PHASE I [ day one ] Now, hopefully you’re not the type who takes their sweet time waking up. You’ve once again been dumped into a random part of the jungle but there’s really no opportunity for you to relax. You’ll quickly find that you’ve been lumped into two groups: the Unlucky and the Extremely Unlucky.
For the Unlucky, you’re going to feel your equilibrium just about ready to go as soon as you open your eyes. You’ve barely been caught on the edge of a cliff, resting on the slope and the slightest movement could send you careening over the edge. Get it together, grab the edge before you end up with the others—
The Extremely Unlucky have been dumped unceremoniously right into a pit of quicksand. The more they struggle, the more they sink, and they can feel the thrum of energy in their veins of what appears to be the very ground itself welcoming them into its embrace. What’s that? You’re not ready to go yet? Well better hope that the Unlucky get it together in time to save you.
PHASE II [ day one ] Occidi still remains nowhere to be found, but those of the earth affiliation will find themselves imbued with a natural sense of direction and where to go. It’s as if the very ground beneath their feet has been marked with an unseen path and they automatically know to follow it in a certain direction. But where are they going? Who knows.
Those brave enough to follow will find themselves led to a hole in the wall – literally a giant carved out tunnel into the face of a cliff side. Just be careful, it’s rather dark inside. Anyone who wanders in will find themselves going up, down, apparently in spirals and it’s hard to say whether you’re below or above sea level anymore. Yet it’s hard to mind since the walls of the place are lined with beautiful, reflective crystals that gently emit their own light. It’s a natural wonder—
Up until you touch one of them anyway. Coming into contact with one of the crystals will lead to its intense amplification of the vibration. It shakes. It shakes and shakes and shakes violently and – what’s that sound? The sound of the tunnel collapsing behind you? Ah. Better run then.
Try to avoid any of the holes or unstable ground or cliffs. Who knew spelunking could be so dangerous?
PHASE III [ day two ] Occidi is finally seen again out in the forest and it’s made clear that the invisible path that the travelers were drawn to was meant to lead to her. She nods once in acknowledgment of your progress and then turns and continues to walk. She will not answer questions if called out to. It will not take long for it to sink in that the entire forest is quiet, there is nothing stirring in this part.
At least, until characters look too long as the trees. Then, it all begins to slowly come alive. The leaves shake gently as the trees wake up out of their slumber, their roots stretching gently out of the ground as they rouse, and the groan of their trunks as they move slowly in response to Occidi’s presence.
They do not answer questions, but they speak freely. They whisper, “All will return to Occidi” and “The Bridge has come back to us”. They inquire, “But where are your families?” and “What are you?” Yet they continue to muse to themselves, mumbling at passersby without answering their responding questions.
Walk quickly. Those who dawdle for too long, looking to make conversation with the trees or otherwise, will begin to suffer from hallucinations of seeing their families within the forest, gravely injured. The hallucinations stumble and grab onto each character, begging them, “Don’t leave me.”
And you really don't want to stay in that forest when night falls, or you probably won't ever come back out -- but there will be one more moving, whispering tree amongst the forest.
There are hints that there are people living here, but it is impossible to find them amongst the moving, writhing branches and ushering trees; you may catch a glimpse of wide eyes from a greenish face beneath leafy hair if you look, but they'll disappear quickly soon afterwards, protected by the trees. It seems they've heard about a little happening in the jungle and they're not all too willing to chat now.
PHASE IV [ day three ] Finally, finally Occidi will come to a stop deep in the forested areas. Here, there are buildings made out of tree branches, perfectly built so as to not harm the trees or their surroundings. It's clearly a central village area, though there are still no people to be found, and the village itself is a bit of a mess; with scraps of metal scattered around the clearing, and burn marks on the trees.
Occidi won't answer any questions as to that, merely saying “Mine once lived here. But look at what was done to the others…. Not even the help of others could salvage what happened here.” Her normally level and tempered voice carries a string of anger.
Without another word, she disappears, leaving all here in the area. There are heaps of sheet metal scattered amongst the debris. After enough digging, one will be found bearing the emblem of CERES.
On the other hand, poking around the village itself might yield something interesting; deeper into the jungle, in an old, building made next to a giant tree, there appears to be a shrine of some sort. There is nothing odd about that, of course. But the shrine is covered in what was once old blood, and there are crude knives stacked on the shelves around it.
But there's nobody here to answer any questions about that.
Welcome to your new home.
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There are 36 characters with the element of earth.
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Re: iii
The feel of steel hitting steel reverberates down the length of his blade, ringing in his soul and Dotanuki's eyes focus in again, this time on Edgeworth's face. It's not a tree taunting him, and he seems confused for a moment.]
Where the hell did you come from?
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Dotanuki's grip relaxes and he pulls the sword away, sliding it back into its sheath. The humidity makes him feel ill and he turns his head away, looking back in the direction he last saw Occidi moving.]
...Thought something was attacking. [In this forest with nothing but trees, sure.] Didn't think it'd be you comin' up on me. Sorry.
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[Edgeworth lowers his sword but keeps it out, beginning to look around, his senses on heightened alert. But there's nothing else except the trees. Even Occidi was out of sight now.]
I don't see anything.
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Said I thought it was, not that there was anythin'.
[Which is actually even more embarrassing, but then again, he's starting to see things at the edges of the forest again and that bothers him. He can't tell if that's an enemy or an ally, but he can hear them murmuring and it bothers him.]
You can't hear anything?
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Edgeworth tilts his head slightly, straining to listen for even the smallest twig snap, the softest step. Luckily he doesn't stare at the trees for too long.]
No, I can't.
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He probably jinxed it.
He looks in the direction of the loudest sound and narrows his eyes. Someone is walking this way.]
You mean you can't see that?
[Dotanuki slides his sword through his belt and starts toward the figure, motioning for Edgeworth to follow him. It's off the path that Occidi was treading, but it's not like they can get lost, right? Their senses seem to automatically point them back to wherever she is, and right now there's someone else who might need help. The figure is still a distance away, but Dotanuki pauses suddenly when he realizes he can smell blood all the way from here. The person is stumbling toward them at an uneven pace, and he can barely make out details of them. An old sweater, torn up and dirty from whatever caused the bleeding gash in their side, jeans and dark hair. Dark hair with recently dyed pink underneath.
The change in his demeanor is instantaneous. He stiffens, eyes widening as he realizes that he's staring at his master, Haru, slowly bleeding out.]
Oh gods, no. [He glances back at Edgeworth.] Get water! Now!
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[Edgeworth follows the direction Dotanuki is looking at, and falls in step behind him, keeping a safe distance in case a sword swung wildly his way again. To him, there is nothing wrong with his picture; it's still the same old jungle, the same old sounds. He gapes in bewilderment, watching Dotanuki's actions. The other guy was seeing things Edgeworth could not see.
Was it a hallucination?]
...What for? There's nothing!
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It ain't nothin'! Someone's hurt and we need t'help, so either get me water or get someone who will!
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[Edgeworth tries to pull away. To his credit, he doesn't run away or decide that Dotanuki needs therapy.]
I can't...see anything! [He peers around Dotanuki at his surroundings to be sure. There was no one else in this grove except for them.]
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My master is bleeding to death and if you're not going to help, then get out of here!
[The idea of things "messing with his mind" doesn't occur to him. He's never had hallucinations before, never had to deal with them. All he knows is what he sees and he sees Haru in trouble. Dotanuki starts off through the trees, abandoning the path.]
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[A small part of him tells him to use his Death City-given amplified persuasive speaking ability on Dotanuki to keep him from hurting himself or going off somewhere dangerous. But Edgeworth doesn't, not just yet at least, so that's just an ordinary shout coming from him.
And then he hurries after Dotanuki.]
We've been tricked like this before; this could be another illusion!
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It's the word itself that halts his progress. The sheer incredulity that someone just yelled something like that at him.
But followed up with Edgeworth's explanation and he's stayed by confusion more than anything else.]
...Illusions? What do you mean?
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You might be made to see things that aren't really there. It has happened before!
[Happened to himself, he might add.]
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It just never happens to spirits.]
....
[It's physically painful not to run toward Haru right now, but Edgeworth seems so certain. What if his eyes were deceiving him and the spirits in this forest were playing tricks?]
...How can you tell if it's real or not?
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[His tone is almost grave.]
When the city was flooded, the water showed people illusions as well. This is a repeat of what happened before.
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I was underwater that entire time.
[He hasn't experienced this before and it's almost physically painful to see his master in such pain and not do anything. Haru is reaching out toward them both, falling to his knees, and Dotanuki grits his teeth.]
...I've seen too many masters die like this already. What's the harm in me goin' out there? If it's an illusion, I can't... It won't do anything, right?
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[Edgeworth shakes his head vigorously, the intense glare still in full force.]
We don't know that. You could be lured into a trap.