(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

[kinkprofessor]

[ He'd make a good scientist for Zenith, in that case. Quin's investigate first and ask questions later (or never) technique has worked out for him so far. ]

Not at all, [ he says, unraveling one of the tentacles tethering him to the surrounding trees. He only shifts a little as the rest are enough to keep him suspended, for now, and losing one support doesn't put too much strain on the others.

The tentacle extends out towards K's hand first and twines around his fingers in an almost curious fashion. Feeling his skin and considering it. They do stick and leave tiny red marks in their wake but they'll fade fast enough. ]

Ah, yes, they're just like extra limbs! I can feel through them and it was helping me find my way through the tunnels.

[obeir]

[ As the tentacle adheres to one of his hands, K reaches to touch it with the other, running his fingers along the skin and marveling at the unexpectedly velvety texture. The suction marks don't appear to bother him — he's watching them form and fade with interest.

This is already preferable to his last encounter with tentacles, which had burst out of a cursed(?) magical ring like a hentai nightmare and destroyed his friend's home with a literal flood of ink. ]

Sounds convenient. What's their tactile acuity like, similar to your hands? Have you always had them? [ It isn't just the stranger's otherwise human appearance that makes him ask, but his dexterous control of the limbs. That seems to indicate he's probably had them a while. ]

[kinkprofessor]

[ Oh. That's an uncommon reaction. Not new, but most people tend to flinch at least a little. While most aquatic creatures are known for being cold to the touch, his tentacles aren't due to his mixed anatomy. They feel like warm, damp velvet running along his skin.

Thankfully, his tentacles don't ink. Well- Not often enough for it to be a concern. ]

Similar, yes, but a little vaguer than my hands. Fuzzy, if I don't have a good grip. [ He actually appreciates the questions since he does so love talking about himself. ]

I haven't, no. They were the result of a gene-splicing experiment conducted. It was deemed a failure, but I tend to disagree with that sentiment.

[obeir]

[ That gets a thoughtful hum in response. ] So closer to crude touch than fine touch? [ If these distinctions can even apply to tentacles — K possesses fairly extensive knowledge of anatomy courtesy of his programming, but he's no marine biologist. And that just makes him all the more curious about the extra appendages.

Don't mind him as he examines the suckers more closely, remarking: ] That's incredible. Gene-splicing. What were the requirements for it to be considered successful?

[kinkprofessor]

Precisely. [ They do, thankfully. Well. They apply to his tentacles, anyway. ]

For me to become immune to a disease that's plaguing my home. [ There's a sincere touch of melancholy to his tone about the state of Zenith but he's going to fix it. He knows he will. ]

While my resiliency did increase marginally, it wasn't satisfactory enough to meet the criteria established for success. But we're on the right path.

[obeir]

[ Huh. So it's not just for cosmetic reasons. Surprising, given how proud he seems to be of his extra limbs. ]

I'm sorry to hear that. A disease that cephalopods are immune to? [ K hazards a guess. The intricacies of gene-splicing are outside his scope of scientific knowledge, but he does know a fair bit about immunology, at least in humans.

And maybe he should be a little more concerned about the risk of transmission while investigating the guy's tentacles, but, well. Being what he is, he's accustomed to having natural immunity to sickness and disease. ]

[kinkprofessor]

[ While some might believe so, they are not. They have a purpose but Quin isn't always so forthcoming with that information. ]

Not immune, but resilient. It took longer to infect them and the rate of decay was also slower. We were trying to buy more time to see if we couldn't find a cure. [ But since his avenue didn't work, Zenith was looking to research another opportunity.

The tentacle continues to explore up around his wrist and forearm. It will keep going until he expresses the want for it to stop. It isn't anything truly invasive though, just curious. ]