Re: Chapter 2, Phase 4 - Black Rock Chasm
28th Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
Afternoon
Final dive into Black Rock Chasm
It takes a few more moments for the group to agree on the plan for the retrieval of the Librum. After the initial details are smoothed over and polished, Treon goes over the objectives and the procedures one last time, to make certain everyone in assistance will be in perfect synchronicity. A lot of work, perhaps, but the group also realizes that there will be no second chances once the operation is underway - if it fails, the whole of Black Rock Chasm will be alerted. Escaping in this case will be difficult, returning will be nigh impossible. If they cannot complete their task with this one chance, they will have to leave the Librum with the Pelagials, for them to use as they see fit.
This time, there is absolutely no room for failure.
Within the Chasm
The group, alongside Megara and Tethia, manages to make their way downwards to the bottom of the elevator platform without much of a problem. There, they met with Louis, who had remained in hiding at Megara's instruction in preparation for the last chance to snatch the Librum from the Pelagials' grasp. The once-mortal looks rather nervous at the undertaking - after all, his fate lies in the balance of this operation - but nonetheless, even without actual language to help making himself understood, the mutant looks very much ready to take this big risk and help the group with their plan. After Megara explains the details of the proceedings to Louis, everyone gets ready for the actual execution.
Fortunately, with the group's abilities being used as appropriate, coupled with Louis' knowledge of tunnel patrol timings (which he communicates to Megara, acting as his spokesperson), and the approach to the vault comes without a hitch. It is there, however, that the assembled group gets its first glance of the 'real' Pelagials.
Although their features are not as fish-like as Louis' or his mutated brethren's, the creatures are not a pleasant sight. Patrolling the vault area, is is immediately clear just how agile the deformed, fallen race is underwater, their strong manatee-esque lower bodies pushing moving them swiftly and quickly through the Chasm's drowned interior. White, blubbery skin makes them stand out against their nigh lightless surroundings, their deep black eyes and kelp-like hair providing a keen contrast and giving them a sinister appearance. The Pelagials the group sees here carry spears of good make - perhaps even artifacts salvaged from gutted ships, from the look of it.
Breaking through the vault
The vault itself is just as Megara had described it, an immense room stretching upwards through the chasm in a series of concentric circles, each ring displaying doors to six to ten round vault doors. It is a blessing that the savant even knows the room in which the Librum lies - having to search through each of the rooms would be impossible, in the present circumstances. It makes one wonder, at this grand sight, just how many objects of power the Pelagials have in these halls, and how many of them are to be shipped back to their fallen capital, the City of Shining Reefs...
The break-in into the vault starts as planned, but soon enough, the plan starts to go awry: within barely a minute of leading Megara and Louis to the vault door, the group is discovered, leading to an immediate skirmish with a group of three guards while a fourth one rushes for the alarm. With a few precise shots from Tethia, however, that crisis is delayed... But at this point, it cannot be averted completely. The valiant fighting Hera, Treon and Darel are engaged in will only attract further attention, and the group's time is highly numbered.
More guards, accompanied by mutants and automatons, surge into the vault room moments after the group manages to keep the first wave under control. Pushed further back into the vault entrance, the group starts to lose ground further and further, and the situation looks rather bleak... Until a click resounds from behind them, letting them know that Megara and Louis have managed to break into the vault. Quickly, the Librum is retrieved and secured, but now comes the hardest part of all - escaping Black Rock Chasm while it is on high alert.
Spearheaded by Treon's strategic direction, Hera's thunderous, bone-crunching strikes, Darel's swift cunning and bold use of his demonic ally, Tethia's surgically precise bow attacks and Megara and Louis' sideline support, the group manages to launch a desperate, highly dangerous counter-offensive that allows them to take their opponents off-guard and rush into the tunnel from which they came from.
The advance is quick, but the group has to fight for every yard they manage to cross. Wounded, tired and strapped for time, they make an heroic effort to continue pushing onwards, even after waves of Pelagials, mutants and automatons of all kinds seem to block their path. It looks nigh impossible, and someone lesser would have simply given up. And yet, despite the adversity, the rag-tag group manages to fight its way to the elevator door, forcing their way in and immediately pushing for the top. As they go along, a wounded Megara enlists the aid of all in assistance in sabotaging the elevator, putting it completely outside of commission once it reaches the top.
Minutes later, the inky black surface near the Hammerhead is broken. Battered, hurt and exhausted, the group, plus Louis and Megara, make it back to Treon's ship, while the crew hurries up to leave the premises before the Pelagials can launch a full-on counterattack.
It took a lot out of them, but they have succeeded - all of them are alive, and the Librum is safely in their possession.