Mine Your Own Business

[BlueMoon]

Open to about three others. Please PM me if you wish to join
It had become dark quickly. Very dark. The sound of rumbling was just slowing and dust choked the air from Gavin’s lungs. The dwarf, who was short even by dwarf standards, had just missed being caught in the wrong side of a cave in; the underside. He had no time to celebrate, however, because the wooden beams that worked to support the walls of the mine were creaking. He began charging as fast as he could toward what he knew to be the way out but he was too late. Large chunks of rock blocked any passage down this path. The small dwarf glanced over his right shoulder to see another way he could go, but he knew this way was long and complicated. It was going to be a few days travel.

******

Elam wandered into the little mining town beaten, worn, and agitated. He had gotten lost on the back roads and Ongaku had thought it a good time to begin teaching him to use his shaman powers. The first plant he talked to was a daisy. Elam had the bright idea of asking the dainty little flower for directions. Both the god and shaman quickly realized that flowers were not the best for asking direction.

“Yeah, what would a flower know about directions anyways? They never move!” Elam muttered under his breath as he looked around the small town in the middle of nowhere.
Oh stop your blathering, it was your idea in the first place! I was simply attempting to train you in the working of my miracles.
“Oh yes. You had no intentions of asking it for directions since you suggested I learn to speak flower right after I thought ‘Maybe we should ask someone for directions’!” he retorted aloud. Several people turned to look at this strange man screaming to the air. Elam licked his lips as his eyes darted to each and every one of them.
Imbecile! I told you not to speak to me with your breath! Think to me! And never speak to your god like that again?
Oh? And just what are you going to do? Sick a daisy on me?

Elam felt a burning sensation in his head. It gave him a headache but it was worth it. Ongaku was pissed off, something that humored the shaman to no extent. Just as he thought his amusement would never end a very short dwarf caked with far more dirt than he approached him. Elam’s eyebrow raised in question. The dwarf bowed, which caused several pieces of rubble to drop from his hair. “I knowsh a shaman when I sheesh one. Perhapsh you can be of shervice?”

Hmm I smell an opportunity.
And I smell dirt, lots of it.

“I am one of few shurvivorsh from a cave in inshide the mine near thish very town. Sheveral of my companionsh are shtill trapped and the minesh have become unshtable. Pleashe, I beg of you, find my friendsh down there!” the dwarf pleaded.
“How the hell did you know I was a shaman?”

[Caerah]

After several days of wandering the area, Caerah was delighted that she had been fortunate enough to stumble upon this quiet little town the previous day. Sadly she couldn't remember the last time she had slept in a comfortable bed, let alone a comfortable bed she didn't have to share with unpleasant bugs...

The town was a small mining town, populated largely by dwarves. Deep set into the surrounding land were several very productive mines, producing all many of ores. Being a dwarf run town, efficiency was top notch in most things, though the food was less than stellar. Though she would never admit it, Caerah liked the way the dwarves did business. It reminded her of the strict working rules of her family's business (though her cooking was more than a little better).

Today the sun was shining, and it seemed like nothing could go wrong. Sitting down to enjoy her late breakfast, she sighed.

I don't get nearly enough days like this one... If I don't get to relax every so often my brain's going to explode soon enough and that would make my life difficult.

Shortly after eating roughly half of her slightly stale sandwich, she caught the glare from something off in the distance. Shading her eyes with her hand against the sun, she was able to make out a man running down the street. He seemed to be shouting something though she couldn't make out what.

So much for a peaceful day. What kind of mess is this now I wonder...

As the man came closer she was finally able to hear what he was shouting.

"Collapse at the mine! Collapse at the mine! We need men to go help with the rescue!"

Glancing around to see if anyone was making a move to help, Caerah realized that at this time of day all the men would be out working the mines. She saw a few elderly dwarves whom were too old to be out working normally searching for their old tools. Standing and walking into the path of the man asking for help she waited for him to get closer.

Upon his approach she spoke, "Excuse me sir, where is the mine that's fallen in? I'll do what I can to help the men inside."

The man stared openly at her before almost laughing in spite of the seriousness of the matter at hand. "Listen here missy, a mine's no place for a woman like yerself to be goin'. Just stay in town like a good'un and leave this to the menfolk."

Becoming rather red from anger, Caerah narrowed her eyes at the man. "Listen you, there ARE no 'menfolk' around right now except for senile old dwarves. I can help these people, so please tell me where they are!"

Swallowing hard, the man said nothing but pointed off into the distance. Thanking the man briefly before taking off at a run in the direction he had pointed, Caerah thought back to the man's words.

What AM I doing? Sure I can help heal those men who are hurt, but it's not like I'm strong enough to actually dig anyone out from under a cave in... Oh well, if I stop now that guy'll just make fun of me...

[BlueMoon]

“Why, you hash that grand staff, you are covered in dirty ragsh, but you shtill hash a look of wishedom,” Elam scratched his beard considerately. He supposed he would have a wise look about him.
“Alright, where is this mine of yours?” he said compliantly.
You’re going to do it? Just like that? No fuss?
Yeah, but don’t let it go to your head. I’m not doing it for YOU.
“Thanksh sho much great shaman! The authoritiesh wouldn’t do nothing. You hassh to lead an expedition into the minesh and find my friends. The mine ish way too unstable to try to ecshavate. You hash to go around the cave-insh to find them.”

Elam wrinkled his nose. He expected that he would be moving a few rocks aside to pull out some dwarves. Now he was going to be traveling in what may be vast dank caverns for a group of pint-sized miners who may not even be alive by the time he got there. ”How many?“ he said sharply. The dwarf was obviously taken aback by the shaman’s sudden change in attitude because he began to stutter,”Well... what?“
“How many of them are there then? I can’t just go stumblin’ around in the dark looking around for a bunch of dwarves if I don’t know how many there are trapped there, can I?” he snapped.
“Erm, well sir not all of them are dwarves,” he corrected and watched the ragged man expectantly, only to see him raise and eyebrow threateningly, “there’sh five! We counted five of them mishing!”
The dwarf cowered and covered his face as if he were going to be hit at any moment. Shaman were known for being patient and passive people from the stories he had heard. This man seemed like he would strike at any moment if given the wrong cue.

“Now where would I find the entrance to this mine of yours?” Elam said, now with a sly smile on his face. The short man had a look of absolute confusion as he moved his arm from his face cautiously. He stared stupidly at the aggravated shaman.
“Oh! It’sh shtraight down that road out the town. You can’t mish it.”

[Taskmienster]

This thread has been sitting for a full year. Since no response has been made to create activity I am going to be moving this. If you would like it to be reopened please feel free to PM myself or another admin and they will be able to move it for you back to Scara Brae.