The thing on the other side beats against the door while emitting muffled screams.

Ethan: "Uh, remember when you poked the witch core? They're kinda like that, but kinda, more troublesome."

Amelia: "Corruption exposure? Does that mean there's a witch in there?"

Ethan: "..."



________________________________________


Blue Mage 1: "Dunno."

Black Mage 1: "Do we want its help? It might be responsible for keeping things secure here. Wonder if it can communicate with the warlock."



________________________________________


The two of you continue past the hole and reach the edge of the forest.

Nothing noteworthy, it seems like this area is also clear of witch cores.

You're also just about at the range of the long-range telepaths.



________________________________________


Faren-Wuust: "You could practice opening gates. Or rather, work to a point where you can do it safely, and then do it. I am sure once you get a feel for opening them, closing them would be an intuitive process."



________________________________________


After halting the magic machinery with a null field, you jam your armored fingers into the crevice of the metal double-doors, forcing them open with Stahlnacht's strength.

The metal barriers screech as they slide into the wall, internal locks breaking and gears grinding. When the door finally opens wide enough for you to pass, you gaze into the dark depths ahead - an unknown expanse of void waiting for you to enter.

They all tell you their names but you more or less forget, though they're fine with using temporary code names for the mission.

KIN1, KIN2, and KIN3 are high-ranking kinetic snipers, all capable of burst-casting.

KIN4, KIN5, and KIN6 are more standard kinetic mages with some long range capability.

ELE1 and ELE2 are both capable of long-range telepathy. ELE1 has additional skills focused in debilitating telepathy, and ELE2 has specialization in offensive-use and utility-use lightning.

Sanoa is designated SAN, Torrent TOR.

Miimas can function as a low-key scout and sharpshooter, and can call out locations for long-range targets if a telepath isn't available to act as a spotter. Designation MIM.

Monk is designated MNK.

Horoma HORO, because no one wanted to try to do 3 letters.

Vandolf is VAN.

You're JON, simple enough.


Are code names even necessary? Whatever.


ELE1 (relays) VAN: LOOKS CLEAR.



You grab your needles from the coffin.

KIN1: "Well, let's get to it."



________________________________________


Ethan: "Uh, I can sorta take a peek at spirits but I can't exactly screw around with 'em or anything."

Amelia: "I, don't think we're equipped to deal with this."



________________________________________


Commanding Stahlnacht to activate the flame light, it flares up somewhere on your helm, illuminating the area around and ahead of you.

The area of the underground town is a bit damaged near the entrance, but you don't see any bodies yet.

Walking down the main road, you take note of all the windows - all closed, some boarded up. Not a whisper of movement anywhere.



________________________________________


Faren-Wuust: "Well, it is supposed to be similar to casting, right? But concentrating on the gate part, rather than the spell."

Grant: "Doesn't sound particularly helpful."

Faren-Wuust: "Well, it is a start."



________________________________________


ELE1: Roger.

You get a telepathic dump of what the others were talking about -

JON: "So what do we have at our disposal?
Monk is a monster in melee, and she and Vandolf have that A-M armor.
Sanoa has strong telepathy, Torrent is Torrent.
Horoma has fire and light, I have kinetics and Captivate.
Where does everyone else stand?"

They all say their names but you more or less forget, though they're fine with using temporary code names for the mission.

KIN1, KIN2, and KIN3 are high-ranking kinetic snipers, all capable of burst-casting.

KIN4, KIN5, and KIN6 are more standard kinetic mages with some long range capability.

ELE1 and ELE2 are both capable of long-range telepathy. ELE1 has additional skills focused in debilitating telepathy, and ELE2 has specialization in offensive-use and utility-use lightning.

Sanoa is designated SAN, Torrent TOR.

Miimas can function as a low-key scout and sharpshooter, and can call out locations for long-range targets if a telepath isn't available to act as a spotter. Designation MIM.

Monk is designated MNK.

Horoma HORO, because no one wanted to try to do 3 letters.

John is JON.

You're VAN.

Ethan: "Fine."

The three of you exit the current tunnel and Ethan heads for the exit, while you and Amelia head down another tunnel that's void of corpses.

Another door at the end of this one, but at least there aren't any screaming things banging on the other side.

Amelia: "Do we knock?"



________________________________________


You're already close to the edge of telepathic range!

Should probably wait for the others to catch up.

It's also a forest, so you probably aren't getting visuals on the target until you're close.

Faren-Wuust: Sounds good! Hopefully if anything goes wrong, Grant can fix you up if you are unable to reach a healer.



________________________________



You and everyone else head west, soon arriving at the site of where the watch tower used to be. In its place is a massive, pitch black void going straight down.

MIM: "Wow. Is there something down there?"

KIN2: "The watchtower used to be here. There's a local legend that the tower is actually upsidedown and what's below it is the original above-ground structure. Wonder if that was true."



________________________________


She knocks on the door while you give her a look-over.

Fit, strong body while still maintaining a feminine figure, none of that overbuilt bulkiness.

Amelia: "Well, I was born with kinetics. It's the responsibility of those with potential to live up to it, right? Sitting around pumping out babies didn't sound appealing, so I joined the military. Get some training, learn how to properly use my abilities, and maybe be a hunter down the road.

What about you? You, uh... you know. And you're still out in the field doing stuff. Same thing, right?"

There's knocking on the doors from the other side.



________________________________________


Dehlii suppresses a chuckle while you think you get a smirk out of the guard.

Guard: "That's cute an' all, but like, there's some real danger out there, stuff that was giving the other guards trouble. Gotta stay locked down until it's safe."

You hear knocking coming from the metal doors, which seems to confuse the guard. She walks over to the doors and knocks in response.