drowned in the ocean. It was ever Zoro's lot in life to be carrying Devil Fruit users out of the water, but truth be told, he didn't mind. He'd bitch to high heaven about getting wet, the annoyance of leaping in after them, and so on, but he actually didn't mind.

"Oi, Robin! Come on, let's get out of here!"

The princess-carry could wait until there was genuine dire disaster, he wouldn't take her agency from her. If Robin could stand and run, he would simply watch her back. If not, it was time for a swim.

[thetruehistorian]

Like someone waking from sleep, or a trance of some sort, Robin started at Zoro's voice. She'd let herself get carried away. Was the tunnel collapsing a good sign, or bad? Either way, she couldn't leave Zoro alone to be squished, and the pool was slowly overflowing, filling the cave. Robin stood quickly, straightening her skirt with a quick brush of her hands. Whatever happened, or whatever might happen, it was clear this room was no longer of any import.

"Lead me away, Swordsman-san," she smiled wryly, adopting the old nickname she'd given him before she'd even joined the crew. Robin reached out to take his hand in hers, needing that bit of connection with her nakama to remind herself that in spite of similarities, things were different now. She was different. Perhaps her struggles had been in vain for herself, but others succeeded. That was what was important.

A pathway of enormous manos fleur sprung out of the ground, reinforcing the crumbling roof, forming a colonnade.

"I'll follow where you go."

[yourotherleft]

Most people would find the idea of following Zoro anywhere to be a bad one. But it's not like there's a lot of routes out of there. Even if he turned toward one blank wall or the other, the fresh air flowing from the mouth of the cave should guide them both down the correct path.

Zoro flushed a bit at her touch but didn't pull away, instead turning back the way he came. "It's not too far. I knocked down the guy who was trying to get at Celestia, there shouldn't be anything else in our way."

Except a few boulders, slipping through the giant fingers and thudding onto the ground before and behind them. Zoro weaved expertly through them, one sword out to slash through any bits of stone that came too close or interfered in their escape.