Post by Kuroneko on Jun 25, 2024 2:46:11 GMT -6
One is directed to the storage to obtain a map, where they find a twin tailed cat digging around in a box. Her ears perk up upon hearing footsteps approaching, and she glances over to the group. "Quite the odd bunch gathered this time. Here for a map eh? That would be a gold piece each, but I'll toss em to you for free if you bring me something fun. It gets awfully dull around here, watching the shop while the rest go on their granddd adventures."
Is it a bird? A fish? It is quite difficult to tell. The captain isnt much of one for answers though. This sleek black submersible was built for agility, with a coating of runes hiding it from prying eyes. It is not the largest vessel, although surprisingly spacious within. Perhaps some spatial distortion is happening here.
Captain’s Quarters
More aquarium than room, a coral reef makes one feel as if they were walking along the seafloor. See through animals float about the tank, curiously watching those who enter. Windows of transparent ice curve around a tunnel to the center where one can find chairs facing a desk, although said desk is within the aquarium itself. The clamshell chair behind the desk is more like a bed fit for a princess.
Multi Purpose/Dining Room
A kitchen connected to a dining room. Group meetings are held in this room, with an announcement board for people to read over while having their breakfast. It is also where most of the crew hangs out when they’ve nothing else to do. Games had been stacked into a corner, next to a small shelf of books. Exercise equipment can be found in another corner, although one might have to shuffle tables around to get space. If nothing else interests, one can watch the endless oceans outside the window.
Resting Quarters
Private rooms where one can be lulled to sleep by the sea. The beds are surprisingly comfortable, even for those without humanoid shapes. Drawers and a closet serve as storage space. They are connected to a bathroom, with a shower. There is a key for each person, and a master key with the captain.
One room in particular has plush velvety pillows, upon which one might gaze upon the abstract paintings and marble sculptures set around the room. It doesn't quite have a balcony, as that can only go horribly for a vehicle that is underwater, but the window does bulge out toward the sea as something of an observation platform. Decorative plants and a living room area has been created with a porous wall of couches.
Another is a luxurious room... for cats. A large cat bed graces the middle of the room, with boxes scattered about elsewhere. A jungle of scratch posts and shelves allow cats to go from one end of the room to the other without touching the floor. There are hammocks from which one can watch for fish outside the window. Yarn balls and cat toys are strategically scattered around the room. For a touch of green, catnip has been placed in accordance with the principles of feng shui.
Storage Room Aqua’s Shop
The shopkeeper has laid claim to most of the storage room, using it as her shop. Others can use the shelves along the wall if they really wish to, but are probably better off storing their belongings in their room.
Ancient mines adapted as a fortress in more recent times. It was carved into a volcano less active than the others in this area. One of the only permanent fixtures on this island, as it is tough enough to survive the eruptions. This once served as a gathering spot for prospectors, pilgrims, and adventurers. The actual number of troops stationed here was minimal, barely larger than a typical town’s guard. The wars have drawn most of the forces away to the front lines, while this served as a hideaway for the nobles who wanted to claim they had served without actually seeing any action. After abandonment by the army and what remained of the town, pirates took the fortress as their base.
Lower Floor
Airship Dock
A landing bay carved into the mountain. It could potentially fit a medium sized airship and a few smaller ones. Larger ships would have to remain airborne or land on the arena at the peak, much to the chagrin of the displaced. Barrels and cages are stacked to the side, waiting to be filled with the next haul.
Workshop
The workshop had been taken over by a flight obsessed maniac. Mechanical birds, bugs, and bats line the benches. It doesn’t seem like their creations have been particularly successful. Most of them can barely move, and none have actually managed to take to the skies. Blueprints cover the tables, wild ideas of one who truly has no idea what they are doing. At least it seems they’re having fun.
Medical Bay
Stone tables serve as operating tables and beds. The straw stuffed mattresses here have a sickly sweet fragrance to them and are stained with splotches which refuse to wash off. Half empty salves and balms can be found scattered around the room.
Prison
A series of cells used to lock up prisoners. Runes had been carved into the wall outside, among them being ones to absorb magical energies and suppress emotions. Even walking through the hall, one feels as if color were draining from the world. Disturbingly, those locked up might eventually accept the dull nothingness as normal.
Middle Floor
Sleeping Hall
A long hallway around the heart of the mountain. Niches have been carved into the walls and filled with the makings of a bed. Ladders lead up to beds higher up, although they seem dangerous for those who roll in their sleep.
Mess Hall
A communal kitchen and mess hall. It is filled with notes of people complaining that dishes were piling and others weren’t cleaning up after themselves. A petition for a maid automaton has gathered a handful of signatures, along with comments questioning where they would find the money to afford it. The kitchen is stocked with a few ingredients, mostly plant based and from the sea. Many are marked by their owner in an attempt to dissuade others from nabbing them.
Armory
Most of the racks are empty, a few rusted weapons and pieces of armor abandoned here and there. It looks to have been cleared out in a hurry and unused since, a thick layer of dust settling over everything.
Upper Floor
Greenhouse
A structure built near the peak to soak in as much of the sun as it can. It doesn’t seem like anyone has been taking care of it recently, so the plants are just growing wildly. A great tree is attempting to force its way out of this all too restrictive building. Tropical fruits and vegetables are being cultivated here, with a small tunnel leading to a section for fungus. Plants under the tree are suffering from a lack of sunlight and slowly withering away.
War Room
A pirate flag has been strung where the nation’s flag once hung. Reports had been scattered over maps engraved into the table. A quartz prism has been embedded in the table where the volcano would be.
Interior
Spiral Stairway
Stairs spiral up the vent, serving as the main passage in the interior of the volcano. The very top has been sealed by the arena above, while the base has been flooded with the rising sea. Glowing sea life can be spotted beneath the waves, revealing the outlines of doorways.
Submerged Ravine
Areas lost with the island slowly sinking into the sea. There had been attempts to prevent the flooding, but the efforts ended in failure and these floors were abandoned. One can see homes and shops. The architecture seems to shift as one gets further down, vertical chambers with the appearance of a ravine. Stone bridges span across the chasm and jagged ramps run along the walls. Near the bottom, one can see the remnants of old mine shafts. Many many corpses are scattered around this area in varying states of decay. Some had died prior, while others were bound and suffocated in a watery grave.
Magma Chamber
An emptied caldera half filled with sea water. Chunks of the collapsing ceiling have fallen to form unsteady platforms. In the center is a column of obsidian, jagged fragments chipped and scattered across the room.
Peak
Crater Courtyard
An arena created in the middle of the crater. Chunks of stone linger in the air above, remnants from past eruptions. The rings of seats around the edge makes this seem like a popular spot to gather. Training dummies and targets lay to the side, alongside recreational equipment for activities like sports. Stone tablets on the wall appear to be control panels, with slots for crystals on the side and an embedded crystal in the center.
Pyroclastic Field
The remains of volcanic eruptions. These rocks were thrown into the sky, but for some reason, they never returned to the earth. Birds seem to love making their nests here, as it is far from most predators.
Outside
Train Station
A half submerged station lit by rays of light seeping through from holes in the roof. One can see the train just beneath the waves outside, the weathered bronze serving as camouflage against the seafloor. A track starts at the dock and winds its way up the volcano. It probably helped those who didn't feel like trudging up the slopes every day, but no longer.
An ancient town carved into a volcanic mountain. As the island sank, the land path connecting the smaller half disappeared and half the town went with it. A floating shanty town replaced the more permanent fixtures, but even that is barely intact these days. Attempts had been made at a bridge between the halves of the island, leaving a string of waterlogged planks held roughly in place by rope.
Ruyin, The Floating Town
Buildings get increasingly sparse as one moves away from the fortress, partly because this island simply wasn’t that populated and partly because buildings closer to the beach are now furthest underwater. The rooftops of some buildings still peer out from the water, with a few balconies visible from the tallest structures in the area. Shelters had been cobbled together on the roofs, floating walkways connecting them together. Most homes have a raft, but it seems a headache to navigate around the maze of walkways. One can find the occasional sign of struggle while wandering around, with small memorials sitting at the doorway of shelters.
Pier
A makeshift dock connected to the floating city. It wouldn't be completely wrong to consider the floating town one large dock, but the larger ships wouldn't fit within the rest of the maze. The stability of this dock is debatable, but the waters here are relatively calm with the surrounding reef protecting this island.
Fisherman’s Shack
Inside the shack, fishing equipment such as rods and cages sit upon creaky shelves. A hammock bed is strung up in the corner, swaying with the swelling of the waves, Racks for drying seafood can be found on the roof. A sail boat is tied outside, with a directional lantern on the bow.
Tailor’s Hut
One of the floating structures seems to have been home to a seamstress. Clothing she had been working with sat upon makeshift mannequins. Small notes can be found scattered about, noting sizes and requests. A rainbow of spindles lay on the shelf, mold slowly consuming them as it does all else.
Tavern Ferry
A building that had been tossed onto a raft, serving as a ferry between the islands. It probably welcomed villagers and soldiers alike, being one of the places both would regularly meet. The small kitchen in the back seems especially well prepared for seafood based dishes, with one absurdly long plate fit for presenting a trophy catch.
Star Watcher's Island
Lighthouse
Standing on the hill of this small island, it attempts to illuminate the surrounding seas. However the star coral is plenty bright, so its services are rendered redundant. Still, it shines in the hopes of eventually being required. Sadly, this is getting less and less likely to happen as the glass moss is getting thicker and distorting the light that passes through.
Temple of the Unsung Stars
A cave that is being used as a temple. Glowing crystals on the roof and walls cause it to seem like an eternal starry sky. At night, the stars shine through the semi transparent ceiling, a layer of stars beyond. In the center is a simple altar made from a carefully balanced stack of rocks. Piles of leaves in the corner serve as beds and they’ve stone utensils alongside.
Grove Cabin
A cabin hidden within a small grove. One can find farming supplies in the hut, a small collection of seeds. Small winged bovine buzz around it, grazing at the flower garden during the day before taking shelter within for the night.
Ocean
Lumen Coral Reef
A warm, turbulent ocean. It is relatively safe, but little whirlpools and coral reefs may prove dangerous for those who aren’t paying attention. The coral releases small bubbles of plasma during the night, which sailors have called a sea of stars. Submerged sections of the mountain fortress can be seen among the seaweed, windows and doorways which the inhabitants had attempted to seal. Below the coral reef, one finds an area that the sun barely reaches. Bottom feeders can be found clinging to the island, alongside hardier sea plants. Beyond is a world of darkness which would crush land dwellers.
Wailing Trenches
The sun no longer reaches these depths, but one can find bioluminescent life floating about. Along the slope of the volcano, one can find abandoned shells and other remains drifting from the zones above. Even further down is a world of absolute darkness. Signs of life are minimal aside from around clustered thermal vents. The mind starts going into overdrive in these waters, looking for something, anything, to occupy itself with. One might hear blood curdling screams or the tears of those lamenting a world lost.
The sea is aglow with life. Trails of algae drift with the current like wispy clouds. Shadows of larger creatures swim by the clouds, occasionally disrupting their formation. In the midst of everything, a living island drifts along. It has the appearance of an ancient turtle. Beneath the seaweed, one can find feathers growing from its fins. The ruins of a city grow from its ruptured shell, scars from ancient wars. Fluorescent plants sprout from toppled columns and the husk of old buildings. To the center is an air bubble forming a dome over a relatively intact district around a palace, although the ruins within are just as overgrown. There is a deafening silence over this complex, as if the world were frozen. The water surrounding the bubble is scalding, with the local fauna keeping well away.
Primordial Sea
Shimmering Abyss
Despite the beauty of the ocean lights, it feels horribly uncomfortable to swim within the abyss. An ancient power seeps into you, alien yet strangely familiar all at once. Your skin crawls and stomach churns. All you can be sure about is that it would be a bad idea to linger for too long.
Shelled Ruins
Numerous battlefields can be found scattered across the living island. In the location where the greatest conflict had taken place, chunks of the shell had disintegrated into nothingness. Scarred flesh attempted to mend itself, but craters still remain as a grim reminder of the past.
Northern/Southern Domed City
Empty windows stare at those passing, homes forever waiting for their inhabitants. It seems the buildings were getting quite crowded at some point. Some have been emptied as if their owners had moved out, but others still hold the remains of livelihoods abruptly severed. Along the main streets are the remains of a once bustling marketplace.
Garden
A monstrous garden filled with fleshy plants. The four sections seem to resemble the seasons, although all four are eternally in bloom. Straddling the winter and spring gardens is a patch of living stone that resembles sedum flowers. It strangles and absorbs those nearby, growing from the corpses of its victims to spread across the garden. To the center is a pond where aquatic plants can be found.
Hot Springs
Floral and herb like scents waft around a series of large pools with varying properties to suit the user. Minerals deposit on the lake beds, leaving layers of colorful clusters which are as hazardous as they are beautiful. While some pools seem relatively safe for mundane creatures, others are more like acid. The water drifts slowly, even droplets taking their sweet time to return after splashing into the air.
Palace
Throne Room
A round room large enough to fit a hundred thousand mundane folk. One could imagine the lavish banquets and extravagant dances that once graced this hall. Rings of tables surround the center, where a massive mound of flesh has been shaped into a throne. Arched windows overlook the desolate city, the one landmark to survive. If one squints, the waving seaweed could be mistaken for dancing citizens… or angry crowds streaming toward the palace.
Library
Shelf after shelf of stories. There seems to be little rhyme or reason for their placement, records of kingdoms rising and falling sit next to children’s stories. Paintings have been collected in a rack and sculptures on a row of pedestals. Holographic records lay next to their plays. On the front desk is a small station to ascertain the authenticity of an object and a nonsensical list of traits.
Spirit Hallways
Flickering flames line the hallways. Their random drifting leaves stretches of darkness between each. Murals of a more prosperous time decorate the walls, a civilization under the gaze of serpentine deities.
Sacred Wing
There is a stillness to this building, an uncomfortable silence where even the beat of one’s heart sounds like a roar. Rooms here are fit for royalty, perhaps even above such. After all, would a lowly king’s maid really make every corner spotless as the head maid insists? There is neither a wrinkle in the curtains, nor a hair on the floor. Patterns on the wood are all evenly spaced, and every piece of furniture looks as if it were plucked from a god’s mind. Even the blends of reds, blues, purples, and teals manage to look coherent. Not that any of the others were small, but one room is particularly large. The bed is the size of a sport’s field. Even the pillow likely required the sheep from a large flock. It goes far enough that one has to wonder if this is an illusion.
Guest Rooms
Rooms furnished in varying degrees of grandeur. One would imagine that these are for nobles, with all the luxuries one could wish for. Scented oils and aromatic candles keep the room smelling of flowers. A bowl of fruits and a few drinks are on the shelves for those who don’t feel like heading to the dining room.
Servant’s Quarters
Surprisingly well decorated for what would usually be neglected. Most would probably be more than happy to have such a room for themselves. They have a desk with drawers to store their personal effects, a wardrobe, and a bathroom with a tub.
Kitchen
A large kitchen prepared for feasts. Stocked with some ingredients you vaguely recognize and others that are completely alien, an assortment of smells bewilder the nose. Runes preserve ingredients in varying states, some of which appear in the midst of rotting. Among relatively standard tools, there are some where one can only guess at the function. While looking around, it almost feels like small figures are flitting about at the edge of one’s vision.
Storage Room
Stacks of crates fill shelves in this room, holding what one might need around a castle. Despite the impressive initial impression, a look around tells a different story. The supplies are dwindling, with most boxes emptied aside from a few items at the bottom.
? ?
Is it a bird? A fish? It is quite difficult to tell. The captain isnt much of one for answers though. This sleek black submersible was built for agility, with a coating of runes hiding it from prying eyes. It is not the largest vessel, although surprisingly spacious within. Perhaps some spatial distortion is happening here.
Captain’s Quarters
More aquarium than room, a coral reef makes one feel as if they were walking along the seafloor. See through animals float about the tank, curiously watching those who enter. Windows of transparent ice curve around a tunnel to the center where one can find chairs facing a desk, although said desk is within the aquarium itself. The clamshell chair behind the desk is more like a bed fit for a princess.
Multi Purpose/Dining Room
A kitchen connected to a dining room. Group meetings are held in this room, with an announcement board for people to read over while having their breakfast. It is also where most of the crew hangs out when they’ve nothing else to do. Games had been stacked into a corner, next to a small shelf of books. Exercise equipment can be found in another corner, although one might have to shuffle tables around to get space. If nothing else interests, one can watch the endless oceans outside the window.
Resting Quarters
Private rooms where one can be lulled to sleep by the sea. The beds are surprisingly comfortable, even for those without humanoid shapes. Drawers and a closet serve as storage space. They are connected to a bathroom, with a shower. There is a key for each person, and a master key with the captain.
One room in particular has plush velvety pillows, upon which one might gaze upon the abstract paintings and marble sculptures set around the room. It doesn't quite have a balcony, as that can only go horribly for a vehicle that is underwater, but the window does bulge out toward the sea as something of an observation platform. Decorative plants and a living room area has been created with a porous wall of couches.
Another is a luxurious room... for cats. A large cat bed graces the middle of the room, with boxes scattered about elsewhere. A jungle of scratch posts and shelves allow cats to go from one end of the room to the other without touching the floor. There are hammocks from which one can watch for fish outside the window. Yarn balls and cat toys are strategically scattered around the room. For a touch of green, catnip has been placed in accordance with the principles of feng shui.
The shopkeeper has laid claim to most of the storage room, using it as her shop. Others can use the shelves along the wall if they really wish to, but are probably better off storing their belongings in their room.
Ancient mines adapted as a fortress in more recent times. It was carved into a volcano less active than the others in this area. One of the only permanent fixtures on this island, as it is tough enough to survive the eruptions. This once served as a gathering spot for prospectors, pilgrims, and adventurers. The actual number of troops stationed here was minimal, barely larger than a typical town’s guard. The wars have drawn most of the forces away to the front lines, while this served as a hideaway for the nobles who wanted to claim they had served without actually seeing any action. After abandonment by the army and what remained of the town, pirates took the fortress as their base.
Lower Floor
Airship Dock
A landing bay carved into the mountain. It could potentially fit a medium sized airship and a few smaller ones. Larger ships would have to remain airborne or land on the arena at the peak, much to the chagrin of the displaced. Barrels and cages are stacked to the side, waiting to be filled with the next haul.
Workshop
The workshop had been taken over by a flight obsessed maniac. Mechanical birds, bugs, and bats line the benches. It doesn’t seem like their creations have been particularly successful. Most of them can barely move, and none have actually managed to take to the skies. Blueprints cover the tables, wild ideas of one who truly has no idea what they are doing. At least it seems they’re having fun.
Medical Bay
Stone tables serve as operating tables and beds. The straw stuffed mattresses here have a sickly sweet fragrance to them and are stained with splotches which refuse to wash off. Half empty salves and balms can be found scattered around the room.
Prison
A series of cells used to lock up prisoners. Runes had been carved into the wall outside, among them being ones to absorb magical energies and suppress emotions. Even walking through the hall, one feels as if color were draining from the world. Disturbingly, those locked up might eventually accept the dull nothingness as normal.
Middle Floor
Sleeping Hall
A long hallway around the heart of the mountain. Niches have been carved into the walls and filled with the makings of a bed. Ladders lead up to beds higher up, although they seem dangerous for those who roll in their sleep.
Mess Hall
A communal kitchen and mess hall. It is filled with notes of people complaining that dishes were piling and others weren’t cleaning up after themselves. A petition for a maid automaton has gathered a handful of signatures, along with comments questioning where they would find the money to afford it. The kitchen is stocked with a few ingredients, mostly plant based and from the sea. Many are marked by their owner in an attempt to dissuade others from nabbing them.
Armory
Most of the racks are empty, a few rusted weapons and pieces of armor abandoned here and there. It looks to have been cleared out in a hurry and unused since, a thick layer of dust settling over everything.
Upper Floor
Greenhouse
A structure built near the peak to soak in as much of the sun as it can. It doesn’t seem like anyone has been taking care of it recently, so the plants are just growing wildly. A great tree is attempting to force its way out of this all too restrictive building. Tropical fruits and vegetables are being cultivated here, with a small tunnel leading to a section for fungus. Plants under the tree are suffering from a lack of sunlight and slowly withering away.
War Room
A pirate flag has been strung where the nation’s flag once hung. Reports had been scattered over maps engraved into the table. A quartz prism has been embedded in the table where the volcano would be.
Interior
Spiral Stairway
Stairs spiral up the vent, serving as the main passage in the interior of the volcano. The very top has been sealed by the arena above, while the base has been flooded with the rising sea. Glowing sea life can be spotted beneath the waves, revealing the outlines of doorways.
Submerged Ravine
Areas lost with the island slowly sinking into the sea. There had been attempts to prevent the flooding, but the efforts ended in failure and these floors were abandoned. One can see homes and shops. The architecture seems to shift as one gets further down, vertical chambers with the appearance of a ravine. Stone bridges span across the chasm and jagged ramps run along the walls. Near the bottom, one can see the remnants of old mine shafts. Many many corpses are scattered around this area in varying states of decay. Some had died prior, while others were bound and suffocated in a watery grave.
Magma Chamber
An emptied caldera half filled with sea water. Chunks of the collapsing ceiling have fallen to form unsteady platforms. In the center is a column of obsidian, jagged fragments chipped and scattered across the room.
Peak
Crater Courtyard
An arena created in the middle of the crater. Chunks of stone linger in the air above, remnants from past eruptions. The rings of seats around the edge makes this seem like a popular spot to gather. Training dummies and targets lay to the side, alongside recreational equipment for activities like sports. Stone tablets on the wall appear to be control panels, with slots for crystals on the side and an embedded crystal in the center.
Pyroclastic Field
The remains of volcanic eruptions. These rocks were thrown into the sky, but for some reason, they never returned to the earth. Birds seem to love making their nests here, as it is far from most predators.
Outside
Train Station
A half submerged station lit by rays of light seeping through from holes in the roof. One can see the train just beneath the waves outside, the weathered bronze serving as camouflage against the seafloor. A track starts at the dock and winds its way up the volcano. It probably helped those who didn't feel like trudging up the slopes every day, but no longer.
An ancient town carved into a volcanic mountain. As the island sank, the land path connecting the smaller half disappeared and half the town went with it. A floating shanty town replaced the more permanent fixtures, but even that is barely intact these days. Attempts had been made at a bridge between the halves of the island, leaving a string of waterlogged planks held roughly in place by rope.
Ruyin, The Floating Town
Buildings get increasingly sparse as one moves away from the fortress, partly because this island simply wasn’t that populated and partly because buildings closer to the beach are now furthest underwater. The rooftops of some buildings still peer out from the water, with a few balconies visible from the tallest structures in the area. Shelters had been cobbled together on the roofs, floating walkways connecting them together. Most homes have a raft, but it seems a headache to navigate around the maze of walkways. One can find the occasional sign of struggle while wandering around, with small memorials sitting at the doorway of shelters.
Pier
A makeshift dock connected to the floating city. It wouldn't be completely wrong to consider the floating town one large dock, but the larger ships wouldn't fit within the rest of the maze. The stability of this dock is debatable, but the waters here are relatively calm with the surrounding reef protecting this island.
Fisherman’s Shack
Inside the shack, fishing equipment such as rods and cages sit upon creaky shelves. A hammock bed is strung up in the corner, swaying with the swelling of the waves, Racks for drying seafood can be found on the roof. A sail boat is tied outside, with a directional lantern on the bow.
Tailor’s Hut
One of the floating structures seems to have been home to a seamstress. Clothing she had been working with sat upon makeshift mannequins. Small notes can be found scattered about, noting sizes and requests. A rainbow of spindles lay on the shelf, mold slowly consuming them as it does all else.
Tavern Ferry
A building that had been tossed onto a raft, serving as a ferry between the islands. It probably welcomed villagers and soldiers alike, being one of the places both would regularly meet. The small kitchen in the back seems especially well prepared for seafood based dishes, with one absurdly long plate fit for presenting a trophy catch.
Star Watcher's Island
Lighthouse
Standing on the hill of this small island, it attempts to illuminate the surrounding seas. However the star coral is plenty bright, so its services are rendered redundant. Still, it shines in the hopes of eventually being required. Sadly, this is getting less and less likely to happen as the glass moss is getting thicker and distorting the light that passes through.
Temple of the Unsung Stars
A cave that is being used as a temple. Glowing crystals on the roof and walls cause it to seem like an eternal starry sky. At night, the stars shine through the semi transparent ceiling, a layer of stars beyond. In the center is a simple altar made from a carefully balanced stack of rocks. Piles of leaves in the corner serve as beds and they’ve stone utensils alongside.
Grove Cabin
A cabin hidden within a small grove. One can find farming supplies in the hut, a small collection of seeds. Small winged bovine buzz around it, grazing at the flower garden during the day before taking shelter within for the night.
Ocean
Lumen Coral Reef
A warm, turbulent ocean. It is relatively safe, but little whirlpools and coral reefs may prove dangerous for those who aren’t paying attention. The coral releases small bubbles of plasma during the night, which sailors have called a sea of stars. Submerged sections of the mountain fortress can be seen among the seaweed, windows and doorways which the inhabitants had attempted to seal. Below the coral reef, one finds an area that the sun barely reaches. Bottom feeders can be found clinging to the island, alongside hardier sea plants. Beyond is a world of darkness which would crush land dwellers.
Wailing Trenches
The sun no longer reaches these depths, but one can find bioluminescent life floating about. Along the slope of the volcano, one can find abandoned shells and other remains drifting from the zones above. Even further down is a world of absolute darkness. Signs of life are minimal aside from around clustered thermal vents. The mind starts going into overdrive in these waters, looking for something, anything, to occupy itself with. One might hear blood curdling screams or the tears of those lamenting a world lost.
The sea is aglow with life. Trails of algae drift with the current like wispy clouds. Shadows of larger creatures swim by the clouds, occasionally disrupting their formation. In the midst of everything, a living island drifts along. It has the appearance of an ancient turtle. Beneath the seaweed, one can find feathers growing from its fins. The ruins of a city grow from its ruptured shell, scars from ancient wars. Fluorescent plants sprout from toppled columns and the husk of old buildings. To the center is an air bubble forming a dome over a relatively intact district around a palace, although the ruins within are just as overgrown. There is a deafening silence over this complex, as if the world were frozen. The water surrounding the bubble is scalding, with the local fauna keeping well away.
Primordial Sea
Shimmering Abyss
Despite the beauty of the ocean lights, it feels horribly uncomfortable to swim within the abyss. An ancient power seeps into you, alien yet strangely familiar all at once. Your skin crawls and stomach churns. All you can be sure about is that it would be a bad idea to linger for too long.
Shelled Ruins
Numerous battlefields can be found scattered across the living island. In the location where the greatest conflict had taken place, chunks of the shell had disintegrated into nothingness. Scarred flesh attempted to mend itself, but craters still remain as a grim reminder of the past.
Northern/Southern Domed City
Empty windows stare at those passing, homes forever waiting for their inhabitants. It seems the buildings were getting quite crowded at some point. Some have been emptied as if their owners had moved out, but others still hold the remains of livelihoods abruptly severed. Along the main streets are the remains of a once bustling marketplace.
Garden
A monstrous garden filled with fleshy plants. The four sections seem to resemble the seasons, although all four are eternally in bloom. Straddling the winter and spring gardens is a patch of living stone that resembles sedum flowers. It strangles and absorbs those nearby, growing from the corpses of its victims to spread across the garden. To the center is a pond where aquatic plants can be found.
Hot Springs
Floral and herb like scents waft around a series of large pools with varying properties to suit the user. Minerals deposit on the lake beds, leaving layers of colorful clusters which are as hazardous as they are beautiful. While some pools seem relatively safe for mundane creatures, others are more like acid. The water drifts slowly, even droplets taking their sweet time to return after splashing into the air.
Palace
Throne Room
A round room large enough to fit a hundred thousand mundane folk. One could imagine the lavish banquets and extravagant dances that once graced this hall. Rings of tables surround the center, where a massive mound of flesh has been shaped into a throne. Arched windows overlook the desolate city, the one landmark to survive. If one squints, the waving seaweed could be mistaken for dancing citizens… or angry crowds streaming toward the palace.
Library
Shelf after shelf of stories. There seems to be little rhyme or reason for their placement, records of kingdoms rising and falling sit next to children’s stories. Paintings have been collected in a rack and sculptures on a row of pedestals. Holographic records lay next to their plays. On the front desk is a small station to ascertain the authenticity of an object and a nonsensical list of traits.
Spirit Hallways
Flickering flames line the hallways. Their random drifting leaves stretches of darkness between each. Murals of a more prosperous time decorate the walls, a civilization under the gaze of serpentine deities.
Sacred Wing
There is a stillness to this building, an uncomfortable silence where even the beat of one’s heart sounds like a roar. Rooms here are fit for royalty, perhaps even above such. After all, would a lowly king’s maid really make every corner spotless as the head maid insists? There is neither a wrinkle in the curtains, nor a hair on the floor. Patterns on the wood are all evenly spaced, and every piece of furniture looks as if it were plucked from a god’s mind. Even the blends of reds, blues, purples, and teals manage to look coherent. Not that any of the others were small, but one room is particularly large. The bed is the size of a sport’s field. Even the pillow likely required the sheep from a large flock. It goes far enough that one has to wonder if this is an illusion.
Guest Rooms
Rooms furnished in varying degrees of grandeur. One would imagine that these are for nobles, with all the luxuries one could wish for. Scented oils and aromatic candles keep the room smelling of flowers. A bowl of fruits and a few drinks are on the shelves for those who don’t feel like heading to the dining room.
Servant’s Quarters
Surprisingly well decorated for what would usually be neglected. Most would probably be more than happy to have such a room for themselves. They have a desk with drawers to store their personal effects, a wardrobe, and a bathroom with a tub.
Kitchen
A large kitchen prepared for feasts. Stocked with some ingredients you vaguely recognize and others that are completely alien, an assortment of smells bewilder the nose. Runes preserve ingredients in varying states, some of which appear in the midst of rotting. Among relatively standard tools, there are some where one can only guess at the function. While looking around, it almost feels like small figures are flitting about at the edge of one’s vision.
Storage Room
Stacks of crates fill shelves in this room, holding what one might need around a castle. Despite the impressive initial impression, a look around tells a different story. The supplies are dwindling, with most boxes emptied aside from a few items at the bottom.
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