[PP-F27] The Mien of Meaning <<The Mysterious Divide: Part 1 Dagan]>>

[Freyd 0]

Does this unit have a soul?

Too deep a question for a Tuesday.  But Freyd had been brooding over a slightly less existential crisis since the Frontlines first ventured into Ilridge, up on the newly unlocked 29th floor.  Maybe more pondering than brooding.  He also found himself doing far less of the latter than he once did, thanks to the efforts of a certain green-haired beauty and one possibly toe-over-the-line-of-death experience.  'Near' didn't quite seem to cut it.  Twisted nightmares and air of swiftly sudden calamity pervading the abandoned structures of that haunted village begged one question over others.

"Do floors have actually lived history?"

Having recently encountered various libraries and assorted academics in Ordsea during a Diwali-inspired fever dream, he'd found himself wondering whether all the lore scattered about had any more than superficial relevance.  If they did, if floors actually breathed and lived before players unlocked them - if they had actual history - then all bets were off.

"I'm sorry.  What?"

The scrawny scribe sitting with his half-eaten sandwich in Ronbaru's portal square seemed genuinely perplexed by the question, assuming it had been directed at him.  Lunch was only thirty minutes, and he'd been desperately gorging himself on the latest adventures of Bronson of Braso, his addiction fed by a western coworker who'd recently turned him onto the author's scandalous work.  Hardly considered worthy literature, it fed a hunger that the rest of his non-fiction world left unfulfilled.

"Hmm?  Oh, sorry.  Just musing aloud," Freyd replied, scanning the latest bulletins for anything that might offer some insight - some clue that actions carried consequences that wouldn't just reset or respawn.  It was possible, after all.  Raids were not repeatable and demonstrably, permanently altered the local floor environment.

"Is it true that there's been trouble brewing between the settlements?  When I was here during a recent festival, I caught only a whiff and a rumour."

Mouth open and meal endangered, the scribe backed off and granted his poor terrified sandwich yet another reprieve.

"Uh... I wouldn't know.  But you could try Tiberius up in Dagan.  I hear he's looking for help about something."  

In truth, the scribe had simply made something up, desperate to reach the end of his chapter, or meal, ideally both, before lunch reached its inevitable end.  Having found nothing more compelling as a lead, the wild-haired samurai-looking ruffian who'd accosted him seemed satisfied enough to leave him be, tapping at the air before him like he was perusing some unseen arcane tome.

Weirdo.

***

Note: CS (Shades of the Gemini) and CSA (Beckon the Void) are in use.  If any other player objects to these, please state in first post and it will be considered inactive.

Freyd | HP: 1300/1300 | EN: 162/162 | DMG: 21 | MIT:152 | ACC:4 | AA  | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:72 | VAMP-D: 72 | VAMP-O: 143 | PARA-V | LD:5

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, Kuro bara no kishi
True Tier: 18
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 143
HP: 1300/1300
EN: 162/162

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 152
Accuracy: 4
Evasion: 2
Battle Healing: 72
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA
TAUNT
VAMP-D: 72
VAMP-O: 143
PARA-V

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Veritas | T4 Katana) | AA, PVO I, VO I, Taunt
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Negare Omnia | T4 HA | MIT III | VD I
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Night Shades | T3 Trinket | ACC III | EVA I

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - [unavailable]

Custom Skill:
  - Shades of the Gemini (CS)
  - Beckon the Void (CSA)

Skills:
  - Battle Healing R5
  - Charge
  - Energist
  - Extended Mod Limit
  - Extended Weight Limit
  - Fighting Spirit
  - Heavy Armor R5
  - Howl
  - Katana R5
  - Lock Picking R1
  - Quick Change
  - Searching R4

Extra Skills:
  - Disguise
  - Survival
  - Leadership R5

Inactive Extra Skills:
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Meditation
  - Lady Luck
  - Photosynthesize
  - Brawler
  - Assault Mode
  - Frozen Hide

Addons:
  - Focus
  - Focused Howl
  - Iron Skin
  - Precision
  - Reveal
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Detect
  - Impetus
  - Night Vision
  - Inspiring Speech
  - Steadfast
  - Rally
  - Tracking

Inactive Mods:
  - Emergency Recovery
  - Press the Attack
  - Elusive

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Crystal of Divine Light (Reusable 1/thread) x1
  - Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+10% HP) x7
  - Meathook (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Rhino's Horn (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Samael's Pride | T4 Katana | FLN II | HLY II  x1
  - Teleport Crystals x7

Housing Buffs:
  - Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
  - Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
  - Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
  - Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
  - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
  - Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
  - Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
  - Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
  - Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
  - Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:
  - Trading Hall: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +2 crafting/identification attempts per day.
  - Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild Totem:
  - Tanos

Crafting Profession:
 - Appraising[3478exp] R5
Gathering Profession:
 - Fishing[576exp] R5

 

Edited January 3 by Freyd

[Morrigan 0]

Morrígan was late. She’d spent far too much time enjoying the comfort of the restaurant she’d chosen for lunch that day, the quieter and slower atmosphere that washed over the entire eatery. The food had been, in Morrígan’s opinion, more enjoyable and delectable than anything else she’d found throughout the floor.

’Damn, damn, damn. I was supposed to meet the broker twenty minutes ago. I should not have-‘ She stopped herself from continuing the line of thought as she pushed through another side street, her feet bringing her around the edge of a wagon that had come to a stop. Her hurried feet carried her faster than was safer to do so, but the rush that she’d placed upon herself demanded the speed over the safety of herself.

Soft cawing, nothing more than a mewling sound, came from her shoulder as Phantom protested the jostling and jerking that was disturbing her roosting. Morrígan gave a soft wave of her head, suggesting the raven take flight and follow from above. The shift of the raven leaving, the soft pressure of Phantom taking off, barely disturbed Morrígan’s step – but the weight allowed her to move more fluidly along the cobblestone, no longer having to adjust her step for the imbalance.

Turning another corner, she smiled as she saw the attendant still sitting on the bench, chewing on a sandwich. Or, at least he had been. Morrígan could see a sudden flash of confusion, mixed with a measure of developing fear, as the informant she had been planning to meet began speaking with another individual beside him. Something about the secondary individual seemed off, although Morrígan couldn’t quite place it; a simple feeling of oddness, that was both interesting, and concerning.

She hovered on the decision of approaching or waiting, however her indecision didn’t last long. She stepped forward just as the wild-haired man seemed ready to leave. For better or for worse, Morrígan caught the tail end of the informant’s words, catching the name Tiberius, and the fact that he was looking for some sort of help. She cursed, knowing that the quest would likely be taken by another now, and she’d have to wait for them to finish it, or leave the giver behind and relinquished – both things that she didn’t necessarily have time to await on.

Making her decision, she gave chase after the taller man, deciding she would at least try and convince him to give her the quest first. Whether he was moving slowly, or her rush simply allowed her to catch up, Morrígan managed to slide in front of him – almost bypassing him entirely as she slipped on a wet spot upon the ground. Catching herself, she gave a proper curtsy, before greeting them politely as she’d always been taught to do.

’Excuse me, sir. You were speaking with that man over there-‘ She nodded towards where the bench now sat empty, a figuring already walking off into the distance, escaping the oddness of the event that had likely just occurred. She paused for a single second as she realised her informant was leaving, paid for without having provided the information she desperately needed. ’Ah, excuse my manners. My name is Morrígan, and I had paid that man to provide me some information about an event here…and I believe he may have mistakenly provided it to you. If you would be so kind, I require that information in order to…complete a quest. And time is of the essence, here.’

Truth had served her well in the past, although she wasn’t sure it would here and now. Something about the man carried an aura, one which was foreboding in some ways, and oddly compelling in others. His eyes screamed about some hidden secret or thoughts, and his entire presence was off-putting to the redheaded woman. Still, she held her ground and his gaze, not looking away even as he towered over her. One way or another, she was going to get that information, and take on the quest – even if she had to make accords that she wasn’t prepared to repay quite yet.

Statblock

Hide contents Notes [Theme] Morrígan | Lv. 9 | P. 0 | HP [180/180] | EN [36/36] | ACC [3] | DMG [11] | EVA [0] | MIT [6] | Thorns [18] | Paralyse Tier 1 | Tier 1 Equipment Halberd [Polearm | Tier 1] Enhancement: Accuracy [2 Slot] Enhancement: Damage [1 Slot] Breastplate [Light Armour| Tier 1] Enhancement: Mitigation [1 Slot]  Raven Shield [Shield | Tier 1] Enhancement: Paralyse [1 Slot] Enhancement: Thorns [2 Slots] Dark Cloak [Vanity | Tier 0] Enhancement: Nil [0 Slots] Battle-Ready Inventory Starter Healer Potions {5} [Potion | Tierless | Heals 50 HP] Spyglass {2} [Search Post Dungeon/Familiar/Field Boss reduced by 5] Zackariah's Special Draught [Potion | Tierless | HP Recovery I] Big Bertha Braciole (5) [Snack | Tier 1 | Rare Vitality Consumable] Skills   Hide contents Utility Skills N/A Combat Skills Polearm [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +7 DMG] Stamina [Rank 5 Weapon Add-on. Active: Passive. Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.] Precision [Rank 5 Weapon Add-on. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 ACC.] Ferocity [Rank 5 Weapon Add-on. Active: Passive. Effect: +2 Damage when using the weapon of your choice.] Armour Skills N/A Active Extra Skills N/A Inactive Extra Skills  N/A Combat Mastery N/A Familiar Skills N/A Estate Buffs N/A Sword Arts   Hide contents [x12] ST-I (12 10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (15 13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (20 18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AOE attack, use only the first roll. [x11] AOE-I (11 9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (14 12 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed all intended targets the previous turn. [x12] TECH-A (13 11 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x12] TECH-B (12 10 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a debuff that reduces the enemy's ACC by 1 for one turn. Housing Buffs   Hide contents TBD [Home] TBD [TBD.]

Edited January 10 by Morrigan

[Freyd 0]

Barely a moment had passed since turning away from the sandwich man before the system barraged his interface with a quest notification.  Of course.  Figures.

No sooner had his hand waved off the translucent floating screen than a tiny figure stood suddenly before him, strands of red bobbing in time with her formal and unexpected curtsy.  Eyebrow raised along with suspicion at the timing, his index finger still hung where the button had been to accept said quest.

"My name is Morrígan," he registered, the rest of her words melding into a flurry of sound mostly lost at the mention of the name that brought his other brow up to match the arching of the first.

"Another one?"  Barely said aloud, it was more a statement of wonder mixed with degrees of dread.  Her namesake had a tendency to stir the whirlwind with gentleness akin to a hurricane.  

"…complete a quest. And time is of the essence, here."

Not quite sure why that was the case, he chose instead to reset his standing in the sudden conversation by matching her unusual formality.  A bow would seem to suffice, suitable to their surroundings and her own manners and bearing.

"Freyd.  Captain of Firm Anima. Apologies if I somehow interfered with your intentions.  I was simply musing about a thought and hoped that fellow might have some insights."  Dipping forward highlighted his the strangeness of his appearance, features aged to maturity uncanny among the commonplace youth of Aincrad's populace, and framed with a slightly scruffy beard that gave him a hermit or vagabond philosopher's feel.  Where most would have some glaring shock of colour flaring as highlights across some fantastic spray of hair, his did the reverse.  The outskirts of his unruly mop having bled to arctic white strewn instead with streaks of grey and a few persistent veins of black, the latter still holding ground more solidly in his beard.  He looked older, save in the youthfulness of twin burning azure orbs declaring a deeper intensity.

Summoning the quest screen again, he quickly scanned through its limited details to glean those most critical to the moment.  "It seems the quest you sought is shareable.  I'm not sure if it offers any insights to what I was seeking, but it's rare for me to find one I haven't completed yet.  Why not strike a bargain?  I will share the quest, if you tell me the origin of that name, and the source of your urgency?  Perhaps we can both get what we wanted?"

Edited January 4 by Freyd

[Morrigan 0]

Morrígan nodded her head as the player introduced themselves, making note of the bow that was performed, a clearly unfamiliar action for the individual. She did, however, pride herself on not smiling in amusement at his attempt, instead placing another pleasant smile and remaining silent as he glanced over the quest details.

’I’ve never shared a quest before. I would be honoured to join together with you in this, Captain Freyd.’ She tilted her head to the right slightly as she heard the terms of his agreement, her smile wavering only slightly as her mind raced to try and find an answer. ’Name…? I believe the quest is named due to the ideology that it’s designed to be a mystery to be solved. Though I cannot say with certainty regarding such a deduction. Mere assumption through correlation, truly. As to the urgency, that’s…personal, but I will say that it is related to a desire to make my way towards the front.’

She shifted on her feet, digging the front of her right foot into the miniscule amount of dirt on the ground. Her eyes remained focused on the man, even as she shifted oddly in place. As the silence pressed in on her, she found herself naturally speaking again, trying to control the flow of conversation. ’It’s doltish, I know, but I’ve recently begun progressing and I believe I’ve begun to climb towards the level of those at the front. Mayhaps not entirely, but certainly a measure closer-’

She stopped suddenly as she noticed the mumbling she had begun, the oddness of the situation somehow overcoming her regularly calm demeanor. Shaking her head slightly, she tried to catch herself and adjust her appearance. ’That is to say, I have begun to take the steps towards helping everyone escape this world, and this quest – I was told – has vital information towards that goal.’

She gave another curtsy, hiding the slight flush that had come across her face with the embarrassment that flowed through her with her hair. ’Should we group together and head off on the quest now?’

[Freyd 0]

Freyd just let her talk, nerves seeming to cluster anxiously within her as she sought to fill the void with cluttered words in lieu of uncomfortable self-awareness.  With every rambling, eloquently spoken syllable, Freyd's features seemed more settled, until he stood quietly absorbing her display.

Captain Fr...?

Preferring not to embarrass or correct her, he simply let the moniker slide.  Not technically incorrect, it wasn't something he typically advertised, but also made little difference.  Those who would want to know likely already knew, and those who wouldn't had no reason to care.  The title was a mere formality in any case, and not typically used to enforce any real authority.  He'd also learned, after long and painful trials, that leadership was in deeds and action, backed by the right words, and never based in some paltry or arbitrary title.

"Ah.  So you're eager, and maybe feeling a bit self-conscious about a late start.  Not an unfamiliar feeling.  I went through the same, when I finally began my own adventures." A simple reassuring statement, secured with sincere empathy from days that felt simultaneously like yesterday yet also a few forevers ago.

"There's nothing doltish about wishing to improve yourself, and nothing shameful about having taken time to start.  The point, is that you've started.  That alone is worthy of praise and support."

Gesturing them towards Robaru's north gate, Freyd waved his hand to cover his more casual dark grey haori over navy blue kimono with slick black armor in a vaguely samurai style.  The symbol of a rose, black on black, embossed upon his breastplate, and fanciful katana slung at his side.  Party invite shared, she would gain visible access to his stats in a moment anyway, so he might as well look the part.  And the roads were still not safe since Diwali, as his own patrols had confirmed.

"You've taken on a noble and noteworthy goal, Morrigan.  If a brief stroll through Dagan can help advance it, I'm sure that I can a little time."

His part of the bargain kept, he walked along at her side, waiting to hear more about her story.

[Morrigan 0]

His words were kind, carefully chosen and clearly designed to alleviate the embarrassment and concern towards her imagery that she’d felt growing within her; emotions that she was, relatively, unfamiliar with in relation to herself. They did, however, work as intended. Morrígan felt herself calm with a smooth breath, nodding her head slightly and smiling – one that wasn’t forced or politely placed, but truthful in its happiness – in response to his caring words.

’Thank you. I appreciate the assistan-‘ Her words chocked in her throat as the invitation to join together was passed between them, and the man’s in game statistics appeared before her eyes. Although no surprise passed over her facial features, the flick of her eyes towards the man would likely give away everything, and as she spotted the armour and weaponry beneath, she found her thoughts immediately confirmed. ’You’re one of the fighters upon the forefront of war. I see now why they call you Captain. I’m honoured to be assisted by one such as yourself, and will do everything I can during this mentoring to note and remain aware of any aspect that will assist my growth. I will not waste your time.’

She gave another curtsy, this time one that was slightly deeper, and held slightly longer as decorum would require towards one of stature such as the man before her must hold. Her arms hovered on either side of her, held outwards in a manner that was clearly well practiced, the movement of them fluid and without any jerking motion that would give an impression of sloppiness or mediocrity.

’I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with this floor, but I have heard of Dagan once before. It’s one of the territories of this area, if I’m not mistaken? Alongside Srona, Braso and Ordsea? What little I was able to obtain about this quest suggested that we are looking into the history of, and direct causation behind, the divide that took over the lands?’ She bit her lip ever so slightly; a mere touch of her top teeth against the bottom, barely any pressure placed upon them. Her right foot, however, dug into the ground beneath her once more as her nervous tick took over; gentle and subtle, but movement nonetheless. She paused only long enough to allow it to bounce twice, before opening her menu and summoning shield and halberd, each appearing on her left side. Continuing along their path as they passed through the opening that would allow them to leave Ronbaru behind, she cast another glance at the other player, wondering why he had chosen to assist her at all. ’If you would be so inclined, I believe we can make good time to Dagan.’

[Freyd 0]

"I am a frontliner," he confirmed, a modest grin curling at his lips' edges.  "But just one among many.  And a captain informally at best.  It's no military rank, merely a title within my guild that makes me accountable for one of our branch divisions.  I consider it part of those duties to help along others who wish to improve themselves, whether within the guild or beyond."  

Her zeal was infectious and admirable, leaving him no desire to dim those burning flames.  If anything, it was his goal to fan and foster them into something suitable to forge into proper iron.  The weak wouldn't fare well in a raid, and he'd not risk the lives of others by leading them to the fray without proper preparation.  A hand raised to ward off any fear of doubt or worthiness.  He'd have gone already if any lingered.  "Time helping our fellows learn and grow is never wasted, though I appreciate the reassurance."  

Politely waving off the need for her to curtsy, he suspected something in her upbringing was mandating it, but also didn't want to insult her by dismissing it.  Best to just accept it, I suppose.

"Sadly, I have little to add to your awareness of this level.  Other than recently attending the Diwali festival that was help here, I've spent virtually no time exploring it.  Every floor we unlock seems to spread my attentions a little more thinly, I'm afraid.  I've been to at least one settlement in each of the cardinal directions, though some differed from the list you gave.  There's a definite undercurrent of prejudice and malcontent between the residents of each quadrant, though I couldn't tell you its nature or source.  Maybe we can uncover that and shed some light on that mysterious divide?"

A quick, passing handwave to the guards as they emerged from the city to the open road, Freyd always made it a habit to treat them with a strange, familiar courtesy that most thought very strange.  Maybe it was because of Marv, the guardian at the main gates of the Town of Beginnings who'd been his unwilling confidant when he first started his own outings.  The name, dubbed by whim, came from the one-sided nature of their exchanges.  Freyd spoke.  Marv was assumed to listen, yawning occasionally.  It worked well for both of them.

"I'm more curious to see how possible it is to affect any permanent change in this world.  Quests reset and are repeated all the time, but some NPCs in the game appear to be developing into more than mere digital cutouts - paper people, if you will, with no more depth than the thickness of a page.  Some have memories, even rudimentary or complex personalities.  Take familiars, for example.  They take on such rich meanings in our lives, if we let them." A lump caught in Freyd's throat, taking a moment to clear and followed by a brief laden silence as he gazed to the distance away from Morrigan.

"Part of me wants to see if this world exists in any meaningful way, beyond just our presence within it."

[Morrigan 0]

Morrígan walked in silence as the other player spoke, taking mental notes of everything he said and trying to determine – almost immediately – what was worth remembering, and what was little more than embellishment or rhetoric stated for her own benefit. She quickly noticed that he attempted to humble himself, denying his knowledge of the area, after his explanation that his rank was little more than a formality; designed to show his desire to train and bring those rising through the world of Aincrad into a small measure of readiness.

’The world around us adjusts, while we remain stationary and oblivious; lost to time as it flows around, through and beyond. Our blindness is little more than an infantile view of the world around us.’ Morrígan quoted something that she had been taught long ago, from a teacher who had been assigned to open her eyes to the more philosophical aspects of society. She was surprised that the ideas had remained with her, and it took her a breath before she continued speaking, adding to the commentary of the captain at her side. ’What I mean, Captain, is that we do not truly understand the complexity and growth of this world. It is digital, designed with pre-determined situations and recurring events. But it has also shown that it is capable of adapting and developing; updating itself and adjusting to our continued expanse. It would be entirely obtuse and naïve to falsify a belief that this artificial intelligence system would be without its own adaptation. Have not humans historically evolved as we encountered?’

She’d fallen into an almost lecturing tone by the end of her commentary, and she felt herself flush slightly at the realisation of how she was talking to someone who clearly outranked her in this world. ’I’m sure you’ve already considered that already, though, Captain. I just mean to identify the obvious in the situation.’

She stepped quickly to the side, putting a small amount of distance between the two of them as they continued walking. She wasn’t entirely sure how long they’d been travelling, the town of Ronbaru far behind and the darkness broken only by small measures of natural lights that scattered themselves across the distance. Thankfully, a roadway had been marked clearly for those moving between the various areas of the floor, and Morrígan followed it dutifully. Her gaze passed over a glow in the distance, and she pointed towards it, thankfully for anything to take away from the embarrassing moment of her behaviour. ’Is that Dagan, in the distance?’

’There’s something beautiful in the idea, though, isn’t there? The idea that it’s not all just pre-determined, that it can evolve and grow?’ The words were almost a whisper, still audible against the quiet of the world around them, and yet held as if hesitant. She refused to look at the other player, her face partially hidden by the hair that had purposefully been shifted before her face. ’Imagine a world where one could not change. The horror of always being what you had been; what you were destined to be, forever.’

[Freyd 0]

"Refreshing."  His meaning undisclosed as they kept walking, he listened to her words with interest.  "And what comes to those who are not content to remain blind?"  A telling question from a man known to walk sighted in darkness and the void linking the nothingness behind shadows.  What of those who can't unsee things already seen?  Recent events from the raid loomed ominously fresh in memory, gnawing insidiously at the back of his mind.

"A thing cannot simultaneously be static and evolve, though parts of a collective might straddle that line.  Take the players trapped in Aincrad, as a group.  How many of us chose action over stagnation, or vice versa?  That pendulum swings back and forth with uncanny lethality.  Both can lead to the same outcome, in their own ways.  I prefer to swim against eternity's passive drift.  It feels too much like swirling around the drain, like the maelstrom hunger of some infinitely hungry black hole.  Not happening.  Digital?  Real?  Mere words.  I exist, and won't permit others define how."

Freyd recognizes signs of his own past in her words and her mannerisms, allowing himself a deeper breath to level temptations to brood and rant against Kayaba and Cardinal's injustices.  "I lived in that static world once, when I first arrived in Aincrad and before.  Worse yet, it was a fabricated trap of my own making, created to delude myself with false illusions of protection.  Fear manifesting that way is a killer.  Friends... loved ones, who reveled in the chaos of existence, reminded me of the value of moving with and against life's tides.  The point is merely to be moving, or else be swept up and discarded in the abyss."

The lights of Dagan neared, a deeper glow unnatural on the horizon beyond the town an instant cause for concern.

"You sound like you speak from experience."  The observation left hanging to see whether or not she chose to pick it up.  Such things could not be forced, at least not without consequence.  And other pressing matters were upon them.

"Something's wrong." Concern giving way to alertness and alarm.  "Come on.  Let's hurry."

[Morrigan 0]

She listened, quietly, as Freyd spoke in contrast to her own ideals. There was familiarity in his tone that suggested he didn’t necessarily ignore her thoughts, but rather expanded upon them – neither agreement nor disagreement, but rather experience providing insight to a previous occurrence. Her head tilted slightly, however, at a number of words.

’I think, therefore I am.’ She whispered the words at the mention of his own ideals, smiling to herself before shaking her head slightly. The words themselves only gave a partial insight into her own thoughts and ideals about the man she called Captain, and she was reluctant to speak them aloud lest she accidentally insult him through miscommunication. Instead, she jumped upon a final comment of his, one which seemed to suggest deeper knowledge. ’Experience? I don’t know if that’s an accurate descriptor.’

She thought over everything in her life, her various incidents and experiences, before responding with carefully chosen words. ’While I may carry less than natural talents and skills with virtual games, I’m well versed in the concept of challenges and tactics. One could also argue that I have experience being trapped by those who hold control and sway over my life. A familiarity with this world, you could suggest. Provided the opportunity to grow and flourish, but under the oversight of another, over a system designed to ensure that your flourishment remain within the expectations and aspects of those who designed it.’

Whatever further thoughts she may have had, she kept to herself. Instead focusing on his sudden altered attention, noticing the way that he gazed into the distance with a focus that had been previously absent. Not waiting for him to suggest anything further, Morrígan headed towards the lights in the distance, stepping alongside Freyd in a gait that was one speed below a trot; her short legs fighting to keep up with the pace of the taller individual even when she had the head start.

The edges of the town had been eerily quiet, murmurs of voices crossing the air from a distance and carrying whispers of worry upon them. Morrígan had followed the other player from his side, traversing the few minor streets to the town’s centre, before pointing out the town hall. A few steps and they found themselves within the entryway of the building, voices demanding help and action reaching their ears before they’d reached the doors themselves.

’I would be inclined to believe we’ve arrived following some major event, at least for this specific area.’ Morrígan’s voice was professional, but there was a lilt to it that suggested curiosity. She nodded towards an individual standing in the centre of it all, his presence seemingly charged and an aura that suggested he was, for the moment, the person who held control over the chaos that surrounded them. ’I would also be inclined to believe that he is the one we would be best to speak with, given everything.’

[Freyd 0]

"No gaming experience, but versed in combat tactics?  That's an odd pairing. You speak like a captive or prisoner, but much too formally to be uneducated.  Nobility?  Richesse, perhaps?  My parents were academics skirting the fringe of elite circles.  Try as I might, there was only so much I could evade, getting dragged to more than a few soirees I would much prefer to have avoided."  Dreary memories of playing pawn to his parents parade of expectations flooded his mind, just as quickly shoved aside for lack of caring.  It was surprising that he could remember them at all, given the long tensions between them.  Life hadn't been great.

"If you're looking for a mentor, I'd consider it.  You talk a good game, but let's see what happens when words need to translate into deeds."  Words plainly spoken, carrying no malice, crafted with naught but blunt honesty.  A soldier's approach, if there was such a thing.  There were times and places for games, and despite their entire world being on, this would be an exception.  If she was serious, he'd gladly train another.  Those who'd sought his help in the past had largely turned out right, and they all needed to be stronger to stand a chance at survival.

Together, they made haste into Vesh's central square.  The place looked like a post-disaster camp, with wounded strewn about all over, wherever a dry spot or sufficient space could be found, wounded were being laid out.  In the background, a dozen bodies stacked like cordwood. "Funny how the bodies stick around when Cardinal wants to make a point," he muttered sardonically, mostly to himself.

Halting one of the more lucid looking NPCs scurrying about, Freyd asked who was in charge, his own tone taking on an air of authority that brokered no potential for dismissal.  The young man pointed towards a nearby building, official and institutional-looking in its facade. The name 'Tiberius' was blurted once or twice before he ran off in response to someone's cry.  Entering the office, it wasn't clear whether this was part of some bureaucracy or a local political leader.  Dagan seemed a more rugged, rough and tumble place than Ronbaru.  The two faces of that coin might be closer in appearance here.

"Are you Tiberius?"  The squat, broad-shouldered man with arms as thick as Freyd's leg sat behind a desk to laden with a mixture of tools and paperwork that his function wasn't immediately clear.  Head in hands, the NPC didn't move at first.  Whatever had happened here had already taken its toll.

[Morrigan 0]

Intelligent. That makes him dangerous, but not necessarily to me. Morrígan dug the fore of her foot into the ground slightly at the sudden interrogation that she had undergone. She’d been careful not to display her real side to the world of Aincrad – as much as she could, at least. She was more than aware that her demeanour and behaviours were well beyond the normalcy of the players around here, saved only through the fact that many were roleplayers, and dismissed her as nothing more than someone carrying out a character. Freyd had seen through that, however.

’Soiress. I do not miss those, of all the things we lost. My…’ She bit her lip, glancing at the man once more before making her decision. When she spoke again, her voice had returned to its normal controlled power, the hesitation of it entirely gone as she carried through with her explanation. ’You’re correct in your assumptions, at least some of them. I do not have a lot of gaming experience – much less in virtual realities. I am not, however, entirely disconnected from the basics. As to the combat tactics…my mother taught me well in such avenues. Her commission and appointment came with such requirements.’

She eyed the man for a single breath, her gaze attempting to bore into him – not aggressively, but certainly in a manner to make a point, before she continued. ’And you’re correct. I am one born to the status of heiress of an empire, if you can call it that. Nothing regal, but certainly there has been no point in my life where I’ve wanted for naught.’

Another pause as she let the words hang on the air. When she continued talking, there was a hardness to her voice, a conviction that seemed to run to her core. ’I have not told any one else this, nor do I intend to at any point. I will not allow my status in the real world to tarnish who I am here. It has served me little in the past, and will only serve me worse here. I will stand upon my own accomplishments, not those of the people who bore me and came before me. I will fail, I will succeed, I will do everything I do, because of who I am.’

Her eyes remained on Freyd’s only long enough for a pair of breaths to be taken, before she turned to face the NPC who had been staring at the two of them, his mouth opened to reply to the query Freyd had placed towards him, before Morrígan had taken over the conversation. Politely, but with a small tone of snappishness to her words, she scolded the NPC. ’Well, are you Tiberius?’

She received a nod in return, but when she gave her follow up question about the mystery of the divide, the NPC launched into a preamble about the dangers that had befallen the local farmfolk. She glanced periodically at Freyd as the NPC explained the situation, wondering how he would take her admission. She’d done it in the heat of the moment, certainly, but Morrígan was smart enough to know that it had been thought through fully before unleashed – a fact that she doubted Freyd would miss.

’Perhaps we can assist with your on-going problem.’ She offered up their services before Freyd could interject, cutting the NPC off and clearly leaving him fumbling for words as he acknowledged her offering. She waited only long enough to obtain the remainder of the details, before turning to Freyd once more. ’It would appear that my lessons with yourself as my mentor begin now, Captain. Understand that I may falter, but I will prove myself capable to some degree, should I be given the opportunity.’

The curtsy she gave was among her most formal, her arms spreading out to either side – empty, as she wore neither skirt nor dress – and her knees bent just enough to dip her to a height that would’ve been more impressive were she taller. She held it only for a breath, before standing straight once more, and motioning towards the distant location that they were to attend next, waiting to follow Freyd’s guidance and leadership.

[Freyd 0]

"Ah.  That goes a long way towards explaining the formality, and your reaction to the captain thing."

Listening with stalwart distraction, his eyes scanning the scurrying bodies all about them, panicking in pre-programmed patterns with excessive use of the same sound effects.  He swore he heard the Wilhelm scream at least three times in the span of a minute, but strove for balance between feigned chaos and leaving her feeling judged.  Morrigan's revelations were notable, but also seemed best taken with a degree of casual ease.  She was clearly bothered by her inexperience and accustomed to a certain degree of mastery over her domain.  Aincrad would be hard.  No wonder she waited so long to begin.  It also went a long way to explaining her formality and that nervous thing she did with her foot; like digging in to find and hold ground that frustratingly shifted continuously.

"I appreciate the insight, and may quietly content myself to imagining you as the heiress to the colonel's secret recipe, or some such other suitably laudable commercial empire, if only for own perverse personal entertainment." A wry grin offered as accompaniment, he couldn't quite help poking at least a little fun while she glared his way with all that built up seriousness.  "But rest assured that your background remain safely tucked away."  Articulated plate on fingertip rapped against his temple, as if confirming its encoding in the maelstrom mayhem of his mind, wrapped within a gnarly bag of catnip-crack jones-ing cats.  Anyone ever crazy enough to look in there for answers would likely earn themselves a bonus diagnosis or two for their trouble.

"Your goals are admirable, Morrigan, and will earn you merit and respect based on your deeds - as they should.  Rest assured, for whatever its worth, that my personal opinions don't give a shit what people did or were outside these digital walls."  His eyes met hers, stoic, but devoid of any edge or judgement.  If anything, a sparking kin to admiration shone through behind those azure rings instead. "Who you choose to be in here is all that counts."  

The smaller woman visibly shook with an intensity of raw emotion he'd only just recently come to terms with in himself.  It wasn't his place to interfere.  She needed it.  And so he stood by quietly, arms clasped casually at his back, as she vented whatever trace of venom had built up on the poor, exhausted NPC instead.  Barking with a bleeding air of frustration and authority buried beneath a whole lot of baggage, she pressed him to bursting, quest details spilling out so fast it was hard to follow much of anyhing.

’It would appear that my lessons with yourself as my mentor begin now, Captain. Understand that I may falter, but I will prove myself capable to some degree, should I be given the opportunity.’

"Freyd," he insisted, bluntly, but with a friendly smile, having silently enjoyed her grilling of the mayor, or whatever his title might have been.  "The captain thing is not well known and best not advertised unnecessarily. And no more curtsies, please. I'd have to bow back and we'd end up in some sort of time loop.  Very awkward, and hard on the knees."  Holding out an open hand, he greeted her not as a mentor, but as a peer.

"Come on.  Let's go fail, and learn to be heroes."

[Morrigan 0]

Surprise, perhaps, was the best way to describe her reaction to the sudden commentary that escaped Freyd’s lips. She stood still for a moment, trying to wrap her head around the joke he had made – if she were honest, she struggled to remember who the colonel with the secret recipe was, before it finally connected within her mind – and she found her retort coming slow in response.

’Actually, our coffee’s far superior to anything the secret recipe might try and provide.’ It was poor in taste, and even poorer in delivery, but as she stood staring at Freyd with a serious look upon her face she found she couldn’t help but break out into a grin after a few seconds. ’I’m kidding. We’re not aligned with any consumption based organisations, or similarly inferior riches.’

She did pause at his demand, kind as it was given, that she should act less formal with him. Her face twitched slightly, the only sign she gave of the actual impact such a request had upon her – a breach of everything she had ever been brought up with, to speak and act in similarity to the common folk. I can do that…I can totally do that. Isn’t that what I’ve always wanted? Her first attempt, however, failed her entirely as she found herself halfway through a curtsy and the words flowing beyond her before she could stop herself – the sudden jerk of her realisation only making the entire reaction look even sloppier. ’Of course, Cap-Freyd. I…I can do that.’

She shook away the embarrassment, turning to look into the distance even as he suggested heading on and out, although she assumed he was joking about the failure portion of his commentary. Hoping that she was correct in her assumption, she led them towards the location that the man she had harassed had described, keeping a respectful quiet as they travelled so that she could consider herself, and how she would handle the sudden change in demeanour that was requested.

A cry for help came from nearby, and Morrígan glanced around looking for the source of it. It took a few moments before she spotted the collapsed pile of rocks, and the individual sitting to the side, holding what appeared to be a broken arm. Kneeling down beside him, she pulled out a healing potion, uncertain if it would work but with nothing else in mind at the moment as an obvious solution. ’Here, drink this…it might help.’

She glanced up at Freyd, a look of uncertainty hidden deep in her eyes as she tried to piece together exactly what they were supposed to do. ’Any advice would be appreciated, Ca-err…Freyd.’

-

Post Action:
Providing Healing Consumable to Farmer | Starter Healer Potions {1} [Potion | Tierless | Heals 50 HP]

Edited January 8 by Morrigan

[Freyd 0]

The thought of barbecue-chicken flavoured coffee did not appeal, Sussing out little more than a grimace and a chuckle, he assuming that was her objective.  Preferring not to push the matter of her heritage, he’d respect her privacy and leave it to fall from presence of mind.  Instead, the not-captain found his head tilting in a beagle-like manner as she caught herself mid-habit, looking like a nun who’d just realized she’d forgotten her rosary at prayer.  

"Keep at it."  A patient and encouraging reply.  Lifetimes of indoctrination would hardly be overcome overnight, his smile growing as she spun on the spot and stormed towards the nearest exit from the square.  

"You four," he called, to various NPCs that had been busily buzzing about the site without any apparent goal or purpose.  "I want each of you to grab a toolbelt and as many shoring posts as you can carry between you.  Make sure you have at least a pair of mallets and dozen iron spikes apiece, and a good run of rope, no less than fifty feet long.  You've all been milling about without a clue, so I'm giving you one.  We're going to get as many people out of that mine as possible."  Grabbing a pair of pickaxes and swinging them for weight and balance, he couldn't help wonder whether they might be more effective backed by a sword art.

By the time they caught up to Morrigan she was already tending a wounded worker who'd collapsed by the mouth of some side tunnel.  Carts, tracks and piles of dust-covered ore confirmed the main shaft's location nearby.  More wounded men and women lay crawling around, a few standing, but too much in shock to properly find their bearings.  Tossing his spare pick aside as a backup in case he became trapped himself, Freyd guided the NPCs to brace the opening with the tools and materials they'd brought.  Two other newcomers were readily tasked with gathering all the extra gear they could find.

"We'll clear the opening," he added, calling to Morrigan, first strike already falling against rubble in a late starting race against time.  "Maybe you can find out what happened here so that we don't accidentally repeat it?"

***
Post Action: Freyd uses Leadership (Rally)

[Morrigan 0]

Freyd had caught up sooner than Morrígan had expected, his direction coming as she finished providing the farmer with the remainder of her healing potion. She hadn’t been sure it would do anything for the man, but as she stepped back and saw the near immediate change in the man, she felt a small measure of pride at her own small success.

She’d jumped slightly at the sound of the first strike against rock, turning to see the form of Freyd driving pickaxe against rubble, attempting to clear away the debris and open a path – however small – into the areas beyond. Morrígan strode forward to help, before she was directed to another task. She paused, momentarily, as she considered rebelling against the idea.

’Alright, but I’m leaving Phantom here. She can slip through the other side and warn us if there’s any further dangers on ahead.’ Morrígan spoke a few words to Phantom, before looking back at Freyd. She took a few seconds to explain her idea, hoping that it would be helpful. ’Phantom will pass through the area as soon as it’s cleared enough for her to fit. She can, assuming the way is clear enough – head through and map out the area beyond. Once she’s done that, she can return and draw out the details. Make sure to have some sand, or a pile of dirt that she can mark with her claws.’

She hesitated only a second longer, before turning back towards where she’d found the first farmer, slowly noticing that others had congregated in the area as if lost and confused. Some were injured, like the original one – although their injuries were minor in comparison. Some were simply wandering, as if uncertain of what to do, or where to help. Morrígan moved towards them, calling out and gathering those who looked the most able, before sending them to assist with the clearing objective.

’Can anyone explain, in as much detail as possible, what occurred here?’ She listened as a gaggle of voices called out suddenly, overwhelming the din and nearly matching the echoing calls of the picks against stone, to the point where Morrígan quickly lost track of what was being said, and where the information was coming from. ’One at a time! Alright, you. Tell me what you know.’

She slowly organised the mob of voices into controlled information, gathering what she could from those around, as they explained the incident as they had seen it. The information was, truthfully, mediocre at best. Still, it painted enough of a picture that she could return to Freyd with at least some insight into the situation – she hoped.

’The intel is spotchy at best, Ca-err…Freyd. I’ll get that soon, I promise.’ The right foot dug into the dirt once more, her eyes shifting to the left ever so slightly as she fought to hold her gaze upon him. ’Most of them said they were just farming when the ceiling collapsed upon them; didn’t know what was happening until it happened. But one or two noticed that there had been cracks along the wall growing in the days’ past, as if the entire area was preparing to falter. Best guess is that they somehow damaged a main arterial line for the rocks, or whatever the geological similarity to an arterial line is, which caused severe degradation of the main ceiling support lines – and surprise, cave in.’

Her voice carried no tone of disdain or any negative feeling towards the situation. In fact, if anything, it carried a measure of sympathy towards those who had been affected by the incident; as if she felt a measure of pity, or remorse at their poor luck. ’Have you managed to break through yet, at all? Is there anything else I can do to help out?’

-

Post Action:
Put your familiar to good use. | Phantom scouts the area ahead once a hole is opened.

[Freyd 0]

Genuinely surprised by her clever suggestion to use her familiar in such a manner, he'd never encountered one that could be relied upon to communicate in any detail.  "Impressive," he added, brow already caked with an encrusted mixture of sweat and stone dust, eyes assessing the avian as he readied to bark orders to his assistants.  "Is it a scouting familiar, by any chance?  That degree of intel gathering is better than I've seen from any other."

A small shower of rocks broke loose from the cliff face, Freyd tossing aside one of the NPCs on impulse to take the blow against his armored hide instead.  A few deep scrapes and abrasions were his reward.  The other fellow would have fared far worse.

"This cliff's unstable, lads.  I need plates, ties and the deepest spikes you can find so we can retain it properly, or else it might come down on us."  The others stared at him, confused that he would even sound like he knew what he was talking about, yet hesitant to follow orders from a complete stranger.

"You heard him!"  It was the man whose life he'd just saved, his own inherent distrust of outsiders apparently purged by the Whisper's deeds.  "Get to it!"  The second command adequately reinforced his own, the crew snapping to action, reminded that all their lives were in peril, not just those still missing within.  A curt nod assured Morrigan she could attend to her task while he dealt with matters here.

By the time she returned, they'd successfully braced the rise and dug an opening large enough to Phantom.  Freyd had half his head in the hole, calling out to faint voices echoing beyond, but shifted focus when she returned and signaled another worker to takeover for him.  The foot thing repeated, likely signaling discomfort or stress.  It seemed to be a nervous tick of some sort, though he hadn't quite yet nailed down the full nature of her tell.  Wiping his brow and face as best he could while she recounted her findings.

"Farming?  In a cave?  Some sort of weird hydroponic thing, or were they growing mushrooms?"  Failing fault lines was an immediate concern.  "That means that the whole cavern could be ready to collapse."  Glancing behind, he saw the others still working diligently, but fatigue was taking its toll as their initial shock wore off.  

"We have a small opening.  Phantom laid out a main chamber beyond, which seems to contain most of the remaining survivors.  The opening is small but..."  He blinked.  "Actually, you might fit."  She could tell that the realization already wasn't sitting well with him.

***

Post Action: pointless

[Morrigan 0]

Her eyes shifted to the hole, a measure of discomfort rising inside her as she realised that the word unstable, or at least a synonym of it, had been used mere moments before to describe the situation beyond. A flash of images – most containing further collapsing rocks from above – flashed through her mind as she fought the feelings inside her, trying to figure out whether she was brave enough to take on the challenge or not. It was the realisation that Freyd himself seemed uncomfortable with the idea, that finalised her decision for her.

’Alright. I’ll go in. You continue pushing the opening wider, as best as you can without causing it to collapse from within and trapping us all inside further. I’d prefer not to live out the remainder of my days in a cave in.’ She discarded the leather armour that she’d been wearing, storing it away in her inventory and leaving her wearing nothing but a white t-shirt and a pair of dark jeans; far from the clothing one would expect someone entering a cavern to wear. It did, however, slim her profile even more, giving her a bit more room to work with when entering through the hole.

’As soon as I’m in, I’ll send Phantom out with a bit more detail about what’s inside – how many survivors are capable of moving themselves, how many are incapacitated, and how many can help to clear the rubble from the inside. I don’t expect to find many of that last group, if any at all.’ She paused for a moment, considering something before she spoke once more, her voice suddenly losing the edge of assurance and confidence it had a moment ago. ’Ah…would it be wise to clear from the inside? Considering the instability out here, it’s plausible that we may room some of the main supports that are holding this up as it is…? This is…a bit outside of my area of expertise.’

She moved towards the hole, ready to head through as soon as Freyd confirmed that it was safe to do so; the man seemed more capable in relation to this activity than Morrígan, and she realised that she was – once again – following his directive. ’If it does collapse behind me, do me a favour and dig out whatever is left of me. It would be a shame to be left behind in this.’

She throw a confident smile towards the man, knowing that the jest was in the darkest measure of humour, and yet unable to stop from prodding the air around them with the words. Somehow, it felt right to joke about it as she stared into the abyss that was the hole leading to her possible finality. Once she received a confirmation from Freyd, she pulled herself in; feet going in first to feel around the expanse beyond the visible hole, and her arms capable of pushing her onwards, or pulling her back out should she become stuck.

A moment of claustrophobia, and she found herself suddenly standing on the other side; a dim light permeating the area and allowing her to see – a thankful gift, considering she was blind in the dark.

’I’m through!’ She wasn’t sure if her words would be heard beyond the rocks, but she called out anyways before shifting her way through the area, taking stock of the situation and passing the information on to Phantom to carry back to Freyd. ’Sixteen capable of self relocation, eight disabled, six deceased. Two capable of clearing from within. Take it back to Freyd.’

[Freyd 0]

Admirable courage, and smart.  She hid it well, but anyone would have had at least a moment's hesitation before entering.  Anyone who didn't wasn't suited tot he task.  Morrigan was truly starting to impress him, and in a way not frequently encountered.  The administrative angel on his shoulder was already hinting at potential for recruitment to Firm Anima.  A compelling suggestion, but hardly the time to enact it.

Ah…would it be wise to clear from the inside? Considering the instability out here, it’s plausible that we may room some of the main supports that are holding this up as it is…? This is…a bit outside of my area of expertise.’

"Don't tell the others," he whispered, "but I'm improvising most of this."  His face remained certain for the sake of appearances, even as he helped her get ready.  "If we can get you inside to assess and make sure it's safe, I'll widen the opening just enough to let me follow, and also get anyone we find back out again."

Sparing a moment for their entourage, he knew he'd need to keep them occupied or the tension of waiting might send half of them back into shock.

"You two.  Improvise us some stretchers - as many as you can.  Gather materials for splints, crutches and bandages.  There's a good chance anyone we find may not be ambulatory."  The two workers nodded their acknowledgement and raced off after their task.  Consumables were offered to several others - crystals, salves and anything else he thought they could use.  He wasn't even sure NPCs could do so unto others, but that was hardly material to the task.  Worst case, he'd simply reclaim them later.

’If it does collapse behind me," his companion began, "do me a favour and dig out whatever is left of me. It would be a shame to be left behind in this.’

"If that cave collapses, I swear I'll find a way to hold up a mountain and haul your ass back out of there with my bare hands." The conviction in his tone was ironclad, fueled by recent events of which she could not possibly be aware.  Azure fire in his eyes sealed the deal, asserting his convictions with such confidence that no doubt could withstand.  Sending her into this level of peril was taking its toll, but it was the only option at their disposal.  Despite the lump in his throat, Freyd knew that Aincrad would throw many more of these moments their way.  Shying away from hard choices would never find them an exit.  Morrigan had the right idea, a few wry taunts and dark humour strangely lightening even the most dire threats.  And, while serious, this was hardly a frenzied and ravenous raid boss.  Spectral scars across his chest ached to remind him that death didn't actually care how epic its arrival might be.  The reaper was all about results.

Once she'd slipped her slender waist through, a summoned glow stone from his inventory followed her into the dark.  Freyd held it out for her to grab, making sure to hold her gaze as long as she might need it as she slipped the rest of the way into the breach.

"You've got this.  And we've got you."  An added squeeze of her hand waited for her to signal he willingness to release.  After she vanished, the rest of them waited, none daring to swing another pickaxe 'til they knew what awaited them.  The bird came, promptly, and scrawled out its findings in more detail than Freyd had expected.

"Alright.  Help me widen the gap and shore it properly.  The rest of you setup a triage area at least a hundred feet from this position.  If anything goes wrong, we're not risking anyone unnecessarily.  Keep those stretchers coming once I go in.  We'll need to clear them all out quickly and orderly.  Sloppiness isn't an option."

Edited January 12 by Freyd

[Morrigan 0]

The murmur of movement and preparation seeped through the hole that Morrígan had climbed through; an obvious sign to her that the group on the outside continued to try and breach through the blockage to where she now was. Phantom had returned to the exterior, providing the information that they had obtained about the conditions within, and the capabilities of those who were trapped. She’d gathered a couple of the individuals to help pull away the loose blockages and rocks – those that could be moved by hand – in order to provide some minor assistance to the exterior, but that had soon dwindled into completion.

Now, she found herself seated next to a pair of farmers that had both their legs broken; the impacts of the rocks leaving them crippled and unable to move. She’d offered a healing potion, but they’d turned her down – stating that they had more pressing individuals who had needed care. Not that Morrígan had found them, yet. Perhaps it’s shock? That’s been known to cause hallucinations, misunderstandings, and any number of other psychological factors. It could be that they don’t realise they’re broken at all. She’d been musing over it for the last few moments, although no answer had come to her. The continuous knocking of the work had dulled out any other sounds, a surety that they not only continued to smash through the rock, but also that they were getting closer. Not long now, I hope.

Restless, and without anything else to do, she found herself moving through the victims one more time, looking for any who were severely injured, helping those few she could, before returning to the crevice once more. She glanced through, the glow stone she’d been given held up to try and provide some light to cut away the darkness, but there was nothing for her to see yet. Resigned to wait, she fell back from the area, knowing that there was safety in distance.

It was a while before she saw the first forms of light, but only a short while later before she saw the first form of a person coming through. Morrígan pushed herself to her feet, suddenly exhausted, but determined to see the rescue through to the end. She called out to those who she had prepared for this moment, shouting directions even as she moved to pick up and carry the nearest injured individual. Commotion cut across the once somber area as each tasked individual seemed to rush to their duties. Morrígan quickly lost track of time as the hole continued to expand; Freyd eventually passing through and a collection of handmade stretchers, rescue team members, and other chaos swamped her.

Sighing, she stretched her arms above her head. Every muscle was complaining, and although she was proud of what they’d managed to do, she felt a not so small desire to curl up and sleep for the next week. She stared out over the collection of farmers, each helping those beside them as best they could, still receiving direction and guidance towards their eventual return to normalcy – as best as they could.

’We did it.’ Morrígan stated as soon as Freyd was beside her. She couldn’t help but think back to something he had said earlier, before they’d reached this point of the quest. ’Do you think this will be a lasting impression, or simply something that is just a blip in their world, to be forgotten by those who call this place home?’