[Quest] From the Depths [Closed]

[Marius]

“Shyke,” Marius grimaced when he heard the cracking sound that was shortly followed by a rumbling of the ground. He’d been in this situation before, so he knew the tremors would only get worse and worse, until the roof arches gave way and buried the entire cavern. Only Semele knew how much time they had to complete their rescue, and she remained silent. Marius wasn’t surprised. His goddess didn’t seem to care what occurred in her stony flesh, so why should she be aware of his plight, or even his existence? No, the fate of the trapped miners, of his comrades, was in his hands. “Make haste,” Marius said gravely, looking from Astrid, to Sitkanis, to Adalia, and then clapped Perras on the shoulder. “Let’s get dirty, shall we?” He took off running, plunging back through the passage from whence they had came. So far, the tremors hadn’t shaken any debris from the tight, sloping rocks. Marius wove his way through the serpentine turns, his half-shuttered lantern swinging with every step, casting wild, discordant shadows upon the walls. Perras was close upon his heels, and they soon reached the rock chimney. Marius paused for a moment to inspect the spike that he’d driven into the wall, noting the web of tiny, mostly non-threatening cracks that spread over its rough moorings. “Make certain that no more than three people descend at once,” he cautioned, then grunted as he heaved himself over the void. “Follow me,” Marius placed the lantern’s handle between his teeth, then slid down the rope as fast as he dared. Near the bottom, he clenched his gloved palms on the rope to halt his descent, turning his nose up at the reek of burnt leather. Again, he surveyed the rockfall. It appeared to have shifted again, and Marius couldn’t keep a grin from slipping onto his face. Zagary and Aeden were still buried, but more of the tunnel had collapsed behind them, leaving the route to greenish, copper-laden passages unimpeded. “Semele, you tease,” Marius chuckled to himself. “Do you see that, Perras?” he called to the soldier, who was descending with a greater measure of caution. “Semele favors us for the moment, but we need to work fast if we don’t want more of the passage to collapse.” “If that’s the case, shut up and dig,” grunted Perras. “Glad to oblige you,” Marius replied, and then – throwing caution to the wind – dropped onto the pile of rubble. It shifted beneath his feet, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Marius hopped onto a large slab of feldspar, and then extended a hand to help steady Perras. “We’ll clear a shaft through here, and throw the stones over here,” he ordered after testing the rockfall with his pickaxe. “If rubble keeps falling into the cleared areas, we’ll have to use some of the larger boulders to shore it up.” Leaving Perras to haul the first boulders, Marius took spikes, a hammer, and yet another cord from his pack. He drove the spikes into the wall and suspended a safety line across the space, then doubled back to the passage, using his last spike to anchor it to the rocks. After this task was complete, Marius returned to Perras and together they continued to shift the pile of rubble, creating a tunnel of sorts to where Aeden and Zagary, presumably joined by Adalia, awaited their rescue. Sitkanis, when he arrived, would find Perras and Marius begrimed with stone dust, working frantically to clear the rocks. He would be cautioned not to tread on certain, unstable areas, and urged to take the lead position, where he would be the first to break through to his beloved.

[Sitkanis]

The shaking of the ruins worried Sitkanis. Not because he was worried he would get hurt. He did not want Adalia to get injured. Although she was skilled in healing and medicine she was fragile and she could be easily broken. He kissed her on the forehead and smiled at her. "We are almost out baby. We will be back out in the Denvali air and you will get to see Tempest again." He needed to get her out of here. A hand reached out and touched Adalia's side. Sitkanis did not want to hold on to her too tight incase something happened and the two needed to be seperated. "Sounds good Astrid. The sooner we can get back to the surface the better." He pulled a protect arm around Adalia and looked toward Marius. "We sure are lucky to have him in our party, even if he is a bit... interesting." He looked forward toward where he and Perras were working. He did not know the last thing about mining but he could help with a bit of direction from Marius. He seemed to know what he was doing at least. He frowned knowing Adalia had to brave the tunnel alone but he stayed stoic. "You'll be fine. Just keep your prayers about you and I will do the same. We will see each other soon." At least he hoped. He watched as his love once again stepped into the water. He was worried but she had to go. If they were going to get out all of them would have to sacrifice a bit. The waiting was painful. Every moment all Sitkanis could think of was "What if she is hurt? What if rocks fall on her?" What was actually chimes felt like bells and days. He looked to Astrid for hope. She seemed to raditate it at times when it was needed most. "Father Leth, Cayiha, please protect Adalia. If you hear her prayers pass them onto the other Gods and Goddesses. Let all of us out of her safely." All he could do was look hopefully at the water. He had to save his Djed for the end of this journey. It would be the only way he could see in the dark tunnels. When Adalia finally broke through the water once more Sitkanis ran to her side, smiling at the fact she now had her clothing. "I am glad you are safe." He kissed her forhead and looked over to Marius and Perras. Now I need to do my part."[/b] Sitkanis jogged over to Marius and Perras' side. "Anything I can do to help?" He soon noticed that all the work had pretty much been done. The only thing left to do was to take the dangerous path to the other side of the ruins. Sitkanis nodded as Marius encouraged him to take the lead. He looked around the dark tunnel trying to pick up any signs of an aura. He made sure to keep his feet on the safe path, each step more caucious than the last. After a few chimes of walking auras could be seen in the dark. "They are right up ahead." Sitkanis kept his careful steps and he walked out to where the two stuck men were gathered. Aeden looked like he was in terrible shape. His aura was pale and had an almost eerie shimmer to it. It swam around him losely, curling away from him in smokey puffs when it could. "We need to get this man back to the surface soon. His aura seems to be fading." He reached down and slung one of Aeden's arms over his shoulder. "Perras, can you help he carry Aeden?" With the help of Perras, Sitkanis hoisted Aeden onto his shoulder. The walk back to the group was a matter of once again trying to pick up an aura from the other side and following it. The tremors seemed to be getting a bit stronger and although Sitkanis wanted to rush to the other end he knew it was a bad idea. If he ran Perras would have to run with him, plus the fast pounding of his steps could upset the rocks. "Leth, protect me and my party. Let us see you and your glory again." Soon a bright aura could be seen. It was Astrid's. It was like looking into a ray of sun. "We are back." Sitkanis smiled as he continued to walk forward. As he got to the mouth of the tunnel he walked toward and smiled as he saw Adalia. "Aeden needs medical help. He is fading fast. His aura is starting to fade." He wanted nothing more than to hold Adalia instead of some unconcious man but at the moment that man's life was hanging in the balance.

[Adalia]

Time. Time was always something that was precious to everyone. It was precious when one was lazing, precious when one was eating, precious when one was sleeping... but never was it more precious than when lives hung at the end of that essence. It was with this thought in her mind that she stripped the black shirt that clung to her still-wet form from her body, tossing it aside, away from the stagnant lake. She licked her lips once, before turning ever so slightly, so she was pressed against Sitkanis. Her lips found their way to his one last time, tugging at his bottom lip teasingly, pulling it away slightly with her as she retreated. "Until we see again, my love," was all she whispered to him, blue eyes watching his unwaveringly. With that, she was gone. A few steps, quick in their nature, carried her across the cavernous floor beneath them. A little bend at her waist lowered her torso enough to take the rope up in her webbed hand. Then, she reached the edge of the rocky outcrop. A little spring of her legs, and she was gone beneath the surface of the water. The only sign that she was in fact moving was that the rope was becoming more and more taught as she drifted along the bottom, only surfacing when she reached the other side.

She brought her pale arm from the depths, tattoos and scales glistening as she whipped it back strongly, making sure the miners secured it before she finally submerged herself again, blonde hair rising to the surface as she slowly allow the water to engulf her. Powerful sweeps of her arms and legs carried her through the familiar environment, her blue eyes still peering before her. When she made it back to the other side, she surfaced, shaking her head wildly, whipping her hair in every which way. Water flew with its whip-like tendrils, creating a somewhat impressive-- and soaking wet-- display. A little push of her arms and legs had her out of the water and back on the land, where she quickly concealed her nude form once more, pulling on the shirt that Sitkanis had loaned her. It was at this point that the first of the tired miners made their way across the underwater lake. No time was wasted. From the pack that had been granted to her by Astrid before they descended into the depths of the mine, she drew forth the kit of medical supplies, already spotting the first person who needed treatment.

Their leg was bent at an odd angle. The moment they crossed the lake, they simply collapsed, avoiding putting any weight on it. A little pressure from her white teeth found its way to her lip as she dragged her patient out of the path, careful not to injure the leg further. Once this was accomplished, she set about her work, procuring the scalpel from the depths of the medicine kit. slowly, she worked it around the thigh of the pants, until the rest of the leg came straight off. Tossing the unwanted material aside, she examined the wound. Judging by the bruising, a cave in not too different from what had happened on this side had happened over there, and this man was unfortunate enough to get caught in it. As her eyes studied even further, they discovered that the leg was, indeed, fractured, as she had expected. Practiced hands drifted into movement, zipping across the length of his leg with a sort of grace about it.

Heavy roller bandages wrapped around the knee and the ankle several times, claiming them in their embrace, immobilizing them. She then took the splint from her side, pressing it against the back of his leg, letting a soothing hum leave her lips-- more for him than for her, as she had heard the quiet moans of pain that he was beginning to make. "Be still," she murmured gently, not sparing him a glance, as she was too focused on her work. "Your pain shall soon be lessened, but only if you are still while it is made so," gentle lilts me the ears of only those close to the pair, breaking the soft melody that had left her lips in the form of vibrant hums. Not a moment after she finished speaking, she was humming quietly once more, and not two minutes after that, the splint was fastened securely to the leg of her patient. The hard material had found its way to the skin, and the bandage had made the bond required.

A little glance around searched for other victims. None. Apparently, one of the stranded had at least been somewhat educated in First Aid, because terrible, makeshift bandages were made left and right. They must have simply not had spl-

She felt that itch in her mind. She knew, in her gut, that she could help all of these people... but she didn't have time... Did she? Her lip, once more, found itself caught between two rows of teeth. Time was something that was of the essence at this point. Every second that she spent up above, with Astrid and the others, was another second that Zagary was left with a lantern still burning beneath. If that lantern went out, then there was no way that he would escape the tunnels... No. He and Aeden took priority. She had to help them first, for she had promised she would. As far as she could see, there were no major infections that needed her attention. These people could wait. Moving with serene grace and quick speed, she zipped across the plane of rock, giving only a brief word as she, once more, stripped the shirt that clung to her form.

"Shortly, brothers and sisters, will I be back," with those words, she sprung, and vanished beneath the tranquil water, ripples of her disturbances flowing forth towards the edges of the cave. Her steady hands and strong legs propelled her forward through the dark water, ignoring the lack of oxygen inherent to this specific body of water. It felt, to her, at least, that she was learning every last nuance of this body of water, but that was probably just her slightly loonier side speaking. Soon enough, she was through the pitch black of the tunnel, a dim light appearing ever so slowly above her. With one last thrust, and a sharp exhalation, she surfaced, flipping her hair, not wasting time before she spoke. "A tunnel is being re-made to you. Return to the collapse. Reunification will be made soon," she said softly, emerging from the water as she spoke. As she emerged, she instantly went for her clothes, pulling them over her pale, scale-decorated skin.

As the pair-- or trio, if you included the unconscious man-- set off down the corridor once more, Adalia couldn't help but smile. Rak'keli, most certainly, had seen her through this. Fervent thanks found their way to her Mistress. Soon enough, though, her thoughts returned to Sitkanis.

How she could not wait to be with him once more.

[Tabarnac]

XP Award! Marius XP Award: Mining +5; Spelunking +5; Climbing +3; Leadership +2 Lore: Denvali Cave System (basic) Reward: 100 gold nilos Sitkanis XP Award: Spelunking +5; Climbing +1; Auristics +5 Lore: Denvali Cave System (basic) Reward: 100 gold nilos Aeden XP Award: Spelunking +3 Lore: Denvali Cave System (basic) Reward: 100 gold nilos Adalia XP Award: Spelunking +5; Climbing +1; Medicine +4; Leadership +1; Meditation +1; Swimming +4 Lore: Denvali Cave System (basic) Reward: 100 gold nilos Additional Notes: I had hoped this wouldn’t drag on quite so long, but I hope everyone had some fun! The reward money can be exchanged for mizas on your character sheet, but Denval has a close association with Zeltiva despite the distance and so it is seen as an honor to be paid in Zeltivan coin. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or concerns. Keep writing!