This type of work was not Ellangil's forte. He was a warrior. He left scouting to those with the skills. He did not worry about others thinking less of him because of any lack of skill because he was certain his combat effectiveness had been put on display during both of the Null encounters. As the group discussed options, it became more apparent that they were all going into the water. He did not mind the swimming but was concerned at how well they could fight the sharks in the water. 

"If we are going to fight these sharks, doing it from range would be best. I remember the elf with the greatbow being in the central cavern. If that is retrievable, I will be more able to assist in killing those things. I do not see good odds in us fighting sharks in the water." Other than adding this two bits to the conversation, he continued listening to possible plans. Ato searching would definitely help them better in determining a good strategy.

Kayn saw the Kor Invoker walk off. And, his interest peaked, he followed. 

She was whispering softly. He didn't try to hide his presence, but he was in the darkness of the cave. "It is the voice of Zendikar you hear, Invoker," he says. "Khalni is the name of the controller of the roil. That is what you hear. You kor watch its power from above, so have never touched it. It is a power stronger than any, and it only speaks to few."

The goblin moves closer to Vesra and adds, "Do not underestimate it... you call it a rock. It is much more." He nods, as if more to himself than to her. She will need more time to harness Khalni. It must be difficult. Finally he turns to rejoin the others.

It had seemed as if the group was discussing their options and what to do next when the crazy kor woman just wandered off along, then Kayn had followed after her.  Next he knew the sister walked away as well and plopped down as if for a nap.  What was going on? At least the barbarian seemed to still be paying attention to the task at hand.

"Very well, then, I'll scout the tunnel first and see where it leads before we decide if it's worth the risk to try and recover the bow." He hefts the glowing dagger and nods appreciatively. "A fine trick, Veythe, thank you. This will do fine indeed." He resheaths it, cutting off the light it emits, then walks down the descending tunnel, the water climbing as he does so. He thinks it best to swim in as far as the light from behind him allows any sight, to check if there appears to be any light visible from the far end before using the light form the dagger and exposing himself in the process. He moves cautiously ahead, searching the tunnel for danger, as well as any branches to one side or the other.

"What?" Vesra was startled by the little goblin's voice, as she hadn't noticed him follow her. Kayn spoke as if he knew more about her than she knew about herself, which was odd to say the least. He acted like he knew exactly what she was. "I don't think- I'm not what you think I am," the druid said as he turned to leave.

"Wait!" The kor woman grabbed him by the hand. She had so many questions, and he was the first person she had ever met that seemed to understand much of anything. "Why do you think that? Why me?"

"I can not answer those questions. The roil chooses who it chooses. I've read many books, and Invokers fascinated me in that reading. Your actions and words show you are connected with Khalni. Khalni likes you..." Kayn wasn't used to the attention, and it made him feel awkward. "I thought you a druid," he adds, "But you are not... you are Invoker. Imagine the power you can harness if you nurture that..." He seems to have forgotten the word he was trying to say. It then comes to him, "Relationship. With Khalni. Khalni will only give its heart to a few. In my culture, it is called Anmoth. But the goblins rarely respect that power, and live very short lives because of their idiocy."

He honestly didn't know what else to say. It was all the real knowledge he had on Invokers. He asked his master at one point, but she dismissed the question as if it were part of a personal issue she didn't want to discuss. He thinks at one point she may have been an Invoker. That only made him dig for more information about it. How it works, or why, was never written in a tome.

"I do not know what else to say," he says, looking at her hand on his. 

"Thank you," the druid smiled, giving his hand a little squeeze before releasing it. She stood in silence for a few minutes, but the need to talk to someone eventually pushed her to speak. "I never wanted power. I wanted to be kind, I wanted to make my sister happy, and I wanted to be a good listener. That's all I am. Just the girl with the flowers and the fire." She hadn't realized it, but tears were starting to prick at the corners of her eyes. Vesra wiped them away with a half-hearted laugh. "I'm sorry, I'm making you uncomfortable. Thank you for listening."

Vesra turned to walk away, a whole host of new thoughts weighing heavily on her mind.

She is confused. Odd, he thought he answered her. She should be happy and embrace that power. He then remembered something... all Invokers were odd.

That caused Kayn to chuckle to himself as he followed her back to the group.

What if I am what he says?  Vesra thought to herself, walking slowly back to the tunnel where the rest of her newfound friends were. What if this power, that seems to ebb and flow like the tides, is something more?

The tides.

"Carnations," the kor cursed loudly and suddenly. She took off at a sprint, stopping only when she saw her sister. "High tide," she said, worry in her face, as she grabbed her sister by the hand and began to tug her up. "In less than an hour, it's going to be high tide. These tunnels will flood and we'll be trapped."

Veythe squeaked. "Trapped?" she looked Versa over, then glanced to Vasha, then the goblin and the humans and back towards the water where Ato disappeared. "An hour? How in the hell are we going to get out then?"

Veythe clenched her fists, closed her eyes. She stroked her fingers down her pan flute and glanced toward the rest of her instruments. "Hush babies," she muttered. "Mama's not gonna let you all drown." She looks to Versa again. "What do you suggest, Versa? Should we just...swim?"

The wait seemed to be weighing on his companions. Kayn sat on the stone floor against a wall instead, massaging his footsies. "Is not bad," he says, "I bet he be back soon."

A thought occurs to him and he yells to the goblin in his own tongue, "Slave! Entertain my friends."

Gerbur jumped to attention at the master's command, hobbling onto his feet, with his splinted leg, and tried to dance. It only lasted for a few seconds, as his dancing caused Vesra's splint to give way and snap, causing him to crash into the floor with a loud snap. Gerbur's femur was protruding through his skin now, with bright, red blood squirting out in quick bursts. He howled in pain once again, grabbing his leg.

Orel looked over the situation in pity. "Why doesn't any of you just put the goblin out of their misery?" he asked frankly. "This is just torture letting him live like this."

Kayn wooooooo's for a good five seconds before bursting out in laughter. The stupid goblin tried to dance on a broken leg! Its been awhile since he's had the company of a pariah. Of course, the whole tribe would be laughing right now in a normal goblin society. Right now, the companions all just seemed to stare.

"What...?" He asks, "I thought he would make faces or something. Not my fault stupid goblin wanted to dance." 

After what must have seemed an eternity, Ato finally reemerges from the water-filled tunnel, apparently unharmed. He moves quickly to rejoin the waiting group, a look of excitement on his face. "A way out!" he reports, "and not far underwater. I'm sure you'll all be able to make it with some effort."

"The tunnel runs about 60' to a shaft up to a small cave where you can all get some air. Beyond that, a longer stretch, but the open ocean and freedom at the end that will be a harder swim for you all, I'd guess about 2 minutes of so, holding your breath."

Kayn hopped back up to his feet and smirked at the wailing goblin. "His master will find him here. If he swims he'll just attract sharks," he says as he walks by.

He stretches a few times, waggles his arms and legs, and says, "Ok. I am ready. Does small cave fit us all?"

Ato could see the fear for her sister in Vasha's eyes, the worry fueling her anger. He placed a hand on her shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze. "I will, you have my oath on it. I will do everything in my power to get her, and all of you out safely. It will be difficult, but not impossible."

To Kayn's question, Ato nods. "Yes, room for all to get out and catch your breath."

Ellangil waited patiently ... and then impatiently ... for Ato to return. Twenty minutes seemed too long for a scouting mission and worried that the group was about to turn into a search party. Luckily the Mer came back and with good news. He had found a way out. Now he worried about Orel and the comment made by the Vampire about 'seven applicants remained'. The barbarian only hoped that Vielara would allow 7 and that the bloodshed would end.

The situation with the goblin was getting out of control. First Vesra keeps trying to heal it and then Kayn keeps kicking it and messing the little idiot up. Orel might have gotten this one right by suggesting they put it out of its misery. His hand made it as far as the pummel of his bastard sword when he could feel eyes burning the back of his skull. It had to be Vesra. The barbarian let go of his weapon and decided not to mess with the situation.

Ellangil didn't wear anything that was going to weigh him down, so he stood by the water ready to jump in and get this over with once Ato led the way. They needed to get out of this place and back to the surface. He could think of few things better than the feel of the warm suns beating down on his face right now.

Vesra's heart broke with the goblin's leg. But she didn't have time to set and reset the leg again. Did that make her a terrible person? Was she turning bad? No, she couldn't let that happen. With a sigh, she got up and patched up the little goblin again. "We can't leave him," she said, with fire in her eyes. "In half an hour, all of these tunnels will be flooded and he will drown. He is coming along."

"I'll be fine," Vesra placed a hand on her twin's shoulder. Her already almost white face had gained an extra note of pallor, but she was sick of her sister having to bear the weight of the world for the two of them. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."

Perhaps if she said it enough times, it would become true.