(no subject)

[ladyofluminosity]

Log Deputy: beholdthevoid & sheepyton
Log Deputy Schedule: 24-hour cycle; at least 1 tag every 24 hours (dependent on at least one player tag)
Participating Characters: Ezreal, Lux, Quinn, Shyvana, Peter & Estelle
Plot Description: Investigating the giant hole in the ground in the middle of the deep Wild Woods.
Warnings/Notes: N/A

[Coming to the designated spot in the Wild Woods, the group came across a group of dilapidated stone structures, save for one. Surrounded in a bit of rubble was a stone structure, lighter in color than the rest of the structures, looking relatively new and quickly assembled.]

Comments

[indy_wannabe]

[As the group moves through the caves, the Litwick become more present, lining the cave and producing light, almost as if they were lanterns. The group also begins to hear things, echoes, taps on the walls that reverberate through the caves. The tapping sounds meaningful, purposeful and deliberate.]

[Ezreal holds up his hand]

Hang on. Something's up.

[brandnewshoes]

Yeah. You're right.

[Estelle glances sideways at Ez, then at Lux, before she closes her eyes and concentrates.]

It's a pattern, I think--or at least, it's not a random noise.

[usedstringshot]

Might be coming from whatever made that structure up top.

[Amanda looks up at the Litwick, and speaks up.]

Don't suppose you guys know what's making that sound, do you?

[ladyofluminosity]

[Hearing the sound, Lux scrambles for her bag, picking up her sketchpad and a pen. It was a pattern, and she was going to notate it as best as she could in dots and dashes. She gives a look to Peter and Estelle to stop talking.]

[indy_wannabe]

[Unfortunately, the notation attempt grinds abruptly to a halt as the cave segment begins shaking violently]

Oh Savior WATCH OUT!

[usedstringshot]

Ah, crap! Huddle in close, up against the wall, and whatever you do don't panic. If anyone has Protect, now would be the time to use it.

[brandnewshoes]

[Estelle falls quiet, when Lux gives her that look -- and then the ground shakes. The problem with being underground is how everything shakes. Her eyes shoot wide open like saucers; for a moment, she freezes up, but she doesn't shout or scream to her credit. She moves in closer to the others for good measure, though.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[Oh Savior what in the world was that? Thankfully she had a calm enough head to throw a shield at them before huddling herself to keep safe.]

Switching to mod journal for narration

[bravenewmods]

[The ground under the group softens and becomes sticky and gooey, causing the legs of the team to sink in before solidifying]

Well now, this is unexpected. More humans. Didn't think I'd see the day.

[A small group of people emerge from the tunnel ahead, the Litwick swarming around them and lighting the way as they walk. They're all quite pale, and their eyes, especially their pupils appear to be much bigger than one might normally expect. There are two women and two men, all quite thin and wearing what appear to be coarse brown robes.]

[ladyofluminosity]

[Noooo her book is stuck in the mud stuff :C

Lux holds her staff protectively, shining a bit of her own light to get a better look at the situation.

People.

There were people down here.

Her heart raced with excitement. Another civilization, and this one underground. What a discovery! She would jump for joy if her feet weren't so firmly planted into the ground. So instead, a question.]

Neither did we! Also how are you doing that? The mud--or whatever this stuff is. [She tries to pull a foot up and laughs a bit, to break the tension.] It's amazing!

[usedstringshot]

Yeah, it's fascinating. Knowing how to get out? Would be even better.

[Peter's not actually being sarcastic about the mud-trap being interesting. He'd just rather it not be used on him]

[brandnewshoes]

W-whoa! Are you--

[The mud is worrisome, no doubt -- actually very worrisome -- but what comes to Estelle's mind immediately is that they found people. This is a Seeker's dream come true! This is how legends are made!]

[Or how they're transformed in documented and verifiable knowledge, anyways.]

Do you live here!?

[bravenewmods]

We are the people of Refuge, the last remaining human civilization to escape the wrath of the gods.

Well... I thought we were anyway.

[They are eyeing the group warily in general, but are definitely also curious.]

[indy_wannabe]

Yeah funny thing we thought that too until not too long ago. Did you do the floor sticky thing? Mind letting us up?

[usedstringshot]

Really, we come in peace. We're explorers and researchers.

[brandnewshoes]

Yeah! We're here to share information and stuff--uh. [She flashes a confident, cheerful grin at them. This is still AMAZING.] We're from two cities. There's a lot out there, and we can share all sorts of stuff, you know?

[bellyofthebeast]

[ Shyvana, unshaken from the, well, shaking, is much less willing to communicate with these unfamiliar people. She'll move herself to the back of the group, watching carefully and making sure that they are safe from the back in case of a hostile move from the newcomers; she's already half shifted with her guard up. ]

[ladyofluminosity]

I think there's a lot we can talk about, if you let us up.

[bravenewmods]

[They converse briefly in hushed voices for a moment]

We are willing to speak with you, but we cannot allow you to simply leave our entrapment. We do not know your people, nor can we be certain you are truthful. If you will surrender all of your gear and travel peacefully and under guard, you may speak with our elders. If you prove honest, we will return your gear to you and escort you back to the surface when your business is complete.

[indy_wannabe]

I like that we get this choice AFTER we're stuck in the mud.

[brandnewshoes]

I don't think we have much choice, guys...

[Estelle looks around, before she looks back at them. Not what she wants to do... but, she gets a chance to learn. Sometimes, you take a risk. She drops her staff.]

All right!

[ladyofluminosity]

Estelle, wait.

[Lux frowns, holding a hand out. Yeah, she doesn't like this too much, but she is also acting leader, so she would have to lead by example.]

You have us at a disadvantage here. You don't know if we're trustworthy, and we don't know if you're trustworthy. The only difference here is that we haven't shown any signs of aggression, at least that we know of.

This is my expedition, I'll take full responsibility. If you find that we're untrustworthy, I ask you not harm the other four. Do what you want with me, but I doubt it would come to that. We'll surrender our weapons for now, but I ask that we keep our gear--you can even go through it if you want, for peace of mind.

[bravenewmods]

[There's a bit more conversation]

Very well. We shall accept your terms, surrender your weapons and let us go through your gear. If we find nothing of immediate danger, we will escort you to our elders, or to the surface if you so desire.

[They move forward to inspect things]

[indy_wannabe]

[Ezreal doesn't look happy but he does what was bargained. He shoots Lux a "we will discuss this later" look and opens up his gear, general delver equipment and no visible weaponry]

[usedstringshot]

[Peter doesn't have any weapons on him either, just some notebooks, a Sketchbook, and basic Ranger equipment.]