witchesreign | SeeD field exam

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SeeD field exam

Incongruous architecture and reports of suspicious noise around ruins recently unearthed on a Trabia farm have led the local town council to suspect off-world involvement. SeeD has been hired to provide a thorough safety assessment of the site, with an eye for potential future development.

[The town council, who hired SeeD for this mission, have supplied a check list for Namur and Maria to refer to, things like monsters, structural integrity, and other hazards. Amid whining about the overnight appearance of these ruins "DEVASTATING!!" his potato crop and some sideeying of Namur, the farmer with sudden ancient ruins on his farm has shown them to the entrance, handed them flashlights, and gone back to his work.

[The entrance is actually a small cave, half-sunken into the ground; Trabian excavators have dug up enough of the earth around it to get inside. It's dark and dusty inside, but well away from the entrance, one can start to make out what may have once been a city (note: visual guide for architectural style and atmosphere only, not layout) in the stone, about ten metres down: Crumbling walls of a blue stone not found in Trabia, ornate stone doors in the most solid-looking wall with a sign carved nearby, worn pavement in that same blue stone, the ends of clay pipes sticking out of the ground, large boulders dotted around the area.

[There happens to be a ladder down to this level, though one that's seen better days.]

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[The stairs seem solid enough even for Namur, and shallow as they are, they go a long way down.

Eventually, without further incident, they'll come out into a space that could easily be mistaken for the exterior of the building again, the walls beside them stretching away into the darkness. If they choose to feel around, they'll be hindered at every turn by fallen columns, jumbled piles of tarnished metal and the other remnants of the great hall's long-decayed grandeur - but it wouldn't be wise to wander too far, as they'll quickly discover that about half the floor, mostly the half opposite this last stairway, is completely submerged in a pool of water.

The sickeningly sweet smell still clinging to the air down here largely overpowers the scents of mammalian monsters from before, but it's not too difficult for even a standard human to make out the sound of pattering footsteps from beneath the floor - they can't be too far away. Namur can probably sense a decently-sized pack of them, maybe a dozen or so, in addition to that mystery GF-like creature lurking below.

There don't immediately appear to be any other stairs around.

Davies, however, points his flashlight upwards as he squints ineffectually at the ceiling.] Hmm, that's peculiar...

[The moment Davies says 'peculiar', Maria's gunblades are in her hands and at the ready, because nothing says 'imminent attack' like a slight inconsistency in the expected presentation of a mysterious underground waterlogged building.]

[Namur freezes in place. Creatures he can sense, booby traps he can't.]

What kind a peculiar? Dangerous or not? 'S all I want t' know.

[Davies, on his part, looks more startled by Maria suddenly brandishing her weapons than whatever it was he noticed.] Er, I was just... it just occurred to me that this building is in remarkable condition given the flooding and the damp, but it really hasn't anything to do with... And that rock from earlier, can't seem to find it now, but I was sure... [He shakes his head, obviously rattled.] We're - we're not under attack, are we?

[They certainly aren't for now. Besides the occasional, irregular dripping noise, it's gone very quiet - the Rats that could have been heard or sensed a moment ago have moved on, disappearing further underground.]

Apparently not. But keep in mind, 'peculiar' or 'out of the ordinary' will get reacted to with preparations for combat before anything. We can't take chances down here.

[Namur nods in agreement with Maria, then drapes his arm over Davies' shoulders.]

Think y' can wave yer light 'round an' find a door in remarkable condition? Take stairs or somethin' headin' down, too. Or a bigass hole in the floor. Then y' can tell me 'bout this "rock from before" y' keep talkin' 'bout.

[He pats the man's shoulder a few times, then stands back to give him space.]

[Davies, squirming, hurries to comply just in case Namur decides to do anything untoward with his precious satchel, but he doesn't look terribly pleased about it.] Erm, as it happens, I did venture this way before, but... Well, the layout of the room would suggest a door over in that direction, wouldn't it? [He's pointing towards the submerged end of the hall, although it's hard to spot that immediately; his little flashlight is barely more than a feeble pinpoint in the thick of this darkness.] And I'm hardly equipped for diving, I'm afraid.

[Maria just glances at the fishman in amusement, then jerks her head at the water in invitation.]

[Hope there wasn't anything incredibly susceptible to water in that satchel. Namur doesn't even think about it, just wades in to his navel, then dives, hoping there won't be too much pond scum to get stuck in his gills.]

[Judging by Davies' strangled yelp as Namur splashes into the pool? Yes, yes there was.

The pool itself is still, but oddly clear. It'll soon become apparent that there is indeed a large doorway about where Davies thought it might be, completely submerged, with more stairs descending into the darkness beyond.

There's also a little square stone plaque on the wall just beside the door, but if it once had anything written on it, it's far too worn now to be legible even if there was more light in here.]

[Maria smiles a little at Davies' discomfiture.] Don't worry. Namur's tougher than anything he'll find down there.

[It's unfortunate being underwater garbled her words so much. Namur knows Davies yelped and that Maria said something in return, but not much else. He goes to the doorway and slips through. That stairway is exactly what he wants, but he doesn't want to leave Maria and Davies alone for too long. Sure, Maria's badass and can take care of herself, but Davies' story ain't adding up entirely and he doesn't trust him. Maybe Davies isn't much of a fighter, but you don't have to be if something unexpected shows up. Betrayal wouldn't be so effective if you saw it coming.]

Damn it.

[Namur shakes his head, as if to scatter the encroaching memories of Teach- hell, Thatch still calls him Marshall, even after...

Not the time, damn it!

Namur kicks up toward the ceiling, looking for air pockets the humans can use, then bends double and dives again, heading for the base of the stairs to see if the underground lake continues or if it's maybe caused by some kind of blockage.]

[Whether it's the cause of the flooding is hard to ascertain just by inspection, especially in the dark at the bottom of the stairway, but the ceiling-high pile of mostly-stone debris sitting right where you'd expect a door to be probably isn't helping. It definitely isn't going to help Namur press on much further by himself.

There's another little plaque on the wall here, too.]

[Namur grabs at a few of the stones, trying to dislodge them, then kicks off of them to send himself up the flooded stairwell and back through the door to check on his team. A shadow under the surface and quiet rippling is all that heralds his return. At least until he talks.]

Hey guys! Miss me?

[The most exciting thing that has happened up here is that Davies' well-practised stiff upper lip is wrestling with his desire to burst into tears over his beloved satchel. At the moment, it's too close to call.] Er, goodness, that was rather quick of you... Was I mistaken?

[Maria's professional attention to the environment, alert enough to spot Namur but not jumpy enough to attack him... doesn't make for good comedy, but then maybe this isn't the time for comedy.]

Nothing happened up here while you were down there.

[He pops his head out enough to talk but doesn't come out just yet.]

Good. Got any bombs or somethin'? Door downstairs is plugged up.

And you couldn't smash it open?

[She's honestly surprised. Namur hadn't ever given her the impression that his strength was limited.]

Didn't try. [He shrugs, broad shoulders flashing above the surface of the water for only an instant.] Poppin' a li'l hole in the debris and gettin' water suckin' only part a me through don't sound like a hell of a lot a fun though, I'm jus' sayin'. An' if the whole buildin' decides t' come down on our heads, thought maybe y'd like a heads up 'bout it.

[Namur dips his head and skims under the water to move closer, then stands when it gets to be about chest deep.]

Got bombs or are y' goin' t' come gawk at me punchin' shit?

So you worry about punching taking out the building, but not bombs --

[Maria lifts a hand to her forehead, rubbing at her eye with the heel.]

No, Namur, I don't have any explosive.

[There's a moment while he processes that, then he laughs loudly.]

Kind a dumb when y' put it that way, huh? Sheheheheh!!!

A'ight both a y', how long can y' hold yer breaths? Once I get through them rocks, if there's air on the other side, 's goin' t' push me right through an' I won't be able t' come back, so that means we got t' go t'gether, catch me?

Long enough, but I'm worried about Davies here. [She jerks her head at the man, frowning.]

Make it real quick. If y' need t' get somewhere fast, I'll get y' there, kay Davey-boy? Come on in!

Er - [Somehow, Davies does not seem reassured.] I have been coastal diving once or twice, but you must understand, it's been quite a while... and, well...

[He looks back at the sodden remains of his beloved satchel and decides not to push his luck.] Well, yes, as I say. Are you sure this is the best...?

[At the words "Well, yes" Namur's satisfied that that's his final answer, turns, and almost silently slips underwater. He swims down to the door, then straight up so the humans will know where to swim to, so they can have as much opportunity for air before going under.]

Door's straight down, an' there's a staircase headin' down t' starboard. Get yer breath here but come down quick. I'mma swim ahead an' get started on the shitty rubble.

[And after slapping his position on the wall with a wet hand, he dives again.]

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