[closed] to dungeons deep

[thisisamazing]

who: Team Intrepid Explorers: Hiccup Haddock, Christian Fischer, Dave Stutler, Keith, Yuri Plisetsky, Jon Snow, & Freya Vaughn
what: Mission: Cave Crawl
when: Late February
where: A network of caves out in the wilderness.
warnings: Uhh. Spooky cave stuff?


Hiccup originally found the caverns on a solo jaunt into the jungle with Toothless. Well, he found the entrance - they didn't go much deeper inside than a handful of yards, to be safe. Now that they have a full party, complete with some actual fighters, they should be able to go quite a bit deeper.

The group takes a truck as far out into the jungle as possible, loaded with equipment, and between the dragon and the lion, manage to get most of it up into the cave entrance itself. The first 'chamber' they come across is large, oval-shaped, branching off in several directions. It's dimly lit with bioluminescent algae (or clusters of worms, maybe?) and small clusters of softly glowing crystal dotted across the ground and walls, protruding from stalagmites and stalactites. There are a few shallow pools of clear water, filled with blind, pale fish. At points, the scurrying of small creatures in the distance can be heard echoing through the room.

It's set up as a base camp, of sorts. A place to go back to, to keep from getting too lost in the maze of tunnels and caverns. Some pop up tents and some electric lanterns provide light and make it a little more comfortable for rest periods. At one point, some firewood is brought in, and a nice fire started in the middle of camp for heat and light.

It doesn't take more than a day to get out there and get the place set up, and then the real exploration can begin. Team members are encouraged to always go down the branching tunnels in at least pairs, if not more, and to mark the cave walls as they go to keep from getting too lost. The only goals are to discover and to learn, and, of course, to stay safe.

[ooc: Feel free to use this post like a 7 person mingle log! Post top levels, tag around, thread hop to your heart's desire, find cool shit, etc.]

Comments

[thisisamazing]

[i. base camp]
[Between jaunts into the tunnels, Hiccup and Toothless take breaks at 'camp', which still isn't exactly comfortable but it's better than nothing. He sits at the fireside, warding off some of the pervasive dampness that comes from an environment as old and enclosed as this one, while Toothless scurries around the vast cavern, chasing scuttling lizards and bat-like creatures.

He's chipped off a palm-sized cluster of the short glowing crystals, and is studying them in the better lighting, watching them pulse in shades of green and blue.] These are wild. Do you think they do anything besides glow? [If they aren't dangerous, guess who's bringing some back as souvenirs?]

[ii. tunnels]
[The farther he gets from that large central cavern, the darker and twistier the passages seem to get. This tunnel is just wide enough for Toothless to get through, his wings scraping the stone on either side, even tucked in. Hiccup is carrying a lantern, raising it high, looking at the walls of the tunnel as they pass.

Once in a while, Toothless will open his mouth and let out a roar and a burst of purple light that travels far ahead, only briefly illuminating the coming path.] It's echolocation. [Hiccup explains quietly to the person next to him.] He'll let us know if there's something coming up.

[iii. tunnels again, hark something this way comes]
[Unfortunately you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Nothing ever goes totally smoothly, especially out here beyond the abandoned city. At some point during the explorations, Hiccup's eyes go wide, and Toothless' ears perk and then flatten as a noise echoes farther down the path. His voice comes out as a whisper as he raises the lantern.]

Did you hear that?

iii

[tempredmental]

Yeah...

[Keith nodded, and then looked over at Red. She stepped forward, her eyes illuminating the area as well, and reached out with her scanners.]

We're not alone...

[He summoned his bayard, the blade flashing into existence in his hand.]

It's big... and it's alive.

[thisisamazing]

[Frowning at the response from his party, Hiccup draws his own sword (if you can really call it a sword), sliding out the folding blade and clicking the button on the hilt to light it up. It's a little better than a lantern, and while it won't be much use in a real fight, he's had practice using it as a distraction.

Toothless hunches a little, lips pulling back in a snarl, and he releases another pulse of purple light that travels down the length of the tunnel. The size of the thing at the end makes him huddle a little closer to Hiccup - for protection of his rider, more than fear.]

Maybe it isn't hostile, though. Big doesn't necessarily mean predator.

[tempredmental]

Around here, it seems to. [Keith wasn't quite as trusting as Hiccup, and he kept his guard up. Red reacted to Keith's wariness, growling softly and staying close. They'd both seen the big and hostile variety of creature around outside the fence a few times already.] Stay alert.

[Keith moved forward cautiously. The lighting elements on his Paladin armor made it hard to sneak up on something at this point, but that didn't really matter. Red wasn't exactly quiet when she moved, and she had quite a few lighting elements of her own. Between the two of them, Red having brightened the light from her eyes like headlights, and Hiccup's sword lantern, they were pretty obvious. So, since they didn't have the element of surprise, Keith didn't bother trying to hide.

He tapped a spot on the red area of his wrist armor, and a light came up there as well. He directed it in the general direction of the creature, but kept it low so it was aimed at the floor.]

Might as well see if it understands language... [Keith paused.]

Hello?

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup nods, one hand resting gently on the dragon's black scales, the other holding his flaming sword aloft. He lets Keith and Red take point, just slightly, and his eyes constantly flicker from Toothless' body language, to the creature ahead. It's- it's big, but not that much larger than Toothless; that doesn't mean it isn't dangerous, though. The tight spaces and size of the creature reminds him of a Cavern Crasher, in a way. Sort of squat, and compact.

When he calls out 'Hello?', the thing doesn't answer, scrabbling back a few yards, letting out a high-pitched hiss of displeasure.]

I don't think it understands you. [Hiccup remarks dryly, and Toothless steps forward a couple steps, posture low and crouched, lips pulling back to bare his teeth.] Easy, bud. We're tromping all over his house.

[tempredmental]

Yeah... I get that impression, too. [It definitely didn't understand language... or at least, not the one he was using. So, hey... now to make sure it didn't attack them. He noted it moving backwards.]

I wonder how far back this corridor goes. If we inadvertently corner it, it's likely to try to attack us in order to escape.

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup looks down at Toothless again, posing a wordless question, and the dragon shakes his head once before he's staring back down the length of the corridor, a low rumbling growl in his chest.] It's likely we'd corner it if we kept going. We should back down and try another path-

[He starts to take slow steps backward, but they can't get that lucky. The creature lets out an ear-piercing shriek and rushes, intent on dealing with the intruders.]

Ooohhh that's not good-!

[ii. tunnels]

[luckyescape]

[Freya pads along side Hiccup, her eyes watching the dragon's tail as it sways with each step. She knows what he's doing but the vibrations rattles her sensitive senses.]

Yeah. Technically he's in front so he'll let us know anyway.

[Her eyes look up and then around at the cave, trying to guess how it had been formed.]

So if we run into something down here, how do we fight with toothless taking up the tunnel. [She hopes that the tunnel doesn't get smaller.]

[thisisamazing]

Well, that too. [And Toothless is nothing if not protective; if anything remotely dangerous lies ahead in these tunnels, he'll know, and he'll react accordingly. It's always been reassuring for Hiccup, to have a 1700 pound dragon firmly on his side.]

If it narrows any more, we might have to turn around. Try another tunnel. [He's not super eager to go down any of them without Toothless.] What do you think, bud? Should we turn around? [Toothless lets out another burst of purple light, ringing down the length of the tunnel, and the dragon seems to nod his head to continue, rather than turn back.] Looks like it gets a little wider.

You're not planning on a fight, are you? Technically we're the invaders here.

[luckyescape]

I'm a pacifist- [Hunting not included.] -but naturally curious about what's going on in other peoples heads.

[Freya flashes Hiccup a smile before continuing to pad along at his side. She isn't in a rush but she is growing more and more curious about what's at the end of this particular tunnel.]

Follow up question, I can understand animals because I grew up with them. [She doesn't go into details about her early life.] How is it that you can understand toothless?

[thisisamazing]

Well, I want to avoid fighting if we can. We're the ones who don't belong down here. It's their home. ['Their' meaning the creatures that have lived here for gods know how long.] I want to find things we can take back to the city, but I don't want to disturb the environment too badly.

[He looks over at her curiously, more interested in that statement than her question.] I mean, it's not like we talk to each other, we just... really get each other after all these years. Don't we, bud? [Toothless rumbles in agreement, still looking around with his ears perked.] What do you mean you grew up with animals?

[luckyescape]

My plan is to avoid it. [Hopefully Toothless's sonic purple sound way didn't aggravate anything in the cave. Then again, Freya is blessed with senses that let her see a lot more in the dark without resorting to weird bat-like skills.]

Just what I said. [Freya rolls her shoulders in a shrug.] I grew up around a lot of animals. They have a different way to talk that doesn't involve words. Like the way they move. Toothless talks a lot though I don't think he realizes that I understand him.

[She smiles affectionately at the dragon.]

He's a lot like a dog in the way he speaks.

[thisisamazing]

Good! We're definitely on the same page, then. [He really doesn't relish the idea of fighting anything. If he has to, maybe, but he doesn't want to disturb the ecosystem too badly while they're here.]

Oh, that's what you- [That makes a lot more sense. For a second he was wondering if she was asking if Toothless could talk somehow. It wouldn't be the first time someone just assumed dragons could speak human language.] Yeah. Body language, and tone. He understands some words, too, and he mimics things he sees people do, so that makes it easier.

[Toothless glances back and snorts, eyes narrowing flatly. Evidently he's not into being compared to a dog.]

ii

[buildingcastles]

[The potential danger with any cave system is always high with the chance of getting lost or trapped in some unfamiliar tunnel. Christian gets quieter as the cave becomes darker and harder to navigate. Going in is easy, it's getting out again that will be hard. The seed of doubt and fear stays with him, but he stays with the group and doesn't complain. He's walking by Hiccup and Toothless when the dragon lets out his roar.]

So he can tell if there's something on the other end of the path? Well, that's good. At least if something comes to eat us, we'll have warning we're about to be a snack.

[He can somehow still sound genuinely amused even if there is honest worry behind his response.]

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup is apparently a bit more confident about their odds of making it back to base camp unscathed. The lantern he's holding aloft barely lights their way, just enough to keep from actively tripping over any rock juttings, but Toothless clears the way a bit as well.] If there's something there, or if the tunnel narrows too much to keep going, or we find another big open room like where we set up camp.

We won't be anything's snack, don't worry. Trust Toothless. He's never led me into anything we couldn't handle together.

[buildingcastles]

[Christian is still uneasy about venturing into the unknown. He's not a trained defender of anything, and the trouble he gets himself into is primarily just a result of poking his nose into questions that other people bring up. It dumb luck, and he is aware that his survival is not always a sure thing. There are dangers in the jungle for those who are unaware to fall prey to.]

That's a neat trick. Did you teach him to do that, or is it instinct for dragons?

[He stays next to the rider and his dragon, reaching up to brush his fingers lightly over the back of one of Toothless's wings for reassurance.]

He can tell which way is out. Can he find us treasure too?

[thisisamazing]

I think it's just something Night Furies can do. Once in a while, he also sleeps upside down, so maybe it's a similar trait to bats? [Toothless' dark coloring could indicate that his species is comfortable underground. It certainly seems to be true, but there's still so much that Hiccup doesn't know.

Toothless purrs at Christian when he feels a hand on his wing, an animal-like attempt to comfort, maybe, and Hiccup flashes a smile at his dragon. If nothing else, Christian can take solace in the fact that Toothless and Hiccup are so bonded that the dragon will do anything to protect his rider, and his rider will protect a teammate.] What do you think, bud?

[He fires off another ring of purple light that courses down the tunnel, and Toothless' ears perk up, looking to the humans and then down the tunnel. His stance isn't defensive, so it probably isn't something alive.] I think there might be something up ahead?

[buildingcastles]

Night Fury. Is that what you call him?

[Christian pats the black wing, smiling to himself.]

You're not that furious, are you? Good boy.

[He pauses when the light travels down the tunnel, looking from dragon to rider for a translation that doesn't actually tell him much more than Toothless's posture did. That something is probably ahead.]

Great. So, Fearless Leader, I guess we check it out?

[thisisamazing]

That's what his species is called. He's a Night Fury. They can be terrifying, if you've crossed one. [Toothless is different, though, in a way. He's much more used to people than Hiccup figures any other Night Fury would be. It's easy to forget that he can be lethal, when normally he's so playful and happy.]

Yeah! [He's excited, but hushed, following Toothless closely down the tunnel, one hand on the wall until it starts to widen.] It's possible we're the first people here in- maybe ever. Anything could be up here. Treasure, or- or magic, or cave paintings. Lost knowledge.

[luckyescape]

[i. Camping!]

[Freya doesn't look like a fighter. She's five feet tall, thin and currently barefoot. Her dark clothing accents the pale hue of her skin while blonde hair falls messily around her thin shoulders. She counts herself lucky that to be included and is eager to see what they might find in the tunnels.

She finds a comfortable rock to lounge against while the fire is being coaxed to life. She's up wind of the smoke, keeping her nose to the air to make sure that they aren't visited by any unwanted guests.]

Is this the part of the trip where we tell campfire stories? [Freya grins at her companions with a toothy smile. Who doesn't love campfire stories?]

[ii. Tunnels!]

[This is why they're D&D raiding party is here; to travel through the tunnels and see what they can find. Freya is hoping to find something shiny or a small item that she can add to her backpack of trinkets. If she can't find anything then she's adding a small growing rock to her backpack of trinkets. She might add a glowing rock anyway; they're very cool.

Her steps are light, almost silent, as she makes her way down the tunnel. She travels near the front, using her heightened sense of hearing and smell to map their way.

Freya suddenly stops and holds out a hand.] Listen, do you smell something?

[Maybe Freya is a nerd but she does actually smell something.]

ii

[buildingcastles]

[Christian is all for exploring the caves. That is, until reality reminds him that he's not that much of an adventurer and hasn't had much cave experience at all. He mostly sticks close to the rest of the group, following their lead and hoping he doesn't get trapped in some forgotten tunnel.

He stops short when Freya asks her question, because that is not something he expected.]

Smell? Uh... I smell rocks?

ii

[luckyescape]

[It's a sad day when a Ghostbusters reference goes over someone's cute little head.

Freya looks back at Christian with a raised eyebrow. Her lips curl over as she tries to hide her amused smile.] I have a good sense of smell. [Her nose is both a blessing and a curse, some things you really don't want to smell but Freya's gotten used to sorting through scents and finding the ones that matter.] Something lives down here. It smells round and slimy. [Smells are hard to describe.] But it's also something metallic but like gem metallic.

Let's check it out.

[Freya turns forward and silently steps forward to find the source of the interesting scent.]

[buildingcastles]

[If he were more inclined to notice ghosts he might have remembered the movie more. Or not. It's difficult to tell how close to the human world he is or isn't sometimes. But whether he would know or not, he'd probably give the same answer. Because he's a pain in the ass.]

Oh. Oh, you smell things. As a talent. That's- you can smell gems and metal.

[Hey, he's surprised and kind of impressed? At least by the idea.]

What if it's a golem?

[luckyescape]

[Despite not being human, Freya thrives in their society. She loves seeing what people can create or the ideas that they come up with. Movies have always been one of those things and even after all the shit that's happened in her life, she continues to sneak into new releases to see what the film industry is up too.]

Let's go with that. [She hasn't outwardly told anyone she's a wolf though a handful of people have figured it out on their own. The fact that it isn't a secret annoys Freya so she's less inclined to come right out and say as much.] Everything has a smell. It can also be really gross sometimes. [She doesn't like being able to tell so much about a person because she can smell them, it's like a fucked up invasion of privacy, so she tries to tune smells out.]

It might be but I've never run into a golem before so I don't have a basis of comparison for that. [She pauses and looks over at him.] Do you want me to go first? I'm like a foot shorter than you so if it is a golem he might over look me.

[buildingcastles]

[Despite his world being full of strange occurrences, Christian doesn't have many encounters with anything like werewolves. Any physical creature that happens to cross over to the spirit realm and become one of the lesser known kind is magic, a being of another kind entirely, and a transformed human is something he rarely sees--usually under very bad circumstances if he does. He doesn't immediately think of the werewolves and supernatural creatures people expect to see, and to him Freya seems just like any other person. Magic itself is a flowing thing, separate from any living creatures.]

Everything. So you can smell rocks, then? I was joking.

[But it's worth noting, because now he does wonder what is so strange about her.]

I... think you should probably go first.

[No shame in that. If she's volunteering, he assumes she's confident enough to take on whatever they find.]