Introductions were made (offscreen) as they began to walk, so everyone would know each other’s names at least.
Deimos was becoming a staple of the bard’s adventures, which given the General’s bond with Amalia and useful talents had made him a good man to ask along, even if he wasn’t a Loreseeker, nor had any desire to be. Jigano was glad to see him, especially when Sam didn’t arrive at the appointed time, and he hoped that Zuriel would have an easier time fitting through the tunnels here. At least she could heal Deimos if anything bad happened, now that he knew of the difficulty the big man’s magic laid upon him in that regard.
Amalia’s presence was the most welcome of all, though he wouldn’t be so uncouth as to admit it to the others, and he sent her a warm pulse of welcome in greeting when she poked her head out from Deimos’s hood.
Loren had, of course, been invited along as an official Loreseeker, but also for his strong magic and useful ideas (and that very important survival ability they had talked about). His idea of marking the trail as they went, for instance, was an excellent one, and Jigano nodded gratefully to the honey badger for making sure they’d be able to easily find their way back.
Ingrid was the least known quantity of the group, but also the one with the most experience in Halo. He couldn’t help but smile as Ingrid scolded him, obediently rewrapping his scarf and doing his best to speak to her through it clearly. She was the only one of the group who couldn’t communicate telepathically, and he made a mental note to remember to pass along anything the others said to her as needed. Her idea was also a good one, in different circumstances, but he shook his head briefly. ”That would work if this was a labyrinth or a simple man-made maze outside,” he agreed, ”with a single start and exit, or center goal. But we don’t know if this is multiple interlocking cave and mine systems or not, and if it crosses over and under multiple levels of itself as we descend, it could make that method moot.”
Her other warning earned a sharp-toothed grin hidden behind warm wool and cloth as he sent a pulse of amused agreement to Amalia – and Deimos as well, the general no slouch when it came to fending off Caido’s fearsome beasts. ”At least we have three healers along,” he said innocently, nodding to Zuriel as well as Loren. ”In case anything goes wrong.”
Two votes went to the right, one to the left, and one abstained. Jigano nodded and gestured for them to follow Loren and Amalia’s lead and the quintet trekked down the narrower tunnel as it went from ten feet wide to seven, and then five. His lantern’s light was a steady white glow in the dark as the tunnel curved around – and kept curving, until he suspected they were going back the way they had come, but they were also going steadily down such that he thought they were almost below where they had begun before. The tunnel widened abruptly into a small bubble of a room, and it was difficult to see the back wall as they stepped into it--
That was when the rumbling started.
Whether the result of their footsteps or some other shift in the cave system it hardly mattered in the moment. What kept their attention was the sound of rock and ice shifting and cracking above and in front of them as the ceiling started to cave in. ”Get back!” Jigano called, using his earth magic to keep the entrance to the tunnel they had just left cleared for their retreat.
(blue lines indicate descent)
Jigano avoids the rocks and keeps the route to the tunnel open
Loren would have taken a glancing blow from a stone, but Amalia protects him!
Amalia avoids all the rocks, and knocks an incoming rock away from Loren!
Deimos avoids the rocks
Ingrid is struck by several rocks
Was anyone hurt enough to need healing? Will you try to move the rocks and continue on, or go back the way you came and try the other direction?
Posting Order:
1. Deimos
2. Amalia
3. Ingrid
4. Loren
Deimos was becoming a staple of the bard’s adventures, which given the General’s bond with Amalia and useful talents had made him a good man to ask along, even if he wasn’t a Loreseeker, nor had any desire to be. Jigano was glad to see him, especially when Sam didn’t arrive at the appointed time, and he hoped that Zuriel would have an easier time fitting through the tunnels here. At least she could heal Deimos if anything bad happened, now that he knew of the difficulty the big man’s magic laid upon him in that regard.
Amalia’s presence was the most welcome of all, though he wouldn’t be so uncouth as to admit it to the others, and he sent her a warm pulse of welcome in greeting when she poked her head out from Deimos’s hood.
Loren had, of course, been invited along as an official Loreseeker, but also for his strong magic and useful ideas (and that very important survival ability they had talked about). His idea of marking the trail as they went, for instance, was an excellent one, and Jigano nodded gratefully to the honey badger for making sure they’d be able to easily find their way back.
Ingrid was the least known quantity of the group, but also the one with the most experience in Halo. He couldn’t help but smile as Ingrid scolded him, obediently rewrapping his scarf and doing his best to speak to her through it clearly. She was the only one of the group who couldn’t communicate telepathically, and he made a mental note to remember to pass along anything the others said to her as needed. Her idea was also a good one, in different circumstances, but he shook his head briefly. ”That would work if this was a labyrinth or a simple man-made maze outside,” he agreed, ”with a single start and exit, or center goal. But we don’t know if this is multiple interlocking cave and mine systems or not, and if it crosses over and under multiple levels of itself as we descend, it could make that method moot.”
Her other warning earned a sharp-toothed grin hidden behind warm wool and cloth as he sent a pulse of amused agreement to Amalia – and Deimos as well, the general no slouch when it came to fending off Caido’s fearsome beasts. ”At least we have three healers along,” he said innocently, nodding to Zuriel as well as Loren. ”In case anything goes wrong.”
Two votes went to the right, one to the left, and one abstained. Jigano nodded and gestured for them to follow Loren and Amalia’s lead and the quintet trekked down the narrower tunnel as it went from ten feet wide to seven, and then five. His lantern’s light was a steady white glow in the dark as the tunnel curved around – and kept curving, until he suspected they were going back the way they had come, but they were also going steadily down such that he thought they were almost below where they had begun before. The tunnel widened abruptly into a small bubble of a room, and it was difficult to see the back wall as they stepped into it--
That was when the rumbling started.
Whether the result of their footsteps or some other shift in the cave system it hardly mattered in the moment. What kept their attention was the sound of rock and ice shifting and cracking above and in front of them as the ceiling started to cave in. ”Get back!” Jigano called, using his earth magic to keep the entrance to the tunnel they had just left cleared for their retreat.
(blue lines indicate descent)
Deimos avoids the rocks
Was anyone hurt enough to need healing? Will you try to move the rocks and continue on, or go back the way you came and try the other direction?
1. Deimos
2. Amalia
3. Ingrid
4. Loren
