The sky darkens and erratic waves of uncontrolled magic flash above. Even the cities fall silent as lytes across the islands retreat indoors. Distant shadows animate as unseen creatures populate the empty space.
The Solar Submergence has begun.

< Part 3 | Part 4 | Results >

Path 1, Prompt 4: Runaway

Your team successfully fends off the remaining monsters, leaving the woods quiet and burnt. Hetsu helps Hisato back up, and the two speak softly, the latter sounding dejected. You hear a shuffle behind you, and as all eyes turn on Tora, she freezes in the middle of backing away. She hesitates before turning and sprinting down the path behind her.

TORA!

...

Of course. I have no idea how that coward survived this long on her own.

You seem to be preoccupied already. I’ll leave you to it.

What? No, you need to get back to Poplace as soon as possible. We aren’t leaving you alone while you’re injured.

I really do appreciate all your help, Hetsu, but I am not a lavaling. I can handle myself.

Clearly you can, it’s just- being cautious has nothing to do with that.

I’ll come with you to visit Pollux.

Do the rest of you think you can handle Tora together?

---

Task: Chase after Tora.

She has gained a fairly significant head-start. You aren’t sure if you’ll be able to track her down.

Path 2, Prompt 4: Breakthrough

As the last of the snagglers fall stunned or grow encased in ice, Ivy runs to lift Zoe into a tight hug. Zoe returns the embrace, but before any questions can be asked, the short-lived reunion is interrupted by a deep rumbling that fills the cave.

Above you, the rocky walls begin to tremble. Dust and stones fall to the cave floor, though the cause is nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, a shrill, deafening sound echoes off the stalactites, crackling like glass pressed to its breaking point. Specks of light slowly appear, forming the shape of a crack in midair. They grow wider, and the noise grows louder, until the shaky line against the air shatters and something breaks through.

A massive limb tears through the space above, its end crashing downwards and sending a wave of debris into you. It curls and scratches in search of something to grip onto, but the cave gives way beneath its weight. A dark purple webbing shines translucent against the eclipse, bordered by several insect-like appendages scratching at their surroundings. Ivy and Zoe duck as it swipes overhead towards the exit ahead, but it only bounces off of the nothing Zoe had been cornered against earlier. It stabs into the ground once more, sending a worsening crack throughout the area that forces the rocks below you into unstable motion. The two stare on in terror, unable to speak.

---

Task: Get out of the cave.

The “exit” ahead is blocked by a hidden barrier. Backtrack past the creature attacking the cave.
If you would like to use them, you have the following supplies remaining: Pocket Mirror, Multitool, and Pen & Ink. You also have a spare jacket, rope, any magic your team / NPC possesses, and any natural materials surrounding you.

Path 3, Prompt 4: Dead End

You make it to a point where the magic bursts seem to stay out of reach, and you look over to see Castor and Mizu frozen. In front of them, the view outside isn’t right. Instead of the roaring eclipse, a small, glowing tear surrounds a completely different scene. Ripples reflect off of a curved surface surrounding it, leaving the exit ahead nothing more than a shaky mirage.

Oh no. Ohh no.

It’s… broken?

It- it’s not just broken, it’s completely falling- being torn apart! Oh, this is worse than I thought.

W-well then we have to fix it.

What- how are we supposed, expected to repair anything this old?? I mean you- you have looked into all of this before, it doesn’t- it’s not supposed to- oh, of course there is something wrong with it, there’s so many of them down here, and everywhere, and it must’ve been-

Castor.

-and now there are all these other lytes involved, what are we supposed to do about this, oh this is going to be everywhere, I knew I should have just come alone- have they found Zoe yet? This is impossibly bad-

Castor!

You have to calm down. We aren’t going to get anything done if we’re panicking. We just need to get out of here for now.

And leave it open? This isn’t just another anomaly, Mizu, do you know what- how long it’s been- no, this is the worst situation to- we have to because-

A rumbling interrupts them, and the two lytes freeze as a collection of light appears at the other end of the cave, partially cut off from view as if a portion of the rocky walls behind it were instead brought in front. A clawed limb erupts from the air far from you, still half hidden behind the fake scenery.

!

…

---

Task: Seal the break in the barrier.

If you would like to use them, you have the following supplies remaining: Castor’s Journal, and an Unknown Charm. You also have a spare jacket, rope, any magic your team / NPC possesses, and any natural materials surrounding you. Any of the main 4 materials you choose to include in your solution will be used up!

Notice

Be sure to stay on your correct chosen path!

Remember, the choices you make and how you perform for each prompt will affect the outcome of your path: choose wisely!

This prompt will end on November 5th, 11:59PM EST!

Be sure to submit your works to the Event Prompts forum before then!