Once everyone was free of the rocks and no one was in danger anymore, Jigano eased back on his magic, letting the last of the rocks he’d deflected settle gently to the ground. He smiled wryly at Deimos ’s eternal stoicism, glad of the big man’s unflappability in these situations they kept finding themselves in. The offer to move rocks was met with a thoughtful nod; they hadn’t seen a clear passage beyond, but there had been something at the back of the chamber that might have been a narrow passage through the rock… or perhaps simply a trick of the shadows in the lantern’s light.
Amalia had saved Loren from a nasty bump, and he sent a pulse of gratitude and admiration at her swift and graceful rescue of the other man, tinged with curious surprise at the starlight shield she had displayed. A new power? Or something else? Something to ask later, he hoped, in calmer circumstances. Her suggestion had merit, if only because their path had just begun, and it would be wise to conserve their strength if they hoped to explore further into the caves in search of the elusive rumors of mage glass and any other wonders they might document in the Loreseeker chronicles.
Loren was unscathed thanks to Amalia, but Jigano was proud of how his colleagues were working together to help each other. The former Launceleyn passed along the good karma by offering to heal Ingrid, and the bard relaxed a little more when she accepted. He voted with Amalia again, and Jigano grinned at the reminder of their last project moving rocks in the Spire. He nodded, wondering if it would be a tie this time as his attention turned to the last member of their little crew.
Ingrid was the most battered of the group, her pluck and spirit not quite matched by the swiftness of her body, but bruises could be swiftly mended by Loren’s magic, and soon she was up and good as new. Deimos’s concern and Loren’s Healing were both excellent reminders that down here they were a team who all had to rely on each other, and he listened gravely to her vote before turning to give Deimos a wry shrug.
”Let’s check the other path,” he summed up, lifting his lantern and leading the way again. ”And while we’re at it, Ingrid, can you tell us whatever you know about these mountains and caves?” Since they had a local guide, it made sense to see what she could teach them about her home.
They quickly retraced their initial path, walking upwards back to the first level and returning to where Loren’s claws had marked the wall a foot off the ground. The left hand path was wider and more even, continuing on without much obvious incline. It took a sharp turn to the left fairly quickly and they walked down a narrow, curving gullet of stone that allowed for only single-file passage until it opened up once more, the walls of dark, icy rock pulling away but leaving large, sharp growths of great rainbow-hued crystalline stone behind. The lantern light caught it and refracted among the massive outcrops of colorful ore. Purplish blues predominated, but with flashes of coppery red and bronze mixed in the sight was dazzling in the formerly dark cavern. The group would have to pick their way carefully through the small forest of the beautiful mineral, either on two legs or four, or using wings or magic, or relying on reflexes and luck to avoid getting cut. Jigano paused to touch a crystal lightly, frowning as he ‘tasted’ it with his earth magic. ”It’s… more metallic than anything else,” he said slowly.
The strange ore fell behind them as the tunnel continued, curving sharply to the left once more, and they were faced with another choice. Jigano raised his lantern high, but it was hard to see far in either direction. The path ahead looked wider, while the one to the left was definitely narrower, the shadows playing odd tricks on the eyes in that direction. ”Straight ahead, or left?” he asked his Loreseekers – and Deimos – with a furrowed brow.
Ingrid is asked to share what she knows of the Fangs with the class. As she walks through the crystal forest she manages to avoid cutting herself, but her coat catches on a jagged chunk of broken ore and rips as she maneuvers past it.
Deimos ’s reflexes save him from harm, and he even manages to keep his clothing from tearing on sharpened outcrops.
Loren in any shape is sure-footed enough to avoid drawing blood, but he may find some of his fur sliced off in an unintended haircut from passing too close to some of the formations, though his clothing doesn’t get more than scuffed.
Amalia is the picture of feline grace, untouched by the beautiful stones in whatever form she chooses.
Jigano also moves through the crystalline ‘forest’ with nary a nick on him or his gear.
Posting Order:
1. Ingrid
2. Deimos
3. Loren
4. Amalia
**PQ will move on in 72 hours
”Let’s check the other path,” he summed up, lifting his lantern and leading the way again. ”And while we’re at it, Ingrid, can you tell us whatever you know about these mountains and caves?” Since they had a local guide, it made sense to see what she could teach them about her home.
They quickly retraced their initial path, walking upwards back to the first level and returning to where Loren’s claws had marked the wall a foot off the ground. The left hand path was wider and more even, continuing on without much obvious incline. It took a sharp turn to the left fairly quickly and they walked down a narrow, curving gullet of stone that allowed for only single-file passage until it opened up once more, the walls of dark, icy rock pulling away but leaving large, sharp growths of great rainbow-hued crystalline stone behind. The lantern light caught it and refracted among the massive outcrops of colorful ore. Purplish blues predominated, but with flashes of coppery red and bronze mixed in the sight was dazzling in the formerly dark cavern. The group would have to pick their way carefully through the small forest of the beautiful mineral, either on two legs or four, or using wings or magic, or relying on reflexes and luck to avoid getting cut. Jigano paused to touch a crystal lightly, frowning as he ‘tasted’ it with his earth magic. ”It’s… more metallic than anything else,” he said slowly.
The strange ore fell behind them as the tunnel continued, curving sharply to the left once more, and they were faced with another choice. Jigano raised his lantern high, but it was hard to see far in either direction. The path ahead looked wider, while the one to the left was definitely narrower, the shadows playing odd tricks on the eyes in that direction. ”Straight ahead, or left?” he asked his Loreseekers – and Deimos – with a furrowed brow.
Deimos ’s reflexes save him from harm, and he even manages to keep his clothing from tearing on sharpened outcrops.
1. Ingrid
2. Deimos
3. Loren
4. Amalia
**PQ will move on in 72 hours
