[IFRP] Exodus: The 8th Tribe

IMPORTANT: This role play will be driven by the POINT System, or the Play On INTuition System. Since the plot is mostly user driven every action you make in rp will be adding up and effecting the world around you. You may find that as a result of your carelessness your family is hurt or someone you don't even know may die. Watch every move you make and use your best intuition, because the points are adding up.

Other Important mumbo-jumbo:
This is an Open rp, so anyone can join in.
The keyword for this RP is "Exodus"

"Break time!" yells a young man down the tunnel. After a few seconds the sound of steel hitting rock quiets and five men emerge from the tunnel. They take a seat and an elderly one takes a small transistor radio. He flips a switch and static starts to play.

"Hey, has it started yet?" asked a younger man as he and his dirty companions enter the nexus from a connecting tunnel.

"Just a second, I'm trying to find the band." After a few more seconds of fiddling the static slowly turns into a voice.

"...broadcasting from out Orld studio, this is Rainman with your tribal news. Traffic between Ation, Ntail, and Frica is currently at a stand still. The main pedestrian lifts between these 3 Tribes are currently under maintenance after last week's quake, so try not to go to the markets unless you need to today. The only current available method of travel to Ntail is currently civilian ladders and foot paths as well as the train system, although trains between Frica and Ntail are currently designated as goods transport only due to the lift issues. As far as travel in all other areas go, the checker is green."

"The weather is dry at the upper tribes with some wetness on lower tribes. The flood warning for lower Nite is currently at a 7, so it looks like it will be good digging today. We would also like to remind everyone that while there have been no after shocks from last week's quake please remember that aftershocks are random and can happen at any time, so please make sure to keep your Emergency Location Transponder(ELT) on you at all times just in case of a collapse."

"On the political side of things the council of 7 will be having a cession later today on aid to the victims of last month's flooding in Nite as well as deliberating on increasing military force due to the rise in terrorist attacks as of late. As most everyone knows the terrorist group Memento Mori was responsible for the recent attack on the Ation opera house that resulted in the deaths of 15 Bolens, 19 Ations, and 3 Ntails as well as the injuries of 56 others. The military is investigating all leads on this case."

"On a lighter note, this Saturday will be the start of the 3 day religious holiday marking the anniversary of the great migration. All train fare to Bolen will be free during the holiday, but you must present your IDs for free fare back to your tribe. Services will be held at Perry Memorial Park on Sunday at 12pm, but the festivities will be happening all weekend long. Our sources are promising that this service will be one to remember, so do stop by. Unfortunately, the tone is about to sound and that is all the time we have for today. This is Rainman, bringing you your forecast for life in the tribes."

Flipping the off switch for the transistor radio, the voice finally cut out into silence. After a moment the young Bolen task master returned to the tunnel nexus. "Okay everyone, break's over. Back to digging."

The task master started to leave, but stopped and turned back towards the elderly man. "What were you all doing anyway? I believe you do know that it is against the law for anyone who isn't a member of a tribe to have technology beyond simple tools."

The old man simply smiled. "Just listen'n to the rain, sir" A drop of water fell into a puddle on the floor and the slaves returned to their work in the mine.

Date: 7/21/2371

The digging was moving smoother than was anticipated, the crew was excavating at a fast rate, pretty soon they would make their way to the goal for the day. At a point, Wade was happy that they were moving quickly, but yet there was a nagging feeling that something was good in the way they were progressing.

He took a moment to look at the tunnel they were drilling in.

The slaves were hard at their jobs - moving quickly as efficiently as they work - hoping their progress would earn them some slight comfort in their bare lives. Wade's family own a few of them as well as the prominent family in the Nite. They didn't buy but were given as a reward by the Three.

Some of the slaves that were working with Wade was some of his family. It was a practical approach - Wade didn't condone or oppose it. It was what he knew and was taught - reality of the Nite people. His gaze lingering on the motion of the slaves before returning to the dig in front of him. It was odd of how easily they were breaking the new walls of the tunnel.

Especially at this depth where the rock were made of hard bedrock.

Kiv, his mining partner, gave a glance at Wade "Wade, yer pace is slowing." Kiv was an old miner, with well muscle arms, a balding hair and a scarred face, one that has been digging in the earth since forever with a healthy hatred toward the three as people of the Nite called them. Not to mention that Three was the politest term they used. And obviously, the slaves that weren't Wade's family were property of Kiv.

Wade blinked a moment under his goggles, his concentration on the uncanny pace had cause him to slow down, his eyes snapped up, "Huh? Sorry.." Kiv shook his head with a light grin on his face. "Dunnit worri abut it, jus keepin' an eye un yer since yer're one da fast."

Kiv made a spitting sound, "Dun wan the tubbies git wind."

Wade nodded, "Thanks."

His pace moved to its regular speed, as they drill into the wall, the earth parting from where their tools struck. They move about twelve feet into the new tunnel before Kiv continued, "Wat's da prob?"

Wade gave a cursory glance at Kiv, "Moving fast."

Kiv return the look, "Yer sure?"

"Yeah." Wade replied as they continue to dig. Normally, there was nothing wrong with moving through a new tunnel at a fast pace - it was preferred because the three would reward those that completed the task with extra ration and materials. However, the implication that Wade was telling Kiv was that the earth was soft and breaking off easily as if they were eroded.

It meant that there was a water source nearby. It was not that unusual to find trap water underground, after all - that's how the tribe were able to continue to exist - the water that they found within the earth. But, finding and excavating the water was a risk as well, since one didn't know when they were digging into a trap source or where mining into the ocean.

There had been accounts of miner finding signs such as what Wade and Kiv had found - only to find when they broke through the barrier that it was the ocean they broken through. It was one of the reason why the new tunnels makes S shaped curves at the end. So, in the chance of hitting the ocean - the tunnel would not flood and could be seal off.

There no need to explain to what happen to those miners caught in the misfortune.

Wade took the moment to put aside his equipment and crouch toward the area where his drill was. He noticed the upper layer hardrock as he dug with his own hand into the small hole. It was soft and somewhat cold. Then, he place his head into the ground, to hear if there was movement.

After a few moment there was - a gentle beating against the wall.

He swoop some dirt and brought it up to his face, smelling it and putting some of it into his mouth, it was to determine if there was water and if it was sweet or saltly. Behind him, Kiv held his breath as he watch Wade test it, hoping that they found something great. The dirt in Wade was fill with rich minerall - and a small concentration of salt. "It's sweet." He replied to Kiv's unspoken question.

Kiv made a low and high whistle.

Kiv began chuckling, "Wade, mah boy, if yers right - we be rich, if nut, town-poppies." As one could surmise finding water was a very precious commodity and anyone finding such a source would be rich. If there was comparison to be made - it would be finding gold or precious gems. However, Kiv somber up immediately afterward, he had forgotten that the credit would go to the Bolenitie-in-charge of this tunnel.

"Dimple piss pod." Kiv swore.

Wade shrugged.

He made the signal to cease mining to the slaves as he made his way to the mid-taff. The mid-taff was the control base for the miners to communicate with the Bolen supervisor. An Bolen operator usually supervised over forty tunnels and used the mid-taff as a way to communicate with the all the mining operation. Kiv growled at the fortune and Misfortune to have found a potential water source. He limped slowly behind Wade as he glared at the slaves, whom were perplexed by the sudden cease, his mood becoming foul by the minute. "Dimple piss pod.." he muttered.

Wade took it without comment as they reach the mid-taff.

Wade reach a small area where there was the taskmaster whom had the Mid-taff. "What's da business - Deepwell." The Taskmaster asked, ignoring the older miner. "I'm here to report to the Operator that we have found a potential new source." Wade replied, pulling out a small pouch that contained the dirt he swooped out earlier.

The greed that was evidence on the Taskmaster face couldn't been hidden away as he rushed to put out the Mid-taff. Wade ignored it as he waited for the vox. The taskmaster made the comments and handed the vox over to Wade.

"So.. Deepwell, I've just heard that you've found a new source?" The smooth voice from vox asked.

"Perhaps, I'm reporting that we found water - whether or not it is a source that's up to the Achteoh to say." Wade answered as Kiv kept muttering his curses in the background.

"Even so, finding water is a lucky thing, I'll be down. Tell the Taskmasters to suspend operation on all tunnel until we find how big it is." the voice command.

Wade replied curtly, before handing the vox back to the Taskmaster, "You heard the operator."

Things were going well. That's what the operator in him felt anyway, but Daniel Mandala wasn't completely focused on the task at hand. Something odd had came by his desk the other day. Unbeknown to most under his command he was an avid collector of historical artifacts. While all things of culture were common with Bolens Daniel had let it consume him at times. Being a member of the highest tribe he was able to pull strings to get what he wanted, and that was exactly what had landed him the scroll.

"Sir, the tunnel in question a just a little bit further." Daniel nodded at his new attendant and continued on. It wasn't all that uncommon for the second or third son of a prominent family to work as an operator. After all, the first son inherited the estate and position of his father, and the rest were left to fend for themselves. While the first born live as gods the rest lived as they could. That was the thing though. All Bolens who were not first born had freedom, yet the first born were locked into their position as much as the slaves in tunnels were. That is why the scroll has been so important. It was they key to unlocking that which they had lost, or at least that is what he believed. He had no proof though, and that is why he remained silent. He had to confirm the truth of this world...but the water came first. The work always came first. That's what had stopped him before and it was what was stopping him now. He would have to go there soon. To the place where it all began; to the land of the origin. Maybe tonight, maybe the day after. He didn't know. Daniel walked towards the last blockade before his own migration, Deepwell.

*sorry it is so short, I had class*
Songs used:
Deathbed and Maelstrom
Mandala in the Clouds
Wayward Soldier
Kobol's Last Gleaming

Taskmaster Willis took the vox back with a huff.

"Git back to work the lot of ya!" he ordered those around him. There was an excitement in the air - water - it been several decades since the last one has been found. Willis turn to his attendants with a serious face "Git topside to fetch the Achteoh. Deepwell, if yer business iz dun - git back to yer tunnel."

Deepwell nodded, "Come on, Kiv, let's return to our tunnel."

Kiv spat, "Hmpfh, dimple piss pod."

Deepwell shook his head lightly as they walk away from the base back toward their tunnel. Kiv limp along Kiv in the tunnel path - miner were digging through the earth - salvation for the tribe but the least appreciated. "Shaft.."

"Hmm?" Deepwell glance over his shoulder.

"Nothin' mah boi." Kiv replied.

Deepwell shrugged.

The two traverse lower into the tunnel toward their section - they stop every few minutes to allow themselves to adjust to the pressure of the tunnel. Deepwell look at the pipelines, the lifeline of a miner, breathing out the air that kept miner from needing suits. The walls seem alive in moment of inactivity - humming with the pressure of gas and leaking water - but it was still that continue to allow miner breath.

The lights flicker on and off as the earth shook lightly as another mining team continued their operation. Deepwell listened for a moment and noted that the Casalle team was heading to the west and the Deforest team was heading south. Kiv limp a pace faster - shouting orders to get the slaves back to their by position.

Preparation need to be done - they would have to break through the wall and have water come out and be verified. "Be ready, those Archteoh will be coming down, don't look at them and don't be making trouble. D1, D13 - you will be at point." Deepwell began ordering, "Kiv get the bubble generator and make sure it's in working order. I want the bubble atleast ten feet from the site penetration."

Kiv nodded as he limped toward a clunky machine.

The real worry would be the Archteoh than the Bolenite - since the Archteoh were the water priest - sorcerers and elite cloister of men trained in the way of the water - it had been said that just no one can be made into the Archteoh - rather if you met their requirement, whatever that could be, they would take you and make you into a Archteoh. The only tribes that had no fear of the Archteoh were the Bolenites and Orlderian - since none had been taken by the Archteoh.

And they took a person, whether tribesmen or slave, at anytime and anywhere. Deepwell scratch the lining of his scar uneasily for the moment he was standing there, before snapping out of the his daze and returning to the job on hand. This day has been finding in a strange daze for some reason. He pulled out a pocket watch - a family heirloom - to look at a time, seeing the beating tick that keep moving endless for several millennium.

Old Guys - they had real marvel for their time - but it didn't matter now. Deepwell heard the echoing of footsteps realizing the arrival of the operator, Daniel. "Begin the opening procedure and have that bubble generator ready."

Now it was a matter of waiting for the Operator and Archteoh.