Galleon was here, too, because fuck continuity. She was lucky to have missed Catalyst. The dinosaur had dipped, after Mother's warning. She wasn't willing to risk being exposed. Especially with that mental link--how was she supposed to keep Mother informed while having her thoughts broadcast? It was, basically, the perfect storm for Galleon to show up. She flopped into the group of gembound, her round cyan eyes glaring emotionlessly.

Galleon inspected the pile of enchanted items. She pushed forward, snapping a enchanted ring up into her maw, and swallowing. Galleon eyes the bags Forgraves brought, but with no way to carry it, she is forced to leave it be. Galleon eyed the shore. She breathed in deeply, before pushing off into the water. It seemed she had invited herself to the quest.

Beast came, Beast saw-- Beast did not kick anyone's ass, but rather listened politely as the quest began.

His hooves and not-hooves digged into the sand as he wavered at the edge of the group. Over there was the Blacksmith, as expected. And then... a horse... thing? With fins? How cool! While it was impossible to see his stomach mouth smile, his tentacles waved cheerily at the "Patty." This seemed like it was going to be a fun trip.

As instructed, the hybrid lumbered over to the pile of enchanted items, careful not to bump into any of the multitudes of gembounds crowding around. He selected a ring, large one at that, and slid it over the tip of his right tentacle. A bit funny-feeling against his cold slime, but Beast could live with that.

Forgraves caught his beady eye next, and the octopus-hog quietly took a light and dark pouch for his own. "Thank you," he whispered. He turned to the shore-- but wait! Another cool friend (grey, large) needed a pendant too! He swiped the largest pendant he could carry and, his tentacles now filled to the brim, waded into the water.

He immediately struggled. Trying to swim with hooves is one thing-- trying to swim when your body's incredibly dense and structurally messed up is another. While he could still swim, he tossed the enchanted necklace to Whale. "Here!" ("Here!") It mildly surprised him how he spoke without opening his mouth, but he was too chill to worry about it and a bit preoccupied with the fact his body was slowly sinking, too unsuited to swimming despite his fervent efforts.

Beast sheepishly waded back to shallower waters and towards Hestia. "I'll take a ride, thanks," he gurgled, clumsily climbing atop the creature's shell like a baby turtle. He'll just sit here for now.

Beast takes a water breathing ring, a light pouch, a dark pouch, and has brought a pendant for Whale.

@Hestia @Whale (for visibility)

ASCENT

They had never seen so many in one place before.

It was dizzying, in a way, trying to take it all in. There were creatures of all shapes and sizes, including dragons like themselves, sea creatures bigger than any fish (had one of them, perhaps, been the one to help Mother in her story?), and some kind of bulbous-headed fish that flopped around on dry land!

Ascent slid a simple metal ring over a claw, picking at it even after they put it on. They had fretted over whether to come ever since they'd been informed of the quest. Mother was getting involved, as was Attikias, so it seemed logical and acceptable that they be there too. But there would be danger, too. Are we prepared enough? (are we prepared enough?), they worried, unable to stop it from being broadcasted across the Pattylink. There were many of them, but they wondered how many the pressure would force away before they had reached their goal.

"Will the enchantments help with the pressure?" they murmured to the Blacksmith, gesturing to the pile of magical trinkets. "There are so many built for land. What if they are injured by it? And does the breathing ever run out?"

Ascent is wearing a ring of water-breathing on their left front talon.

She was late. Whatever. Punctuality was a social construct she had no interest in. What had she missed besides talking, anyway? People so rarely said anything worth listening to; it was hardly worth showing up to hear the inane babble. She was here for the potential reward. Nothing else.

Of course, safety was also important, as she had to make sure she was alive to receive it. Pelt scanned over the piles of objects people were taking from. Beside the Blacksmith was a large pile of trinkets--those would be the water-breathing enchantments, she assumed. An odd, sand-colored fish-thing with a scarlet sail ate one. Pelt gave it an inward, approving grin. Probably the safest way to ensure it stayed put, since she didn't have hands and was rather round. She seized a stone bead and swallowed it with a huge gulp of water, wincing as she felt the thing slide down her esophagus like a piece of unchewed, bony fish.

Next came the stupid chirping fox handing out pouches of... edible magic? God, his voice grated on her ears. Pelt wanted so much to eat him instead. Energizing orbs? She supposed she could settle for that instead. She grabbed a pouch with an orange orb, swallowing it in one gulp. It seemed to sizzle on her tongue as it went down, but rather than being painful, it felt electrifying. Was it her imagination, or did everything seem sharper and clearer? Pelt felt as alert as every. She was ready. And if she had a few more of those, she'd be even more ready.

Somewhere, Patty was shouting. Pelt didn't care. The orange jello-orbs were the only things she spared a thought for. Who needed to follow a stupid fox's rules when she was fast and big and could just take it all? The orange orbs were the best thing she'd ever tasted. More divine than even the Redfang she'd fought and bled for. She would do anything in the world for a second taste, and NO FOX WAS GOING TO STOP HER.

Pelt lunged for the pile of jello pouches. Clumsy though she was on land, short distances over water-slicked rock were not unmanageable. She'd drag herself through an entire desert for those orbs if she had to. This was nothing. Mouth open wide, she aimed to SWALLOW THEM ALL.

(exit to GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME
Pelt has swallowed an enchanted stone bead and gotten herself addicted to the orange orb that Bedlam zapped. @Forgraves

While they waited in the water with only their head exposed, they listened to the collector, getting filled in on all the prior information they hadn't been there to hear. Some mysterious underwater city? Finding a master's lost stone? They didn't exactly know what a master even was, but it all seemed very important and very interesting.

Second order of business? Snatching a pretty glowing object from the pile they'd somehow missed prior. They'd throw a glance towards the exit before making their way back onto shore, curiously examining the large pile of miscellaneous objects. They had gills, so no need for any water breathing- but light, well.. Telesto typically had little problem seeing in murkier water, but it sounded like they'd be going deep. A light wouldn't hurt, right?

They selected a pair of metal bands- one silver and one gold- from the pile, slipping one onto either horn. She briefly shook her head to make sure the rings were secure, and noted with satisfaction that they didn't budge an inch. Getting them back off would be a challenge, but a challenge for later.

Just as they eyed the fox's strange pile of pouches, she spotted a pair of all too familiar silhouettes in the air.

Waitwaitwait Why are they here??? Panicked urged them into the water before they got a chance to see Electrum's not-at-all graceful landing. As they swam into the water, getting within the guide's radius, their panicked thoughts would be broadcasted to anyone also in the link

-ad'shere shOotshOOT SHOOT shooTSHOot shooTSHOOT

Telesto is taking 2 baubled bands from the pile.

@Electrum @Haven (For vis!)

Cerilaine felt her pelt crawl as more and more showed up. (was she really needed? She was only hired to get the key...) She'd curled up into herself more and more, eyeing Patrick when their minds linked, and pinned her ears back as the dragons came in behind her. Of course they'd come- but Cerilaine still shut her eyes and gritted her teeth, her nostrils flaring with an exasperated huff.

She'd hang back here, her eyes staying on the water as he tail twitched with immense discomfort.

It was only until Indigo's arrival that she calmed, just somewhat, her pelt losing its fluffed temper. She made it. Closing her eyes thankfully, Ceri let out a slight sigh, letting the tension flow from her. Her teeth still grit, but--

As Indigo surged forward, Cerilaine nearly called out, taking a step behind her. 'No, I don't-' But she was already off, and the leopard pulled back, watching. The flashlight was handed over gracefully, and then there was bracelets- Cerilaine almost protested when they exchanged looks, about to say she already had one, but-

It was a gift. From Indigo. She was stunned when the naga returned, taking the bracelet and looking down at it as if she were given a fallen star. She blinked, for a moment. Right. Clearing her throat, she slipped it over her paw and fit it snugly up her arm and bracer, just barely squeezing it past the swell of her muscle for it to rest near the crook of her elbow. Turning it this way and that, she looked at it, before glancing up to Indigo with a small chuff.

"Thank you," she spoke quietly, pressing her head into Indigo's arm. It was a brief touch, and she soon returned to the water, standing in the tide and turning back to watch Indigo.

The expression was much like the one she held from the first time they met. This, however, had more daring confidence- whatever happened, they had each other.

Cerilaine grinned at that.

restating somewhat that ceri has torso armor + bracers on each leg! bracelet of water breathing yoinked, and she has a second wooden bead one on the other arm

Esther was not phased by the weird seahorse in the slightest. Perhaps it was a little... strange, but the caves had all kinds of strange things. Like the others that were the same as them - wielding His power. They looked a lot different than Esther themselves - did they hatch like that? Maybe they could ask them later, but not now. Now they had to figure out what was going on. The talk of the masters went ignored until the mention of a stone being lost. How were they alive then? Surely they would die? More questions for later if they were able to ask. Their head peered to where the items were, enchanted things to help with breathing, some items that glowed. They could see just fine in the dark, and surely that would go to water too? Either way, taking one so the others could see them would be a good idea.

Grabbing a collar for water breathing and a ring for light they put the collar around their neck with nimble fingers and the ring on one of said fingers. After that, a feline standing on two legs asked who could do what, and Esther was inclined to answer.

"I can fight. My magic might be dangerous, though." They hummed back. You really could hurt them. Physical attacks might be hard with the water slowing them down, so they'd have to rely on magic for that. Not that it mattered anyway, Esther would use their magic regardless if it hurt any of them or not. When the glowing started, Esther's eyes glanced that way. Looks like its time to go.

@Madhukar [For visibility]
Esther is taking a water breathing collar and baubled ring

Cirrus


On the one hand. They hate crowds- had grown used to the same few Gembound, and stretches of silence and isolation in their attempts to find the rest of their goal.

On the other. They may not face as horrid a punishment if they go back to the Forge and Master Vargas having accomplished more than their relatively simple mission, including the... apparent Quest for a Master's lost stone?

They're haunting the edges of the group, avoiding any and all interaction, bounding with wings tucked tight between feet and hooves and everything in between, and they wind up at the feet of the Blacksmith- offering a quiet, "O-oh, hello. Pardon me I'm just going to-" before pawing carefully thru the stack, grabbing a necklace with flat, interlocking plates that reminded them of the water rippling, and they snap that closed around their neck and over their gem- and then also snagging some sort of complicated, small headpiece.

Us humans would recognize it as bridle-like in it's design, and it glows faintly, much to G- Cirrus's delight. Like wearing a headlamp.

A quick bob goodbye, and Cirrus bounces across the sands, and comes to a skidding halt near Patty, and projecting a quiet-

"Egads, we'll need some way of keeping this sorted-"

- before bounding a small bit away, landing near Teleso and groaning slightly under their breath.

Cirrus offers a, "I cannot fight much, but I am small and clever, with the ability to manipulate pressure quite well and, if need be, and I can fly. That... might? Translate a bit underwater, so I may need some assistance once there are currents and such." Before offering any nearby Gembound a weak smile, and then glancing down at their legs, and the water lapping at their shoulders, in mild concern.

Epsilon, what have you gotten involved in?

Epsilon has taken their collar-necklace with water breathing, and then their chosen bridle has been baubled to glow. No food- orbs, cause they didn't notice, or anything from Forgraves.

More and more arrived all the time. A dozen--two dozen?--packed in among the rest, and Dragon took note of them all. In particular he noticed the startling amount of dragons--Carja and Blight, Electrum and Haven, Ascent and--was Telesto a dragon..? He didn't think so, actually; but there were a few with wings and long tails, at least. He was briefly jealous--their greater size and agility would always be lost to him--but he had the name, at least. Anyway, he was mostly past such things by this point in his life.

Mostly.

He noted, too, the stranger ones among them. Labradorite and Esther, and Khavur--the ones that looked touched by a little more... Blackness? Than older generations. Labradorite in particular he studied for a moment, faint memory pinging through his mind. It looks like Nox, he thought to himself, unaware the thought was simply... broadcasting.

The Blacksmith's summary he'd paid close attention to: heat and cold, pressure. Noted. He didn't think he had much that could counteract all that, but his body was pretty tough, at least. He wondered to himself if a wisp would survive underwater; if not, he could see well enough in near-dark, even without the aid of magic--which he also had. Ah, but one thing he did have, and he prepared that now: a paralytic venom, infused into his saliva. )Nothing came, though Dragon remained unaware. Perfect.

Nemean is the enemy here, he noted, pleased. Though his loyalty to Aquarian wasn't quite as blind as it once had been, he still trusted utterly the Nemean was the ultimate untrustworthy shitlord in these caves.

"My magic is mostly fire, but I'll do what I can. I belong in the water," he said aloud, announcing it to nobody in particular (and anyone who might be interested).

As for items, he crawled forward to look at the enchanted ones. He had no method of fine manipulation--no hands, no prehensile tail--and it took him long moments of slow prying and twisting with his jaws to pick a water-breathing cuff from off the pile. It looked like old, burnished copper or brass, and he watched with increasing irritation as others picked pieces off the pile like it was nothing as he struggled with it so much more slowly. Eventually he got one webbed, clawed forelimb into a cuff, and left it at that.

Patrick's enthusiasm had been infectious--it reminded him of himself at a young age--but he was quickly distracted by the sudden influx of stray thoughts along the link. "-ad'shere shOotshOOT SHOOT shooTSHOot shooTSHOOT" flitted through his mind, and he recoiled, blinking. That will be distracting, he thought to himself, with a mental grimace--and again, unintentionally broadcasting it to everyone.

Eventually the time had come: the Gembounds were prepared, and so was he.

He hauled himself to the water's edge, feeling the familiar thrill of liquid sloshing over his limbs, neck and chest--but breakers this time, and surprisingly warm, instead of the chill of his swamp. He dragged himself in with a few last bursts of speed, and in an instant, was transformed.

No more the fat, dragging body with one twisted limb, scarred and malformed, giving way beneath him. He became instead sleek in the sea, streamlined and powerful, every ridge of muscle and defined scute along his tail propelling him forward in neat strokes. He felt at home, and confident.

He could breathe water--some of the enchantments had been done with his help--so inhaling beneath the waves didn't come new to him. He tested it, confirmed to himself that his enchantment did function, and then dove, careful to keep close to Patrick.

The light sparkled down from above; below, the darkness loomed.

Dragon could not wait to see what it might hold. It was time for an adventure.

Dragon is taking a single water-breathing cuff for his forelimb, and nothing else.

Blight found it hard to concentrate. There were far more Gembounds here than he'd ever really seen in one place, except maybe that meeting in Orion and he hadn't really been close to that. He wasn't sure if he was comfortable among this many, being unused to it, and he fidgeted a little.

He did find it interesting how many other dragons were here, though; Ascent in particular caught his eye, and he found himself staring. How could he not-? It was a bizarre and beautiful creature, he thought; angelic and mysterious all at once, as if belonging to some other world.

Oh--but there was Carja!

Blight sidled his way over, finding it difficult to make his way through the small crowd without pushing anyone. He could barely hear Carja over the din, but he caught her saying something similar to what he had: an assurance that she was there to help.

"Hello, Carja!" he called over, in greeting, eyeing her over. She looked well, which was a relief. "Let's watch out for one another-?" he suggested. It was good-natured, part a greeting and part an assurance, but he didn't have much time to follow up. He could barely follow the Blacksmith's warnings, and the seahorse-thing's raucous assertations were pretty much lost on him in the churning of voices. It was too much to focus on, and at length he shook himself out of it with a rattle of spines and fins, and made his way to the item-pile. He offered a bow of his arched neck to Forgraves as he plucked out pouches from the rapidly-shrinking pile, and then snaked his head into a loose silver pendant that settled down against his collarbones. It took some finagling, but with a hind foot he managed to close a baubled ring into one finned 'ear,' which he figured would help him some with light to see by. He had decent night-vision, being adapted to nocturnal fishing (not unlike Dragon's sight)--but he, too, had magic for that if needs be.

He'd just prefer not to waste it.

Eventually it seemed to be time to go, and so he clasped the pouches carefully in one taloned foot and began a lumbering run forward along the beach. Stones scattered underfoot as he gained speed, and then he leapt: launching skyward, the warm winds catching his tattered wings and lifting him.

Up he soared in a lazy spiral, higher; he looked down on those still ground-bound, and marvelled at how many there were. From up here, it was easy to handle the numbers--no longer in among them.

Then he swept lower, and lower, wings half-folding to drive him in a streaking descent toward the waves. It was how he sometimes fished, when he was certain he'd seen a larger target beneath the waves of Leo. Wings flared out slightly to slow him just a little, then folded utterly--and like an arrow, neck straight forward and tail out behind him, Blight plunged into Fornax's waves.

A breath.

A marvel--he could breathe-! I can breathe down here! was the exultant thought, sent to everyone nearby rather by accident; his eyes snapped open, past the flood of bubbles he'd brought with him, seeking out the distant glow of Patrick.

His wings stayed close to his body, feet tucked up against his tail, and he began to curl back and forth: a serpentine swimming, like a snake, through the sea.

Blight is taking one black and one white pouch, a silver pendant of water-breathing and a bauble silver earring.