Sick Ducker — Roleplayer Guild

From the first dinghy, boats launched earlier could be observed entering the flooded cave. The Thane's men went in first, followed by two more of the EEC. Wind increased tempo rapidly, flinging about thin wooden crafts like leafs. Two boats went in without accident, and one of the EEC boat even returned to its mother ship. The second EEC boat, however, was barely afloat with five heavy individuals and a stack of containers. The leading man on that boat, a Breton decked out in red-stripped metal plates, shouted obscenity at his rowers. Without surprise, his weight and discouragements played against him and his crew. As a large gust blew, every boat at sea tumbled, but the EEC boat in question capsized. Five sailors casted into frigid waters and goods joining bottom feeding fishes.

Four subordinate rowers clung to various floating objects and were immediately picked up by the returning boat. The armored man, however, was carried off-axis by a wave and paddled desperately to keep his head above water. At this point, The Courtesan's first dinghy was far closer than everyone else. 

“Help!” The drowning man screamed desperately. “I don't want to-” He nearly plunked down but a rising current carried him up, giving him the time to shed his helmet and gauntlets. “Don't let me die!” He cried out while wriggling out of his sabatons. Losing several pieces helped him float, though it was clearly a fast losing battle.

“Heavy armor in a tiny canoe, what could possibly go wrong?” Farid sneered. At his foremost position, the drowning figure came within twice of his arm reach. “Ariane, drag him back with your fancy magic?” He suggested, bringing others in his dinghy to attention.

“That's not how magic works.” Ariane shook her head, apparently not disturbed in the slightest.

“Right, ropes then?” Farid glanced back and forth. “The climb kit!” He noticed. “Solveig, get the ropes out and get the poor sod in.” 

Quick thinking saved life in the end. Ariane threw a feather spell to lighten the drowning man. Even so, the dinghy could only drag, not carry the EEC employee forward. As undeserving as the fool was, getting him safely inside the cave made Farid feel better. “Feeling all cool now?” Farid gloated after dragging the EEC man with the help with two others. Despite his cutting words, Farid gave out his own jacket to staff off hypothermia. 

"Th-thanks." The Breton man's teeth clattered involuntarily. "I, I feel lightheaded."

"Side effect of feather spells." Ariane told him.

Interior of the cave was a lagoon paired with an equal sized platform. There were no stairs, no rope cleats or anything safety related. It was mostly torches brought from boats that provided illumination. Seven sailors stood on a narrow land strip. The lagoon stretched just over a dinghy's length, matched by width barely capable of holding three rowboats side by side. On the ground of the platform was a handful of reflective dust. For some reason, the sailors held their weapons in alarm.

“Magic anomaly.” The sole person with magic knowledge in their group explained. “This one wasn't tough, but it stings like a giant hornet.” 

By the time Keegan came in, the scant few dry land were most filled up by a dozen standing people, and one shivering Breton scrunched up half-alive. “He needs heat.” Ariane told the second dinghy. “Farid will light a fire once we clear the area, but warm food, drink or spells could do him good.” 

“Does hot sauce count?” S'riracha presented a compact can of what could only be his favorite condiment. “I guess not.” He retracted it when some shot him looks reserved for risque children. “Take it easy, just trying to help.” He shrugged.

“Do'Karth? Almad?” Keegan remembered there were at least two person well-versed in healing. “Can you do anything?”

When it finally comes time to move on minutes later, the way forward would be up. There laid a vertical opening of three to four stories not far ahead. Three person could squeeze up, but the only form of ascension were unstable wood rungs nailed into icy walls. These rungs could have been an improvised ladder, but its present state was not functioning at all. In fact the rungs would serve as guides at best. The natural surface were slippery rocks combined with unmelted icicles; nothing but peril.

“Ashav said you're in charge now. What are you going to do?” Having assessed the situation, Farid approached Ariane.

“Levitation? I doubt anyone here knows it.” Ariane responded. “I'm not sure,” she admitted, “bouldering isn't really my specialty.” 

“Don't worry, lass, we've got it covered.” A rugged Nord sailor joined in. As he was talking, the sound of bow drawing, arrow flying, ropes unfurling and metal clinging into stone could be heard. “We've got a grappling hook up there; you just need to tie yourself in and scramble up.”

“Looks solid.” The sailor gave the rope a good tug. Something shook above and chunks of ice came down. The way up felt anything but solid. “Anyone up for the first go?” 

Farid shot his hand up faster than everyone else. He volunteered, but not for himself. “How about Sagax?” A smug grin plastered to the Redguard's face.
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Ill Malard

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