[JackVII]

With Mwindaji covering the tunnel, the elf levitated the remainder of the party down the shaft. Starting with Alzmer, the elf called on the magic of the spirits to carefully brings him down. With his eyes closed, Alzmer held onto the rope with a death-grip; Mlinzi paused occasionally so that the man could readjust his grip on the rope.

As soon as the researcher reached the bottom, Mlinzi dropped the sustained spell and targeted Frenchy. With the precautions taken with Alzmer, Frenchy was forced to carry the researcher's kit down the shaft, but not having to actually climb the rope made the task significantly easier.

Once all of the group had reached the platform. the elf asked, "Are we ready?"

Two Castings of Levitate (F4): Spellcasting (5) + Magic (4) Two Drain Resistance (DV2S): WIL (5) + CHA ( (9d6.hits(5)=1, 13d6.hits(5)=4, 9d6.hits(5)=4, 13d6.hits(5)=4)

.

[Reminder]

Topside, the air was clear and a fair bit noisier than in the mine given the stirrings of nocturnal insects. Occasionally a pair of eyes would catch some stray reflection of light, but none approached the campsite.

In the mine, things were much quieter. Alzmer had mounted the cutting laser to the wall, the laser working in a circular pattern, digging ever deeper into the rock, nearly silent in its motion. Though there was no way for you to tell the torches progress, Alzmer assured you it was making headway.

Finally, the light of the torch faded, and after allowing the rock to cool, Alzmer withdrew a conical section of rock about 24 inches in height. Holding it out to Mlinzi, he spoke softly.

You see the tiny blue flecks in the rock? They are far too small for use in jewelry, but should provide enough for sampling their properties when they are removed.

As he spoke, he smiled for the first time in a while. And the rock was kind of pretty, the way the tiny bluish gemstones reflected the light.

As Mlinzi studied the rock, she was distracted by a voice in her mind. Why do you take these things from the Earth. Looking up, she made out two spirits in the astral, flanking her and Alzmer in the tunnel.

[JackVII]

Mlinzi looked on the rock with wonder. It is beautiful... she thought as Alzmer spoke, the weak light refracting off the cone of rock. Happy that they had concluded this task, Mlinzi was about to contact Frenchy and Mwindaji when the voice entered her head. Her astral sight picked out the two spirits hovering near her and Alzmer.

Breathing in sharply, she said out loud, "Great Spirits!" Bowing her head out of respect, she mentally responded to the spirit's query. Great spirits! Forgive us our for coming to your home! We believe something of concern may have happened that changed the Earth. The man needs to take only a small piece to see if that is the case. I am very concerned,

Assensing Spirits: Assensing (2) + Intuition (4) (6d6.hits(5)=2, 6d6.hits(5)=2)
Assensing the spirits if possible, 2 hits on each test

Let me know if I need to roll an Etiquette test or something.

[Reminder]

They are free earth spirits, from what you can tell. You can't tell what their force is.

The two legs that hold themselves above the earth changed it. Many were made unto aether. Earth bleeds tears of stone. This is her blood. It calls to us. It is ours.

There is a pause, and the voice in your head is replaced with another. You cannot tell from which spirit the words come, but you can tell the second is speaking now.

The one is of the earth. The other two not.

[Csjarrat]

<<@team:://How you getting on guys? clear up here for the time being//>>

[Ren]

Mutumbo looked around alarmed at the words from Mlinzi. He saw nothing and that made him shiver. Great, spirits, he thought, wishing he had a third hand to hold a jazz popper at the ready as well. He didn’t light the magnesium torch yet though, lest they take it as offense.
Remembering the peaceful days, what the tribe’s shaman tried to tell people, he began a silent prayer to appease the spirits and avert their possible wrath from the team.

[Reminder]

After a pause, Mlinzi replies.

"Great Spirits, look into my aura and know that I speak the truth. I cried alongside the Earth when the two-legs who hold themselves above the Earth changed her. My parents were lost to me that day. I want to punish those two-legs for what they have done to the Earth and my parents. They have plans for the blood tears of the Earth, but I know not what they are yet. I humbly ask that you let us take this small tear so I can uncover those plans."

The response of the spirits comes faster

You may seek the showing. Do the others?

The second voice finishes.

What trade do they offer? What trade is worth blood of the earth?

As they are speaking Alzmer cuts in. We really should put that in the box.

[JackVII]

Switching to her terrestrial voice, Mlinzi says, "Mr. Alzmer, I'm at this very moment bartering over your rock with two spirits who apparently lay claim to it. You might want to shut the frag up unless you want to be buried down here..."

Raising her voice enough to carry down the passageways, the elf calls out, "Gentlemen, we have visitors. Please come..."

Smiling at the spirits, she sends to them, "Please forgive the young two-legs, he is blind and weak like a wingless bat." Getting down to business, she continued,  "I will seek the showing. I cannot speak for the others, they are unfamiliar with the ways of the earth. What could we offer of value to the spirits that you do not already have?"

[Ren]

Bartering? With the spirits? Oh, man, why can’t she leave us out of it? She’s the shaman, after all, ain’t she?” Despite his misgivings, he drew closer to Mlinzi and Alzmer, although he kept about 6 meters distance. He acknowledged with growing unease, maybe even a little fear, that whatever the elf decided to agree on, the spirits might try and force on them, too. That was why he didn’t like the denizens of the spirit realms, because he wasn’t able to represent himself, and he didn’t understand their needs and goals. At the same time, though, he knew from stories that earth spirits were stronger and more stubborn than a charging rhino, so he had no inclination to fight them here. Or anywhere at all, if that could be managed.

[Reminder]

Smiling at the spirits, she sends to them, "Please forgive the young two-legs, he is blind and weak like a wingless bat." Getting down to business, she continued,  "I will seek the showing. I cannot speak for the others, they are unfamiliar with the ways of the earth. What could we offer of value to the spirits that you do not already have?"

Blood of Earth without price. Blood calls to blood. Can you make that unmade? What have you?

[JackVII]

If blood calls to blood, then blood the Earth shall have...

Mlinzi drew her survival knife and set it to her palm. With a swift jerk and wince, she sliced the meaty part of her palm near her thumb. Squeezing her fist, her blood ran between her fingers and dripped to the ground. Opening her hand, the elf placed it inside the hole Alzmer had cut into the rockface and smeared it on the sides of the hole.

[Ren]

Mutumbo watched in horror as Mlinzi drew her knife and cut herself, doing Gods knew what kind of blood magic. He prayed even more fervently. Beads of sweat rolling down his neck, unease slowly turned into fear, but his word still kept him in place.

[Reminder]

Spirits! Here?!?Alzmer looks around wildly. We took too long!

As he finishes speaking, the two spirits materialize in the tunnel.

[JackVII]

"Shut up," Mlinzi sayid sternly to Alzmer. "We'll have words later... hopefully."

The shaman bowed her head in respect to the spirits. Clenching her blood-seeping fist, she said, "I have given to you what I can. If you seek more, then say your terms."

[Ren]

As soon as the spirits materialized, Mutumbo lit the magnesium torch. He didn't quite feel comfortable with them in the dark. When the torch was lit, he dropped it and took a jazz popper from his pocket, and waited for developments.