Tall tales of the Odonine

“Someone who knows how to navigate a freaking massive cave system in the dark would be grand. Probably wishful thinking, though.
Other than that? What we had but more.”

Thinking a bit longer, she added.

“So if it really was that mould that affected Voah and Tarmen - would we able to protect us against it? Or would it be enough to just be careful not to touch that stuff?”

A man with a shaved head and a blue woading tattoo on his face that most of you had not paid much heed to, speaks. He is dressed as a clansman but when he opens is mouth he speaks your tongue clearly. Alexis recognises Balt from her first visit to Fang.

"You won't find anyone that can transverse the caves network below. Most of that knowledge is lost to the clans know." He starts. "We know of the people that inhabit the deep but only a select few dare enter what is now there domain..."

“Balt. Greetings.”

Alexis nodded to the man.

“And would you know one of those select few?“

Then she frowned.

“Wait. What people are you talking about?“

"There is a huge abandoned cave system under all of Fang that is likely to extend from here to the Great Desert of Skulls." He said trying to explain. "The clans believe it to be cursed or diseased. And that is why they shun the old ruins and underground cities." He tried to recall what he had learned about the Ypogeios. "Sometimes people are exiled to roam the caves and strongholds of the past. And some believe there are people that live underground. Even though to most they are no more than a rumor, a boogeyman. They call them the Neph-Kin." He declared to the assembled group. "Unfortunately, there is no one in Aquilo that would know or dare the deep."

“‘Course not. That would have just been too convenient, wouldn’t it.”

Alexis sighed, agitatedly pulling some loose strands of black hair from her face.

“So let’s call it as we see it. We’re down to pure luck to find them.”

Despite those words, it was quite clear from her stance to her expression that she was intent on going anyway.

"If your friends have gone missing down there and you couldn't find them, the chances of you finding them grow slimmer by the hour." He said straight. "1 would start making your peace with it."

Alexis looked him plainly in the eyes.

“No.”

Markus looked what Balt and frowned at his bluntness. "Surely they can't be considered dead yet? It's been a few hours only..." He started hesitantly.

There was a bang as Gonyaul caught the tail end of what this new fellow Balt said and dropped some of the climbing gear. He went to pick it up. Had they made the wrong choice in coming topside for help and wasted valuable time.

Balt and Markus looked at the bang behind them. The strange young man had returned.
"What do you have there?" Markus asked seeing the man's vacant expression.

Hunter spoke up, “Then I suggest we use a mask and gloves to avoid the toxic mould and anything else. Staffs and spears can be used feel the ground for holes and traps. We need torches and someone who can map the cave. If there is some people living in the cave and they took Voah and Tarmen alive then they are either being used as slaves or food. So time is not on our side.”

Gonyaul looked to the two men and replied, “supplies for going back down in darkness. Need more.”

Balt looked at the worry in everyone's faces and stoped himself from sighing. He missed being around his own kind. Speak his language.
"Wait here. Let me speak to some of the Odonine..." He said and moved towards the clansmen.

Alexis watched the man go and rubbed her face, before looking at Hunter.

“… Both Tarmen and me have been mapping. It’s hardly my profession, however. Though with Boyce away I doubt we’re lucky enough to have a cartographer running around Aquilo.”