Cavern Cave In (INV)

_____Spurs spun like no tomorrow as the Texan gamer kicked up dirt and danced around the cave entrance. Her worn down cowboy hat had been tipped over her eyes as she slid across the sand and licked her heel to the ground to keep her spurs spinning. Blue hair rested around her scalp as she jumped a small distance and kept tapping her boots and spinning her spurs. Echo, sadly hated to stay still and hated the lack of sound. So it was only in her nature to keep making noise to avoid losing her own mind.

"I done hope my directions had been clear enough for them partners. First time I ever drew a map ha-ha.”

_____Southern pride in her voice as she spoke and raised a hand to her chin as she wondered and worried about her map. Sadly her reason to worry was right on the donkey's rump. Her ‘map’ was a bunch of scripted lines and an X with a cowboy hat near it. She was the worst artist in her family, but that never stopped the girl from trying to improve. Slowly her jig came to a stop, and the girl spun to look at the crumbled entryway of the cave.

_____She had made a few attempts to clear the rubble that blocked the people inside by hand, the scattered rocks around the area proof of her effort, but some of the rocks simply could not be moved by one gal, as much as she thought herself to be tough enough to do it. She had even considered using her arcane magic to blast the rubble away, but without a way to warn the people inside of the magic she did not want to risk deep frying someone on the other side.

_____That left her with one choice, wait for the cavalry. Frame hopping back towards the cave as she pushed her hat up and began to throw the smaller rocks out of the way. She needed to do something, with no idea on the case inside, or when backup might arrive, if they even did, was to much for her to think about. To Echo, well she hated to think most things through, if it seems like it could work she tries it and laughs if she failed and tries something else.

"I hope them other folk get here soon… For everyone’s sake partner.”
@Dempsey Fabijain | @Minerva Fletchgard

 

After several hours of wandering, several backtracks, a pause for lunch and a quick bath in a secluded stream, and impressive amounts of profanity spwen into the air, she finally managed to follow the "map" with the help of an hour long scrying ritual she'd been given to it's destination. uncharacteristically annoyed at this point, she grew a bit more agitated to see that she was only the second one to reach her destination. She conjured a water skin from her inventory and drank deeply before further assessing the situation. She had no tools with her, only a can-do attitude ready fora good workout, and her perpetually discouraging Gp balance.

She walked closer and greeted Echo with a nod, and a series of taps and swipes agsint her left palm that sent a party invite her way.

"What's the word with this place? Is anyone else coming, or do we get to dig this all out by ourselves?"

She looked the scene over pensively, scanning for anything of use, such as tools, mining gear, or even a good hammer.

 

Miners trapped in a cave in. That was what Maya deciphered the quest message as. The person who had sent out the message had a southern accent and even did it in their writing. Maya did not have a dislike for southerners, just found them a bit.... hickish. Maya's family came from England so she was not terribly used to reading or listening to the style. Country music was not he cup of tea either. Anyway, she had to follow the map to a cavern in Adecus Forest. That was the largest forest region she had yet been to. So finding a single cave here took a bit of time.

Considering the quest and her ability to dig boulders was not going to be very good. So she thought to ask two large nNPC from a tavern in Stockbon if they would like to make some money with a simple task. The big guys were thrilled and she offered them a small amount of gold each. To help with digging the rocks, but nothing else. They did not have weapons and she had to protect them on the way to the cavern. Further slowing her arrival.

Eventually she would arrive and she as she expected, she was the last arrival.

Or at least Maya assumed so. The quest spoke of needing two people to help, but after seeing the rubble and the futile efforts of the two already arrived players. Maya felt that maybe more should have come. This may be tedious, exhausting, and take quite a while... sigh. Even with the two hired hands she had brought to help.

"So, this is the mine. I'm Minerva Fletchgard. I have come to help but... I wonder if doing this by hand is the best plan. If anyone has a magic to assist it would speed this up some. I have also brought additional assistance for removing the rocks. You two know what to do. 50 Gold each then you may wait for me to escort you back."

With that she began to get her hands dirty. With the large men grunting along behind.

@Echo Moonfallen @Dempsey Fabijain

 

”The word?... Not sure what you mean with that one partner. Though there was one other person supposed to come help, and unless you got magic to move the rocks we doing it by hand. Girls have to get down and dirty sometimes also.~”

_____Echo turned from the pile and waved at the first arrival. She was glad her map helped out, least she thought it had considering how many times she got lost trying to find this place herself. Blue eyes glowed happily as the country girl smiled and moved back to throwing rocks out of the way. She could slightly understand why it might be hard to believe they might be able to move all the rocks in time, but if they did not try they would never find out would they?

_____Echo was in the middle of lifting a larger rock when the next helper arrived on scene. Using her free hand to tip her hat as a greeting before she tossed the rock out of the way and listened to what the women had to say. She spoke some fine logic, doing it by hand was not the best plan but Echo did not bring tools, and her magic… well she would explain it later as she went to help move a large rock.

”I have Arcanamancy, but I have not been able to speak to the miners inside to warn them to take some steps back so I can blast the rubble out. Not to mention I don’t know the state of dis here mine, and if my blast hits a support inside there be some miner pancakes in there.”

_____Echo raised her hand as the arcane energy sparked for a moment before she canceled the spell before it could fire. She did not have full control over the magic yet so all she could do was beams and orbs, but the size and power was still far to random to trust using it with the life of the workers at stake. But with five people they should be just fine moving the rubble, easier than hog tying all her younger siblings that was for sure.
@Dempsey Fabijain | @Minerva Fletchgard

 

"Well yeah. i took this job because I figured it would just be a lot of grunt work, and not so much fighting. i'm kind of dead in the water until i can get my hands on some better gear, and train up a bit in a few things. Perfect job for me, right?"

she shrugged and haplessly set about the task at hand for several moments, looking for stones and boulders that appeared safe to move, and did her best to get them out of the way without bringing the entire cave-in down on top of her. when the newcomer arrived, she stood and wiped some sweat and dirt from her brow to appraise the woman, and the two helpers in tow. She was tall, blond, and well built for a woman. She'd probably be better suited for this than she was, but it's not like the job posting had people lined up for miles fighting for a spot.

she listened to the exchange between Echo and Minerva, pausing to make a mental joke to herself 'Minerva the miner. Nice' as she shoved a particularly heavy stone to the side with a grunt. It looked like they were at least making a mess of things, if not any noticeable progress. As the other two discussed magic and their lack of any that was useful given the situation, she slumped a bit and went back to her work, deciding that introductions could wait until she was ready for a break.

she was sing-songing 'minerva the miner' to herself and absently lifting and tossing stones aside when a particularly large stone broke lose and fell. She easily avoided it with an impressive leap backwards that put her within a few feet of the other two ladies.

| @Minerva Fletchgard

 

Minerva listened to the southern speaking girl and nodded. That was true and made sense. No need to make things worse by blowing the cave up. This would have to be done the hard way, slowly. The two npc townspeople she had brought began to grunt while they dug and it sped things up a little but they all would still be here for a few hours. At least this was not a hot or cold day. Spring was a good time to get outdoors work in. Minerva was nothing like Maya either. The knight was sturdy and had strong arms. Funny enough, Maya kinda enjoyed being able to do such a thing like lift rocks. Then she heard Miner Minerva and her face grew red. Her avatars face as well. That was silly! Minerva is not a silly character! Maya did not know how to deal with it. It was kind of funny, but... she could not let that be a thing!

"Um, could you not do that? It's... let's just get the task done."

Minerva hurried her movements as she worked at each rock. She thought to use her Illumancy to buff her strength or those of her work mates. No, her ability was too low to effect others and it would just drain her. Best save buffs for whatever else may be needed to be done here. Maya was always over thinking things and assuming that everything was more than it appeared. It often caused you to over stress but at least nothing ever really turned out too much worse than she expected.

Dig, dig dig
Dig, dig, dig, dig.
Dig, dig, dig, dig, dig.

Urgh, this was tedious indeed....

@Echo Moonfallen

 

_____The group would likely need to back away as the cave began to rumble. Echo moved back quickly with her hands raised up thinking she had caused it. After a few moments the rocks would start to fall down and the group could slightly see into the cave, it was not a very large hole but Echo grinned and took her hat off. Tossing it into the hole before she rushed forward and used her shoulder and head as a ram to break the opening a bit more. Slowly rising to her feet as a small trail of blood flowed from her head and she set her hat back on her head.

"Best way to use my thick skull my siblings used to tell me ha-ha."

_____Echo would move a few more rocks out of the way, she was unsure how the miners would be, and if some needed to be carried getting them over a rock pile would be slightly difficult. Spinning on her heel and raising her hand as Arcane energy slowly sparked to life and gave a faint violet light for the group as she started moving ahead. They had been down here long enough and the longer they stayed the worse they could possible be in terms of health.

_____The source of light from the exit would grow dim quickly and every few moments Echo had to stop her magic before it cast and damaged the cave. She did not know the layout of the area, and mostly trusted her sense of smell to guide her. If the group was her for metals she could track it someone, horseshoes and old tractors still had a place in her heart and nose record, or so she hoped as she likely guided the group with a hazardous light source.
@Dempsey Fabijain

 

(Sorry I took so stupid long to reply!)

Dempsey sighed with relief, glad to be done with digging for the day. She watched bemused as the one called Echo decided to.. tackle the cave? Didn't matter. The way was clear and things looked like easy money and smooth sailing from here, except that she hated boats. Before following into the cave, she brought up her palm menu and tapped away, conjuring a faint light of her own and equipping her leather chest piece and heavy fingerless combat gloves.

she adjusted a buckle here and tightened a strap there, fiddling for several moments until she had everything just right. It was great armor, but would chafe mercilessly unless adjusted perfectly, and since it still wasn't quite broken in yet, she found herself tugging and adjusting it constantly. She was sure she could afford better, but was trying not to waste all of her money right away.

"I think maybe your siblings were being sarcastic?"

But since they'd just met, she couldn't argue that point either way, and didn't really care to in any case. before dismissing her inventory, she paused and asked

"Water anyone? You all good?"

she paused, waiting for an answer from any and all present.

@Echo Moonfallen

 

@Minerva Fletchgard

 

Maya was left in awe for a rare moment. The fact the the sourthern speaking girl just took down a wall of rubble with her head, literally, made even Minerva the great knight speechless if but for a moment. Wow. Anyway it was time to venture within. Minerva turned to her hired hands and thanked them. They were each given their gold and told to wait here. Weaponless and not interested in working more than was needed, they agreed. Minerva then prepared her equipment, a sword and her armor, before following the other two.

"I think it would be best to go slowly. I as a knight would fit best in the front of the party. You two should stay behind me."

Minerva advised attempting to take charge. Although truly that was what she thought was best. She was the 'tank' of the group and if this was more than just a miner rescue, Minerva would be able to protect the other two better in front. Something that bothered the paranoid girl was what may have caused the cave in? A mere hiccup? Or something else? Her head was once again getting ahead of her.

"There are more dangers in a cave than just falling rocks. Stay vigilant. We should introduce ourselves as well. If we become separated we will need to stay in contact. I'm Minerva."

Whether or not the other two girls cooperated with her way of doing things or, as was becoming the norm, went about their own way. Maya would stick to her cautious approach in this quest.

@Echo Moonfallen @Dempsey Fabijain

 

She listened to Minerva(the miner) speak as she banished the unused water bottle to her inventory.

"Go ahead and take the lead if you want. I'm more the 'Scout ahead or bring up the rear' kind of gal, and i'd be happy to do either, but since I can't see in the dark or sneak up on people with a glowing ball of light active, I think I'm stuck as the designated watcher of your back for the duration. OH! I can use a scrying glass to see what all is going on in there, but that can take hours, and it doesn't always... ya know... work. "

she continued, more to herself than Minerva at this point; "I really should get some kind of night vision spell though. I'll have to hit up the shops once I'm back in town and look for something. Maybe there's something like an enchantment or even maybe a potion!"

she snapped out of her outward inner monologue and offered a smile.

"Right then, let's go rescue the crap out of some miners!... Where are they, by the way... I don't see anyone, no lights, no miners rushing out to greet their saviors... that's... That's sketchy"

She shifted from side to side, now more than a little uncomfortable, and also more than a little willing to let Minerva take point.

@Echo Moonfallen @Minerva Fletchgard

 

"They likely went deeper in, if this exit is blocked they might have thought a second area opened... Or a monster is in here with them, would not surprise me."

_____Echo was blunt and smiled to the other girls. She was not afraid of monsters, she called those younger siblings so unless the game generated her family in this cave she was already feeling safer here than in the real world. Stepping aside to let Minerva lead like she wanted to and if Dempsey wanted to be in the middle she would let the girl do as she liked also. Echo took those few moments of deciding to wipe the blood off her head before she followed behind them passing a light torch to both of them.

_____The mine itself was straightforward, there seemed to only be one way in or out as the group descended and after some time of losing the light from the exit there would see torchlight and some screams. ”Well good news, they ain’t deader than possums.” Echo chimed in slightly before more screams drove her to start rushing forward towards the sound, but not fully trying to break any formation the group had. Entering a large room the group would see the miners across the way, and between them a slime about the size SUV.

”I don’t anybody here done need that much hair gel, torch it?”
@Minerva Fletchgard | @Dempsey Fabijain