[PQ] Into the Ruins

Ah. Ruins. A familiar sight. Well, not entirely. These weren't on fire like the ones back home. Not being on fire certainly made it easier to look at and pass through. And who better to pass through than the guy with a shovel? Enigma had a family history of treasure hunting, and now he was itching to follow his ancestor's footsteps. Why now? Who knew. But either way, he was curious about the ruins. Sometimes you could tell how a place became ruins by looking around. Maybe looking around these parts would yield up answers? He sure hoped so. enigma monarch of the apocalypse

Who wants to be among the first to check out the ruins!?

There are two goals in mind for this quest:

1. Hints to what may have happened here
   
2. Treasure!
   

This quest will go on until at least one of these goals are met. The quest can continue for longer via majority vote IC. This will be a small group with only two openings.

Openings

1. Moses-Joel
   
2. Kaladin
   
3. Remi
   
4. Ronin
   

As the days dragged on and they continued to search for more answers, it was only natural that Moses grew restless. As a man of action and a partaker in the common good, he had to keep looking for ways to help. Any little bit of what they could learn was valuable, and if it meant that steps had to be taken in random directions, so be it. There was an ominousness about this whole situation that didn't settle well in the soldier's gut. When a call went out for more aide down in the ruins, Moses made the decision to answer it. His first endeavor near the spire had brought about significant worry, but it wouldn't change anytime soon. This was a new world, and it meant that the unknowns were just as terrifying and dangerous as what they possibly faced back in the Settlement. If he knew what was out there, he'd be better prepared for what could possibly strike in the future. Anything be damned if it was going to separate him from his people again. Enigma was staring off in the distance when Perfetti walked up to him. A shovel on a broad shoulder and an excited grin overtook the towering man's features. The soldier figured it'd do no good to excavate with an awkward tension lying between them. So when he came upon the figure he made his presence known. "Excuse me, sir!" he called. Moses waited for the man to acknowledge him before continuing. "I heard you'd needed help taking to the ruins down here. Figured I'd lend a hand." That was when he held his out to shake in greeting. "What might I call you?" Moses-Joel Men of Honor are hard to Find

Kaladin had been spending more time closer to what the people had considered settlements around here, though it was against his better judgement. No matter how hard he tried to squash it down and bury it, a part of him still craved a bit of human companionship. It was the former soldier in him probably. Soldiers craved the companionship of other warriors. He still had managed to avoid talking to most folk, but he was sure other people would have seen him around the edges of their little budding society.

Still he had heard the whisperings of a group forming to explore the ruins nearby, he had wanted to explore them himself but he had sensed that for the time being it would be to dangerous to go it alone. While he wasn't sure how to feel exactly entering back into their society even just briefly Kaladin had decided to join the expedition.


His tricorn hat shaded his eyes, and the cloth he kept tied around his neck was pulled up to obscure the lower half of his face. He made his way to the entrance of the ruins and the supposed meeting place of the expedition and was surprised to find only two other people there. Was this it? Only three people were going to explore the area? He supposed he shouldn't have been so judgmental, he after all had planned on going it alone but still "Are we waiting for anyone else?" he asked gruffly through the cloth coming to rest next to the two men, hand resting on his Ball and Chain GodEater.

Two other guys arrived. One looked like a softie while the other was as covered up and therefore probably fed up with life as he was. He saluted the two with his trusty shovel before flashing them a grin from the darkness of his cloak. "Hello, my good sirs. You may call me Enigma, cause that's how I roll. And yes, this is everyone. It will be a small group today. It will make moving about faster and will attract less of any hostiles out there. It looks dangerous out there, so we need to be able to communicate with each other and be best friends, at least until this is over." he told the others casually. "The goal is to find lost treasures, and hopefully even clues as to how the ruins became ruins." the cloaked figure explained. "Now. If you are all ready, let us depart like the merry men we probably aren't," he said, pulling his shovel under the confines of the brown fabric that draped over his body. He then began to walk into the ruins to begin their journey. (Moses-Joel has pulled out of the quest.) enigma monarch of the apocalypse

remi Remi didn't recognize the man who was planning on leading this expedition, but seeing Ronin standing before the ruined landscape had immediately pulled the alchemist's attention. He hadn't a chance to really speak with the captain since arriving, and though there appeared to be sort of task at hand, Remi was more than happy to use it as an excuse to see his friend. "Ronin!" Remi said happily, moving to stand beside the captain and clapping him happily on the back. True the pair were friends, but even that meagre amount of physical contact would have been completely barred from the alchemist even a few weeks prior. So many things hd Remi didn't recognize the man who was planning on leading this expedition, but seeing Ronin standing before the ruined landscape had immediately pulled the alchemist's attention. He hadn't a chance to really speak with the captain since arriving, and though there appeared to be sort of task at hand, Remi was more than happy to use it as an excuse to see his friend.

R O N I N

---

Ronin was a merry man, normally, and he'd have said as much if he was feeling even remotely as such. Unfortunately being hauled into a new world with nothing more than the clothes on his back and having a rather insane surprise dropped in his lap put a dampener on his usually jovial self. And given how stressed he'd been back in Northaven, this wasn't exactly helping. So when a group decided, at random, to head out into the ruins, of course he was there too, offering a pleasant smile to both Kaladin and Enigma.

He brightened considerably as Remi arrived, though that was hardly surprising - the alchemist had saved his skin once, and he had seen him fight. He clasped the other man's shoulder in greeting. "Good to see you, Remi," he murmured. "I'm glad you're here - and that you're okay. Well, shall we do this?"

More of the North People arrived to go on this quest. Alright then. That was fine. He used to travel about with a larger group when he was younger. Before the war. It would be great to have friends again. People that wouldn't blame him for how it all ended. "I guess I should inform you as well, since you just arrived. We are searching for treasures and maybe even some clues as to what happened to this place. We are going as a smaller group so that we attract less hostile whatever's out there. If you need my attention, I respond to whatever. Most people call me Enigma though." He told them with a lazy swing of his shovel. "Any other questions before we head in?" enigma monarch of the apocalypse

R O N I N

---

Treasures, was it? Ronin wouldn't lie, he was more interested in the clues - and hells, maybe some of the aforementioned 'treasures' would prove useful to their continued survival here. Because until he could be sure that they would survive, there was no sense in trying to get out or get back to where they came from (a prospect that seemed increasingly impossible as time went by).

Stepping back from Remi, he nodded at the stranger - though if they were all stuck here together then he doubted that would be the case for long - and shook his head. "No further questions from me," he said. "Though it's probably best that we don't wander too far apart from each other, or at least agree to meet back here if we get lost or separated."

remi Remi grinned back at the captain. In his experience, Ronin was one of the most uncomplicated men that he’d met so far (baywatching out of the ocean or no), and while that might not have been strictly true of the captain’s character recently, it filled the alchemist with no small amount of comfort to have him close. ”I suppose we shall.” Remi agreed. Though when he heard what Enigma had to say, he was less than convinced. Treasure? They were still worried about the basics of survival and this man wanted to pillage and plunder? Creasing his brow, Remi glanced towards Ronin skeptically, then back to Enigma. The mention of learning what had happened was the only thing focusing Remi’s mind; indeed, this place look more devastated than the surrounding area (which was saying something). Perhaps there would be clues here that would give them a greater understanding of this new place they were in. ”My name is Remi. I have no questions either, but I agree with the captain.” Sticking together and having a rendezvous point seemed smart.

Kaladin's eyes flitted back and forth underneath his hat, watching the three other men converse about the little expedition they were about to have. Enigma's explanation for the smaller group size made sense in theory. The only problem was that if they did attract any unpleasantness there might not have been enough of them to handle it. As far as he knew Ronin was just a regular soldier like Kal had been. He nodded briefly in respect to the former Captain, his military training kicking in before he had the mind to quell it. Remi also seemed rather u

Enigma on the other hand was well....an enigma. He didn't come across as particularly impressive to Kal but he had seen less impressive people do some pretty extraordinary things.  He didn't recognize him as someone from Northhaven, which mean't he was a part of this strange new world. A world that Kal didn't know the rules of yet. A phantom pain shot up his metal arm and he flexed it reflexively.

"No questions" he said and waited for Enigma to lead the band to the start of their expedition.

Enigma watched the others from the shadows of his cloak. They all seemed to know each other, or at least recognize. That was good. "Alright then. OnwAAAAAAAAAAArd!!" he exclaimed, pointing to the ruins with his shovel before charging in like the lunatic he technically was. He would stop every once in a while to make sure the others were keeping up before zooming once again. If he was in his right mind, he probably would have been more careful, but he wasn't. War and being alone with nothing but dead bodies for over ten years kinda does that to a man. Alright, folks! It's time to finally enter the ruins! enigma monarch of the apocalypse

R O N I N

---

Onwards, indeed. Giving another smile to Remi and a nod to Kaladin, Ronin gathered his wits about him and took a second to put himself in the right frame of mind, before following their glorious leader into whatever happened next.

He walked with sure feet, his hands clenched into fists by his sides. Who knew what might be out here, or what they might end up having to face.

Only time would tell. That didn't mean that Ronin wouldn't be ready for it, though, the ex-captain glancing over his shoulder for his comrades, making sure they were close by.

remi Following directly behind Ronin, Remi moved with easy grace and dexterity. His hands were at his side as well, but not clenched into fists. Instead his fingers moved gently, readying himself to take flight at a moment's notice should the occasion call for it. Though the alchemist could see fairly well in the dark if he allowed his eyes to shift to those of his other form, he wondered if it wouldn't have been a good idea to bring a torch or lantern down with them. In fact, the group seemed woefully ill-equipped for searching for any sort of treasure. This isn't bother the alchemist though, as baubles in a world where survival was their primary objective seemed a laughable goal. Knowledge though rarely required physical tools to get at, and so the alchemist followed silently behind the captain down, and down, and down.

And so the merry band entered the ruins. But though they approached it with varying degrees of watchfulness, no amount of preparation would save them from the threats and mysteries found within these crumbled buildings and winding streets. Indeed, as with everything else in this strange new world, the ruins were not always what they seemed. Nor would this simple quest for knowledge and treasures be without danger. Perhaps the group triggered a long dormant spell. Perhaps it disturbed some ancient creature. Or maybe it was just one of those weird occurrences that seemed all to common in the bubble, but whatever they did, something stirred. It started simply at first, with wisps of mists too small and too hard to see in the dark, even if the men were looking for them. They flowed across the ground, the wisps growing into ribbons, which grew into strips that eventually swirled around the feet of the men in a silent cloud. Then, they surged forward and formed the figure of an enormous bear directly in front of the leader, Enigma. Without missing a beat, the mist bear roared a challenge and charged forward. Its jaws closed around the man’s shovel and wrenched it from his hands, snapping it in half, while one clawed paw swiped the man’s left arm, leaving slices in the flesh there that quickly welled with blood. Seemed this monster of the mist wasn’t so insubstantial that it couldn’t leave wounds. And it was fully intending to.