Strange Crevice

You discover a fissure split across the floor. From within the darkness, you feel something watching you.

Thump, thump, thump.

A pulse echoes from beneath the fleshy floor. It waits for your response.

Choice Throw in the meat ChoiceF46000

Requires: The expedition holds Tough Raw Meat

• Take 1 Tough Raw Meat from the party
• Go on to the next step

In game: the button previews its own effects

Choice Stare into it ChoiceF46002

Requires: Nobody in the expedition has Mental Collapse

• Strange Niche Remnant plays an animation
• Apply Keen Senses to ⟨name⟩ for 1 day.
• ⟨name⟩ permanently gains +100 Stress

In game: the button previews its own effects

When you hold the meat before the fissure, thin strands of flesh reach out and coil around the meat alone. After it vanishes into the darkness, the entire room contracts once with tremendous force.

'Ra... Gust Stism...'

There is no sound of chewing. Perhaps it is simply beyond your hearing. Instead, a warm vibration travels through the floor beneath the expedition members' feet.

After a moment, the fissure opens again. It appears to be waiting for the next offering.

Choice Throw in the meat ChoiceF46100

Requires: The expedition holds Tough Raw Meat

• Take 1 Tough Raw Meat from the party
• Go on to the next step

In game: the button previews its own effects

Choice Stare into it ChoiceF46102

Requires: Nobody in the expedition has Mental Collapse

• Strange Niche Remnant plays an animation
• Apply Keen Senses to ⟨name⟩ for 1 day.
• ⟨name⟩ permanently gains +100 Stress

In game: the button previews its own effects

Sho,,,,geoo,,s.,..

As the second piece of meat disappears, two small lumps rise in succession along the edge of the fissure, then sink back down.

When an expedition member moves to take out another chunk of meat, the fissure slowly tilts in that direction. It now seems able to sense not only the smell of meat, but also who is carrying it.

From deep within comes the faint sound of hard objects striking one another.

Choice Throw in the meat ChoiceF46200

Requires: The expedition holds Tough Raw Meat

• Take 1 Tough Raw Meat from the party
• 3 Intermediate Mana Stone drop at Strange Niche Remnant
• Go on to the next step

In game: the button previews its own effects

Choice Stare into it ChoiceF46202

Requires: Nobody in the expedition has Mental Collapse

• Strange Niche Remnant plays an animation
• Apply Keen Senses to ⟨name⟩ for 1 day.
• ⟨name⟩ permanently gains +100 Stress

In game: the button previews its own effects

Immediately after swallowing the third piece of meat, the room's pulse abruptly stops.

A moment later, the fissure twists as though retching and spits Mana Stones from its dark crimson mucus.

Whether it is paying for its meal or coughing up pearl-like stones formed within its body is impossible to know.

Even after yielding the Mana Stones, the fissure does not close. It still wants more.

Choice Throw in the meat ChoiceF46300

Requires: The expedition holds Tough Raw Meat

• Take 1 Tough Raw Meat from the party
• Go on to the next step

In game: the button previews its own effects

Choice Stare into it ChoiceF46302

Requires: Nobody in the expedition has Mental Collapse

• Strange Niche Remnant plays an animation
• Apply Keen Senses to ⟨name⟩ for 1 day.
• ⟨name⟩ permanently gains +100 Stress

In game: the button previews its own effects

When you offer the fourth piece, something inside takes only the meat without touching your fingers. Its movement is more careful and practiced than before.

Soon, the veins in the walls and floor begin beating at the same pace as the expedition members' hearts. Yet there is no telling whose heartbeat they are following. Even when one member holds their breath, the chamber's rhythm does not falter.

The slit opens a little wider than before.

Choice Throw in the meat ChoiceF46400

Requires: The expedition holds Tough Raw Meat

• Take 1 Tough Raw Meat from the party
• Go on to the next step

In game: the button previews its own effects

Choice Stare into it ChoiceF46402

Requires: Nobody in the expedition has Mental Collapse

• Strange Niche Remnant plays an animation
• Apply Keen Senses to ⟨name⟩ for 1 day.
• ⟨name⟩ permanently gains +100 Stress

In game: the button previews its own effects

As the fifth piece of meat disappears, the room fills with a scent like ginger and mustard burning in a fire.

Yet each expedition member describes a different smell. One catches spices, another scorched fat, and another the dinner table of a home left behind long ago.

Clatter. Creak. Crunch.

From within the fissure comes the sound of a tongueless mouth savoring its meal.

Choice Throw in the meat ChoiceF46500

Requires: The expedition holds Tough Raw Meat

• Take 1 Tough Raw Meat from the party
• Go on to the next step

In game: the button previews its own effects

Choice Stare into it ChoiceF46502

Requires: Nobody in the expedition has Mental Collapse

• Strange Niche Remnant plays an animation
• Apply Keen Senses to ⟨name⟩ for 1 day.
• ⟨name⟩ permanently gains +100 Stress

In game: the button previews its own effects

After swallowing the sixth piece of meat, the fissure contracts slowly six times, then falls still.

Creeeak! Tick... taste... ting!

In the silence, three clear chimes ring out, like glass bottles striking one another. Yes-the sound you just heard could not possibly have come from inside a living creature.

The fissure remains open, deeper and wider than before, waiting for another hand to reach out.

Choice Throw in the meat ChoiceF46600

Requires: The expedition holds Tough Raw Meat

• Take 1 Tough Raw Meat from the party
• Go on to the next step

In game: the button previews its own effects

Choice Stare into it ChoiceF46602

Requires: Nobody in the expedition has Mental Collapse

• Strange Niche Remnant plays an animation
• Apply Keen Senses to ⟨name⟩ for 1 day.
• ⟨name⟩ permanently gains +100 Stress

In game: the button previews its own effects

As the seventh piece of meat disappears into the darkness, the flesh covering the room contracts all at once.

Deep within the fissure, something moves like a gigantic eyelid closing, pushing out a stream of clear mucus. The fissure then slowly seals shut.