Landlocked Arc: Building it all back (Open PM First)

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on December 13th, 2011, 12:56 am

Landlocked Chapter 2: Building it all back, One Tree at a time.

Day 7, Season of Winter, 511 AV, The Wildlands outside of Zeltiva
Morning, Hansharain Forest, One hour ride from Zeltiva.

Winding mountain trails, with wind whistling by the ear, the air was fresh from its journey over the tips of heights few humans ever reached. Morning had its own distinct aroma, Zeltiva masked it with its human influence, but out here you could breathe freely. It reminded him of home.

Hitching a ride with a merchant's caravan, what amounted to a small string of horses and pack animals, he was headed out to the mountain forests again. These land dwellers with him were good people all things considered, far too easy to take advantage of if he'd of been in a position to. All he’d needed to do to catch their interest, was show them how Svefra navigated by the stars. Truth be told Kvar was never very good at using the stars anyway, but he humoured them with a long, largely made up tale. It made for good campfire material, but had not even a drop of truth to it.

Today had been a refreshing change of mood, since crashing off the coast, he’d not found much welcome to be had. Though there was that one rooftop party, for humans they threw a heck of a good time. The Svefra ran his fingers around his beard, any night you couldn’t remember, especially when you ended up chased out of the door by angry fathers or husbands, they were the good days. How old was she anyway?

“You never said where you are headed after all this?” One of the more curious merchant’s guards asked, drawing the traveller out of his thoughts.

“The Ocean,” Kvar replied, giving the guard a cocksure, solid grin.

“But... you are going the wrong way,” the man stated confused.

The Svefra let out a larger than life laugh, “you’re not wrong.”

A relatively small caravan, Kvar had chanced upon the owners in a tavern, headed in the direction he was. He was headed to where he’d spied some good quality wood, on his previously painful outing. Sadly he was not used to riding at all, and riding this spare old horse was an exercise itself, but fun, it had the free-spirited Svefra enjoying the trip over the rickety trail as he held on. Humans riding these things, he'd decided they must be Landmad the lot of them, but it was a hell of a time.

“Back in two days remember,” Kvar said confirming the deal, in between jolts from the animal.

“Yes, yes, and we’ll take your wood with us. Two thirds was the deal, wasn’t it?” The lead merchant pulled his horse back to trot by Kvar’s side.

“No, half.” The Svefra said sitting back in the saddle, for a moment looking composed, before almost falling off. He couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle for how stupid all this felt.

“Hmm I must have been feeling generous, half it is. If you’re going to fall, wait till I have the wood eh?” The Merchant let out a bellowing laugh, and slapped Kvar on the back jovially, almost sending him off the horse again!

Holding his thighs fast against the animal, Kvar found he was able to hold to it, but barely. The more pressure he exerted, the more stable he found himself. Aggravatingly, the wounds from the last couple of days were still sore and playing up, but better this than walking.

Getting a better handle on how to control his old, temperamental horse, Kvar didn't look quite so stupid, but still had to surpress a laugh or two at times for the predicament. Catching the sun proper across his features, it showed his hair was braided today in many places, and just starting to lose its jet black, sea appearance, to be a dimmer shade of black. Much like the stranded seaman's mood had grudgingly adjusted to being stuck on land for now, his body was adjusting to his time ashore.

Today the Svefra was wearing a full set of chainmail, taking no chances and armed to the teeth, he'd learned fast first hand that it was kill or be killed out in the wilds.

OOC :

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on December 13th, 2011, 3:32 pm

Unceremoniously sliding off the borrowed horse, they reached their destination, and Kvar saluted the caravan’s leader, hammering his right fist against his left shoulder, he planted the gesture firmly across his chest. The Merchant gave a wave of the hand, and continued off up the trail with his group. Once again the Svefra had parted ways from those he had found some measure of joy with.

It would be worth it, all of this, all of their work and deaths of those he had sailed with wouldn’t be forgotten. There was a steely glint to his deep blue eyes, the ambition reaching further than he could see, grasping for that which should be his by birthright. Battle axe in hand, and determined to carve his new home out of the forest, he advanced, eyes narrowing, like a predator on the wood.

Checking carefully for any signs of a trail or any previous movement through the forest, he saw no broken branches, or obvious footsteps that marked the way. It was much harder than spotting the obvious tracks on a beach as he had done a few days ago, there were so many more details to consider. What ran through his mind were obvious signs of feeding, regularly used trails, or an animal marking its territory, else trees with its claws. He observed his surroundings closely, really paying attention and investigating that which was around him, but all the novice explorer noted were a few broken twigs in a small circle, where something had once sat.

Hopefully this was a sign the mountainous forest had little in the way of surprises waiting for him.

What he could actively do was create a false trail. Walking into the forest, and treading as lightly as he could manage, he reached a small, shallow pond, this was the place. Forking off to the right before the water, he made sure to snap the occasional tree branch, and crunch the odd twig underfoot, clearly marking where he was walking. After about five minutes of this, Kvar came to a small overhanging ridge, and stopped, messing up the edge, and throwing a fairly large rock below, as if to indicate a jump.

Preparing himself, now came the tricky bit! All young Svefra knew their lies, or subterfuge depended on believability, and this ruse probably wouldn’t throw off an experienced tracker, but simple bandits or thugs might never know where these tracks had gone. Walking back in his own footsteps, Kvar began mimicking the exact steps he had made. Occasionally he would walk out of place, and be forced to just rough over the area to not leave any trace either way. Getting back to the pond, he waded through the shallow water, to completely obscure where he had gone.

The wilds were dangerous yes, yet slowly but surely he was learning how to work with them, and fool humans, just as nature did every single day Mizahar turned. Now he had to fool the forest, else it might choose to make a meal out of him, again.

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on December 14th, 2011, 2:21 pm

Still enjoying the open mountain air, a wind that surely carried old memories of its own, his thick black hair blew to his sides, and so he raised his chin proudly to embrace nature’s gift. Kvar could have walked forever up these inclines and valleys, but that would have taken him leagues from the trail. Instead the Svefra did a circle of the area, getting a lay of the land, but keeping the forest in view at all times as his way of navigating. Paying passing attention for any berries or food sources he might come across, the vegan found little that could nourish him, which he considered might explain the lack of wildlife around these parts.

Echoes of the wild seemed far off, nature’s call muffled and hard to hear. A black bird watched his progress with unnatural curiosity for an animal, he caught glimpse of it once or twice, but paid the occasional presence overhead little thought. If it were a predator he'd have time before it reached him.

Becoming the budding survivalist, first thing was first, spending two nights out here meant he would need shelter. Turning to what was becoming a passing hobby of his, spelunking, he headed towards what he believed were some likely looking breaks in the mountains. Svefra nearly always had more hobbies than they were good at, and Kvar’s curiosity for all life had to offer was becoming no exception! After a hike up the side of a sloping ridge, with the equipment he was carrying the wind had been taken out of him, and the sore knee didn’t help one bit, he was healthy and young but had to pause for air all the same.

The very first small cave he had came across looked promising, one way in, one way out, several alcoves to hide a fire, even a small pool of water for bathing, all the comforts of home… Kvar looked upwards and sighed. There was a steady but constant drip of water from above, and this was on a dry day, he knew well the flow of water, and considered on a mountain’s edge this place could easily flood. If anything were to surprise him out here, it wouldn't be water, his birthright.

Scratching the back of his neck, Kvar pulled out of there and continued looking. Passing another hole in the mountain’s side, which just looked like it was going to fall to bits at any moment, he leaned against the mountain, and inhaled sharply in aggravation, there had to be somewhere! Pacing back and forth, the budding explorer took careful time to observe his surroundings, after all this walking there wasn't a shelter in sight.

Wait, that shouldn’t be there, at least it looked odd, a rock a few yards away seemed like it had been moved, placed against the side of the mountain. Giving the stone a heavy push, the boulder was just too much for him to move, and wasn’t going anywhere. Even bracing his legs and putting them into the effort, the rock barely even budged. Not wanting to wreck his axe handle, Kvar took out one of the more sturdy branches he’d used from the wooden pallisade on his last trip, and wedged it between the stone and the mountain, giving it a great pull of his own weight.

Arms burning from the exertion, he tensed the biceps, and put his shoulders into the leverage. Crack! The wood split, and with a thump the boulder rolled to the side, sending up a spray of dust, and musty air. Peering inside, the faint flickers of candlelight could be seen.

Somewhere above a certain overly curious black bird settled to watch all of this very carefully indeed.

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on December 15th, 2011, 12:16 pm

A strange hole in a mountain with lights still burning, this warranted a moment’s caution. The stone slab floor, wooden supports, even decorative, inviting, symbols had him very much on edge. Feeling forward with his feet before each step, Kvar edged forward, and good thing he did too, as he soon crunched into a small trench covered by twigs. A pit trap! This took his idea of using twigs to warn of approach to a whole new level.

Making his way over the trench one step at a time, he stopped in the doorway and looked left then right. The slits in the walls did nothing but make him further suspicious, and a slightly raised stone slab had him squinting. Picking up a heavy but round stone from the mountain, he rolled it forward across the floor. With a sharp sounding cutting of the air, as indeed it would have been with his flesh, great blades swung down from the walls, going right across his path. A pressure plate trap!

Good but not good enough.

Walking around the sides of the massive steel, it was covered in dust and cobwebs but still looked impressive. Still edging forward, feeling out each step ahead, and looking for any more slits in the walls, pressure plates, or he considered trip wires would be likely too. An obvious looking pouch of coins rested on top of a stick nearby, but he was happy to just hang back and take his time here, there was no chance in Yshul that he was falling for that obvious ruse, leaving it well alone.

Right in the middle of this trickster's lair he came to what seemed like a ring of mirrors, each with a slit in the wall aimed right at him, and the image of a key hanging behind each pane of glass. At the front and rear the door closed fast, sealing him in a prison of glass and rock. With a locked door on both sides of him, and a key reflected eight times, in eight mirrors, it was obvious what had to be done, find the real key. Kvar grinned, he liked this game, even if he was a rat in a maze far from home, someone with a cunning, playful mind had set it all up.

Again he didn’t rush, there was no urgency, and no one waiting for him. Investigating each mirror in turn, there had to be a clue here, somewhere. The Svefra couldn’t see anything obvious, and considered ducking the slit in the wall and randomly breaking glass. Then it dawned on him, the key’s reflection, it was the right way round in one of the mirrors, reversed in the others. Ducking down anyway to be safe, and smashing the glass with the handle tip of his axe, he chuckled and took the key.

Very good, but still not good enough.

Unlocking both doors, just to free the escape route too, he nodded firmly, as long as he could get out of here at any time, he hadn’t lost anything. There was a very smug, overconfident look across Kvar’s features, as he searched out each step careful, probing with the tips of his toe. Of course overconfidence, although reassuring, can breed someone to be hasty.

It was with a certain haste his heart pounded in his chest, spotting two great boulders rolling down the corridor, one from the front, one from the back, with him in the middle. Zulav's breath, how was he getting out of this one, what had he missed?

Music :

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on December 15th, 2011, 3:23 pm

What he’d missed were the symbols of animals marked across the floor, considering them decorative, they obviously were far from it! He’d stepped on a bear, a blasted bear again, what was it with the fur balls anyway?

No time to think properly, he had seconds, wolf, bear, spider, crab... bird. There was no way he was pressing a crab stone, his experiences with them so far was far from welcoming. Wolf, spider, or bird? Glancing up, the boulders were almost on him! Bird, it had to be a bird surely, he’d seen one on the way in, and it was the only possible non carnivore of the lot.

Closing his eyes, he pressed the stone with his axe head, he had one shot, this better work. With a click the floor opened, a hatch, but the budding explorer could see nothing at the bottom. With no choice due to his blunder, and not time to measure the distance, the Svefra jumped down, landing squatted to the floor. That didn’t do the bruised knee from his last trip any good at all, and it was painfully reminding him of that fact right now. Above, with a massive crash the boulders met each other, and any hope of getting out was covered by tons of stone.

Ducking his head instinctively at the sound of the smash, he got a hair full of dust and cobwebs for his trouble. Kvar tried to make out anything, there was very little light at all down here. Shaking some of the debris off of himself, if it wasn’t bad enough being stuck on land, now he was stuck under the land, who knows where!

Fumbling around for a torch from his pack, he placed it between his legs, the Svefra struck his flint and steel together several times to try and light it. Kvar had to smile, getting wood was trickier than it looked, but ah the stories he’d have when he got back to the tavern today! Illumination in one hand, and battle axe in the other, he felt his wanderlust tugging at him to explore, that piece of the soul that loved music, parties, adventures. Right now the soul, that inner voice, was singing in full swing.

It looked like the tunnel had been reinforced with wood supports, but barely used. Clear animal signs, if there were webs, there must be food they were catching. He breathed in feeling an uneasy chill going up the spine, these webs, there were a lot of them, and they were pretty big in places.

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on June 23rd, 2012, 10:48 pm

Flexing the grip of the familiar axe in hand, he'd held it before, and it was a firm certainty in an otherwise foreign place, but one that he'd rather not have to use. Now he was holding it a good deal tighter than he ever had, squeezing at and letting it go in time, as the heart thumped in his chest. There was a gentle scuttling somewhere behind him and the Svefra span around, fanning the flame in the direction of a break in the wall. Squinting his eyes, Kvar saw nothing but more cobwebs on rough stone. So deeper his explorations took the thrill seeker, his heavy frame making one footstep at a time, trying its best to not make a sound, there had to be some way to navigate this maze of stone and he would find it! Keeping a solid grin he felt two conflicting emotions, the tug of adventure, but for the love of storms, why did people feel the need to dig under stone, what possible use could they find for shelter, this far from water?

Lost in his thoughts, Kvar waked straight into a great big cobweb, turning at the last minute to get a face full of it. He took a step or two back, brushing his increasingly dusty hair, shaking it off, and deciding to set fire to the cluster of webs ahead with the torch. It didn't light very well but it brought him a measure of satisfaction, watching the offending webs singed! Ha, ugly tunnel zero, Kvar one, well except for the near death above, and the traps, but who's really counting here. He smirked to himself, keeping his spirits up in this pit of a place, so far from what was normal.

"Just what is that supposed to catch anyway, man sized flies?" He muttered offhand, and paused with that uneasy thought, realising he was the fly perhaps. Slashing the thought and web aside with the axe, he carried on quicker, going straight through any more webs that got in the way with the same continual swings of the axe. That adventurous thrill was running high in his mind again at the thought, and he breathed it all in, drawn on to whatever was ahead.

Navigating this labyrinth, tracking by anything he could, Kvar was searching for light, or a subtle breeze, any feel of water from the surroundings or moisture, anything at all. Every so often he'd crouch down and feel the ground, the walls, or stop and hold up a finger, hoping for the slightest movement in the air, or a sign that the torch had felt some wind. He couldn't see much so he had to rely on his other senses to tell him where to walk, the novice explorer didn't get much at all for his trouble.

Vaulting down deeper still inside this rough pit, a maze of uneven levels of stone... there was some more scuttling, and Kvar span around again, the torch flickered uneasily as he did so. The young Svefra pushed the axe out in front of him, but nothing was there, finding the underground deeply unsettling, and so equally as much fun. Not the lack of light or lack of space, the seaman had been in plenty of cramped ships, it was the lack and distance of wind, weather and water, the three w's, that were tougher to swallow. With a meaty shrug of the shoulders his observant attentions spotted a shadow ahead, and he kicked a rock forward towards it, causing a dashing of legs.

A spider... he tried to get a good view of it ahead, bracing himself... a spider that was no more than the size of his palm.

With a heavy thump, Kvar squashed it with his boot. That's it? He let out a larger than life laugh, the sound echoing down the dark passageways. Giving the rock a further kick ahead for good measure, and suddenly feeling a washing relief fall over him. "Well how am I going to make this sound heroic in the next inn, if that's all you have?"

The rock tumbled end over end, rolling down a few stone steps, with a pat, pat... pat, then the scuttling really started, a lot more scuttling, followed by a shrieeeeeek.

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on June 24th, 2012, 1:38 am

Endlessly the scuttling came, hundreds of tiny tapings across paths of stones, the march constant and unnerving. Kvar wasn't about to wait around to greet them either, he'd leave that to the heroes, taking slow steps back, gradually increasing to a stride, and then a run. Not one or two small spiders started to appear behind him, but hundreds of them.

Running back through the cleared webbing, a literal sea of the crawling menace came out of the cracks and gaps in the rock, all headed toward him. Their rolling bodies and legs, reminded him of a steady, but predatory tide, pulling you into the rocks. The further he ran turning into new corridors, the webbing ahead became thicker, and thicker, he was throwing himself through it now, chopping with the axe and using his weight for all he had.

Slowing, the more he struggled, the more entangled and hindered he became. With a loud shout he threw his entire weight fully at the webbing and broke loose, crashing to the floor. Another jolt, he was scampering to pick up the axe and torch, to free himself of the remaining webbing, any way he could. Running almost blind through the darkness, spiders right on him, and worse a loud shireeeek from some unknown assailant, which made the hairs on the back of his neck stand right up! Zulrav's breath, all for some blazing wood!

Kvar lit whatever webs he could, to try and slow the insects down, burning a few, but the hundreds of tiny creatures following him, simply climbed the bodies of their dead, to march onward. On his heels, one jumped on him, leaping to his shoulder, and tried to bite the chainmail, but he smashed it with the axe handle in time. Running for all he was worth, ignoring the light bruise on the knee, being in chainmail and the dark wasn't making this easy, it was tiring him but he pushed his body on, pulling on whatever strength he had in the legs. There had to be some advantage, he wasn't going to out run a small army of insects in their own home lair.

No time to think as always these days, there was just action in this place, under the landmadness.

Shrieeeeeeeek. The tiny pattering of insects stopped and began to scatter for cover, running into the cracks in the walls, their presence behind him still but not visible. That's when he saw mother. Up to his waist in height, with eight legs, each as long as his arm... white gunk dripping down from its many mouths and eyes. No time to think, or turn back, there was no back here. Shouting again he circled the axe over and over in his hand, thrusting the torch at the creature, it shrieked deafeningly loudly, and skittered around, parrying the torch easily and with massive strength. Its forward mandibles, nearly took his arm clean off from the force of it. He hit the closest leg with the battle axe in a diagonal strike, as he had been taught, but barely grazed it's tough hide. The beast hissed, spilling out more gooey white liquid from its many mouths, and started circling its prey...

"So spiders... not so good then. Well come on! Let's get this over with." Holding fast, the sailor laughed at it, at life, at all of this place and the gods twisted creations, just as it, or their bite, came at him once more to take its pound of flesh.

Music :

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on June 24th, 2012, 12:54 pm

Biding his time, battle axe cycling end over end in his hand, just waiting for the moment. Despite his bravado, he was in no rush here, looking into the gaping maws ahead would turn anyone's stomach. Tapping the head of the axe against the floor three times, on the third Kvar brought a meaty kick down on the leg he had grazed, causing the spider to rear up to attack hastily in response, just what he had hoped.

The torch went straight into the center of the creature, causing a blistering heat to overtake some of its eyes, while its razor sharp mandibles just missed his arm, ducking back, a free leg shot out and connected with Kvar's midriff, straight in the chainmail, that hurt like hell. Biting down on the pain, he made an inside swing of the axe, which sliced straight through the beasts same leg, gushing black blood flowing to the floor. The shrieeek's volume now was unbearable as it leapt straight at him, the torching flying from his hand as a failing leg connected to the wood; the Svefra just jumped back two feet, barely using the axe to block a mandible's reach.

No light!!!!! As it blazed away just behind the beast, flames licking and catching light to some of the webbing, a growing illumination arouse around his hulking adversary. If he went further back he'd be completely blind! Drawing the cold iron sword-breaker, he laughed, back to the wall once again, time for some real fun then!

"Yshul," he coughed out the pain from his stomach, calling once more playfully to a certain god of trickery and mischief, in this desperate landmadness, "this one's for you." Jabbing the axe forward and across, the beast lashed out in response, but it was a cunning feint. Bruven would have been proud!

The sword-breaker came down, to pin and trap the mandible for a split second in a twist of his wrist. The weapon's jagged edge biting into the harder shell of the forward arm, while the axe returned in the opposite direction, to hack at it. A human opponent might of seen the novice's overdone feint, but the beast was caught off guard. His advantage didn't last for more than a second, as Kvar was thrown against the wall by the spider's sheer strength. He felt a heavy thud, jarring the left shoulder through the chainmail, but shook off the mounting pain, one of the beast's mandibles was cut badly, and the spider for the first time took some real pause. It hesitated, but in this fired up state, he didn't, adrenaline shrugging off the bruises. Kvar rolled low, and struck again at another leg with an outward slash, it was an overdone and off balance attack, but it did push the creature back toward the fire...

Yes, why not use the elements!

An orange halo illuminated the panicked creature more and more as it moved towards the flames, all the time the thick webbing behind it a mounting heat, but how long would that light last?

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on June 26th, 2012, 7:50 pm

Getting a bit cocky, he swung again, a heavy backhand slash, glancing his weapon off the remaining mandible, the axe was clipped aside, and he was staggered back a few steps. The wounded beast didn't advance, yet couldn't retreat either, because of the flames now running not only behind it, but also to its sides. Back to the wall, it was panicked and had nowhere to go, the shrieeeeeking from the creature almost unbearable this close, sound itself a weapon he was fast learning about. It was becoming increasing wild and dangerous, the more it was trapped into this corner, as yet another diagonal slash from the axe was met with a sharp clang, and blocked aside. Kvar couldn't get either weapon through in time to trap the mandible; ducking low to avoid a flailing leg, stone was ripped from above him, sending rubble flying in all directions.

Taking a quick look at the scuttling miniature army of these, whatever these things were, creeping out behind him, Kvar decided to ease off the pressure, they'd stopped advancing when mother here showed up, and even if he did get lucky and bring it down, he had no desire to see them start nipping at his heels again when it died. Any fight you can walk away from..., and he did just that, edging slowly around the beast, gingerly trying to reach for the torch to its side, but one more shriek followed and he backed off. I'll get you something prettier Yshul, he smirked, Yshul, possibly one of the few gods that could tolerate his attitude, if she were to ever hear his thoughts or words.

Backing off... step by step, not taking his eyes off of it, and feeling out each footstep over the tunnel floor behind him. Locking eyes, just like had when facing the bear, no fear on his end, they could smell it. Almost stumbling, but using the tips of his toes to brush against the floor, and feel out the path, soon he'd be blind in this darkness anyway. A bit further... bit further, and with a leap up a ledge, he was gone from sight.

Literally from sight, as he couldn't see a thing without the light. Patting the walls with his palm, looking for any signs of weather, wind, light, water anything at all, finding webs, rocky ground, and a pitch black stumbling around over foreign, rough ground. Cursing something about rocks needing a good ocean to erode them all, Kvar had twice banged his toe, and so started using the axe to feel out the way, having some success using the weapon to be his eyes. Then a break! A gentle moisture easing its way down the wall. Water! That was something he could work with, but where was it coming from?

Hammering the butt of the axe handle against the rock several times wasn't getting him very far, so he took his time and considered where he was. The further he got from fire and the heat of battle, he was beginning to realise just how cold this cave was, if he found the water he'd want to keep dry, not risk freezing in here. Putting a hand to the wall, something, there must be something there? It took him awhile to feel where the trail of moisture was coming from but he found the spot, small fungus had grown around it pinpointing its location. Fungus? Must be some light then surely?

Taking a step back and preparing himself. Needs must. Santiendan drift, Svefra, hold fast, every time he reached for the source there was always a risk, but he did this by trade and so would prepare as best was possible. In the pitch black Kvar fumbled for some food from his pack, now squashed food, but the winterberries weren't getting any fresher anyway, better to use them up. Having his fill to regain energy for the task ahead, their tastes was some comfort in these foreign landmad shores, they reminded him of a cool mist breaking over a cliff's edge, just enough that so the water's last gasp lined the skin and cooled the soul. Calmed, and energised, Kvar lined himself up with the target, closed his eyes and became very still, falling into the moment.

Eyes snapped open - Blue and deep as the oceans they came from. The wall, the water, that tiny bit of moisture, the smallest cracks of it became his entire focus, his entire world.

by **Kvar Driftweaver** on June 27th, 2012, 10:11 am

Tensing the palm and curling the fingers around he touched the moisture, putting himself as close as possible to what he wanted to effect. A calculated professional and cocksure attitude filled him, as the Djed manifested into the palm, himself given to effect change, res, the pressure of it concentrating into the smallest crack in the wall. The hand tensed and the Svefra felt himself falling into the ocean, life's deep blue sea, the ebb and flow of its current. Breathing became ever so deep, he drew from the energy of the food he'd just eaten, cracking the stone just slightly, but it wasn't enough. He pushed into the energy of yesterday's meal, confining himself to take only from the physical soul layers.

Further immersed in the energies, his mind locked away himself from the expense, not giving of his body or soul beyond the layers he knew were safe, using the water that was already there to his advantage, and going with nature rather than against it. Kvar's manifestation of the water's current now pulled it toward himself. The effect didn't break the stone in front of him as he'd hoped, but he stayed committed, as gradually several small cracks appeared along the wall to his side, followed by soft running water pouring out of them. Kvar couldn't see where the water was, but he had running water, and that was all the path a Svefra would ever need. Releasing the contact and sinking his head low, he took his time to get his breath back, coming out of state. It was always draining, but if you had sense and any survival instinct, he had been taught it was manageable.

The unfathomable depths of the soul were never assured to cooperate but fortune smiled on the prepared, brave, or perhaps just at times blind.
Axe out ahead and pointed down to mark the way, feet feeling out each step carefully, and trying to not make a sound at least with some success masked by water. Kvar followed the noise of each trickle and outpouring, a solid grin on his face, for there was nothing prettier than the sound of home guiding his way in this bleak place.

He was making better progress, learning to navigate while blind with each careful step, each another step upwards to freedom. As so often happens, when you conquer something it becomes unnecessary. A very dim orange colored the walls, cracks of taunting sunlight filled the tunnel, as it led into an underground lake of sorts. A circle of murky water, with uneven, rocky stepping stones, and at its center another altar. Standing plenty of distance away, Kvar observed, very closely, after the trouble with the last bear's wooden altar he was taking his time.

This one was made of stone, three pillars for its base, each decorated with a spider. At the top were several small trinkets, some metal, some wood, others carved from stone. In the very center of the altar was a great big spider shaped button, well he wasn't pressing that anytime soon. The trinkets looked valuable enough, looking down at the water below, he could see shapes moving in it. Was getting to them worth it? He could just walk around the lake to the far door, which was only leading further up, and to finally getting some wood!

I did promise to get something pretty. He tilted his head, stroking his chin with a free hand, greedy eyes looking over the trinkets at the center of the lake. He never could resist a treasure this obviously in the open. Still feeling the bruises to his body, and indeed his mood to balance this lustful greed, the Svefra took out a coin, flipping it end over end. Catching lady luck in his palm, and holding fast to it, he nodded, it was decided.