Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Verasaille on 08-12-2015, 10:39:00</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 10:39:00</strong>
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				Deep down in the depths...the air is warm...what there is of it. There is no sunlight here...in fact you do not know where you are. You went to bed in your home, safe and snug. You awoke here. The floor is stone, what you can feel of it, grainy and hard. There is a coating of dust on nearby surfaces. You listen carefully and may hear a dripping sound in the distance or merely an echo of one, cave sounds can be misleading.<br><br>There is a faint source of light nearby, just enough for you to make out that you are in an alcove in a larger cave. The place where you are hidden is marginally protected with a few rocks. You are not harmed, in fact you seem to be well physically. Though if you had any magic in you it seems to be dormant. It is there inside of you, but you just cannot cast. You are in the clothing you went to bed in, if any. You have no weapon to use and no armor. <br><br>How you got here is something you may wonder, but no answers are to be found laying here in the relative darkness. As you rise to your sitting position you look over the rocks that are screening you from view of anything or anyone else in the large cavern. It would be wise to be cautious, you are not alone. There are two torches burning in the large room. one on either end. There is also a slab of rock in the center of the room, it appears to be about twenty feet long. There is one lit candle on it.<br><br>The sensation of being deep below the surface of the earth is suffocating. The air is not fresh, it is stale and musty. The torches burn with a&nbsp; snap and crackle. Whoever set you here is testing you. How you react and how you manage to survive is up to you. Look around the small space you have found yourself in.&nbsp; Your primary concern is survival. Cooperation might be&nbsp; necessary.<br><br>-------------<br><br>There are things in the space you are in, look around and find a simple weapon to start.<strong> I will give you a choice of one of the following:</strong><br><br>1. A cracked and dry legbone of some animal. Good enough to use as a club <strong>OR</strong><br>2. A long staff, it is about six feet long and pointed at one end. Rough and unpolished. Slightly crooked, but serviceable. <strong>OR</strong><br>3. A strip of cloth suitable to use as a sling, and enough small rocks to use as ammunition. (actual count of 10)<br><br><strong>All can find this in their space</strong>:<br>1. a clay jug that has a cork in it, but it is empty.<br>2. a pile of rags that they can use to cover their nakedness, if they want to (grin) These will be just strips of cloth no <strong>bigger</strong> than a yard wide and three yards long. Some smaller. Thin cotton and not very clean.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 20:09:39</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://cdn.vanillaforums.com/baldursgate.vanillaforums.com/FileUpload/00/bd542086fb119c0545cc6a0445232c.png)<div class="floatleft"><br><br><br><br>He took a breath and sneezed...how did it get so dusty in his room? Reginald Kain turned over and suddenly realized he was not in his bed. His eyes flew open and he gave a swift glance around. This was not where he had gone to bed…<br><br>He tried his hands and feet. He was not bound. Sitting up he looked towards a light that seemed to be coming from his left. Crouching and moving nearly silent, he moved to where he could see beyond the rocks in his way. He had no clothing on, he usually slept in the buff. How the hell did he get here!?<br><br>A cave? His brow furrowed in thought. He listened intently. There was water dripping somewhere. Eyes scanned the far walls. There! A darkness that was a little bit shiny, water running down into a pool below. Licking his lips he started to move and then froze. He heard other noises out there. Cautiously he moved around the small area he was in, and found a bone. It was smooth except for a slight crack. If he hit something really hard it would probably shatter or at least split. He smelled it. Dry and old, no way to tell what it was from. It had a good heft in his hand though. About two feet long and with both ends knobby. <br><br>He searched a little more and found some rags. He found one that was large enough to wrap around his waist and at least cover him somewhat. He tied the ends together and tore another strip to use as a belt of sorts so he could tuck the bone under it. <br><br>The clay jug he tripped over caught his attention. Now that might come in handy! He pulled the cork and smelled. Dusty!! He sneezed again...Dammit, if there is anyone else here they will hear that! <br><br>He grabbed a smaller rag and blew his nose. Then he tied a longer strip around his nose and mouth. Damned dust! Tucking the clay jug under his belt he crawled to the opening where he looked out and tried to spot any movement in the cave.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Was that a rat? Must be two feet long!<br><br>He stood up and moved towards the water. There was a slab in the center of the room. He steered clear of it, there looked to be bugs crawling on it. He HATED bugs!! The water was dripping off the walls and into a fifteen foot wide pool. Inky black but nothing seemed to be moving in it. His hand cautiously touched the water, it was icy cold. Melting snow? He looked up and gasped. The ceiling was over a hundred feet up! There was a very faint glow up there. The water seemed to be flowing down the wall here.<br><br>He sat at the edge of the pool and listened closely. Nothing moved in the water. He filled the jug and rinsed it, then took a cautious sip. Water, hopefully nothing bad in it.<br></div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AffablyEvil</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 20:22:16</strong>
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				Aira was lying on her back, sleeping. As relaxed as one could be while lying on stone anyway. The blonde woman was dressed in what appeared to be essentially nothing. When she had gone to bed she had been wearing armor over this "outfit", but the armor appeared to be nowhere to be found, nor was the sword and shield she brought with her. Instead it had been replaced with the items on the ground, and the calm forest she fell asleep in had been replaced with... this. Rolling onto her back, a soft sigh escaped her lips as she looked up to the roof. <em>I don't recall my bedding being inside of a cave... Nor being this uncomfortable...</em> She thought to herself, her eyes slowly looking around. She had never been underground before, and she had to admit it freaked her out a bit to be unable to see the sky. It gave her a sort of ominous, achy feeling in her stomach, forcing her to roll over to her side to confirm at least that there was ground beneath her. Good, so that was a start. <br><br>Slowly forcing herself up to her feet, she looked around at the various items on the ground laid in front of her. It appeared as if they were intended for use to fight, but they weren't exactly very well in shape... They looked extremely primitive in fact. She sighed. First things first. Using the strips of cloth she crafted herself a basic skirt, tying it around her waist on the side, the skirt at its full length going down to a bit below her knees but only on the one side as her rip was slightly off-center. Ripping off a long strip of the fabric, she tied it around her clay jug and then tied the other end around the staff on the ground before picking it up into her arms. She wasn't that good with a staff, but better than she was with one just club. She couldn't shake the habit of pretending she had a shield when using a one-handed weapon, so staff it was. She considered for a moment to tie up her breasts, but what did it matter, they were rather small anyway. <br><br>Stepping out from behind the rocks, she took in a deep breath, only to feel a lot less rejuvenated than usual. She sighed. So she truly was underground. She felt a bit sick again at the thought of all the rocks above her, but she removed it from her heart as best as she could, instead looking around quickly before deciding to walk in front of her rocks and sit down, giving the room a better look. Specifically she was trying to find anything weird about the slab of rock in the center of the room, to try to identify its purpose. She saw a man at the edge of the room by some water, but the stone concerned her more. She had heard huge stones in the middle of rooms tended to be bad news, so she wanted to make sure.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 21:10:22</strong>
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				The stone slab in the center of the room was twenty feet long, and five feet wide. It had a slight lip around the edge. Across the center was a stylized depiction of a dragon. Long and winding and twisting in a sinuous pattern. It was stained dark, almost black. It was engraved into the surface as a continuous groove. Slightly dished at the center, with a small hole that looked like it led to beneath the slab. A candle burned at one end, near the head of the dragon.<br><br>On one end a deeper section was carved deeper and contained items of interest. There were small candles and a bone handled knife with an obsidian blade rested inside a sheath. It was extremely sharp, though a crude blade with an easily chipped edge. A few pieces of flint and an iron rod that looked very old. <br><br>(https://img0.etsystatic.com/052/0/6490841/il_214x170.671086014_e4ep.jpg)<br><br>(http://comps.canstockphoto.com/can-stock-photo_csp15808538.jpg)<br><br>(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/67/bb/bb/67bbbb672c55c088dae6097bb840b292.jpg)
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 23:55:42</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"> Name: Darius<br>Mood/Feeling: Cold and confused<br>~~~~~~~~~~<br>Shivering on the ground, Darius slowly awakened. Slowly getting his bearings, he realized there where no bearings to get. Still dressed in his tan mage's tunic as he was studying when he fell asleep, he sat up and dusted off his arms as they were exposed to the damp earthen ground. His signature summoner's cloak, however, was NOT. He had taken it off to use as a sheet to keep warm in his studies, but it was not with him now. Sure wish he had it… Using the cold stone wall, Darius worked his way up to his feet, brushing dust off of his attire, and fixing up his pompadour hair.<br><br>While there were a few torches and candles around the…<em>room? No, cave. Something in between...</em> it casted deep shadows in his direction, making it difficult to see or be seen. Dusting his hands off, he stretches his arms a bit. <em>Let there be light.</em> He snapped his fingers with his right hand, leaving his dominant left open if he needed it.<br><br>…click...<br><br>Nothing… Darius looks down at his hand crossly. He snapped twice, with no change in effect. Switching hands he tried again, and even doubled up. Taking his gloves off even...<br><br>As a chorus of snaps and clicks echoed in the room, an unsettling truth slowly washed over his mind, and subsequently his face. His magic was null. But… how? He has had his magic turned off (for lack of a better term) before, both in training and as a victim of pranks. But he still felt his magical energy WITHIN him, but unable to access it? Any dampeners or traps around here?<br><br>Frantically, he looked around the room, searching for both magic seals and exits. To the best of his knowledge, which is high for both subjects, he found none. He did see a table in the middle of the room, and decided to make a break for it. <em>At least, in the middle I can see what's coming first.</em> As he started to sprint towards the middle of the room, he saw the silhouette of a young woman headed towards his destination. <em>Shit, maybe the noise from my failed spell attracted some attention...</em> He ducked and then scuttled towards the table instead, mixing in a few combat rolls and slides. They were probably were useless, but it made him feel better.<br><br>As he slid next to the table, he noticed that it did not exactly have legs, and it was apparently a combination of slabs of rock. He pulled his head over the top, using his hands to steady him on the slanted surface on the edge. He peered at the table, and suddenly looked inquisitively at the winding, near black draconic emblem that was emblazoned on the surface top. <em>I wonder what this is? Do I recognize this from anywhere?</em> Knowing what an incantation surface looked like, he quickly removed his hands from the table. <em>Yeah, no…. I like my hands where they are… attached…</em><br><br>Hearing a scuffling of bare feet headed towards the table, he dives underneath his side. Peering around the table's base, he took a peek, trying to see who or what was coming, and if it was going to eat him. He saw a set of long feminine <em>HUMAN!</em> legs, with a ragged cloth skirt with a length falling around the knees. With his current placement angle, he was also able to see a bit up her skirt, emphasizing a tight butt with agile thighs.<br><br><em>Damn, I'd keep her warm at night for sure. ...Ehem… Dammit, now's not the time for this to kick in...</em><br><br>Shifting back underneath the table, Darius noticed that the lady was peering at… whatever that is on the table… Her body language says confused, maybe she's looking for a way out as well. <em>Might as well introduce myself, huh? Okay, back straight, gentle smile, firm handshake. Let's do dis..</em>. He crept backwards about six crawling steps before approaching, hopefully keeping out of an attack range.<br><br>"Ehem!" As he began to rise up from his hiding spot, peering over the table, probably frightening the poor lady. He placed his hands outstretched forwards and upwards, to show he had no malicious intent nor tricks up his sleeves. Well, he didn't have sleeves, but still… "Excuse me miss. I am Darius d'Sanguine Evokas Vancypants Galantus III of the Vancypants bloodline. While I doubt that you do, I was wondering if by chance you knew where we are and an exit. …And if you were aware of your current state of undress…"<br><br>…<br><br>"…Don't eat me…"</div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheRaven</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 00:32:53</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/67/8d/03/678d03bf7c12b399b4b90039210b348e.jpg)</div><br><em>Ugh...</em> Asher rolled over in his sleep. Why was his bloody mattress so hard? He didn't remember the inn's mattress being stone. His hand touched it, only to report that he appeared to, in fact, be sleeping on stone.<br><br>With a yelp, the lordling scrambled to his feet, only to realize that he was naked. That was certainly not how he had gone to sleep. Gathering a few strips of cloth about himself and knotting them into some semblance of covering below his waist, he assessed his situation. The air was rank with stagnation, there was almost no light, and a cursory flex of his fingers revealed that his usual choice of magics, a thin protective layer around him, was not working. There would've been a little tingle had it been.<br><br>"Hellfire," he murmured before he heard a voice coming from the main chamber. Casting about for a weapon of some sort, Asher's gaze landed on a crude-looking spear. "Whoever did this, they didn't even have the courtesy to leave me with a proper spearhead," he grumbled as he picked up the weapon in one hand and an earthenware jug left next to it in the other.<br><br>He took a moment to gather himself. <em>I probably smell terrible.</em> With a deep breath, he swaggered into the central chamber and began taking in the environment. He entered just in time to hear the scrawny one mumble something about not being eaten.<br><br>"Don't fear, boy. There's not enough meat on your bones to even try making fillets, let alone a choice cut," he joked, sidling up to the slab and taking in the surface as he set down his jug. A prepared ritual, perhaps? The knife would certainly indicate that might be the case. Regardless of whether or not it was for ritual purposes, it would serve as a spearhead. Asher picked up the blade and drew it from its sheath, examining it. <br><br>"Looks a little worn, but still serviceable," he declared. Only once his appraisal of the dagger was complete did he glance around and sight Aira and Kain. <em>Well, would you look at the legs on that one. Those things go on for leagues. And I guess also there's someone doing the rational thing and filling a jug with water.</em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>DudelRok</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 01:10:57</strong>
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				<em>So... cold... </em><br><br>The dirty, scared riddled ... beast of a man, found himself curled up into a ball, lying on the ground (which, in and of itself, was pretty normal) on hard stone (not so normal). Kicking and squirming as a dream slowly wakes the creature from his slumber, Zeu (as he technically calls himself) eventually stirs from what one could call a "slumber." It is ... very ... cold. Not unpleasant, by any means, in fact it is quite refreshing! Normally it's so hot, so very hot, blisteringly hot, but today... today it was ... nice, and without the wind ... peaceful, if not also terrifying.<br><br>The creature, human as he looks, opens his eyes and realizes where he is, which is not the hole he dug himself into the night before. With a START, Zue leaps up and quickly looks about the hovel someone else provided to him... Oh look, A BONE! Quickly scooping it up in his sharpened teeth, Zeu smiles at how smart he clearly is to have found such a thing. Didn't have to kill whatever-this-was or anything! The bone is a bit old, but at least it's good for gnawing on. Not something you hit people with, no way, that would be wasteful!<br><br><em>Drip.</em><br><br><em>Drip.</em><br><br><em>Drip.</em><br><br>What's that smell? That of... FRESH WATER!? In a hailstorm of a hurry, Zeu bolts from his crawl space (kicking up strange pieces of fabric and apparently smashing what most people might call a "pot" in the process) to make his way as quick as possible to what he's pretty sure is amazing water. In the process of this epic quest for fresh water, it was as if the rest of ever thing, and everyone, was not even there. That water, though, OH TO FEEL IT! And feel it did, Zeu ever, as he skid to a stop near the water's edge, place his bone politely to the side then dunk his head into that ... APPARENTLY FREEZING COLD WATER!<br><br>As fast as Zeu's head went into the water, it came out, gasping for air and screeching in strange reptile hissing sounds, which quickly lead to barks and gags, though at least the once dusty head of Zeu was now sparkly clean ... not that it helped his gnashed up appearance. It was about this time that Zeu realized there were ... others, and it was at that time he SCREECHED and blitzed back to his space to hide.<br><br>Perhaps, 2 minutes passed, in total, from Zeu waking up, and going back where he woke up. A good start to the day, though, because bo- oh no! The bone, it was ... "way over there now."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 01:11:23</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://cdn.vanillaforums.com/baldursgate.vanillaforums.com/FileUpload/00/bd542086fb119c0545cc6a0445232c.png)<div class="floatleft"><br><br><br>The appearance of more people made Owl nervous. They all made right for the table, figures that he would miss something as obvious as the dagger the swaggering man found. The one rolling on the ground must be very nervous. Did he really think no one noticed him?<br><br>A smirk crossed his face as he saw the woman. He was betting anyone daring to touch her would lose a hand. She looked like the type to pull a hand right off an arm with no effort. Barbarian, he figured. He stood up and corked the jug, putting it on his belt. Walking slowly towards the group, he was wary and quiet. His eyes scanned the surface of the slab and he frowned slightly. Without more than a slight cough, he looked at the man who had picked up the dagger. "It's probably cursed. Flimsy thing, will not do much against anything with scales or armor. Name's Reginald Kain. Most call me Owl. Anyone know why we are here?" his voice quiet.<br><br>He stood balanced and ready to either fight or flee. He had no knowledge of magic, even if he had been told he had it in him. His eyes went from one to another of the strangers. He had never met any of them before. <br><br>The sudden appearance of some kind of creature zipping to the water and dunking its head and then making such noises as he has never heard from a human throat, made Owl crouch and clutch his bone club. As fast as the creature appeared it went back into the alcove it had come out of. Owl blinked and gave a glance to the others. "What...was that?"</div></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 01:18:00</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"> Name: Darius<br>Mood/Feeling: SPOOKED<br>~~~~~~~~~~<br>"GAH" Darius jumped a couple of feet away, as another naked humanoid, this time male, despite fair features, seemingly materializes out of the shadows. Equally scantily clad as the woman, his hair bellowed in the breeze, dust apparently clotting it together.<br><br>As he was spooked, he did a swift hand gesture in the air, ending with him pointing his finger. Which did nothing… Sighing, he slowly dropped his arm, sulking… This "no magic" thing is gonna suck… I am utterly useless without any spells. I need to make sure to keep in line; once they figure out that I'm useless, the might kick me from the group as a liability.<br><br>He looks at the man, his mannerisms seeming to have been of some noble knowledge or heritage. Might be good to make friends… Who knows what kind of skills he has. Straightening up the collar on his tunic, he reproaches the table. He extends his hand to shake the others'.<br><br>"Hello sir. I am Darius d'Sanguine Evokas Vancypants Galantus III of the Vancypants bloodline. I was wonder…BLESS THE DRUIDS DONT TOUCH THAT!!!"<br><br>He again jumped back, as the man grabbed a knife from off of a RITUAL TABLE! He could have triggered a trap, a spell, a summon! <em>A minor possession...</em> Darius swung his hand towards his chest as if preparing an offensive spell…<br><br>Again, nothing…<br><br>From the corner he heard another voice. ""It's probably cursed. Flimsy thing, will not do much against anything with scales or armor. Name's Reginald Kain. Most call me Owl. Anyone know why we are here?" his voice quiet.<br><br>"THAT's WHAT IM SAYING!" Darius responded, loudly, completely negating the quiet tone of the newly-approaching man. <em>Significantly more rigid than the rest of us.</em><br><br><em>So, its gonna be one of those days, huh?… At least, I still have my magical knowledge, that way I can contribute their, pull my weight. I might want to be faster before anybody else pulls any more idiotic, barbaric, simplistic moves like that...</em> "Ehem…"<br><br>Feet planted firmly where he was standing, the red-headed noble peered his neck forward. He eyed the table to investigate the emblem or any effects that touching the knife had, but didn't move into a better position just in case it opened a dimensional rift. Or at least exploded…<br><br>*SPLOOSH*<br><br>Jumping mid-air, spinning around 360 degrees, seeing a…man… dunk his head in the water. The skiderrish mage swung an arm up from his waist line, fingers pointed at the ground, swiping upwards. A thick, curved wall of rock lifted from the ground into the air, about 10 feet up…<br><br>But, it didn't… Darius stomps a few times on the ground, increasingly frustrated of his lack of magic. HE HAD ONE JOB. All of the years he put into his studies, with impressive skill at multiple forms of magic… In his current state, it's irrelevant.</div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>stormwyrm</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 04:11:01</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Rhuardh-portrait.png) (https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Rhuardh-portrait.png)</div>Rhuardh awoke groggily, with a splitting hangover headache that was not exactly unexpected, given how much he had been drinking at the old tavern at Jarntusk where he had been singing for his supper and his drinks as he usually did as he wandered the lands. As his vision slowly began to clear, it grew apparent that he wasn't in the Jarntusk tavern, nor any such similar establishment anywhere he knew of.<br><br>He got a bit unsteadily to his feet, which was a bit of an effort. He shook his head about like a wet dog shaking water off, which partly but did not entirely remove the pain in his head. Taking a deep breath, he looked about the cavern, and found a small, stoppered earthenware jug, which he opened hopefully, only to find to his disappointment that it was completely empty. He sighed, but decided that it might be worth keeping anyway. He was very thirsty but it seemed there was no help for that yet. Looking around a bit more he found that there were dirty rags tossed all over the floor, which he used to construct a makeshift loincloth that reasonably covered his private parts. He used another strip to make a thong on which he could hang the jug. He found another, thicker, heavier strip of cloth, much sturdier than the others, and a small pile of smooth stones. <em>This is handy,</em> he thought. <em>It will do for a makeshift sling.</em><br><br>He could hear the soft murmur of flowing water down further down the passageway, and he made his way towards it. He was so thirsty, thirsty enough that he would be satisfied with just plain water. <em>Now let's see what this place is. </em>He began to sing an old elvish song his mother used to sing him, it always calmed him and everyone who heard him. His voice would echo throughout the caverns and perhaps soothe the nerves of everyone who heard it somewhat, just as it did for him. His voice was cracked and parched but still it carried the tune reasonably well.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AffablyEvil</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 07:06:28</strong>
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				A lot happened before she was able to truly assess her situation. A noble arrived and promptly grabbed the dagger right after a man had risen from beneath the table in front of her. Soon enough more and more people joined her, the man from the water, and some strange kind of creature running on his all fours, yet acting as if he had primitive intelligence. Noting he had carried on a bone, she walked over to the bone and gently threw it in the direction he had fled in before returning to the table, finding the company of the primitive creature more understandable than the men now surrounding her. Filling her flask, she returned to the table. "You have a long name Darius, but I would advise you calm down. This looks as a sacrificial altar, the expensive knife being for the priest... and the slab for the victim." She said calmly. She had heard of them, as examples of dark magic, but never seen one in person.. She kinda hoped she was wrong. <br><br>Seeing nobody take charge, she sighed. "It appear as if we're stuck in this cave together, all in the same situation. So. First things first, we should stock ourselves up with water in our jugs. Then..." She started, hearing a song. She blinked. What a curious tune... It sounded beautiful, and for a moment she found herself merely looking up, listening to it, before snapping out of it. "Um. Right. We should try to get out of this room, first and foremost. Look for any cracks, anything which does not look natural, some kind of mechanic to let us out. I do not intend to starve to death in a cavern." She hated the moist feeling on her skin.. Already she found herself dreaming of cold surface air. She regretted leaving the north. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 17:40:26</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Eyes don’t open…where did you end up last night…damn mouth tastes like a fackin’ trolls armpit..where..what…who… head feels like …gah…</em> Half Now lay still for a while trying to piece together the events of the night before, so at least she might have some idea as to where she was now, and if she was going to be lying next to some other poor drunken sap. Tentatively still with her eyes closed her hand reached out to see if anyone was next to her, her clothing was still on, so most likely she did not end up in some drunken grope at the end of the night.<br><br>The question was now, as it did not feel like a bed, which alley was she in, and were the watch likely going to arrest her on some trumped up charge…There were voices and they were really bleedin’ loud, had they no consideration for someone with a hangover. Some folks had no bastard consideration. Before opening her eyes the woman half sat up, coughed up something unmentionable and spat on the floor, then patted her clothing in search of her flask and pipe.<br><br>“Fackin’ ‘’ell which wanker ‘as chored me bleedin’ booze, I ‘ave a bastard be’ind the eyes and I ain’t up fer a game of ‘unt the thimble.” Her voice was course and rough, almost as rough as her appearance. She spat again, then half opened her bloodshot eyes. Still partially inebriated and in this light Half now could barely make out the figures around her, or her surrounding’s or very much in particular.<br><br>For now the woman did not feel threatened, in fact she just felt decidedly pissed off. “Fack I think a ferret ‘as shat in me mouth.” With a burp and another cough, still bleary eyed, the others were finally half addressed,"‘who the fack ar you and where the bloody’ell am I, bollocks I need a drink. Will yeah all talk a bit quieter..e” Her words were still a little slurred and she was certainly not standing up yet.<br><br>Strangely Half Now did not seem overly worried, after all it was not the first time she had woken up with no idea who she was with or where she was.<br><br><em> Brain thart working…blooze…smoke…leave …find booze, smoke. Coin…then leave…they might not have noticed you lass…or would rather not have done…</em> As no one had threatened her here it appeared that no one had been upset by her the night before. <em>What day is it?</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>09-12-2015, 19:37:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"> Name: Darius<br>Mood/Feeling: Marginally less spooked, appearing as if he has a spine...<br>~~~~~~~~~~<br>Tip-toeing over to the table, he begins to investigate the dragon emblazoned on the top. He rubs his hands together, and while still maintaining an arms length distance, pokes the slab to reveal any magical properties.<br><br>Poke… pokepokepoke…POKE…<br><br>Sighing in frustration, he cusses under his breath, "mother fu--" One of the women threw a club in the direction of the human-dog-guy-person. "Anybody know what his deal is?… Are we sure he's not gonna eat anybody, namely me?"<br><br>Back to the table. Seeing that he can not magically check for anything, he ducks down to check underneath the table for any buttons, or other arcane or ritualistic symbols. The main observations he made where that there was a lit candle at the head of the dragon, and that there where an annoying amount of various bugs swarming the table. "The metric fuckton of bugs indicates that someone bled on here, relatively recently. Anybody see any body remains? No? Good."<br><br>"Also, and probably more importantly, we won't die in here." Pointing to the top of the cavernous waterfall, "There is free flowing water, and it seems pretty cold in here, so to me that means we are in a northern climate. While we are underground, we DO have various openings for air, so that covers suffocation and thirst. I'm sure we all know some party tricks, so we won't die of boredom," he said, attempting an off-color joke, but it probably wasn't that funny, considering the circumstances. "So that only leaves food to worry about. Of which I reiterate, don't eat me."<br><br>"...No sorry, THIS is more important. Any magic users other than myself? Do you guys feel that your magic is jammed? Just me?"<br><br>Straightening his back with a confident presence. "Oh how rude of me! Hello all, I'm Darius d'San-… I'm Darius the Third, Vancypants bloodline."</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>DudelRok</strong> on <strong>10-12-2015, 02:13:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Bark!<br><br>Hiss!<br><br>Snarl!<br></em><br>Someone was moving toward the bone, Zeu's bone! That bone he had worked so hard (not!) to get! That bone that was clearly his and nobody else's! Ah, but they were so ... big and tall and ... scary. They might eat him! Or worse, take his bone! And then they took his bone! Not the bone! That was Zeu's bone! Not Tall's bone! Curse you Tall ... or ... well ... that is rather confusing, too. This ... thing, it was a bit more like Zeu, and as Zeu slowly peeked himself around the corner of his hovel, his bone being tossed to his side with a skid, sliding behind him (though the dumbfounded look on Zeu's face would be as if he didn't quite notice), he noticed that there were more like him, and none of them were green, or brown, or had harsh scales. Everyone looked so ... smooth and soft ... especially that ... helpful one.<br><br>OH! THE BONE! Yes!<br><br>Frantically searching for that most delicious and delectable, that had, again, been worked so very hard for, treat in ever of all that was ever and ... AH-HA! It was behind Zeu the whole time, but he found it just fine, after stumbling backward and tripping awkwardly on it, but found it he did. Scooping the bone up in his mouth, again with that oh-so-clever-and-important-smile, then trotting out to <em>meet</em> with the other fair skinned reptiles that were all walking about a fairly big rock... which obviously needed to be marked, because nobody else was doing it and they all clearly had some kind of grudge against the thing. You pee on things that are annoying you but you can't hurt. That's just how things work! Besides, something seemed to ... sooth Zeu's troubled mind. Something nice and soft like that of a mother's voice.<br><br>Zeu, as was custom, trudged over on all fours, still naked with bone in mouth, and urinated on the short side of the stone table closest to him, somewhere fairly near the head of the dragon that he could not see nor cared about. After reliving himself fully, Zeu looked to the very tall lady with blond hair who had helped him earlier and grinned, still with bone in mouth, then ... barked, for a lack of a better word (but more of a throaty growl), in joy. It was awfully nice of this whatever-she-was to help out, and oh she was ... enjoyable? There was something about quite a few of these ... things-like-him. They were, how does one put it, fun to look at. If Zeu had the linguistics to really put it to use, the word would be "pretty." Yes, they were all awfully pretty, even the men, with their hair all nice and flowing, but the one that helped was ... special.<br><br><em><strong> “Fack I think a ferret ‘as shat in me mouth.”</strong></em><br><br>OH DEAR IN HEAVENS! ...oh, just... another one of them things, jabbering about. That one almost sounded like Zeu, how fun! (Or scary, because more monsters is never a good thing.)
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>stormwyrm</strong> on <strong>10-12-2015, 02:16:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Rhuardh-portrait.png) (https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Rhuardh-portrait.png)</div>Those in the cavern would hear Rhuardh's singing grow louder as he approached, although his voice was also gradually growing more hoarse as his throat grew dry. It would still have some small effect on all of them, perhaps making them a little less combative than they might have been. When he arrived in the cavern, just as Darius introduced himself, he was initially heedless of all the other people there, making a beeline for the little underground stream. He drank deeply of the waters and splashed them on his face, their cold soothing his parched throat and doing much to alleviate his hangover headache. It was only then that he would notice that there were others in the cavern.<br><br>"Oh, excuse me..." he said, as he drew himself up. "It seems I'm not the only one in this predicament." He took stock of the others in the room. A blond-haired young woman who looked vaguely familiar, perhaps she too might have some very faint recognition of him as the elvish bard who on occasion would visit her family's inn when she was a child. A grim-faced half-elf. A dark-haired, scarred, and dirty young man with a feral gleam in his eye. A red-haired fellow who seemed somewhat spooked. A noble-looking blond-haired young man trying to work a flint knife to the tip of his staff. "I am Rhuardh, a bard of the Northlands. Do any of you know what is going on?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheRaven</strong> on <strong>10-12-2015, 04:47:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/67/8d/03/678d03bf7c12b399b4b90039210b348e.jpg)</div><br>After deciding simply to keep the dagger at his waist until he found something to bind it to the spear and make it a proper weapon, Asher tucked the sheathed blade into the wrap he had pulled around his waist. "For what it's worth, my skittish little friend, I can't use my magic either," he said, glancing around at the assembled persons and wondering what the common thread was between all of them.<br><br>Well, he was a noble. He should take charge and find out. As he was about to open his mouth and begin barking orders, the brunette did so instead. Well, that skewered those aspirations. He began doing a quick mental headcount instead: himself, the jumpy mage, the leggy brunette, the quiet man, the bone man, what sounded like someone else down the way, and, as her mumbled, bleary curses announced her, a rough woman. Quite a lovely little rogues' gallery they had collected.<br><br>"I'm with her on this," Asher affirmed as he took long strides towards the pool to fill his jug. "We're all trapped here. We should split up, groups of two or so perhaps, and scout the rest of this cave. Perhaps there's something we're not finding here in the central chamber." With the water filling it to the brim, he cupped his hands for a few sips before returning to the ritual slab. "Hopefully our escape isn't contingent on one of us ending up on this thing." A sobering thought indeed.<br><br>While the mage had offered his name a few times over now, Asher still wasn't ready to open his mouth and start offering his just yet. Waiting for some of these strangers to give him the courtesy first was the way he decided to play it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>10-12-2015, 06:18:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The others appeared to be as clueless as he was. Owl stayed quiet and let them talk. More voices were coming from one of the alcoves and Owl found himself shrinking back into the shadows. Whoever it was had a foul mouth. <br><br>Just as he started to relax a bit a beetle crawled up his foot and he nearly came unglued. Jumping like a snake bit him he swat it off and stood there panting a minute, before he noticed more bugs crawling around. He began swatting them and getting even more hyper. "I hate BUGS!!" he declared and moved away from the slab. <br><br>It just so happened that he disturbed a rat as it popped it's head up curiously. With lightning swift reaction he bopped it over the head and blinked. "Food...of a sort. Skin it and make a fire, it tastes a lot like rabbit." He picked it up by it's tail and carried it over to the man who picked up the dagger. <br><br>"The dagger is sharp enough to skin this, unless you like eating fur. Anyone want to look for some wood. I am not sure there is any, but we do have those torches. I will look for more. The cave seems to have a lot of them. Might be fish in the pond too if anyone wants to see." He left the rat with Asher he began poking around in the small holes he saw in the cave walls and found a couple more. The were about cat sized and dumb as rocks. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>10-12-2015, 06:58:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"> Darius walks around the table, still sure that this was of some significance. "Owl, was it? Good idea, we can eat and get acquainted with each other. And someone with a strong fist, please check around to see if there are any more people down here. Rhubarb? Rhuardh, that's it. I believe there's a gargling sailor around here with language such as that, please check on him." With a slight gravel in HER voice, Darius could not tell the difference, especially since his eyes were still adjusting to the poor lighting. Motioning over to the noble with the blond hair, "When your are done skinning a few of those rats, send me the pelts. Carve me out a few teeth too, preferably the canids, fangs as they are commonly named. It sounds like an odd skill, but I can thread them together to have some sort of covering. Since everybody but me in near naked… Am I the only one who sleeps with clothes on?"<br><br>Darius stepped over to the pool of water, ready to have a cool drink. <em>Hasn't seemed to have affected anybody else…</em> After removing his tan leather gloves, he kneeled down, dipping both hands in the running water, to cup out a few sips of water. <em>Bleh, minerals… Well, it's better than dying of thirst. A tad brackish though. Where are the elven druids when you need them? Or my damn magic, for that matter?</em> Walking over to a knee-high stump to think, he sat and noticed some mushroom-like growth on the side of some rocks and wall crevices. "Hey, some fungi. This must be what the rodents that dwell here eat. I'm not one to know about wilderness, but odds are if they can eat it, so can we."<br><br>He then got a strange idea. Maybe he knew how to trigger the slab. Or maybe he's just too attached to arcane tinkering. Either way, he made steps back over to the table, investigating in once more. Looking at the lit candle, he picks it up from its handle.<br><br>"Ehem, excuse me everyone, I have an idea. Probably a bad one…" He leans the candle over the blackened dragon symbol, wax dripping down the side of the candle. "Any objections to a potential 'trial by fire?" He points the flame downwards, indicating his concept to attempt to awaken the symbol, for better or for worse. He looks around, waiting for any approval or objections.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>11-12-2015, 17:58:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The thought of disturbing the sleeping dragon was about as appealing to Owl as the thought of being sacrificed to it! "Uh...let me get far away first! I am going to look for a way out." He began searching the walls around the room and investigating the other alcoves.<br><br>----------<br><br>The candle wax dripped into the groove on the top of the slab. As Darius looked closer at the symbol and the river of wax moving slowly, it became very apparent that the dark color in the groove was indeed dried blood. The smell was bad enough, but it was the faint glow from the eye of the dragon that would get their attention. <br><br>The glow was an unearthly green, that whirled and grew until it started rising from the slab. The unmistakable aura of a disembodied spirit hovered over the slab. "BEWARE!" it intoned before fading into nothing.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>12-12-2015, 01:23:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Half now was not the most sociable person at the best of times, and even less so than when she had a hangover, she was aware of various voices but was at present unaware of exactly what was being said, or at least her brain was taking its time processing it. She moved a little closer, coming out from what had been her bed from the night. It was a woman, her shape showed that, and she was fully clothed, in some what dishevelled garments that likely needed a good wash. Her knuckles were bound in rags and bloodied though it was likely not her own.<br><br>Though scarred the female seemed to be in relatively good shape, she was athletic, and somewhat wirey, likely someone that could fight, and was not afraid to.&nbsp; Running her hands over her head then pinching the bridge of her nose, she coughed again, and seemed to try an focus, placing everyone in the cavern.<br><br><em>fack..</em><br><br>“old yer.bleedin’ ‘osses there pretty b…” she did not finish what she was about to say as the deed appeared to be done. Half Now then face palmed and regretted it because it just sent another sharp pain to her already throbbing head. Her eyes were more open now as she saw what transpired. “Fackin’ Marvelous.”&nbsp; &nbsp;The day had certainly started badly and it looked like it was not going to get better any time soon, in fact it was likely going to get a whole lot worse.<br><br><em>Did someone really say their name was Fancy Pants?</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Niki315</strong> on <strong>12-12-2015, 05:42:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/80/Apic867.png)</div>Tenthra must have woken up early. It should still be at least an hour before dawn. Her body felt abnormally sore, which brought to her attention she was not in her quarters. This place was stone and the air was still and dusty. It wasn't worked stone exactly. It was possible this area was carved by someone, but it wasn't castle stonework like she was used to. This was probably a cave or something. Where ever she was, Tenthra wondered what she had done to end up here. She didn't remember angering anyone or disobeying her orders. Was this the mage's school? She knew she was supposed to be going soon, but she expected to travel there, not wake up in some unknown cave.<br><br>It was strange how quiet it was. Tenthra tried to remember the last time she had been alone when she woke up. Normally she slept among a dozen others in the servants' dormitory. Waking up in a quiet chamber in a cave was certainly strange. She was still wearing her nightclothes, a light woolen robe, which she definitely would not have traveled in. It was becoming apparent that she had somehow been transported here while she slept. <br><br>Tenthra could hear a commontion of some sort nearby. Not knowing how or why she was here, she pressed herself against the nearest wall to try and hide. She listened for a few moments before realizing that these voices belonged to others in the same predicament. Tenthra released her breath that she didn't realize she had been holding, and explored the small dark chamber she had awoken in. A wooden staff that had a lightly sharpened end. Perhaps, left by someone before her? Tenthra was good with a broom, perhaps she could attempt to catch some food with it? If this cave had any sort of wildlife within. Nearby she spotted a clay jug and a pile of old rags. Either someone had carelessly left behind this jug, a rather unlikely event, or it was placed here purposely. Whoever had left her here intended for her to use this jug, which may have meant that they intended for her to live for something. The rags would serve for coverings, and maybe as a way to carry things. Tenthra figured if she were alive now, she may as well try to figure out why. There was no telling when the next time she would see a pair of boots would be, so she used the rags to make adequate foot coverings. With several rags left over she tied them together and stuffed them under her arm with her empty jug and held her stick. She was ready to see what was going on in the next room. <br><br>There were several people gathered, all of which were in various states of undress. It was likely they all had been transported in their sleep. Hopefully they were looking for help, and not to pick a fight. She approached quietly, watching the gathering of people around a central stone slab. As a servant, she didn't eel the need to introduce herself, so she remained silent and observing until addressed.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Muse</strong> on <strong>13-12-2015, 13:35:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/98/Comission_pixie_by_phantagrafie-d5g4wm2.jpg)</div><strong>Fjordel "Jord" Nym</strong> (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240762.msg11878243#msg11878243)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As he began to stirr, Jord gave a murr of remembered pleasure, but started to hug himself as he realized he was cold...&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Jia?" he whispered, "Did you steel the blankets again..."&nbsp; The tiny warrior reached out for his lover--eyes still shut--to gather her in his arms for warmth--and hopefully reclaim the silk sheets and the fur that lay over them.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finding nothing--and starting to realize that what he was lying on was quite a bit harder than his nice eiderdown matress--Jord's emerald eyes fluttered open.&nbsp; The little elf gave a groan as he perked up, legs tugging in beneath him, dragonfly wings lifting in readiness...&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It was dark--dim even to elven eyes.&nbsp; But--despite the sensation of being rather deep underground, there <em>was</em> light.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And voices?&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jord flipped over and went low on his belly.&nbsp; Glancing around, he located a length of tent pole not quite three feet long, reasonably smooth, but fractured into a respetable point at the top.&nbsp; He expertly snagged it into a pikeman's grip.&nbsp; A few moments later, he started catching the gist of the conversation outside.&nbsp; He nodded softly and made ready to present himself.&nbsp; Glancing around, he noted a jug of water a little bigger than his head and also some strips of cloth...<br><br>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just as the servant girl was joining the group by the slab, a resonant tenor voice piped up from one of the darkened alchoves, "Burn me!&nbsp; What are these worthless <em>rags?</em>"&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A few moments later, a faela emerged from the alcove.&nbsp; Rather tall and powerfully built of the smallest of the elven races, he stood a full two feet tall.&nbsp; Thick chocolate brown hair spilled over round shoulders and down his back.&nbsp; He carried a improvised spear lightly in one hand.&nbsp; He was nude, but had coiled up some of the scrap too loop through the ring of a small clay jug and sling it over his shoulders.&nbsp; "Ahm...&nbsp; I guess I should say good morning?&nbsp; Call me Jord.&nbsp; I gathered form the talk that you're all just as lost as I am?&nbsp; And that I'm not the only one who's magic is blocked?"&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He glanced at the big rat, then at the man who'd been handed it, "Do you know how to dress that?"&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AffablyEvil</strong> on <strong>15-12-2015, 07:07:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aira looked down to the creature beside her, noting that he had moved up to her while she was looking at the others, and she found herself smiling. Moving her hand down she gently ruffled his hair a bit, before she looked up to try to get a gist of the conversation once more. She was only getting her mind into some kind of conciouscness about what was going on when she noticed that someone was about to drop wax down onto the tablet. "Wait, n-" She tried, but it was too late at that point, the eye beginning to glow faintly before more and more violently, lighting up the cave in what appeared to be a green unnatural light as a disembodied spirit rose out from it. She couldn't say this made her comfortable, in fact, she found herself backing off a little bit, looking up at the spirit as it rose. She found her hand clinging onto a spear, but the green energy faded, leaving them just as alone and trapped as they had been before. She frowned. That can't be good. <br><br>While she was frowning, it seemed more and more people was arriving, along with the most curious sight she had ever seen - and considering the creature sitting next to her that was a feat indeed. Some kind of tiny warrior, he had to be about two feet, reaching barely to her knees. She saw him talking, and she found herself smiling to herself softly. She knew not to underestimate a warrior no matter their size or shape, but.. he was so cute, all serious and armed and talking. She had to cover her mouth a bit to stiff a giggle, but she forced it away and managed to pull herself into the gravity of the situation, hoping he hadn't noticed as she instead begun g lancing over the room. She was about to speak when she spotted two new people, both of them women this time, one far more aggressive than the other. Noticing that the quieter one was standing a bit away, she smiled to Tenthra. "Well come on, come over. We're all pretty nude right now, no need to be embarrassed." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>stormwyrm</strong> on <strong>15-12-2015, 16:17:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Just as Rhuardh turned towards the rough and swearing voice they could all hear heading down another cavern, he heard Darius say: ""Ehem, excuse me everyone, I have an idea. Probably a bad one…" as out of the corner of his eye he saw the mage point a candle down towards the dragon symbol on the slab. "Any objections to a potential 'trial by fire?"<br><br>"Darius, no, I don't think that's such a good ide—" he managed to get out as he turned, but it was already too late. An unearthly green glow began to suffuse the entire cavern, and the spectral form of a wraith appeared, intoning the word "BEWARE!" before vanishing. This nearly made the bard's heart stop, and he stumbled backwards as the form of a tall, scarred woman appeared in the cavern entrance. He gave her a wide berth as she looked as though she could probably break every bone in his body just by looking at him. Some of her type could be swayed by a good song though, but it was a little too soon to tell if she was of the sort.<br><br>The commotion Darius had created also attracted two more entrants, a silent, and frightened girl that the Norori woman was attempting to comfort, and to his surprise, a Faela, who called himself Jord. He had not seen one of his like since before he had been banished from the Blanqua all those years ago. While the sight of Jord brought a smile to the Norori woman's face, he knew what the Faela were like and that he was probably much stronger than he looked.<br><br>Clearing his throat, he said: "Well, it seems we're all in this predicament together," he said. Let's all introduce ourselves first. My name is Rhuardh as I said, and I believe your names are Owl, Darius, and Jord," he said, turning to each of them in turn. "The rest of you," he said, turning to the three women, the blond man, and the seemingly feral man, who had not yet introduced themselves, "would you tell us your names? I have the feeling we're all going to have to work together to get out of this alive, and I think the first step is getting to know each other."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>15-12-2015, 17:08:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"><br>"BEWARE!"<br><br><em>GAH… Wait, that's it?…</em> Darius looked around carefully, making sure that nothing etherealized from a pentagram anywhere. Then he looked around to make sure people were acting normal. Er, well, as normal as a hissing man-beast, a vulgar sailor, a two-foot pixie and a bunch of near naked people can act…<br>&nbsp;<br><em>On second thought, maybe I'll keep my back to a wall, and watch...</em><br><br>Sort of disappointed that all he got out of that was a "peekaboo," of which he "could'a done that myself," he frustratedly shrugged and left the table, keeping an eye on it as he walked over to a less-lit corner (for lack of better word) of the cavern-like room. Darius walked over to a crevasse, seeming to search for pieces of wood or something equally as ignitable, but really posting himself up in a position of defense, leaving only his front unprotected by cavern walls. He did find various twigs and bark around, and began a pile around his foot. <em>Sigh, how indignant. A mage of my stature digging through dirt… If I had my magic I'd control all of them and break free from this hole in the ground…. Ehem...</em><br><br>"So, there is some wood around here, probably brought in from this water trickle or something. It's all pretty damp right now, but maybe under some heat it can dry out, and we can use it for heat and cooking. Please don't forget to send me those pelts. Any ladies here with some sewing knowledge? Could use the help, and hopefully a needle. Not necessary, but would speed things along."<br><br>While collecting various pieces of drift, he also dug around to see if there were less thick patched of dirt or rock, kicking lightly to see if anything moved. <em>Any escape is a good escape.</em><br><br>"Hey, you, Rhuardh. You sing a mighty fair tune. Kick up another. Might as well whistle while we work."<br><br>Then it hit him! (Or just paranoia, but nobody knows for sure.) <em>That blue-haired man sang, and we ALL felt it! THATS MAGIC!!! So, others here have no magical power, but this guy DOES. How does one of such inferior stature have more power that myself? He must be a bard, but I fail to see how that exempts him from this magical null. I better keep an eye on him!</em></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>15-12-2015, 18:11:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The cavern was not that large, and Owl contented himself with walking along the periphery to see if he could find an outlet. An exit of some kind, or a clue that would explain why they are down here.<br>He found some scraps of lumber in an alcove, as well as a chest with a lock. He fiddled with it and tried using a splinter to open the lock. He began cussing at the stubborn lock. The chest was heavy, and mostly wood with metal fittings. It was about three feet long and a foot deep and wide. <br><br>"I could maybe smash it open, but there might be something inside that we don't want broken." He looked around for a rock to see if he could break the lock. He was not far from the rest of them. They might hear him mumbling to himself.<br><br>------------------<br><br>The wall where the pool was had water feeding down it from somewhere. It was cold and deep. Would only make sense for it to have an outlet as well, or it would be flooding the cavern. Anyone using a torch to look down into the pool would see a few blind cave fish swimming near the bottom. They nibbled on some kind of moss growing under the water. There were also snails and some kind of slugs. The fish would eat those as well. Towards the back of the pool there was a shiny object. Silver in color with a hint of red. Moss covered it pretty much.<br><br>Who would be brave enough to dive down in the pool? A good twelve feet deep and icy cold.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>DudelRok</strong> on <strong>16-12-2015, 01:18:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ah-ha! Yes, that was nice. Zeu liked this ... nice behavior. So much better being around these weird not-lizards than what he was used to in the desert. One of them even tried talking to him, not that Zeu knew what it was to introduce himself, or even tell his name, though Zeu did manage to offer a polite bark before moving off because it was hunger time. The desert was harsh, and food was always so hard to find, and this bone would do for munching but soon it would be time to actually eat. Taking a bit of a glance around, Zeu really started to take in his surroundings, get a good hard grasp of what was going on around him. It seemed like a good idea to at least know what all these things were doing, or where they were going... or if they had an idea where they all where.<br><br>After a quick pat, Zeu turned around and began sniffing at the ground, following that little notion in his head that he should go, 'that away.' 'That way' being back to the water, because this time it would be different. Oh, yes, Zeu had learned his lesson not to just go leaping into cold water without first seeing how cold that water was, and boy was he thirsty, and hungry. A few of those bugs that the one pushed away made for a quick snack, Zeu jumping on them, squashing them, then licking up the remnants with his tongue, oh and rats! There was rats... or, well, not that Zeu would have names for these things, but after seeing one killed so easily by one of the others, Zeu took it upon himself to go hunting.<br><br>There were a few trials and errors as Zeu learned how this creature worked, functioning very similar to the rats in the desert (though being much different in size), but somehow quicker, or at least more aware. Eventually Zeu caught one in his hands, biting down with his sharp teeth on the creatures neck, then twisting, killing the poor thing instantly. This was a proud moment, so Zeu would bring his kill to the one who had been so nice, place it at her feet (after taking a few bites for himself, obviously), then going back to the watering hole.<br><br>...strange little things down there. Something moving? It was this sense in Zeu's mind that there was... something, alive, maybe? The water moved way too much in manners that were not also a current for there. So, as to say in his own hissing and growling language, because it had been determined that these people were obviously not dangerous to Zeu, and that they might even help (at least the one who did directly and the other giving ideas on hunting), so getting their attention to what was going on over here was important.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Niki315</strong> on <strong>22-12-2015, 07:47:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/80/Apic867.png)</div>Shortly after her presence was recognized, a small winged person flew into the room to introduce himself as well. So far it seemed that many of the group had complained about their magic being suppressed. Either a strange feature of the caves themselves, or by purposeful design everyone with magical capabilities found themselves unable to access them. And surely if the trained magicians couldn't access them, a novice would have no chance. Magic aside, with a group of people this large there had to be an array of talents at their disposal. If there was a way out of it, maybe they could wok together to figure it out. And hopefully no one among them would turn on the rest.<br><br>The kind blonde woman called over to Tenthra to join them. Tenthra walked over, holding her nightrobe to her body realizing that even this small piece of clothing seemed more than what a large number of others wore combined. It was a small luxury that she was thankful for. While everyone was gathered, a man who introduced himself as Rhuardh, and a few of the others around. Tenthra waited for a few others to speak first and then nodded her head passively as she introduced herself, "I am Tenthra. I hope I can serve you all well." After the introductions some of the members began to explore the area, Tenthra included. Without any sort of guidance, Tenthra decided to search one of the walls and found an alcove. Sadly, all that was left of the former occupant was bones. After some light prodding with her staff, the bones loosened allowing her to pull the robe free. Maybe one of the others could use this? If no one else wanted Tenthra could certainly find a use for it herself. Scanning the small alcove it seemed like there wasn't anything noteworthy until she bumped against a closed metal box. Tenthra leaned in closely to examine it before lifting it and wiping away the dust. It was locked, but maybe one of her new companions could figure out how to open it without damaging the contents.<br><br>After searching the alcove Tenthra returned to the central area to place the box down. "I found this while searching along that wall over there. Would someone mind looking at this?" Tenthra said timidly, not used to requesting assistance from others.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheRaven</strong> on <strong>23-12-2015, 13:14:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/67/8d/03/678d03bf7c12b399b4b90039210b348e.jpg)</div>Asher did his best not to sneer at the elf's question. "Of course I know how to dress this. Something this size, though, I haven't really before. Hares, certainly, but rats I can't claim to have butchered before. Or without any real supplies to speak of besides a knife." He set the rat on the floor and used the knife to carefully draw a slit from top to bottom. Of course, the first thing he did then was inspect the meat to ensure it wasn't rancid or otherwise going to be more harm than help to the assembled group.<br><br>After discerning that this particular rat was not in fact going to poison them, he began to slice under the skin now to remove the fur. "Ugh. I think I'd take that grey gruel that passes for porridge in the farmlands rather than this," the noble murmured. What he wouldn't give to be doing this magically, either; he was certain he was going to smell after this. "Does that pool have a particular odor to it?" he called across the chamber. "I might be going for a dip once I'm done with all of this lovely viscera." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>stormwyrm</strong> on <strong>27-12-2015, 09:22:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Though perhaps Rhuardh's singing normally did have some element of magic to it, in the caverns that day the only magic it had was the everyday sort that good music had, despite what Darius might have thought, and the thought that he could not channel magic through the music was troubling. However, his skill was such that it was enough. He wanted his mother's ivory flute, his most precious possession, as it was his only memento of her, but that couldn't be helped.<br><br>"Pleased to meet you all," he said with a bow. He smiled kindly at Tenthra, who seemed to be the most frightened of the strange circumstances they were in, and began to look around the room. His sharp eyes noticed a gleam at the bottom of the pool, and he offhandedly mentioned: "If you're going for a swim in there, it looks like there's something at the bottom. Can any of you see it too? It's a small silver-like thing, a bit red, I can barely make it out in this light but it's definitely down there." He would jump in for it himself but would wait to see if anyone else would try. The cold pool would probably not do his frail constitution much good.<br><br>He looked up as Tenthra returned to the central cavern with a large, locked chest. "Let's have a look at that then..." He did have some small skill in picking locks as an itinerant bard occasionally needed to resort to minor thievery. His skill was fairly modest, but he had to try. He broke off one of the rat's ribs just as Asher was dressing the carcass, and after washing off the remaining blood and gristle from it in the pool he tried to use it as a makeshift lock-pick. If it were a simple lock he might be successful, but if it were more complex it would probably defeat his skills.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>27-12-2015, 20:04:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				They were finding things at least, and Owl was happy to see none were very violent. He smiled at the one singing. It took a brave soul to sing in the midst of danger. Finally after finding a small fist sized rock, he managed to break the padlock and pull it free of the latch. <br><br>He examined the lid carefully before raising it up to peer inside. He could detect no traps. When the light hit the interior of the metal box his eyes lit up. Inside were lockpicking tools and files. They looked to be in good shape. <br><br>There was also needles and some thread. A heavy duty shears that looked like it could cut thin metal, and a spool of copper wire. "This is a good find. I will only take a few of the picks. There are dozens in here." He spoke quietly and took the box over to where the Bard was trying to open another box.<br><br>------------<br><br>The water in the pool had not killed anyone yet, so it was probably safe. Though they might wish to fill their jugs before anyone bathed in it. Icy cold and refreshing, it was constantly renewing itself with the trickle from above. But where was it going? The pool was not overflowing. There had to be an outlet somewhere below.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>29-12-2015, 11:20:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"><br>Darius approached the pool, wanting a drink of water. The mysterious bard walked away, while yet another naked person finds their way into the mix. This one was cute in a doll sort of way, but her features were highlighted with the wraps she was wearing, piquing the mage's interest. He splashes the cold water from the small pool onto his face, attempting to shake distracting thoughts away. Warily watching Rhuardh from behind as he was opening the chest, he watched as a few of the others poked around at a locked chest. Trying to auspiciously monitor the situation, he posted his back to the wall with the water running down it. As he rested on it, his kicked the back of the wall, but noticed that this area's set of slab felt different...<br><br>Owl exclaimed a bit about lock picks and finds within that box. "Be sure to send a couple this way." He had some experience picking locks, as he studied a great deal of illusionary magic and skills, first aiming to be an entertainer. Darius moved in front of the wall investigating it for an opening of any crevasses, finding a door frame of sorts. He motions some to the pool with him,"Would some of you with heavier hands than I please join me? Something might be budging over here."</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>06-01-2016, 23:54:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Half Now had lingered a little on the edges of the place, she was definitely not impressed with her situation in the slightest, the day if it was indeed day was just getting worse, then it appeared that another poor sap had turned up.&nbsp; Well just another person to be unsociable with. The woman supposed though that they were likely going to have to work together to get out, though the prospect did not entirely fill her with joy in the slightest.<br><br>Pushing herself from the walls she approached the pool that had been directed too, not really for a drink or a wash just because it was some point of interest in the room and had caused some interest. Well from the surface it did not look that interesting, and it did not appear to have any gribblies in there.&nbsp; After dropping a few stones in a a just in case.<strong> “Yah there, seems there sammat shiny, looks like a blaady lever or samfing? I aint tachin’ it, call me a bleedin’ titty babby bat this place is proper facked and I dant do magic shite.</strong>” If it was not magic then she would likely give it a mess with, but only, when she knew it was not about to blow up in her face. No this woman did not trust anything that might even have the inking of magic, and from her untimely arrival she was pretty sure there was plenty of that here. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>stormwyrm</strong> on <strong>10-01-2016, 13:34:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Well, whatever it is down there, I don't think it's magic," Rhuardh commented when he heard Half speak, as he kept at using the bone as a makeshift lockpick. "Darius, what do you think?" he asked, as it seemed he was much more well-versed in the magical arts than he was. As he did this the bone snapped in his hands, and he cursed, but just then Owl had returned from somewhere with a bunch of lockpicks and other tools.<br><br>"Where did you get these?" he asked, as he took one of the picks and found one of a suitable shape. "Can you help me have a better look inside, Owl? Hold the torch near so I can see inside it a bit better. Just don't set my hair on fire!" Perhaps with these tools and help Rhuardh might be able to get the chest open.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>10-01-2016, 21:34:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With the help of Owl, the Bard was able to get the chest open. The insides were a boon for all of them. The chest contained rope and grappling hooks, other tools associated with rock climbing. <br><br>Owl was impressed. "Well, that could be useful. If we have to climb out of somewhere." He looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. "I have no idea how deep we are, but I don't see anything above us but darkness."<br><br>Meanwhile, anyone near the wall next to the pool might notice the possibility of a doorway, but the door if it was there, was huge! Even with all of them combined there was no way for them to budge it. There had to be another way for them to open it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheRaven</strong> on <strong>10-01-2016, 22:22:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/67/8d/03/678d03bf7c12b399b4b90039210b348e.jpg)</div>After finishing with the rats and tucking the knife into its sheath, Asher approached the pool. "Alright, last call on the drinking water before I head in. I'm going to see what's down at the bottom there." He sat down at the edge of the pool and watched Darius attempting to push on the door. "No matter how many people you get to help you with that, Vancypants, you're not going to get it to budge. If we're lucky, it's mechanically operated by whatever is down there," he said, indicating the water by splashing it with one foot. "So, fill up whatever you have that passes for canteens, people. I'll see if we can get that door open yet." <em>And I'll also get to wash these rat guts off of me, which is going to be welcome.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>stormwyrm</strong> on <strong>15-01-2016, 15:44:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Hey, wait," Rhuardh said, as he filled his jug with some more water. "What was your name again?" he asked Asher. "Maybe we ought to tie this rope around you so that just in case you run into some kind of current down there we can pull you out. It looks to be about twelve feet deep and judging from how that little stream flowing into it hasn't completely filled this cavern it isn't some stagnant pond. The water must be flowing out of it to somewhere."<br><br>Looking up at Half, a little intimidated by the tall, scarred woman, Darius, and Owl, he said: "We can hold onto the rope and pull him out once he gives us a sharp tug."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>18-01-2016, 17:26:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Half Now just nodded and then coughed, spitting something unpleasant on to the ground. She did not try to be intimidating, in fact in her own opinion, there were plenty more menacing than herself. Still she was what she was and the woman was not about to change anytime soon.<br><br>“Alright then, lets get this bloody show on the road then, I know I want teh get the fack auut. “ She did get some water though Half now would much prefer some grog. Well the quicker they made and exit, the faster she could get back to some serious drinking. She owed herself at least three drunken fights after this. “Can on then bat we better be ready fer sam shit be’ind that door I am finkin’could be wrong bat better ta be weary aye?” After sniffing and wiping her nose on a filthy sleeve Half now prepared herself. <br><br>Of course she hoped there was nothing untoward but that was highly unlikely considering the situation that they were all in. Damn … All that was going through her head was <em>Why fackin’ me… well lifes a bitch and then you die.</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>18-01-2016, 22:51:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"><br>Darius pressed on the newly found "door," pressing and kicking it more to see if it opens at all. Nope.<br><br>Splashing his hand back into the pool before any bodies jumps in, he reaches to see a=if he can feel any arcane energy coming off of the indistinguishable shiny at the bottom of the pool. His magic is good and jammed, even in terms of receiving… Some help he's becoming…<br><br>"Well, I'm fine with dunking him in. Just make sure that you have something to dry off with. No one wants to get sick in this dark, decrepit space."<br><br>Darius jumps forward towards the rope, ready to help tie the rope with "Half", but mainly to make sure that the bard doesn't try any quasi-magical nonsense...</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>20-01-2016, 08:41:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The idea of going down into the water did not excite Owl, he was willing to help with the rope. He did fill his jug with water before the other got into the pool. "I am not sure how deep it is, but it looks like a lever to me. Hope you can hold your breath long enough to move it."<br><br>The water was icy cold and it was dark enough at the bottom that the torch would be useful if held up above the pool as the man dived in. Owl handed the torch to Tenthra. "Here, you get the easy job. Don't fall in. It is very deep. But he will need the light to see what he is doing down there." he smiled at the lady and then bent to pick up the end of the rope. <br><br>"We are all ready, Asher. Take a few deep breaths to fill your lungs and dive in."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AffablyEvil</strong> on <strong>20-01-2016, 16:47:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Should he have trouble, I am ready to dive down and retrieve him." Aira said, nodding, having walked over to the others next to the pool. She found herself curious at what was down there, but more concerned about their current state, and what happened if he failed. Would she then have to try diving instead? She didn't hope so. She was an okay swimmer, but good enough to swim all the way down there...? That could be tricky. And cold. She would only do it if she had to. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheRaven</strong> on <strong>20-01-2016, 17:01:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/67/8d/03/678d03bf7c12b399b4b90039210b348e.jpg)</div>Asher slipped off his cloth wrap in preparation to dive; no sense in soaking his one article of clothing left at the moment. He turned to Aira and gave her a wink as he tied his end of the rope around his middle. "Wish me luck," he said before taking a deep breath through his nose, then another through his mouth as he plunged into the pool and began to swim towards the bottom.<br><br><em>Seven hells, it is cold,</em> the young noble thought as he began pushing on. Ordinarily he would be able to find a way to magically shield himself from the cold, but with no magic he was in a rougher spot. He could feel his muscles locking in the cold, and could barely feel the walls of the pool when he grasped them and began to haul himself down after his legs stopped.<br><br>With very little air left, he reached the bottom of the pool. He felt dizzy. Why did he feel so dizzy, he hadn't run out air yet, clearly he... <em>Oh, right, hypothermia,</em> Asher remembered. <em>That's going to be fun treating with a torch for warmth.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>20-01-2016, 20:12:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The blind cave fish swimming at the bottom of the pool were curious of the large disturbance in the water, but mostly they swam away from it. The lever was about six inches long and would move from right to left if Asher tried it. <br><br>If he looked around in the bottom of the pool he would see a larger hole off to one side. The gentle current that flowed seemed to be heading in that direction.<br><br>---<br><br>Owl was holding one end of the rope and not peering into the pool. What he was studying, though, was the huge door. Would the lever cause it to move up or down? Gravity suggested it would move down. No magic here in this room made it plausible that the door was a mechanical device.<br><br>His eyes traveled to the top of the door and waited to see if it moved. He had some misgivings, as none of them knew what was behind the door. For all he knew, they would be letting something into the room best left outside of it. <br><br>Above them in the shadows of the stalagmites, the bats stirred. As the people below talked, the bats began making churring noises. The humans were disturbing their slumber and taking away their food source! Three of them dropped down from their perches on the rocks and dove down to investigate. <br><br>(http://beavercreek.nau.edu/Animal%20and%20Plant%20pages/species%20images/Bats/myoluc.gif)<br><br>The bats were large and hungry. Long fangs and a swift irregular flight pattern would make them a hard target. They would love to sink their fangs into those mostly naked humans who were not paying them much attention.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>20-01-2016, 20:37:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://s23.postimg.org/eiv32yjs7/Darius_Headshot.jpg)<div class="floatleft"><br><em>Damn noisy winged rodents… It's like they've never seen people before. Well, that explains some of the smell.</em> <em>If they don't shut up I'll skin them with those rat teeth.</em><br><br>Hearing the increasing amount of activity above them, Darius perturbedly looked up… Having seen his fair share of "exotic" creatures, he was able to stifle a gasp with ease, he can only hope the others can too. When did bats get that big?!?! They look hungry… The jagged fangs indicate immediately that these rodents are not into eating fruit...<br><br>Mumbling, <strong>"Fuck… Pardon my language… Somebody, needs to grab those weapons and tools, now…"</strong><br><br>Holding on with his hands to the rope that dangled the rugged noble type, he rolls a quarter-sized rock from the watering hole towards his body with his toe. Having a history of illusions, but arcane and mundane, he used that skill to deftly kick it into the air towards his chest, having it bounce and roll down the front of his shirt. He catches the stone and fiddles with it in his hand while clinging to the rope.<br><br>Motioning next to him, whispering. <strong>"Owl, LOOK UP… Shhhhh… You and…Half? The sailor, her there, you both look like you've seen combat. Prep the weapons, while myself, Aria and the bard keep hold of Darius. You, Fairy. get over here to hold this line. Naked Girl, grab all of the tools and put them in the chest. I'll throw this rock into a corner if they get too close. They will scramble to it, and it will only buy us a couple of seconds.</strong> <strong>So don't fuck this up,</strong> <strong>pardon my language…"</strong></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>stormwyrm</strong> on <strong>21-01-2016, 02:26:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Rhuardh briefly let go of the rope despite Darius' instructions, and quickly took out his makeshift sling from the waistband of his loincloth. The action loosened the loincloth slightly, almost enough to expose himself, but there was no time to worry about small things like that. Taking one of the small rounded stones he found and kept in a makeshift pouch he had made from weaving together a few of the other strips of dirty cloth, he placed it into the sling, making an overhand throw with his arm after giving it one quick twirl as he had been taught by a hunter friend of his father's in the village he was born long ago. It was not his favoured weapon, and he was a little rusty, but he had reasonable competence in using it. The stone sailed through the air. Even if it missed the projectile would probably be enough to disrupt the bats' initial attack. He prepared another stone, twirling it in the sling, ready to strike at any bat that looked like it was about to attack someone.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>21-01-2016, 04:09:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There was a pained screech and one of the bats fell to the ground, a hole in its wing. Ruardh was not as rusty as he thought. However the bat was only wounded and it began crawling towards the pool. It could not see well, and only went by scent. <br><br>Possibly it smelled the rat carcasses, as it seemed headed that way. It would be easy to finish off with a good blow to the head, now that it could not fly. It's flesh was also edible and its pelt soft, like suede leather.<br><br>Owl looked up at the two left and frowned. "They don't look very nice. But we have to make sure Asher does not drown. Half? You can swing at that thing as it goes past. I doubt I am as good throwing rocks at a moving target. Good shot Ruardh! Let's see if one down makes the other two more cautious."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AffablyEvil</strong> on <strong>21-01-2016, 10:10:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria frowned, grabbing the rope as Rhuardh dropped it, her strong hand holding it with all her might. Watching the injured bat she dove down quickly, picking up her spear - she only needed one hand for this. Stomping onto its wing with her foot, she twirled the spear around in her fingers so the tip pointed downwards, then she stuck the bat's head to the ground like a pig upon a stick, the feel of thrusting a weapon downwards feeling good and familiar, although she had to say she missed having a sword. "Mission accomplished." She said to Owl, dropping her spear and then grabbing the rope with both hands, returning to focus on their goal of not letting the poor lad drown. He had been down there longer than expected already... 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>23-01-2016, 20:01:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				This was certainly a really bad day …well morning, or whatever time it was and did not look like it was going to get better anytime soon. It was worse than falling in the privy pit with a hangover. Now the bats and bugger only knew what else was skulking behind the door. For half Now the glass was always half empty, and usually in a bar absolutely empty.<br><br>The only fortuitous thing was that she had fallen asleep in her armour. As someone was dealing with the diver she supposed that helping with the bat problem was likely a plan, when able the gruff female grabbed a piece of wood, something that looked weapon like and took a swing at them as long as they were within reach. Nodding to Owl as she did.&nbsp; “Can any facker give wan of those ‘orrible sharp whistles that might fak ‘em ap?” It was just a thought more on the principle of bright lights in combat. Though it might bring more…so jast a fort.”<br><br>She was of course prepared should more gribblies arrive on the scene. As far things were going it was an almost definite. The soldier just hoped it was not undead, gah but she hated undead. Bloody wizards and there disgusting magics.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Muse</strong> on <strong>26-01-2016, 22:35:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/98/Comission_pixie_by_phantagrafie-d5g4wm2.jpg)</div><strong>Fjordel "Jord" Nym</strong> (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240762.msg11878243#msg11878243)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jord didn't hesitate to fill his little jug in the pool before Asher dove in. Then he took a close look at the climbing tools.&nbsp; He paid close attention tot he ropes, running his fingers along the weave and giving them a few sharp tugs.&nbsp; “Now this is textile work I can approve of,” the nude faela nodded, drawing happiness and comfort from the worthy workmanship.&nbsp; He took the thinnest of the ropes and coiled it, then looped it over one shoulder.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jord cocked his head as the bats stirred, then gave a yelp and leaped to the side as one of the big, predatory creatures snapped at him as it shot past.&nbsp; “Yak!” he gasped, snagging his improved spear and shooting into the air.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then Darius was shouting orders.&nbsp; Jord zipped across to the edge to the water, let his spear clatter to the stone, and grabbed the rope.&nbsp; “Don't mess this up, Hightower!” her hissed, “I cann't secure this with just one hand.”&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>30-01-2016, 08:20:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The cold water was taking it's toll and Owl began to worry that the man had been down too long. "Pull him up! He's drowning! It's super cold down there!" with a gasp he grabbed the rope and pulled, hoping to get the man up before he took a breath. Without magic to heal and the likelihood of hypothermia, the man would be doomed. <br><br>The bats took to divebombing the party, screeching and scratching at whoever took a swing at them. By some odd stroke of luck, Asher flailed around and hit the switch as Owl pulled at the rope. Suddenly there was a rumbling sound and dust and dirt came from the ceiling. The bats flew away and Owl hauled Asher up out of the water. He laid him on the ground face down and leaned on his back to force the water out. <br><br>"Asher!! Breathe man!!" he cried as he pulled on the man's arms to force him to take a breath. <br><br>Meanwhile the door began to slowly sink into the floor. The smell of rotting eggs filled the cavern and a faint red glow came from the corridor beyond. An opening about ten feet wide and four feet tall became evident. But, the top of the door was still ten feet above the floor. As they all gazed at the opening, a dull rumble continued. Though the door had stopped moving.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Between a Rock and a Hard Place-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tyr4n02r</strong> on <strong>31-01-2016, 00:14:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Looking concerned that NOBODY stayed on the ropes, Darius took a firmer grasp on the rope, making sure that Asher didn't plunk into the pool permanently. As the various hands and personnel switched between thwarting giant bats and clinging to the ropes, Owl finally made the call to yank Asher from the cold water. Darius pulled with as much strength and grasp as possible, reeling over as the wet man plopped out of the crevasse. As he seemed to be tended to, the earth rumbled revealing new pathways, and hopefully an exit. <br><br>Seeing a giant wall shift and move, the mage grasps Asher and motions to Owl, <strong>"let's get him out of here. I'm going for the chest."</strong> Since nobody followed any of the instructions, the wooden crate full of assorted tools was still open on the ground. He then yelled to the group, probably attracting the bats over to him while running, <strong>"Grab something and run!"</strong> He sprints for the box on the ground, grabbing a few handfuls of items on the ground into it, and shoves it under his arm, breaking for the partially opened trick door. As he approached the door, he closed the chest and dropped it near the opening. He noticed that the 'door' was not coming all the way down, and began looking for a way up. He then squatted to grab the chest, remembering the hook that was found with the equipment. He hurries over to Asher while he's being tended to, and begins to unwrap the rope, retying it to the hook.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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