The Fe'gan Mountains are the highest, coldest mountains Lambastia has to offer, with the highest peak recorded at 8589 m (28,179 ft). Only the toughest creatures survive here, and the trek to get to the Basantha Shrine lays through these harsh conditions. (+3 Endurance)

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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:16 PM

Sven was surprised that Victor wasn't knocking the stone flat with the force of his rage alone. Rarely had he seen the man look quite so thunderous - he understood the inconvenience of having to squeeze past the stalagmites, but was it worth this level of fury? He didn't think so, but he wasn't about to question it, lest he get impaled and left down there to rot.

At least they had been making good progress with the map. It looked less like a blank sheet of paper and more like a true example of exploration and hard work. The professor was sure to be pleased!
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:18 PM

The occasional thunderous rumble from above or below them startled Sven into stopping, but even that couldn't halt Victor in his tracks. The determined man was going to get through the stalagmites and never lay eyes on them again, and that was that. God forbid he find another field - he would kick the shit out of all of them just for existing. Not that they'd feel it, but it would help quell his anger.

"Hey, pal, you reckon you could slow down a fuckin' notch? Yeesh," Sven called after him.

"Fuck you. Get a move on, I'm sick of this shit."
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:20 PM

At last. Moving past the stalagmites and onto ground unobstructed by rock was delightful, and Victor allowed himself a break by leaning against the cave wall with a huff. Shooting the damn things wouldn't hurt them, and where there was no pain, there was no point. Even so, he couldn't say he hadn't considered firing off a round at them. Maybe one would ricochet and smack Sven right in the vocal chords. Wouldn't that be a blessing.

Sven wriggled out from the field moments later, tousling his hair with his hand. Though still damp, he was drying off extraordinarily quickly, even with the amount of exertion they'd had.
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:22 PM

"Thank fuck."

At last, they were back in the lightened cavern, with the final two options ahead. It was a simple choice, but not one that Victor was going to take easily, knowing that those nightmarish cave formations were lurking around every corner. He shone the flashlight steadily at one path, and then the other, trying to distinguish anything that would suggest success or failure in one direction or the other. Nothing. The place was definitely good at being cryptic.

"Hey. Left or right?" He asked Sven, tipping his head towards the tunnels.
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:24 PM

"Does it matter?" Sven responded, as laid back as ever. In fact, he seemed to be glancing back in the direction of the other tunnel and the underground lake. Damn sea creature. "I don't really give a fuck."

"Pick a damn option, man, or I'll skin you."

"Holy shit, fine! Go left, and get that stick outta your ass. Or maybe it's a stalagmite."

Choosing to ignore that choice joke, Victor nodded, turning to face the tunnel to his left. There was only one way to find out what lurked within.
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:40 PM

"Hey, wait! What is the deal with sharin' the loot, huh?" Sven piped up suddenly, loudly enough to make Victor flinch. Did he really want to have that kind of conversation now? At that moment?

"If you keep badgering me, you'll get nothing. Can you focus and get your mind away from shiny crap for ten seconds?"

"Aww, Victor, I love shiny. As long as I get somethin' shiny from ya, I'll be happy."

"I'll give you a polished penny, how about that? Come on, you asshole."
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:42 PM

"Yeah, yeah. Hurry up and lead the way."

Lead the way he would, but Victor was far less confident about his strategy than he had been before the stalagmites. He hadn't truly considered any mishaps, having believed that the whole thing would run without a hitch, and was thrown for a loop. Nonetheless, there was no chance on earth that he'd let Sven take over and bounce through the tunnel like a kid in a candy shop. If it was up to him, they would still be back in the underground lake swimming, or touching the stalagmites inappropriately.

No. No matter how bad it got, it was never as bad as it would be with Sven at the helm.
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:47 PM

Somehow, Victor still managed to feel disappointed when he stumbled upon nothing. The cavern the tunnel had lead to was barren of anything interesting - even the lake had been better than this, when Sven wasn't diving into it like a maniac. Still, it needed to be documented, and he hoped he'd get rewarded nicely for the effort.

"Hey, look out!" Sven spoke up, and Victor had just enough time to duck and shield his head with his hands as a flock of Batti flew overhead. A nest? It wasn't a great idea to pester them if they were feral.
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:49 PM

"I think we should leave those guys alone," Victor said, and Sven was eager to nod in agreement, already trapsing back down the tunnel they had arrived through. "Don't think they want visitors."

The rock and the damp was beginning to feel almost familiar. They couldn't have been down there for long - a matter of hours, maybe, or half a day? - and yet it felt like much longer. The jury was out on whether or not it was a pleasant feeling. Sven would be happy to live there as long as he had the water at his disposal, but Victor was less amused. The mustiness and the dark, along with vexing formations, were not his bag.
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:52 PM

One last route to explore. Despite the earlier tribulations, Victor was sad that his adventure was almost at a close; it had been an amusing way to spend a day, if nothing else, and would hopefully fetch him some coin. What else were they doing? Business was dry, to say the least. Cecil had resorted to things that made his stomach churn. How that pesky feline lived with himself in such contentment, he would never know.

"So this is the last route, huh?" Sven asked. "Looks kinda dim."

"Everywhere is dim in here, you moron. Why do you think I have a damn flashlight?"
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Re: Expedition [Caving] [L] [H by Z]

Postby Isalynne » 08/17/2017 7:54 PM

"That ain't what I meant," Sven replied irritably. "What if we stumble across more a'them stalagmites? You gonna lose your head?"

"No, but you might lose yours."

The path didn't appear any different to the one they had just returned from. If they hadn't have changed direction, they wouldn't have been able to tell they were somewhere else at all. Identical rock and noise and rubble beneath their feet was a comfort, but also tedious beyond words. Would this last place hold any excitement? With a bit of luck, it would make them rich.

[Processed up to here; complete!]
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