(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

[mannerless]

( no, it truly doesn't make sense, but it's the sort of 'doesn't make sense' that doesn't much seem to matter when people are still trapped - unless wherever the water went is somehow in danger of spitting it back out at them, which seems highly unlikely.

oh, that does remind him of something one of them said: )

There was something about- I think the term is 'elevator'? Some sort of shaft. It was blocked off when they got there, but perhaps the water went down that. ( speaking of water, he goes to take another swig - but then realizes that may be inconsiderate, stopping before it reaches his mouth and asking, ) Did you need this back? ( he isn't sure if it's his water or if she was just offering a drink of it. )

[backpacking]

An elevator? Under the lake? [ She knows what an elevator is, but...this is just yet another bizarre feature of wherever they all are. Ellie raises her brows in confusion and surprise, shaking her head slowly. ]

That's...something. [ At his question, she snaps out of it a bit and shakes her head again in response. ] Nah, you're good. We've got more.

[ Is it like - some kind of mine? Can't be, though, right? Having one beneath a body of water would be...incredibly dangerous. And nonsensical. ]

Blocked off by what? Rocks and stuff?

[mannerless]

( as soon as he's given permission, he takes another generous gulp, then caps it again to hold the bottle in one hand. )

Mm, rocks and debris, like that spot caved in some before they even arrived. A sign mentioned some sort of maintenance hatch, or so I hear. Such a thing is well on the other side of the mess of rocks I've been moving.

( he honestly hasn't put a ton of thought toward it, what with the prevailing need to salvage people he cares for out from behind quite a bit of debris, but perhaps he should have. it could be some sort of clue about this place, even if he's in no real place for clues right at the moment. )

[backpacking]

Maintenance? [ That, unfortunately, aligns with the little bits and pieces they've heard about their captors. It's...no less creepy, though. ] ...Anybody learn anything interesting past the hatch?

[ It's hidden for a reason, right? ]

[mannerless]

Ah, the hatch it speaks of is the one just over there, ( but his brow knits a little. ) At least, I think it is? I haven't heard of a second hatch, but I also haven't thought to ask.

[backpacking]

Oh. I just figured you meant another one. [ shrug ] One mysterious hatch is one too many, though.

[ In this situation, when they were clearly advised not to go further beyond it, and all. ]

I wonder how far down it goes?