Panting hard, they come down from the air to land, leg buckling when they put weight on their broken foot- and causing them to have to take a few moments to gather themselves.

Too long to take what they see as their due, apparently, watching one of the ones who had hidden scuttle out and check they eyes of the statue they'd helped take down.

Relic stepping forward and offering the one they'd pulled fre is the only thing stopping Renasci from saying something.

None the less, they loose an irritated growl, and they try to hobble along, fanning their wings to clear the dust and just... honestly use them like crutches. The jumping is hurting almost as much as stepping on the foot itself.

Perhaps armor for the next time they do anything like this, something they can wear while using their shield from the Blacksmith so long ago...

Even after Howler gave the all-clear, Rosary stayed curled into herself for a bit. The offer to help her rise was quietly refused but she did not ask for his further protection. He could go loot if he wanted, she just needed a moment to feel alive again. If she could ever really feel alive.

The pain turned into a throbbing that eventually sat down in the backseat with the daily aches and stings that came with the valkhound's form and she uncurled from herself with a long breath. Forcing herself to her feet, she turned to look around at whatever treasures were left behind - was that the point of all this? She didn't know. She just...might as well grab something before they leave.

Xir dad tries to get in front of xem, and then xir "bubby" tries to get in front of them, and WHAT'S WITH THAT!!! It's an endless loop of one stepping in front of the other, and Plover is starting to lose count of how many times xe's gonna have to make up for it. What's worse is that xe hasn't found a single sip of water for Hunter's shoulder yet, and what's miraculous is that Plover has managed to hang onto that objective for this entire time.

Plover's quick to stuff the cracked eye-ruby into xir mouth when Attikias falls, offering xir one free hand to tug him back up with a sputtered non-word leaking past the ruby; the same hand goes toward tugging Hunter by the good shoulder, trying to coax him back behind xem while the statue breathes its last and topples over in the background.

Once both family members are upright and accounted for, Plover spits the souvenir back out into xir palm and whinges, "It was on its way out!!"

No matter what argument is made against that (if any at all because it is a rock-solid one), the green thing promptly rifles for an empty spot in Attikias's bag, foists xir ruby upon that spot, and tugs him and Hunter both toward the scene of crumbled rock destruction. "ANYWAYS— WE GOTTA LOOT! AND FIND SOME WATER!"

Which is to say, trying to hold xir axe with two hands (because xe's holding hands with xir dad and Hunter) proves to be a losing prospect. Just a few steps toward the piles of bones and dead adventurers leads to Plover's center of gravity tipping just a bit too far forward, and xem overcorrecting (with a loud "GAH!") and ending up sprawling backward, falling onto xir shoulders with legs swinging comically in the air before xe lands in a proper starfish position. "Owwww."

Plover will be looking for a cape or something. I know the loot is not anything decorative but cloaks are functional, too!
@Attikias @Hunter (for interaction).

"Thank you," was offered Plover's way when he's helped back up, though it seems all the protection was for naught; the statue was on its way out, just as xe said, and Attikias anxiously waited for it to somehow still be alive.

Nope. It's gone for good.

With a rough sigh to decompress, he waited patiently for Plover to finish xir rummaging and let xem drag him to the loot. Xe was still chipper after that danger- wasn't this supposed to be, what, training? What did he expect out of these caves, honestly. Eyes glanced up to the walls as he huffed a shorter sigh, then down to the statue, staring with unease. Plover seemed to enjoy it. It could've ended up a lot worse, though...

And what about Hunter? He'd been so focused on Plover that he'd been neglecting his other kid. Leaning to his side, he dipped towards Hunter, conscious of how tense he looked just about now. "Holding up okay?" Just as Plover was worried, so was he, nodding to that injured shoulder while patting Hunter's nape. "We'll go over to that market after this. It'll be nice to take a breather-"

His hand jerked as Plover hits the floor. Thought process cut off, Attikias jolted and broke away, hovering over xem and ready to help xem up. "Plover?" Xe wasn't going to be so hurt after a fall, but that must've stung...

Attikias is looking for something metal he can put around his arms or legs. Like.. bracers, greaves, or just general armor.

Despite his paltry contributions to the battle (and to the journey as a whole), Khavur still earned the ability to reap the rewards. A plethora of apparatuses littered the room, many contraptions likely having practical uses that Khavur could only attempt to dream of. Well, some were easy to guess, like bowls for holding various substances. Or perhaps they were actually for wearing...? The bands he had found earlier certainly had to be, but something about them seemed different from simple, ceremonial jewelry.

Khavur would look for... something, anything that could uphold his interest. Perhaps, if not the contraptions of the previous fallen, then... the gemstone remains?

Sergei lowered his weapon only when he was sure the statue was well and truly dead--that is to say, when it had fully stopped moving, and hadn't moved again, for nearly half a minute. Even then he sidled over and kicked at it gingerly.

He stubbed his toe.

Satisfied that the stone was not alive (which it had no business being in the first place, in his admittedly experience-limited opinion), he moved off to search for loot. Armor, maybe? Something fitting a barbarian like himself.

But something to help him stay alive; that would be nice, he thought.

He looked around, too. "Is everyone okay?" he rumbled.

The wall opposite where the Gembounds had entered slowly grinded away, revealing a metal grate that slid into the ground. It made a horrific creaking sound, because it was mostly rust at this point. But the exit was now open, and the Gembounds--once they'd looted significant treasures from the place--free to go.

The tunnel beyond merged with three others: all four dungeon wings recombining into a single exit, a half-collapsed (but still traversible) open passageway that wound, quite far, back up to Lacerta's surface. The top was safe, overgrown but miraculously free of predators, and in fact not too far from the staging ground where they'd started.

They would be free to go, with the experience, minor injuries, and loot that they'd acquired--and a story to tell, if they chose to share it.

Surely Bartholomew Bear would wish to know of their survival.

Click for Loot Results!

Flower would find a single, shining Gemcoin, along with a sturdy helmet. Though not enchanted, it was well-made, formed of some blackened steel alloy laced with silver in the shape of twining vines and leaves. It was fitted for a humanoid skull, without holes for ears or the like, and with a guard that extended down over a humanoid nose. Longer snouts would have a harder time fitting, but so long as she flattened her ears, it would fit Flower.

Howler would take the second ruby (given by Relic) after a search. Both had been knocked away from the statue after being torn or plucked free. The ruby was a little scratched, but otherwise intact. It would also find twelve Coins in its search.

Conleth would, shockingly, also find a helmet. One that would FIT him, believe it or not: a teensy thing barely the size of a thimble. It was, like Flower's, not enchanted, and made of simple steel, but this one had ear-holes and sported little defensive spikes all over it. Conleth would also find nine coins.

Relic finds five coins, along with--this was getting to be a theme, now--a helmet that would actually fit her oddly shaped head. It was some sort of dark, deliberately tarnished brass that wouldn't clash with the bronze-like armor she already wore, engraved with deeper, smoke-blacked squiggles (for lack of a better word). The helmet did not have a hole for her... stem, so it would need to have one made or the like, but it was valuable in that it was enchanted with Regeneration. It would grant a constant, low-level healing whenever she were wounded, but at the cost of draining energy.

Naskarra would find eighteen coins scattered here and there, along with a fascinating piece of armor: a four-piece breastplate of silvery-violet metal, held together by chains and clasps. This could be fitted around her back, flanks, and chest, with the chains tightened to cinch it tight. The metal was, as one piece, enchanted with Summon Void: it bore a faint and flickering aura of shadow, but more importantly could briefly blind those that struck the armor in combat, darkening their vision for a moment.

Renasci retrieves ten coins, along with a fascinating pair of greaves: leg armor that would cover the shins from knee to ankle, the length of their birdlike legs. These were a bright, brilliant silvery-white, polished to such a shine that a kick could accidentally blind an opponent simply by reflecting light the right way. The armor covered the front of the limbs, with the back relegated to simple dyed white leather straps (which would need repair after so long abandoned) and buckles to tighten them in place. The armor was not enchanted.

Pickles would find a very interesting, if very odd, item: a silver helmet that would fit her head, in the shape of a horse's head-armor. It looked very much like cavalry barding, except for the long, spiral horn cast at the front. Wearing it would make Pickles look like a very odd unicorn. The armor piece was enchanted with Illuminate Orb, which was not a defensive enchantment, in this case. It would not blind enemies. Instead, it provided nourishment and warmth for nearby plant life, for example--allowing Pickles to cosplay as a kindly forest unicorn if she so chose. (Today, it seemed, was helmet day.) Pickles would also procure eleven coins from the dungeon's treasures.

Plover procured one single coin. Woo? ...Along with being able to choose between two pieces of loot. Either the ruby eye, or a large and leathery cloak of dark material. It was a little ragged, given time, but what was amazing is that it still existed at all. It wasn't cloth, but rather some form of very well-treated, oiled skin: waterproof and concealing in the shadows.

Attikias would find a pair of well-made, metal gloves. They were titanium with a platinum inlay, and a glittering cut sapphire at each outer wrist cuff. The fingers were intended for a humanoid his size and fully segmented, so that the fingers could still bend, albeit stiffly. He would also find fifteen coins.

Khavur would find eight coins in total, along with a living, glittering Lattice Sunstone. This stone would be easily revivable, and the skeleton to which it had belonged hinted at its ancestry: it was about five and a half feet tall, body type indicated by its armor (the armor now decayed and rusted but had once been limited, and light). When alive, the creature had been somewhere between a primate and a rodent: slender, swift and long-limbed, with a long and thin, lightly furred tail for balance. Its skull shape was slender, its teeth almost humanoid with longer, thinner canines. Long whiskers and four large, dark purple eyes (two per side) had given it a staring, twitchy appearance, and four large, rounded ears combined with those eyes to provide powerful senses of sight and hearing both. The hind limbs had been made for leaping, the forelimbs equipped with particularly long, slender digits: six fingers per hand, two of them thumbs, with delicate translucent claws. The creature on the whole was mostly covered in soft, oily, dark, dull blue fur, mottled with dark purple on top. Where the fur faded on the flanks, cobalt-hued scales had glittered like soft snakeskin. As an additional oddity, this creature had borne gills behind the jaws, allowing it to breathe underwater; the short plush fur and scaled sides were likely semi-aquatic adaptations.

Sergei would find nine coins, along with a pair of unenchanted leg armor--a skirt-type design, in locking scales of plain and unpolished steel: the kind that might have been suited to a roman legionary. The leather to which the scales were sewn would need heavy repair, too, and the armor was not enchanted.

Players may add the Coins found to their characters' accounts. Those who received Enchanted items may post in Update Me to have simple icons added to their Enchanted Items profile field, if they wish.

---

Characters may exit at will. After posting their exit, they may a) post in Magicka Market for the thread claim, b) add their loot to their inventory, and c) post in Update Me for a soon-to-be-released achievement!

Those who did not post this round must make up for any missed rounds before their loot search/exit/claim. This should be GM-tagged for, as this thread will no longer be checked otherwise! Other wings of the dungeon will be completed in the coming days!

@Howler @Flower @Rosary @Relic @Sergei @Naskarra @Plover @Khavur @Conleth @Hunter @Renasci @Attikias

She gathered her things, putting her coins in her little bag and gathering her items. A scythe and a helmet. Pretty cool if you asked her.

She sighed softly, giving Fernie a bit of a head pat to make sure they were okay before beginning to leave. Everything aside, she had fun and hoped she could find another dungeon to enter, perhaps with another group like this. They had done well together, but she was also ready to just rest and recover too.

-exits-

Howler hadn't realized the eyes had been claimed already - He'd not been paying the best attention, too focused on making sure Rosary was okay. Thankfully, there was no hard feelings between the dungeon-searchers. Howler raises his hands "Ah - I apologize. If you're sure." He'd been prepared to just give the gem back. It's true that it may not have any magic left over - Howler will have to test it. Eventually.

He's not sure what he'll do with the gem. Keep it, obviously. There's only a few things one could do with it. Howler isn't ready to revive a stone even if there's magic left inside.

He hums thoughtfully, tucking the ruby in his new cloak. "Thank you." If he runs into that gembound again, Howler will need to find a way to repay her.

All is well. Howler waits for Rosary before leaving.

@Relic [Interaction/For visibility] - exit

Relic gave Howler a nod, before moving off to procure her second freaking awesome helmet of the day. This one had a slightly different aesthetic - Maybe she should settle down somewhere, claim some territory of her own. That way she could keep all of her accessories in one place should she want to switch between them. The only reason to have a house.

She began to trot down the hallway out, following the scent of Lacerta's surface. She wasn't sure what to do with everything she'd found, especially the coins... But she'd figure it out later.

[exit]