[Open] Clearing the Air [Event]

[Emily]

"Alright everyone, please gather over here. Thanks so much for coming, your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.

"My name is Josha, I am commander of the Royal Zonai Survey Team. Approximately fifteen days ago, the Northeast Survey Team was taking notes and observations on a local sky island when they took note of a new opening in the cliffside. Upon further observation, it was determined this was actually a very old entrance that had been until now concealed by overgrowth. Once the threat of the Upheaval had passed, the automatons in the region resumed their previous behaviour loops and pruned away the plant life blocking the entrance. Standard procedure for the Survey Team is to proceed into any newly-located caves or structures and record anything we find. Unfortunately, once we had pried the door open, it became exceedingly clear that the facility is a danger level beyond our capabilities. There will be more information for you upon arrival at the observation site.

"For most of you, this will be your first time on a sky island, so I'll give you the basics. Most sky islands, including the one you'll be visiting today, are above the normal cloud layer. It is very bright during the day, and you're less protected at that altitude, so make sure you're spending time in the shade or inside buildings. Obviously once you're inside the facility, this will not be as much of a problem. The air is also much thinner than it is on the ground level. All of you are in excellent physical condition, but you'll find you tire faster at that height. We have some magical ability to reinforce and help with the effects, but be aware that you won't have the boundless energy you might have on the ground.

"That should sum it up," Josha said, taking a breath and looking around at the group. "Are you ready?"

They had come from far and wide, no mere raised levies of the monarch, but volunteers spurred by an earnest request for assistance. Some came for the hope of reward- after all, they had been paid handsomely for their assistance in rebuilding Castle Town. Others were curious about the sky islands, and wanted to seek out new adventures. A few just wanted to hit some robots. But all of them were here because Zelda had requested their presence, adding her voice to those of the Royal Zonai Survey Team. Josha and her people might not be the most eloquent when it came to requesting help- certainly Josha herself often became too lost in the technical details- so having the emphatic oratory skill of the queen helped significantly.

Everyone present would be shown to a newly-constructed tower poking out between the trees north of the stable. One by one, they would be instructed to stand on a plate in the centre of the hollowed-out space, at which point Josha would begin working on the controls. During the first preparation, she addressed the gathered crowd- as well as the unsuspecting volunteer. "There are other ways to get to the sky, but we found this is the most popular with people, especially on their first time. We've perfectly calibrated this tower to land you in (or near) the lake sharing an island with the facility. There are mages there, and they will try to catch you, but it's an imperfect science, so the water is there for a soft landing no matter what. If you find yourself submerged, don't panic, this is all according to plan. You will be quickly fished from the lake and magically dried so that you don't get too cold. We've also constructed a research station on site so you can stand inside where you'll be safe from the hng-" she gave one final tug to a winch loaded with rope, "cold and the sunlight. Alright, have a nice flight!"

And with that, she released the mechanism, inflating a massive balloon beneath the wooden platform and propelling the volunteers one-by-one into the sky. For each remaining launch, she would take questions while resetting the tower, but wished every one of them a nice flight.

Once in the sky, each volunteer would find their upward momentum ended just as they crested the surface of the sky island, allowing them an easy, short fall. Just over half would find themselves in stasis, an air pocket encircling them and pulling them to a gentle landing next to a small group of scientists. Most of the remainder would stop a meter above the ground and land on soft grass. Approximately ten per cent would land in the water, quickly caught by a similar air pocket and brought to the same spot before being magically dried and warmed... with the apologies of the team mages, of course.

As the last adventurer was brought to the shore and dried, Her Majesty's Royal Scientist, Lady Purah shut her fan with a loud clack! "Listen up everyone, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once. As far as we can tell, this place is some sort of old research station. The facility extends deep into the island- it's possible it's the entire island. We've gotten conflicting reports from the custodial automatons who used to work in there. I guess the Zonai who used to run this place kept the automatons in sections and they weren't allowed to share information with each other? Apparently, some of the deeper lab assistants got some wires crossed and started attacking anything that moved, even automatons from other sections, so our friendlies are either stranded in there, or were lucky enough to make it out before things got too crazy. Bad news, there are a lot of traps: flamethrowers, pressure plates, tripwires, big stones that will drop on top of you, lasers. Turns out, if you give immortal machines thousands of years with nothing to occupy their minds, they can come up with a lot of death traps. Our scouting options can't even make it through, which sucks. So we don't really know what's in there until we clear it room by room.

"Any questions?"

[LuckyBlackCat]

With a growing frisson of excitement, Alyson drew closer. The discovery had been the talk of Hudson Construction, as closely allied with the Zonai Survey team as they were, and this was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.

As Josha's briefing concluded, Alyson quickly looked over her toolbelt beneath her feather cloak - a smaller but more secure one than usual, with plenty of straps and closed pockets to ensure that jostles and swift movements wouldn't dislodge her belongings. As well as having packed it with numerous energy elixir vials, she'd still managed to load as many tools into it as physically possible. You could never have too many screwdrivers, wrenches or hammers, especially when such things would come in useful for disarming traps.

"Are you ready?"

Shifting her weight from one foot to the other in a mix of impatience and nerves, Alyson nodded and beamed at Josha. "Yep! C'mon fellow intrepid explorers, let's go!"

Gazing up in awe at the tower as she approached, she could hear her heart thudding in her ears over the murmur of the crowd. Best for her to go first, as someone who knew from her engineering colleagues how these contraptions worked - at least, in theory. Besides, even being no stranger to sky island travel, she just had to experience this particular method. Bracing herself, pulling down her goggles, she stepped inside onto the blue-ringed platform. A slight, momentary grimace pulled at her mouth as Josha explained mages would try to catch people, but it quickly gave way to her usual grin. The scientists here knew what they were doing... right? "Sounds fun! Alright, ready for takeoff!"

The platform shuddered under her feet before hurtling upwards at dizzying, exhilarating speed. Rings of arcane symbols throughout the tower flashed past, until sunlight streamed through, and cool wind whipped at her face and clothes as she found herself soaring far above the hatch. "Woooooooo!!" She knew she should keep her breathing steady, conserve air, but she let out a nigh-maniacal laugh nonetheless, surveying the shrinking landscape spread out beneath the wisps of cloud. Flying without the aid of an aircraft was quite the experience.

Her ascent slowed, reaching its zenith just above the lip of the island. A jolt of panic soured the thrill, the words "imprecise science" echoing in her mind. On reflex, she stretched her arms out as she began to plummet, wind streams circling around her hands in case she'd have to slow her fall. It turned out there was no such need, a well-timed air bubble from one of the mages forming around her and pulling her to safety.

As her feet settled in the golden grass, she exhaled sharply, eyes wide with elation. "Well that was quite the way to travel!" Pulling her cloak tighter around herself against the chill, she watched the other volunteers arc over the island's edge one by one and slow to a stop in midair, safely caught in similar air pockets. Such a skill level would be invaluable if she reached it with her own magic someday.

Just as Josha had predicted, several hapless volunteers went careening straight into the pond with almighty splashes. Ancient Arowanas darted this way and that through the water in streaks of silver. Judging by the barely-concealed amusement of some mages as they hauled out the soaked adventurers, Alyson wondered whether it truly had happened on accident. Once she'd checked they were alright, she too had to press her knuckle against her lips, holding back chuckles.

The clack of Lady Purah's fan drew everyone's attention. Alyson listened intently as the Sheikah explained that this was to be no ordinary research mission, the research facility hiding secrets - and danger - at every corner. Her mind whirred like a Zonaite wheel with the possibilities of what lay beneath the group's feet. For the facility to be so heavily guarded, this project had to be a significant one. Yet for all her ignited curiosity, her gloved hand settled on the boomerang under her coat. She took measured, deep breaths of the scant atmosphere, all too aware of her limits as a Hylian, of why it was usually Rito who explored the islands, with their well-developed lungs, cold resistance, and of course their natural ability to fly. Was she in over her head here?

Still, with risk often came reward.

As soon as Purah asked if anyone had any questions, Alyson piped up right away. "Did you find any hints as to what was being studied here? And what kinds of battle constructs will we be facing off against?"

[El]

Lucius

Excitement- nay, proud appreciation glowed forth from a set of draconic eyes as they observed the latest evolution of recycled - UPcycled - technology. Humans were so incredibly ingenious! How did that saying go again... 'One man's trash, was another man's treasure'?

...Hmn. No. Nevermind. Lucius did not like that choice of words. Relics of civilisations past were never trash, regardless of which hands they fell into. He was just glad to see this technology back in use again - allowed to live again. It was what it was created for.

Nothing quite brought that twinkle to his eye as keenly as when a young Hylian valiantly stepped forwards however, offering herself up to be the first to soar! A courageous heart indeed, and well-prepared too given the vast array of tools she'd armed herself with! The sword smiled in praise, lips spread wide around dazzling pearly whites. He took note of her initial hesitance - the grimace - yet her energised spirit shone all the more brightly for it, recovering as quickly as she did. For courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph of action in spite of it.

Then she was gone. Just like that. POOF. Lucius signed the Triforce across his chest in silent prayer of her soft and safe landing. Not long after, it was time he took the plunge himself, stepping forwards from his place within the orderly queue to help blaze the path upwards and onwards!

It didn't sit right with him, seeing a young lady struggle with the ropes of this machine as she did. ...But she also insisted on being the one to do it - despite his impassioned offers. Scholars and scientists were one of the most stubborn breeds, Lucius had discovered over his many years of life. Yet more importantly, chivalry had to be accepted not forced. Once he'd repeated the question several times over to make certain that she TRULY meant her refusal (and wasn't simply being polite as some were wont to), he allowed her flame to blaze brightly - proudly - and took an obedient step upon the illuminated platform.

It was a curious sensation, to feel his legs thrum with the machine's own vibrations. It pulsated then shuddered, SHOOK. Then it was as if something finally snapped, a mechanism triggered, a release popped with a loud twang and UP the tall 'Hylian' knight soared, chin raised high to meet the sky as he scaled the entirety of the tower in the breadth of a blink.

Exhilarating! Wondrous! BEAUTIFUL!!!

Everything about this experience was majestic and poetic, from the blast of fresh air which assaulted him to the great expanse of his wondrous Kingdom as it gleamed beneath golden sunshine and bright blue skies. Reborn and alive with colour, despite all it'd suffered through. He could've penned a sonnet right there and then, in its honour. Yet such an impulse was hardly practical given his current circumstances. Later.

Ah, alas, and so it was that the descent began. Sadly too many moments too soon, the knight lamented, as he felt his chest lurch abruptly in the opposite direction.

The sky island was approaching very rapidly too.

...Incredibly rapidly. Speedy indeed.

It likely did not help that Lucius had turned so that he could plummet towards it, like the falling star burned upon his forehead, blazing across the sky! But there was no need for concern. The shapes may blur. The colours may bleed. The gales may scream. But he had every faith in these intelligent people. They knew exactly what they were doing.

They would catch him.

They were just waiting for the right moment.

The most opportune moment.

No good ever came out of doubting a professional's abilities. And there they were! There they were coming! They would catch him! They were going to catch him! They were catching him-...!

...

Update: They did not catch him.

Facefirst Lucius smashed into the surface of the lake, blasting forth great walls of waves. He did not hear the audible gasps, for his ears were full of water. He did not see how some snickered, for his eyes were also, full of water. No. No suspicion even faintly twinkled in the back of his mind, for he emerged post-haste not out of embarrassment or rage but instead out of concern of their dampened spirits - such failure would surely sting their hearts! And that would not do.

"I AM QUITE WELL!" Lucius exclaimed with bravado and glory, shattering forth from the rippling lake with a glorious flick of satin-blonde locks and a shower of glittering raindrops. The man sparkled. Literally. The sheen of his wide grin was actual illumination. The starlight which twinkled around him? Genuine. Small, pretty little sparks of electricity. Oddly enough there were some petals too... Had he stuffed roses within his collar? "Do not concern yourselves! All is forgiven!" And so up and over he then floated within the confines of his pretty conjured air bubble, his uniform slick with moisture as it stuck to every armoured plate, shimmering chainlink and even steelier muscle. A few errant red petals drifting within until with a POP they cascaded upon the grass.

A fluster of mages swarmed him in order to quickly dry him off, but they found themselves flustering deeper when somehow, for some reason, when they blasted him with hot air he looked even more-... illustrated? Beautiful? Nay, majestic? The knight outspread his arms and leaned backwards, allowing his cape and tabard to flutter and his grand mane to unfurl; like those posters of Lory-El's latest ChuChu Shampoo which had been plastered over Castle Town's walls as of late. There was even the sun-crested horizon in the background.

"Very refreshing." Lucius concluded, dazzling his audience with another delighted smile once they'd finally finished - many moments longer than was actually needed, transfixed as some were. (He hadn't noticed.) "My deepest gratitudes, gentlemen and gentlewomen and every other gentletype inbetween and beyond. Now if I may, I must make haste to join my other comrades."

None other than Lady Purah awaited their arrival, the wait for the rest of the expedition to arrive proving to be efficiently swift. Once all were present she snapped shut her fan to punctuate the start of her own not-so-brief briefing: not that Lucius minded of course, for ignorance was the making of a fool - especially dead fools. He'd happily take and record every detail she offered. There was little need for him to take the initiative in prompting for further knowledge either, for that same courageous lady from earlier was also the first to make an inquiry.

"Did you find any hints as to what was being studied here? And what kinds of battle constructs will we be facing off against?"

Hmn. Very good questions. Lucius nodded in approving agreement.

Once those blanks were filled in and an adequately polite pause respected, the unarmed knight raised his hand to take a turn, "Am I correct to infer that we are to eliminate all threats within? Or are our priorities instead to secure artifacts of interest and rescue potential companions?" Not that either were mutually exclusive, Lucius acknowledged, yet he felt it was important - to him at least - to ascertain her preferences, so that he might act and adapt accordingly. He'd be no different from a butcher's knife if all he cared for was bloodshed or-, er... circuit fluid.

[Rex Draco]

Among the volunteers was a Zora male, at least that was what one could surmise from the visible headfin hanging down from the back of the deep, cobalt mantle that wrapped around his head and shoulders, obscuring his features. The hood of the cloak was pulled over his head where a bone-carved mask sat over his face. Two crooked horns protruded back from the mask with decorative sigils painted along the pallid jaw and muzzle. The lower jaw served as a guard around his own, shaped perfectly around his face, allowing one to see his shark-toothed scowl from beneath the shadow cast by the skull's snout. The eye sockets of the mask were inset with two blue rupees, carved to fit in the space.

The front of the mantle was closed by way of a silver brooch that had old Gerudo designs carved into its surface. Around his waist was a white obi sash, his blue tunic tucked into the thick, cotton belly wrap. Hanging from the obi was a satchel, a heavy one that was filled to the brim with supplies: rations, a coral knife, scissors, and pitch lantern for emergencies. He had a pair of grey-blue culottes whose ankles were tucked into the tops of his black shoes, white swathing tape wrapped around his ankles for protection. On his hip he wore a decorative scabbard with a blade sheathed into the cover. His true weapon was a gnarled staff that he used to walk with, supporting his languid gait as the tall, lanky figure pulled himself up to the back-end of the crowd.

What stood out were the bright fuschia bangles around his wrists, that peeked out from beneath the loose sleeves of his tunic, and the band seemingly cinched around the base of his prehensile-like headfin. He didn't seem to mind the occasional looks that gave a curious glance, the armlets quite bright against his seemingly, deep blue, scales.
 
It didn't take long for his turn to arrive. As with the others: there was no great hurrah when he was launched into the sky like a discarded fishhead. The male was the bottom 10% and ended up landing in the water, but he would not do so with a dismayed flail and frantic yowl. Without a whimper, nor even a splash, the Zora dove into the water, the tip of his mask's muzzle nearly touching the pool's bottom. Upon surfacing the male climbed out, body drenched. A touch of air caused a chill to run through his bones, but it was not unwelcomed as it touched on a familiar memory from his past, though maybe that alone was a hallucination given the time that has since passed...

When he stepped out of the pool he raised his hand in refusal, rebuffing the apologetic mages. Turning down their offer to dry him, the soggy wizard would join the growing crowd. Despite his efforts to push their concern aside they begged his pardon, wondering why their magics had faltered. Perhaps the exhaustion of catching so many one after another...? But they had no time to wonder as the man had already approached the crowd where they waited to hear Purah out.

"How many have come to see that woman....?" He wondered.

He raised his skull-covered face and listened to the woman. Little gave credence to his roots as a Zora. His scales were heavily covered with cloak and cloth. His fins were weighed down beneath sleeves and under socks. If not for the headfin one would have easily been deceived by the man's appearance for that of an exceptionally tall Hylian. He listened to the woman, his eyes hidden beneath the muzzle of the mask. He clicked his tongue against the sides of his fangs when she finished speaking. Questions began to flitter in from the crowd.

When the first two questions were carried out from their speakers, the mage decided his own question was warranted. "Did the ancients really live here? Did they even work here? Is the team sure this place holds any significance? I couldn't see how a place run by Constructs matters to the historical logia."

The dripping wizard did have a point: if this was just a hub for machines, could they really make use of it without the architects?

[Chaosome]

Arcade was rarely one for team efforts. Variables were fine, they made even the most stock standard of experiments a modicum more interesting, but too many chefs spoil the pot. Having others there to potentially interfere with his work was different. On the other wing they made for perfect test rats. Grubby hands touching things before they know that they do, blindly walking into rooms before testing the doorways, it could prove incredibly fascinating in spite of the equal potential for headaches. Given that this was a rare opportunity to investigate one of the Zonai's skylands unperturbed by whatever nosy guards the Royal team had, the Rito decided the potential reward was worth the risk.

And so it was that that Arcade found himself meandering listlessly into the crowd of gathered scientists and adventurers alike that had heeded the Queen's call. Who was here for altruistic purposes and who was simply here to further their own adgenda was anyone's guess. Though some clearly had that bright eyed look of wonder about them that gave that game away. The unbridled enthusiasm was exactly what Arcade liked to see. Those were often the ones that rushed headlong and heedless into mystery and danger, and thus made some of the more fascinating subjects to observe.

Adjusting his labcoat as he moved forward towards the gaggle of gawkers, Arcade listened quietly to the diminutive commander of the Survey Team. She seemed young to be in such a position, but the man knew well enough that age only factored into skill and knowledge so much, and that despite the Sheikah having their... issues, one should never underestimate them... or their connection to the Royal Family. Either way, the young commander clearly had a grasp of the situation and that was enough for now.

Shifting the spears on his back to make sure they were secure, Arcade watched as one by one the volunteers were launched skyward with varying levels of enthusiasm or fear. It was always amusing to find out who cowered when it came to such things and who faced the thrill with a grin. The Rito's feeling on the matter were neither here nor there, he could fly himself if need be, but the chance to conserve his energy was a far better choice.

Patiently the bird waited as the line moved, strolling into the tower himself when the time finally came. He did have to wonder if there were more expedient ways to send the land bound races skyward that wouldn't also probably rip them apart at high speeds... A test for another time he supposed. The rush of wind whipped around him as he was launched, piercing a cloud as he soared upwards. At the peak of his ascent Arcade unfurled his wings, casting a silhouette across the sun before he swooped downwards, landing gracefully by the crowd of already gathered volunteers.

When at last the final projectile had been caught and dried, the clack of a fan called the group's attention. Lady Purah had a commanding presence among the Sheikah. He supposed one must have to, to truly stand out among them, or perhaps she was just 'like that'. Either way, after her explanation was out of the way, the floor was opened for questions. Arcade himself had few, ones that he would bother to find out the answers either first hand or through the mistakes of others, but it seemed a few of the workers had enough sense to ask at least the most basic of inquires. His gaze glanced between the girl and the robed figure then back towards Purah. He was fairly certain he knew who was under that robe, but it didn't matter much to him if he was correct or not really, but if he was correct it would prove to make things more interesting.

[Emily]

It had begun in the wake of that blizzard, confusion and darkness, desperately clutching hands losing feeling. The feeling of ice shards stabbing into her lungs, every exerted breath necessary for life, pushing her closer to death. Reverie had spent that night high on adrenaline, watching the road once they'd entered the Tabantha frontier and established a camp. She expected, every second, that their pursuers would crest the distant hill, knowing they wouldn't be able to escape before they were overtaken and executed. Necessity turned to habit, habit turned to ritual. Even when she was able to fall into a fitful sleep, Reverie would wake up after an hour, plagued by anxiety-fuelled nightmares. She had thrown herself into increasingly desperate circumstances to find a safe place, entering Akkala with Lucke, Axel, and Alyson, she'd instead found a brief respite before even more fighting.

Reverie hadn't been able to sleep well for quite some time now, and it didn't seem like a situation that was going to change soon. She instead found here, wearing a ragged cloak, head down, listening to but not hearing what Josha was saying. It was strange, she remembered being a different person. She had never been malicious or antisocial. She had always been happy to be part of the group while growing up, always taking part in events and happy to lend a hand to whatever was going on. She'd had friends, colleagues, a very specific co-conspirator. Something in her had changed somewhere along the way, and her brain was too foggy to remember what it was or when it had happened. Whatever the details, she struggled when surrounded by a crowd now. When people were on each side, it felt like she was going to be crushed to death. A rising sense of panic would bubble first in a tightening of the stomach, then the pounding of her heart. Her breathing became more shallow as she attempted to regain control, but even her throat started to tense up, making it more difficult to breathe. She was being squeezed, she was going to die.

She clutched the cloak closer around her as she approached the platform. The Sheikah had said something before they started firing people out of a canon, but the words had been lost on her. The sound of her heartbeat, her breathing, the blood rushing in her ears, that was all she could hear. She didn't see the point of listening, she didn't know what the outcome of this was going to be. Occasionally, she fully lost track of where she was for a moment, looking around with a deep and profound confusion before something clicked in her mind and returned her to the present. As she stepped onto the platform, raggedy and disengaged, she could feel the remaining crowd watching her. She looked up at them, lavender eyes with a glint of steel. And she was gone.

As she entered the sky, the roar of wind overwhelming in how it filled all her senses, suddenly she was Reverie again. As her eyes turned skyward, finally looking up, her hood caught the wind and ripped backward, tearing away from the cloak entirely. She was filled with excitement, freedom. As the crowd grew smaller beneath her, as she rocketed away from Hyrule and all of its problems, a new sensation filled her. Now that she felt alive, the fear of dying, of leaving things unsaid and unresolved, returned. Getting flung into the sky on a whim, hoping that every precise setting in the manufacture of this contraption had been correct, hoping that the previous shots hadn't knocked anything out of alignment even a little bit, changing a trajectory to land on the island into a trajectory to hit the bottom of it, it all seemed so very suddenly stupid. What a moron she had been, had she wanted to die?

Well-

Her misgivings were minor compared to the overwhelming exhilaration of this method of travel. There was an addictive quality to it, even as the island came into view, growing larger even as she felt herself slowing. The rest of her cloak tore away as she crested the edge of the island, the mages catching her and setting her on the ground. She looked around, eyes bright, laughter tainted with desperation erupting from within. She took a moment to look back over the edge before very quickly regretting that decision and scrabbling back.

One of the mages who had caught her commented as she passed them to join the group. "That armour is beautiful," she stated. "Are you a knight, by chance?" Reverie caught her breath, her blue hair having exploded out of its plaits and wildly extending all around her. She couldn't imagine a world where she looked like a knight, but then again perhaps her upbringing had revered those things more than the rest of Hylian society. "No, but thank you. I am merely... a concerned citizen." That's right, she had always hoped to become a knight one day, a wish that only grew in intensity once her grandmother died. To eventually become a knight would be the ultimate method of honouring her grandmother's memory. Perhaps that would be possible, once Hyrule had rebuilt enough. She stopped hesitating and approached the growing group standing around Lady Purah.

~*~

"Did you find any hints as to what was being studied here?" came the first question. Despite the reputation of aloofness and disinterest that preceded her, Purah clearly gave her full attention to the woman speaking. "And what kinds of battle constructs will we be facing off against?"

She took a moment before shrugging. "Hard to say, honestly. It seems like whoever ran this place was very interested in plants. We don't have much information outside the beginning section of the lab, but the custodial automatons from there were working on botanical studies. As for battle constructs, we've only seen the first couple tiers of soldiers and captains so far, but we fear there might be worse further in. The presence of all manner of traps within the entry rooms suggests, to some of us at least, that they've recruited some steward constructs. And I'm not sure what the hell those guys can do in a fight."

"Am I correct to infer," a man appearing to be some sort of classical athlete began, "that we are to eliminate all the threats within? Or are our priorities instead to secure artifacts of interest and rescue potential companions?"

"Excellent. Question," Purah emphasised her words, to catch the attention of everyone else. "Our primary goal is your- and our- safety while in there. We'd like to rescue any trapped, friendly automatons in there that can tell us what's going on. And preserving all the artifacts within the premises would be ideal. But if something breaks in a fight, you're to prioritise your well-being and that of the research team members accompanying you. We don't know what's going to be happening deeper within the facility, and denying ourselves the grace of doing what is necessary will only hinder our efforts."

"Did the ancients really live here? Did they even work here?" Purah looked bemused at this waterlogged aggression. "Is the team sure this place holds any significance? I couldn't see how a place run by Constructs matters to the historical logia."

She waited a few seconds before replying, presumably in case more questions were to join the initial barrage. "It is indisputable fact that the Zonai lived and worked within the structures on the sky islands. Although it has been millennia, and at some point their structures fully separated from the ground, we are almost entirely certain that all floating islands have something to do with Zonai society. Though we have had some excellent first-hand accounts from the queen and Mineru- a Zonai sage who tragically died shortly after the demon king was defeated- of what the Zonai were like, most of our scientific understanding comes from the constructs. They have an unbroken line of memory from the time of King Rauru to the modern day. Their very design is Zonai. Furthermore, they do not seem to have free will. They continue any task they were set to by another being until they receive a new task. Therefore, anything they're doing is relevant, and anything on a sky island is relevant. You are correct to say we do not have concrete foreknowledge of the relevance of this particular lab to any specific project or field, there is no question that it is tied to the Zonai."

There were others in attendance, of course, but those were the questions she received. The Lead Researcher paused for further questions.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Botanical studies. Already, Alyson could think of a few people who'd be interested in that kind of knowledge, should the team successfully retrieve it. Mellani in Hateno Village, for one, as well as the farmers learning how to cultivate sundelions. And Sable was ever on the lookout for new concoction ingredients. Her knowing smile wavered as Purah answered her second question. Low-tier soldiers weren't too tough to deal with, but captains... Those were a different story, with all manner of fused Zonai weapons at their disposal. And who knew what the usually friendly wardens would be capable of?

Right after the reply came several more questions from the growing crowd. A blond Hylian, presumably a soldier or mercenary by the look of his armour although he carried no visible weapons, followed up her combat-related inquiry with one of his own, about whether this would be primarily an elimination or rescue mission. When Purah explained, addressing everyone that their priority would be the team's safety rather than either of those, Alyson gave a slight nod. Her hand went to a pouch containing three shock fruits from her last foray into the sky, all of which would probably come in necessary.

Would they really be able to rescue all the trapped stewards? And how many battle constructs would they have to slay? Some would say that it didn't matter, that constructs were incapable of true thought or feeling... but how did they know this to be the case for sure?

A grumbling inquiry from a masked, cloaked figure, expressing doubt about whether the Zonai had ever lived here and thus about the point of this whole expedition, pulled Alyson from her thoughts. Although she already knew the answer, the vast numbers of Zonai contraptions that had fallen from the sky over Lake Akkala and its shore being proof, she took in Purah's statement of her sources. Reminders that their Queen had briefly lived with the Zonai, had seen the glory of their civilisation before its fall, never ceased to inspire awe in her.

A brief silence followed the response. Alyson scanned the crowd around her, wondering if anyone else would pipe up, her expression brightening at the sight of a familiar figure near the back. A figure who, with her wild blue hair and flushed face, looked every inch the battle-ready berserker.

"Reverie! Good to see ya!" How had she missed Reverie's arrival? Or had the mercenary simply been launched last? She sprinted over, giving her a light punch on her armoured shoulder, ignoring the cold that stung her knuckles. "Who'd have thought we'd find ourselves teaming up for yet another ancient tech related mission? Between the two of us, and all of us here, clearing out this lab will be a walk in Hyrule Forest Park! With more in the way of..." She caught her breath. Adjusting to the abrupt change in the air was harder than gradually acclimatising to its thinner concentrations while rising in an aircraft. "In the way of actual living vegetation, by the sound of it."

And now she'd gone and started babbling. Would Reverie recognise that from their previous quest as a sign of nerves?

[El]

Lucius

So flora was the environmental theme of this conquest. A subtle light flashed across his eyes. Information Registered. He blinked.

Logically, he could have surmised as much already (given the structure's appearance and introduction), but such assumptions were often rife with error. The greater the quantity of information, the more he could minimise the likelihood of failure.

Though speaking of... hmn. This came with its own batch of problems and potential. Just as the Depths had shown how outdated his database was, it was very likely these Sky Islands held just as many new discoveries. On a personal level he did not care for them (deep interest in such a subject was an unnecessary waste of passion), yet willful ignorance could endanger his more soft-skinned compatriots.

More research required. Logging tertiary objective. Warning: Do not pursue under high risk scenarios. Priority: Low.

While Purah continued to answer the flood of questions Lucius listened in contemplative, focused silence. A glove curled across his lips, at first there to cradle his processing thoughts, only to quickly become the cover of an amused smile. This Sheikah clearly did not rise to her station for lack of strength in personality: she held her own admirably against a more cynical, aggressive barrage with thoroughly intellectual wit.

Then a silence came, and an anticipatory hush settled across the gathered crowd. Lucius too took his turn to cast his attention across the colourful group. He wasn't looking to inspire the courage of curiosity in any of his companions, nor did he particularly care for who might pipe up next, but this was a great opportunity to quickly scan those who stood at his side - and who would stand at his back in the thick of conflict. There were a few particularly noteworthy individuals:

First: A Hylian Woman. Skillset: Likely mechanical, given her visible equipment and scars.

She carried herself with a bubbly energy, quick to smile and eager to be amongst friends. She had also been the first to make inquiries at Purah's behest.
Ease of Co-Operation: High. Risk Level: ...Pending. Potential weapons on her person, but combat ability is unknown. Currently setting risk level to a temporary Medium-High.

Second: A Hylian Woman. Skillset: Combat-orientated.

This quiet, blue-haired lady held a remarkably familiar visage. Even her stoic mannerisms reminded him of memories distant and long since last accessed. Ah. Database Search Complete. She was a Reneaux. That made Lucius smile, broad and gleaming. Yet now was not the time to make belated introductions, or to praise her relatives.
Ease of Co-Operation: Very High. Risk Level: Low. Protected with suitable armour and likely efficient in swordsmanship.

Third: Male... Zora. Skillset: Unable to accurately determine. Appears diverse. Potentially both combat and magic proficient.

This individual held a very intentional, well-crafted aura of mystery. Even his race was all but obscured from prying eyes - Lucius had identified it belatedly. This was a matter of concern: his patterns aligned themselves with that of criminals. Those who hid had something to hide. However, so too did noteworthy individuals of great repute disguise themselves. This was the companion whose questioning of Purah had been barbed with skepticism.
Ease of Co-Operation: Low, but pending potential change. Risk Level: Very Low. Unlikely to need - or want - assistance, however may prove a danger to the rest of the group. Cautionary Mark Set.

Fourth: A Rito Male. Skillset: Assumedly alchemical, given the visible equipment.

This well-dressed fellow had triggered on Lucius' radar last for a reason - he was very quiet. Observant. He blended in. Yet he appeared to be calculating his companions in a manner the Knight had come to associate with those of scientific minds, with an air of detachment and patient curiosity.
Ease of Co-Operation: Unknown. Pending information. Risk Level: Medium-Low. Currently assuming hazardous concoctions on his person and a high IQ. Likely to prioritise self-preservation OR jump into danger in the name of intellectual pursuit. Conclusion pending.

Hm.

Information Gathering: Complete. Initial Risk Assessment: Complete.
More information will eventually be required, collected data will inevitably be edited, but for now this would suffice. Lucius had gathered his bearings. He gave himself a quiet, subtle nod of approval and turned back to Purah.

When no more questions were offered up, the blonde-maned Knight chose to raise his hand again. "My apologies if this has already been established and I failed to take note," He prefaced, "But are we to elect our own leader, or shall you be accompanying us personally?"

Some - usually those of fiery, prideful will - would balk at the idea of a leader, but Lucius knew well how quickly chaos could take root without an agreed upon figurehead to guide the masses. Chaos could be panic. Chaos could be discord. Nonetheless, all forms of chaos inevitably resulted in increased danger and higher mortality rates. Unity was required not only to produce satisfactory results, but also to help ensure safety. At the very least some baseline roles would need to be established: a cursory glance and a list of assumptions were not a wiseman's longterm solution to effective co-operation. 

[Rex Draco]

The long-muzzled skull dipped, the researcher's words fluttering between his earholes. The azure rupees, embedded into the monstrosity's sun-bleached skull, seemed to give it a sense life, almost as if it still had eyes which shifted with passing thoughts. The shadow of the cowl did well to play tricks, making it seem as if the Zora and skeleton were one. When his mouth moved, so did the joined jaws of the expired beast. Decor at best, the horned ossien beast now obeyed the jilted movements of the wizened wizard. The staff scraped along the ground with the baying breath of an exhaling crow, his boots tapping the ground like the clamouring hooves of a rooting goat on stone. If not for his hanging headfin or blue limbs one could have been fooled into believing the shadow of a Wizzrobe had risen from the grave to curse passersby.

When answered he proceeded to melt back into the crowd. The Sheikah had mentioned traps and other apparent dangers that were given when it came to Constructs. The ancient Zonai technology was renowned for the vast applications in which Constructs could be categorized. He has heard of Zonai who were maesters of botany while others wielded blades that could contest with Hyrule Knights. He wasn't keen on running into the more combat-oriented Constructs. According to the woman they were likely further in, with the basic foot soldiers awaiting them at the breadth of the entrance. It made the mage wonder just how valuable the facility was to implore such advanced measures of defense. Purah claimed to not know what the facility was for, exactly, but if they did indeed run into more difficult opposition that would certainly start to reveal the lab was more than what was on its surface. 

But the old wizard wasn't interested in the lab, but the crowd instead. He had hoped by following Director Purah, Princess Zelda would not be far behind. From what he has learned from rumors was that the Princess was often boots deep in fieldwork wherever the Sheikah was present. From the ruins of Hyrule to Lookout Landing. He has witnessed a few things in his time in Hyrule such as the Bloodmoons and twisted accolades left behind by the Demon King. He surfed the crowd, face completely obscured by the bone mask and his dark cowl. The staff tapped along the ground with each step, the guay-like shrieks following each dragging pull. The sigils carved into the horns were dull and lifeless, an ebon char filling the grooves that remained untouched by the Sky Island sky, which was untouched by clouds. He scanned the crowd in search for the Princess.
She had something that wasn't hers...

He gripped the staff tight. For a moment his long, webbed fingers spread out before regripping the wooden rod more comfortably, the gnarled wood scraping against the rough scales of his palm. After scanning the crowd his gaze fell upon a woman decked out in rather prestigious looking armor. Many seemed to circle her and question her about her position, but she was not from any known order of Knights, but instead was some sort of lone individual. He noted a Rito and another Sheikah, (maybe Hylian? It was difficult to discern.) among the crowd. Their presence among Hylian matters was a rare one so he paid attention when they were about. It meant things stirred their community affairs and drove them beyond their walls. There was the Hylian woman in armor and finally another, who stood out among the school, a mechanic of some sort. He recognized the Rito, but for now he went about his own affairs. Since he had yet to see the princess among her subjects the man moved on to the outer edges of the collective.