Chaotic grabs the injured Magus, and returns at speed to the survivors' position, where Commander Sarvesh, whose clothing suggests now-healed severe burns, has taken command. One of the soldiers, an assigned woundbinder, is carrying some medical supplies, and begins attempting to treat Patham.
Lord Porkins leads a small group to investigate the nearest and least-fiery of the impact sites, the soldiers' armor protecting them from most of the heat, while he uses a borrowed shield for the same. The object is not readily apparent, but shards of incandescent golden material litter the area. They still give off considerable heat.
Meanwhile, Mayor Murdoc continues his admirable efforts to bring order to the situation inside the fortress.
While the defensive facade and ramparts are seemingly irrecoverable, with casualties in that sector likely absolute, it was not heavily manned at this hour. Now that the chaos and noise in the halls has begun to fade before shouted orders and calm decision making, it would seem that the inside of the fortress is less badly-off than it might have appeared.
That facade was somewhat separated from the infrastructure sections by way of a slanted corridor extending deeper into the mountain. As such,while the dust and noise of the collapse were terrible, the casualties are limited to a few guards caught in the corridor itself and a single family killed when the badly-supported ceiling of their apartment failed under the tremors. The door remains partially intact, if wedged firmly in the door frame, and the names of the lost will be carved upon it.
A survey of the escape tunnels begins, with professional rock-listeners detailed to determine which of them is safest to breach.
The cavern workers, separated from the rest of the fortress, with the roof of their world shaking, nevertheless remain dedicated to the Dam. Their survey and damage control is impeccable. The tremors originated from the surface, and did not have the force to shake the cavern floor, though falling boulders have caused minor damage to the camp.
Upon inspection, the river appears to have stopped flowing. That can mean nothing good.
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Topic: If Bay 12 was a fortress Part 3: RETURN OF THE CHAOS (Read 235118 times)