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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The cave-in does make his heart rise in his throat, and for a moment his vision seems to darken...no, he mustn't faint. Not here, not in front of Sousei.]
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So Sousei will continue to tow Edgeworth forward, until there's a divergence in the path--he takes a metaphorical leap of faith then, and tugs them both sharply to the left.
The rocks behind them slam down to the ground up to the entrance of the path they took, but it seems the rest is more stable; they're safe as the trembling and crumbling slowly comes to a halt.
Though Sousei is as tense as before, listening intently, almost holding his breath.]
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It works; after the rumbling and crashing of rocks behind them (he doesn't dare look), everything is quiet, and the only thing trembling now is Edgeworth's body. He breathes in and out, attempting to stay calm and to take advantage of this brief respite, and watches Sousei. ensuring that the other man isn't out of his sight.]
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This is something else entirely, something that goes right to his core.
After the dust has settled, Sousei finally speaks.]
Are you all right?
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[He folds his arms across his chest - not in a contemplative pose, but the way he does it now shows vulnerability. Edgeworth's voice wavers on that last word.]
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You're not.
[...Still, that said--]
If you do not want to talk about it, that is fine. But do not lie and say that you are fine when you aren't--at this point, our survival depends on being properly prepared and aware of the situation. The full situation.
[Including your status.]
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At least Sousei wasn't the type to pry. So Edgeworth lets out a long, low sigh.]
...Very well. I'm sorry. I...I need a moment...t-to regain my composure. [At least it's no longer an obviously untrue "I'm fine".]
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[Sousei is nodding simply as soon as Edgeworth has finished what he had to say; a simple "I need a moment" is perfectly acceptable to Sousei. It's not an untrue "I'm fine", and it tells him what he has to work with.
So, while Edgeworth takes that moment--]
Take a moment to recover. I am going to investigate our path out. I won't go beyond your range of sight.
[It just wouldn't be sensible, after all. They need to make sure they stick together.
But he also wants to give Edgeworth a moment without him there, hovering, and so he nods simply and steps forward to investigate their only way out.]
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He focuses on trying to breathe evenly, convincing himself that the earth isn't going to shake again, both of them are fine, they'll get past this obstacle. Yet he finds the time to glance up and keep Sousei within his sights. It wouldn't do to be caught alone in this wilderness...even though Edgeworth has spent considerable amounts of time on his own at the beginning of their jungle adventure.]
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This is fine.
They can handle this.]
Edgeworth. The path ahead seems stable.
[Are you okay.....]
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No. He can't think like that. He shoves that thought as far away from his mind as possible.]
That's...I hope so.
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[If nothing else, Sousei is good at being stability, especially when the people around him need him to be. He sounds 100% certain, and entirely focused on where they're going from here.]
Let's go.
[He's not going to give Edgeworth the time to over think this, instead stepping forward.]
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They can walk, and walk, and walk a bit longer, but eventually there's the feeling of fresh air against their faces, and a light at the end of the tunnel.]
There. That should bring us out of this place.
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Finally. FINALLY.]
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Sousei's just going to take a deep breath as well (the fresh air is relieving) and then he glances at Edgeworth, and:]
Are you all right?
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Yes. [It's a more believable "yes" but still subdued, if you know Edgeworth well enough.]