[Open Log] On The Origin Of...?

[thewatchers]

On The Origin Of...?
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Now that the dust has settled, the students and staff of Daybreak Academy can turn their attention inwards. While many take the downtime as a well-deserved vacation, the studious and curious can answer the nagging question that may have come to mind: Where did the heralds come from?

While the intention was to sit down and work through the artifacts from Utultar’s Ziggurat, a much more promising lead has manifested itself when sightings of a duo of Daybreak’s enemies are reported.

Bellona and Mellona have been spotted around an excavation site deep in the Sahara desert, seemingly doing their own research on the defeated Third Herald and their marks. Given their role in the incident at the Tower of Adamant, it was deemed imperative to intercept the quarreling pair before they could make off with what had caught their attention.

Upon arrival, the scene has changed entirely - the impromptu Oasis that Mellona had sprouted around the dig site has withered away to nothing and scorch marks marr the exposed stones, betraying signs of some recent disaster - one neither fae nor daemon managed to escape from.

Comments

[arcadianvampire]

As soon as the boots set down at the landing site, Valvatorez walked out, Yoshitsuna already in his grip. These two were troublemakers, and it was time for a rematch. Of course, what he was met with was something he didn't expect. Had someone managed to beat them to the punch?...

He marched out into the field, red eyes scouring the environment, noting the signs of struggle and the abrupt perishing of the sudden growth of wildlife.

"...Something didn't like them snooping around, I suspect. Be cautious, everyone. I doubt we'll get a warm welcome either. But unlike those two, we're not stupid and aggressive."

...How true that statement was might be up for debate. But they were at least all professionals. In the meantime, Valvatorez would begin surveying the area for trouble or signs of what might have went down.

[unlogic]

Though Desidera and Gunvolt were rarely apart, there were occasions where they agreed that they needed to work individually to aid in two simultaneous matters as opposed to their focusing entirely on one.

That, and accompanying Valvatorez on various excursions has also been a semi-regular thing for her, at this point.

Following pretty closely behind the professor, she glances around as well, also looking for signs of what may have happened... And also looking to see if there's any sign of the duo themselves, refusing to rule out the possibility that they may have survived whatever took place here.

[stavros]

Kokoro follows with a frown and stops to examine some singed grass. "Either they wished to cover their own tracks, or the Professor is right and there's something else here. Regardless, there is always evidence remaining."

[thewatchers]

They won't have to look too hard.

Judging by how those scorch marks are now cool to the touch, whatever happened wasn't too long ago, but it's definitely over by now. More than hours, less than a week.

Between the tracks in the sand, the visible battle damage scattered all over the place, and the open door cracked and hanging off its' hinges... there's only one way to go:

Down into the excavated compound.

[stavros]

She walks carefully forward and kicks a small rock down the path first, just to make sure.

"There was a fight. And whatever befell this place... what's left of it is down there."

[thewatchers]

Nothing reacts to the rock, although it does audibly bounce off of something metallic, somewhere much further down the stairs.

As far as you can see down into the darkness of the compound, the chips in the stonework and visible scorch marks continue. The battle might have started out here, but if you're looking to see where this fight went as it continued on, you're definitely on the right track.

If any of them are particularly familiar with warding runes, incidentally, they may recognize the sign carved into the door- or at least parts of it. It's a very powerful, very advanced protective sigil.

Someone poured enough power into it that it shattered the entire door when it burned out.

[arcadianvampire]

Valvatorez led the way down, pulling out a powerful flashlight from his cape, taking a look down the stairs. He didn't much need the light to see, but for others behind him, it might help. The beam caught over the warding rune, overloaded and shattered. The vampire's eyes narrowed, brow furrowing.

"Whatever is down here, someone did not want others snooping around. Of course, if those two wanted something, it surely must be important. Be on your guard, both of you. It looks like things are only getting worse down here."

so I was a dingus and forgot to track the thread

[unlogic]

With the lack of light, this is very much Desidera's element and both Valvatorez and Kokoro know it, but even with this possible advantage in the event that they need to defend themselves, Valvatorez would be remiss not to issue his warning.

Remaining quiet for now, Desi's response to said warning is to take hold of some of the darkness around them, a way of preparing herself to act if she needs to.

[thewatchers]

The light shows more ruined wards and battle damage down the stairs, leading into a large, low-ceilinged room. It also reveals what Kokoro's rock hit:

The floor is absolutely littered with damaged constructs.

They're metal statues, cast in the shape of heroic-looking classical warriors, now smashed and melted and torn apart. When intact, they were likely similar to Daybreak's own constructs, independent defenses that could guard an area or beat down an attacker without the need for direct control once properly programmed. They've clearly lost their fight here, in the end... But judging by the scattered corpses barely recognizable as some of Bellona's hellhounds, by the amount of shredded leaves and broken branches, it clearly wasn't a one-sided battle.

There's so much covering the floor, it almost obscures the massive pattern set into the stone. Strange, flowing lines of inlaid metal, five smaller circles set around the border of another, much larger circle containing a complex and confusing design.

In each of the smaller circles is a statue. They're a much brighter metal than the security construct statues, the unmistakable gleam of orichalcum, but something seems... off, in comparison.

Investigate?