Of all the scenarios Fahl could have conceived, including a variety of ambushes and injuries, this ominous reception had not been one of them, their greeter an enigma to encounter. To the iguana, it was a collection of lights amidst the blackness, any discernible patches of physique battle-scarred and tattered. Its thoughts traversed the shared mental link at a pace that could be attributed to a calculating mind. Neither harm or aid was promised through the sparse words however; it merely disappeared, leaving those gathered to their decisions, eventual conclusions, and Patty's truly disconcerting encouragement.

Water stirred beyond the ajar door after its departure. Whether it came from that which had left or another being within the City, he knew not. The aforementioned Kraken, though, invoked worry and caused contributions to the conversation that might not have been given otherwise.

'While it's unnecessary'—quite so, recalling similar rallying remarks on their journey—'I think this bears repeating: we should stick together best as we can. If what... it said is correct, as well as Patty, this Kraken thing's massive. I haven't a clue if we can talk our way out of a fight again, but we should still have some sort of plan in case that's impossible.'

'Sizewise, the bigger of us might have the most advantage, but they could attract the most attention too.' He tapped on his armband with a single hooked claw. 'The rest of us should use every other advantage we've got and take the heat off of them. Support each other.'

While he spoke, his head angled toward the opening they'd soon enter, attentive to any further disturbances.

Before Esther could truly begin their sweep of the area again, the guide decided now would be the time to move. They followed, obviously. There would be no point in getting left here in the dark with only the slightest bit of light from their own baubled item. Esther swam - up, up, up some more. It didn't take long for Esther to realize that they were trapped - underneath the roof without a way back up just yet. At least, not one visible. It was still dark even with the guide and all of the baubled items, so the group would have to make do with what they had already.

Esther felt like they were being watched - glowing bulbs of what they assumed were eyes staring as the group moved through the water. As strange as it was, they wondered if those would linger even after they were done here. Could Esther go looking? Would they even be able to return to this place after they were done - ? Their head snapped forward when their guide started shouting in their heads. The words that filtered in from the... From the thing, Esther did not understand the meaning. Challengers? Did the thing think the group were challengers? Kraken? It left before any questions were answered, and Esther turned to gaze at the group's guide once again.

Esther looked back to the door when they saw the nothingness again.

The group might have to fight - one mentioned sticking together again, but could they talk their way out of this one? Esther wouldn't be able to stick too close without potentially hurting someone, but if they directed their magic correctly it shouldn't be a problem... They were reminded of the blizzard - nearly all of them got affected by that, so maybe not.

"The only thing we can do is be prepared." They replied through the mind-link.

The group would have to go through that door to see their fate.

Cirrus

The ominous greeting has all their fur standing on end- or it would be if their movement in the water didn't keep it flat.

Garnet-Epsilon can feel their whole body tense like they'd stepped in meltwater at the glance of oily stone on the sea-dragon's shoulder, and so they beat a quick retreat into the center of the group, and hover near @Fahl - the one other Gembound they'd interacted with this whole journey, and one of the few that seems to be tactically competent.

"Everyone should pick a combat buddy, then. The darkness isn't the thing to fear, here. It's whatever may have torn up that... other Gembound like that. Pair up, or maybe in groups of two and three, and we make sure we scatter if one is struck. We'll know where to strike, ourselves, and then we don't risk the whole group falling."

... and lets hope I get out of here alive enough to report back to Master Vargas and finish my tasks- I feel the Caves are trying to tell me something.

Challengers, signs of siege and combat... chaos is useful if unpredictable, if what they've heard about their attempted siege on Ursa was anything to go by, and so they have a small fear they they may not leave this battle intact.

As easy as dying would be, they have things to do.

Cirrus is attempting to calm and rally the group, and propose battle strategies, before we all head in. They took no weapons, no poisons, so they will have to use their magic and claws.

Whale would keep her flipper offered as a steady support for as long as the Orarian held on to it, sensing their wariness through the curl of their tendrils. Her own worries mirrored the Orarian's as Deep Dark's lights lit its behemoth figure weaving around them and the thoughts of the group turned towards a fight. Does it mean us harm? she wondered. I don't think so. I don't think we should fight the Kraken, either. Answering her own question. The preparations for violence worried Whale, but she had to reluctantly admit that it might be necessary.

Remember what we came here for, guys, she reminded the group anyway. Would it be enough to hold them back once the Kraken showed itself--? It might be difficult, with so many people to convince and control. We're in Farina's city. The Kraken is probably on Farina's side, and we're here to help Farina find her friend. Not to fight her citizens.

Whale gave the Orarian a worried look. They seemed nervous down here, and she didn't want to leave them, but... there were so many little Gembound who were vulnerable. She had to try to protect them. Friend concerned her the most: the little fish who she now realized was talking, zooming about without a care in the world.

It doesn't realize what's going on, Whale realized. It has no idea what danger there might be. He reminded her of Wolf, in a way, who had died so tragically minutes after they'd met. Hey! she called to the barracuda. Be careful-- there could be dangerous things around!

To the rest of the group, she added: I need to make sure our little friend is okay. I'll swim at the front of the group. Anyone who wants to can stay behind me; I'll protect you! Remember, we're not looking for a fight! We're here to save Artio! We don't want to be mistaken for a rebel army and end up like those soldiers of Order.

All bolded speech was said through Pattylink as well out loud. Whale is rolling to defend the group should there be a surprise attack; her priority is Friend.

Now they were in the Black City. Khavur would notify Maximus of their arrival via their private link. But, to Patrick's surprise, it seemed that something not good was afoot. Words would come through Patty's link, sparse and almost nonsensical... A beast not unlike labradorite not unlike itself spoke of hounds -- like what the Sentinel was? Or Master Vargas? And a Kraken who they might have to work together to defeat.

Khavur would first focus on trying not to think of the labradorite the labradorite the labradorite who was looking at Khavur, noticing Khavur, the attention was almost unbearable.

Instead, Khavur would tune out other messages sent through Patrick's link and consider for itself what to do next. It felt like all it wanted was safety... for those it wanted to protect... itself, its sibling, and this weird thing that somehow compelled it. Khavur would try to look around for danger then, instead of rushing in headfirst. It would subconsciously curl a little tighter in its defensive stance, and it would craft a sort of glare to give the cat-thing it protected and the labradorite. Something that said: "Be cautious." Without actually saying it. Wait, had Khavur just--

Khavur is looking out for danger and NOT following Deep Dark.

Khavur said via the Pattylink: "Be cautious."

To distract from the sudden heartache, Kaimana would follow the group up and up. Finally, at last! The Black City! The anticipation was welling for certain; this was a build up to something Kaimana had witnessed as a cub. She couldn't wait to see, to answer age-old questions... even if she'd missed something, or didn't feel entirely herself yet.

The panic in Patty's voice upon arrival piqued her interest.

Something big was behind that door? Something big that WARNED of something big? A challenge to be faced together (although Patty, notedly, was once again opting out of participation). Kaimana admired the creature speaking through the link from behind the door. It was hard not to stop and admire everything here, but this creature in particular was big and still enough to think about for a while. They were large, as large as some of this party's largest members, and their speech felt... fragmented. Ominous. It made Kaimana suspicious... how could it know the Kraken, warn them about this Kraken, while seemingly having coexisted with it? Kaimana wasn't sure about trusting this being. Ah, but this did not make her stop admiring it, or keep her from noticing the faint green scars... They made her wonder... Perhaps, if she still had her regenerative pouch available after this potential battle with a Kraken (whatever that truly was), she could offer it to the beast. Pay it forward, in a sense, or maybe just deliver it.

For now, however, Kaimana would stick with the group not following the titan in. They were tossing around good ideas through the link; the Kraken might be loyal to Farina, combat buddies, big ones first, maybe wait for the Guardian of the Key of Festering to return? Kaimana would do her part by looking out for danger, trying to get as much information about the situation as possible before choosing to act. As for a combat partner, hm... Hm... She'd cross that bridge when it needed crossing.

Text. "Speech." Thoughts.

Kaimana is looking around for information about their surroundings and NOT following Deep Dark.

Kaimana did not say anything via the Pattylink.

In the Black City, some NEW trouble was waiting just for them. Sigh. These big group projects were never easy. This new danger was a gigantic beast, pretty and weird and mostly pretty weird. It proposed yet ANOTHER danger; some Kraken? Whatever that was? Patrick seemed to know but was running off again, ready to laugh at them from afar. Honestly Madhukar was just ready to be done with this. Let some Kraken at her, she'd taken on ordeals just as big, maybe even bigger.

Ah, but then, her lightning... how well could it work down here? That's right, still on healer duty! A deeper, private sigh. Intriguing as all this was, doing research for Tahi-shei made her miss him... made her think of the attack on Mother, made her think too much when she was already tired from swimming...

GAH. If she could've taken another one of those energy pouches she would've. But alas... She still had the other pouch though! The paralyzer. Poison? Whichever -- Madhukar just knew it wasn't the hallucinogenic. Or-- wait-- wasn't it specifically the hallucinogenic because--? OKAY, FOR CERTAIN it was PAINFUL and she had to put it in the mouth or an open wound of any assailant. YES. Got it. Good.

She wouldn't risk her lightning magic down here, but she would prepare her mind... and maybe her body. Wiggle around a bit. She might also need a 'combat buddy', being so small and mostly incapable down here. Maybe, if she could find that enthusiastic fighter...? Madhukar would try to remember the description... flashblahblahblah... spear.... what the heck were either of those.... "Hey, fighter with the flash-something and the spear, where are you? I'm Madhukar, the, uh... small furry thing. The one who found the weird green key." Maybe that one could be her 'combat buddy'.

Madhukar is preparing to not die and also help other people not die! Also she's asking where Hunter is. And also NOT following DD inside.

Madhukar said via the Pattylink: "Hey, fighter with the flash-something and the spear, where are you? I'm Madhukar, the, uh... small furry thing. The one who found the weird green key."

@Hunter (interaction attempt)

As Attikias lead his children with his arm and shoulder, his other hand cast the beam of light out into the darkness, into the relative ghost-town of the Black City.

This was it. Artio must be nearby, then, and Attikias put the eyes to the back of his mind as he shone the light on the broken door.

'Oh.' He stopped. 'That can't be goo-' His mind choked as Patty's panic, and the unease rose in him, too, when Deep Dark showed itself. Big? 'What's too big?' His gut responded with, but he kept shining the light on it as the creak of its thoughts invaded his mind.

Challenge. Attikias set his jaw and gathered those latched onto him closer, watching as the valkhound turned and swam in front of them. 'Patty- we need everyone to go and-- challenge?-- this thing, probably, can you come with? We need your link,' he'd broadcasted, looking about the group. 'Stick together.' The thought was an echo of the others', and it held true- if they got separated against whatever a kraken was, then...

He shook his head. 'Come on. We shouldn't split up- it might mean more people getting hurt.' He looked to those still outside the door, then to his family. 'But, if you don't think you can fight-' (and he knew his family wouldn't jump on this- these two were excited to be heroes)- 'stay here. Be safe, and we'll tell you when you can come through.'

He hesitated at Madhukar's introduction, though- him? He twisted (dragging Hunter and Asteri with him) to look at Madhukar. 'Me- elf guy-' and he waved- 'or my daughter?' He gave Hunter a moment to respond and to see what he would do before continuing on, moving just into the gate to bring light into the darkness within.

(Attikias is following DD! and might be dragging along some kids if they don't say otherwise)

Cerilaine was focused primarily on Patty as they rose, scooped up by Indigo and taken through more and more darkness. It was unsettling just how much room had been locked away- and what hid here? So many eyes, and she bared her teeth at them, ears folding back.

They better not try to interfere. Cerilaine was getting paid for this.

They'd arrived at the door, and dialogue carried out, and the leopard could only think of one thing. 'Here we go.' The wisp curled about her head as she watched the others, eyeing them- who would survive against that? Were they meant to challenge the dragon?

She set her jaw, grumbling to herself. She had to do something (and, she quietly stuffed away the 'battle buddy' thing in her mind. She had Indigo.). One dragon formed ice around themselves, and Cerilaine's eyes lingered on that. What about that, but... Offensive? Wiggling her paws free from Indigo's grip, the leopard stretched out her digits and formed claws around them, curling thin points of ice down her lips, too, looking like a battle-made smilodon rather than a cat.

Hopefully, this would help in the long run. She was ready, and she nodded up to Indigo, who'd dragged her just into the entrance along with parts of the group.

(powerplay with permission!)

As it drifted it'd note the stillness, how few heartbeats there were other than the massive group that'd traveled the depths. The few that did exist were surely lessers- dimly it sensed them hiding in nooks and cracks in the ruins they swam by. By the time they reached the two doors it'd lost concentration on the spell, so instead it used it's four crimson eyes to scour the area while passively listening to Patty's ramble. The surge of attention caught it's attention, snapping it to tense alertness as flickering yellow lights emerged, then a head, then-

...that looks like me.

It was attentive to each rusted thought that creaked out from the ancient beast's mind. Hounds.. This is a Valkhound? It knew of valkhounds, and it knew a couple of the forge- in particular, Draconua- were valkhounds, but what exactly that meant was more or less lost on the labradorite. The mentions of death sent prickles of dread down it's spine. There's too many of us here for us to die. Not all of us, anyways. Not Khavur any of the forge as strong as they were supposed to be.

It caught Khavur's glare, and the 'be careful' that definitely could've belonged to Khavur. It'd nod in response, something to hopefully show some sort of understanding without sending unwarranted thoughts through the link. Casting glances towards the others, it'd creep towards the door, perhaps being one of the first inside. It's posture was tense, it's eyes alert, waiting for the Kraken to show itself so it could (hopefully) strike first.

Labradorite is trying to prepare itself for combat as it approaches the door.