[Treasure] Coral Reef

Coral Reef

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Not too far from the shoreline rests a pristine coral reef brimming full of exotic aquatic life and vividly colored flora. Beyond the various hues of pink, blue and green rests a small cavern hidden by a large drape of seaweed and algae. Upon peeling these curtains past, it reveals an explored tunnel that leads up into a hidden alcove sheltered from the sun. The cave itself glows dimly with an eerie blue light that radiates from a strange form of mushroom. Off in the distance a faint glimmer of metal reflects off a chest half buried in the sands.

Hidden: Swimming With The Fishes

The dive itself is fairly short and can be made in a single breath. Be wary of the sea life below the surface however as not all of it is as amicable as the beautiful reef suggests. A fair number of shark and other aggressive creatures can be seen floating about.

The Chest: The chest is made of aged, rotting dark wood. Splinters curl at the corner, flakes and dirtied spots litter the surface, and the metal keyhole has rusted over with a silver tarnish. The box's bottom has corroded almost entirely, leaving a thin layer of impenetrable steel without the timber which coated its outside with a glaze of rustic appeal.

Note: This is an event for people who have yet to open a treasure chest this week (timer reset's on Sunday).
Last reset - 7/2.

Briefly tell a story about what were you doing up until this point, then, describe how you would retrieve this chest. (300-500 words min/max)

3/4 Rewards Claimed​

 

If it weren’t for the fact that Jack had been previously told by an NPC that the local seaweed here could be turned into a delicious soup, he probably wouldn’t be here in the first place. That said, the man was now making repeat expeditions into the ocean’s depths in order to harvest this supposedly regional specialty. The man was met with some trouble however given the constantly patrolling wildlife.

His solution was rather simple though, as he’d simply heal himself or erect barriers to ward off incoming damage whenever a stray shark or two came ramming in his direction. Given enough time, the creatures would eventually grow bored of this mobile flesh fortress and let him be.

The man’s attention was quickly taken however by a strange draping of seaweed hanging off in the distance. Eager to collect as much as possible into what space his inventory bag could hold, he’d paddle on over, only to find a strange cave hidden beneath the curtains of underwater flora. His interest now piqued, he’d surface for a quick breath before delving back down. The man’s intentions were entirely different however. Profit now aside, curiosity had gotten a hold of him.

Eventually the man found himself surfacing on the other end. Upon further inspection it appeared as though the dark haired mage had stumbled across a strange alcove of sorts, concealed and hidden away from the rest of the world. Immediately recognizing this scenario as one similar to previous encounters, he’d look around keenly for any signs of a hidden chest. Considering the game’s nature, it tended to reward side tracked explorations into the unknown with tucked away boxes of goodies left undisturbed for ages.

Finally spotting the chest off in the distance, he’d scramble atop the mound of sand before brushing away some debris and cracking it open. Familiar with the routine, he’d swipe the first object available before allowing the timer to sink to zero. As for what he’d find? Only time would tell.

 

@Jack Anders

You quickly swipe at the chest before it slams shut with a resounding clang. Your in-game interface indicates the following item now rests in your palm:

Weathered Straw Hat (Light)

 

Alpha stretched and preened underneath the bright, sweltering sun. Terry was panting and, with the sleeping Corn atop of him, began frantically lapping up the salt water. Alpha smiled and, after Terry began coughing a bit, she took a bottle of water from her inventory and handed it to Luna. The hare quickly bounded to the pair and gave both of them thirsty sips of cold water before gulping down the rest herself. She laughed as the three began playing in the shark-infested waters.

Today was a vacation for Alpha and Druuk Island seemed like the best place to be (there was a beach and cute little fishes that swam along the shore). Alpha grabbed a piece of meat she had bought from the butcher and adjusted her swimsuit before wading into the waters and tossing one to the sharks swimming about. The cute little critters were so adorable with their beady eyes and toothy smiles and Alpha felt a bit of regret and disappointment that she couldn't take one of them with her.

As she watched as the blood begin to dissipate into foggy red clouds underneath the billowing waves, the meat rapidly consumed by the marine carnivores, she spotted a patch of seaweed and colorful life in a short distance ahead. Her eyes glimmered in curiosity at the sight of a peculiarly placed coral reef and, after signalling to Corn, Luna, and Terry that she'd be gone for a short while, pinched her nose and dove in the water, feeling refreshed from the sun's heat. It was cool and pleasant, as if she were taking a comfortable bubble bath of sorts. She opened her eyes after awhile, adjusting it to the scratchy feel of sand against her eyes and sea saltiness.

There it is. She swam across and pushed a few stray strands of seaweed out of her vision and the sight which she saw made her take a breath, gagging from the water around her, and forcing her to swim back up to cough out water which irritated her throat and climbed up her nostrils. After a few more seconds of coughing, she could clearly see the sight she had seen in her mind's eye. A mound of sand with a treasure half-buried beneath it at the end of the cave.

She took another deep breath, a happy grin on her face as the sharks swam and rubbed themselves around her, and dove back in, eyes straight for the prize. She supposed treasure-hunting has become a part-time hobby for her at this point and, when she had finally reached the chest, eagerly pulled out whatever was in store for her.

 

Lucia had seen the coral reef and had been pacing about considering whether or not she should venture deeper within. It was an unfortunate point that her archery wasn't particularly useful in the sea which was why she was apprehensive-- at the same time though, the coffin she had previously needed Sera's help to open was also from this same vicinity. If there was perhaps more wreckage deeper within that would offer her some clues to the magic tool she needed, she couldn't avoid the dive even if there was something disastrous waiting for her. Finally, with a breath and shaking hands, she held her crossbow at her back, deciding to use it to help control her weight as she bent forward towards the water determined to check things out even if it cost her.

The reef was filled with a variety of creatures, none of which seemed particularly friendly. She'd been chasing clues desperately, in circles from source to source, but her determination wouldn't lose as she felt herself plunge into the sea. Her eyes burned a little from the water, but she dug deeper into the water. There were sharks in the distance, ones she tried not to antagonize, but no doubt in the end they would come to her as she tried to swim deeper. It was only when she saw sudden rapid movement that she was caught off guard. She'd spent so much time keeping an eye on the larger sharks she missed the smaller eels within the rock and reefs. One suddenly lurching out like a snake grasping onto her body drawing blood. She winced, but the blood would no doubt attract the sharks making her curse. Already in the distance she could see them turning, as if alerted by an alarm.

Lucia tried not to struggle or lose her cool, she'd lose air faster that way. Instead, she gestured a hand downward towards the eel digging into her and began to cast Malefimancy magic. Though she liked using it with her arrows, it was naive to think that she couldn't use it as pure spells. She merely enjoyed the fast delivery of the arrows-- using the slower spell casting method, she pointed her hand towards the Eel forming a wisp of energy that surged through the water like spectral fog until it shrouded the eel completely. The shroud didn't lift though, instead tightened into a small stream that flowed from the eel back to her as she began draining it's health. Twisting the eel from her leg, she'd thrust it out towards the shark, hoping to buy some time by offering them another struggling prey before swimming down to try and slip into the cavern. Even if she could distract them, her chances of completely warding them off were impossible. Swimming down, she endeavored to try and conceal herself among the twisting seaweeds below, even if the blood would lead them to her, it would be difficult to snatch her from the ground she thought.

It was returning to the surface that made things a little difficult... but she would have time to worry about that once she passed this crisis. Diving down into the seaweed, she felt as if the sharks were hot on her tail, though they were underwater, she felt fear as if feeling their breath on her back-- An impossibility, but she couldn't rationalize the fear of being eaten alive in such a manner at the moment as she pushed her way through the sea weed to try and reach deeper. It was only when she found that she hadn't yet met solid surface that she was surprised, pushing with hastened and increasinly frantic actions, she wondered if she wasn't moving any more? Had it already caught her and she was just oblivious to it? She thought a great manner of things before finally finding an alcove. Caught off guard, she felt some relief. Given the time to set up a formation to drain the sharks, she felt she could move a little safer. Just as she was preparing to leave in order to get her second breath though, she caught the peculiar sight of 'something' within the alcove. Unable to stay for long, she could only surface and swim from the struggling sea life that tried to survive her formation before taking a breath to dive once more.

Thanks to her formation her second attempt was much safer, draining anything that crossed within the boundary, she passed through unimpeded and made her way back to a peculiar, chest that seemed to be rotting? It was underwater after all, perhaps it had been here for a long time... but as long as the coffin she found? She wasn't sure if they were from the same ship, but if they were... she thought licking her salty lips with high hopes... She had to find out! Opening the chest, she'd grab whatever presented itself before trying to swim back up for a closer look.

 

@Alphabet Chocolate

You quickly swipe at the chest before it slams shut with a resounding clang. Your in-game interface indicates the following item now rests in your palm:

Weathered Sea Dog's Britches (Medium)

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@Lucia Mierz

You quickly swipe at the chest before it slams shut with a resounding clang. Your in-game interface indicates the following item now rests in your palm:

Fisherman's Rain Coat (Medium - Chest & Legs)

 

Taking off her sandles one by one while not trying to lose her balance Troy walked out and onto the beach feeling the sand between her toes and the comforting warm sun beat down on her. is thier such a thing as sun block in this world...

This tropical paradise was a far better improvement than the weather man's hex. As surely back on earth the weather forcast gave cloud and intervals of rain for the majority of day, it was unfortunate she was unaware of this and eventually arrived back to her apartment wet as a drowning fish. After a interval of exchanging wet clothes for dry towels she was ready to pass the wet day by watching her soaps. It was a miserble day to say the least, the heavens opening up and if she could change the climate she would. She wasn't alone in that thought, her phone received a notification ''terra sphere beach party?'' it was a no brainer, ditching the dull sad weather for beach and sunshine she was logging into the game before her text could finish sending.

'Welcome Troy'' the signin greeted her, the game was already an improvement, for one it wasn't raining and she wasn't stuck in the stuffy confines of her apartment, ignoring the quests still in her 'to do' list which was politely reminding her until she dismissed them, now was beach season.

Still considering the factor of sun block her character would need, if one could even get sun burned she included the question along with the accepted invite reply in a pm. A 'swoosh' was the confirmation noise that the pm had been sent. Without speed Troy was strolling pleasurably to the meet while taking her time to avoid arriving too early and being around so few before a decent crowd could form. It really can be beutiful here admiring the scene around her, she didn't know what it would take to code something like a virtual beach, if even a actual person was capable to do something like that it was difficult to imagine. Troy could appreciate the game as a art, the reality of it which the programmers, developers were striving for was insane. It was if she was walking inside a holiday brochure, the scene around her would set peoples holiday plans if this place actually existed. Maybe a place that was created from someones memory or inspired from a photo or film, a place on earth were likely Troy will never step foot on but she can settle for the virtual remake, all it justs needs is a tikki bar, with the coconuts, small umbrellas and the crazy straws and she would be all set. those tiki torches would be cool too.

Feeling somewhat warm Troy walked down to the tide continuously lapping back and forth onto the beach, it was a tranquil and pleasant rhythm. Her feet breached the surf first, it was a bitter cold bite compared to the blazing sun, the cold water was enough to stutter her intentions ''thats bloody cold'' once you get in, it will be alright, just let your body temperature adjust attempting to reassure herself. She ran, skipped and immediately regretted her decision but didn't back out. in waist deep and clutching her arms around her for warmth.

A rainbow flaked fish swam in front of her, her surprised reaction caused a jump, scareing off the fish though feeling a bit silly afterwards, being scared of a colorful cod supper. Troy began to wade further into the water and when her feet couldnt reach the bottom then she was left with swimming. Still rather cool, though tolerable now, she was impressed how the game simulated that feeling. She has never been sea diving in her life, the urge took her now and troy submerged under the water, the salty sea stung her eyes initially, another moment Troy regretted her ideas over discomfort. Though only discomfort, Troys trouble was beholden with a spectacular
aquatic landscape, below her was lush with multicolored plant life and even fanciful fish. An absolute alien world which stunned her with its beauty, struggling breath would wake her from her wonder and cause her to resurface. She wondered how many people in the game could appreciate the natural beauty in simple places. Taking another breath in Troy submersed, feet rising up out of the water before she dove back down. Holding her breath to keep from sucking in possible lethal sea water, she was confident that she could probably drown in the game, even though her mouth was rigid shut, her expression would have been stupid face open mouth awe.

Thats a big fish Focusing on the creature the title of the beast was anything from a small fish. Troy 180ed and attempted to simulate a speed boat on red bull. She never considered herself that far out to be concerned about sharks, though for the sharks defense troy didnt know too much about sharks only what knowledge jaws instilled in her, they eat people. She didn't feel like hashing it out with a shark in its backyard, she swam down and around some coral, attempting to hide herself from view, she guided herself around the outcropping and dipped into a curtain of seaweed. Panicking with a possible refuge to hide Troy went through the curtain of seaweed which hid the entrance to cave, not entirely dark but a blue almost glow stick light gave off from the surrounding vegetation. in another situation troy would have found the sight to be rather groovy, even examined the mushrooms and see what she could do with it or employ it as night light or something. Fortune, instead of being her watery grave, Troy almost jumps out of the water and onto the inner caves dry outcropping. ''holy shit'' gasping in breath to sedate her stinging lungs, it was the necessity that kept her from almost breaking down. When her wits came back to her, why didn't i just log out hating herself for that ordeal.

Peering around the cave while her breathing started to settle somewhat, it was almost intimidate that her vision settled on the gleam of a object ''better be good'' dragging herself over the the object. It was a nice surprise though hardly worth it to tread shark infested waters though she was leaving herself open minded in case the chests contents changed her mind. Opening the chest Troy reached in to claim whatever the Treasure chest would hold.

 

Maximum word count exceeded. The chest does not open.