Plot Advancing PQ Roads That Never Saw Sun Nor Sky
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
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Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,169
MP: 9427
#29
Evie
It's not so much the smell that bothers the apothecarist, too used to animal decay and unfortunate bodies growing up in the Grounds. But she is a healer, someone dedicated to helping and uplifting people. She cherishes life over all other things, has used this to drive her forward in the darkest days of the barriers existence. It's this empathy that has her clasping her hand over her face, choking pathetically as her eyes well with tears. Unable to look away for far too many long moments, as if her brain is forcing her to take in the breadth of devastation here. It is one thing to know the citizens of Halo may resort to cannibalism. Another entirely to witness the senseless slaughter and storage of countless people. People who had families, aspirations. Piled into boxes like spare blankets and left to rot.

Maea dashes away and Evie stumbles after her, keeping down her own gorge by the barest edges of her will. It is harder, in contrast, to keep back the tears. She doesn't spare a thought for Hotaru and Jigano, whose composure she simultaneously envies and despises. Whatever they may think of her doesn't matter. "Maea," she croaks pathetically, and as the pale woman's hand goes searching in the dark Evie finds it and holds it tight. Uses it to pull herself away from the terrible sight, led forth by Jigano's song and her friend's hand. Her free hand shakes around her dagger, but she doesn't dare to put it away. Not after what they have found.



Evie follows after the group, dagger in one hand and holding hands with Maea with the other.
reckless at heart but never unkind
in a perfect world we could've been fine

Table Code by Sky!


Age: 7 | Height: | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: - Strg: - Dext: - Endr: - Luck: - Int:
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#30
RANDOM EVENT
You all decide to continue, so down the dark tunnel you continue to go. At first it seems like it may never end, that the pathway warps and turns with confusing turns that likely had purpose when pulling a cart through it. Luckily for you all, the tunnel begins to open to flickering lights and sounds, and if you poke your head around you’ll spot two large Ursurs chained to the wall, and a pack of at least six people huddled around a fire in the middle, the smoke drifting through a crack in the ceiling.

They have not noticed you yet.

------

At this point the PQ+ is considered complete.

You did not find any mage glass but you did find evidence of a cannibal hideout.

Decide whether you wish to disturb what lies within or depart with what you’ve learned.

You have 48 hours to post. There is no post order.
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#31
Jigano crept silently along, leading the way down into the dark with the lantern providing a soft white glow. After a little while his song faded to silence once more, stealth returning to their little group. He was just about ready to call a halt and suggest they head back when the sounds reached his ears and he shielded the lantern in his cloak, sneaking forward on light feet to peek into the cavern beyond.

Chained Ursurs weren't the sort of thing he expected to find this far down, and his foxy ears flickered as he held up a hand to those behind him. He paused to listen for a few minutes, trying to pick out something of the conversation going on, before he shifted slowly back, leading his companions up the way they'd come until they were far enough to speak without alerting the men or bears below. "This little jaunt didn't include clearing out the Warden's cannibal problem," he said softly. "And we didn't come armed for bear. Let's head back, and report this as a dead end for now. If Neron wants to clear this bunch out so we can keep looking, we'll leave that up to him to decide." Mostly he didn't want to put Evie and Maea in danger of a fight, and he flicked a glance and a slight nod at Hotaru to lead the way back while he brought up the rear this time, guarding against any unexpected threats from the group they were leaving behind.



Jigano suggests a tactical retreat and takes up the position at the rear, using his partially-shifted fox senses to listen for signs of anyone coming up from behind them while they make their escape.
Hotaru Kaito
the Valkyrie
Masseuse / Headmistress

Age: 33 | Height: 5'2 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 3 - Strg: 38 - Dext: 38 - Endr: 54 - Luck: 40 - Int:
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#32
Neither of the other women are people that she knows, so though she feels empathetic towards their reactions, she can do little more than try to devote herself to keeping them safe as they venture along. She is far from a comforting sort, and they seem to have each other to cling to. So Hotaru merely follows along behind Jigano, his humming and the light that emanates from his lantern easier to focus upon than the reality of her own hardened soul.

What they find is...unsurprising. Disappointing but unsurprising all the same. Though her insides quake with the desire to free the creatures chained by the cannibals littered throughout the room, no matter their ferocity, it is not the best course of action. There are not enough fighters and far too many combatants, not to mention the Ursurs themselves. Even so, the bloodlust simmers in her veins, frustrated at their lack of success.

Jigano seems to feel the same way at least, and the woman nods back to him in understanding of his stance as they make their way back out of the tunnels. Back to the light and the cold, and away from these strange, ravenous people who scrounge about like termites below the earth. A sad reality, and a shadow upon Neron's reign that she cannot help but scoff at. She maneuvers her way to the front, preferring to keep Evie and Maea between the safety net of herself and Jigano as they find their way back to the surface.



Hotaru takes point and starts making her way out of the mine.
she knows the restless press of moths
mistaking her presence for candlelight

Table Code by Sky!
Hotaru has a passive magic that makes her glow with an internal golden light; it makes her appear youthful and her hair seems to look like moving sunlight. Can only subtly illuminate dark spaces.
Maea Valair
Hollowed Grounds Ambassador / Loreseeker

Age: 29 | Height: 156 cm / 5'1 ft | Race: Ancient | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 2 - Strg: 22 - Dext: 22 - Endr: 25 - Luck: 20 - Int:
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#33
You're so cold
but you feel alive
Maea's sense of adventure was all but gone. The captured ursurs evoked no sense of pity in her, and the figures only made dread rise within. Jigano's suggestion of leaving was accepted with a deeply grateful nod, all the more so because of Evie's hand still rested in hers. Even if she would be willing to brave danger herself, dragging her friends into undue battles for unknown gain did not appeal.

Better then to come back some other time, better prepared and ready to actually face formidable dangers. If they'd known this place was inhabited... but it was no point regretting that now.

Letting Hotaru take the lead, Maea followed as second to last, keeping her eyes on Evies back and secure with Jigano's competent support to lean back on. The shadows his lantern cast bounded in grotesque disfigurement about the walls as they begun to head back along the same path they'd come, and made her shudder. What if they were discovered before they could get out? Would the bridge really hold for another crossing?

-------

Maea agrees to head back and takes the spot second to last in the line. She worries about crossing the bridge on the way back.
lay your hands on me
one last time
MAEA
♦ Violence, magic, thievery is permitted with Maea at all times. DM me if you have any ideas ♦
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
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#34
Evie
It will take some time, Evie thinks, before she is ready for any kind of adventure again after this. Maea's hand is tight in hers, and she thinks that might be all that keeps her moving forward. Her guts still ache with emotion and grief which makes it difficult to focus, but at least the two who are more accustomed to such things - likely the strongest out of their little group by that measure alone - take point. Evie is fine in the back with Maea.

As such she learns late as the whispers are passed along what has been found. Unsurprising after what they just found, but distressing all the same. Evie wants to storm in there, submit to her characteristic temper and bring them all to justice, but she knows she is simply not powerful enough. Healing seems so far away now in the face of her anger and disbelief. But the call has already been made, and she doesn't want to endanger Maea either, unaware of how their minds trace the same mental paths.

Leaving is both easier and harder than entering, knowing what they do now. She follows behind Hotaru, the gleam of golden hair at least easy to discern in the oppressive darkness. Ready to see sunlight again, and pray that this won't give her nightmares.



Evie follows behind Hotaru to leave the caves!
reckless at heart but never unkind
in a perfect world we could've been fine

Table Code by Sky!
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#35
If he had been alone or had only Hotaru with him he might have forced the issue, seeking to free the Ursurs and clearing out the cannibals, at least for a little while before more cropped back up, like cockroaches in the ice. It was frustrating to back away from the darkness within the heart of the mine, far more loathsome than any lack of light. He was not so foolish as he had been a year ago, though, desperate to push on in the face of overwhelming odds. There had been no indication that any other lives were immediately at risk, at least; those in the boxes wouldn't care, and there was no sign of anyone begging for mercy or trying to escape. The nest would need to be cleaned out sooner rather than later to avoid the murder of other travelers, but for now? For now it was the better part of valor to escape unharmed and return with their findings to the man who claimed this land beneath his rule.

The trip back, at least, was uneventful. They had remained undetected, avoiding trouble by luck and cautious wariness both, and this time they all made it across the bridge unharmed. It was, however, a much subdued group that slipped away from the cursed village and headed back towards the portal in the Fangs. There would be nightmares a-plenty to go around after this, Jigano knew, and he felt pangs of mixed pride and regret that Maea and Evie had made it through, yet been scarred by something they could never unsee again.

{Finished}


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