Description:
Zaveryn said:
Red light? Wasn't the philosopher's stone from Furia's tale also red...could it be? Well, time to find out. Stick close to Furia(since she can see much better than you can while underwater), swim towards the red light, and be on the lookout for danger.
You roll a 17 (required 10). Success!
You point to the red light below, and try to tell Furia Storm that you should take a closer look. Fortunately, your choker's enchantment allows you to speak underwater, even if your voice sounds a little different than usual.
After you've signaled your descent to your line tender, the siren offers you a leg to grab onto, then slowly pulls you down into the depths of the ocean. The surrounding darkness leaves you guessing at what could be lurking beyond, but you feel rather safe with your aquatic friend by your side.
Your buoyancy soon decreases to a point that allows you to gently fall the rest of the way down to the seabed. When your hooves eventually land on what feels like sand, you begin to swim blindly toward your objective.
Furia Storm: "Is that...?"
You feel Furia Storm's legs pick you up, and drag you forward at a speed that makes you realize how inefficient of a swimmer you are. Regardless, you quickly find yourself under the whirlpool, and in front of the source of light; a brightly glowing red stone held by what seems to be a dormant siren.
Furia Storm: "Queen Maelstrom...?"
The siren queen opens her eyes. They glow a familiar red and suddenly pierce through you with a hateful glare, before looking over at your companion in surprise.
Queen Maelstrom: "Who dares—?! Wait, Furia Storm? No, I must be dreaming."
Furia Storm: "I'm here, my queen. And I bring a friend."
Queen Maelstrom: "Could it be? Oh, Furia, it truly is you! It has been so long since I've heard your beautiful voice. But first, please, tell me about this... friend of yours."
Furia Storm: "Of course. This is Trailblazer, the pony who freed me from my prison..."
Furia Storm takes a moment to recount the events of yesterday, along with the historian's stories, and the captain's decree.
Queen Maelstrom: "How... unexpected. For the longest of times, I could have sworn ponies to be our enemies, though nothing would please me more than to have been gravely mistaken."
The queen's gaze meets your own once more, now with a forbearing expression.
Queen Maelstrom: "Little Trailblazer, you have selflessly come this far to bring this one home, and with her, hope. For that, I cannot thank you enough. Alas, it is with nothing to offer but my faith within you that I must ask for one last favour.
This gemstone is what you ponies call the Philosopher's Stone. It came from the sky one day, and dissonance with it; as you already know, it eats the souls of those who use its power. And so, for the past hundreds of years, I've been holding onto it so that its curse does not spread to the rest of the ocean.
But the ponies who fell my kingdom sought the Stone for evil purposes, and with each return, I fear we will never truly be safe. That is, so long as it exists. Someone... or rather, somepony, must find a way to destroy it, once and for all. Trailblazer, may I ask this of you?"
