[Quest] The Training Dungeon - Natural Caves

One branch of the Training Dungeon Quest! Please read the main thread before choosing a section to explore.

The Gembounds entering the "training" dungeon would need to split to enter one of its four branches. The tunnel beyond the initial, rusted steel gate was worn stone. In places this would change to brick, or even water, but here--on the second-to-right branch of the dungeon--it simply narrowed. It was still worn stone, but the ceiling bore holes here and there, high above, where water had worn it down through time. This left beautiful patches of light shafting down into the shadows of the tunnel, and allowed thick overgrowth to fill the sides and ceiling.

While wide enough for a Valkhound to press through, it was nevertheless a little constricted: winding, downward-sloping, with water trickling through the dirt and gravel on the old stone.

It was oddly quiet in this tunnel, though. A very faint rustle could be heard in the leaves here and there, but that was it.

Maybe the true challenges lay ahead?

Gembounds proceeding into the Natural Caves branch of the dungeon should roll for any form of perception. This may be an Other roll, natural knowledge of some sort, or magic perception of any kind. They may instead roll to prepare for specific threats if they may guess what they'll encounter. Posts will occur every four days; the next post will be on Saturday, June 7th, afternoon/evening GMT.

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An adventure? Treasure? Oh of course he had to agree to that, who wouldn't?

As soon as he heard, he bounded away without even a thank you, though lets be honest he was probably just eavesdropping, and rushed to the dungeons. There were four entrances, but this one looked cool, looked interesting, so he figured why the hell not.

As he bounded in, it was only as he realized how dark it was that he stopped for a moment, only then hesitating in his decision. He searched around, trying to squint and peer past the darkness. He had no way that he make light really, so he just had to try and look really really hard and hope someone with light came across the threshold.

Caution had never exactly been one of Richter's strong suits. Sure, he wasn't dumb enough to rush headlong into certain danger, but rarely had the thought of it deterred him from approaching a place which promised the potential of running into it. Seeing as the kind bear at the tavern had indicated these tunnels only harbored a mild dosage of that sort of excitement, worry wasn't an emotion prevalent in his hops as he approached the tunnel. It didn't emerge either as shadows began settling like a heavy cloak around his form upon entry, just another layer falling over the blue velvet one he'd donned for the occasion.

"Hey there," he greeted the sinuous figure waiting inside. Not yet far enough for surroundings to be plunged into complete darkness, Nebula's fascinating physique managed to stand out to him as a blue-tinged silhouette. "Looks like we're headed the same way. Whatever, uh, way that is."

Frankly Richter preferred the dim lighting over morning shine. Too much brightness, and he wouldn't last long before eyes began aching. The late evening hours always tended to be easier on his sight, and perhaps that would carry on too to this current delve. Ears perked up, angling toward the space narrowing before him. They strained for the sound of breathing or footfalls within the foliage.

This was not, technically, a bounty. But what it was could be even better - not that Vestyge intended on going out of his way to impress his new employer. This seemed easier than hauling a lesser carcass back to Scorpio - simpler, at the very least. Vestyge enjoyed simplicity.

That, and he still didn't quite know how to fight anything that wasn't already dead. He hadn't been given many opportunities to practice in his time. It wasn't necessary. But times had changed, and the old dog would need to learn many new tricks if he wanted a chance at keeping up.

He click-clacked his way through the tunnel, not quite as interesting-looking as the others. But a little less hostile, too. Maybe that's why the other two had picked this one. He'd say a hello if he knew how to - which, for the record, he didn't - so Vestyge offered a small nod instead, moving past both to lead the herd. He was the most experienced here, so it was reasonable.

As for spells - he didn't need any. He'd forge onward with nothing but the eyes set in his skull to warn him of trouble.

Then Survivor had followed in, walking slowly on all fours. They held up the torch in their mouth, the flickering firelight casting long shadows into the cave. Pink eyes darted around, caution ingrained in everything they did.

They stay quiet, mostly because talking around the torch would be difficult. But the others don't seem much for conversation either. The silence is tense with anticipation.

So they decide to get to work, peering into the shadows dancing in the torchlight. Surely there is something out there, beyond wet stone and moss?

Such a large group was making Buckley a little nervous. It could almost hear the steam hissing from Gore's ears from how agitated it was getting with the crowds. Thankfully, they all split and they were left with only a few in their immediate vicinity - still more then they were used to, but it was better. Thankfully, it hadn't noticed the Bauxite when they'd entered. Ishani had, and she'd elected to not mention it to the other too, simply urging them to take the opposite path.

They hadn't questioned it.

The chimera stepped in just after the others, Buckley eagerly looking around at the rather nice, unimposing cave, Gore swinging its head around to find their next opponent, and Ishani carefully observing those that had walked in as well. She said nothing for the time being, but glared suspiciously at the grinning one. She didn't like the look of it.

"WHO ARE WE KILLING?" Gore suddenly bleated, to the others' annoyance. "Nobody. Yet. We're just looking for treasure. Or something. Okay?" The goat snorted and he figured that was that, and pushed forward with his magical perception, just in case - were they going to kill anything? Hopefully not. That sounded scary.

Ah...alas, all he heard was the sudden, loud, uneven beating of their own hearts - three separate ones, just barely out of sync with each other - and shook out his head to clear the sudden noise. Agh, that was unpleasant.

"Buckley is speaking!" "GORE IS SPEAKING!!!" "Ishani is speaking..."

There was another amalgamation here. Yvan... wasn't sure how to feel about that. At least he was a little more coherent, with just one him, but the three-headed Triage got a curious side-eye from him nonetheless.

Well. Moving on.

Closing his eyes, Yvan cast out his senses and tensed at the droning feedback, sucking in a harsh breath at the clustering beating hearts around him. There never was his own though, but one was familiar, comforting; Ryoto's behind him, and he paused upon recognizing it, muscles loosening when he held out his hand for her.

"There was some guy out there giving out lights... did you grab one?" It felt wrong to break the silence of this cave. It couldn't be that bad, not with Ryoto by his side.

Ryoto had been nervous from the outset, unsure about the sizable gathering; all the strangers that she might have to talk to, or might just plain bump into and have to acknowledge. The man— all upright like her, but much more like Yvan's height and lean, not slim— offering baubles had been a soothing presence that expected no words in response, but the feeling of being calm didn't come until they were both undertaking the simple task of splitting off into a smaller group and venturing into a quieter cave entrance.

Most would've been unsettled by the quiet, but the lack of noise is what's nice. Just rustling leaves, and the sounds of idle chatter. She, of course, pins her ears back at the bloodthirsty yell from the same amalgam that's perturbing Yvan, then perks them again to scan the dim surroundings—

Oh, he's looking for her.

Tail curling close, the ryoto takes his hand into hers, then holds out the glowing pebble in her other. "Mhmm," she nods, turning the bauble over in her palm. "Made m'rock bright..."

A few pacing strides bring her closer to Yvan's side, and she mumbles in quiet question, "You'll b'okay?"