Excavation: Completed

[Mitera Nikkou]

First off, this shouldn't be considered canon. Secondly, it doesn't take place at any time where events in "Discovery" would become relevent. So, sometime before "Discovery", but not by much time. There may be references to things that occur or are mentioned in "Discovery", but they hold no water in the universe unless Florina actually decides to pick up on any. *Blinks*

Now, this starts at a site where there's an old human settlement, on the far side of the forest from where Toyana is located. The area is a wasteland, and any attempt to grow vegetation there has failed (which is part of the reason for the investigation). The director of the investigation is an archaeology professor. With him are students that have volunteered to help him him with his research, either for credit at the university (at Toyana), or (for whatever reason any student may have) for the money.

How to enter this roleplay? Simply be in a tent, or out in the field working. Whatever you do, don't appear with a group, or another character, as if you've always been with them (unless you're just starting out, seeing as there should be more than one person at each dig site). The professor (my character) will spend a lot of time under the pavilion (to start out with), where he looks over the map that he had drawn of the area and keeps track of their activities. The pavilion also has some refreshments; the food is rationed (and preserved in the wagon), but the water is refilled by a stream some miles away.

Your character must be human, either male or female, and a student of the university or someone associated with the university (or an archaeologist that had learned of the excavation and wanted to join in; the more expertise the better or something). How you introduce your character, and describe how they look, is up to you.

Now, let's get this started.

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Donald Dingleberry stroked his bristly chin as he looked over the map that he and his students had sketched, based on their measuring of the wasteland area. It had taken them a little over a week to complete, but it would make excavation easier in the long run, as well as for future excursions to the area. On the map, little red dots were marked wherever they had dug. He wondered where to dig next in the eleven-square-mile area. Moreover, he wondered when he would ever get to shaving the hair from his face. After three weeks of neglect, he wasn't enjoying his habit of stroking his chin while he thought. But the excavation was so exciting! How could he think of anything else?

The area that they were currently covering, was in the center of the wasteland, at the heart of what had once been a human settlement. In the far distance, there could be seen a forest; but, as far as anyone could tell, there wasn't anything of interest over there. So he restricted their search to the wasteland exclusively, seeing as they had only brought three months worth of rations (because of their budget). In the immediate area, where the settlement had been, several dig sites had been made and those not abandoned (for now) were currently being worked on. It was hard to picture how the settlement appeared back when it was habitated, because of so little evidence that was left. The few remnants of wood and stone were spread out so far, it was difficult to tell, just yet, just how large the settlement had been.

"Hmmmm..." He hummed thoughtfully as the light morning breeze caressed his bald head. His grey eyes glanced over toward a nearby dig site, wondering if they would ever find anything. In the meantime... Perhaps, before checking on everyone's progress, he could shave off the infernal whiskers on his face. Well, perhaps after the inspection... He didn't want to be amiss if there are any discoveries. And it would be so embarrassing for that to happen whilst he was shaving! He just wished that he wasn't so old... Walking around and digging wasn't as easy as it used to be.

[Chibi MitchellTF]

Lily Stouffer sat in her tent, and looked over her medicine kit, and the sample she was trying to date. It wasn't actually from this dig site, it was another project for the university. She took a large set of formulas from the case, and began counting them out into a small carrying container, marked by date. She looked over the titles. "Let's see, this concoction might taste bad, but..." She gulped it down. Then she turned to her project.

She'd started in archeology for one simple reason. She wanted to discover new civilizations. But it was just a dream. Most of the civilizations around had already been discovered, and just about the only thing she could find was some Pharoah's third wife, or something. Yet, then she read about a group of scientists who had found a bunch of hobbits, and she recaught the bug. So she continued, She even met a boyfriend, another student.

He was a nice guy, and eventually one thing led to another. They fell in love, and were rather, intimate. She had pondered a marriage, and they'd always used protection. At least, most of the time. She'd never gotten pregnant, of which she was thankful. Her parents would have killed her. But, she eventually discovered a problem. She'd come to visit him early, the teacher was sick, and found him in his dorm, in the very act of making love with another studen. She'd gotten a bit angry, spit at him, and tried to beat him to death with a bedpost. The guards stopped her, and she was lucky she wasn't expelled. She'd been a bit sick, and some concotion she'd been taking might have messed her up. Well, then she found out something horrifying. Her boyfriend was dying, and soon passed away. It turns out that he had a deadly illness, which made his body unable to deal with any other illnesses, and she gave him the flu. But his sins had been passed onto her, and now she was infected.

She got up, the dizziness having passed, and went to check with the professor. Maybe moving around, having some work, would get her mind off her past. She had things to do. She was going to find out something big, something revolutionary. At least, unless she switched her major to biochemistry and alchemy. Either way, she was gonna change the world!

[Mitera Nikkou]

Donald, the professor, met with Lily half-way, a few paces outside of the entrance to the female's tent.

"Ah, I was just about to check on you." He said, using the sort of tone that a father might use for his daughter. Then, as if he had intended to pep someone up, he added: "How are you feeling this morning? Ready for some more fun in the sun? And, might I add, lots of dirty, well, dirt?"

Of all of the students under his care, Lily was his faberge egg. He didn't feel right getting too personal with a student, but he decided that he could express his sympathy just by being accommodating and friendly. Besides, with his wife having taken the journey into the great beyond, and all of his children grown up and managing families of their own, it was nice to feel like a father again. A bit more achy and less energetic, but feeling like an old father was better than just feeling like an old man. An old man that could really go for a shave.

[Chibi MitchellTF]

She looks back at her tent, then sighs a little. "I'm ready for whatever is necessary. Has anything new come up?"

[Mitera Nikkou]

"No, not yet." Donald replied, appearing a bit unhappy. "The soil samples that we've taken, as previous excursions have done, show the same results: fertile soil; and by now we should have seen some sprouting of the seeds that we used, but there isn't any." He sighed and looked out over a part of the site, where he could see two of his students working at one of the dig areas. "But you probably meant the excavation... Unfortunately, nothing other than the odd timber and masonry have been found, which are, of course, pretty much on or near the surface."

Returning his gaze to Lily, he added: "So, are you ready? You can work at one of the three active dig sites, or, before that, you can choose the next area for another dig. A few of the others have had there turn to choose spots that they had thought were interesting, so now you can take a turn. You can get to it later if you want, however."

[Chibi MitchellTF]

Lily thinks for a minute. "I'd like to test the soil samples, or look into that. There's a forest nearby, and it would make a good comparison. That forest is obviously growing. We need to see if the soil is the same in both places. If it isn't, then whatever is different might be preventing seeds from sprouting. If not, then is it possible that something from the forest is taking nutrients from the seeds?"

She's just theorizing randomly, she hadn't taken much botany courses.

[Mitera Nikkou]

Donald gave a weak smile as he gave Lily's shoulder a brief pat with his hand. "It's a good thing that you're majoring in archaeology, being on this excursion and all. No, dear; we're miles from the forest, and I know of no tree roots that can reach that far out. However, we can check the soil there to see if there is any difference: the more information we have, the better. The soil here has enough minerals to sustain plant growth, but nothing grows. By comparing this soil with that of the soil in the forest, perhaps we'll find the difference that, well, makes the difference."

He looked over into the direction of the forest, a wavy line of brown and green along the distant horizon. "But it is a bit out of the way, and, well..." He paused for a moment, thinking about her health. "It would probably be best if you didn't go alone, just in case."

He hoped that the smile that he had on his face conveyed his concern rather than seem patronizing. He was sure that she could take care of herself, for the most part, but if her condition got to her when she was alone and far from aid...

[Chibi MitchellTF]

Lily nods, the smile having come across as caring. "You have a good point, I wouldn't want to go alone either." She smiles back at him, though her eyes seem slightly bitter.

She thinks. "Other than that, I suppose we could dig deeper, or look to see if there are any caves. Maybe there's something underground that's taking the nutrients?"

[Raleigh]

Raleigh had left his tent in the early morning hours and was simply enjoying being outdoors. "Ahh another wonderful day for a dig. I do wonder what we shall find this time? Maybe proof that the ancient legends were real?"

Raleigh had gotten into archeology primarily thanks to the inspiration of things like Indiana Jones, Master Keaton, and the like. Though he was at first surprised by all the work, for him noting beat being out in the field on a dig. He also comes to this field of work with a mind full of old legends and myths, determined to find evidence that they were all more than merely tales made up by people to while away the time. He is possibly one of the youngest out on this dig, but also one of the more energetic in the quest for information about the past.

Raleigh wanders up to both Lily and the professor, looking as bright eyed and bushy tailed as ever. "So what is up today prof.?"

[Mitera Nikkou]

(Raleigh: There's no Indiana Jones and Master Keaton in this universe. XD No movies and machines and all that.)

"Well..." Donald began his reply to Lily, even as he noticed Raleigh's approach. "The seeds didn't sprout in our pots either, using the the soil from this location. So it must be something in the soil itself."

Turning to Raleigh, he said: "Ah, finally awake, are we? Well, no matter. That is, unless you don't mind accompanying Lily to the forest to retrieve some soil samples. That's more or less what's up, now that you're up."

[Raleigh]

((Ahh must have missed that bit, well then just assume its books based off a similar concept.)) "Sure why not? Best to get moving while the day is young and the sun is low. Or would be if it wasn't already so late in the morning. I do apologize for sleeping in like that, I rarely do so."

[Stellar]

(I'm actually too depressed to read too indepth for this, so just let me know if something needs changed)

Holly squatted in one of the excavation ditches brushing off a small plank she had uncovered moments ago, "There honestly can't be anything here..." She mumbled to herself looking over the petrified wood.

Holly is a well built girl despite being just under five feet. She knew her family would never have the money for her to go to a university so she made it in with a tennis scollarship. She was undoubtedly good at tennis, but it was only her hobby. Holly enjoyed cooking more then anything and hoped once she finished school she would become a chef at some big fancy restraunt, even though it wasn't likely and she'd probly be an assistant for some years she could still dream.

She tossed the plank in a pile of other junk she found and sat back opening a canteen to refresh herself. "Wether we find anything or not, it's still nice to get away," Holly chattered to herself taking a few minute break. Even though it wasn't thrilling or anything she considdered doing, the dig was seemingly peaceful especially in the mornings before anyone else got up.

[Mitera Nikkou]

Donald looked up at the sun, gauging what time it was. "It's not that late in the morning, actually. I had just expected you to be available for some everyday chores a little sooner, is all." Glancing between the two, Lily and Raleigh, he added: "Well, if neither of you mind the arrangement, you can leave when you're ready. Be sure to take some jerky and crackers from the wagon and, above all, fill up your canteens: it's going to get a bit hotter while you're over there."

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Underneath where the plank of petrified wood had been, there was a part of a stone showing in the dirt. It appeared ordinary, but it's size was unknown since there was so little showing. Holly would find out that it was quite big (at least as big as her own body in length) should she dig further, and clear more dirt out of the way. Most of the rock was within the area she was digging, so, if she does get around to clearing the dirt around it, she would likely need help removing it so it wouldn't get in the way of further work on that particular area.

[Stellar]

With a slight sigh Holly capped her canteen and set it back down. Upon seeing the stone poking out of the ground she mumbled to herself, "Well now, we'll have to get you out of the way since you're right in the middle of where I'm digging." She reached out and tried simply lifting it, but after a moment she realized it was probly larger then it appeared. Holly took up her pick and began chipping the ground away around it.

Eventually she had made a crevass around it about 2 feet deep and somewhat frustrated she stood up to get a different view of the obstruction. "Well now..." Holly stood staring at the rock in thought.

[Chibi MitchellTF]

Lily thinks for a bit. "As long as there's nothing going on here, I have no problem with heading out to the forest." She thinks for a minute, and ignores a funny feeling in the back of her neck, a sort of prickling.

She heads over to the wagon. "Jerky, or Crackers. Jerky, or crackers..."