OOC Note: The discussion thread for this rp can be found here: https://forums.pokecharms.com/threads/pmd-explorers-of-the-depths-discussion.30436/ (Private/Closed - PMD: Explorers of the Depths Discussion)
The trail between Deeproot and the northern cave entrance was well trodden. It was made of a mixture of gravel and large, pearlescent stones and maintained by workers from the guild. The trail itself took several days to traverse in its entirety, though where this story begins is only a day out of town. One would not be remiss to think it was a normal day. The sun shone brightly overhead and the fresh spring air was full of the smell of blossoms. Pidgey soared through the air and called out to each other. The last clumps of snow were disturbed by the occasional hunting pokemon. Things were peaceful.
Peaceful until the sudden frantic caw of Starly filled the air. It is often said that flying types have a keen sense of danger. While it may be an overgeneralization, that saying is not entirely wrong. When a flock of Starly takes to the air, it is rarely for any other reason than to flee. Only seconds later, the ground began to rumble. A wave of panic swept through the pines. Pokemon darted from bushes and dashed between trees. They scattered in all directions. Many were too slow to beat the coming force.
A Mystery Dungeon had begun to open.
It began as a small crack in the ground. One that would have been noticeable to any running by. Then that crack spread. It widened at a rapid space and swallowed up trees and bushes. Grounded pokemon were sent spiraling into the darkness. Airborne pokemon felt the sudden drag of air that sucked them into the growing canyon. A large chunk of the road was consumed by the gorge. It swallowed merchants and travelers alike. By the time it had finished, the forest was silent.
For those that had been swallowed, they found themselves in a labyrinth of rooms and tunnels. There was no roof, though one would be unable to see the world above. A thick veil of fog hung about fifteen feet in the air, swallowing any form of light from the outside world. The walls were made of clay and dirt and stretched up into the veil. Glowing, blue crystals lit up the floor and walls. They gave the labyrinth a dim, cold light that would send a chill up the spine of even the toughest pokemon. Most found themselves alone, though a lucky few managed to stick with anyone directly beside them when they fell.
Soren had left his father’s place a few days ago after a long, annoying visit. He loved Cinnamon dearly but his father had an unfortunate knack for guilt tripping him about his job. Soren was only a few hours out from Deeproot when he decided to stop for lunch. The sunlight was perfect on his scales and his belly was quickly filled with the sweet taste of a pecha berry. After that, he laid down on a stump and drifted off into a nap.
When Soren woke up, it was the crashing of a tree that snapped him awake. The rumbling earth had caused several old trunks to come tumbling down. Soren sat up, then snatched his bag. The call of Starly rang in his ears. He leapt up into the air, where he hovered about one foot above it. Some levitating ghost pokemon could use that power to fly, but Soren was not one of those. He rarely made it more than a foot or two off the ground. He looked around in a panic.
Soren had heard of these signs before. Silver University had a whole class on dungeon safety. That did not mean Soren expected to find himself where one was opening. He darted in the direction the Starly were going, but it did him little good. The rumbling grew louder. More violent. The ground tore open below Soren. Levitation did little to save the Dreepy from his fate. He was dragged downwards into the thick, dark fog. A cry of shock escaped him as he fell.
What levitation did aid Soren in was not face planting into the dirt. He gazed up and around at the towering walls. His heart sank and he took a deep breath. Okay… there had to be a way out of here. Most dungeons had several exits across every couple of floors. He just had to calm down and start searching.
Calm down was the hard part. Anxiety made Soren’s blood rush. He fiddled with his bag. When he had been on his apprenticeship, he had entered a few low level dungeons. Soren had also had several stronger pokemon to keep him safe. It was not helping that Cinnamon had put several paranoid thoughts of danger into Soren’s head. The Dreepy swallowed hard and forced himself to take a deep breath. Then he headed through a northern tunnel, or at least what he presumed was north.
The trail between Deeproot and the northern cave entrance was well trodden. It was made of a mixture of gravel and large, pearlescent stones and maintained by workers from the guild. The trail itself took several days to traverse in its entirety, though where this story begins is only a day out of town. One would not be remiss to think it was a normal day. The sun shone brightly overhead and the fresh spring air was full of the smell of blossoms. Pidgey soared through the air and called out to each other. The last clumps of snow were disturbed by the occasional hunting pokemon. Things were peaceful.
Peaceful until the sudden frantic caw of Starly filled the air. It is often said that flying types have a keen sense of danger. While it may be an overgeneralization, that saying is not entirely wrong. When a flock of Starly takes to the air, it is rarely for any other reason than to flee. Only seconds later, the ground began to rumble. A wave of panic swept through the pines. Pokemon darted from bushes and dashed between trees. They scattered in all directions. Many were too slow to beat the coming force.
A Mystery Dungeon had begun to open.
It began as a small crack in the ground. One that would have been noticeable to any running by. Then that crack spread. It widened at a rapid space and swallowed up trees and bushes. Grounded pokemon were sent spiraling into the darkness. Airborne pokemon felt the sudden drag of air that sucked them into the growing canyon. A large chunk of the road was consumed by the gorge. It swallowed merchants and travelers alike. By the time it had finished, the forest was silent.
For those that had been swallowed, they found themselves in a labyrinth of rooms and tunnels. There was no roof, though one would be unable to see the world above. A thick veil of fog hung about fifteen feet in the air, swallowing any form of light from the outside world. The walls were made of clay and dirt and stretched up into the veil. Glowing, blue crystals lit up the floor and walls. They gave the labyrinth a dim, cold light that would send a chill up the spine of even the toughest pokemon. Most found themselves alone, though a lucky few managed to stick with anyone directly beside them when they fell.
Soren had left his father’s place a few days ago after a long, annoying visit. He loved Cinnamon dearly but his father had an unfortunate knack for guilt tripping him about his job. Soren was only a few hours out from Deeproot when he decided to stop for lunch. The sunlight was perfect on his scales and his belly was quickly filled with the sweet taste of a pecha berry. After that, he laid down on a stump and drifted off into a nap.
When Soren woke up, it was the crashing of a tree that snapped him awake. The rumbling earth had caused several old trunks to come tumbling down. Soren sat up, then snatched his bag. The call of Starly rang in his ears. He leapt up into the air, where he hovered about one foot above it. Some levitating ghost pokemon could use that power to fly, but Soren was not one of those. He rarely made it more than a foot or two off the ground. He looked around in a panic.
Soren had heard of these signs before. Silver University had a whole class on dungeon safety. That did not mean Soren expected to find himself where one was opening. He darted in the direction the Starly were going, but it did him little good. The rumbling grew louder. More violent. The ground tore open below Soren. Levitation did little to save the Dreepy from his fate. He was dragged downwards into the thick, dark fog. A cry of shock escaped him as he fell.
What levitation did aid Soren in was not face planting into the dirt. He gazed up and around at the towering walls. His heart sank and he took a deep breath. Okay… there had to be a way out of here. Most dungeons had several exits across every couple of floors. He just had to calm down and start searching.
Calm down was the hard part. Anxiety made Soren’s blood rush. He fiddled with his bag. When he had been on his apprenticeship, he had entered a few low level dungeons. Soren had also had several stronger pokemon to keep him safe. It was not helping that Cinnamon had put several paranoid thoughts of danger into Soren’s head. The Dreepy swallowed hard and forced himself to take a deep breath. Then he headed through a northern tunnel, or at least what he presumed was north.
