RP:The Sewers Revisited

Part of the Rynvale New Dawn Arc

LOCATION: Rynvale Sewers

Enviroment: 1 rancid milk, 20 sewer water, 1 half-eaten scraps, 1 tarantula, 2 rotted apple-core, 5 moldy bread-crust, 1 dead rat, 2 dead fish, 1 sharp stick, 1 fork, 1 damp extinguished-torch, 1 tamed ooze, 3 rat.

Splag : A bright shaft of light pierced the darkness of the sewers from the open manhole. Reflections of the light played off the sewer walls, flickering as the water rippled along the floor. Small mounds of trash bobbed in the stream, most of them home to life of some sort, usually of the creepy, crawly or oozy kind.

Arien made her way carefully into the depths of the sewers, parchment clasped in her fingers. It would seem it was past time that she took a look around in person if she would need to have her own men come to work upon restoring the wall. And she had need to make contact with the Speaker in any event. The sewers..were a weak point. Especially when dealing with potential assault from an amphibious race.

Splag : Farther back in the tunnel, there is a focusing of intention on the ladder as Arien's body blocked most of the light streaming into the depths for a moment. The fermin on guard quickly scampered silently deeper into the tunnel to the nearest intersection. After a quick message is passed to another fermin, the guard quickly runs back to its post to keep a close eye on the interloper from the safety of the surrounding darkness.

Arien stepped into the eeirie glow that was the tunneling at the base of the ladder, her emerald gaze sweeping the environs about. Already the clearer passage of air through the once blocked tunnel, dictated that some work at cleaning the mess had been done. Keen elven ears could hear the scuttling of clawed feet. "Is anyone there?.." she called softly. "I mean you no harm..but..I must seak with the one you have chosen..your..Speaker, it is a matter of some import"

Splag : The young fermin froze in indecision for a moment upon hearing her words. His beady black eyes flicked back and forth between the surface person and the top of the ladder, alert for any signs of an ambush. After a moment of not seeing or hearing anything dangerous it plucked up enough nerve to speak. Only a single word comes quietly forth from the depths of the sewers, its origin uncertain as it echoes faintly from the walls. "wait.."

Arien heard the rasped comment, and holding on to the slip of parchment, responded merely by nodding. Standing still in the circle of light that set her aglow at the base of the ladder, the elf simply ..waited..for whatever would emerge from the shadows.

Splag : The guard is spared having to make any larger decisions by the silent approach from behind of a much larger black-furred Fermin. He hunkered down on the ground next to the guard, looking over the elf and the situation with a critical eye. Finally satisfied that there was no immediate danger, he whispered something silently into the guard's ear, who immediately turned and took off running into the hidden depths of the sewer. The black fermin stayed behind to stand watch. "I has sent for Speaker. He be here soon."

Arien glanced at the new arrival, a puzzled frown knitting the brow of the commander. What cause did they have to fear, these people of the underworld, that they should hide so deeply, both in the earth, and within their organization, the one with whom the above world would make contact. Quietly she murmured to the black. "Is it only he, with whom I can speak? Are there no other leaders among you?"

Splag : The black fermin grinned in the darkness, with only occasional glints of light off his teeth or eyes to betray his presence. "You wants Speaker cuz he best at speaking yous language. Is his job. We alls has jobs." At that moment, a smaller gray fermin slunk around the corner behind him, followed at a distance by a silent and invisible small crowd of fermin spectators. The gray moved forward until it was at the edge of the lit area, then sat up on its haunches. "Hello, Surface Elf," it said, surprisingly without much of a lisp, although it did speak a bit slowly and haltingly. "You is ... are... here from the Gofernorr?" In this brighter light, the multiple smears of paint are visible across his face and head.

Arien smiled, her shoulders relaxing slightly upon the exhalation of relief that someone in charge was finally present, and that negotiations could go forward. She nodded. "I -am- the governor, Speaker. I received your letter, and have come to see for myself what work it is that yet remains t be done." Her gaze was skimming the enclosure as she spoke, taking note of the places where support was weakened, or gone. "I have also come, about payment. You are in need of food, are you not? Also, I am wondering if you have heard tell, here below ground, of the threat that is the preklek?"

Splag : Speaker canted his head to one side, his expression unreadable except to another Fermin. Then he nods his head approvingly. "Is good. Come this way, I will show you the bad walls." Speaker dropped down to all fours and started backing into the sewer, making sure Arien followed him. Beyond him could be heard the quiet sounds of multiple sets of feet retreating and splashing through the water. Only the big black one held his ground, watching Arien warily as she passed him, before turning and falling into position several feet behind them. As they walked deeper into the sewer, the gray talked to her. "Food is needed, yes. We has had hard time getting enough food from surface. Our scouts has had to go farther out just to get enough to feed us and keep other sewer beasts fed too." On the subject of the preklek he said, "We know of the Preklek, but they has not been a threat for long time, stuck in they own world."

Arien followed the small group of fermin, a touch hesitantly, deeper into the free flowing tunnel, though not without a pensive glance at the big black as she passed him in the convoy. Something about the male made the hairs of her nape stand on end. She was almost certain, he was not without influence or power in this pack. An enforcer, perhaps? She forced herself to listen to the words presented by the Speaker, a swift assurance uttered. "We have hunters, who can go further aboard, with bigger, more powerful weapons. We will bring fresh meat, and drop it down the hole. The fruit and vegetables that have spoiled on the vine, will we also bring." A few moments of silence passed as she allowed display of the damage, deeper note taken of details in need of repair. "The preklek, are no longer stuck in their realm. They speak of conquest, and threaten the surface cities. They will come..for Rynvale..and I worry that they will seek to use the sewers, as a way into the city as we once did." She glanced his way. "What will it take, for your people to agree to partner with us, in protecting the city. We have need of a guard ant the exit that spills to the beaches..where the water crashes with waves. The entrance must me guarded."

Splag : The gray doesn't seem worried about the Preklek, although the black does slow down marginally. Speaker says to her, as they reach the intersection, and he begins pointing out the walls that have been structurally weakened, "These walls here need supports. Wood, rock, doesn't matter. But they wills probably fall more in a few months without it. We has no builders. We can live in other parts of the sewer, but you needs this spot for the sewer to drain right." He sat back up on his haunches as he watched her inspect the walls. "We will talk about the Preklek and see what we needs. Small groups we can keep out, like we would have you naga. Except you had ... this" and gestures at the walls. "If Preklek bring an army we can not stop them. We is too few."

Splag said to Arien, "ooc: this is a good place to stop. Arien can go back to the surface here if you want and the pack will be in touch with what they will need to defend the sewers while you arrange for repairmen." Arien told Splag, "ooc Alriight, assume she did that. "