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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[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.]

[Truth be told, Maria doesn't like this at all -- but she lets none of her doubts show as she motions to the water.] You first. I'll cover our rear. Between Namur and me, nothing will get past.

[Davies is sufficiently intimidated into shuffling forward until he's teetering at the very edge of the pool, but taking the plunge seems beyond him.] Er, to be frank, I... Well, not that I mean to challenge you, my dear fellow, but are you quite positive this is the only way...?

Y' see any other ways? Jus' get in it ain't goin' t' kill y'.

[Namur doesn't even bother to hide his exasperation. He dives deep and fast, propelling himself at full speed through the open door and down the stairs once again. Water won't kill humans, but lack of oxygen will, and he knows he won't have much time to hammer away at that rubble before both of them will need to go back up for air. He feels for the wall and picks a section of rocks that seems less thick- at least on this side, then winds up and punches. The walls shudder all around, sending confusing vibrations through the water but he shakes off the vertigo and does it again, focusing his will into the strike, making it hit with greater, nearly explosive force.]

[That's about the size of it -- they don't have other options, no matter how likely this is to collapse the cavern on them. Maria gives Davies a firm nudge and a nod.]

[There is a lot of rubble. Namur's initial strike knocks a few fragments of rock free, but from the way the walls are trembling, it seems like those might give way before the doorway does.

The smaller bits of debris drift away almost lazily, as if mocking Namur's efforts. If anyone's looking, one of them appears to drift through the little plaque down by the submerged door before bouncing off -

There's another rumble from somewhere down below, this one rasping and mechanical. Nothing appears to happen nearby, though.

Davies, finally crouched down and a second away from gingerly dipping a foot into the water, yelps and instead lands on his behind.] M-My word... Was that you?

[Namur finally notices the little plaque right before the rumbling vibration nearly knocks him senseless. He drifts for a moment, shudders, and kicks down to where the bit of debris did its little disappearing act. He can't hear the humans in the water yet, so he's got a little time. Curious, Namur reaches out and touches the plaque with his hand.]

You missed the part where Namur said he was going to try to punch a way through, didn't you?

[Maria is perfectly aware she ought to be more empathetic and helpful, but damn, how did this guy get into the middle of this while being so thoroughly useless?]

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