Hi-HOOOOOOO!
"Spelunking?" you inquire.
"Yes, spelunking," affirms Bragho, his scent hale and hearty, "a few years back we found this keen little cave network underneath town, and we've been going down through the northern entrance with pickaxes and the like, digging up all sorts of gemstones down there. A lot of it's been picked clean already, but there's a new section that's just opened up yesterday, and since you've just arrived, we figured it would be the best place to start your training."
Hmm. Cave exploration, gem excavation--not a bad lot. You put your hands in your pockets idly as the two of you continue on, your sensitive nose picking up all sorts of information from the breezes that blow by, although your brain doesn't know what to make of it all.
"It's really keen work. You'll find rubies, emeralds, gold and silver, and that's just the common stuff. Just the other day Kaliel found the biggest luminarium stone you ever saw in your life--we had to put it in three bags before we could see enough to get back to work!"
The talk concludes as you reach the Northern Workplace.
There some twenty foxes or so are lounging around the rim of a huge hole in the ground, dressed in neon-orange uniforms, covered in straps and the like.
Bragho introduces you, and you're greeted jovially. A wooden cart stands nearby, loaded up with supplies. Bragho pads over to it and tosses you a box.
"If you'll just put on your uniform in that dressing room over there," he says,"we'll get ready to go."
You do so.
Several clanks and creaks later, you're standing with the other foxes at the edge of the hole, Bragho holding onto you lightly.
Everyone's anchored to posts driven into the ground some twenty feet away, and a few foxes are staying behind for topside assistance. Turning your tail to the hole, you back up slowly and go over the edge, holding onto the rope that's anchored around your waist, trying to descend slowly. Bragho descends beside you offering pointers as the other foxes fly down with practiced ease. In this fashion, you rappelling gently down the side of the cave entrance while Bragho gives you pointers on technique, you make your way into the sparkling caverns below.
Written by Mr.Peaches on 27 November 2006
