gameofmana | ➸ Quest Catch All

"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."

"It is kind of you to say so." She holds her hands out for the lamp pole to be returned to her, not wanting to burden him any longer. "The spirit seemed glad of it as well." However, there's not a note of happiness in her voice as she says it. Even with all that's covering her, it's clear that she's disappointed.

"I have no more business in this place. If you could bring me back to the entrance of the caverns, that would be enough."

"I believe we can return back the way we came." Zenyatta returns the lamp pole to Hope and begins the trek back to the cavern entrance.

"I sense some disappointment in you. Do you wish to talk about it?"

Following after him, it seems she has every intent of lapsing into silence until that question. Her eyes widen, not expecting it, before she directs her gaze downwards.

"It would be long and complicated to explain. Let us simply say that... I did not receive the answer I wanted."

"It may not have been the answer you wished for, but perhaps you can still take something from it. Do not be discouraged." Ever the guru, Zenyatta tries to offer another viewpoint.

Bothi tries to poke the lamp pole with a vine limb, however. They tire of dark places, preferring sunny spots and lit windowsills.

"I think you for the kind words, although I am uncertain how much good they will do me."

Still, Bothi doesn't have to worry for much longer. The rest of the way is clear, and soon enough, sunlight can be seen from the entrance into the caverns. As they approach it, Hope carefully draws the lamp itself closer to her and extinguishes its small flame.

"In payment for your services, I have very little to offer you... So please have this." Unhooking the lamp itself, she holds out the Firefly Lamp in offering. "I feel as though it will be more useful to you."

"There is no need for payment. The experience is its own reward. I had a pleasant trip with company and heard a lovely song." He got to explore a little of a place he was curious about and learned a little about the world's history, no matter how sad it might be.

... Zenyatta also completely forgot about getting paid. He usually doesn't get paid.

"However, if you are no longer in need of your lamp, I will humbly accept it."

➸ Quest Catch All

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