[JackVII]

Mlinzi squatted next to the box and attempted to lift it. "OOOF!" she exclaimed. "Hey Frenchy, can you give me a hand. This rock must weigh a ton." The elf grabbed one handle and waited for the short man to grab the other end. "Let's get out of here."

[Reminder]

Frenchy wanders down the tunnel and grabs an end.

[JackVII]

The team hastily retraced their steps through the dark tunnel and reached the disabled lift platform in short order. Glancing around, Mlinzi stated "I will send Frenchy up first to make sure our way is clear above and Mwindaji can cover the rest of us while we go up. Then we can cover him when he climbs."

The shaman steadied herself as she prepared to cast the series of spells. She had been confident when the team had headed into the mine. Now, her sense of self was shaken. Gathering the mana from the surrounding rock, Mlinzi channeled it and lifted Frenchy up with little effort. The little Frenchman ascended relatively quickly and took up a covering position in the tunnel above. Mlinzi squatted and grabbed hold of the heavy case, making sure to life it with her legs. She once again channeled magic and lifted herself from the floor of the cavern, holding onto the case tightly. Once she arrived at the top of the shaft, she set the case down and breathed heavily. From the bottom of the shaft, the elf fainly heard Mwindaji say, "Get a move on, we don't have all day."

Looking over the edge of the shaft, she spotted Alzmer in the light from Mwindaji's flashlight. "No time for ropes, Mr. Alzmer, I'm bringing you up now. As you can see, it is perfectly safe."

Cast Levitate (F4): Spellcasting (5) + Magic (4) Resist Drain (2S): Willpower (5) + Charisma ( (9d6.hits(5)=5, 13d6.hits(5)=6, 9d6.hits(5)=6, 13d6.hits(5)=3, 9d6.hits(5)=3, 13d6.hits(5)=5)
Easily Mlinzi's best rolls ever,  LOL

[JackVII]

Mlinzi channeled the power of the spirits and levitated Alzmer off the ground and up toward the edge of the elevator shaft. Finally reaching eye-level, the elf held him there dangling. "Frenchy, can you cover Mwindaji while he makes his way up?" The shaman gave the native hunter the signal to start climbing.

Legs kicking the air, Alzmer looked at the elf and asked with equal suspicion and panic, "What do you think you're doing?"

"I said we'd have words, Mr. Azlmer." Mlinzi replied. "While we wait for Mwindaji to get up here, I figured it was as good a time as any. When you found out the spirits had arrived, you said that we had taken too long, as if you weren't surprised. What aren't you telling us? What do you know about the spirits and other threats we might run into that you haven't told us about? I hope it's good. If I get bored, my concentration usually... breaks."

Intimidating Alzmer: Charisma ( - Defaulting (1) (7d6.hits(5)=3)

[Reminder]

He looks hard at Mlinzi
How in the hell is this my fault? I don't know anything about spirits. That would seem to be your job.

[JackVII]

"Who said it was your fault? I'm not going to repeat myself. Once I told you the spirits were here, you said that we had taken too long. Sounds like you knew we were on a timetable. A timetable you didn't tell us about. Look, in order for us to get paid, you apparently have to come back alive. Personally, I can go without the payday if I have to. If it turns out you've been keeping things from us now that I've given you yet another chance to tell us, I'll be happy to let whatever wants to kill you do so. That's how it works." Mlinzi said, pretty much done with the man's attitude and lack of candor.

She slowly levitates him over solid ground and waits for Mwindaji to finish his ascent.

[Ren]

Mutumbo shouldered the rifle and quickly started to climb up the shaft, using the rope and the walls equally.
[spoiler=tests]Assisted climbing upwards:
STR(4) + Gymnastics(4) + Assisted(2) [Physical(5)] (10d6.hits(5)=5)
STR(4) + Gymnastics(4) + Assisted(2) [Physical(5)] (10d6.hits(5)=4)
STR(4) + Gymnastics(4) + Assisted(2) [Physical(5)] (10d6.hits(5)=2)
STR(4) + Gymnastics(4) + Assisted(2) [Physical(5)] (10d6.hits(5)=5)
Takes 4 combat turns to climb up.[/spoiler]

When he reached the top, he asked Mlinzi ”Is this really the time? I’d rather we were out of here and a few kilometers off. Who knows what else dwells here? You’ll have plenty of time to bite his head off later if he deserves it.”

[JackVII]

"Sometimes the land blesses us with opportunity, like a handy pit to drop a lying mgeni down." Mlinzi replied. "If you're done with collecting your gear, let's go."

With Mwindaji taking point and Alzmer following behind, Mlinzi and Frenchy grabbed the case and headed for the mine exit.

[Reminder]

You find you way out of the mine and back to camp, which is halfway through being broken down.

[JackVII]

Mlinzi and Frenchy placed the case in the rear of the Nomad, strapping it down securely. Moving over to help Ultra with the rest of the camp breakdown, she said, "I take it nothing exciting happened up here? We had a few... problems down below, but managed to secure the rocks."

The woman sounded guarded. Between having to fight the spirits and her annoyance with Alzmer, she was not particularly happy at the moment. With Mwindaji near by, she asked, "What now? The mine where we spotted the man and the truck is not too far away. Should we give that a shot? If people are active over there, perhaps the spirits are not?"

[Csjarrat]

The sound of the guys returning from the shaft caught Ultra's ear, swinging his torch beam over at them as they approached.
Thank fuck for that, when I didn't get a reply I was expecting a bloody medevac.
Everyone's alright then? All quiet up here so far, we in a hurry to get moving then?
He raised an eyebrow at the mention of the spirits, looking at the others and their reaction.
Someone wanna fill me in eh?

[Ren]

"Yeah, everyone all right, so let's just get outta here." Mutumbo was still bristling with adrenaline. "And you really think it a good idea to go back to the uncharted mine in the dark? No? Didn't think so. Oh, man, gimme that, i'll pack it quicker." He just took the remains of a tent from Ultra's hands and started to wrap it up in a hurry.

[JackVII]

The elf took the insulting tone in stride. Whatever drug Mwindaji had taken was apparently impeding the few social graces he had.

"Why not? We know where it is. Otherwise we're going to just set-up a random camp in the dark? That sounds like a wonderful idea. At least we have some idea what to expect there."

Ignoring Mwindaji for the moment, Mlinzi turned to Ultra, the decker deserved an explanation. "We ran into a pair of spirits that didn't want us to take the rock Alzmer needed. We put them down. Nothing else bothered us on our way out, but we probably don't want to stay here. You and Frenchy are driving, what do you think?"

[Csjarrat]

Yep, that's fine. Let's get the last of the kit in the van then move.
Ultra recalls the drone to his position, issuing it a "Follow Me" command as he takes the last of the tents down.
He was pretty pissed off. it had taken long enough to put the damn things up in the dark, now he had to strip it all back and start again, this time without the benefit of the dying evening light.
Fuck it, he'd just sleep in the van.

[JackVII]

Mlinzi furrowed her brow but remained silent, quietly packing up the remainder of the gear along with the rest of the team. Ultra seemed entirely focused on taking down the camp as his response didn't make much sense to her. What's fine? she thought to herself. Certainly not whatever it is we're up to out here...Given Mwindaji's altered state, she didn't think it particularly worthwhile to argue about their next destination. When the packing was complete, she hopped in the truck with Ultra, avoiding Mwindaji and Alzmer entirely.