Into the Dark

[TrailRunnin he/him]

Rig felt a chill run down the back of his spine. That about summed up his exact experience, but how could she know that? Looking at her more closely, he noted some oddities. Her eyes had an exotic tilt to them he had never seen in his travels, either around Elendel or the roughs.

"That's about it. I was in a cellar before all this. But if this isn't Scadrial...where are we? What are you all doing down here?" 

Rig could practically feel his brain screaming at the implications of what they had said. Not Scadrial? A different planet then. How had he gotten to a different rusting planet of all things? He began tapping some warmth from his bracers, the comforting heat calming him some and returning some of his confidence. The trio seemed normal enough, considering they were claiming to be something literally quite alien to him.

@ZincAboutIt @Rushu42 @I think I am here.

Edited October 6, 2019 by TrailRunnin

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Corette nodded once, tucking some of her dark brown hair back behind one ear, and smiled at the man. "This world is called the Alleyplanet, and you're in Alleycity - or, well, you're under Alleycity. You're rather in luck, actually, as we know just a bit more about these caverns than you do. They were just discovered recently. We're part of an expedition to map this place, see what we can find." She adjusted her pack. "Oh, and we're also looking for the first expedition team." Corette waved a hand and shrugged, still smiling. She'd noticed the low, warm, inverted thrum rolling under his Steel like one long drone of a pipe. A Twinborn. Even better. She made a note of it.

"You're a Twinborn, aren't you?" she said to Rigex, flashing him a grin. Being a Seeker certainly had its advantages. Corette cocked her head towards the main camp, sweeping a critical eye over the man's scuffed, slightly-glowing appearance. "Come on, let's go meet the Director of this operation.  She's a Coinshot, too, and I've a feeling she'll want you on the team. Pay's pretty good, and we've got food."

Corette raised an eyebrow at the man, eyeing the glowing specks around his mouth, then flicking her gaze towards the glowing fish swimming lazily in the shallow pool. "I assume you're growing rather tired of raw cave fish." She turned and motioned to the little crowd that had gathered. "Come on," she repeated. "There will be plenty of time for questions."

@TrailRunnin

[TrailRunnin he/him]

Rig cocked an eyebrow and grinned. If she knew he was a twinborn...well, he was either in the presence of a Seeker or something else entirely. And if she had already deduced his diet, she was something even more dangerous: clever. 

Either way, it was in his best interests to follow her. Meeting the director couldn't be a bad thing, and if the director was another coinshot Rig would want to meet her anyway. An expedition through caverns sounded right up his alley, and while the caverns were a strange place, he knew he would prefer their odd familiarity to a new world above. Gesturing forwards, he nodded towards her and began walking in the direction she had indicated.

"I don't think I caught your name yet. You can call me Rig, by the way."

As he walked he tried to covertly brush some of the glowing substance from his jacket. If he was meeting the Director, it couldn't hurt to make a good impression. @ZincAboutIt

Edited October 6, 2019 by TrailRunnin

[Rushu42 she/her]

Sarah watched the two walk off, bemused. "So people really just show up here all the time?" She asked the person who had just approached. 

@I think I am here.

[I think I am here. he/him]

Just now, Rushu42 said:

Sarah watched the two walk off, bemused. "So people really just show up here all the time?" She asked the person who had just approached. 

@I think I am here.

Wes watched the whole interaction take place, ending with the man hired of all things by ACE. Well, resourceful is one way to call it. “I mean, accidentally? Not really. It’s rare someone comes here without being a worldhopper and looking for it first, but it’s obviously still possible.”

He looked at Rigex. “He’s the first accidental arrival I’ve ever seen, though.”

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

"So familiar already?" Corette said in mock surprise. "My lord is truly generous."

Corette watched him try and wipe the glowing luminescence from his coat as they walked, hiding a tiny smirk. He should focus on his face, she thought, but said nothing on that regard. His face was his business, after all, and he wasn't half bad-looking even covered in glowing fungus. 

"My name's Corette," she said to him, "but you can call me Corette." She winked at him as they walked up towards the base camp, then snagged a small packet of crackers off a pile at the edge of the camp. One of the ACE employees made a half-hearted protest, but trailed off when they caught sight of Rig. Corette tossed Rig the crackers, then nodded towards the blonde-haired woman who stood speaking to another clerk in a low, serious voice.

"That's Director Stancel," she told Rig. "Runs this whole thing. She's no Tineye but she's sharp - probably noticed you already. Don't look now, but I imagine there's already someone picking out your coveralls."

@TrailRunnin

 

[Rushu42 she/her]

7 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

Wes watched the whole interaction take place, ending with the man hired of all things by ACE. Well, resourceful is one way to call it. “I mean, accidentally? Not really. It’s rare someone comes here without being a worldhopper and looking for it first, but it’s obviously still possible.”

He looked at Rigex. “He’s the first accidental arrival I’ve ever seen, though.”

Sarah looked sheepish. "I mean, I still don't know how I ended up here. I'm Sarah, by the way." She extended a hand.

[I think I am here. he/him]

4 minutes ago, Rushu42 said:

Sarah looked sheepish. "I mean, I still don't know how I ended up here. I'm Sarah, by the way." She extended a hand.

“Wes,” Wes said, shaking her hand.

“It’s weird for sure,” he said. “That someone from across the Cosmere can enter into an Alley and then pop out here. I was just born here, nothing as interesting as some other people’s stories.”

[TrailRunnin he/him]

Rig caught the packaged crackers in a fist and reappraised Corette once again. She was both confident and sharp tongued--both good things to look for in an ally. Rig thought he might need a few of those, here in the caves. He nodded to her in thanks and moved towards Stancel, standing a respectful distance away and letting himself drop into a practiced relaxed pose with both hands resting on the cane in front of him. He waiting until she finished speaking to the clerk to clear his throat and make eye contact her.

"I understand you're in charge around here," Rig said, stepping forwards. "Rigex Lekal, at your service." He extended his hand, noting too late that there were still traces of the glowing fungus on it.

@ZincAboutIt

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

12 minutes ago, TrailRunnin said:

"I understand you're in charge around here," Rig said, stepping forwards. "Rigex Lekal, at your service." He extended his hand, noting too late that there were still traces of the glowing fungus on it.

Deb had kept half an eye on the stranger for the last few minutes, watching as the Twinborn woman led him over. She flicked approving eyes towards the young woman, then looked back to the man. He'd come willingly and given her a name, though it could have easily been a fake name. Still, she had no idea how he'd gotten down here. Was he from one of the Guilds? He looked like he'd been down here for days, and was in no shape for exploration. Was he wearing a suit?

"Well met, Mister Lekal, I'm Director Stancel" Deb said, taking his hand despite the smear of glowing particles. "I am the leader of this expedition, yes. I wasn't aware that anyone aside from us had found a way down here. Did you enter via another crevasse?"

Have you seen Warrick? She kept that question firmly locked away, but could feel her heartbeat pick up a bit. If he'd seen something, perhaps they were closer to rescuing the team than she ever thought possible.

[TrailRunnin he/him]

Rig could see gears turning behind the woman's eyes as she introduced herself. If she was anything like most leaders he had known, she would be trying to get a read on whether or not he was trustworthy. "I only wish I'd come down here willingly," Rig said with a disarming grin. "If what I've been told by Corette here--" He gestured towards Corette offhandedly "--is true, then I seem to have been put here more or less by accident. I'm told you're a coinshot; are you from Scadrial too, then?"

Rig hoped finding some common ground might help the woman to accept him, as the last thing he wanted right then was to be left alone in the caves once again. Worse, the director could decide he wasn't worth the risk and off him herself. Rig was tough to kill, but if Corette was a seeker and Stancel a coinshot, he suspected there would be more mistings around than he could hope to handle.

@ZincAboutIt

Edited October 7, 2019 by TrailRunnin

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Deb felt her lips tighten slightly, but quickly smoothed out her expression. So, a newcomer then. A newcomer to the entire Alleyverse. Well, that was something. Still, they could always use another Coinshot, and this man likely had no ulterior motives or competing loyalties. She could certainly do worse.

"I was born in New Seran," Deb answered, "though I've spent most of my life working in an inter-world mercenary guild, 'Preservation's Wings'." She doubted he'd ever heard of them, the Wings were a worldhopper name, hardly known to those who weren't travelling. Still, she was proud of her service. She looked Rigex up and down, then silently gestured to a clerk beside her. The woman bobbed a quick nod and scurried off to fetch another kit. Deb had brought extras, of course.

"If you're willing to do your part and follow orders, Alleycity Excavation would be glad to have you, Mister Lekal." The woman had returned with a small pile of gear: a harness, head lamp, tracking node, palm tablet, and coveralls. "Madsen," Deb said to the clerk, "go get him some boots." The girl scurried off again, and Deb handed the pile to Rigex. She pointed to the tracking node.

"Clip that to your clothing," she said, "and do not lose it. That will allow us to keep track of you down here, even if you're separated from the others. I realize our technology will be a bit of a learning curve for you, but you'll manage." Madsen had returned with a pair of boots, which Deb added to Rigex's pile. "You'll be working with a rather skilled group down here, lots of unique Investiture - er, well, yes. You'll see. Just know that there's far more abilities around here than just Mistings or Twinborn. There's dozens of worlds out there, and everyone has their own kind of skillset. Try not to let it break your mind - we've only got one psychologist on the team."

Deb turned to Corette now, her eyes searching the woman. She seemed eager, clever, and confident, though she was rather nondescript. Deb was sure she'd seen her before, but the memory wasn't entirely full. Odd. "Fill him in on the mission, if you can," Deb told her. "I can't spare the staff right now." She swiveled and gave Rigex one more piercing, amber gaze. "Is there anything else you can do, Mister Lekal? Any specialties, other abilities, relevant experience? We need all the assets we can get down here."

@TrailRunnin

[AonEne he/him]

8 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

...I've spent most of my life working in an inter-world mercenary guild, 'Preservation's Wings'."

Quote

I thought she was just talking about Scadrial when she mentioned them! Naming a mercenary gang after an in-world curse is awesome, by the way

 

[TrailRunnin he/him]

Rig eyed the pile of tools in his hands suspiciously. Some of it he recognized, like the climbing harness and the headlamp, while other portions of it seemed odd. He pinned the tracker to his jacket, and considered her question. From her statements he realized he had been right in a way; there were plenty of powered people down here. But...more than mistings and ferrings? That was curious. 

"I'm happy to hear it. I rather prefer working with skilled people," he said cheekily. "I'm a coinshot and a firesoul--I can store heat. I've worked as a scout and a diplomat, and if you need it I've got a number of, well, less delicate skills to draw on." He leaned sideways and slipped his hand into his pocket, exposing the revolver and ammo belt on his waist. He glanced up and met her eyes, which seemed to be trying to tear into his own head. He was sure to meet them cooly with his own for a moment before turning to Corette.

"So, the mission. What exactly are we here for?"

@ZincAboutIt 

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Corette watched Rig and the Director speak, meeting Stancel's eyes with a calm, blank expression. The Director gave Rig one nod, then she nodded to Corette before turning and scribbling something on a clipboard.

"Come on," Corette said to Rig, starting to walk back towards the center of the cavern. She looked up at the glowing stalactite, the sight filling her with wonder, and grinned. "It's incredible down here, isn't it? I've lived in this city my entire life, and I never even knew this was here. No one knew. There are places here that no one has ever touched, things that no one has ever seen..." She trailed off, then remembered his question. 

"Oh, right. The mission." Corette shrugged apologetically. "So. About six months ago, the city was invaded - there was a lot of destruction. Someone carved a crater up there," she nodded her head back towards the elevator shaft, "and some people got together and decided to use the crater as an opportunity to build a subway. Or, um, a train underground." Corette waved her hands. "That's not important. Anyway, when they started excavating, they found this place. All these caves, just waiting. They sent a team down, eight people. Mapped quite a bit of it, but then they stopped reporting. No one knows what's happened to them, and these caves still need to be mapped. So, that's why we're here. Map the caverns, find the first team - if they're still alive. I wouldn't put many chrysts on it, but you never know. I've seen people survive worse."

Corette moved over to the glowing pool, then hopped up onto the rim and balanced there on one foot. From her height, she could see a few tiny dots of glowing blue speckled into Rig's dark hair. "You should probably put those on," she said, pointing to the clothes in his arms. "Don't worry, I won't look." She flashed him a bit of a wolfish grin, then pivoted and crouched down onto the rock, dipping one hand into the glowing water of the pool. Her fingers looked eerie in the ghostly blue light, and as she sat there, one of the little glowing fish came up and nibbled her thumb. "How do these taste, by the way?"

@TrailRunnin

Edited October 7, 2019 by ZincAboutIt

[TrailRunnin he/him]

Rig raised an eyebrow as corette turned away. He was tempted to give her a light shove into the pool, but while it might be funny it would not be a good way to make friends. Once he was satisfied she wasn't looking, he quickly stripped down and threw on the coveralls--they fit surprisingly well--, finally sliding his mistcloak suit jacket back on over top. It had been with him through a lot, and he wasn't about to leave it behind just to look more like part of the team.

He considered her words as he finished buttoning the jacket. A lost team? Exploring new caverns? He had to admit, this did sound like a rather enticing job. He had always enjoyed reading the Allomancer Jak's Adventures as part of his morning routine, and this sounded an awful lot like something the man himself would get involved in.

"Not bad, actually," Rig said, strolling over and putting his hand in the glowing pool, startling some of the eerie fish. He tapped a serious amount of heat, making some steam rise from the water around his hand. In the strange glow of the cavern, it looked like an aura of light exiting the pool to curl up around the spire hanging from the roof. "Cooking them get's easier when you can boil water whenever you like."

He withdrew his hand and turned to face Corette. "So any idea on when we start exploring? If this is gonna be our base, it looks just about set up."  

@ZincAboutIt

[Grey Knight]

Bulveye stared around the cavern. This was... beautiful. Like Fenris. There was no other way to describe it. The air was stale and scentless- unlike the oily, rich smell of the Worldsea- but the glowing stalactite at the center could have come right from the underwater caves of Fenris's pole. It was alone, a single beacon circled by things prowling in the dark.

A foul stench suddenly hit Bulveye's nose, interrupting his memories. He looked down and saw a young male standing by Corette under the stalactite chandelier. His clothes were obviously well-made, but even from a distance Bulveye could smell the rot and filth seeping through them. And... something else?

Bulveye leaped off the platform and landed by the Director with a loud crunch, the sound echoing through the cave, and unlimbered his ax. The stalactite shivered, and patches went dark as the moss pulled itself inside the rock structure. 

"Director," he said, nodding towards the newcomer. "I think we have a problem."

@ZincAboutIt @TrailRunnin

Edited October 7, 2019 by Grey Knight

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Deb whirled at the sound of Bulveye's heavy steps, craning her neck to look at him before feeling foolish and dropping a small ingot of iron on the ground and Pushing herself to meet his eyes. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and she glanced around, noticing the dimming of the light at the center of the cavern, before returning her attention to the armored soldier.

"What is the meaning of this?" She asked, not quite ready to alert the camp. The last thing she needed was a pointless panic. Her eyes went to the man's massive axe, which glinted even in this artificial twilight. "What kind of problem?"

@Grey Knight

--

Corette felt the Investiture rippling out from behind her, even before the glowing stalactite dimmed. It sawed against her Bronze sense, deep and powerful like a bowstring drawn across a massive bass. She whirled, almost tumbling into the pool before catching herself and slipping down to stand beside Rig. A real tremor of fear went through her now, and her eyes darted around the cavern before coming to rest on the tall soldier.

Power beat out from him like the pulsing of a dark heart, centering on the immense axe he held in a casual hand. He was speaking to the Director, and casting glances their way. She looked at Rig, and her hand crept almost unconsciously towards her boot. With effort, she halted her fingers, curling them into a fist, and looked towards Rig.

"Already making friends, I see," she said, but her voice was thin and the humor forced. What was going on?

@TrailRunnin

Edited October 7, 2019 by ZincAboutIt

[Grey Knight]

35 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

Deb whirled at the sound of Bulveye's heavy steps, craning her neck to look at him before feeling foolish and dropping a small ingot of iron on the ground and Pushing herself to meet his eyes. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and she glanced around, noticing the dimming of the light at the center of the cavern, before returning her attention to the armored soldier.

"What is the meaning of this?" She asked, not quite ready to alert the camp. The last thing she needed was a pointless panic. Her eyes went to the man's massive axe, which glinted even in this artificial twilight. "What kind of problem?"

@Grey Knight

 

"The fop," Bulveye growled. "He smells wrong. Like spilled guts and birth fluids. There's something on him, something alive, but I can't tell what. Maybe a parasite." 

@ZincAboutIt @TrailRunnin

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

4 minutes ago, Grey Knight said:

"The fop," Bulveye growled. "He smells wrong. Like spilled guts and birth fluids. There's something on him, something alive, but I can't tell what. Maybe a parasite." 

A parasite? Deb looked at Bulveye, then over to Rigex and Corette. The girl had noticed something was wrong - probably felt a swell in power, if she was burning Bronze. She looked from Rig to Bulveye with keen, nervous eyes. Deb gave a short sigh, then released her Steelpush and waved over a medic. If the young man was ill, they'd likely have him in fine working order soon enough. Darat held the Surge of Progression, and they had any number of fabrials as well.

She crooked to fingers towards Corette and Rig, indicating they come forward. Then, she looked toward Bulveye.

"I appreciate your vigilance, but there is no need for that axe of yours. We are all on the same team here - it will not do to be brandishing weapons at our comrades. This is not a precedent I wish to set, especially with all the competing Guild loyalties present." Deb gave the man a significant look. "Do we understand one another?"

@Grey Knight @TrailRunnin

[TrailRunnin he/him]

2 hours ago, ZincAboutIt said:

"Already making friends, I see," she said, but her voice was thin and the humor forced. What was going on?

Rig turned to see a truly massive man in intense conversation with the director. He wore some sort of armour unlike any Rig had ever seen, and that axe looked like it was made more for a koloss than a man. He began storing heat, cooling himself artificially to avoid any emotion showing in his face. As the icy sensation washed over his body, he felt calm and calculated despite the threatening gestures the giant was making in his direction. He noted Corette's hand clench next to him, and looked back towards her. His face bore a smile, but his eyes betrayed more than he would like them to. That axe seemed like an awfully good cause for concern. 

"I've always had a way with people. Any idea who lumberjack over there is?"

@ZincAboutIt

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

2 minutes ago, TrailRunnin said:

"I've always had a way with people. Any idea who lumberjack over there is?"

Rig's face was calm, almost stoic but for the smile that hooked one side of his mouth upward. His eyes told another story, one that Corette knew was reflected in her own gaze: worry, confusion, and the first cold prickling of dread. She pulled a small smile onto her own lips, though she was sure it only made her look more worried.

"Remember when the Director told you there were a whole bunch of other worlds?" She said. "He's from one of them. A universe that's in constant war. Earlier, he was talking about killing tyrants and eating ghosts or something. He's old, and he's strong. If that axe weighs less than eighty pounds, I'll drink this whole lake."

With a sinking feeling, Corette watched the Director beckon them over. She suddenly began to regret introducing herself to this new fellow.

"We'd better go over there," she said, a sullen note creeping into her voice. "And while I'm sure your obvious charm will be more than enough to sway them, I'd recommend turning on your Steel. Just in case."

[TrailRunnin he/him]

Corette seemed concerned, and that did not bode well for Rig. He didn't have much choice, however, but to walk towards the director and hope for the best. The items the director had given him included a set of vials filled with steel flakes. He downed one as covertly as he could as they walked, and began burning steel as Corette had recommended. If things got rough he would put money on her being able to handle herself, but he hoped that wouldn't be the case--after all, the director had seemed to like him well enough before. 

As they approached, he tried once more to generate the air of friendliness he often used to defuse situations. He didn't miss the elevation difference between the massive man and the floating director compare to he and Corette; it seemed to convey a very clear message.

"You're calling on us quicker than I thought, Director. Are we heading into the caves already?"

@ZincAboutIt @Grey Knight

Edited October 7, 2019 by TrailRunnin
Spelling is hard

[Voidus]

Whisper stuck to the back of the group as they'd descended, keeping an eye on the reactions that the other members of the team had as they were slowly lowered into the tunnel system. She watched looks of wonder and awe spread across faces, even sparing a look of her own at the glowing plantlife that gave the cavern an otherworldly aura. This place was very different from the city streets that she was used to, different even from the Alleys. In the Alleys something strange like this almost always meant something that was about to kill you, but this seemed almost... tranquil?

After nearly a minute of staring at the cavern she managed to wrench her attention back to the people accompanying her. There would be time for sightseeing later, most important was getting an initial feeling for the group, watching growing dynamics and relationships. She noticed the woman who had been watching her earlier talking to someone, someone who hadn't been with their group when they'd descended down here.

Member of the camp? Wrong clothing for it. Noble Financer perhaps?

She sped up a little as they walked, gradually growing near enough to hear the new figure speaking with the director. A new arrival to the Alleyverse was not something she'd been expecting to find down here. Absently she wondered how many others had wandered into an Alley and come out into these caverns before an entrance had been discovered. How many bodies lay here, forever lost until finally they'd collapsed? Or had they met with the same fate as the previous expeditionary team?

With a faint smile, Whisper kept pace with the rest, surveying the basic features of the camp and the cavern it resided in before eventually finding herself standing next to Wes once more. She gave a small wave as she approached, smiling happily towards him.
@I think I am here.

[I think I am here. he/him]

1 hour ago, Voidus said:

With a faint smile, Whisper kept pace with the rest, surveying the basic features of the camp and the cavern it resided in before eventually finding herself standing next to Wes once more. She gave a small wave as she approached, smiling happily towards him.

The cavern was nice. Relaxing, even. The luminous flora, that bathed them all in a soft light. If the whole cave system was like this, Wes couldn’t imagine why he’d been so nervous earlier. There didn’t even seem to be any hint of danger, at least in this entry point. But, of course, Wes knew it wouldn’t be peaceful the whole way. The first expedition had to have gotten lost somehow. The thought hung over him like a looming shadow.

He noticed the other Wes walking towards him and he waved back with a smile, took a few steps towards her himself.

“Hi,” he said. “Did you see that new guy?” pointing his thumb backwards at where he’d gone. “I think he’s new, like, completely new to the Alleyverse. Can you imagine? Well, he’s in for a surprise when he reaches the surface.”

Wes looked back. The man had been recruited, hadn’t he? That meant he was going on the expedition with them. “If he returns,” he added quietly.