This Sewer Mapping Project was inspired by the events which took place below the city in this thread, specifically the portion of that thread beginning here. So many, many thanks to Craven Delights for starting the ball rolling with this! Also, see this Playable.

((OOC Information: As far as the general populous is concerned, news has spread since the April GAC meeting that a city-wide sewer renovation program will be started. At this point, there has been no informational leak about the ?true? nature of why the Watch is involved in this civil engineering project, other than to provide extra man power for the vast undertaking of such a venture.))


"Sergeant, here are the schematics you asked for," one of the young Watch officers entered with a file of paperwork so thick, that Isuelt rejoiced over the fact that her Order did things "the old fashioned way."

"Yeah, set it there with the others..." vaguely gesturing to the mountain of a paper mess that was once his desk, Sergeant Cullen sighed and looked to the Scathachian in his office once again. "DeRomiano, you're killin' me here, ya know?"

A slow smirk leaned toward her right cheek, "Cullen, you know I mean what I say and say what I mean and all that. There's no way that you're doing this without me. It was me who brought this to your attention for crying out loud!"

A grizzled passing of his hand over his face as the Watch Sergeant grumbled something under his breath and shuffled over to the window to venture a look outside. "I'm getting men on this, we're mapping the sewer system and we're going to go down there in an orderly fashion." His emphasis on that last part was clear (and frankly almost comical) to the Judge. "We're not rushing down there, weapons drawn and running into the arms of the gods know what! That's how people get killed, DeRomiano!" He snapped his gaze away from the gloomy morning outside just long enough to aim a well-pointed glare at the Scathachian.

She paused and once she spoke again, her graveled voice took on that lowered, velvet edge which most people coupled with an Issy-about-to-blow. "Don't tell me how people get killed, Cullen. I don't need education on that point from you. And secondly, how in the hell do you think you're going down there? 'Weapons out' is just about right! I told you that there are creatures down there. Creatures, monsters, whatever, that have enough oomph in them to take down a large part of this city before we even know what the hell we're dealing with!" Isuelt unfolded her arms as her voice's pitch began to rise with her temper, "The sewer system, Cullen! Think about it! It runs the entire length of this city and bleeds out into the sea and beyond! The ramifications of this are mind-boggling! Whatever is down there has the perfect lair. It's dark, dank, and no one wants to go down there. Not to mention the fact that those things....that thing has more entrances and exits than I care to count. Every twist and turn in those tunnels? Every sewer cover and grate in this city??

The Sergeant was staring once more out the window, watching an elderly woman aided by a young passer by as she had dropped her daily haul from the Marketplace stalls. He drew an uneasy breath as he pondered the fact that there really were good people in this city. People that needed protecting and a fair chance at trying to live a normal life in a city such as Rhydin. As Isuelt?s words clawed deeper into his brain and took hold, he stayed quiet a bit longer.

?We?re sitting ducks, Cullen. And I will not stand by, when I know what?s going on...when I know I can do something about this, and just let it happen. I?m not going to let the people of Rhydin simply think everything?s great until whatever is down there gathers enough steam, followers, strength or whatever, and rises up to massacre us! It?s not in my blood! It?s my duty to--?

?Enough!? His voice had a sharp edge to it, and the volume was a little more than Isuelt was used to from the Sergeant. His lashing had the Scathachian reeling for a brief moment before she wrangled in her tongue to let him speak. ?I know exactly what your duty is, Isuelt. It?s mine as well. Do you think that I took this job...that I joined the Watch to simply ?watch?? Do you?? Cullen turned his salt and pepper stubbled face away from the scene outside to appraise the woman before him that he dared to call ?friend.? ?I care about the people of this damned city just as much as you do. Probably more so since I was born here! And don?t you think it tears me up inside to see what it?s become? A haven for villains and ne?er-do-wells and all manner of debauchery. For gods? sake, my grandmother used to run a little cafe off the Marketplace where all of the folks in town would come in for biscuits and gravy and her bacon-wrapped sandwiches! And I mean all the folks in town: the sailors, the elected officials, the merchants, the common people and the occasional drifter. And you know something else?? He was walking toward her now, with a pointed finger slicing through the air, ?Everyone ate those gods damned biscuits and gravy and said ?thank you? for those f*cking bacon-wrapped sandwiches! EVERYONE! None of this blowing sh*t up and killing in broad daylight! This is f*cking madness here! Don?t you think I don?t know that? So when I take my time with things, and try to do them the right way, it?s not because I don?t care about this city or the people in it or the quality of life! It?s because I don?t want any more blood on my gods damned hands!?

Isuelt?s ears were ringing, and she was even a little out of breath herself. She had never seen Sergeant Cullen so passionate, so enraged, so desperate. She swallowed as her brow wrinkled in a mixture of empathy and guilt. The warrior couldn?t even bring herself to apologize for her flippant take on the way he handled things, she couldn?t even utter a single word. Anything she might say would be a futile and superfluous whack to the nail Cullen had driven home already.

?So fine...you want to bring this to your Avengers, go right ahead.? Cullen seemed to age in just those few minutes, his strong shoulders sagged and his eyes, normally spirited with his own sort of mischief, were glazed with a sadness. ?Just don?t expect me to do any paperwork for it. That?s on the DL.?

Obediently, for that was how she saw the moment, she nodded to the Sergeant. A thick tress of espresso hair fell over her left shoulder.

?And tell the Governor that she?ll have the full set of sewer mapping projections in the morning.? He moved back around to his desk, and the growing piles of paperwork and reports living there.

As she moved to the door of the office to go, her boots seemed abnormally loud to her. Her hand on the doorknob, she turned and looked back to Cullen. Her voice quieted, almost as if she were trying to somehow soothe the Sergeant. ?We?ll get your city back. I promise.?

An arched brow as he wryly looked to the woman who nearly bested him in height, ?Don?t promise what you can?t deliver, DeRomiano. Others have come before you and have tried to do the same thing.? There was a pause as he shoved his hands in his pockets, leveling a meaningful gaze at her, ?Now they?re buried in the cemetery outside of the South Gate.?

Fingers drum along the table lightly as he looks over the display. He liked this mission for a few reasons chief among them being dark, tight quarters, no way to pinpoint screams, and requires finesse. "Add in the fact that acoustics will make it impossible to pinpoint sounds, and the natural stench down there eliminates tracking by scent. These are all reasons why the sewers have become a haven for many nefarious creatures and people."

After voicing his thoughts which many he would wager ran parallel with others at the table he sits up. "Wouldn't be a far flung possibility that whatever we encounter down there will have light sensitivity. What exactly ARE we to expect down there, Nails?"

Her dark brown head nodded at Jester. He was absolutely right. And while Isuelt never really understood exactly what it was that she encountered in the dark, by that underground lake, she knew what it smelled like. Death.

"And light's a good point, Sylus. I'm hoping that we're lucky enough to come up against things that have adapted to the dark and have lost their love of daylight. Light might be an incredible weapon down there." She rubbed the back of her neck, "And let us see what the hell we're dealing with."

Sylus and Jester both had excellent points. All of the senses so many of them had come to rely on: Sight, Sound, Scent... Out the window for this, unless they could come up with alternatives. "We're going to need something other than traditional torches, lanterns and flashlights."

The Scathachian breathed a sigh of slight relief. The others had brought up a point which aided her in seeing the proverbial light at the end of the sewer tunnels. It was true that there were several members who did not rely on light to see. And she was sure that those members would pair up with those who would be utilizing flashlights, torches and the like to do any good down there. She looked to Ranger on the suggestion that his technologies might serve as an aid.

She could see from the questions voiced as well as the pensive expressions on the faces of all the others, that the deep-seeded fears of the unknown were preying on all of their minds. Just what was down there exactly? This was how they were going to find out.

And as Ebon posed the question, "How deep do those tunnels go?", Isuelt found herself stammering on the answer. How deep did they go? Would they even be able to garner an answer with this expedition?

"The schematics that were given to Governor Helston show that here...and here..." as Isuelt pointed to the lowest registered points on the map illuminated before them by DIANA, "are roughly measured at twenty feet below the street level." Isuelt hesitated for a moment. "But...that is only what the official report says." Her deep espresso gaze took a moment to look back to Ebon, and the rest of the team as she slowly continued, "I know they go deeper though. At least in this area..." she motioned vaguely to the part of the map that she could best remember. "Nearly fifty feet in some places, I would guess. Maybe deeper. I don't know."

It was an honest response, and one that she surmised might bring an air of discomfort to the table. Still, she pressed on, trying to drive home the danger of such an exploit, "The tunnels are pitch black down below the mapped and marked tunnels of the Rhydinian sewer system. The system is vast and easy to get lost in, the tunnels twist and double back in some places. And in others...there are unannounced drops and dead ends. There are some areas that I remember, maybe in this area here," another gesture to the map, "where some of the alcoves seemed newly carved out and niches were hewn from the old rock. To what end, I don't know." She licked her lips, her own mind's eye reliving her past nightmarish experience of being lost and hunted down below the city. "The deeper the tunnels go, the cruder they seem to become. There is a lake of sorts down there."

Isuelt paused and glanced to the Watch report that she had made available to the team. "The dead body of what I can only assume was the missing pump worker was floating in the water...the contents of which caused the body to plump up as if it was highly salted. There was no mistaking the creatures that were down there...feeding." Another swallow as she looked around. She knew the entire team would not be going, but she hoped that they would at least be a few volunteers crazy enough to back her on this. "If whatever is down there...however many of them there are...surface, this city is in for a rough ride. We need to get down there and flush out the danger and put it to rest."

She let her last sentence hang in the air for a moment. "Any volunteers?" It was a shot in the dark, to say the least.

"Dank, forboding tunnels filled with unspeakable horrors... how could I resist?" There was a glib touch to his tone, though his expression that followed put the lie to any thoughts that he wasn't taking the issue seriously. "I'm with you, Isuelt."

His gaze snaps to Brian when the man makes his way in then looks over to Issy. He must have missed a memo somewhere in Ravenlock's reinstatement, but didn't really care much on that one way or another. "If possible, I would like to operate alone in this. Much like Jester and Ebon, the complete darkness is not problematic. Given how large a project this is, separating may not be best, but I will deffer to the group as a whole."

Slowly looking around he drums his fingers on the table top. "We have entrances that connect to the old smuggler tunnels from the docks, the cemetery, and a series of natural caverns. Some time ago a coven of vampires were using the caverns to move quickly from one part of the city to another. It may be good to split into three groups. Go in from the smuggler tunnels, the catacombs, and the surface entrance to the caverns in the Glen, though there is one within the town limits, I just do not know where. Each group has someone who can see in the dark to act as point leader, the others trail behind them a ways. I could also...talk with my brother, he is an Earth Mage of no small prowess."

Truth be told, there never had been a reinstatement and to be rather honest Brian would not have expected one to begin with. Still, that would never stop the man from lending a hand when it came to his friends, or the greater good of the city. Nothing would ever stop that, when it came to Brian or Jenai for the matter.

However, what there had been instead of that previously mentioned reinstatement, was an exoneration.

Coupled with the fact that Brian had been rather--- active as of late, someone saw fit to leave a missive for him to pay a visit.

Which also somehow seemed to coincide with his catching wind of ?sewer renovations?, which mind you after recent events in the market place would be needed for part of that system. But an overall projected renovation? No, that would not be currently needed in Brian?s eyes. Why? Well because, he and several others had been running around the sewer system in regards to the man called ?Raven? within the last month or so, and then had gone back in there as well recently. Not to mention contacts within the Lotus, that had informed him of a recent encounter between members of the Lotus and a member of a newly arrived family. Being the former head of Public Works also helped when it came to knowing a bit about what?s under the city.

That aside, Brian was not here as a former anything.

Instead, Brian was there a man willing to lend a hand to whatever needed to be done, in whatever capacity they needed. And he was sure that sentiment was not one he kept to himself. So reinstatement or no, he would always be around to offer that hand.

Especially in the case of Isuelt, and the Avengers.

?Thanks, Isuelt. It?s nice to finally be out in the open once more.?

"Indeed it is," replied Ebon to Brian's comment, a warm smile on his face. "Good to have you alongside us." Then Wanda's voice came from the doorway, and he looked that way. "Both of you," as he motioned to empty seats around the table.

Turning his attention back to the holodisplay, he indicated a section below the Market district, though west of the Marketplace itself. "This area is home to my wife's former guild, thieves and burglars mainly, using the sewers to exit away from their dens towards more... affluent parts of the city; they also connect to the smuggler tunnels. I occasionally get information from them, and some time ago they got word to us that there were creatures unknown and decidedly unfriendly wandering the deeper passages here," and his finger pointed to one of the unstable areas Isuelt had previously mentioned. "So that's another way down."

Leaning back in his chair, Ebon's expression grew thoughtful. "Our big guns--Ranger and Zulu in particular--are best suited to guarding the exits as Nails suggested; DIANA can coordinate, and assemble additional teams as Avengers arrive on the scene. As for those of us here now, I propose dividing up into three sets." A black-gloved hand pointed to Sylus. "If you're comfortable operating alone, Virus, then you're working solo, but try to keep in contact with the second set, so that they can back you up as needed and vice versa." Then he gestured to Wanda and Jester. "That second set would be the two of you: Jester to guide in the dark, and Scarlet Witch to bump up the power... no slight intended." That last comment was directed to the Seljuk. "Finally, the third group will consist of Nails, Blackbird," indicating Brian, who needed a codename after all, "and myself."

Then he paused, realizing that he may perhaps have overstepped his bounds, since technically Isuelt had brought this mission to the table. "That is, unless someone has different thoughts."

"Before we adjourn, it would behoove us to not have a contingency plan or fall back point established. At some point our communications may fail. Wireless signals and even telepathy can only penetrate rock and stone so deep." He looks around the table in his somber address in hopes they all have considered this possibility.

He then looks to Ebon. "I will do my best to maintain contact. Though, I have a feeling some form of thermal tracking may be in our favor if the majority we face is undead. In the dark recognizing friend from foe can be a hazard in it's own, especially in the chaos of combat." These are his only other thoughts to offer for the group at large.

Ebon gave a chuckle. "I was thinking of a song when I suggested Blackbird, but I can't fault you going under your own name." Then he looked to Sylus. "I can maintain a mindlink for my own team at least, and will certainly attempt to keep in contact with the rest of you. You're right about too much stone and pipework in the way; I'm pretty gifted, but I do have my limits. I do have some ideas about both communication and tracking, though; I'll try to get something together in the next two days."

A message was sent from Elpis to Nails:

Due to the nature of this mission, I will not be able to join the rest of you below ground. I will be able to aid in healing topside and coordinating immediate transport out of that hole. Commo channel codes for Misfit Squadron out of Stars End Base were previously added to DIANA's database. Use call signs Fury and Hawk, they can transport anyone out based on voice coordinates.

He was reclining in the topmost floor of his penhouse level in Batten Tower, in front of the window wall overlooking the south side of the city, drinking a scotch and looking over the reports from his company - inventory, daily progress, proposals, and the like - when DIANA's golden avatar sprung up on the table next to him, politely clearing her throat as always. "Ed, if you have a moment?"

He looked up from the reports displayed on his PCUI towards the AI. He'd gotten used to her calling him 'Ed' - sort of - but there was a softer edge to her voice that still caught him off-guard when he and the AI talked. Still, he was grateful for the distraction - if someone offered him the choice of reading reports or getting a root canal done, he'd have had to sit and think it over. "Sure, Di. Whatcha got fer me?"

She smiled as she looked at him, and gestured at the air next to her, where a three-dimensional recording appeared. He arched an eyebrow as he listened, while Issy explained the situation and the task at hand, and took note of who was present and participating in this endeavor.

He had to admit he was impressed, more than a little. Everything seemed to be laid out smoothly, everyone seemed to know their jobs, and then there was Issy's initiative in getting things started. "Ah see. Tell ya what, Di, have Pont an' Big Mike come on up here fer a minnit. Let's get deir opinion on dis."

"I have already taken the liberty of inviting them, sir. They should be arriving shortly."

He grinned at DIANA's avatar. "If ya weren't a hologram, Di, Ah'd kiss ya."

"So you keep saying, Ed." The AI smiled back at him, then vanished from sight.

An hour later, as the holographic display finished playing the recording Diana had shown him in full, he looked across at the other two chairs in the room, in which now sat Kyle and Michael. "So, guys, tell me whatcha t'ink."

Mike looked to Kyle first, who shrugged. "Looks like a good battle plan for this kind of thing, Ed. Nice to see they're keeping the ball rolling, too. I don't think this is something we should take part in, though. Like Nails said, down there it's a maze of catacombs, old tunnels, tight spaces. And let's face it, boss, we're not exactly known for our subtlety when it comes to a fight."

Big Mike chuckled and shook his head at Kyle. "I respectfully disagree, boss. Sure, we're more or less the big guns - you especially, with that getup like a walking tank." Kyle chuckled as Mike went on. "But it's not like we don't know how to be precise if we have to. Plus we have some things that would be useful to them down there - motion tracking, low-light equipment, strength if someone gets buried or a tunnel collapses. Hell, we've got stuff from the Security section inventory we're not using that we could loan out to everyone going down there, if they wanted it, as far as protective gear and such."

Kyle nodded agreement as he listened, a grin tugging at his face. "All fair points. Still, if we were going to do this, we'd need to be careful. Like really careful. Nothing taken that could generate any kind of a concussive blast, no indiscriminate firing." He looked back over at Ed again. "This is really Issy's op, Ed. I'd say we ask her where she'll need us, if at all, before we go jumping all gung-ho into this."

The Playboy sat back in his chair, interlacing his finger as he looked between the two thoughtfully. Both men had good points and advice, and he'd heard enough to make up his mind. "All right. We let Issy make de call. Yer right, dis was all her idea. She can put on de leader hat."

He looked over at the table where the holographic was still displayed, and as though she read his mind, DIANA's golden avatar replaced the still image. "Yes, sir. The message has been sent. I shall alert you when a reply has been received."



Message from DIANA to Nails:

Ranger, Zulu, and Alfa stand ready to assist you and your party with this action, should you have need of them. Please relay your assignments (if any) on this project you wish them to fulfill for you to me and I will be sure that they receive them.

?You?re wrong you know.?

Those words were spoken with a hint of humor without losing the seriousness of the statement. She was of course referring to the mumbling of Nails not being a leader. She had taken a lean beside the door that lead up to this rooftop a few feet away from Nails. The Scathachian twisted around to find the source of the voice that had cut through her thoughts after she had finished up talking with DIANA.

The signature smirk curled JaX lips as she just stood there, meeting the gaze of that fierce warrior. She pushed off the lean and headed towards the woman, never letting that smirk falter even as her ice-green gaze remained locked and full of the confidence she had quickly acquired after working with her before and still held strong to.

She chuckled as she took up the space next to her, holding that gaze another moment before she turned it out towards the city. ?Nice spot.?

They stood in silence for a moment, Nails no doubt still fighting her obvious inclination that she had made a mistake in heading this endeavor. JaX gave her those few moments before she spoke again.

?Quite a tall order this mission of yours doll.? She kept her gaze steady as she looked at the twinkling lights of the parts of the city still alive and twitching despite the pitch black blanket of night that had settled over to embrace it for the next few hours. Thanks to her position in security at Batten and being a member of the Avengers, she made sure to stay informed even if she physically didn?t make an appearance at a called meeting. DIANA had sent her the files and the voice bites from the meeting. What they would encounter down there she had no doubt would be memorable and not easy to deal with let alone locate given the obstacles of where the mission had to take place. Not impossible of course given the people who were going to be involved, but it was going to be one hell of a b*tch. She had already made the decision to join in the effort to take out this latest threat to Rhy?din but having Nails at the head of it was what had her seeking out woman to deliver that decision personally. The list of people JaX trusted was a very short one. She was honored and proud to count this woman as one of them. It was with conviction and full trust that she uttered her next words, the tone making the statement almost a vow in its strength and complete faith in the woman she stood beside. ?Not going to be easy but I couldn?t think of anyone else I?d rather follow into the bowels of this city then you.?

On the last of the breath that delivered that final word to the Scathachian, those hardened ice-greens locked onto Nails doubtful ones. That smirk deepened, ?So, count me in ?boss?. And if you choose to refute my words or argue your thoughts of inadequacy to me or even to yourself within my earshot, well?? she let that last word trail off as a chuckle bubbled up in that husky deep voice of hers, ??then we just might have to settle this the old fashioned way. I?ve never been afraid to make a point with a well timed sock to the head.?

The smirk didn?t hold as a sly grin split those lips as she issued the semi-serious challenge. What they would all need while down in those sewers was a commitment that the purpose of what they were endeavoring to do would succeed and she?d be damned if she was going to let this fierce warrior allow even a sliver of doubt to creep into that sharp mind of hers.

?So what?s it going to be?? She brought her clenched fist up to pound into the flat of her other palm to prove that while her usual sarcastic tone had delivered the threat, she was not above doing what it took to put Nails in the mindset to do what this woman was born to do, even if she didn?t readily see it. One way or the other they were coming off of this roof ready to take down this new threat the only way they knew how, with extreme prejudice.

As that hand came to rest on her shoulder there was a barely audible sigh. She didn't want to have to knock sense into the woman, JaX always felt a little sorry for the enemy when Nails was taunted, but she knew that sometimes that is what it took...for herself anyway but none the less, she was glad the woman had taken the hint. She could feel the tension release from her rooftop companion and a new resolve harden to determination to do what needed to be done to continue protecting this city. Nails had started the wheels of this endeavor and with the support she would get from each and every team member that had signed up to help she knew the woman would step up.

They stood there for a few moments in silence, the wind whipping around throwing chocolate brown and pitch back locks to mingle every so slightly as the gusts blew then waned but the women remained focused on the city beneath their feet. No more words needed as an unspoken accord of purpose was struck. All of those people below them, whether sound in their sleep or mulling around going about their nightly activities, were being watched from atop this roof by two of a group of individuals who would be helping to ensure their ability to continue on with those lives. So many innocent people to consider, to protect, to defend. And so many who brushed right past theses few who took up this duty, perhaps a nod or smile in passing, may never know how readily willing they were to sacrifice their own lives to keep them safe.

Because of what they were willing to do, if a child of Rhy'din woke in fear from a nightmare, their parents rushing in to sooth them and assure them it was only a dream before holding and rocking them back to sleep, the Avengers were facing that fear for them and fighting back the nightmares to keep them back, forever only a dream to the innocent people of this world. This was a purpose to be proud of. A purpose she held close...to fight her deeply buried dark urges, to fight for light to keep that darkness locked away. She couldn't...she wouldn't let it take over. She wasn't this dark creature, created only for destruction requested from a masters will. She would use the 'gifts' given to her to fight for the greater good. A locked monster sent in to battle other monsters. What better weapon? She allowed these thoughts to add further resolve to this newest call to action.

Breaking the silence with a chuckle, humor lacing the words in her deep rasped voice, ?Batten is already aware of his prowess on that front amongst others, he needs no further stroking of his ego on that count. Besides, there was no way I was going to let you and the other members have all that fun without me.?

That ice green gaze turned to view the profile of the woman standing next to her, so strong and powerful and so full of the same desire to serve and protect as her own. ?Due to some...enhancements, I don't readily see the darkness being an issue for me once we are in the sewers but I have seen the schematics and it will get a little hairy down there with so much ground to cover. I'll pair up as needed. Now what say we get off of this rooftop and grab a drink. I don't know about you but I could use one.? She turned and walked over to the access door to the roof and opened it wide, ?After you. Lead on...? my friend could have easily finished that sentence but it wouldn't. Saying it out loud would put Nails deeper into JaX psyche, a dangerous place for the woman or anyone given that endearment, as well as for herself. She needed to maintain that hard edge everyone knew and assimilated to her, that cold standoffish quality to continue to be there...it helped her keep her distance. She would lay her life on the line for each and every one of her teammates but let any of them in on a deeper lever was not something she would risk. Emotional people in the face of tragedy didn't think straight, they didn't react with rational thoughts or actions, emotions caused more death due to its blinding blanket over sharp minds. If any of her teammates fell, she needed to be able to continue the job without looking back. So, she let that sentence trail, ending as it did, before that signature smirk slid into place. ?I'll even buy the first round.?