'Tace'follows Predak to see what has caught their attention.
"By the way, I wasn't suggesting breaking the wall down, just clearing away the roots so we can see what is behind them and where they are coming from", he replies after Predak inspects the break through, although drops that subject. He is more interested in the lodestones, "Oh, and where might I find the lodestones in camp, and who should I talk to about a loan?".
After Predak's reply, he gets back to work clearing the rubble as instructed, making sure he is able to investigate the new room before anyone has the opportunity to remove anything.
He is also confused by the blocked tunnel. Was it blocked by people this side, or the other? Was the means by which the dirt was moved here magical? There is certainly a magical aspect to all this, the roots prove that.
He tries to map in his mind where the tunnel goes in relation to the roots. Which wall in the new room does it lead out from? Is it opposite the entrance, or on a side wall which would make it more likely to lead to the source of the roots?
When Predak calls an end to the days labour, he feels a mixture of relief and disappointment. Relief because it has been a hard day and he is tired, but disappointment because there might be a big discovery waiting behind the dirt blockage.
But he collects his belongings, and looks to walk back with the Sergeant.
"What do you think, sir? Could these rooms have been built around the entrance to some more natural phenomenon? A cave system used by the ancients or something", he asks as they walk back. He also listens for other chatter going on as they make their way.
Arrenalso feels partially disappointed that they are not going to make any more progress today, and he's left wondering what the piled dirt might be hiding.
"Could be," he replies to the Corporal as they walk back to camp, the noticeable weight of his belongings adding to the ache in his muscles after several hours of mining. "I'm almost disappointed that we're not going to find out today. First, because I'm very curious right now about what will be unearthed, and second, because that discovery might mean we'd be free to go sooner than I imagined when we arrived this morning."
"What do you think we should do tomorrow? As interested as we might be in getting access to wherever that tunnel leads, I'm still curious about the source of the illness. Should we still split — one of us staying in the excavation, and the other switching to the top of the well? We might find nothing of interest up there… but at least we could rule it out for good. I'd be fine doing either."
When they arrive at the camp, the Sergeant places his belongings in the carriage, but still keeps the dagger on him. He spends a moment stretching his tired muscles as he assesses the camp anew, checking for anything — or anyone — of interest now that the day's work has finished, assuming this is the moment when everyone should be present at camp, rather than scattered across different tasks. He also plans to report back to the Commandant and the Lieutenant about everything they've seen today.
"Lodestones? Oh, right, you did mention that earlier. That's not really my area, and I doubt they'll be willing to talk to you. Maybe try Nohem, next time you see him." Predak doesn't add anything beyond that, throwing any other questions on the matter at Nohem, though Bryn gets the feeling he doesn't mean Nohem himself is the one holding onto those stones.
The tunnel leads out of the side of the next room. It's not impossible it would lead to somewhere closer to the roots, though there's nothing more to be done before the next obstacle is removed.
Even though Predak called it finishing early, by the time everyone arrives at the camp, the sun is no longer so high in the sky. Surely, there's an hour at most before it sets behind the other mountains in the west. Additionally, though it was imperceptible back at the well, a wind has begun blowing. It is of medium intensity and does not show any signs of calming down soon. As temperatures begin to drop with the descent of the sun in the west, the addition of the winds makes staying outside after dark very uncomfortable. On the bright side, perhaps, despite the partially cloudy sky, it doesn't rain, yet.
The rest of the workers returning from the well seem a little excited about the new discovery, but for the most part, they just talk about how they'd appreciate a hot stew next to a fireplace between four strong walls, in light of the weather. While listening to them intently, Bryn cannot miss the occasional cough, even once everyone is no longer within the excavation site, and dust is no longer as legitimate of an excuse.
When they finally arrive at the camp, since they're a little earlier, the workers are mostly alone. Anyone still gathering food has yet to return, and the cooks aren't quite done making everyone's dinner yet. Instead, they're once again caught in some heated argument. One could think that's all they do all day, though it seems one way or another, they eventually manage to prepare a meal for such a large group every time. As time passes, however, the rest of the camp's populace appears, little by little, until the camp is as crowded as it was during lunch, except now people tend to their business instead of eating, as dinner is not served yet. If Arren and Bryn search for Nohem, however, they cannot find him, and anyone they ask would say he hadn't returned yet, though they don't seem worried about it.
As for the carriage, Bryn and Arren find the Commandant working inside, using its closed space as protection from the wind, lest all her papers blow away. Walnuts seems to have put up the tents in the meantime, which surely wasn't an easy task with one hand in a splint. If anyone tries to talk to Commandant Nattensbarn, the Lieutenant would stop them, saying she asked not to be disturbed before nightfall as she won't be able to work once it goes dark, due to the wind.
Not long after the sun had set, but while there's still some light outside, the cooks call everyone for dinner, which seems to be made up of stew, mainly, and a few other edible things gathered during the last few hours. Bryn, Arren, the Commandant and Walnuts aren't invited, of course. Arren would notice the woman tending to the ill, taking a small pot containing several rations of the stew and some fresh, uncut vegetables into the tent where she treats the sick, as well as a few spoons, wooden bowls and a knife. She takes enough that he's sure she's planning to feed the sick - those in a condition to eat, at least - but he can't tell if she plans to eat from that too. He doesn't see her eat, in any case, not yet.
When the sun finally sets and its last lights are gone, the Commandant steps out of the carriage. She's clearly in a bad mood and shivers from the cold despite wearing warm clothes, but joins the rest of her crew for a bite off the cold rations, since she can no longer work in these conditions. Some of the camp's other dwellers still sit by a bonfire - to eat the last of their dinner if they haven't finished, chat about the day, sing maybe, or just try to absorb as much as they can from the heat produced by the small flames. Many others retired to their tents for the night, tired from a long day of work, but also to escape the chill brought by the wind.
The woman tending to the sick, Arren notices, hasn't yet left the tent, and Nohem hasn't returned yet. Predak sits by the fireplace at the moment. Not exactly by himself, though he doesn't seem to be part of any conversation, partake in the singing or anything else. He just stares at the flames, from the looks of it.
'Tace' follows Predak to see what has caught their attention.
"By the way, I wasn't suggesting breaking the wall down, just clearing away the roots so we can see what is behind them and where they are coming from", he replies after Predak inspects the break through, although drops that subject. He is more interested in the lodestones, "Oh, and where might I find the lodestones in camp, and who should I talk to about a loan?".
After Predak's reply, he gets back to work clearing the rubble as instructed, making sure he is able to investigate the new room before anyone has the opportunity to remove anything.
He is also confused by the blocked tunnel. Was it blocked by people this side, or the other? Was the means by which the dirt was moved here magical? There is certainly a magical aspect to all this, the roots prove that.
He tries to map in his mind where the tunnel goes in relation to the roots. Which wall in the new room does it lead out from? Is it opposite the entrance, or on a side wall which would make it more likely to lead to the source of the roots?
When Predak calls an end to the days labour, he feels a mixture of relief and disappointment. Relief because it has been a hard day and he is tired, but disappointment because there might be a big discovery waiting behind the dirt blockage.
But he collects his belongings, and looks to walk back with the Sergeant.
"What do you think, sir? Could these rooms have been built around the entrance to some more natural phenomenon? A cave system used by the ancients or something", he asks as they walk back. He also listens for other chatter going on as they make their way.
Arren also feels partially disappointed that they are not going to make any more progress today, and he's left wondering what the piled dirt might be hiding.
"Could be," he replies to the Corporal as they walk back to camp, the noticeable weight of his belongings adding to the ache in his muscles after several hours of mining. "I'm almost disappointed that we're not going to find out today. First, because I'm very curious right now about what will be unearthed, and second, because that discovery might mean we'd be free to go sooner than I imagined when we arrived this morning."
"What do you think we should do tomorrow? As interested as we might be in getting access to wherever that tunnel leads, I'm still curious about the source of the illness. Should we still split — one of us staying in the excavation, and the other switching to the top of the well? We might find nothing of interest up there… but at least we could rule it out for good. I'd be fine doing either."
When they arrive at the camp, the Sergeant places his belongings in the carriage, but still keeps the dagger on him. He spends a moment stretching his tired muscles as he assesses the camp anew, checking for anything — or anyone — of interest now that the day's work has finished, assuming this is the moment when everyone should be present at camp, rather than scattered across different tasks. He also plans to report back to the Commandant and the Lieutenant about everything they've seen today.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Lodestones? Oh, right, you did mention that earlier. That's not really my area, and I doubt they'll be willing to talk to you. Maybe try Nohem, next time you see him." Predak doesn't add anything beyond that, throwing any other questions on the matter at Nohem, though Bryn gets the feeling he doesn't mean Nohem himself is the one holding onto those stones.
The tunnel leads out of the side of the next room. It's not impossible it would lead to somewhere closer to the roots, though there's nothing more to be done before the next obstacle is removed.
Even though Predak called it finishing early, by the time everyone arrives at the camp, the sun is no longer so high in the sky. Surely, there's an hour at most before it sets behind the other mountains in the west. Additionally, though it was imperceptible back at the well, a wind has begun blowing. It is of medium intensity and does not show any signs of calming down soon. As temperatures begin to drop with the descent of the sun in the west, the addition of the winds makes staying outside after dark very uncomfortable. On the bright side, perhaps, despite the partially cloudy sky, it doesn't rain, yet.
The rest of the workers returning from the well seem a little excited about the new discovery, but for the most part, they just talk about how they'd appreciate a hot stew next to a fireplace between four strong walls, in light of the weather. While listening to them intently, Bryn cannot miss the occasional cough, even once everyone is no longer within the excavation site, and dust is no longer as legitimate of an excuse.
When they finally arrive at the camp, since they're a little earlier, the workers are mostly alone. Anyone still gathering food has yet to return, and the cooks aren't quite done making everyone's dinner yet. Instead, they're once again caught in some heated argument. One could think that's all they do all day, though it seems one way or another, they eventually manage to prepare a meal for such a large group every time. As time passes, however, the rest of the camp's populace appears, little by little, until the camp is as crowded as it was during lunch, except now people tend to their business instead of eating, as dinner is not served yet. If Arren and Bryn search for Nohem, however, they cannot find him, and anyone they ask would say he hadn't returned yet, though they don't seem worried about it.
As for the carriage, Bryn and Arren find the Commandant working inside, using its closed space as protection from the wind, lest all her papers blow away. Walnuts seems to have put up the tents in the meantime, which surely wasn't an easy task with one hand in a splint. If anyone tries to talk to Commandant Nattensbarn, the Lieutenant would stop them, saying she asked not to be disturbed before nightfall as she won't be able to work once it goes dark, due to the wind.
Not long after the sun had set, but while there's still some light outside, the cooks call everyone for dinner, which seems to be made up of stew, mainly, and a few other edible things gathered during the last few hours. Bryn, Arren, the Commandant and Walnuts aren't invited, of course. Arren would notice the woman tending to the ill, taking a small pot containing several rations of the stew and some fresh, uncut vegetables into the tent where she treats the sick, as well as a few spoons, wooden bowls and a knife. She takes enough that he's sure she's planning to feed the sick - those in a condition to eat, at least - but he can't tell if she plans to eat from that too. He doesn't see her eat, in any case, not yet.
When the sun finally sets and its last lights are gone, the Commandant steps out of the carriage. She's clearly in a bad mood and shivers from the cold despite wearing warm clothes, but joins the rest of her crew for a bite off the cold rations, since she can no longer work in these conditions. Some of the camp's other dwellers still sit by a bonfire - to eat the last of their dinner if they haven't finished, chat about the day, sing maybe, or just try to absorb as much as they can from the heat produced by the small flames. Many others retired to their tents for the night, tired from a long day of work, but also to escape the chill brought by the wind.
The woman tending to the sick, Arren notices, hasn't yet left the tent, and Nohem hasn't returned yet. Predak sits by the fireplace at the moment. Not exactly by himself, though he doesn't seem to be part of any conversation, partake in the singing or anything else. He just stares at the flames, from the looks of it.
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