gameofmana | ➸ Quest Catch All

Zenyatta lets Hope lead the way. This is her expedition, and she is the leader. He is an escort. (And Bothi can be group mascot.)

"You may. I will try to answer it as best I can." There are few questions he won't answer, and even if he did feel like not answering, he would give a partial answer in his own way.

"I hope you not think me rude, but what manner of creature are you?" Her eyes flicker to and away from him. "I have traveled to many places and seen many races, but... I have never seen in individual completely of metal. Not in the way that you appear to be."

"You are not being rude at all. I have been asked this question many times since my arrival. Some people are more familiar with robots or automations, and while those are not exactly what I am, they are closer than others."

He continues floating, voice calm and easy. "I am an Omnic."

"Automations.... I think I understand. It reminds me of beings that were created a very long time ago..." From behind her cloth coverings, it's possible to see her brows furrow.

"...Yet, from what I have heard, it seemed they've become long lost. It's an unpleasant fate- to be forgotten and discarded."

Zenyatta tilts his head in curiosity. He knows of the fanciful idea of ancient mechanical beings, usually in alternate reality stories if he wasn't mistaken, and he has only met other people like him among those taken from their worlds. To discover there is some evidence of similar beings in this world is very interesting.

"I would like to learn more about them if possible. No one should be forgotten like that." Even those with ill deeds are worth knowing about to prevent history from repeating. "Did you learn of them through story?"

For a second, there's only silence, before she nods her head. "I've simply heard things. Even if people try to hide things in this world, events such as wars always leave scars."

Her sigh is despondent. "They're ugly things that can't be healed, no matter the tears that people might shed."

Zenyatta falls quiet, and as if they sense his unease, Bothi stills. He had hoped for a different outcome, something that didn't involve war. It will take a few moments longer in quiet contemplation before he speaks softly, "It saddens me to learn that this world has faced such a crisis. This world has seemed so peaceful."

And there is more of a need to learn more. Zenyatta is not the only mechanical person among them. If there is a dark history, it would be wise to be mindful of it when interacting with the locals.

"Domina is a quiet town, thankfully, but..." As Mekiv Caverns looms closer, their talk having filled up the majority of the jorney, Hope shakes her head.

"I'm sorry. This has been a depressing conversation that I brought upon you."

"There are no need for apologies. In fact, I thank you for bringing this to my attention." Harmony and discord are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other. In hindsight, Zenyatta thinks he will need to meditate further on this matter and process his thoughts and feelings. He feels like he overlooked something and took for granted the relative peace he has experienced in Fa’Diel.

"However, if you wish to change the subject, perhaps we can talk about our destination. Did you wish to explore the caverns, or did you have another purpose for our trip in mind?"

Stopping at the opening of the caverns, she carefully sets the lamp down and begins to search through her pockets and pouches. "There is something I wish to find, actually. I have heard that the caverns hold a particular elemental spirit, you see."

A set of matches are produced, and she gets to work striking up a tiny flame. Practiced, she cups it away from any stray breeze until she can press the flame to where it needs to be. Instead of merely lighting, the lamp comes to life with a soft glow visible even in daylight, and stray embers seem to flicker into the air like escaping fireflies rather than flame.

"An elemental spirit? That would be very fascinating to find." Zenyatta watches curiously as Hope lights her lamp. It quite beautiful. Thankfully, Bothi does not try to investigate the lit lamp; instead they curl around Zenyatta's middle for a nap.

"I can also help provide light should we need it." He points at the lights on his forehead and gives a small laugh. Then he'll follow Hope inside.

Getting up to her feet again, her eyes crinkle just slightly, the only sign of a smile visible. "Yet that would require me staying close to you while we travel, and if we get separated, I would be in some trouble, wouldn't I? Caves aren't a place to travel half blind."

And with that said, she begins to step into the cavern, following the smooth naturally formed steps that lead to its depths.

The light of her lamp shimmers along the walls of Mekiv Caverns, casting odd shadows from the reflective nature of its slick surfaces, but nothing immediately leaps out to accost them. There's merely the dripping of water somewhere in the distance, and far off clicking. At the end of the steps, Hope pauses, waiting for Zenyatta. "I hope you don't mind if I ask you to take the lead... While I know what I wish to find, it is difficult to say where it might appear save in a secluded quiet place. Your decisions of what direction to take are as likely to find it as mine."

"I was under the impression you needed an escort," says Zenyatta with humor in his voice. "If we separate, then I would not be doing good at my job."

But regardless of that little detail and jest, Zenyatta hovers forward. If the elemental spirit wishes for quiet, then he thinks that deeper inside the caverns, away from the outside noise, would probably be where it is. He tries to listen past the hums and clicks of his own internal workings. It's almost like he has fallen into a meditative trance.

Then he randomly pick a path that takes the western wall because it looks interesting. Zenyatta's wandering and curious heart makes the choice for him.

It's as good a path as any, and Hope has no objections. At least, none that she voices, anyway. The walk along the western wall is quiet, eventually going down further steps and platforms which curve into the belly of Mekiv Caverns. Hope stops once, when there's the sound of metal grinding along stone, but it's only an echo from some elsewhere.

"It seems you chose a good path," she murmurs as she makes her way around a pillar of stone that twists up from the floor to the ceiling. "We haven't run into any creatures yet."

Zenyatta does pause when he hears the noise as well. It's far, and he has not scraped against a wall on accident or even shuffled his feet against the rocky ground. (Hovering does avoid having footsteps to compete with surrounding sounds.) His forehead lights cast his immediate area with a light blue glow; he turns to go in a direction further from the noise.

"Please be mindful up ahead. It appears the terrain turns rougher. I would hate for you to trip." And Zenyatta mentally thanks the spirit once more for returning his ability to hover. He would not be well equipped to travel the caves. This floor is far different than flat lands and stairs. No doubt Hope would have needed a different escort.

"Of course. Thank you for your consideration." There's a certain practiced ease to her movements as she makes her way across the ground, apparently used to somewhat rough terrain. No further prompting is needed for her to stay away from the sounds that are coming from elsewhere, and she stays by Zenyatta's side.

After a few minutes, however, a slight glow can be seen ahead amidst the rocks and stalagmites, and she starts to slow. "Sir?"

Dimming his own lights, Zenyatta stops to place Bothi on the ground.

"If you wish to wait here, I will scout ahead to see what the source of the light is." And he'll leave Bothi with Hope too. Zenyatta doesn't want to endanger them even though they are starting to prove themselves more capable than he first thought a lullabud would be at their age. Though on a related note, Bothi may prove helpful should something come toward Hope while he is gone.

"Would that be all right?" Zenyatta is, after all, the escort on this quest.

After a second of thought, Hope nods her head and crouches down to delicately place the lamp on the ground so she can dim its glow. "It would be for the best. Stay safe.... I would not wish for you to be harmed."

With a nod of his head, Zenyatta begins to hover towards the light, keeping close to the cavern walls but not close enough to risk scraping against it. His Orbs of Destruction slow and gather around his neck. Bothi fidgets slightly but does not stray from Hope as Zenyatta travels farther and farther from them.

Zenyatta's aim is to locate the source of the light and report back to Hope. He does not plan to engage unless a life is in danger. Peaceful or dangerous, he'll return to Hope first and see what she has to say.

No sound accompanies the faint glow as Zenyatta ventures forward, no vocalizations or steps against the stone floor. The reason for this becomes soon apparent as the Omnic comes in sight of the source.

If he had looked around at the other spirits which had appeared during the battle against the pumpkin, Zenyatta might recognize this being as one of them: Gnome, a small humanoid sort of figure hiding behind a sizable beard nearly as big as their body. They're not quite floating like Zenyatta, but gravity doesn't seem to affect them as much, letting them hop lightly into the air and stay there for a few seconds longer as they inspect stalagmites and stalactites leisurely.

Should he return immediately, Hope looks up expectantly, awaiting the news.

Zenyatta peeks around the corner and watches the spectable before him. Whoever this is, there does not seem to be a danger. (Zenyatta had been to preoccupied with being attaked by pumpkins to take note of the other spirits.) He doesn't stay there long and returns to Hope.

"There is a small human shaped being with a large beard hopping around. Are you familiar with someone like that?"

Almost immediately, she's up on her feet, eyes wide. "Then- that would be what I'm seeking." Her hands are almost clumsy as she tries to balance holding the lamp and going into her backpack before she realizes her own haste. Taking a deep breath, she offers the rod and lamp attached to Zenyatta.

"To commune with elemental spirits... Music must be played. It's not something that can be done with one hand. Would you hold this for me?"

His lights brighten momentarily (before dimming back to their lowered luminosity) from his joy at the news. They have been very fortunate so far.

"Of course." He takes the rod and holds it much like she had. Bothi returns to their seat upon Zenyatta's lap. "Please do what you need to do."

"Thank you." More than the low respectful bow she gives him, her voice is weighed down with gratitude and relief. This journey really has been more pleasant than even she could have expected, and it's clearly just as amazing to her.

~~Gotta love those good RNG rolls.~~

From her pack, she pulls out what looks almost like a harp, only much smaller- clearly a lyre or similar instrument. Another hasty bow to Zenyatta and then she steps around the rocks. He's free to follow her, if he wants, although she'll make sure he doesn't stay too close and scare off the elemental.

For all that she seems rather solemn, the tune that her fingers pluck out is deceivingly bright and cheerful, the song leaping up and down. It clearly appeals to the spirit, their attention caught as it drifts closer.

Then, for a single instant beneath the music, Zenyatta might be able to hear a high ping of a noise, bright and not giving any echo.

It doesn't happen again, and Hope seems more focused on the elemental than anything as they stare at one another in deep concentration even as her fingers continue moving. Then, the glow disappears as Gnome vanishes, and Hope's song ceases. She stays there for a minute longer, expression hidden, before she slowly pushes herself up. Something is clutched tightly in one hand as she returns to Zenyatta.

"...It's done. Thank you for waiting patiently."

~~RNG and Zenyatta walk in harmony.~~

He keeps his distance, but he makes sure that she stays within his sight. The elemental may not be a danger. However, the danger of the caverns still exist, and Zenyatta will not neglect his duty to her.

The details of the scene before him may not be clear, but he understands that the two are communicating in some fashion. There are more ways to talk beyond words. He commits as much as he can to memory. "You are welcome. The melody you played was beautiful."

➸ Quest Catch All

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