Survival was something Vesra could understand. The druid tucked the flower behind his ear, acting as a temporary form of trust. 

"I'm doing alright," Vesra turned her back on the pirate and signed to Veythe. She liked the human bard, she was so sweet. By the suns, perhaps she was starting to turn into her sister, taking a liking to so many of the hairy people. "Are you? It's a dangerous world, and adventuring is not the easiest occupation. I hate that so many have died today, but I would hate even more if someone made it onto the team that couldn't pull their weight."

"We should move to wherever the closest exit is," she announced in common. "That stone is far too stubborn to let us through. Gerbur, can you lead us there? Orel, you are welcome to join us."

The goblin cried out from Kayn's kick, his wounds still very fresh. Orel looked quizzically at those speaking to him, but said nothing.

Gerbur pointed to the wall with shaky a shaky hand. "Tools on other side. Gerbur saw nulls, screamed, and ran, dropping tools in process. Now wall there. Maybe Gerbur punch wall until it break? Like big human?" He tries to stand but winces, doubling over in pain and collapsing against the cavern wall again.

Veythe blinked in surprise when she felt a hand on her ass and looked at Vasha with a considering gaze. The kor woman was very pretty she had to admit--she just didn't expect the grab. After a second Veythe laughed softly and gave Vasha a wide smile.

"My pleasure," she purred, as tired as she was this was a development that seemingly revitalized her. She glanced to Vesra. "I'm good. The fall is the only thing that hurt, and even then I'm pretty sure it's just a big old bruise." Veythe's grin turned positively wicked. "Fairly certain I've had more damage in bed than this little endeavor." She glanced to Vasha. "Thank you, for that assist." Her lips pressed together. "I'm so damned useless. Should have brought something better than angel."

When Ato came up she glanced to him. She'd heard Orel's story and a part of her felt a bit touched by the mutiny, but Veythe remembered that words could be tricks, but actions spoke louder. His assistance was questionable, but she accepted it for what it was--assistance. It saved them at least, and the way he looked at Vasha...Veythe narrowed her eyes as she carefully removed Vasha's hand from her ass.

"Some sort of ship captain," she mumbled to Ato. "Something about a mutiny and survival." She huffed. "He helped, at least, but beyond that I don't know. He seems...trustworthy? Or as trustworthy as anyone else is."

We're getting nowhere. Kayn sighs and shakes his head at the goblin. Useless.

He takes a moment, as if concentrating, holding the wall beside him. He speaks as he does so, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear him, "Null have no use for equipment. We can find something useful on meals they left. So far I do not see any threats nearby. The tunnels south are clear." He begins moving as he says this, hand touching the wall as he creeps further south down the tunnels.

"Yes... yes.  The whole tunnels are clear. Only one way out. Swim."

Ato nods at Veythe's assessment of the newcomer. "No, trustworthy may be a bit much, but perhaps an alliance for now." He raised his voice, speaking to the group now.  "None of us have much reason to trust each other yet, this comes with time and must be earned.  You are wise to mistrust us, ships captain, and we you, as we all seek survival before aught else today.  But, if we are to get out of these damnable tunnels, then we must put some trust in each other and work together for now. I have no objection to you joining us and trying to find a way out of here.  You came from the south - was there any sign of an exit that way?  I suspect not, else you'd not be here now."

Kayn leads the group to the carnage south of the large pool and points out to the pool, "The rest of the bodies are in there. That is also where big bow elf's bow is." He assists Ato in finding anything valuable. It would have been dumb idea to not at least look on bodies. They are eager to leave, but we must be thorough. 

"I'll be right behind you," Vesra says, although she's not sure if anyone was paying attention to her. Instead of going with the rest of the group, the druid knelt beside Gerbur, who didn't look to be making any sort of movements to follow them.

"Little one, we're going to get moving now. Why..." The question died in her throat as she noticed his leg. If he was a softer species, such as a human or kor, the bone would have probably broken through the flesh. Compound fractures were awful at best. "Oh, Gerbur. I'm going to try and reset this for you. It's going to really hurt for a minute, but then it should get better." Vesra didn't wait for him to give her permission, immediately re-breaking and setting the leg. She didn't have many tools, so she was forced to make a splint out of a few of her torches. It didn't take long, and it wasn't perfect, but at least he should be able to walk.

"Come on, let's get caught up to my friends," she said with a smile, offering a hand to lean on to the goblin. Vesra had to pick up the pace to catch up to the rest of the party, but since she didn't care much for looting she didn't think she would have missed out on much.

Following the goblin to the site of the carnage where the null feasted upon the less-fortunate applicants, Ato takes in the scene with a look of horror on his face. "Gods, this could so easily have been us instead.  If we hadn't teamed up..." He lets the words trail off and begins to pick through the mess with the goblin's assistance. "What is your name, wizard? I admit to some lack of faith in your abilities, but you've proven yourself resourceful down here - and a potent wizard as well.  I am called Ato."  What's left of the bodies are mutilated beyond any recognition of who they once were. Armor beyond use, either due to it being broken for the nulls to flay open their chests to eat what's inside or for some other reason. Limbs and smaller bits of limbs everywhere, with blood splattered against the walls. One of the applicants heads has been cracked open and the brain missing.

As they search, one or the other occasionally bends down and picks something out of the scattered bodyparts, tossing them to one of the others nearby. Soon enough, a small collection of items, weapons, assorted coin is amassed and Ato seems satisfied he's found anything of value or use that's left. (OOC Loot list: a broadspear, an explosive fire flask, a hook sword, 19 copper pieces, 12 silver pieces, and 4 gold pieces.)

Ato plucks the broadspear from the pile. "If there are no objections, I'd claim this for myself, as it's a weapon common among my kind.  I haven't had much need for such a weapon lately, but if the events of today are any indication, perhaps I should be better outfitted for combat than I am right now."

The goblin wasn't nearly as taken aback as the others with the carnage. They all had soft flesh for a reason... easier for the beasts to have a midday meal. That's why his tribe was so good at catching and taming those beasts.

When Ato introduces himself while they're searching, it takes him off-guard. "I am called Kayn," he says, "Trained by Archmage Lillith. I know your hesitation to underestimate me, and it is ok. Goblins are normally stupid and untrusted." He stops for a moment before adding, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Ato. I am thinking my abilities and skills will become better seen in the future." 

"Untrusted perhaps,  but in my experience, not so stupid.  Your kind can be quite challenging to hunt down. Cunning. I think we've all much to learn about each other, Kayn. I'm glad to have met you as well."

Kayn nods to Ato, "Not hard to hunt down. Just show them a shiny stone and they will find you." He turns back to the rest of the group, "I will take you to the water tunnel now." 

He leads the group to the tunnel flooded with water. Once there, he states, "This, I think, Is the only way out. I do not know if it connects to that water."  He points in the direction of the pool and adds, "But it will lead us out of here."

Veythe trails after the three, lips pressed thin. She did not want to get back into the water.

"Is this truly the only way out?" she asked Ato and the goblin Kayn. "Sharks I don't worry too much on, we can kill those I suppose." Not without getting hurt but then Veythe didn't like their chances of staying in the cave either. She was more worried about the damage the salt water would do to her precious instruments. That and she didn't want to even think about swimming when her arms and legs felt a bit like lead.

Neither Kayn nor the slave goblin liked the idea of more water either. "Is ok, I think. The sun will be hot and nice outside," his thoughts aren't really on that, it's how nice the dirt on the ground will feel after another dip in this salty water. He could already feel a few chitin scales peeling from the last dip. Gross! Water is the worst.

"Alternative is have Kor lady talk to rock again." He nods at the possibility, and he'd be more than happy to give her another shot. She was too inexperienced right now, but her power would grow.

Ato stands with the others, looking out over the sunken arena, scanning for any sign of the sharks they had avoided earlier. At Vasha's question, he turns his attention to her instead, re-focusing on the task at hand. "I can scout the tunnel, of course.  I do seem to be the best suited for that particular task," he offers with a wry grin. "The darkness will be the bigger problem for me.  Kayn, Veythe - can either of you provide some sort of magical light I can carry with me? I can't very well carry a flame in my hand down there."

He looks down into the mouth of the flooded tunnel. If this is the way out, hopefully it doesn't go far, else it's useless to the rest of you as a way to get out of here."

Veythe shifted forward and grabbed one of Ato's daggers. She pulls out her component pouch and pulls out a small firefly and some moss that glows faintly in the darkness. She shifts to also grab her pan flute. She grabs Ato's hands and forces him to cup the components together and pulls the flute to her lips. With a light, airy trill of music Veythe shapes the arcane energy to pull from the firefly and the moss. There is a small twist of light and the two components vanish, leaving the dagger glowing with pale light.

"Good?" Veythe asked.

"Vashie, I don't-" the druid could feel herself beginning to hyperventilate at the idea of going underwater again. Her hands shook as she signed. "Give me a minute, I need to take a walk and talk to someone."

Vesra left her sister abruptly, leaving Gerbur with her. She walked back to the pebble and the wall, reminding herself to breathe deeply. It didn't work, but she had to try.

The Kor rested her head against the earthen wall and shut her eyes tightly. "Do you mind if I talk to you for a little bit? I just need someone to listen," she said aloud, speaking softly so her voice didn't echo. "Vasha is so busy ogling humans and trying to get us out of here, I don't want to worry her just yet."

"I know it's silly, but the idea of swimming is scary," she continued, after waiting for a long moment in silence for the rock to respond. It didn't, but that didn't faze her. "You and I are a lot alike in that regard; we both sink. I feel so useless right now. Like I'm a deadweight that someone has to lug around." She sighed, opening her eyes and letting a small amount of her power course through her words. "If I could just get you to open up to me, maybe they would see that I do have some use."

The wall, of course, did not respond. It did not move. It did not speak to her in the gravelly voice she had heard before. It just existed.

"Well, thanks for listening," Vesra smiled. "I appreciate it."