(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

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ If he hadn't been ready for something, she might have been fast enough to get a good taste. But he is ready, and while she manages to knock him down if only because he wasn't sure exactly what she'd do, he manages to put an arm against her chest and shove her to the side before she bites too deep. Her teeth still break the skin, but he doesn't even feel it as he rolls onto his feet and raises his sword.

A vampire? His medallion has been acting strange ever since he arrived here, but if she is a vampire, then the lack of warning is at least like it should be. ]

[shittalk]

[ Oh, shit, she's not used to people actually matching her strength and speed. Or, was that skill or something? Whatever, who cares. She bounces back up to her feet an instant after him, with just a faint, tantalizing taste lingering in her mouth. Except ...

She makes a face. ]

Dude, you taste weird. [ She licks her lips, but -- it was too small a taste to make anything of it, really. She eyes his sword as she wipes her mouth, and wonders if it's more than just a prop sword. It kinda looks ... well-used. ] The fuck is up with everyone around here, tasting weird? Isn't anyone normal?

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ He doesn't answer. There's no point. If she's so willing to attack and try to drink from people, he should really kill her. The problem is he doesn't have silver. He could still potentially kill her with this sword, but it would be more difficult. And this really isn't the best place to fight any monsters, but especially not a vampire.

For now, he'll wait and see what she does next. It seems it might be possible to reason with her somehow. ]

[shittalk]

[ He's not going for her. Does that mean the fight is over? Because Parker is definitely having second thoughts after that quick reaction, and the way he looks absolutely ready to kick her ass. She squints at him, wondering what the next step here is. ]

Uh ... [ She shuffles, awkward. ] No chance you'd, like ... roll over and die for me, right? Or toss that sword, maybe?

[coolmotivestillevil]

No.

[ Well ... This is a difficult situation. Higher species of vampires don't always attack on sight, but they still need to drink blood. And they're stuck in a very small area. While it wouldn't necessarily kill anyone, he couldn't imagine that most people would be very happy about having a vampire drink their blood. ]

You're not drinking from me.

[shittalk]

Ew, c'mon! You don't have to say it like that, that's weird.

[ So is, like, wanting to eat people, probably. Is that really what her new instincts had her going after? She scowls, sweeping a hand through her short hair. ]

Forget about it, you made it weird, we're done here.

[ also can she just ... slink away now? will he allow that?? ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ No, he absolutely will not, and he aims his sword at her throat to stop her. ]

I decide when we're done.

[shittalk]

[ Oh damn, is this gonna be, like, a problem?? Parker stares at the point of the sword for a few seconds, trying to decide how lethal it might be. It looks pretty sharp. Maybe she should make a run for it? She just sort of hovers uncertainly, not even able to work out how worried she should be. ]

Shit, that's a good line.

[ That's in a mutter, appreciative. Then, louder: ]

Y'know, actually, I thought you were someone else. [ someone less armed, maybe. ] Someone who loves rats. Oops, right? My bad!

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ He snorts wryly. Seriously? ]

You assumed I was someone who wouldn't be able to fight you off.

[shittalk]

Whaaaaat? Nooooo...

[ This is convincing, right? Yeah, probably. She mentally flips a coin on the best approach here, and when it lands heads up for proceed-with-ripping-throat-out, she nudges it over to the other side. She's already got a bullet in the gut from earlier, even Parker knows when odds are stacked against her.

She moves forward suddenly, a bright and cheery smile in place as she thrusts out a hand, presumably for a handshake. ]

Anyway, 'sup? I'm Parker. I got no idea where I am.

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ Is she serious?

He frowns deeply in confusion, his gaze flicking between her hand and her face. Definitely not going to shake it, because that would be insane. ]

You're a vampire. Right?

[shittalk]

[ That appears to be totally fine, she's willing to leave her hand outstretched, doing nothing. Meanwhile her eyes go a little wide, she leans in conspiratorially. ]

Shit. You think I am?

[ By all rights that should be sarcastic, but somehow it sounds hopeful and earnest, a genuine question. ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ That only makes him more confused, and he raises an eyebrow. She doesn't know? No, that can't be right. ]

Yes.

[shittalk]

[ Her abandoned hand moves finally, palm tilted up to scrutinize it in the dim light. ]

Huh. [ She flexes her fingers, like that'll crack the code for her. With a growing enthusiasm: ] You know shit about vampires? Like — you think maybe I can turn into a bat, or something?

[coolmotivestillevil]

You don't ... know what you can do?

[ And if he's ever sounded genuinely confused and dumbfounded, it's now. Seriously? How can she not know anything? Was she ... abandoned or something? Has she lived among humans and never felt enough thirst to act on those instincts until recently? What is going on? ]

[shittalk]

[ Defensiveness creeps into her enthusiasm, and she snatches her hand back down again. ]

I'll figure it out! [ Probably. Eventually. Given enough time. ] Whatever, if you don't wanna share I don't need it anyway.

[coolmotivestillevil]

For someone who didn't even know she's a vampire, you were very eager to try to eat me.

[ In a very short time, Parker has managed to get on top of the list of weirdest monsters Geralt has ever encountered. ]

[shittalk]

[ Oh, yeah, that. She has the good grace to at least look a little embarrassed. ]

Yeah, well, you ended up fine. And anyway--

[ Probably not a great idea to show this off, but regardless she pulls up the front of her shirt, stained dark with dirt, mud, blood, or all three. There's a bullet hole in her lower side, still leaking. ]

This shit heals faster when I eat. And I'm pretty sure the lunch they been giving me is, like, blood, or whatever.

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ She's embarrassed? This is only making less and less sense. At least until she keeps talking, and then he starts getting some ideas. Has she been imprisoned? Is that possible? ]

Who are 'they'?

[shittalk]

[ She hesitates for a second, because she's pretty sure you're not supposed to talk about the kinda secret organization you work for. After a second, though: ]

NITRO. I dunno if they sent me here or what, but you didn't hear about 'em from me.

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ There is a lot to unpack and figure out here, and very much not the place to do so. And despite all the burning questions, he's tired, and he's not sure where to start. He needs to collect his thoughts.

But ... ]

I'm Geralt of Rivia, a witcher. I ... specialise in monsters, like vampires.

[ It's best to keep it to himself, for now, that he usually hunts said monsters. Even if it's only usually, and not always that simple. ]

I could ... help you.

[ Possibly. ]

[shittalk]

[ That gets another pause. Her face is an open book, first clear surprise and then a quick slam of suspicion as she eyes him. ]

The fuck would you help me for? [ people don't just help people!! especially not her. ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ He snorts. ]

Because it's my job, and I'm bored.

[ And Parker is kind of sad and pathetic, but he'll keep that to himself. ]

[shittalk]

[ It doesn't sell her. He's gotta have an angle, right? He wants something, everyone does. ]

Nah, man, I'm good.

[ Maybe she fucked up, telling him all this stuff? Unclear. She takes another few steps back, and gauges the distance down the nearest tunnel. Even gutshot, she's fast. She's probably faster than him, if it comes to it. ]

Whatever -- I'll see you around, I got shit to do.