The Suvan Expedition: Departure

[Clandestine Duplais]

Tiring, the chamber that supposedly would of been their saving grace had turned quickly into a chamber of slow torture. The seals of the cracks proved to be fruitless as the water level continued to crawl up the walls. Voices and wet sloshes echoed off the walls, which made it difficult to maintain order. The frantic yells and screams began to make Gallo’s heart race put under stress of the situation. He watched as the men and woman in the room soon deteriorated into an almost animalistic frenzy. Like caged animals being tormented by a tree branch as it bangs against the metal spokes. Gallo didn’t know what to think, frozen in shock at how quickly things deteriorate. “Is this true chaos?” Gallo spoke under his breath, barely audible to anyone. Gallo’s green eyes continued to scan the room, “it is truly powerful.” Was the only conclusion Gallo could come to as he stood in ankle high water. “The air is growing thick and muggy.” He thought to himself. Gallo waded through the water toward the heavy boulder. He placed his hand on the heavy stone and pushed on it slightly, testing it’s weight. “Darkness, give me guidance and help me see light again.” It would seem that most had submitted to the ill fate while others weakly continued to fight the water that rushed inward. Gallo heard something that was much different than the shouts and sobs that had echoed off the walls only thirty chimes prior. It started soft and slowly grew louder, a laugh quite maniacal began to echo off the stone and water. Gallo stood still once more and attempted to pinpoint the origin of the laughter but the echos concealed the disembodied voice. “Someone has gone mad?” Gallo thought to himself with great concern. He knew he was capable of at least defending himself when light was present. However, in the darkness he was nothing but a blind child. The laughter began to grow to a deafening, inhuman, volume. Movement began again as water sloshed and people moved and shouted at the laughter. Gallo covered his ears, but it failed to stifle the deafening sound. He could see the silhouettes of others as the laughter seemed to increase to a painful level. It too made Gallo’s body begin to slouch and curl in an attempt to use his body to muffle the sound. Eyes shut tight and teeth clenched against each other, Gallo could almost feel the pressure of the laughter like a finger on his eardrum. He knew he had to get out, he had to help himself and in doing so would help Rhysol in guiding him. One of his hands moved from his ear and found the sound was at the same volume. The hands proving to be quite ineffectual. His fingers clawed at the stone boulder until, “Gallo,” a voice called to him. His eyes opened once more as he frantically searched for whoever it was that called to him. Even though the voice did not sound familiar, he couldn’t deny the draw the resonance had. The laughter’s initial loudness had grown bearable once more as his hearing adjusted. He listened intently on the voice, “Open the door, open the door, and live.” “Was this the guidance he sought after? But if I open the door, will other’s be sacrific--petch it!” Gallo yelled at himself as he took the tip and ran with it. Gallo stepped back a bit and almost literally threw his body at the side of the boulder. “Oof! You petching boulder, I’m moving you...” he grunted as he brought himself back only to push himself forward once more. “Ravok is your throne.” Gallo began to mutter to himself as he closed his eyes and continued to sway and push against the stone. He focused on strengthening his legs as he continued to chant. “The citizen’s cry, Rhysol, Rhysol.” Gallo found it strange as the tingle of djed already manifested along both of his legs. The tingles flowed like water as his leg muscles flexed and clenched firmly. “You are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” Gallo felt his shoulder go numb and possibly snap against the stone. But Gallo didn’t care as his teeths bit his bottom lip leaned firmly against the boulder. He didn’t feel the slight movement of the stone as he continued on with his endeavor. “My Creator. My Savior!” Gallo continued to repeat the chant as he turned to face the boulder. His good arm extended up and pressed against the rough surface. His entire body flexed as he took advantage of the strange flow of energy through his body. He wasn’t aware, or at least at the time, didn’t care about the threat of overgiving. Only the undying need to survive pushed him forward.

[Verilian]

Gallos pushed and shoved, though it was to little avail. The boulder was just too heavy, even for his own magically enhanced strength. He would break his body before the boulder budged, by himself.. but the young man's efforts did not go without notice. Other's heard his chanting, and perhaps they too heard the secret voice the tasked Gallo with opening the door, because after a few chimes he found himself not alone in his efforts. He couldn't tell who they were in the darkness, but he could feel a body on either side of his, and they too were pushing. Gallo's chant was taken up by the people beside him, "Ravok is your throne,". He felt the boulder budged, though it was only slightly. The chant continued and more joined in, "The citizens cry." Gallo could feel the boulder budge some more, but with it, he felt a spew of rushing water. Pushing the boulder would mean the chamber would fill, but according to the voice that spoke, it would also mean he would live. The chant continued, "Rhysol," and the boulder started to move more. "Rhysol." Gallo could feel the boulder steadily moving, though slowly, as he pushed and the room began to fill. The chant itself did not continue as Gallo would have said it, but stayed on the name. "Rhysol.. Rhysol.. Rhysol!" Soon everyone in the chamber was chanting the name of their god, and they did not stop until the chamber filled up completely.. but by then the boulder was pushed aside enough. If he opened his eyes under the water, Gallo could see a glimmer of light, sunlight. Gallo, and any other who had sense enough not to die, would swim towards the light. If he kept his eyes open, the young man would see as he exited the stairwell that the building of stone that once sat atop the ledge was gone. The entire area was under several feet of water, and debris littered the sea floor. How far had the tide risen in the storm? When the Ravokian's reached the surface they would find themselves faced with quite a swim. Shore was some distance away, the tide had drowned the entirety of the beach on which they had attempted to build their outpost. The water went all the way up into the trees, and still some distance before they finally hit land, but it was a calm water. The storm was over. Those who survived the swim grouped together. Simian was among them, though he had no interest in leading any longer. Everyone agreed, it was time to go home. Some would take longer journeys than others, like Clyde, who traveled abroad for a time before returning home, but most would eventually return. Some did it for the gold, but most just wanted to see their temple again and thank Rhysol for getting them out of that chamber alive. Their journey home was littered with dangerous encounters of strange beasts, warped by the storm, and when they finally reached the shores of their beloved Lake Ravok they would be met with a sore sight. Much of the city had been destroyed. Even Rhysol could not save Ravok completely from the power of the storm.. but they were home. Ravok rejoiced in their return, glad to know that the long lost party had returned. They were paid, even though their mission had been a failure. Finally, it was over.

Clyde Sullins +1 Animal Husbandry +1 Observation +3 Reimancy +2 Persuasion Lores: Burning a Zith, Warning from a Konti, The Fury of the Djed Storm, Trapped Beneath the Storm, The Infernal Laughter Loot: Falsified Nykan Identification Papers, 1700 gold mizas (100 days of work, at 15gm/day as a guard, +200gm hazard pay) Vivus +1 Leadership +1 Observation Lores: Taking Charge, How to Change a Wagon Wheel, What it feels like to have your throat ripped out, Lore: Being Dead Injury Report: Deceased Notes: No wages due to being dad. Elianos +1 Wilderness Survival +1 Observation +4 Medicine +3 Projection +1 Interrogation +1 Leeching Lores: Medical Lore: Amputating a Foot, Mercy Killing, The Fury of the Djed Storm, Trapped Beneath the Storm, The Infernal Laughter Loot: Falsified Nykan Identification Papers, 2200 gold mizas (100 days of work, at 20gm/day as a doctor, plus 200gm hazard pay) Gallo Duplais +1 Medicine +4 Flux +1 Unarmed Combat +1 Construction +1 Carpentry +1 Socialization Lores: Battling a Zith, The Fury of the Djed Storm, Trapped Beneath the Storm, The Infernal Laughter, Trusting in a Voice Loot: Falsified Nykan Identification Papers, 1200 Gold Mizas (100 days of work, at 10gm/day as a laborer, plus 200gm hazard bonus.) Horst Haestad +1 Observation +1 Weapon: Widowmaker Lores: Battling a Zith Loot: Falsified Nykan Identification Papers Note: No wages, due to dropping out of the thread You Question My Logic? : So.. if you have any questions regarding the XP I awarded, feel free to ask. I don't feel like explaining six pages of xp right now, lol. Notes: Sorry this thread took so long guys.. but you finally got your monies! Notice As per the request of the Founders, threads cannot be graded unless your CS is up to date. This means you need to add threads to your thread list when you make new threads, keep your skills up to date, ledger, living expenses, ect. If you aren't up to date, you'll get a PM from me before i grade your thread. If you are up to date, disregard this notice.