Sojaveña Wilds Timeless Oasis

[Inkedust]

About a several day walk away from the Ranger HQ was a great expanse of uninhabitable land, hotter than anything else in Sojaveña. The clear skies allowed for the sun to relentlessly beat down on the land, not allowing for a single drop of water within the surface's many cracks or the dried husks of tree trunks and branches that peppered the horizon. Many who ventured this far would swiftly turn back, unwilling to trek through the even harsher conditions after an arduous journey.

At first glance, it couldn't be right. Knowledge of the Purifying Spirit dictated that this would be the furthest one could get from its domain despite all signs pointing to it being the place. And yet, there was this undeniable feeling of verdant life that emanated from the dead landscape, one that spoke of immense trees and flowing waters.

It needed time, of course, but it soon became clear that when the light of the sun was angled just right, a blurred glimpse of a vibrant forest could be seen for just a split second - a source of frustration for many a researcher. However as time drew closer to the Autumn Equinox, these brief visions would extend longer and longer. It wouldn't be much longer before the dungeon remained, allowing entry.

 

[Inkedust]

An arid wind carrying dust blew into the eyes of Sybil and the group of Wayfarers who had agreed to accompany her. Intense weather aside, the the path to the Timeless Oasis' apparent location had been incredibly straightforward with nary a distraction in sight, the obstacle lying in weathering the harsh conditions. Sybil herself looked to be struggling beneath both the heat and weight of her supplies despite having made this journey many, many times. She tried to downplay her struggle by showing clear interest and enjoyment of any banter shared between the Wayfarers, though she couldn't talk much between her pants.

Suddenly, Sybil stopped. "We're here," she said.

On foot, the journey should have taken several days but Sybil's supply of Haste Orbs quickened the journey to only a handful of hours. The sooner they got out of the heat, the better - not to mention the strict timer - Sybil mentioned before departure. However, contrary to Sybil's excited expression, there was no change in terrain, no shift in environment or sensation of distortion to indicate that a dungeon lay ahead. Nothing but bone-dry land as far as the eye could see. Just where was the dungeon?

 

[Namohysip]

Mhynt had come for a single reason--any sort of hint or key to curing those afflicted by Shadows. She had a sense that this strange Dungeon might give some answers to something that, if she was lucky, perhaps she could will some of those memories back home...

But for now, her attention was veering toward anywhere with shade. Her leaves were burning and dried. any longer and they'd start to crunch and crumple. This was agony. How did others deal with it? But she kept a cool expression. It was only from how she kept to the shade that her true feelings were obvious.

 

[Hap]

When Sybil finally called a halt to their journey, the only thing which prevented Ridley from collapsing into the dirt was the certainty that if he did so he wouldn't be able to stand up again.

He wasn't sure whether this was actually the most physically awful he'd felt since arriving in Forlas, or whether it was just the shadows' influence making everything feel so much worse, but either way he regretted signing up for this expedition. The sun beat down from the sky like it was trying to beat Ridley to death, and under his tattered disguise he was marinating in both sweat and misery.

It was only what he'd heard about the Purifying Spirit which allowed Ridley to keep pushing onwards through conditions which visibly wore down even the most experienced member of their group. If there was something here capable of healing any wound, whether it be physical or spiritual... Ridley didn't know whether his situation counted as a spiritual wound, exactly, but he couldn't afford to let this opportunity pass by.

 

[Weazel]

It had been a forced march unlike any he'd endured before. It hadn't taken much to convince Archie to come. Really, just the promise of a new and especially mysterious Mystery Dungeon had been enough. They'd set a grueling pace, using a seemingly endless supply of Wonder Orbs to shave days off their travel time. Thanks to that, they'd made amazing time, but the Oshawott was sore everywhere, and was pretty sure he had sand in places he didn't want to think about.

Their destination, such as it was, didn't seem much different from the rest of the desert they'd been journeying through. Desolate didn't even begin to describe it. But, the desiccated corpses of long dead trees suggested something a bit more verdant did once stand here. So if their guide was certain of the place, he'd trust in their judgment.

It was scorching out, though. He'd pulled his hat down low to cover his eyes from the worst of the sun, but it did little to protect him from the reflected glare off the sand. The Oshawott blindly groped for his canteen, took a measured sip of the contents, then, with some dismay evident on his face, turned the whole thing upside down. Empty, that had been the last of his water. Hopefully whatever they were waiting for, they wouldn't be waiting long.

 

[Ambyssin]

Intense heat against Nova's face was a new experience. It should have been painful or exhausting but Nova was more... curious about it. The warmth that struck his metal parts was different than what grazed his fur.

"I can offer a lift if anyone needs it," Nova said. A larger frame meant bigger steps. He could cover more distance than the rest of his teammates. Perhaps save for Mhynt, but teleportation was cheating as far as Nova was concerned.

 

[Shadow Serenity]

The trek here was shorter than the trek to the Ranger HQ, thanks to some strange orbs, at least. Not that Kimiko was complaining. She remembered to carry enough water this time to not be miserable... although the heat did feel more intense today. She felt a little sorry for Sybil, carrying all that equipment. Had she been larger, she might have offered to carry some of it, but as it was, many of the bags the white deer held were larger than she was!

"We're here," she said.

Kimiko stopped abruptly and looked around. Nothing about this area in particular looked any different to her. She had gotten the distinct impression that the Saint they were tracking here was Celebi...

"How can you tell?" she asked Sybil. "I expected there to be more... green."

 

[Tetra]

Where was a nice cold mountain trail when you needed it? Koa was panting by the time they'd arrived, and even before that he'd given up on chatting too much. It felt worse than that one heatwave he remembered as a kid. What he wouldn't give to be deep inside a cave right now, away from the blazing sun. Even with as lighweight as his jacket was, he was beginning to sweat under his fur. Next time, I'm buying a vest.

At least Archie had been able to make it to come with. This place offered the best chance yet, a way to see if perhaps there was something in them. Something corrupted. Maybe Celebi could fix them. He found himself sticking closer to Archie most of the walk out.

"I hope this place shows up quick," he muttered between pants.

 

[Inkedust]

As the Wayfarers continued to cope with the heat, Sybil continued staring out towards what appeared to be a distant mirage, waiting for something to happen. Minutes passed, each second dragging longer and longer until the Wayfarers could swear that they stood frozen in time - impossible to tell if only a moment or several passed. However long it was, the sun had reached its highest point in the sky, its rays intensifying the imaginary ripples, taunting the Wayfarers further, a green energy shimmering alongside it, faded as it was in the light.

Sybil tapped her hoof on the hard ground, trying to draw her group's attention. "Watch," she simply said, nodding at Kimiko.

At first, little seemed to happen. Perhaps the Wayfarers would notice a patch of green for a split second or felt that the air had started to cool ever so slightly but everything remained painfully still for yet another impossibly long moment, a moment that broke with a sudden jolt of the ground, like the snapping of an elastic. The cause was immediately clear; the ground had begun to mend itself, the cracks pulling together to mend themselves, the dirt's bony complexion darkening into fertile soil. The trees sprung to life with many more rapidly growing alongside them, leaves shooting from branches to grant shade some much needed shade. They grew taller and taller, pulling shoots of grass, bushes and all sorts of flora coated in dew from the ground, high enough to brush Sybil's flank.

Behind the group, the gentle sound of running water brushed the ears of anyone who heard it, turning around would reveal a small stream that widened into a rushing river that wound deeper into the now immense forest. Just a few paces beyond the point where the stream tapered off was the inhospitable desert the team had just traversed.

"We're at the very edge," Sybil began, "so the effects will not be as pronounced but look—" the orbs in her antlers shimmered and an hourglass from one of her satchels wriggled free. She set it down gently, turned over in a spot where everyone could see. Instead of falling normally, the sand within swirled like a viscous liquid. Occasionally, it would settle and fall down like normal before, in defiance of gravity, it began to rewind to fall upwards, settling back into its neutral swirling after an inconceivable amount of time.

"The rules of time are far more fluid in here," Sybil explained. "We could have been standing here for a a few seconds or days, we will not know until time returns to normal, the closer we get to the heart, the more intense the effects will become so do not get carried away or lost in your thoughts. Stick together lest we get caught in entirely separate streams of time." She turned to look further into the dungeon. "Waste no time, or as much as you need, we will go when everyone is ready."

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova watched the swirling sand. "You don't think a time dungeon would have... personal time-related effects, would it?" He looked around. "Like, I dunno, forcing evolutions or devolutions?"

 

[Namohysip]

Mhynt frowned. "I'm going to assume that there is little risk of anything that drastic," she said, "if we aren't encountering anyone going after us already, if it's already been 'a few days' as you say. What does this mean if someone enters while we're going backward? Does... that revise itself?"

Mhynt hummed. This Dungeon already made little sense. They'd best be quick.

 

[HelloYellow17]

As soon as Wes had heard about the Oasis from Mhynt and Seth’s mentions of Celebi, he knew he needed to get in on this mission. He’d barely been inside any dungeons, anyway—for good reason; the things creeped him out—so he figured it was time to get more experience on that front.

But he didn’t enjoy the damn “fast travel” whatsit thing. It was incredibly useful and convenient, for which he was grateful, but the jerking sensation and brief yet powerful wave of nausea that hit him upon landing wasn’t exactly pleasant. Oh, he was never going to get used to that, he could tell. He was at least glad to see a few friendly faces and took reassurance in knowing he wasn’t alone. He also spotted a light blue pelt and promptly turned his head away, lip twitching in disgust. Whatever. There were enough people here; he wouldn’t have to talk to that repulsive little shit.

Even with the scorching heat, unpleasant as it was, brought a sense of familiarity with it. Everyone else around him was panting and worn down by the heat, but this was Wes’s element. As much as he hated his region of origin, he had to admit he felt almost at home in the swirling, sweltering sands.

“I’m ready,” he said to Sybil with a nod. “If the rest of us are, too, then let’s go ahead, then?” He glanced at his companions—avoiding Koa’s gaze—for their confirmation.

 

[Shadow Serenity]

In the span of a blink, or perhaps it had been several, the desert morphed into what she expected of an oasis. Well, barring the weird time bullshit. But that was to be expected, anyway; Sybil had already warned them of the weirdness, and if this was Celebi's domain here, well... of course things would be bizarre. Kimiko wasn't fond of the idea of having them get split into different streams of time, whatever that meant.

Thankfully, there were plenty of familiar faces around by now, even if some of them were in new forms. She wondered briefly what evolution felt like, a small sense of envy bubbling up before she squashed it. Sybil warned about getting lost in thought; now wasn't the... heh, time.

Kimiko wandered towards the small river that had appeared behind them and gave herself a quick splash before filling her water bottles - provided no one advised against it.

Then she returned to the white deer's side. Some of this grass and other plants were pretty tall... but she figured, so long as she stuck close to Sybil, she'd get through just fine. "Yeah, I'm ready."

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

As used to heat as Steven was, even the Route 111 desert wasn't this oppressively hot, given its propensity for sandstorms that blotted out the sun more times than not. It was lucky his species didn't sweat, he thought, watching the heat shimmer off the surface of his own body. He hung near the back of their group, happy to give any stragglers a lift or even offer a bit of shade. One thing a new Metang body was good for, at least.

He'd heard about this little expedition from Koa, and from his secondhand description, this Oasis sounded almost like the Mirage Islands he knew from back home. Fascinating things they were; entire landmasses that could appear and vanish on a whim. If this was something similar, it'd be a shame to miss out on seeing such a thing. And if the rumors were true, then, well-- he glanced down at his left arm where the dark scar was hidden beneath a leather bracer-- maybe something could be done about that, too.

But just as he began to wonder if they'd missed their window (like one was wont to do when searching for Hoenn's mirages), a forest melted up from the bone-dry desert like magic.

He stared at the hourglass Sybil presented, watching as the sand inside swirled of its own accord, when suddenly his own vision swam slightly, prompting him to bring a claw to his head. Maybe it was the heat finally taking its toll, or maybe it was him still getting used to this new form. Either way, the dizziness was only momentary, gone within a few blinks. He shook it off and indicated with an upturned claw that he was ready to proceed whenever the group was.

 

[Weazel]

They made for a pretty large and varied group. Under normal circumstances, Archie would actually enjoy having so many of his friends present – Koa, Wes, Nova, and Steven had all made it, probably all the people he was closest to! Unfortunately, there was a tenseness in the air that ruined the appeal somewhat. Wes wouldn’t catch Koa’s eye, in fact, the look of outright disgust the Lycanroc had given when he’d realized the Electrike was present was hard for the Oshawott to miss. Ridley had come along too, seeming much subdued from his normal self. Heck, even Archie himself ended up contributing to the somewhat sour mood. He couldn’t look Mhynt’s way without remembering the shade he’d seen all those months ago at the Nexus. Just what was her connection to the Monster That Ate The Sun?

Standing around as they all were, the minutes seemed to stretch into hours. He kept glancing Koa’s way with some obvious concern. The Electrike was panting pretty bad, and the Oshawott wished he still had some water to offer the Electric Type.

“I know it sounds pretty counter intuitive, but make sure you keep your coat on,” he said, “It’ll capture the moisture from your evaporated sweat and keep it close to you. That’ll help you stay a little cooler.”

The Oshawott lifted an arm, and gestured to his own coat for emphasis. Then he looked around the group, frowning ever so slightly, before his eyes returned to the Electrike, “Maybe Nova or Steven will let you stand in their shadow?”

Thankfully, just when it seemed like they couldn’t take much more of this, the Dungeon finally made its appearance. And what an entrance it was. A cool breeze, a canopy of shady trees to block the worst of the sun, a flowing river… And vegetation deep enough to get lost in. And Sybil was recommending they all stay close. This could pose a problem.

First thing’s first, he followed Kimiko to the new river, filling his canteen to the brim. Hopefully the water would be safe to drink, but if the alternative was heatstroke on the return trip, he’d risk it. If they were able to find the heart and connect Timeless Oasis to Betel’s growing network, he wouldn’t have to worry about any of it anyway. Once he returned to the main body of the group, he drew his Scalchop, and summoned the blade of his Razor Shell.

“I can try to cut a path through the undergrowth if it’s necessary,” he explained. “That way no one gets lost in the weeds.”

 

[Ambyssin]

“Maybe Nova or Steven will let you stand in their shadow?”

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure, I can do that." Nova straightened up. His strange head crest cast a rather long shadow. "Probably better than trying to fan people with my tail. Blowing hot air's not good for much." He paused. "Unless you're in a bragging contest. Or one of those diss track battles humans loved back home."

 

[Tetra]

“I know it sounds pretty counter intuitive, but make sure you keep your coat on,” he said, “It’ll capture the moisture from your evaporated sweat and keep it close to you. That’ll help you stay a little cooler.”

"Thanks for the advice Archie," he murmured.

As long as Koa focused on what was important, like Archie and Steven and Sybil finding some kind of cure for the shadow problems, then he'd be fine. Nothing and no one else mattered. Including Wes. Besides, watching the dungeon take shape around them, feeling the way the air shifted and changed, was plenty interesting on its own. He watched the hourglass Sybil produced for a while, facinated.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure, I can do that."

He nodded awkwardly, though he felt a twinge of both gladness and jealousy to see that Nova had finally managed to evolve and get that mask off. Hopefully it helped. "I'll let you know if it gets too much."

He turned towards Sybil. "I'm ready," he said confidently to her. Ready as he could be, at least. As excited as he was her warning was also unnvering. How easily could they get lost in here? For hours? Days? "Do divine dungeons change based on the uh... thoughts of explorers too? Can getting distracted get someone lost easily then? And how long will the dungeon be around? Will it vanish with us inside?"

 

[Phoenixsong]

Good things about evolving: stronger, faster, being taller than almost everyone was awesome, looking heckin' majestic, trading in the dinky little dagger attached to her face for a whole entire badass sword attached to her face. Less good things about evolving: being more horse meant even more of her for the sun to beat down on in the middle of the god damn desert. The Galar kind of rapidash was neat and all, but Leaf had to admit being the Kanto kind sounded a little nicer right about now.

If that was what it took to explore this dungeon and maybe even meet a legendary who could help them, though, then that was what it took. There was a... pretty big group here who seemed to agree. Word really had spread fast, hadn't it? If they could get themselves on the same page so quickly just for this, then imagine what they'd be able to do when they were ready to move against Cipher. (What they would do. Not just talking or guessing or hoping or fumbling. Do something.)

It was almost hypnotic, the way the oasis just kind of unfolded itself in front of them. She could flick her ears in any direction and hear a place that was moving, inviting, alive. Considering where they'd just come from, wasn't hard to imagine why someone might want to linger here and end up getting lost. They'd just have to make sure they were careful about it, then. (Extra careful, even, considering some of the people who'd come along. Hopefully everyone would keep it together and be okay...)

"You sure you don't want any help carrying any of that?" she asked Sybil, nodding toward all of the everythings and a couple kitchen sinks their guide had slung over her back. "Even if it's not as hot once we're inside—" please god let it not be as hot once they were inside "—there'll still be plenty of walking. And if not," she added to the rest of the Wayfarers, "I don't mind giving someone a lift, either, if they need it."

 

[Hap]

Ridley hadn't realised how many of the Wayfarers had evolved recently until he was standing in a group of them, dwarfed more than ever by their new forms.

He followed Kimiko and Archie's examples, refilling his canteen from the new river, and took the opportunity to look around the new dungeon.
It was cooler here, amidst the plants, with the spreading leaves casting cool shadows and rich soil underfoot instead of dry dirt. The dew-speckled leaves left small damp patches on Ridley's disguise as he brushed past them. The air had that verdant quality Ridley knew so well from forests in his own world; the dungeon smelled of plant life, overwhelmingly green.

Sybil's words reminded Ridley of old folktales, though, and he had to ask.

"If we might have been standing here for days already," he said, "is there any chance we might leave this dungeon to discover that centuries have passed outside?"

If that were the case they hopefully would have been warned about it beforehand, right? Not that it mattered much to Ridley, who didn't have anything to lose in the outside world, but the other Wayfarers would care.

 

[Inkedust]

Sybil put the hourglass away at the Wayfarer's agreement to press onwards. "Thank you but no, it would be rude of me," she said to Leaf, though her tone was clear that she was at the very least grateful for the offer. She took a few steps forward, gesturing towards the others to follow yet she halted for a brief moment considering Nova and Ridley's questions. "Who knows!" Sybil answered, tossing her head back to look at them. "Nobody until we find out for ourselves. devolution does sound somewhat drastic but you never know with a Divine Dungeon." She then continued her leisurely trot deeper into the forest.

"Do what you need to make clearing the path ahead easier for you, I don't believe the dungeon will mind."

As the group continued deeper into the shade, they could hear rustling behind them. If any of the Wayfarers turned to look they would see... themselves watching Sybil turn over her hourglass. The party would have little time to gawk however as Sybil continued to press forward, none the wiser to the overlapping streams of time behind her. "Come on, there is no need to be caught up by distractions, we must focus ourselves on the path ahead," she called.