Melita and Maeve were a dream team when it came to temporarily stabilizing that side of the tunnel. Eventually, when the water filled it, the whale ribs would be sufficient - when the final touches were added. But for now the additional wooden beams and dragon-fire kept the tunnel safe for those Torchers still doing the excavating and progress became much swifter. Wooden beams and ribs were carried in and set into place while sand and dirt were carried out, and Aidon fused the ceiling in between the bony arches to a dark, glassy finish.
The mer side had slowed thanks to the dirty water, but a few of their assistants were able to begin filtering the sand out with their magic. Hadama moved forward to take his turn at digging for awhile and let Yuna handle - tentacle? - the supporting rib bones.
I am hoping to, Hadama agreed with Yuna, pleased that she had the same thought. And I have brought some of the deep corals to grow here, in the dark. Brightly colored nonetheless, they would provide decoration for the tunnel, stabilization of the sandy substrates they took 'root' in, and protection for the small creatures he hoped they could encourage to inhabit them.
And then he thought he heard the clunk and thunk of shovels through the water, not far from where his own shell was scooping away at the lengthening tunnel. I think we are getting close to the humans... send someone to warn them to clear--
Which was when it all went wrong.
Perhaps Yuna was simply wrangling too many ribs at once. Perhaps Hadama had paused just a little too late. Perhaps the humans had been just a little too successful. Or perhaps all three of these things combined in the perfect storm. The rib that Yuna was trying to sink only slipped against the sandstone floor, sliding loose and falling in slow motion through the water. Hadama had time to get out of the way, but not enough strength to stop the massive bone from grinding against the place where he had been digging. Even with water to help resist it the weight of the rib was significant enough to crack the weakened wall that remained between wet and dry. First the water began to trickle through, and then to spurt, and finally to rush, swirling and churning, into the formerly-dry side of the tunnel as the remaining obstructions succumbed to the water pressure from the canal side!
Round 6: Water, water everywhere
There are Torchers in trouble of getting washed away and merfolk getting sucked along by the powerful current at risk of being bashed against the sides of the tunnel as it floods! That 2 was brutal, team. There are only a few seconds to react; what do you do?
The mer side had slowed thanks to the dirty water, but a few of their assistants were able to begin filtering the sand out with their magic. Hadama moved forward to take his turn at digging for awhile and let Yuna handle - tentacle? - the supporting rib bones.
I am hoping to, Hadama agreed with Yuna, pleased that she had the same thought. And I have brought some of the deep corals to grow here, in the dark. Brightly colored nonetheless, they would provide decoration for the tunnel, stabilization of the sandy substrates they took 'root' in, and protection for the small creatures he hoped they could encourage to inhabit them.
And then he thought he heard the clunk and thunk of shovels through the water, not far from where his own shell was scooping away at the lengthening tunnel. I think we are getting close to the humans... send someone to warn them to clear--
Which was when it all went wrong.
Perhaps Yuna was simply wrangling too many ribs at once. Perhaps Hadama had paused just a little too late. Perhaps the humans had been just a little too successful. Or perhaps all three of these things combined in the perfect storm. The rib that Yuna was trying to sink only slipped against the sandstone floor, sliding loose and falling in slow motion through the water. Hadama had time to get out of the way, but not enough strength to stop the massive bone from grinding against the place where he had been digging. Even with water to help resist it the weight of the rib was significant enough to crack the weakened wall that remained between wet and dry. First the water began to trickle through, and then to spurt, and finally to rush, swirling and churning, into the formerly-dry side of the tunnel as the remaining obstructions succumbed to the water pressure from the canal side!
Round 6: Water, water everywhere
There are Torchers in trouble of getting washed away and merfolk getting sucked along by the powerful current at risk of being bashed against the sides of the tunnel as it floods! That 2 was brutal, team. There are only a few seconds to react; what do you do?
