[PQ+] What could go wrong?

we used to play outside when we were young & full of life & full of love

What a motley crew this is.

You arrive early - and when I say early, I mean early. You'd sent messages to the others to arrive a quarter into the outward tide, but for yourself, well, you've been here since two hours before that. Setting up a couple lights, checking the tunnels, scouting ahead - being way too invested in these Fingers, basically, but what can you say? You've always had a sweet spot for them. They're your turf, your childhood playground, the first thing you and El mapped.

As the time comes for the others to arrive (the tides is marked on the side of a wall, another bit of your handiwork from another man ago) you move to perch on an outcropping of rock, underneath some of the old writing that gives the way. You've got a manta gem around your neck, and a good amount of supplies in your oil-slicked bag: rope, food, lights, chalk for marking, bandages and medicine you picked up in town. Couple of throwing knives. Your bag. Your face is still a mess, but less so, and you can use both eyes pretty well so that's good. Ki's already scurried ahead, investigating the tunnels and making her way to the Trading Post, as the central clearing is affectionately known.

Now all you have to do is wait for your compatriots to show up, by boat or by swimming- whatever sailors (and Arm-biters) prefer.

---

PQ+ to clear out the Fingers! Zephyr is waiting just outside the entrance to the tunnel Mel & Co cleared last time, and Ki has gone ahead to investigate for signs of monsters. The tide is ebbing, and has gone out by about a quarter, so the tunnel is quite flooded.

Zephyr has brought:
A cloud manta gem (worn)

Lantern (carried)

Type: Grey
Cloak of Concealment | A cloak that fully masks the wearer from detection. Only works in Rae's fingers.

Type: Grey
Bag of Holding | A bag that can hold an infinite number of items, so long as they fit within the bag's 3ft x 3ft opening. The bag always feels nearly weightless, but always looks about 75% full.

----> bag is oil slicked to keep out water. It contains his cloak, four throwing knives, rope, bandages, medicine, some food, chalk, flint and steel, ten torches, a bottle of rum, two molotov cocktails-to-be, one extra cloud manta necklace, and some other paltry odds and ends.

Sunjata, Melita, Eloise

zephyr

you must burn brighter than ever

Another adventure, back to one previously started, ending as the tide rolled in. Any trepidation about the current predicament or predilection hadn’t entered her brain at all – sorted and skewed with the potential for disaster and melee. Melita thought herself prepared, but there was never truly enough to sanction whatever was due and damned to come their way.

She maneuvered alongside Sunjata and Nate, thoughts not going to actions and events that had transpired (yet again – her uncle incapable of staying out of trials or tribulations for scarcely a day), and instead to the collection and assortment of things in her pack. Food, water, and bandages were essentials, since she wasn’t sure how long they’d be within, a few coiled up ropes, the lantern in her hand, and the weapons nestled along her frame: the quiver full of her magically enhanced arrows (embers of fire, snaps of electricity, cold, glacial plumes), and her staff crooked into her belt. The daggers laden around her calves could come in handy too, along with the bow bracelet, and anklet. Armed, locked, and loaded.

And beloved Fangorn, of course, vines outstretched and a grumbling hiss at her ankles.

Upon their arrival, she smiled towards Zeph (despite the measures encountered on his face, and something makes her wonder) and the rest of the gathered, a bright grin ignited on her features, shifting the pack and quiver along her shoulders. “Ready!”

--

Melita is bringing:

A pack of essential items (rope, food, water, bandages)
Daggers
Lantern (carried)

•  Type: Light
Water Dancer | This delicate anklet, when worn, allows the user to step upon the surface of water as though it was solid as the ground. Can be used once per thread.

•  Type: Light
Bowstring Bracelet | At first this bracelet appears only as a length of intricately braided bowstring. But with an arrow in hand, upon miming the action of knocking and drawing it, the user will feel a bow beneath their fingers, as if it was there all along.

•  Type: Dark
Siabhran | A staff reinforced with the sap of a Wicker Woman. Black as pitch and veined with amber, this staff is nigh unbreakable. Those who are struck with it may experience mild hallucinations lasting up to ten minutes.

•  Type: Dark
Fire/Lightning/Ice Quiver | A magical quiver with two compartments. In one, it turns any arrow placed within into a flaming projectile when shot. In the other, the arrow becomes imbued with electricity. (Made by Remi)

Melita

SUNJATA

the flood

but am i too late? or hearts to your spades,
if i don't suit you? then what do you want from me?

Part of his face is still bruised by the time that the day comes for venturing to the Fingers yet again. Already his mood is sour, despite arriving with Melita who usually had a good chance at keeping his mood relatively bright with her sunshine nature. But now? Now, Nate’s arrived to join them and his anxieties are out the roof, wondering if Adam and Peter had known what he knows now, if they would have been as lighthearted on their arrival to the tundra as they had been.

He certainly doesn’t feel like it.

But he keeps his weapons close, Nate even closer in order to protect and ensure his safety – or if nothing else, Sunjata could help try to keep an eye on the Ascended. But everything feels heavy, everything weighs down, and he feels the tension to his jaw and he glances to Nate quickly as soon as they arrive there before Zeph. “Ready.” A much colder, quieter, exhausted version of Melita’s chipperness. Haai follows quickly on their heels as well, keeping wings tucked in tight, ears perked, watchful.

---

Sunjata arrives with the following official items:

Type: Grey
hEARs | An earring that when worn, increases the sound of voices (especially whispers)

Type: Grey
Flooded Brass Knuckles | brass knuckles inlaid with sapphires. When something is hit with these, jets of water pour from the sapphires with shocking force. Made by Remi.

Type: Dark
Flametongue | Magic sword that sheds dim light like a torch and is warm to the touch; causes user to constantly have spice on the tongue as if they ate something fiery hot

As well as a backpack with a water canteen, a coil of rope, a small net, and Safrin’s daggers on his hips.

so we're not written in the stars,
but i'm okay with that. i'm okay with anything

- NATE -

i'm shaking, salvation
i'm flying faster and faster and i...

This is far from the happiest compromise they could have come to. Far from his first thought, far from anything Nate actually wanted to do. There was a list of places he would rather be that was miles long, and yet, here he was, walking towards a cave filled with nothing but danger, Melita ahead of him and Sunjata on his blind side. Pemota floats above Haai, another set of eyes and ears, and the source of his quiet steadiness. A bag clinks at his side, the precaution of water, of a proper medical kit managing to help ease the worst of his heat related concerns.

Though he's not sure it's really necessary anymore, there's still a bandage wrapped around his face, keeping the worst of his wound hidden. It's healed as much as it seems to be able to, but that still leaves him with an ugly gouge. Nate doesn't even bother to echo the ready, offering Zeph a nod instead, feeling anything but ready. This was a more intentional kind of danger than either the volcano exploding or the attack against him had been, but between the two he could imagine the consequences, the kind of painful end that could be lurking.

It was a sobering thought, and all Nate can do at this point is hope that he's prepared. Hope that if things go wrong, they can get out.

---

Nate arrives with a fully stocked first aid kit, several glass bottles of water, three mundane daggers, and some essential items (crowbar, hammer, rope) as well as:

Type: Grey
Needle & Thread | Needles change size and thread changes color depending on user's wants.

i was the darkness and you were the light
tear it apart and then we supercollide

Eloise

Darling, you take the high horse
and I'll take the high road

She's very much annoyed Jack isn't here, but moreso, she's annoyed at herself for even being annoyed. Her mind has become unhelpfully hinged on thoughts regarding the captain, and if she dies today, she'll do her damnedest not to let her final thoughts be of him. He doesn't deserve it, and she isn't that kind of girl.

Dressed in something tight but functional, the illusionist is the last to arrive. Like the others she's got a bag slung over her back, waterproofed with whale-fat, and a smirk on her lips. She looks towards the arrows-one with a slight nod. Eloise has always sort of hated Melita for potentially infringing on her status as prettiest-one-aboard-the-Ark, with those bright blue eyes and all that cascading orange hair of hers. Still, there's the bond that comes from being strong women in a man's world. A quick nod to Sunjata and Nate, before Eloise glances towards Zeph.

"Well, shall we?" The navigator purrs, as if she wasn't the last one to arrive.

---

Elo has a cloud manta stone, a change of clothes, a torch and flint, rum, a dagger, parchment and ink.

If you're too good for us,
you'll be good riding solo

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Back again, some new to the adventure that awaits within, others having walked these tunnels before. Hopefully this time to rid the beast from the belly, and make the smugglers’ tunnels fully operational once more. The tide is still on its way out, so it will be a wading game towards the Trading Post. Best you move quickly, or else you may find time not so much on your side. (Again). Get your butts to the Trading Post! The water is currently knee deep, so tread carefully. Your randomly determined order is: Nate Sunjata Melita Zephyr Eloise beware what waits beneath slumbering earth

- NATE -

i'm shaking, salvation
i'm flying faster and faster and i...

They make a strange crew, but at least everyone seems to be focused, prepared for what it is they have to do. Despite his trepidation, Nate tries to put a positive spin on it, just so he can let himself move forward. The faster they enter, the faster they'll be back out of the caves again, in theory.

Though, as maybe the only person who wasn't either familiar with the tunnels, or a member of the previous expedition, he had no idea where exactly they were going. He'd just have to trust in whoever took the lead. Zeph, he assumed. The flooded tunnels didn't bother him, Nate confident in his footing, in his reflexes. Really, he was more concerned for Melita and Sunjata, his arms out, ready to help if either slipped.

---

NAte follows whoever takes the lead and keeps his arms out in case Melita or Sunjata loses their footing sorry El and Zeph >.>

i was the darkness and you were the light
tear it apart and then we supercollide