Lake Cleanup - RPLOG
Participants
Date
19/4/477
Log
This high in the mountains, the air is thinner and colder, especially in the evening. The small group of Freeswords, led by Angus, have been following the clear stream upwards to its source, a lake nestled in the mountains to the north. In the middle of the lake are some ancient ruins, appearing to be far older than even Creator-made remains, and it's only through judicious borrowing and use of a hermit's boat that everyone is in the marbled sanctum without having to swim into the middle of the lake.
The pool ripples and undulates gently, waiting for Angus to call to it.
Angus approaches the edge of the water, having been called here by the spirit he had done what he was asked. Turning he regards those that had followed him before turning back once more, grinding the butt of his staff into the surface of the island as he clears his throat before speaking in a load, strong voice. "Ser'ther, I have come as you have asked, and brought others with me as well."
Cassidy keeps her cowl tugged up, as usual when traveling, but she leaves her mask down as she shuffles around behind Angus, frowning. "So... What's this we're going to be doing? How does this all work out?" She bites her lip, looking on anxiously as she peers into the water.
Dio follows along diligently behind the others, carrying around his typical gear of a tower shield and a fine spear at his side. And of course, with such a lovely lake atmosphere, who wouldn't bring tasty treats to snack upon during the trip? Or at least Dio would considering his favored snack of jerky secured in his pocket and teeth. "This ain't another plan to bathe me 'gain, is it," the lion questions after ripping apart a piece of jerky and swallowing it down.
Kalt sighs as she leans on her own walking staff, a simple branch she had picked up on their voyage up the mountains. She was clad in most of her armor today, the main changes being the lack of her left armguards and shoulder pauldron, along with her two handed weapons. Her left arm is still kept in it's place with a thick band of cloth, and a piece of heavy metal wrapped over her shoulder... The vixen having won the argument with angus that she'd be damned if she missed out on meeting a spirit today. She chuckles gently at Cassidy as she tries to not lean on the ruins, or do anything to accidentally insult the spirit. "Aw just go relaxin' Cassidy... Figurin' he'll tell us when he's needin' to an' such eh? You ever go meetin' a spirit before Cassidy?" She snerks slightly at Dio's comment and looks over to the lion as she sticks her tongue out. "What if'n it were? You're a tad bit outta dry land to be remainin' dry if'n you had to go runnin'!"
Jera watches from a few steps back, watching the group's back. A year of being away has completely disconnected him from affairs, the kit fox not even recognizing most of the people here. He thought that he would do his job best just with his bow at the ready, watching for danger, and that he does.
Siyu is dressed a little warmer, the rodent is of course, ready to help his friendly spirits. Especially a cousin of his own, he'll just brush down his outfit, and wait to see what he has to do. He's come equiped as best he can, just chittering. "This is...umph, interesting..." is his first comment. He draws a deep breath, "Lord Solacious, I am bound to this quest as are you, twined spirits, I'll do what I can...did he give you no more information? Just to bring followers here with you?" he inquires.
Mazurek has joined the expedition, having been out of contact with everyone in existance for quite some time. He had been hibernating, even blocking all entrances to his underground lair except for the watery one. Something had awakened him with enough time to spare to answer the call for this little venture. Going up into the mountains meant that the Iguana chose to join up with his draconic powers, giving him the needed immunity to the natural elements to be quite comfortable. For attire, the dragon actually wears more than he usually does. Shorts is as his usual, but this trip he's actually in a short sleeve shirt, customized of course to account for his wings. There is nothing said by the towering, ten foot, draconic iguana. He moves away from the group a little and keeps a silent watch on the surroundings.
Bite looks around the area instinctively for loot, her soul gem not letting her rest as she sways towards their destination. As Angus speaks she stretches and listens, this should prove interesting.
Jendayi arrives in a rather basic set of plate as armor goes, flamberge hoisted over her shoulder, taking a deep breath and glancing around at the other folk who've taken up the job offer. The sphinx seems a little bit anxious, though keeps her composture, offering waves and smiles to the others.
Nothing happens for a few empty moments, and then the water starts to fizz, froth and gather itself upwards in a long, sinuous shape, the pool's surface draining slightly as more and more water is drawn into the physical form the spirit is assuming. At last, a nondescript serpent is formed, perhaps four to five times as tall as a being, icy fangs displayed as it surveys the room.
~Oh. Right. Yes. I did ask for your help in gathering those of your kind, although I didn't expect quite this many. Good work.~ The spirit's "voice" is quite relaxed, as opposed to some others. ~Yes, there is a task I would like to ask of you. I have to live here, as your kind would put it, or at least, when I manifest myself in this plane - even though the lake's surface is clean, there are things that have been thrown into the lake over time, and while many have resurfaced along with this place, others have not. Some of them are quite interesting, and I think they may help, even if indirectly, in the efforts against my fallen brethren.
~Now, I would be getting them myself, but stuffy Kedrac has very strange rules on what is "direct intervention" when it comes to this sort of thing. He thinks of it in black and white, you see, as you would put it. Hence, under Angus' guidance, I'd love you to help clean out the lakebed.~ A pause. ~That was a mouthful, wasn't it? Well, you can keep anything you find. I no longer have as many supplicants as I used to have, back in the day.~
Angus taps his staff a little nervously as he waits for the spirit to surface, turning to give both Kalt and Cassidy a smile to try and keep up the facade that he knew exactly what he was doing. As the spirit appears he finally takes a deep breath and nods. "I did the best I could, had a feeling you might of needed them." He answers, but as soon as he is given the task he blinks a little, and nods. "That is a generous offer, thank you."
Cassidy folds her arms and shrugs, looking over towards Kalt. "I suppose he will, yes... And no, I have not seen one before. That's part of why I came. I want to. How's your arm doing? Getting better, I hope?" Her ears perk as she hears the spirit before looking towards Angus. "What are we to be doing, exactly? What're we cleaning up? I'm all for finding treasure!"
Dio was about to take a liberal bite out of his cured meat snack, but Kalt's comment tempoarily ceased his motion. "We'll see 'bout that, lass! I'm on to yer master plan ya got cooked up 'ere. Takin' a poor innocent lion like me to a spirit jus' to get a silly bath. It was a good plan, but I'm on to ya." The lion nods his head proudly and finally takes another bite while listening to the spirit and his mighty request. "O', is that all, lad? Jus' a little trash pickup? Well, it is a shame seein' a nice place like this with trash floatin' 'round in it. Suppose I could 'elp out a bit."
Kalt blinks as she watches the spirit form, whistling lowly as she seems a little aw struck at it's method of appearance... She hasn't seen something like that before. Sure enough though she slowly dips her head to the spirit while clearing her throat. "I uh, yeah not a problem... M'figurin' if'n somebody can go an' be castin' water breathin' on us all an' such it'd be goin' a tad bit quicker." Still, she's not one to dawdle too much, and is quick to begin detaching her armor pieces while ensuring her left arm is indeed firmly tied down, leaving her weighted boots on for if someone casts the water breathing spell.
Jera ponders for a bit as he hears the instruction to clear the lake. Not one to get wet, he closes his eyes and focuses his magic for a bit, using his bow to help center all of his magic. A light breeze blows, and the kit fox smiles as he moves to sit on the edge of the lake and kicks water up, testing how well his made up spell works.
Siyu blink, blinks a little bit, "A clean up I...well..." he rubs the back of his head and he tugs upon his ear, looking around, "Well I guess...I guess those of the water clan will take quite a liking to this mission" he coughs a bit. "I'll do what I can, I mean, I think we have some rope. I'll try to find some trees and set up a block and tackle for anything...too heavy. I'll try to help as best I can."
Mazurek listens to the quest that has been assigned by the watery serpent, looking between it and Angus. He finally speaks up, "I do not have need of any Maths to assist with underwater breathing while I am in this form. Angus, it appears that I have, once again, missed quite a bit while in hibernation. I will assist with clearing the lake."
Bite watches the unveiling of the huge snake, her mind sparking as she smiles. "Okay great snake! I'd love to go swimming and treasure hunting for you." she hisses and looks to the others. "I'm going in." she hisses with a smirk as she waves to the rest of the group, stripping her robe and outfit down to her swim suit two piece and, when reaching the destination.
Jendayi is all ears when the spirit talks, unable to help but stare as it does. She frowns a little disdainfully at the mention of going into the lake, meaning all the fun of getting out of the damn plate armor, a task she sets upon right away. "This sounds like it will be a pleasant job. Just... Not this... Part," she mumbles those last words to herself through gritted teeth as she struggles with her armor 'til she's finally free of it, leaving her in her basic clothes.
~Well, it appears that you have no complaints and your subordinates are more than willing to help. You have your instructions, little caller, so relay them, but feel free to ask again if you have any questions.~
with that, the serpent recedes into the pool, gradually disappearing until the water's surface is still once more.
Angus nods as he works the clasps on his cloak, letting it fall to the ground as he places his staff upon it. Taking off his armor he turns to the rest of the group that are still standing on land. "From what the spirit has told me We have our work cut out for us. The first thing we should focus on is an intresting Stone that was left behind at the bottom of the lake bed, I don't know its size, or its dimensions but I'm hoping that at least two dragons can pull it up without problem, who here knows how to cast a water breathing spell?"
Cassidy begins to disrobe, setting her weapons on the ground, first, save for her knife which she keeps on hand. Once she's out of her armour and down to her blue, two-piece swimwear, she starts to stretch out and limber up, nodding. "I don't, but I'm ready to do whatever!"
Clank! Dio's tower shield comes crashing to the floor. If any diving is to be done, can't have a heavy tower shield on one's back. Next comes his heavy armor to join the pile, but he keeps his spear handy just in case he might need to hook something later. The lion switches his soul gems around and deposits his snack upon the floor before running some calculations in his head. Within a few moments, various group members are surrounded with a nurturing shield of water to help swim about and resist hostile elements. "That should 'elp out a bit. Might be able to 'elp out a bit more too," he says, thinking of a few more calculations.
Kalt stretches her arm and legs as she stands ready in her burlap shirt and pants, leaving her sword strapped around her waist just in case. "M'figurin' us who ain't dragons are best goin' an' pickin' the smaller stuff up an' such?" She does reach into her bags to take a quick swig of her dulling potion however before shaking herself as it kicks in, standing ready to be told where in the water to go looking. "Maybe if'n we're lucky, we'll be findin' sumptin rather handy eh?"
"Why is everyone taking their armor off?" Jera giggles as he takes off his chainmail, but leaves the padded leather on. He takes a deeeeeep breath and then pushes himself off his seat and just disappears into the clean water! Sinking like a stone with the added weight of his armor. He walks around the lakebed, deciding to play it safe with his gimmicky method of staying alive at the moment and walk near the edge, very, very slowly.
Siyu will set up his wagon area, if no one has any objections. The rodent himself will strip down to a tight pair of linen shorts, his vanilla scent clinging to him if anyone gets close. But he'll work diligently. He doesn't swim, he can't. He hates these larger bodies of water but he'll try his best. The ropes are laid out the willow trees are secured and examined. He doesnt' want to damage anything so he'll make sure to relay the various ropes. Making sure they're laid out and everything is ready! Small objects of course should be easy to get out on their own, but he anticipates that any objects a spirit would find objectionable would be...well...a bit too large to lift by a single person. Ready for the operations onece they are found.
Bite estuffs what she can onto her person, namely a toxic sea barb on a stick, a knife, and her snare, a leviathans tooth resting as a necklace around her. She leaves her beloved gold decorated armor in the pile and then, looking the group over dives down to find the stone that they were looking for with a "Come on sssweeties, I'm sure we can do it."
Jendayi ends up deciding that the idea of going through the water is slightly too risky-sounding of an idea for her tastes, and instead merely watches over the equipment left behind- a task she at least feels somewhat at home with.
For those who are underwater, the lake is a rather peaceful sight. The sunpetal lilies have closed their blossoms for the night, and while a few fisk swim about in the dim water, they all seem rather languid and uninterested in anything. The only real obstacle is the darker parts of the lake where the starlight doesn't penetrate as far, drastically cutting visibility.
The pillars supporting the ruins go all the way down into the thin layer of mud that coats the lakebed, various water plants clinging to them for support. Various blocky shapes are visible in the darkness, with hints of smaller objects about - those about Bite's glowing body are revealed to be huge chunks of marble, broken off from the ruins and clearly immensely heavy. A few ancient jars lie about, some of them broken, but otherwise preserved well by the cold water, down to the serpentine squiggles drawn in dye. Seems like the spirit wasn't lying - there's a lot to clean up.
