A New Year - Tsushima

New Years. Things are quiet upon the seas. The cold has a bite to it by now. Heavy coats and shawls are part of the wear at the time as the Fourland Dukedom's boat halts at the edge of Tsushima waters. A makeshift port has been constructed on the south-eastern side that largely floats on water, allowing the ship to release its people without any longboats this time around.

From there, the trek towards the mountain shrine is a long one. To those who've come here a few times, they will note that no new craters have been added as of late by the only 'living' resident of this place: Uber Cluster Zwei Null Sieben Peh Err Vier Acht Neun Teh Neun - known also as Spatjahr to the people of this expedition.

The grass feels crisp under their feet, and there's the starting signs of frost on some of the blades. When people breathe out, there's bits of pale clouds coming from them.

It's a good two hours before they get all the way up the hills. Stepping through the ruined remains of what was once a town, to get to the small shrine atop the cave. Awaiting them, is the doll like figure of a Machina. Enemy of the people. Yet this one has so far not killed anyone of this group.

As they get closer, the figure rises up. She's barely wearing anything, aside from some rags. But she isn't cold. The new leg that was crafted for her is supporting her quite well. Her eyes whirr audibly, as she announces; "Targets power level... insignificant. Zero danger to Prüfer unit. You have come here to return the crystal to its home?"

Heck, Jazz never *stopped* wearing her long coat. Then again, she never seemed to mine the cold that much last time this year, not the heat that came after all that much.

With the crystal held carefully in her small hands, she holds it up against the light for a moment, gaze turning back to Spatjahr afterwards.

"Yes, that's right. It feels like the right moment."

In the best of times, Mikage is not a great fan of ocean travel, having spent much of it under the effects of one of Cyrus' potions which helps to ward off the effects. As they approach, however, she has joined the rest on the deck of the ship, wearing a furred cloak, her breath misting in the air.

Throughout the journey across the island, Mikage is quiet. Rama trails behind her, both seeming to keep an eye out for any dangers that they might not have encountered last time. The most dangerous thing on this island, however, is the one that Jazuhanzu has been trying to forge into the role of a friend.

"Stay close, Rama." She offers quietly, then looks towards Cyrus, offering a hand out to him as they walk. Maybe, in this strange place, having his support is important to her.

As they finally find the questinably dressed machine, Miki inclines her head in what is almost a bow. "We have. We were able to recover it from beneath the sea."

Unphased by the chillier temperatures thanks to 1) a cold season coat made for her by Gwen and 2) her own floof, Shiruba takes a deep breath of the crisp seaside air after stepping off the boat. "Aaah, Tsushima. Good to see it again."

The trek of the hills isn't much of a hassle for the hunter either. If anything Shiruba has to pace herself so she doesn't stray too far ahead of others. Not going to lie, she's looked forward to the trip to see a distant friend and the ancient ruins more than she would of the big parties going on in the Root Towns.

Finally the shrine comes into view and Shiruba stops, giving a brief wave to the mechanical girl with one hand even as she rattles off her usual 'you are not a threat' greeting. "Hello Spatjhar, good to see you again. And yes, we were successful in our expedition to retrieve it." Beyond that though, she leaves the matter of the jewel to Jazu to handle.

Cyrus has managed to travel with Mikage here on this occassion. Wearing a heavy fur coat, and a set of earmuffs over his feline ears, he's kitted out quite well for winter. Unlike last time, when people had their gear reset to level one, and were unprepared to the more 'real' feeling of the apocalypse.

There's no way he'd miss celebrating New Years with Mikage at this point. If they can't be at the big festival in Alne, at least they can be together here.

The Cait Sith is quick to move his hand towards hers. Holding it perhaps a bit more firmly than necessairy. There's a nervous element to him. The idea of trusting a monster who can create those enormous craters in the island is something that doesn't really sit well with him. And when he spots the monster, his eyes widen and his tail poofs almost comically.

    Rizadoman feels the cold grass crunch under his feet and he shivers a little. Perhaps he should look into some sort of footwear for this winter. Reaching into his inventory he retrieves his peko hat and fits it on his head, feeling a little warmer. Standing more in the back as the acquantences of Spatjahr speak he only really came to make sure that damn jewel got where it needed to go . So as others go forward to meet with their hostess he simply takes in the scenery, having never really been here before.

Yeowang has come at the invitation of her guildmates, but is not sure what to expect. She's wearing a waist-length woolen coat and thick boots against the weather, and a wide scarf in a checked pattern. Her hair is not pinned up, a sign she is not expecting a fight, and between the ocean voyage, which was pleasant, and the walk across the island, which was brisk but not taxing, it's been an interesting time so far. She pauses with the rest of the group, letting Jazz step forward, and she smirks at being an insignificant threat. That pretty much puts us into place on the overall scale of where we stand in the game, she guesses, remaining silent as things happen.

    It's been a while since Miyako visited Tsushima, which she somewhat regrets, she'd admit. If she were asked. And she missed out on the deep dive to retrieve the gem. Still, she's managed to be here. After all, where else would she be?

    She spent most of the voyage here running about the ship, helping the crew, singing old sailing songs, and the like. She found it rather fun, even with the chill weather.

    Wrapped in a warm woolen coat, she walks up the hill towards Spatjahr's home, hands empty, held out at her sides. She lifts one hand, waving casually, as she approaches. "Hello, friend! I trust you've been well?"

     Eliza is well-bundled-up in her green cloak as she follows the group up the mountain. She hadn't really known what was going on when she joined the undersea expedition that recovered the blue crystal, but it certainly seemed significant. In any case, she thought it seemed like the right idea to spend her New Year's Eve out here rather than at a big party in Alne- though it did mean she had to leave Sunny behind on the mainland while she took the boat with the others. She looks curiously at Spatjhar as she addresses the group. The others seemed to be addressing her calmly, so she clearly wasn't a threat. "It's nice to meet you," she says to the Machina. "My name's Eliza Wyndham."

It's New years The Pooka was very happy today it been a whole year and she'd never felt so free in her 2000 years of life. She had come along to lend a hand with the return, see would take a look at teh strange woman for a moment and make note of the leg. Ah she'd heard about some people working on that a while ago. She'd been happy to help escort the crystal and everyone else to this place. She will bow a bit to the strange woman. She pauses for a moment.

"I guess we really are but it's a good thing then we're not here to fight at all!"

She looks to Cyrus for a moment with intrest. She'd never seen a Cait Sith /do/ that before.

"I'm forgetting my mannders I'm Erufu I am an elf from a far away land."

She is an Elf and she's sticking go that as hard as her never having been from Earth.

Some of those here are new to being introduced to Spatjahr. But they will quickly learn what kind of creature they deal with as her gaze slips over them. Cyrus is the first of the people she spots that is unknown to her. "Cait Sith Ausführung Zwei... power level, insignificant." Her gaze does turn to his potions for a moment, before it moves on to the others.

Erefu is next, considered by Spatjahr. "Correction. Invalid racial definition. You are a Pooka. Ally to the Sylph, enemy to Gnome and Flügel... this one's power level, insignificant." Another whirr of her body, as she steps a bit closer. "This one holds the Harmonic Frequency of my Creators. Re-assessing. Power level, minor inconvenience." She then steps back and turns.

Rizadoman is regarded, and equally dismissed: "Were Fang Ausführung Zwei... power level, insignificant.". Moving on to Yeowang and Eliza, "Monkey. Goal: Eradicate the world. Power level... insignificant." Clearly, she considers the two of them of more note than Rizadoman or Cyrus for a moment. The broken doll - parts of her face missing, showing the mechanical underlay beneath what looks like soft flesh - shifts and seems to practically telescope one of her eyes.

"These ones are not recognized as a Known Associate of the Accursed Monkey." She declares, punctuating her previous statement, before turning to Miyako; "This Spriggan - Ausführung Zwei - has not reached Friend status." The Machina declares, then turns to Jazuhanzu and Mikage.

"Please deposit the device into my hands." Not asking them about the expedition. She instead regards this with a cold mission-driven expression, holding out one hand, and her partially broken one.

    Rizadoman looks over ats Spatjahr begins to categorize everyone. There is a race mentioned when speaking of Erufu that the lizardman wasn't familliar with and is about to say something when he is cut off. It was his turn to be categorized. As it finishes he can only let out a growl that turns into his correction, " A lizardman, named Rizadoman. I would not consider myself to be insignificant. " He seems to be insulted but it appears Spatjahr had arleady moved on and is now asking about the device.

The run down of insignificancy is expected by Jazz, and she waves her hand towards the others to let them know as much, a trifle dismissive and as if to say 'let her do her thing'.

When Erufu is classified as 'minor inconvenience', however, she fixes her eyes on her curiously for a moment before raising the crystal up in her hands to deposit it in the Machina's carefully.

"It's good to see you again too, Spatjahr," replies the Sea-Witch.

Shiruba subtly reachs over to put a hand on Erufu's shoulder, and in a calm voice remarks "She comes from a time and place before 'elves' where a thing." It's an attempt to both keep with Erufu's efforts on what she is to be, and not have her get worked up at Spatjhar not playing along. She probably doesn't even know what 'playing along' would be. "Let's not get testy with the living weapon, 'kay?"

Though the 'minor inconvenience' compared to everyone else did get her to raise a brow slightly. Yet, no point in asking, because she knows Spat isn't going to elaborate.

Yeowang arches one fine eyebrow at being a monkey, and the other at having the goal of eradicating the world. The monkey bit she doesn't argue, to something as complex as Spatjahr, a human and a monkey are probably so close as to be brothers. As far as eradicating the world, that's not a specific goal of hers, but since Spatjahr doesn't seem bothered by it, she'll let the comment pass. "It's nice t meet you as well," she replies gracefully as she's addressed. The comment about Erufu's power level being a minor inconvenience rather than insignificant is far more interesting, but she files that away without comment for the moment.

"This is Cyrus Frost. My partner." Mikage offers introductions, knowing at a glance that Cyrus might not quite be up to managing that at the moment. She squeezes his hand and leans in, offering a quiet reassurance, "Don't worry. She's dangerous, but... so far not dangerous to us."

Spatjahr's appraisal is met with a curious expression, especially turned towards Erufu, who gets a slightly different response than the others. Miki raises an eyebrow at that. Rama takes a seat at Miki's side, watching the robotic creature with his own sort of feline curiosity.

"Harmonic Frequency?" She asks, but then quiets as Spatjahr requests the crystal. With a glance to Jazuhanzu, Mikage seems to leave it to her. She had started this, and she has the crystal, afterall.

Erufu say, "I don't know what your talking about I'm from a Forgotton Realm." She notes but she will not push it farther. She does seem to be curious about this being's behaviour though. She also looks to Cryus she's inspected their host. She sees they conblack. If she wnated to smash them she'd have done so already after all. She also nods to Shiruba "I won't press it further it would be rude to our host after all.""

Cyrus mumbles something along the lines of; "Glad I am insignificant." To Mikage. Clearly considering that if he wasn't insignificant, he'd probably be considers a dangerous target, and thus be attacked. He didn't even think to introduce himself. To humanize himself to this... thing that looks like a broken machine aping a young woman.

He nods to Mikage. Though the idea that she isn't dangerous to them doesn't play true in his head. Black level. A monster. Though strangely enough, with an 'I' icon to go with the usual monster icons. Strange.

"Ah, yes. Cyrus Frost. Adventurer and Alchemist." He offers the machine.

    "That's something I would like to change," Miyako responds to the assertion that she's 'not a friend'. "But either way, I can consider you worthy of friendship. And I do." She smiles pleasantly. "I do hope that this device works properly for you." She doesn't approach, not wanting to provoke Spatjahr, but simply stands by to watch as the artifact is delivered.

    Eliza isn't really sure how to respond to Spatjahr's appraisal of her, especially given the kind of power she seems to wield according to the chimlink. All she can come up with is, "But... I love the world." Had the Machina encountered some evil human. that 'accursed monkey', that had colored her perception? In any case, Spatjahr seemed to understand that she wasn't associated with that human. Now, it was time to see how things went with the crystal...

The Machina looks to Erufu and tilts her head. "This Pooka must have sustained damage to her Cosmosphere. You are not supposed to call yourself Elf anymore." There's a spark there at the edge of her head. "ERROR." She quiets and turns to Mikage while Jazuhanzu works on revealing the gem.

"Harmonic Frequency. You know it as the language of the Flügel. This Pooka is in tune with it." Spatjahr points out to Mikage, before noting to Miyako; "Friendship is... a source of critical error. No further reports and analytical studies are required on it."

Then, to Eliza; "So did the Accursed Monkey. But not enough to allow the others to have it after what they did." She then turns her head to the horizon for a moment, before looking back and holding her fingers out for Jazuhanzu.

The gem is placed into the Machina's hands, and she closes those lithe fingers around them. She then brings it to her chest, and quiets for a moment while people talk around her. There's light playing in her eyes, suggesting there is some kind of deeper process being calculated upon.

Before a slight smile appears. Ever so little, before turning away from the group.

"Uber Cluster Zwei Null Sieben Peh Err Vier Acht Neun Teh Neun will now complete the mission given to her by the girl." As she moves towards the little shrine above the small cave inlet. Slowly lifting herself with a few steps, until she moves her hand...

And a holographic interface suddenly appears. The ground beneath her begins to change. Blue lines of light rapidly traveling in a circuit-like pattern that quickly climb from the shrine down to the cave she's been living in. Littering the inner cave with more and more of those circuit-like lines, connecting to a small socket in the back of it.

"Opening Access Point. Laden..."

A pulse of blue light lifts around her, and her hair begins to rise a bit, as if gravity stopped acting on her. The two wires touch the ground.

"Launching code, 48C7C035084000FFE0. Activate: Lösen." At which point there's a shockwave of power from her that blows over the area like a breeze. A hidden little gate at the center of the cave begins to open, as a holographic stone face disappears, and a pathway opens up. She then turns, and begins to descend back down. "Follow." She tells them, and begins to step in.

As they go through the small entrance, they enter a metalic hallway that travels downwards at a steep curve. Almost uncomfortable to travel down. Blue lights flicking on as they move through it. Moving towards a hall near the bottom. There are those here who have traveled to gnomish ruins before. This is... nothing like that. This feels like they are stepping into the halls of some kind of sci-fi place. There's Chim-Chims running through the area, using their little paws to bap at the walls, as if they were hitting invisible keys. In multiple clusters, some of them are singing instead. Creating a melody.

Others are banging on instruments. Drums. Little synthesizers that seem infused to the wall, as part of the circuitry. From the back, they hear a song being sung.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSFqqP9Pqhw

Despite the explanation, the confusion still lingers on Mikage's features. "I wonder if that has to do with the strange mental states people had reported." Something she hasn't experienced, firsthand. Apparently it has something to do with the Flügel. There is still a lot about this world that she doesn't understand, so for now, the Were Fang simply shakes her head in confusion.

She isn't sure what to expect when the gem is handed over. Her eyes light with interest at the holographic interface and the pattern of circuitry. Her hand reaches up to touch the strange device now wrapped around one of her arms, which seems to share similar patterning, though it's likely unrelated.

A hidden gate, a descending path, and an environment that looks wholly otherworldly from what they usually experience in Yamato. She releases Cyrus' hand as she follows downwards, allowing herself better balance along the way. The sight of chims catches her attention, though. Not just their presence, but the song they seem to be putting together.

"Uta would be fascinated by this... she's been looking into these creatures and their songs." Miki, though, has no skill with music, other than to feel like the drumbeats herald something... important.

... Was that a smile? Was it possible.... but it was too small and fleeting to really be sure if they saw anything or not.

Instead Shiruba watchs Spatjahr as a whole as the Machina girl turns and engages some sort of processing operation with the gem and the temple. All the blue lights and shifting presence is a sight to behold in itself.

Then she beckons them to follow her inside. Shiruba doesn't need to be told twice, her tail practically wagging with excitement as they finally get to see deeper into the structures here.

The curving slope is obnoxious even for her deft footsteps, but the overall experience is astounding to say the least. Her expression brightens in recognition at the small forms running around doing various tasks and making music about it. "Oh, Chim-Chims! Good to see more of them still functional." Her tail flicks with the harmony, but she has almost no musical skill other than aroos so the deeper meanings are lost on her.

Jazz takes a moment to adjust her coat, a glance over her shoulder at Erufu curiously again at her protest about being from a 'Forgotten Realm'. A slight eye-roll. There's a comment on the tip of her tongue, perhaps a sharp one, and she clearly thinks better of it before looking away and turning her gaze back on Spatjahr. She observes her. Watches her. "Glad we could help," she says, of mission being complete. "You're going to need to tell us a little more about the girl someday."

Her large eyes blink when the access point opens, however, and she indeed follows through. Chim-Chims. Yes. Finally, she's seeing them for herself. Staring at them.

"Well... yeah. Uta's going to be so mad at herself." She clears her throat, tentacles twitching at the song. A glance to Shiruba. "...yeah. So those are Chim-Chims. All right." She lets out a breath.

Yeowang is curious about some of the declarations that have been made, she will have to pull someone aside later and ask for more detail. This world is so rich in detail, but she can only focus on so many things at a time. No gamer, she's been thrust into this intense gaming experience with little guidance. She's making do, but it's complicated.

Then we're being led underground, and she boggles at the little Chim-chims, doing ... whatever it is that they're doing. She nods mute agreement with Mikage, Uta would be beside herself. She, herself, is calm only because she's not the type to get freaked out by strange or unusual things. And it's basically overload levels of freakout, but there's not much she can specifically do. Paying attention is probably her primary goal just now.

    Rizadoman follows to the shrine and expects something magical, maybe a pulse of light like fireworks or something. Instead he is witness to technology, not just a run down machina but instead holograms and then metallic hallway. The Chim-chims are interesting as well, as he gets down close to some tapping on the wall to examine them for moment. Standing up straight he catches up with the group and looks at Spatjahr, "What is this place?"

Cyrus's ears perk, and as they enter the protected area of the metalic hallway, he takes off the earmuffs. It's warmer the further they go down, and he seems to at least be appreciating the music.

Looking down, he notice that even though his boots are wet, he's catching enough traction to walk safely. He looks around, confused. "Is this Alven make?" He wonders out loud. "I don't think the Gnomes could have made this, even though we usually only find Chims in the Gnome ruins..."

He quiets, almost like he understands that talking too much would be inappropiate. There's a sense of... divine here almost.

Erufu looks at the machina for a momen but will drop itbut that was an odd reaction at this point. She has taken no damage she knows what she is but a new question comes up. "Cosmosphere?" She asks curious about this and she pauses. "Yes I found it some time ago it's really helped with my singing, yet? I found there seems to be more to it." Like that song that creeps /everyone/ the hell out when she sang it. "May I ask just what is the nature of the Harmonic Frequency?"

She will pick up the pace to keep up with everyone else...

    Miyako finds herself needing to disagree with the mecha-girl's dismissal of the value of friendship. "Friendship is a source of strength in times of critical need. Of hope, in times of despair. Of comfort, in times of loss. Of joy, in times of success." She sighs and stops there, shaking her head, and simply watches as the Machina turns away to do its work.

    The Spriggan follows quietly, staring in fascination as the mechanical space becomes more and more apparent. She makes careful mental notes about everything they pass... but then stops dead in her tracks as she hears the chim-chims' song. Trying to sound out the words to herself, the rhythm coming easier and easier as the group gets closer.

    "I'm afraid I don't know the history you're talking about," Eliza admits. "It's not the kind of thing you learn about on the farm." It sounds very important to the Machina, though. Maybe she'll get an explanation, maybe she won't- she'll allow Spatjahr to decide for herself. In the meantime, the Machina uses the crystal, and suddenly begins to interact with the world in a way more like that of the adventurers' menus. As she and the others are led inside, Eliza at first feels quite out of place, as if she'd walked out of Yamato entirely. As the sound of the music grows, however, Eliza finds herself walking in rhythm. Soon, she begins to dance along the hallway, singing along jovially as the Chim Chims gather around her, joining in the dance.

Erufu has had some strange things happen with music in ALba. She was about to again she starts to move with the music as they get closer and a moment later she joins in singing the song in short order. The good news is she's got a pretty good singing voice for one, and two she seems to be keeping up with the Chim's pretty well. She'll keep moving with the music but also keeping with the party as she sings. It's just this powerful feeling within her she has to let out and she does. Hopefully, she doesn't drive everyone to run away from her this time. She also seems to be able to pronounce the strange language pretty well too as she sings. She also seems to be pretty happy as she's singing along with this.

The path downwards continues for a little while longer. The air around them getting warmer by the moment, until they step into a strange chamber beneath the mountain. As they enter it, they'll notice a bridge leading to a Sphere at the end of the bridge.

The bridge notably has no railings, much in the same was as Fort Ouph.

"The Cait Sith Ausführung Zwei is correct. This was constructed by the Flügel in preparation for the first war against the Waves." The Machina expresses. Progressing further down, she answers Rizadoman; "This is an Access Point. I do not know which of the Kunie observes this one."

She then lifts one hand and motions to the Chim-Chims. "The Machina were not told the nature of the Harmonic Frequency. But we understand Resonates with the Chim-Chims."

The music starts to echo through the enormous dark chamber the bridge goes across. Looking down, it feels like the world endlessly goes down in this particular place. There's a light at the buttom, crimson in nature, beating up heat, that suggests there may be a fiery bottom to it all. Yet, the music seems almost impossibly echoing this place, even though the chamber is so enormous. Some of those here may notice that there are shapes carved into the walls, though their purpose may elude most.

The Chim-Chims follow, crowding around Cyrus, Erufu, Miyako and /especially/ Eliza. Chiming with her song, and playing their little bellies, which make drum noises.

Stepping into the sphere, they arrive to a place... filled with cogs. Everywhere they look, there's cogs, and enormous 'sword' looking devices hanging from the centers of those cogs. Going up from the edge of the sphere's opening, are stairs leading up to what looks like an pedestal, as well as a... man? A male looking machina with purple hair, and a mechanical looking device on one side of their face. The closer they get, the more it becomes clear this person is... striking this strange balance between that of that uncanny valley of Spatjahr, and the living and flawed visage of a person. He's wearing simple black robes, and regarding them as they approach.

There's a moment where the device at their head brightens, and Spatjahr's does the same. Their eyes flickering. "Uber Cluster Zwei Null Sieben Peh Err Vier Acht Neun Teh Neun. What is the meaning to your presence here?" The Machina looking being demands of her, while looking at the gem in her hands. "Are you looking to return what was stolen by the Waves?" Before turning towards the people traveling with her. "Who are these people?"

"This is my Friend, Level Eins, Jazuhanzu." Spatjahr answers, halting at the base of the steps. "And her compatriots."

As they look up towards the male looking person, and inspect them, they'll read their name as: Einzig. Bearing only the symbol; 'I'. He reads black, similar danger rating as Spatjahr. Yet, it is notable that the song seems to be originating from them while they are standing there, the voice being very pointedly female sounding. They can pick up some of the words in their language, but most of it sounds strange and alien, yet beautiful.

"The likelihood of a Half-Machina Kunie was below my treshold of expectations." Spatjahr notes her surprise.

"Your expectations are irrelevant. Be aware that a Quarantine was declared by the Goddesses as of last year. However, the Blind One stopped responding afterwards. If there are Adventurers here, I know what her orders would be. Engaging this Piece will lift the Quarantine around Yamato. Are you certain you wish to proceed with this act?"

"I made a promise many years ago. I must complete my Mission." Spatjahr answers the Kunie.

    SO. MANY. QUESTIONS. So what does Rizadoman do , he retrieves his notepad and begins to make notes. Starting with the word of the Kunie and then something else is said, " Wait quarantine? Goddesses declared it, as if you communicate to the goddesses? One has gone incommunicado? " So many questions and even if he doesn't get an answer he scribbles things down more and more. Looking around he wishes he had a way of capturing the images to look at later. So many damn questions.

"What exactly *is* a cosmosphere, Spatjahr? I've heard the term before, but I'm afraid I don't know a great deal about it and how it relaaaa..."

She's stopped dead. Staring. At the purple-haired machina. She is suddenly very self-aware of her own purple hair, and how ridiculous she feels it is. It trails after her, lifting and waving like it's underwater even now. She's stopped dead, staring at Einzig now, yes, and she listens to the conversation exchanged between the two. Oh, certainly, she thought that this would be useful to do. That it might make the seas safer for the Landers, certainly... but quarantine. Around Yamato. She's double-taking. "What... what?" She repeats.

The msuic is making her tentacles twitch. Is it to the beat?

.../maybe/. (yes.)

"War against the Waves?" As of late, there has been a lot of discussion about the Waves of Calamity. What they are, what they mean, and were they uniquely caused by the tower. "So... there have been Waves of Calamity before?" She asks, then goes on to follow-up, "Do you know what caused them, before?"

The music is something that simply doesn't impact her the way it might for others. She's never been particularly moved by it, but the fact that the chims seem to be interested in the others has her looking towards them, watching. Rama's ears perk, but he seems equally unaffected.

The strange figure that awaits them is met with surprise, yet again. After all this time, she hadn't expected there to be another being here. As the two begin to speak, there is a lot that goes over her head all too quickly. "Half-Machina? Kunie?" It seems pretty common, these days, that Miki simply isn't able to grasp an understanding of exactly what is going on.

However, what she does pick up on is that word... Quarantine. "Wait... someone chose to isolate us in Yamato? Why? Was it because of what happened in Ezzo?"

Yeowang watches and listens, the odd humming, the sounds, and the sights. So much going on, it seems like it'd be impossible to keep track of it all. But she seems to understand part of it. The quarantine starting last year means it was a new thing when she joined the game. Did that mean people -could- move between servers if the quarantine were lifted? That'd solve one of her problems. But would it give us access to other servers, or would we get Waves every day rather than just with Level Clears? So many questions!

     Eliza continues to have a good time singing and dancing with the Chim Chims, bending down and letting one climb up on her shoulder. It was a strange feeling, singing along with this song she didn't know until now, but it felt right to do so. The others seem to be taking care of asking the questions, so she simply continues to go with the flow of the music while listening to the discussion. She wouldn't want to let her new audience down.

Erufu is still able to listen and reply to thin but she is singing without a stop she's moving she seems to like the Chims as well as she ings away. She seems to be pretty happy with this but as she shifts gears after a bit they have run into someone of interest. She'll be moving a bit and humming softly as she listens. There's some very serious one wait this man is talking like he has a direct line to one or more of the gods worshiped in this world that gets the humming Elf's attention. "Wait why would the region be locked down...what else ... came with us?"

Cyrus, near Mikage, seems affected by the music. Humming to the sound, the song. Chim Chims following him, stepping in the way like cats that one could swear were trying to make you trip - but are just trying to show their interest. He can't help but be a bit amused by their behavior, making it easy to forget the fact that this is like a ditty he can't get out of his head. A ditty he can't stop humming.

As it gets warmer inside Shiruba slips off her heavier coat and deposits it into her inventory. Probably going to need it for the hike back to the shore, but for now, she's more comfortable without.

Wouldn't want to pass out from overheating, not with all the new information that is coming to them. She stares up, awed but not quite without words. "So this.. is some manner of communications system." Which explains all the Chim Chims.

When 'War Against the Waves' is mentioned she idly reachs down to rub her fingers against the Relic glaive tucked in her belt.

"Or something that was here before we were," she murmurs after Erufu.

    Miyako walks along with the others, joining in with the song as the words seem to come to her so very naturally. Still listening, letting her singing go on almost on autopilot. 'First war', hm? Good thing others are already asking so many questions, she has -so many more- to ask... but she wouldn't want to stop mid-song.

    The Spriggan even finds herself tapping out the rhythm on her armor, fingertips drumming in time with the chim-chims' drums, and her wings start flicking to the beat as well. She finds herself turning in wide circles, trying to take in every detail of the facility, dearly wishing she had a camera with her.

"This has all happened before," remarks Jazz, a hint of exhaustion in her tone, "Timey-wimey, ugh, time travel plots are the..."

Her face wrinkles up (yes, it's cute, she clearly realizes this and fixes it quickly) before letting out a breath.

"...this is ... yeah. Okay." She rubs the bridge of her nose with a finger. "Quarantine. That makes a certain amount of sense."

Einzig looks up at Rizadoman starts asking it questions, before looking down at Spatjahr. She nods. "The Goddesses communicate with all. You need but know how to listen for it." The Kunie answers them, before looking towards Jazuhanzu as she asks about Cosmospheres.

A shift of his head, that Spatjahr seems to understand. "That topic is unauthorized to Friend Level Eins." She answers Jazuhanzu in reaction to this small signal.

Einzig then addresses Mikage; "No. The Waves of Calamity as you call them are not the Waves of which I speak. I speak of the Cursed Wave. The Eight beings who followed the Alv after the annihilation of their world. Skeith, Fidchell, Gorre, Tarvos, Innis, Magus, Macha and Cobernik."

The Kunie then nods their head, while the device at their neck continues to glow. Producing that beautiful song. Echoeing it through the chamber. Yet, not so loudly that they can't hear them. "It is because of the Invading Ones in Ezzo, who forced the Blind One from her post. The Ezzo Island Quarantine was instantiated. But the Goddesses demanded Yamato quarantined in case they were able to leave, or inflict severe harm. Not much is known about the ones that Invaded that day. But it is sung that they are Older than the Goddesses."

By now, Spatjahr is climbing up towards the Kunie. Steps slowly taken, giving people a chance to keep asking questions for a while. The ominous blades in the chamber seeming to thrum with her presence. If they are looking up, they can see the occassional rush of light going from blade to blade. Circuit light that seems to bend in the air.

Then, finally, the gem is placed into the Kunie's hand, as he begins to place it on the dias. There, the light begins to warp immediately, and the blue gem shifts and changes, turning into a different form. Almost like it was melting. Until finally, it turns into what looks like... the shape of a Pawn. A chess piece.

"I will begin lifting the Quarantine."

    "Eight like the scrapped princesses? " Rizadoman catches number reference but so much is going on , he has resorted to short hand scribbling and then the gem immediately shifts into a pawn piece. " Thats interesting, why a .... " He stops for a moment and decideds to calm himsemlf and remembers he isn't some impetuous imp that needs all the answers to the puzzles. " What will happen when the Quarantine is lifted? Will it cause the Leviathans to go away? Will these old ones appear? " Looking at his alliance mates he has to consider, if this is the safest course.

"OF /course/ it isn't," says Jazz when she's told she's not authorized to learn more about cosmospheres. She pinches the bridge of her nose, a clear bit of a headache settling in. Her tiredly humoroued tone fading quickly in light of the rest of the more serious conversation. Einzig's revelations of the 'Eight Beings' gives her pause. "Those aren't the Srapped Princesses, are they? Or is that something different?" She asks, carefully, glancing towards Mikage. Then the quarantine is explained, as well as the absence of the Blind One. Her tentacles slip over her shoulders and she takes a step back, eyes slightly glassy as she observes the bue gem's changes. A blink.

That it has become a chess piece, truly, makes something else astounding happen.

... it brings a smile to Jazz's face. However brief. "Ah," she says, "I see."

While Mikage is aware that Cyrus has some musical talent, at least in this world, he tends to always downplay it. Seeing him being swept up with the strange music around them has her looking momentarily concerned, her fingers reaching out to brush his arm as she asks, "Are you alright?"

Then, as Einzig addresses her, she lets out a breath. "Eight beings..." It seems that her way of responding to confusing information is to repeat things, perhaps trying to make sense of it in her own mind. "So... it was the invasion of the eight that caused what happened in Ezzo, and why it's still cut off to this day?" She asks, but sounds uncertain.

While the others form the connection about the Scrapped Princesses, Mikage seems to not have quite as much lore knowledge of such matters. She just meets Jazuhanzu's gaze and offers a small shrug.

Her eyes look from the ominous blades in the chamber, to the way that the gem changes into that chess piece, and then looks at the two machina, "What's going to happen?"

Cyrus seems jolted, almost like he was lost in thought, as Mikage reaches out. "Hmm?" He asks, almost as if he had not heard her the first time. "Ah, yeah, I'm okay." He then tells her, while his foot keeps tapping along iwth the music. His head motioning with the song. The Chim Chims at his feet bobbing their heads along with him. The Cait Sith remains quiet though, as the others ask their many questions. He's just picking up all the lore and storing it into his catte-brain.

    Ezzo. Now that explains a lot. Which leaves the question: "... so who is the Blind One, and what was her post and duty? Please, we need to understand." She keeps tapping her fingers and flickering her wings in time with the chim-chims, even tapping her toe now and then. It's an oddly infectious rhythm. "And what was Yamato being quarantined -from-?"

"A pawn." That's fitting, considering how chess played into all of this at one point. "The first line of defense." Shiruba nods her head a bit, slowly absorbing all of this.

The Cursed Wave. Intruders that the heroes of the past faught against. As they do now against the otherworlders and the Waves of Calamity.

And apparently there is.... something deeper about what's wrong with Ezzo. Older than the Goddesses? And was able to force one out of position? Is that possible?

"Curiouser and Curiouser." And the Archeologist side of her was eating up every tidbit of lore and information she could keep up with.

Erufu says "So we have two thing to worry about and those names humm I'll look into that." There's a devil in Glasses she should talk to about those names. Maybe he might know something? Who knows. For now she's listening and grimaces. "So that's what happned there something invaded I wonder if we were summoned in response? Miyako it was to protect the other lands of ALba from the things that invaded..."

Yeowang listens intently. She's utterly lost, but someone will explain it to her afterwards. She just doesn't understand so many of the basic precepts of gaming that she can't fill in the assumptions between all the big statements, and then the big statements don't sink in, themselves, and she's just listening to a foreign language. But she continues to listen, because maybe a shape is starting to form, more slowly than it has for the others. "So, you're saying that Yamato is cut off from the world because the eight Scrapped Princesses showed up in Ezzo and Ezzo was quarantined to isolate them, but then Yamato was quarantined also, just to be sure?" That's what she thinks was said, anyhow.

     Eliza continues to dance and sing, while moving closer to the Kunie to watch the process curiously- the Chim Chim on her shoulder following her gaze as well. Again, the others seem to have the questions in hand, so Eliza can continue to simply observe. Whatever was about to happen, she thought, it would bring a great change to the world. She does have one comment, however. "The Blind One... she's one of the goddesses," she says. "I've heard Mr. Iversen talking about her before, though not as much as the Beautiful One."

"It is uncertain to me if the Scrapped Princesses you know and the Cursed Waves are truly the same. But they are directly... corrolated." The Kunie seems to spin on that word for a moment, deciding what was the most correct translation for that. Unlike Spatjahr, who is direct, immediate, and can process things in the fraction of a second - it seems this Kunie is more labored and slow. More akin to them.

"When the Quarantine is lifted from Yamato, you will be able to travel to the nearest region." The Kunie answers Rizadoman, the protection over Ezzo will remain. The Leviathans will be warded from this channel towards the nearest region by the crystal.

The Kunie then addresses Mikage; "The War against the Cursed Waves was performed many years ago. This place was built as a way to contain them, if it proved necessary - by the Alv. But it was never engaged for that purpose. The Godesses then engaged the Quarantine afterwards, without the crystal to deactivate it again being present." Eizig explains. "The recent unknown Invasion against Ezzo is the reason for the Godesses to engage the quarantine systems around Yamato. But it seems the barrier on Ezzo has held. And if Adventurers desire this Quarantine lifted, then the Blind Goddess would wish for me to follow your wishes, and this Machina you have affected."

To Miyako, it notes, "Her post here in Yamato, was most recently at Ezzo. Her duty is to Immanity." A pause. "In short, the Quarantine was not to protect Yamato. It was to protect the other regions _from_ Yamato. Or what is in Ezzo at this time."

With those answers given, Einzig focuses on the chess piece. As Shiruba pointed out... the first line of defense.

Light begins to spread from the beautiful crystaline pawn. Light begins to rise all around them, and they all feel this surge of... emotion welling up within themselves suddenly. This sense of... anger! Anguish! This sense of feeling betrayed - betrayed by this person being too weak - having let others down!

There's this /pulse/ of emotion, of shock. Of refusal to <LET THIS BE IT>. For a moment, they all see something floating before their eyes. An echo. Only this blue light. They feel themselves reaching out to this beautiful device before them all, with an arm that isn't theirs. A crystal that shimmers like that pawn before them. Only for their hand to melt away from the sheer power of that crystal! A purple ring lifting into their sight from a necklace they are wearing. A shock of sorrow. Tears coming to their eyes...

And then they stumble, as the light fades. A memory that wasn't their momentarily harmonizing with them. This intense sensation of emotion that normally should have felt like an invasion into themselves. Yet, is now part of them. All that sorrow replaced by hope. As if something was given to them.

As if they were in a relay race. And this hope had been handed to them. That. That hope is theirs now. Entrusted upon them by... someone.

A pulse of magic blasts from their place. And there's the sudden sound of a mirror being shattered in the distance. This feeling of oppression they'd never been aware of lifting from Yamato. An invisible Quarantine being lifted.

Shiruba's ears snap upright, even moreso than her previous attentiveness. "The nearest region... wait, does that me--"

And then the intense 'vision' for lack of a better comparison hits. Such strong emotion, relayed in abstract yet intense manners, engulfing them in the flicker of... some place and some time else.

And then it's over, and the wolfgirl slumps as she puts a hand to her head, her previous comment forgotten. "That was a strange rush..." There's just too many things right now to fully process....

Yeowang closes her eyes to bask in this strange feeling. First of being too weak, then rising above it. Sorrow replaced by hope. And the feeling of the quarantine being lifted. But if a new land has opened, what land is it? Korea's physically closest, but is it physical location? Some sort of connectivity thing? We will find out soon enough, she's certain.

    Rizadoman looks at the group for a moment with a worrying look. He was concerned that perhaps this wasn't the best approach yet. With Scale getting defeated, with the truth that one of the goddesses were 'lost', that something bad was trapped in Ezzo. It was all, all a lot and for a brief moment the lizardman who wanted to be the dragon, who wanted to be the hero felt fear of the unknown and the bigger world it appeared they were stepping into. Then suddenly the light begins to spread and Rizadoman is experiencing the emotions of the memory, the flashes of it all, and then the sound of the mirror shattering and he is standing...feeling maybe a little more hopeful then a moment ago.

As usual, Mikage is left with more questions than answers. Yet, in that moment, it doesn't seem right to bombard them when she doesn't have any idea even where to start in regards to figuring this all out. "Travel, to the nearest region." One again, she repeats things, but this time the Were Fang's eyes seem to brighten a bit.

Exploration has always been her ultimate goal. To see everything there is to see in every far reaching place of Elder Tale Online. If what the Kunie is saying is true, that means that there may very well be entirely new places to explore, and new keys to better understanding everything that is happening.

Her mouth opens as if to say something, but then that wave of emotion hits her. Her expression shifts between feelings, hands clenching into fists. Her breath catches, and then... it releases. She seems to take a half step forward, as if she were previously held back by some kind of force. "What the..." Confusion shows there.

And then, that feeling of something being lifted. "Is... everyone okay?" She asks.

Cyrus was hardly ready for this emotional whiplash. Feeling these emotions all of the sudden. These emotions that are not his, yet feel so instantaneously like they belong to him. Reaching out, this intense feeling of refusal that is not his, yet feels like his.

As the vision fades, he makes this awkward forward stepping motion, like he just tried to step up a staircase, but wasn't actually at the stairs yet. He grabs for Mikage to stop himself from falling, huffing a confused; "What was that?"

"Are you okay?" He then asks Mikage at the same time. "Yeah, I... think I'll be okay." He touches at his chest, this strange burning feeling of hope that seems almost alien to him. It's not like he's some miserable depressed person. But _Hope_ isn't something he is used to feeling in that case of melancholy way.

Erufu is still humming as she takes this in there's a lot of serious information here to think about when all is said and done here. Things are going on she was never aware of in this world. She hten watches the priocess she's not sure what's going on with the pawn. She think she's reaching out for the crystal but it's not her own oarm just what is going on here.

"...travel to the nearest region," says Jazz when that's spoken to them by the Kunie. "So only the one channel will be warded, then? What about around Tsushima itself?" She's got questions, you see, and thoughts. Jazz has plans. Her hair is moving up and down, wafting behind her and around her, almost shrouding her at some points, as long as it is. Tendrils of it threaten to touch those closest to her. Perhaps it's a sign of excitement, for her. Then again, given the moroseness for which she is known, that would be a marked change for her.

She glances back towards the others. They're too far in to back out now, and as wary as she is of making decisions for others, she just sort of nods along. Her eyes go back to the chess piece as the light rises from it. When the surge of emotion begins, she reaches up to clutch her chest. Anger. Anguish. Those feelings are one's she is, perhaps, well acquainted with. Her amber eyes blink back tears in turn and she nearly drops to a knee. She's left staggered. "... what ... what was that -- who ..."

She sits down for a moment, buries her face in her hands. She's rarely been seen to have lost her composure so completely, but here it is.

Erufu pauses for a moment and looks very confused as something fid happen something strange like a memory that was not her's became her own. "What happened..."

A beautiful life continues to flow through the area. A pieceful, hopeful blue light. The song they are hearing seeming almost bolder. As if more life has come into this place.

The Kunie stands guard over the Pawn, one hand over it. Looking at Spatjahr, who simply nods at the one before herself. "I am now without Mission." She states with a weak smile on her face.

"Accept this new mission. Help me protect this place. And continue learning about this world for me. I need someone to be my eyes, now what I've lost contact with the Blind Goddess." The Kunie demands of the old Machina, before looking to the Adventurers.

Spatjahr nods; "Mission Accepted."

The Kunie then slowly lifts his head to those standing at the base of the long stairs and requests that: "I would ask you all leave now, so I can safely seal this place. The longer you are here, the longer I have to keep the gates open, the higher of a risk this place runs of being harmed."

Looking down at the pawn, they add; "Thank you for returning this to me."

The Kunie then notes to Cyrus, Erufu and Jazuhanzu, "A memory of the Accursed Monkey's final moments, before destroying the world." Is all that needs to be said in that moment.

To Mikage; "Travel to the north-west. Pioneer, and keep going. You will find new lands that are far greater than those of Yamato in size. But know, even greater dangers await you there." The Kunie could easily give her the name of that place. But in recognition of the Adventurous spirit he is picking up on, he's letting her find out on her own.

    Once again Miyako finds herself making mental notes, wishing for a camera, a tape recorder... and for Kotono at her side while she's at it. "Nearest Region... China?" she whispers to herself, considering. She hmms softly, swaying a bit with the chim-chim rhythm.

    "So the quarantine has been in place since the Cursed Waves? Or was it only recently?" she asks, curious. She shakes her head, it -must- have been recent if it was in response to Ezzo. But that leaves the question of 'Immanity'.

    She's about to ask about that when everything goes wibbly-wobbly dreamy-weemy. She blinks, staring down at... her hand? A purple ring... oh. Yes. That's right. That was -

    But the memory is unclear, like a dream she's just woken from. She turns to look at the others, making sure everyone is alright, and then down at her own hands, to be sure they haven't gone anywhere. "... the sea's asleep, and the rivers dream... people made of smoke, and cities made of song..." She shakes her head to clear it, looking back up at the Kunie mech-man, and hmms softly.

Though there is still much that she doesn't understand, Mikage is more than willing to accept what she can see, feel, and experience for herself. "Thank you." She offers up in return, bowing her head.

Then, as she lifts her gaze to the Kunie, there is that spark of challenge that comes with it. Yes, it would require a sea voyage. Yes, it is likely a long journey, but this is exactly the sort of quest that drives her. "I will." She lets out a breathy sound that is almost a laugh of exhilaration.

"Right, we should get out of here. We need to plan." They need a ship, a crew, supplies, and... people willing to risk their lives on what they have learned here. Easy peasy, right? Hah...

Yeowang will hustle out of here, then, as directed. As far as planning, she says to Mikage, "I will go. I have someone important who I think may be on the server that's opened." It's worth looking, anyhow. But getting out is important, too. She does not waste time.

    Rizadoman looks at the others and then nods his head , as he just continues to listen and try to sort through everything. It is all very confusing. Then they are asked to leave or risk this location. Given everything that happened here it looks like it would be a bad idea to let any harm coming to this place. Looking over at Mikage , he nods his head. " Yes I think that is best. I appreciate what you two have done. May we meet again one day, perhaps it will even be less confusing." Though Rizadoman accepts that he is out of his league here, in terms of knowledge. With that said he begins to try to usher people out of the facility as best he can without picking up anyone.

     Eliza at first begins to wonder if they're really doing the right thing. Sure, opening up more of the world does have its benefits, but what if they're putting the adventurers and Landers in the next region in more danger? Before she can potentially voice these concerns, though, the light enters her, and she's overcome with the feelings and memories of someone else. At last, the feeling subsides. Eliza finds herself stumbling forward, looking around with wide eyes as she resumes control of herself. She puts a hand to her heart, feeling that vitality within herself. According to the Kunie, that was a memory of the 'Accursed Monkey'. So, whoever that was, wanted to destroy the world? Eliza didn't know what to think. "Well... I don't know if I'll be going overseas just yet. There's still much for me to do and learn here in Yamato," she says.

Erufu is still humming but gets why they need to go. She will make ready to lead for a moment. "If the world was destroyed ... how is it still here?" She wonders if there's a connrection to SAO and Fragment going down. Or even more so the Pluto's Kiss? She does not know and it's time to go. "Thank you for the warning and I'll be going now." She doesn't want to leave the guard of place down any longer than it has to be. With that she'll turn and head off singing.

"The Accursed Monkey," repeats Jazz, understandingly. She shakily rises to her feet, regaining her compoosure. "A cycle, perhaps. An iteration. A rebooting of the Matrix. I don't know," she tells Erufu, "You're the two thousand year old elf, you tell *us*," she remarks. She takes a moment to tug on the fringe of her long coat, revealing the maid's uniform beneath it before she steps back.

"There's a lot of work to be done before we can get there. Hopefully, travel to Tsushima will be easier now as well, I'd been wanting to set up a dock here, invite some Landers to make their home here. Let them do their thing. I'd wanted to wait until now to encourage it but... mph," that last sound is quite twee coming from her, of course.

Her hair has mostly settled down now, though the ends curl and straighten of their own volition, something mirrored by the tentacles hanging over her shoulders. "Left with more questions, as always."

"Well of course. What's the fun in knowing everything right away?", Shiruba replies after having regained her general composure. Which has her grinning towards Mikage. "We'll make a proper expedition going about it, of course." Explorers have a new place to explore in the near future, what a fine way to start off the new year.

    Miyako smiles softly, sadly, and nods. "It was good to meet you, Friend Einzig. I hope that we might meet again in more pleasant circumstances. It always amazes me how much we have yet to learn about this world... and it is always a joy to learn more of it." She waves casually, and turns to follow the rest out, still tapping away at the song, taking up the words once more as she departs.