(event) WAY DOWN WE GO

[vestigemods]

EVENT LOG: WAY DOWN WE GO

AUGUST 14TH - 24TH

► THE BASICS

Not halfway into the month of August, the lake starts to recede - slowly at first, but then in great leaps and bounds until only a foot and a half of sun-warmed standing water remains. The lake going dry is concerning, for certain, but it's hardly the least of our problems... because on the lake bed is a hatch, askew and emblazoned with an unknown but eerie insignia, and beyond that hatch lies nothing but trouble.

Over the next few days, a brave and reckless team of explorers delve into the cave beyond - what is later revealed as a maintenance tunnel, just before the ceiling of that very tunnel caves in and traps them from both sides. Their supplies are limited, and phone signal is shaky at best. And what's worse, not more than a day or so later, the lake begins to fill back up, water pouring down into the open hatch. Can those who remain stage a rescue in time to save the explorers from drowning?

► MOD NOTES

• This log is a general dump for all log threads pertaining to August's Way Down We Go event - and in lieu of the lack of catch-all for August, you can feel free to do non-event log threads here as well! Go ahead and utilize vestigenet for any event-related network posts you'd like to make.
  
• The main chunk of the event takes place between the IC dates August 17th (reveal of the hatch) and August 22nd (the latest the spelunkers can be freed before they drown). No rush leaping on this event post, since I know most folks are honestly still plotting about it.
  
• All event information can be found on the July Event Infopost!
  
• Please take special care in this event to label your top-levels with identifying information such as the IC date, any prompts specifically pertaining to event roles (spelunker, rescue efforts, etc), and/or 'non-event' for any non-event prompts you may include. Just trying to keep things organized!
  
• I'm going to help solidify the plotting efforts over the next few days to help make sure everyone's on the same page, but none of it will be set in stone just in case latecomers want in too. If you want in, chime in on the spelunkers, rescue efforts, or support roles top-levels as applicable!
  
• Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.

Comments

[legbreakings]

[ When the door opens, Jiang Cheng had only just pulled back his fist for the next round of knocking - he barely stills it before he goes knocking against Wei Wuxian's face instead, not that he would have been terribly heartbroken about that but dealing with his complaints would save time.

He bares his teeth at him when the first thing that comes out of his mouth is utter impudence... oh yeah, maybe he should have taken that fist to his face.]

It's not about the tunnel! I don't care about the tunnel! I just want you to tell me when Yanli is staying with you all day and night! You never have a problem talking to me when I don't want you anywhere near me!

[mannerless]

( for his part, wei wuxian doesn't actually expect the hit to come (usually he has to do something first), eyes daring to flicker down just briefly at the crutches tucked under each arm. it's impossible to see what the state of his leg is, with his robes in the way. he'd better have swallowed his stupid pride and braced it somehow.

'- when yanli is staying with you all day and night!' he tunes back in at that, eyes lifting to jiang cheng's face in sharp confusion, because - ) What about Shijie? ( no, that's a stupid question - he heard, he doesn't need it repeated, so he's shaking his head and: ) She's not here. I haven't seen her since-...

( since after the tunnel, when so many people disappeared.

a rush of breath escapes him, as if he's been punched in the gut but refuses to flinch - and then he's ducking past jiang cheng, not even thinking to shut the door behind him as he jogs out away from the cabin a few steps, gaze darting around as if it would truly be so simple as to spot her gathering herbs nearby.

the look he turns back on jiang cheng is dire, almost helpless, mouth opening to say something but he doesn't know what he can even say - as if she really were supposed to be with him and he'd somehow lost her, as if this just kicks off the mountain of wrongs he'll apparently somehow commit.

what eventually comes is, ) I'm going to look for her. ( and he's in motion, with every intention of jogging briskly off down the lake shore unless jiang cheng says something to stop him. )

[legbreakings]

You... You... What...?!

[ He is still sputtering in indignation at being left standing like that but in truth, Jiang Cheng knows exactly what this reaction means. It confirms what he hadn't dared contemplate.

Jiejie may go spend time with Wei Wuxian without telling him, since she knows it upsets him, but she wouldn't disappear on both of them without saying a word. There is nothing that would hold her interest so much that she would forget to contact them for two days and a night.

Cursing himself now for his own stubbornness in refusing to see Klaus for magical healing, he hobbles after him on his crutches. ]

Wei Wuxian! Wait! [ For what? He will just hold him back during a search but he can't let them both just vanish on him, either. ]

[mannerless]

( despite the need to find shijie (a need that feels like it grows more dire by the second), the words stop him in his tracks - perhaps a bit too abruptly, not at all like they would have if he and jiang cheng were on remotely decent terms.

eyes turn back on the man crutching toward him at what wei ying can only assume is top speed, and the look in wei ying's eye is caught between 'i don't have time to stop' and 'we don't have time to fight' as he says, ) If you check the cabins, I can take the woods and loop down to the gas station. We'll find her quicker that way. ( because obviously they're going to find her. they have to. )

[legbreakings]

[ He opens his mouth, wanting to argue simply because that is all they have been doing for years now, but... It's a sensible suggestion. It's not like he can explore farther until he's had his leg fixed.

It's not as if he could ask Wei Wuxian to stay, either, or as if they have any comfort to give another. The last chance of that died when their sister was stabbed to death in the battle Wei Wuxian had started.

So he gives Wei Wuxian a sharp look out of narrowed eyes, followed by an equally sharp nod. ]

Very well. Find her. [ Said in a tone of voice as if this is indeed something he can simply give an order about, as if it is a mere matter of a sect leader's conviction and ability to enforce authority to bend the world to his will - a skill Jiang Cheng has always been woefully lacking at anyway. ] Go.

[mannerless]

( that's fine - wei ying can be ordered about, at least in this case. he can be ordered to find their sister. he's going to find her. there's no other choice, really.

and so, with a nod only fractionally less sharp, he turns and takes off again at an even brisker jog than before, heading off toward the woods to the north this time without a glance back. even from here, jiang cheng can probably hear him call - ) Shijie!? ( as he reaches the treeline, and then he's disappeared altogether. )