Obitiga began to explain to us what happened. How a few years ago the Zenshu Cult arrived on the island. At that time the people of Sanshu were hopeful and had the spirit to fight. Unfortunately, the Cult overpowered them after a while. Taking both the Cluster Presidents captive. After taking each capital they began to kill, outcast, or enslave the citizens. They used the enslaved citizens to keep the clusters stable, as well as to try and defeat the Forsaken Guardians on the island. Though they've only fallen short. The ones who were outcast made their way to the current outpost, keeping an eye on the Cult as much as possible. According to Obitiga though there was a rumor among them that they were getting close to defeating both the Forsaken.
"It sounds like you've all been through a lot."
[Lepricus]
"Yeah, but none of us are giving up hope."
[Outcast 1]
"We've been training since the day we were sent topside. As long as the tunnels remain open we know our way around."
[Outcast 3]
"So that means there's still access to the underground city?"
[Sirisa]
"Yes but it's not going to be that simple of a task."
[Obitiga]
"What do we have to do?"
[Twilight]
The Obitiga and the outcasts began telling me they knew a way back into the city, though it may be guarded, it was the only way in.
S.Y. 650 Muro 5 2:22 S.Q. - Deep within the Island of Sanshu
With everything set, we set off following what seemed to be another water pipeline a little less visible under the sand. With the journey being long the outcasts and Obitiga began explaining the details of the Cult attack.
"It was like a nightmare. Before we even knew what had happened they had forced their way in."
[Obitiga]
"It was the middle of the night when they came."
[Outcast 2]
"We tried to fight them off but they were too strong and they had greater numbers than we did."
[Obitiga]
"After they took out our soldiers they began to gather the women and children. Killing anyone strong enough to fight back, until eventually, no one wanted to resist."
[Outcast 3]
"My parents got me, and a few of us here, out first. Then they gave themselves up to stop anyone else from becoming a victim. Eventually, as more people came, they told us that my parents informed them of the location, and where to find us."
[Obitiga]
"Do you know where they are now?"
[Twilight]
"We aren't sure but we think everyone who was taken to Hotia, it's where we keep the island's resources. If they wanted to sustain themselves here they would need to gain control of it."
[Obitiga]
"Well, why don't we head there first?"
[Twilight]
"It's not that simple, Hotia is heavily guarded, and though we do have some security personnel amongst us still alive. They weren't given high access."
[Outcast 2]
"What about these other clusters, can we enter through one of those?"
[Gixoh]
"Where do you think we're going right now?"
[Outcast 1]
"They probably thought we just wanted to roam around in the sand."
[Outcast 3]
"Yeah, maybe."
[Outcast 2, laughing with the others]
"In all truth, the two clusters have a chance of being just as heavily guarded. The first being Bardonia located where we are now, the Sirsa Desert, which we are actually close to. The second near the Oasis, Hydaria, the only source of water topside on the island."
[Obitiga]
Obitiga and the others kept going into further detail, and though all of this happened they explained that the Cult shouldn't have been able to lock anyone out. Seeing how they had killed and outcast those among the Security Team. We kept moving forward, the environment was pretty harsh and we made our way through many sandstorms. We also came across a few unknown creatures, they were borrowing their way underneath the ground. They reminded me somewhat of the Spids back home, though they were more worm-like. They seemed to travel alone, and we even saw a few of them fighting amongst each other. They had the hard exteriors, it took all of us to take down even one of them. Obitiga called them Scipola, they were relatively easy to maneuver around when underground. After a few encounters with them, we eventually arrived at a less hazardous area filled with rocks.
S.Y. 650 Muro 7 6:42 L.Q. - Bardonia Entrance
"Why are we stopping?"
[Lepricus]
"You'll see."
[Obitiga]
As we came to a stop I realized they had led us to rock but it was in the middle of the desert by itself so it seemed a little weird. As we approached I started to realize more and more that it wasn't just a rock. I began to wonder why the outcasts lead us here, but then Obitiga approached the side of the rock. It obviously had to be a magically infused rock because a keypad appeared and he entered in a code. The next thing you knew a door carved itself out of the rock and boom, there was an entrance. It led to this huge staircase that seemed to go on and on forever.
"Here take these, they should be able to keep our presence hidden from anyone who doesn't directly run into us."
[Outcast 2]
[Item Acquired: Stealth Cloaks]
"What are they?"
[Temti]
"They are stealth cloaks, they were invented years ago by one of the great mole crafters. We've used them for many years to avoid the creatures down here."
[Outcast 2]
"Creatures? Are they like the Scipola we just ran into, because if so I'm not sure I want to go through that anymore?"
[Temti]
"They are somewhat similar, but a bit more complicated. They have a body that somewhat resembles the Scipola, but I would say they're more like the Naga race if you've ever seen one. They actually maneuver throughout the tunnels, as if they have a patrol system. We haven't been able to figure out where they come from. Instead, we do our best to close off and disguise ourselves as we move through their territory."
[Obitiga]
"But in this case, we've got more than just the creatures to worry about."
[Outcast 3]
"Since they took over the Cult has been patrolling the area every now and then. With these, we have been able to keep ourselves from being detected while gathering information."
[Obitiga]
"It's usually about 10-15 of them patrolling in different cycles. We've learned them so don't worry about it too much."
[Outcast 2]
"Anyway go ahead and put them on we have to get through Bardonia and make it to the underground tunnels without being caught."
[Outcast 1]
Once we entered the tunnels it was a whole different world. As we descended you could see a light at the bottom. Once reached it didn't even look like we were underground. The walls were well lit, and everything was crystal infused. We made our way through, the closer we got to the center the more Cult members we began to see. They looked like they were amongst the Zoria and Zora ranks, I'm glad we avoided them. I was surprised by just how intricate the tunnels were. I could tell just how simple it would be for people to get lost within it.