Closed The Secrets Of The Isyan Ruins

[Kavala]

Timestamp: 30th of Spring, 513 AV
Continued From: Staff Bonding

They were at The Isyan Ruins, camped, and ready to explore. The Staff had spent the night talking, laughing, camping out, and basically having fun away from their duties. Kavala hadn't gotten much sleep, but she was fine with that. She couldn't remember a time she'd felt more like a kid... especially with her gear all spread out around her backpack and Vanator looming over her teasingly suggesting this or that go into her pack.

Kavala wanted to bring a little of everything and the Ankal of the camp kept telling her that was such a bad idea. So Vanator was doing some basic clutter control and tossing aside everything that wasn't really worth it to pack. Food and water went in, torches and rope went in, medical kits were out, so too were Kavala's potions and scrolls. Chalk went in, all to better mark their way with, extra clothing, bandages, and alternative forms of light in the form of small lanterns and fuel for them went in as well. He let her keep half the candles she wanted to bring, but took half of the half out when she was debating over an extra pair of boots going in the pack.

Vanator limited her to a fifteen pound pack. If he hadn't, she'd try to pack at least half her body weight 'just in case' when all they were planning on doing was exploring some of the underground caverns and stone structures. Kavala watched what he packed and wasn't sure he was any more sensible in his decisions after he had her all restricted up.

He did allow her another coat in case it was colder below and a bedroll in case they got lost and needed to camp out overnight. None of those scenarios sat well with Kavala, but being the geomancer she was, there was an inherent need to explore the workings of other Geomancers from the past. This was a good place to do it.

When they were packed, the good natured sibling bickering had stopped, and ready. Kavala hugged the rest of the staff, told them they'd be back by nightfall, and set out with Vanator to see what the depths held. She was excited. The entrance was a long winding somewhat grand staircase down past two long collapsed double stone doors that lead into a mazework of rooms. It was almost a palace, but one that seemed to have no logical rhyme nor reason to it.

"How do we mark our way? Any suggestions?" Kavala asked her brother, already having chalk and rope in hand.

[Vanator]

After all the seasons, after all the tragedy and triumphs that had changed both the Denusks siblings, somehow, when they set about packing for their subterranean expedition, it seemed like they were back in Endrykas again. Vanator big brothered his sister, dictating what she could and could not pack as if taking Kavala out in the field for the first time. Granted, it was an unusual venture they planned, the exploration of underground ruins significantly different than going into the Grass, and something neither Denusk had really experienced.

Once satisfied that Kavala's pack held only the necessities, Vanator set about packing his own. He allowed himself leniency, able to shoulder more weight, at least that was his excuse. Extra clothing and his share of food and water went in. Extra food, in the form of jerked meat and Cadra's pastries were stuffed in too. Adventuring made him hungry. Van opened up his hunting and trapping kit and pulled out the roll of thin cord used for snares and the camouflage tarp and shoved them in his backpack as well.

His attention fell to the collection of weaponry laid out next to his gear. No to the bow. His hand fell to the dagger and hand ax, which were thrust through his belt, as was his custom. He hefted the battle ax, eyes darting to Kavala. It was going.

So, cinched up, the pair descended into the ruins. Vanator had pulled one of the torches from Kavala's pack and with little more than a res-born spark set the pitch-soaked head alight. Halfway down the stairs, the ruins were already larger than Van had imagined, and once they reached the foot of the staircase, the myriad of halls and chambers made him scowl. Who carved this out of the stone? His ancestors? Their ancestors?

As his sister posed her question, Vanator swung the torch around them, surveying the paths available. "We use the chalk." Again, Van dug into the Konti's pack, producing the chunk of dusty, light material. He walked over to the wall at the foot of the last step, drawing an arrow on the stoney surface, pointing up the staircase. "We make arrows pointing in the direction from which we came. That should lead us back here." He stuffed the chalk in his pocket and returned to Kavala's side.

"Well, I suppose one way is as good as another when you have no idea what lies beyond!" He teased, grinning at his sister. "I say this one." He pointed the torch towards a large arched entryway, the blackness beyond it seeming to consume the meager orange light of the torch. Van headed through the arch.