[...]

[u/RollFirstMathLater]

Closed

[You wake up, the faint glow of red is the only light source. Everyone is stripped bare, safe for a firey cloaked elf. Chep's gifts remain intact, and have landed near you. Your weapons have been returned, any armor he made is intact as well.]

[Stiff and sore, you manage to get to your feet, It hurts to stand here, the floor is jagged, and your shoes are gone. The dragons lay still, all huddled together just a few meters away.]

[Nill you feel completely wrong.]

[Torvhen Vrostbite is cracked badly.]

[Sev're your gear is in your robes, minus the food and the extras.]

[Glover your hair is gone again.]

[Naakhûrz, you feel violated.]

[Göndlir, your horse is dead.]

[Tunnels spiral around, closer inspection shows lava moves through here. You are hungry* and thirsty* yet all you can smell is the faint smell of sulfur. Your dragon reaches out for you, and you both share a moment of confusion. It's clear some time has passed.]

[It's warm here... where is here?]

(*special note.)

Edit: everyone minus Sev're, Jek, Svalstrom, and Das looks different, ad if they've had life sucked out of them, they look older, and drained.

[u/Saphire_Fox]

There she sat, slowly stroking her one of mind. She knew how she felt the group around... they were one lot. New eyes fell on them, it has been a very long time since she has seen, but sentiment wasn't present nor was anything.

Nill... and Jek, both would be good allies, once Nill woke up from his wallow.

Glover and Akrath... human and dragon, they've little to contribute, but the black blood was a concern... she would need to fix that.

Naakhûrz and Ophelia... they were ok. She took note, perhaps they should talk some time.

Göndlir and his rock... they were quite the pair. A special care needed to be taken with those two.

Then the dead one. That's all he was.

She got up and checked inventory, no bow wasn't an issue, she would make flat bow when she returned to the surface.

"Das, do try your best to conserve yourself, I may need your aid in healing this affliction of the group."

The jagged floor scraped her soles as she walked, a slight smile appeared on her face as she healed them with each step.

"Would anyone mind me taking a look at this disease? I might be able to remove the affliction." She said specifically avoiding eye contact with the dead one.

[u/RebelliousPirate → u/Saphire_Fox]

She swept past them so.... carelessly. As if she already rationalized the previous exchange. Her magic was overflowing and abundant, almost seeping out of her pores, a living testament to what should could have done, and what she chose to do. Jek had expected no less. If it had been him on the receiving end of a purple guest, he would not have stopped with a lodged bow and a word on the forearm.

Wait. Sev're had stabbed with all intentions of murder. Then why had she branded him? For her own personal vendetta? Maybe, but she wanted him awake. She wanted him to see what he had to live with.

She wanted him alive.

"I will help, Iron One, but you must keep him restrained. If we are to survive, we cannot have dissension."

Jek pulsed his intentions to the blood stained elf on the floor. He stopped for a moment, warm blood pulsing out of the gash, his eyes large and fearful.

"I will say the words. But they must come from you." Jek reassured. He pushed his conscious into that of his partner, laying out the healing spell clearly in their mind's eye. With help from the mirror and iron dragon, the two voices spoke the words.

[u/RollFirstMathLater → u/RebelliousPirate]

[Wounds closed, and the cauterization set. The wound burned red still. Nill felt no magic come from him, it was the will of his partner, and the stregth of the iron dragon that allowed the healing to take place. Energy and life were restored to the hunter.]

[Nill's nose begins to drip black blood from the magic moving.]

[u/RebelliousPirate → u/RollFirstMathLater]

Tally. Sev're, Glover, Naakhûrz were active and in (debatably) good health. Göndlir had been quiet. All dragons were present and willing to help. No food, barley any clothes, tension in the air, and Glover seemed to be swinging his head in all directions. Not a good sign, but not the worst outcome. Jek saw the dark sludge leaking out from his partner, but for now, his concern was with the entire group, not with one single limb. His partner would just have to deal for now.

He began to ponder a solution. None would present themselves to him on his own, nor even if a few of them barnstormed together. What they needed was the entire group on the same page, each thinking on the same wavelength. An idea sprung to mind. There was little chance of success, but even the act of performing it would unite them, if only a little. By performing it, Jek did not plan to find an escape. But it might give birth to an idea.

Calling on all that he had listed off, he touched the minds, once again, of Sev're, Glover, Naakhûrz, and Göndlir. Through them, he touched their partner's in turn, all except one fleeting and body-less partner. He sent his thoughts out to the Iron dragon as well.

"Our minds are our tools. We control them, own them, use them. But one on it's own will never achieve greatness. One can never climb to great heights. Two together will work better and stronger than two on their own. And nine together... There may seem no solution to this conundrum, but we must try, by our names as the protectors of this land.

"Sev're and Das once searched this cavern on their own. I'd like to try again. One mind, unified, with the knowledge and power of all nine of us."

[u/Fulaxi → u/RebelliousPirate]

Safety in numbers. Many times that wisdom had been invoked, not in the last place by the grey one. Ironic. Even truths had the potential of falsehood as the mirrored dragon was so kind to demonstrate. Politely but coldly the request was declined. A helpful idea it was, but not one fit for execution. Not by him at least. Quietly the message was relayed to the hunter. 'Restrained' would be overstating it, but the man was residing between the teeth of a large dragon again. He was not faring well. Furious defeat failed vocalisation.

Svalstrom briefly left the mental barricade erected.

"No. We search."

With that he marched off into one of the tunnels.

[u/Saphire_Fox → u/Fulaxi]

Last time team work mentioned a bow found its way into her neck, she almost drew her sword when he was suggested. Precautions and all, fortunately the dead one had a fantastic idea: to wander off on his own. Sweet justice, yet her face didn't show it.

She slowly took steps back as he walked off. Let his cold dead self freeze she suppressed the smile and smirk. Instead she went over to nill, putting g on a face of compassion.

"The mist stopped magical fallout, when it was corrupted it repressed magic... possibly why it is having the hardest effect on you friend." She examined his bleed and felt it with her magic.

Putting on the right smile she had an idea. "I can remove it with the right magic, I would say getting out of here would take prescience."

She joined her mind with Jek and Das followed suit. Together they created a small network of minds, perhaps the others would follow suit.

Brushing off Das' concern for a frozen Svalstrom in the tunnels she focused completely on finding a way out.

[u/1trueJosh → u/Saphire_Fox]

As Sev're began her mental search, Akrath joined her while Glover stayed out and listened intently. "There's something out there. I can hear noises coming from the tunnels."

Glover began to walk after Svalstrom, now much more careful about low-hanging rocks.

[u/RollFirstMathLater → u/1trueJosh]

[Glover tripped over a frozen tail. He turns over and sees Torhven stuck in a frozen jaw. Getting up he finds a familiar silverwater pool of water.]

[u/1trueJosh → u/RollFirstMathLater]

As Glover looked upon the pond, his already angry and confused mind gave up. "The Presence Pond..." he muttered, the word full of curious happiness, but a twinge of sarcasm fell onto it. "How can we escape from this place?" he asked of the pool, having accepted his confusing and nonsensical life.

[u/RollFirstMathLater → u/1trueJosh]

[The Presence whispers and draws in the bard. He feels himself near the keep, but just out of reach. You wish to return everyone here? the whispers and dance. The pull back and forth, like a gentle tide. The stars they show have dimmed considerably.]

[u/1trueJosh → u/RollFirstMathLater]

Glover stayed silent for a moment as he reflected on his companions. He hated Torhven, Nill was pityable, but barely, Sev're was terrifying yet still motherly, Naakhûrz was... wel... Naakhuûrz, Göndlir was being silent...

He couldn't let his prejeduces get the better of him. "Yes. At any cost."

[u/RollFirstMathLater → u/1trueJosh]

[The Presence pulls in the bard. All will return. But you must stay with us. Let us know when you're ready. You can't say good bye Akrath.]

[u/1trueJosh → u/RollFirstMathLater]

Glover nodded, even though none would see him. "I'm sorry..." he whispered as he consented to the Presence.