ORIGIN

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[EVENT] Makin' My Way Downtown

When he felt the tunnel had been cleared enough, he returned to the Cepheus entrance to await Wilder's arrival and to see whether or not she had decided to gather others. Near him would be the trolley station, overgrown but otherwise preserved in time. Just beyond that would sit the abandoned trolley, covered in ivy and flowering greens but in good shape, considering.

The tunnel itself was humid, steam from the many hot springs snaking through it and creating a sleepy yet comfortable atmosphere. Unfortunately, the overgrowth seemed to cover much of the available light, and the lights themselves seemed more dim due to the neglect of maintenance.

Azigh shifted his wings and stretched them at his sides. He had not been here in quite some time and he found he did not like the humidity of the springs.

@Wilder should make the first post and clarify whether or not she sought to gather others to join her! (This can be assumed to have been done off-screen.)

The wait for Azigh's excavation seemed to take forever. Imagination running wild as ever, she came up with a million different ways that Cassiopeia could look. Dreary and imposing, like a true fortress, a stronghold as Azigh said? Littered with debris and remains like Canis? Maybe small, cramped, but defensible? Or wondrous and beautiful and strange? She hadn't exactly gone out of her way to get others to help, but she had in fact spoken about it to passing Gembound, her excitement too much to contain within.

The day finally came when Wilder made her way to the place Azigh had told her about. A new tunnel coming from Cepheus, recently dug from the wall. Her tail lifted at the sight of the guardian in a gesture of greting. "Hi! Are you done digging the tunnel out?" She was immediately distracted by the sight of the trolley. She had never seen one before and so had no name for it or any inkling of what it could be used for. As she trotted up to where Azigh was waiting, she leaned forward and sniffed the strange metal. "What is this? Some kind of home?" It looked like it would be protective, at least, with a proper roof and walls but she couldn't imagine sleeping on that hard metal floor.

She peered past the massive creature and saw nothing but a dark tunnel overgrown and littered with debris. She frowned and took a few steps forward, willing her magic to illuminate the tunnel, but as it seemed to be doing a lot lately, it faltered, leaving her with nothing.

"It's dark," is what she offered instead. "Is it dangerous?" From here it didn't look it, but there could be anything waiting in those shadows.

"Well enough for use," he answered, "but the tracks will need to be cleared more. Have you invited others? We could wait for their assistance." He gestured to the metal tracks that cut through the ground, then followed her gaze to the cart.

"Hmm. Trolley, I believe they called it. It moves you from one area to another. I am too big for it," he said, and it was unclear if he had tried for a joke or not. "And though it is dark, it is safe. I will accompany you to Cassiopeia while you ride in the trolley. The ground is often hot." One of his hands pointed toward her, and one of his massive paws lifted to show the blistering of his pads. "Not dangerous but safer inside the car."

His head turned toward Cepheus. "We will wait a few moments. The more to help clear the tracks, the faster we may arrive in the city."

@Wilder

[EVENT] Makin' My Way Downtown is now open for others to join! Your characters are free to have heard about the opening of the tunnel from Wilder off-screen, or if they live in Cepheus, are free to now investigate the commotion.

Kai had been wandering Cepheus when the commotion had begun. It hadn't been all that loud, but enough that her uncertain stare (at the foliage of Cepheus--oddly manicured, and voidlit, and honestly she wasn't sure if she approved) had been drawn toward the newly opened tunnel.

Delicately, she'd picked her way across the fields, curiosity taking hold. She paused upon seeing the dim region ahead, and the overgrown tracks and cart that led into it. Here, she paused, debating whether to join Azigh and Wilder. Well, I was already exploring, she reasoned, though her mind did flick back to Pegasus. She could just... go home. Cepheus was already unsettlingly unnatural; whatever lay ahead looked--Dangerous? Or maybe-... Her gaze slid along the tracks into the clouds of steam beyond. Just... abandoned?

She gathered her courage, telling herself that the Knight would need to report back to her Prince on this, given time. Then she stepped cautiously past whatever rubble had been cleared, peering between the two ahead. "You're travelling beyond-?" she asked, then stopped herself. Maybe they already knew more than she did about this place. Maybe they belonged here, and she didn't; maybe she'd be unwelcome. Briefly, the awkward hybrid struggled with her phrasing. 'Do you need help?' -no, they don't look like they do. They look like they're waiting for something. Ummmm. "Do you... want... company?" she tried, at last.

She sort of hoped they would.

The chance to explore somewhere else, somewhere new enraptured Tourmaline. So when Wilder, who she didn't exactly know by name but recognized from past interactions invited her, the Pallas cat had to accept.

"...Is this it?" she asks, finding the hot humidity wafting out of the new tunnel unpleasant. She was more fond of dryer conditions, even if the heat itself wasn't the biggest concern. Tourmaline could survive.

She'd stay just at the threshold, peeking into the dark. "I'm not exactly sure what to expect... but let's hope it's something good." Best to remain positive, after all.

She'd heard whispers of some shit going down in Cepheus. Figured it might be a good distraction from all the loose ends her mind kept chasing in circles.

Of course, she could never be that fucking lucky, could she?

It certainly seemed like an interesting looking tunnel. The steam curled around her paws and settled in her fur in the loveliest way, and that funky looking metal beast was just begging to be explored.

But there was That One Cat. That one cat who saw her committing a blood sacrifice. Woops.

Well, it's only awkward if she decides it's awkward.

She strides up to the other gembounds with a friendly wave of her tail. "Hello, hello! I heard some exploring was being done over here? I've survived one set of creepy tunnels that tried to kill me, so I'm practically an expert!"

Soon enough, several others had approached the tunnel and while he did not greet them, he regarded each in turn. All... somewhat small. Especially compared to himself; that was no matter. He could assist, too.

"This is enough," Azigh said, glancing the entrance to see if any stragglers might be coming in. When there were none, he turned and placed a hand on the top of the trolley, almost resting against it. "This is called a trolley. You may ride inside for comfort, or walk beside if you please. It is not my decision. However, my suggestion is for riding within. Would that I could," he explained, the sounds of his voice dropping. He would be glad to reach Cassiopeia.

"I have cleared most large or heavy objects from its tracks, but some plants and finer things... need dexterity I do not have. We will stop as needed." He clenched his fists and released them. While he had more hands than most, he could not reach many things beneath his feet.

Next, he pointed to the controls inside the trolley and said, "Presumably you can see colors. Green button to start the trolley. Red button to stop it. The lever between them should be laying the direction you wish to go." He opened one of the windows, pointed to each thing respectively, and cranked the lever downward. The trolley clunked as its directional mechanism shifted. "Somewhere there is another car. I am not sure where. Thankfully this one seems to work."

He patted the top of the doorway. "Once inside, you may close the door. The trolley will seal and begin circulating cool air. It is a very good design." Because it was his magic that sealed and cooled it, and Caelum's brain that made it work. He was quite pleased with it, really. Brilliant idea. Not his own, but he made the whole thing work. After a brief moment of self-reflection, he patted the top once more.

"Okay. In you go. We make for Cassiopeia."

@Wilder @Kai @Tourmaline @Mossie

Once the team embarks, we will have 3 rounds of clearing the tracks before they can reach Cassiopeia!

Dexterity?

Kai, very deliberately, did not look at her hooves.

Well. I'm invested now. Best not bring up the fact that, where dexterity was concerned, Kai was rather lacking. Certainly moreso than the fellow with arms for a face, but she'd let that go. "I will help," she declared, instead, turning to stride with all four hooves, and zero hands, onto the tram. She made her way straight to the front, staring out the dusty old windows--she didn't touch the buttons, though. Leave that to whoever got on last.

If she turned it on now, it'd seal everyone else out. Everyone else who might actually have dexterity.

Kai glanced at the overgrowth, and tried to reach out her magic, her senses; surely if the place were so green and overgrown, she could get an idea of the shape of the tunnel ahead? But nothing came. She fretted for a moment, wondering if she should mention her failed magic, and decided on absolutely not.
She tipped her beak up, assuming a facade of confident authority. (She actually felt very out of place and nervous. Really, Kai didn't know where she was.) "I, Kai, the Knight of Flowers, will aid on behalf of the Prince of the Void."

This declaration provided, without context of course, she settled in for the ride.

Tourmaline looks up and down the trolley. Seems it's in decent enough shape, even she's never seen anything like it. glossy metal, dented and dulled by time in places.

"Alright, seems straight forward enough," she nods to Azigh, before jumping up into the railcar. Tourmaline isn't exactly dwelling on her lack of hands, but hopefully it won't be an issue. Right?

Sitting on one of the (very worn) benches, the manul decides to introduce herself just as Kai had done. "I'm Tourmaline. Happy to help."

Manticore arrived, slinking in flashes of glowing blue, out of the shadows, in time to hear some of the instructions. (His magic--intended to hide him so he could listen--had failed; he stood there, quiet, but clearly visible.) Despite his constant battle with his inner chaos, he did try to be a friend to those he met. For a moment, then, he fought off the urge to tackle the trolley and try to destroy it (those stray thoughts were so damn unwelcome), and shook himself as he succeeded.

Dexterity. He considered the word, and lifted one forelimb, examining his own claws. "I can help," he decided. He had giant hands, sort of. A glance at the trolley told him that he'd not fit inside: instead, he plodded up behind Azigh. "You will follow it?" It had sounded like it--but best to be sure. He stretched his wings, their massive breadth trembling briefly with the strain, then folded them away and made to take up a position near the trolley: ready for it to move.

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Game Master CJ

Wilder

Game Master CJ

Kai

Tourmaline

Mossie

Game Master CJ

Kai

Tourmaline

Manticore