The Kingdom of Cimexina (Yusuke & DigitalSiren)

[Yusuke]

"How did I get myself in this mess?" Swain questioned himself as he hoisted himself through the gap in the rubble. His shifting weight clearly disturbed some order within the crumbled archway, causing it to quickly cave behind him. An exasperated sigh escaped his mouth, as he looked back, disappointed at the lack of an exit. It was clear he'd have to figure another way out. It was less clear why he had even decided to scale a rocky precipice in the jagged hills to crawl through a precarious crack in the wall but so was the life of an adventurer. The potential gains rarely warranted the risk, but everything from the ancient history to the liberating thrills made up enough reasons for him to follow the lead that led him to this place.

Water dripped from cracks in the ceiling and dust settled along the floor after being promptly kicked up by the previous impact. Lucky for Swain, the place was certainly untouched for ages. The entrance showed the most weather, fading into a mostly intact corridor that sloped downwards. The architecture was unlike any style he'd seen before. As far as anyone knew nobody was reported to have lived in these parts. The jagged peaks were too precarious to make for a good home. That would, however, explain the lack of comfort in the decor. It was more akin to a temple or maybe a storehouse. A place of function over form to say the least.

Swain noticed lines of sconces along the wall. Deciding it would be wise to not continue too much further in the dark, he found one of a few empty sconces, placing a prepared torch from his own pack inside. With it, he held a smooth flint stone and drew the knife at his hip. The flint struck against the flat edge of the blade causing several small sparks to fly. After several hits the oil of the torch finally managed to catch. The flame roared and crackled to life, a warm light now filled the corridor.

With a torch in hand, the brave adventurer cut his own way through the darkness. It was almost eerie how little there was. Nobody lived here, but then what was the purpose of the structure? Had he accidentally uncovered a stairway to the underworld? Knowing his own luck, Swain would believe almost anything at this point.

Finally, the corridor opened into a larger chamber. The room was in ruins. This destruction looked much more intentional than natural. Parts of the floor had fallen out around the edges of the room and in the center was a mechanism buried under fallen stones. Sadly, there was no moving the massive slab of ceiling that concealed what was once there. All that could be made out was twisted metal and chains in an unrecognizable mess. Whoever or whatever was here before clearly didn't want anyone making use of this structure.

It seemed now there were more questions than answers. Not exactly a fruitful venture but interesting nonetheless, Swain figured as he hefted himself on top of a pile of rubble. The better view didn't reveal much, beyond some more intricate architecture, with some detailing in a peculiar jet black metal.

"I can't tell if this is the discovery of the century or a dead end," Swain muttered to himself, as he dropped down on the opposite side of the pile of rubble. Much like he entered, it seemed the stability of the place didn't take kindly to the slightest of disturbances, causing a shift underfoot. Another section of the floor gave way, revealing a bottomless abyss below. The gate to the underworld suggestion was seeming all the more likely by the moment. It certainly wasn't the way forward he'd anticipated. No way up and a bottomless pit below. Sadly the options were grim. The room rumbled, as if angered by his very presence.

Swain held his torch over the hole, hoping to see a safe respite at the bottom but to no avail. With no real options left, he threw the torch down, watching it illuminate the path down. He couldn't hear anything hit the bottom and the torch merely disappeared into the deep blackness. As the floor crumbled, closing in on him, Swain stubbornly wished to at least make the choice himself.

"To whom it may concern, please let a soft landing await me!" Swain exclaimed to the winds as he squeezed his eyes shut and plunged himself down.

 

[Bunny]

Nothing interesting ever happened, Runa mused ideally as she gently nudged the large Tintreach as it grazed on lichen. The stubby little legs moved a few more steps before stopping. The days never changed. Wake, tend to her chores, tend to the Tintreach, herd them back in the evening and then have an early supper. Sleep would follow only for the cycle to start again. Tedious boredom, that is what Runa would die of. Flopping on the soft lichen covered ground she gazed up at the ceiling of the cave. It was pitch black, the glow around her coming from the Tintreach. Above, supposedly, was a race of beasts. Runa had heard about them since she'd been a larva. Reaching hand up, she splayed her fingers against the darkness. Her pale, soft pink hand seemed to almost glow in the darkness. Pillowing her hand on two of her arms she let her hand fall down.

The beasts on the surface were meant to be vicious and dull witted. They lacked the technology that her own kind had. In truth, they were meant to be no smarter than the Tintreach that nibbled at her hand, seeking pets. Chuckling she rubbed its snout, her head turning to the side. They also only had two of everything. Two eyes, to arms, to legs. While Runa herself only had four arms, she was not so plain as to have no extras. She was actually quite the beauty, or so she was told. Living on the outskirts of the town, far from the cities, she had only those around her to base that on. She was almost fully pink. From the vibrant pink of her hair to the soft pink antenna. Her wings were delicate, full and much like her skin, velvety in texture. A lot of good being a beauty would do her out here. Not that she worried about that. It was by far less of an issue than the fear of dying without living...

Slowly pushing herself to sit, she gazed out at the Tintreach as they grazed, their cute little bodies wiggling slightly as they moved spot to spot. It was too much to hope for something exciting to happen today. Rising to her feet she lift her upper arms, stretching them as her wings flared, the dim glow from the Tintreach's catching them and sending them shimmering. Her lower arms smoothed along her stomach and Runa let out a sigh before starting to move the herd along. Above, a soft rumble echoed through the cavern. It wasn't unusual, as the caves shifted, collapsed and new ones formed. Tilting her head to the side, the golden eyes set in the dark pupils she bit her lower lip, wondering if there would be anything interesting in the rubble. Stroking the soft head of the nearest Tintreach, Runa slowly made her way down a darkened path. Leaving the glow behind her, her eyes adjusted easily to the endless darkness.

Whatever Runa might have expected to find, it wasn't a beast from above.

Nimbly she crested a large stone, peering down at the settling landscape before her. Dust and dirk still filtered down from where the massive slabs had come from. Spreading her wings, using them for balance, Runa slowly stepped down a rocky path. Beneath her feet, the surface shifted, the balance of rocks and stone precarious. Humming softly, a lullaby from her childhood, Runa made her way to what seemed to be the main portion that had collapsed. There, was where she found him. At first, there was no fear as she came close to an odd lump, but when it shifted, she let out a small cry of fright and flew backwards, hovering a few feet above the ground. Shifting slightly in the air, Runa leaned closer. Glancing around she flew closer, nudging the thing with a foot, before flying higher.

"What.. are you?"