71st of Summer 515 AV
Finally, today was the day.
The Colinga mines where designed in a very specific way, with layers every thirty or forty feet, each layer spider-webbing outward from the central great lift. Each layer was counted as a numbered floor, the number increasing as you descended. The surface was floor zero. When Zephari had first arrived in riverfall at the beginning of spring, there were fifty four floors in total, with the beginnings of the fifty fifth layer just barely being started by the master reimancers.
Most of Zephari's work had been done in the upper thirty floors of the mine, as those where the floors that the tunnels were best developed, which made transport of minerals the easiest. The lower to went past layer thirty, the rougher and less used the mines got. The flat floored tunnels turned into bumpy, winding labyrinths, that you could easily get lost in. Zephari had done a couple of days in the low forties, which was brutal work. The stone was harder the lower you went, and Zephari simply didn't have the muscle to work these zones for long periods of time, so she always returned to the upper levels after a few days of work in the lower floors.
Below layer fifty you actually had to have special permission to go below there. These tunnels are dangerous, often having falling rocks from the near new ceilings and walls. Only significantly powerful reimancers and experienced miners are usually allowed down that far. This always frustrated Zephari, because she on fairly regular occasion saw people coming up from the lowest levels carrying near pure ore chunks the size of her torso, or gems so nice they needn't even be cut.
Now normally Zephari would have actively pursued getting into the lower levels of the mines, because she is often driven to that sort of thing, but not this time. The roster of people allowed into the mines was tightly controlled by the owner of the mines, Typhus Chivan. His word is absolute law within the mines, and everyone knew not to mess with him or bother him unless they had very good reason. He had the authority to end your mining career with the snap of his fingers, so Zephari made a habit of dealing with him as little as possible, like most people did.
But somehow Zephari got lucky. One day when she got to the mining camp outside the great lift, one of Chivan's managers was standing outside the great lift waiting for her. He told her that Typhus wanted to see her, with a stern look. He pointed towards the small stone building that was Typhus' office, then walked away.
Oh Yahal what did I do!?! Ok just stay calm, maybe he isn't angry with you, maybe he just... Zephari fretted what could possibly be wrong that she had to visit the big boss. She began to sweat as she walked up the stone stairs and was about to knock on the door her knees started shaking. Talking to Typhus was terrifying, and was the one part of her job that Zephari truly dreaded. I can't think of anything! He never calls in workers for anything good... Well I guess I should maybe start working on figuring out another job...
"It's open." came Typhus' booming voice from inside. Slowly, sheepishly Zephari open the door, quickly walked inside and sat in front of the large desk which the dark Akalak was sitting behind. He did not seem angry, and was in fact sitting almost perfectly still, resting his elbows on the edge of his desk, fingers intertwined.
"You called for me boss?" Zephari squeaked, showing obvious fear. This gave Typhus a small smile, as he enjoyed when people recognized his authority, but it quickly disappeared. "No cause for alarm Zephari, not this time. I actually have some good news."
This shocked the benshira, forcing her jaw to drop slightly. I have to be dreaming, there is no way. pinching her arm, she saw she was fully awake, and that Typhus has just said good news to her. "What is it then?"
Leaning back in his chair, Typhus softened his serious face, and even let out a small sigh. "At first you were a problem for me. A human woman working in my mines is basically unheard of, especially not for any significant amount of time. I was initially worried it would cause problems with the cerulean workers, but somehow you seem to have avoided that." he said, cracking his knuckles. Before continuing he stood up, and slowly strode over to a shelf which contained many crystals, one of which was a hunk of jade. He picked it up, and returned to his deck chair, continuing; "I have never seen a human work so diligently in these mines. Most of the time it is just somebody looking to get rich quick, and they leave after a week from sore arms. But you actually have a pretty big quota set up with one of the main salesmen do you not?"
"Uh yes, I work for Kenan. Offers me a good price, but he requires a lot of bulk. I am actually a little behind right now." she answered, wincing as she said the last sentence. Shyke! Why did I say that!?!? I'm an idiot. Trying to play it off, Zephari tried to force herself to relax, as if she wasn't worried about it.
"Well this news may help with that. Are you aware of the roster rotation on the crew in the lowest levels?" he said, rubbing the jade with his thumb. "Um i know it gets rotated every so often, is it happening right now?" Zephari replied, her eyes perking up at this news. No way! There is no way he's sticking me on the front line crew, impossible. Zephari couldn't help but smile.
"Due to some reports I've had from other miners you have worked with, it seems you are actually somewhat of a good geologist. I am giving you a ten day trial pass to the bottom of the mine." he said, smiling pretty widely as he watched Zephari's reaction to each of his word.
As Typhus explained, Zephari started shaking with excitement, and she nearly fell out of her chair when he said she was getting a trial. "Thank you so much! I've dreamed about this!" she practically yelled. She quieted herself when she realized that her voice was so loud. I can't believe it! I get to be a front liner! Basically jumping out of her chair, she shook her arms slightly wildly, thought quickly recomposed herself and sat back down. Her cheeks went slightly red with embarrassment. She was still shaking and sweating slightly, but now due to pure excitement.
Typhus simply nodded, handed her a wooden square about the size of a credit card, which had his signature burned into it, and pointed toward the door. Zephari nearly ran out of the office and headed for the great life.
Finally!
oocI wrote all of this assuming that the Colinga Mines work like normal mines, where there is a very select "front line" crew that occasionally rotates. It is the most dangerous job in mining, as making new tunnels is where the majority of collapses happen. If this is not the case, please let me know.
This is the color of speech.
This is the color of others.
This is the color of thought.
Finally, today was the day.
The Colinga mines where designed in a very specific way, with layers every thirty or forty feet, each layer spider-webbing outward from the central great lift. Each layer was counted as a numbered floor, the number increasing as you descended. The surface was floor zero. When Zephari had first arrived in riverfall at the beginning of spring, there were fifty four floors in total, with the beginnings of the fifty fifth layer just barely being started by the master reimancers.
Most of Zephari's work had been done in the upper thirty floors of the mine, as those where the floors that the tunnels were best developed, which made transport of minerals the easiest. The lower to went past layer thirty, the rougher and less used the mines got. The flat floored tunnels turned into bumpy, winding labyrinths, that you could easily get lost in. Zephari had done a couple of days in the low forties, which was brutal work. The stone was harder the lower you went, and Zephari simply didn't have the muscle to work these zones for long periods of time, so she always returned to the upper levels after a few days of work in the lower floors.
Below layer fifty you actually had to have special permission to go below there. These tunnels are dangerous, often having falling rocks from the near new ceilings and walls. Only significantly powerful reimancers and experienced miners are usually allowed down that far. This always frustrated Zephari, because she on fairly regular occasion saw people coming up from the lowest levels carrying near pure ore chunks the size of her torso, or gems so nice they needn't even be cut.
Now normally Zephari would have actively pursued getting into the lower levels of the mines, because she is often driven to that sort of thing, but not this time. The roster of people allowed into the mines was tightly controlled by the owner of the mines, Typhus Chivan. His word is absolute law within the mines, and everyone knew not to mess with him or bother him unless they had very good reason. He had the authority to end your mining career with the snap of his fingers, so Zephari made a habit of dealing with him as little as possible, like most people did.
But somehow Zephari got lucky. One day when she got to the mining camp outside the great lift, one of Chivan's managers was standing outside the great lift waiting for her. He told her that Typhus wanted to see her, with a stern look. He pointed towards the small stone building that was Typhus' office, then walked away.
Oh Yahal what did I do!?! Ok just stay calm, maybe he isn't angry with you, maybe he just... Zephari fretted what could possibly be wrong that she had to visit the big boss. She began to sweat as she walked up the stone stairs and was about to knock on the door her knees started shaking. Talking to Typhus was terrifying, and was the one part of her job that Zephari truly dreaded. I can't think of anything! He never calls in workers for anything good... Well I guess I should maybe start working on figuring out another job...
"It's open." came Typhus' booming voice from inside. Slowly, sheepishly Zephari open the door, quickly walked inside and sat in front of the large desk which the dark Akalak was sitting behind. He did not seem angry, and was in fact sitting almost perfectly still, resting his elbows on the edge of his desk, fingers intertwined.
"You called for me boss?" Zephari squeaked, showing obvious fear. This gave Typhus a small smile, as he enjoyed when people recognized his authority, but it quickly disappeared. "No cause for alarm Zephari, not this time. I actually have some good news."
This shocked the benshira, forcing her jaw to drop slightly. I have to be dreaming, there is no way. pinching her arm, she saw she was fully awake, and that Typhus has just said good news to her. "What is it then?"
Leaning back in his chair, Typhus softened his serious face, and even let out a small sigh. "At first you were a problem for me. A human woman working in my mines is basically unheard of, especially not for any significant amount of time. I was initially worried it would cause problems with the cerulean workers, but somehow you seem to have avoided that." he said, cracking his knuckles. Before continuing he stood up, and slowly strode over to a shelf which contained many crystals, one of which was a hunk of jade. He picked it up, and returned to his deck chair, continuing; "I have never seen a human work so diligently in these mines. Most of the time it is just somebody looking to get rich quick, and they leave after a week from sore arms. But you actually have a pretty big quota set up with one of the main salesmen do you not?"
"Uh yes, I work for Kenan. Offers me a good price, but he requires a lot of bulk. I am actually a little behind right now." she answered, wincing as she said the last sentence. Shyke! Why did I say that!?!? I'm an idiot. Trying to play it off, Zephari tried to force herself to relax, as if she wasn't worried about it.
"Well this news may help with that. Are you aware of the roster rotation on the crew in the lowest levels?" he said, rubbing the jade with his thumb. "Um i know it gets rotated every so often, is it happening right now?" Zephari replied, her eyes perking up at this news. No way! There is no way he's sticking me on the front line crew, impossible. Zephari couldn't help but smile.
"Due to some reports I've had from other miners you have worked with, it seems you are actually somewhat of a good geologist. I am giving you a ten day trial pass to the bottom of the mine." he said, smiling pretty widely as he watched Zephari's reaction to each of his word.
As Typhus explained, Zephari started shaking with excitement, and she nearly fell out of her chair when he said she was getting a trial. "Thank you so much! I've dreamed about this!" she practically yelled. She quieted herself when she realized that her voice was so loud. I can't believe it! I get to be a front liner! Basically jumping out of her chair, she shook her arms slightly wildly, thought quickly recomposed herself and sat back down. Her cheeks went slightly red with embarrassment. She was still shaking and sweating slightly, but now due to pure excitement.
Typhus simply nodded, handed her a wooden square about the size of a credit card, which had his signature burned into it, and pointed toward the door. Zephari nearly ran out of the office and headed for the great life.
Finally!
oocI wrote all of this assuming that the Colinga Mines work like normal mines, where there is a very select "front line" crew that occasionally rotates. It is the most dangerous job in mining, as making new tunnels is where the majority of collapses happen. If this is not the case, please let me know.
This is the color of speech.
This is the color of others.
This is the color of thought.
