A) MENDI, TWO ELVES, ELRIC, GAIGIN AND TAK

When Mendi is about to answer, the heroes hear another cave-in, this one much smaller than before from somewhere in the tunnels they had just traversed. Migdalia’s heart skips a beat, "That may have been our exit out of here, the bugs just gonna let us starve here in these here tunnels…"

A tired Mendi looked at Gaigin: "Indeed, I could try to contact them except that I'm afraid that my Will is too thin right now to be able to exchange any thought... perhaps if I had some time to rest... I'll try, anyway"

In the mindscape, Mendi began to shape his usual mental form, that of a tall, proud elf trader, richly clad in the usual clothes of an upper class Tyr merchant. As he saw himself by a bizarre twist of the mindscape, Mendi thought: <This is not exactly relevant... let's try this one...> In the mindscape, Mendi's glowing silhouette slowly altered to look like Mendi's current battered shape. Mendi couldn't help a sad smile, in both world, and then tried to gather his will to contact one of his companions.

The elven peddler sent tendrils of thought across the stone, probing gently, trying to reach Aryus, Koreth or Rayne but in the mindscape, Mendi's figure slowly faded, as the depressed peddler couldn't find enough strength to contact his friends. "Ah, he said with a rasp voice from his parched throat, I must rest..." He then took a small sip from his water skin.

A grim smirk split Gaigin's blunt features as he peered about, examining the situation with pragmatic fatalism. Fondling his spear and scratching idly at his chin, the big warrior simply peered about, mind working quickly on a solution...and not finding one. Shrugging, Gaigin jabbed his spear at the spit-hardened wall and turned to Migdalia.

"Don't ye worry, milady Witch. We'll suffocate down here long before we ever get a chance to starve." Gaigin chuckled grimly and began checking along the walls, ceiling, and floor with his long spear and sharp eyes, talking quietly. "These worm-spawned scrab are even smarter than I expected. They're cowards, they saw how well we fight, and they fear we may well succeed at our invasion. They mean to protect Her Majesty, the Royal Egg-Bag, by whatever means the ugly bastards have. Already they've collapsed the entrance to their own nest just to keep us out. Biggest mistake a Captain can make... underestimate yer enemies."

Gaigin paused and grinned again, just as humorlessly as before. "Seems ye were right, Mendi. By Kalak's Bleeding Eye, we should ne'er have separated. Still, the routes run and can't be changed. May as well get on with this." Gaigin looked around, still scratching idly at his chin. Shaking his head and sighing, Gaigin turns back to the small group.

The elf was to exhausted to boast... he merely shrugged, and mumbled something about "I could have been wrong myself, Gaigin."

"I'm fresh outta ideas. All we can do is go back, look for those sand traps these Kank-Eaters're so fond of, and any hidden passageways, and hope we kin dig our way through the sand back there, if that’s what that bloody noise was. Unless anyone's got some magical or psychic solution, or some better plan, we may as well get started." Gaigin started back, still prodding the walls with his spear and peering around with grim eyes.

As the tall caravan guard spoke, Mendi looked at him: "I could try to contact them or even try to use my skill at wrapping dimensional doors if I had some time to rest, Gaigin. I'd find some energy if you give me the time to meditate, you know!"

Gaigin looked over at the elf and shrugged an apology.

"Mendi, you stay here and meditate, rest as best ye can. Tak, do the same, and Elric and Migdalia. We'll be needin' all yer powers soon enough, and best not to waste 'em on diggin." Gaigin eyed the far pile of rubble, then turned to Liron, "Ye look like a strong lad, full o' youthful energy and vigor. Lets see if you 'n me can't dig these kank-kissin' book-readers outta this mess. Scholars arms ain't no good for real work anyhow." Gaigin gave the elf a grin and returned to the dig.

The young elf resigns himself but finds no other thing to do but to help Gaigin, "I’m all for helping you and if this is what it takes then fine. Let the mindbenders recover themselves and see if they can help us later on." Liron continued digging sand and pushing about rocks, his face drenched in sweat and his hands bloody from the effort but the elf was determined to get out of this alive. Migdalia on the other had slumped against the wall in despair trying to think of a way out. She moved out of the warlock’s light and made very little noise except for the sobbing heard whenever the heroes took a break from digging.

Gaigin muttered under his breath as he eyes the pile of sand. Not much choice, it seemed. These scrabs seemed to excel at making intruders waste time and energy. Smart. He used to use the same tactics against raiders and slave tribes on the caravan routes. Of course, the process was much more fun for the guards than for the raiders, but nothing to be done about that. Glancing down at the tattered remnants of his long robe, trying to imagine it with sand and dirt caked on atop blood and ochre, he was going to need a new Robe at the Pterran Village, Gaigin bent forward and began to dig.

Elric slumps to the ground, pale with sweat running done his face. A trembling hand reaches up and runs through his hair. The confined space was getting to him, no matter how hard he concentrated. Many years of mage training was the only thing allowing Elric to maintain even a semblance of normality. The young warlock watches Gaigin as he digs out the cave in. "Push the large debris to the side we can use it to shore up the tunnel." Taking a deep breath, Elric stands, forcing himself into action to keep from thinking about his surroundings. "Anyone bring down a peace of that scrab chitin? Maybe we could rig a shovel out of it"

Panting under the exertion of heavy digging, Gaigin paused and loosed his water skin, slowly taking a few precious sips. Eyeing his progress grimly, Gaigin turned and looked about, thinking.

"Ye know...we ain't even sure which passage those gith-lovin' dung beetles blew first. Was it the main one, or that impassable one back there? If it's the main one, then we're headin' the wrong way. Koreth and the rest are way off behind that pile at the end of this passage. Damnit, but we came in here to rescue the girl, and we ain't sure where she is either. Now we ourselves are in need o' some rescuin', and likely Koreth and the others as well." Gaigin paused, grimaced, the continued, "Ah well, we may as well get on with it. If we're wrong, we're wrong."

Gaigin shook his head, replaced his water skin, and returned to digging.

All of the sudden, Ayrus is seen from the way they had come. The wind cleric is drenched in sweat and almost white as if these last few hours had been really trying on his spirit. He still had his cerulean cloak and his hands uoheld his bow with an arrow notched their way. He, nevertheless, is in one piece as the rest of the party shoots him with questions...

Your actions…

B) AYRUS, KORETH AND RAYNE

The trio continued to work for many minutes and some of the rocks and sand did indeed clear from the entrance. After Koreth and Rayne push away a particularly large rock, they both jump back into the room as another minor cave-in takes place. The sand and rocks again covered the entrance and all their hard work seemed wasted. Koreth curses loudly as he takes a look at the roof along the entrance. "The roof is open, the only reason no more sand and rocks is coming down is because they are being held up by the pile at this entrance. If we continue to clear the pile away, more will continue to fall." The dust had started to form small rivulets on their torsos as sweat dripped freely from their hard work." Ayrus slowly starts to panic at the thought of dying of suffocation and exclaims, "We have to think of another way out or we’ll run out of air soon." Koreth had a comment that never left his mouth as his brow creases in thought…

Koreth looks around, his brow furrowed in thought. The more rubble he and Rayne cleared, the more fell down to replace it. Who knows how much debris is up there. <Think, how to get out of this tomb!> the noble warrior thinks <There must be other tunnels! Find them!>

A boyish grin comes across the noble warrior's face as he draws his sword and approaches the wall of the chamber. "I need there to be no noise for a moment," he says, looking to his companions "maybe there is a tunnel near this one...." Koreth begins tapping the hilt of his sword against various parts of the wall, listening intently as he does so. He repeats this bizarre ritual as he makes his way around the chamber.

The mul watches as the dirt falls into place where they were slowly digging their way free. Feeling helpless, she stands and watches as Koreth begins to tap the walls. Clueing in to what he is doing, Rayne too begins to tap and listen for the hollow sound of a nearby tunnel.

The breathing is getting harder by the minute and all that is heard is the tapping of weapons on dirt walls; nothing hollow was to be found everywhere the two warriors looked. Rayne held up her glow worm for them to see better to no avail. Bothe warriors finish going around the whole cave and finally slump down in desperation against the dirt walls; frustation and a little fear has began to creep up on their faces.

Desperation begins to take its toll on the mul and she sinks to the floor, feeling tired from the lack of fresh oxygen. "It's a hopeless cause. I didn't come all this way to finally be free and die stuck in a bug hole! How're we going to get out of here?"

Aryus curses and starts to lose his patience. Something inside him said that things were not right, and he was starting to feel it. Sweat poured forth from his body, soaking his clothing. The air cleric's lungs felt like lead pressing against his chest, breathing was now a full time job.

Turning to Koreth, "Alas, I don't have a spell that will blast us out of here or do anything of that mystical effect. My magic is limited in the tomb of earth."

<But there might be something else that could aid me.> Aryus thought to himself, <a rare power that is neither that of the sun or the winds.> Aryus closes his eyes and looks into his inner nexus. He summons a rare power that many air clerics invoke when they find themselves trapped in the confines of earth. Something that is a last resort and a desperate attempt to escape. Aryus concentrates hard and his body slowly begins to dematerialize...

Aryus approaches the trapped opening of the chamber and allows his airy body to pass through the rock. Before leaving Aryus says to his companions, "I will not abandon you here. From the other side, I hope to find a way to clear this rock. If all else fails I will seek help."

Rayne watches in amazement as her half-elven friend de-materializes before her eyes. "Ooh, ye been hiding yer talents Ayrus! Get us some help and I'll be owein' ye forever, but I'll be grateful. Be quick, I'm getting' restless and want to be squishin' some bugs!"

Both Rayne and Koreth wait inside the scrab’s tomb, the dead defiler had already began to stink and they could hear their troubled breathing in the stillness of the cave. The glow worm is the only source of light only illuminating a few yards while leaving the rest of the room dark and quiet not unlike what a tomb would feel like from the inside...

OOC

Kirsta and Trevor: Not much for you to do unless someone helps you out. Let me know what you will do in the mean while.

Rive: Please answer the other turn you will have gotten.

C) AYRUS

The half-elf’s vision is darkened as he traverses through the pile of sand and rocks. He walks over 50 feet and still does not get out of the solid material. His will weakened from his last battle, the windmage starts to panic just thinking at what would happen if he were to run out of will and stay encased in solid earth and rock for the rest of eternity.

He somehow gathers his wits about him and finally finds a way out of the maze and recognizes the tunnel on the other side of the room where Rayne and Koreth are trapped. He immediately materializes himself to save his almost depleted will and starts heading into the scrab tunnel to try and find help. He hears noises from the far end opposite the entrance, a certain type of digging and scratching that summons pictures of huge scrabs digging through these tunnels. The windmage notches an arrow to his bow and silently walks in the noises directions. His keen elven sight is greeted by the rest of the party. Migdalia is propped up against the wall softly crying, while Tak and Mendi sit corss-legged on the dirt corridor; both their faces peacefully smiling. On the other hand, Gaigin, Liron and Tak are pushing rock and sand around trying to dig their way into another larger chamber, The windmage is elated and starts talking almost at once...

Your actions…

OUT OF CHARACTER

HEALTH STATUS

Remember the scale:

Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining

Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining

Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining

Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining

Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining

Gaigin (SiW), (W)

Elric (SiW), (W)

Rayne (SiW), (MW)

Ayrus (H), (W)

Mendi (SiW), (MW)

Koreth (SiW), (SiW)

Female elf (H)

Tak (SiW), (SiW)

Male elf (SiW)

GENERAL

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian