Quest [Regional Quest] Into the Deep

[Poison]

Alanys started into the hole for a few moments after Vass had disappeared, and then she turned to the rest of the group, „Climb slowly“, she advised them. „The path is not that much steeper than the entrance to the Blue Grotto, but it’s much longer.“ She narrowed her eyes and bent over the edge of the ledge again, and then she shrugged her shoulders and followed Vass.

Once she was out of sight, Demyan gave Snaeha, Zarovin and Sosicly a sign to climb down. He didn’t appreciate being left alone on the ledge – since his little sister Selaria had nearly been killed by an assassin he was slightly paranoid – but on the other hand, it was probably much worse down below. Here he only had silence, strange sounds and smells to deal with.

Once the three were gone as well, he looked around for a moment, and then he followed them.

Snaeha arrived first. The ‚path‘ ended about six feet above the floor of a cave so that she had to jump. Stalactities and stalagmites grew in the cave, smaller versions of the one that the Symenestra used to build their houses. All those strange smells were stronger here, and the sound of water was a bit louder.

It had been near this very cave that Dhalvasha, a doctor at the Purging, had once met the god Sagallius and the ghost of a dead surrogate, but they didn’t know that, at least not yet.

Vass was of course already there. He stood at the south end of the cave where another tunnel led downwards. He had drawn his shortsword and inspected it to find out it was really sharp enough.

Alanys was leaning against a particularly large stalagmite, arms crossed over her chest, looking completely relaxed. She wasn’t afraid, even if dangerous things might be living somewhere below them. Fear was a pointless emotion. It impaired your judgement and kept you from thinking logically.

Sosicly’s descent went much less smoothly than Snaeha‘s. The girl stumbled a bit, and once her feet touched something that was stuck between the rocks. As a consequence she fell into the cave rather than landing there gracefully. She would immediately notice one thing: Zarovin was not there. He had been directly in front of her, but now he was gone.

Had his fear gotten the better of him? Had he decided not to take part in the expedition after all?

Vass and Alanys seemed to have noticed his absence as well. „Where’s Zarovin?“ Vass wanted to know. „Probably ran back home to mommy“, Alanys muttered. „We shouldn’t have taken him with us. I hate cowards! He’s turned out to be less brave than this mute girl!“

She pointed at Sosicly.

„We’ll go down this tunnel and follow the sound of the water for now“, Vass informed the remaining adventurers. „That makes the most sense to me. The people who have disappeared – including the boy – have probably done the same thing. If we follow the sound of the water, we might just find out what happened to them. I don’t think there is any point in going that way …“ He gestured towards a much smaller tunnel that led directly eastwards.

If Sosicly looked at where he was pointing, she would notice something at the edge of her field of vision. It looked like a piece of cloth, half hidden behind a stalagmite. From the look on their faces neither Alanys nor Vass had noticed it. In fact Alanys removed a bottle from her pack and took a sip from it before she offered it to Snaeha. „Want a little refreshment before we continue?“ she asked.

It was then that Demyan finally arrived. He looked at the adventurers in front of him, then back at where he had just come from and remarked, „We seem to have lost somebody!“

OOC: Zarovin, if you ever return, I have something planned for you. That’s why I decided to have the others comment on your disappearance rather than ignoring you completely from now on!

[Sosicly Magnolia]

Sosicly had been surprised by the drop, regardless of the forewarning. It was as if she was attempting to dance all over again, the cloth slipping from her grasp. Even when she settled on the ground uncomfortably she noted that the queasy feeling in her stomach had not abated,it was nothing like the enjoyable swoop of city streets. The young woman patted herself down, uncomfortable after the fall, and took in the landscape. It gave her a chance to catch her breath and it was familiar now, reminding her of the city but it did not bring about the same sense of safety. Finally, she followed Vass' finger, stepping forwards in the direction to test she was fine after the fall, thinking he meant to go East anyways when she seen it. At first she thought it was a insect of some kind, or some other creature from the depths, but it didn't move. She took a step closer, ignoring the others and already taking out her book. It was a piece of cloth. Sosicly felt her stomach tighten as she moved to pick it up, it took a second to tug it loose, trying to get her ink situated and write out what she needed. Instead the vial dropped, and she quickly shoved her book away, it would be less than useful at this time. Turning back towards the others she noted they were already getting ready to go, and waved her arms frantically, only half of the move exaggerated. Sosicly didn't waste time for them to understand her, she stumbled, and wheezed her way over to Demyan. Tapping his arm she pointed from the cloth to the Eastward tunnel. Again she didn't waste time, already moving back to the Eastward tunnel, and expecting the others to follow her lead.

[Poison]

The cloth turned out to be a piece of fine, dark blue Symenestra silk that had been torn off a garment. What had happened in this cave? Did it belong to the little boy that had gone missing – or one of the people that had been lost in the underground since the founding of Kalinor? Had a crime taken place here? Or did it just belong to one of the dead surrogates that had been thrown off the Web?

Neither Analys nor Vass noticed Sosicly’s frantic gestures. They were much too busy discussing where they should go – and wondering why Zarovin seemed to have deserted them so suddenly. In fact Vass had already begun to move again – he was walking in the direction of the sound of the water and not taking the east tunnel where Sosicly had found the cloth. Alanys was just finishing her drink and not really paying attention to anything else.

Demyan though turned around as she touched his arm. At first he mainly looked a little irritated, but then he looked where Sosicly had pointed, and his eyes widened. „Alanys! Vass!“ he hissed. „Come here! Sosicly has found something!“ Vass was the first one to come. Alanys joined him a moment later – after she had put the flask away again, as if her drink were more important.

„What is it?“ the leader of the Ochya wanted to know. Even though Sosicly had found the cloth – and a potential clue – he was looking at Demyan. He still considered the mute girl little more than a burden. „A piece of cloth. The owner’s clothing must have been torn when they were climbing down or going into the tunnel“, Demyan replied. „Sosicly suggested that we go east.“ The younger Ochya looked at her.

Vass and Alanys entered the tunnel while Demyan would once again stay behind Sosicly. The tunnel’s ceiling was low so that Vass and Demyan had to bend their heads, and the tunnel was almost completely straight. They walked for maybe fifteen chimes before they heard a sound.

This time it was not the sound of the water, but a whisper, soft, almost unintelligible. It was coming from the end of the tunnel. They were past the point where Dhalvasha Hysal had once met Sagallius now, past the point where the ghost of a dead surrogate had troubled him. The whisper grew louder, then there was the sound of somebody crying – and then nothing.

[Sosicly Magnolia]

Sosicly waited for them to agree to go with her, if they had chosen not to she would have followed them and then waited for them to agree to go east. But they did go east, and east, east. The only difference between coming down and going relatively straight was it did not require as much effort but all the same Sosicly wheezed constantly by the fifth bell. Then she stumbled and clutched at the walls of the cavern, propelling herself forward by the tenth bell by sheer force of will. By the time Sosicly heard the noise, she thought it was her own cry of despair before she remembered it was not possible. She stopped abruptly, her back hitting Demyan’s front and she nearly sank into the younger Ochya member but leaned to the nearest wall instead. Deciding the cry was Viratas’ blessing in disguise Sosicly took a chime to rest, then waved to Demyan since he seemed to tolerate her flailing more than the elder members. She pointed to her ear, then around twice, throwing in a questioning look to ask if he too had heard the cry. It was very possible she was delirious. But she didn’t actually wait for an answer, just settled into the wall and eyed the area silently. Now it seemed much too quiet. Her body sagged tiredly but her skin prickled uncomfortably, and she finally moved farther up towards Vass and Alanys. Adjusting her much too heavy knapsack Sosicly raised her hands and clapped loudly a few times to see if it would provoke a response. She took a few more hurried, stumbling steps and fell to her knees just behind the Ochya leader but stubbornly clapped again. Something made the noise, so something would come out, something had to come out!

[Poison]

Vass and Alanys didn’t notice that Sosicly was unwell as they were walking in front of her and only occasionally casting a brief glance at her. Demyan had noticed though. He had been worried about her for a while and was just wondering whether he should mention anything to her when she abruptly stopped. He quickly put his arms around her and helped her sit down. „What’s wrong?“ he wanted to know. The young man looked really concerned. „Is your breathing bothering you? Shall I take you back to the surface?“

„You don’t have to continue if you can’t. Nobody’s asking you to risk your health …“ He knelt down next to her. He was just about to tell Vass and Alanys to stop when he noticed her gesture. „I think I heard something as well“, he murmurred and furrowed his brow. „I’m not sure what it is though. Do you think it was a living being or just a ghost?“

Seeing that she wanted to continue, he helped her up again and watched her closely as she adjusted her pack. As she stumbled forward, he shook his head. He wasn’t sure what exactly her problem was, but she probably wouldn’t last much longer. Just as she clapped her hands, he called out ot their companions, „Vass! Alanys! Come back here. Sosicly isn’t feeling well!“

Vass looked rather annoyed as he turned around. He had suspected that the mute girl would be trouble from the beginning. He should have refused to let her join the expedition. Alanys also looked annoyed and mildly worried. She furrowed her brow as she looked at Sosicly.

„What’s the matter with you?“ the leader of the Ochya wanted to know. „She is exhausted“, Demyan explained. „I also think she heard something. There is something, further down the tunnel. What shall we do, Vass? With her, I mean? If her problem gets worse …“

“Back to the surface with her, I say“, Vass replied. “Maybe she just needs a break“, Demyan murmurred. “We should let Sosicly decide. She knows best.“

[Sosicly Magnolia]

Sosicly shook her head, and sat shakily pulling off her knapsack she pulled out her spare vial of ink, and flipped through her book. I am fine, just a quick rest. If there is someone we have to see. I can go further, if we see nothing then we can go back. I will stay if you tell me to go or not, I’m not your Ochya, Dovna. She made to stand again, stumbling a bit and taking Demyan’s offered help but standing brushing it off just as quickly. Already she looked weak, relying on him wouldn’t help matters but she offered hima tense smile of thanks. Then held out the note to Vass she stared up at him stubbornly. It was not his choice she came she asked out of respect, she would have followed them regardless. But even as she tried to commune all this with her stare, she could hear her own breathing in the tunnel. Feel the weariness in her bones, though it had not been so many bells since they has left the safety of the city, beginning to claw at her. After a time she returned the book, tossing both it and her vial in, along with the quill. She put on the knapsack, bared her fangs in a grimace and began to walk forward. She made her way past Vass and headed towards where the noise had come from. Her clapping had gotten not response but that did not mean whoever was lost might not be there. The girl turned to the others, and pointed to where the sound came from in frustration, any patience she had worn off around the tenth bell. But her vision was blurry, and her arm was not pointing entirely straight, Sosicly wondered if she would faint. Vass would not like that one bit, she struggled to make herself stand straighter and seem more at ease.

[Poison]

„No, you aren’t“, Vass agreed as Sosicly informed him that she was not one of his Ochya. He was glad that she wasn’t one of his people. She was weak, and he didn’t have the patience to put up with a mute every day either. Of course that also meant that he wasn’t her superior and couldn’t give her orders, but on the other hand … „But I’m still leading this expedition and responsible for the wellbeing of all of you. And if I think that you endanger us with your problems or that you are too weak to continue, you will listen to me and do what I say. I don’t want to have to take a dead body back to Kalinor.“

Next to Sosicly Demyan sighed and shook his head. „Sosicly knows best what she is capable of“, he informed the head of the Ochya. „If she thinks she can continue, we shouldn’t argue with her. In fact we shouldn’t argue at all, but concentrate on our mission. There are things going on in the underground. We might be wasting valuable time here.“

„I hate to admit it“, Alanys remarked and looked at the younger man. „But Demyan has a point. Let’s go. Demyan, if she passes out, you will take her back to Kalinor. Vass and I are more experienced than you.“ After she had said that, Alanys and Vass continued down the tunnel. Demyan stayed close to Sosicly. Despite his words he wasn’t sure if Sosicly really knew what was best for her. She didn’t look well.

„Don’t play the part of a hero because of Vass and Alanys“, he whispered to her. „They aren’t worth it. Your health is more important. There’ll be another opportunity for you to prove yourself.“ He cast a meaningful glance at her, and then he fell silent. For the next couple of chimes they continued down the tunnel that gradually grew wider. After a while Sosicly could notice a smell.

The air smelled of decay now. It became stronger the closer they got to the end of the tunnel. Sosicly could hear the whisper again as well. It was louder than before, although she still couldn’t understand what the voice was saying.

[Sosicly Magnolia]

Sosicly flinched at bit at the mention of a body. He had a point, there was no reason for her to push so hard. And she did not want to endanger the others. Straightening herself as much as possible she sucked in large gulps, trying to hold them and control her breathing. Looking to Demyan, Sosicly felt awkward, not sure of how to thank him for his worry. She offered him a strained smile, and shook her head. Writing out once more Its not a hero. The noise it is isn’t far. Just a bit farther…I may use your arm for balance? But she wasn’t waiting for an answer, putting away her supplies Sosicly took his arm and near tugged him along. It was helpful to lean a bit of her weight onto him, but she was too absorbed in everything but her pain for once. Though her breath twinge in pain with each pull the thumping was overwhelmed by the whispering that seemed to echoing senselessly in her head. The smell made her gag, and tighten her grip on Demyans arm beginning to panic slightly. It was the smell of something dead, and the phantom image of tiny body floated through her head making her feel more ill. She pulled along hurriedly now, nearly stumbling and dragging her companion with her in an effort to go faster. Sosicly shook her head to try and clear out the sounds to focus better but the only seemed to make even less sense. She strained to make sense of what they were saying, finally releasing Demyans arm to stumble past Vass and Alanys at an awkward run. For all her people could see she wasn’t seeing anything. She grit her teeth against another wave of nausea, and waved them forward impatiently though she herself didn’t think she would go much farther. It was hard for her to tell whether it was spots signaling she would faint or it there was something in the shadows.

[Poison]

„Are you sure?“ Demyan asked doubtfully as Sosicly assured him that she didn’t want to play a hero. She was mute. Her life in Kalinor likely hadn’t been easy. If she found out what had happened in the lower caverns, the Symenestra might finally be able to see beyond her handicap and admire her. She had a lot to gain – and even more to lose. „Very well, take my hand. And remember my words. If you start getting worse, please let somebody take you back to Kalinor. Being down here can’t be good for you.“

„What’s that smell?“ Alanys whispered to Vass. The leader of the Ochya seemed to be the only one that was unaffected by it. He simply turned around and replied, „Corpses, most likely. We’ve thrown the dead surrogates off the web for the past couple of centuries. I’m surprised that it doesn’t smell worse.“ Alanys murmurred something unintelligible and walked on, towards the source of the smell and the whispers. Maybe they would finally find some clues here.

As Sosicly stumbled past Vass and her, she frowned. For a moment she considered letting the foolish mute run towards her doom, but then she grabbed her from behind, just as she reached the end of the tunnel. It opened into another cave, and it was immediately obvious that this cave was already occupied.

It was filled with bones upon bones. Decayed meat still clung to some of them. Half rotten clothes were strewn across the floor. Some of the bones looked as if something had been chewing on them, although the creature that had done that was nowhere to be seen. There was somebody else there though – or something. A ghost hovered over the pile of corpses. She wore an old fashioned dress that came down to her ankles, and her hair was in two braids.

As Sosicly stumbled into the cave, the ghost spun around and stared at her.

[Sosicly Magnolia]

Where once the caves had only smelt like wet stone now they reeked of flesh. Sosicly crinkled her nose, trying to breathe through her nose instead but that made it worse. Her stomach churned mutinously, and her eyes burned at Vass’ words, then widened. If she could have screamed she might have for now she could only stumble back, knocking into Alanys. She had heard about the ghosts, ghosts of the woman they had left at the bottom of their city. Sosicly moved her gaze to the bones where the ghosts feet did not touch then back up to the face, her heart in her throat. Questions bubbled beneath the panic but she could only stare, her own hand wrapping around Alanys arm and squeezing. A chime passed in a strange silence before she squeezed harder on Alanys arm then released it to get out her book slowly. When she did Sosicly was able to get her ink, eyes never leaving the ghost as she worked mechanically to write words. Where is the child? Ask her. She showed the book to the woman beside her then took a step forward and showed it to the ghost, unsure. The book shook in her hands, and her breath came out painfully in terror not sickness. She wanted to look around the room but she didn’t dare take her eyes off the ghost woman. A distant part of her brain wondered if this would be Melina one day as well, and how many others there were here. Sosicly then took a tentative step back to quickly look at the cave. Bones, bones, and bones were all her eyes seemed to be able to focus on, she seen nothing that made her think of the child except the bones. It gave her just enough courage to stay where she was.