CAVE OF SPIDERS PART 2-2 (AlinaJitters)

<Flipside>: While Wrong_Way was lead to the canteen, the Guard spider looked up at Alina.
<Flipside>: "And you? Any points of interest?"
Alina looks around. "Where else is there to go?"
<Flipside>: "Well, we got a library. You look like the bookish type."
<Flipside>: "Or maybe where the Research caste do their work?"
Alina thinks a moment, about what these spiders might know that she doesn't, then looks up. "The library it is"
<Flipside>: The Guard nods, moving down the tunnels to the library.
<Flipside>: His mighty legs make solid thumps against the ground, causing the vines along the walls to glow brightly.
<Flipside>: "Oh yeah, them vines provide lights for the tunnels. React to sounds."
Alina rides on the back of the spider, leaned over to make her seem less tall as she looks around
<Flipside>: "Youse be pretty tall, lady. Taller than a lotta the guards."
<Alina>: "I get that a lot." she says casually
<Flipside>: "Height's a big thing for us. Workers be the tiniest, then Researchers and Scouts, then Guards, then the Queen 'erself."
<Flipside>: "Does you be like da Queen of the surface?"
<Alina>: "No, no. On the surface height can be a factor, but its usually what they can do that puts them on top. Or what they were born into."
<Alina>: "Its intimidating, at least"
<Flipside>: "I getcha, I getcha. So you overworlders are all born into castes like us huh?"
<Alina>: "Not... usually. People are born into a family and their status, but are free to change their status so long as they work to it. Some are born in the royal caste and live their life like that, some fall to the level of workers. Some workers become royal, and some stay workers"
Jitterbug is exploring the underground tunnels her roaches told her about the other day, climbing on the ceiling
<Alina>: "We pride ourselves on the ability to push ourselves upward. The desire for power."
<Flipside>: The Worker spiders seem to ignore Jitterbug, but the Guard spiders click their pincers in an attempt to chase her off.
<Alina>: "On the surface its very random and competitive"
<Alina>: "Dangerous too"
<Flipside>: "Ah, so castes be var- varia- changin' and stuff." the Guard comments, turning into the library.
<Jitterbug>: ....
Jitterbug hisses at the spiders
<Flipside>: The library is a hollow cylinder, large rectangular holes filled with stacks of books.
<Flipside>: In between each hole is a set of incisions, like a ladder.
<Alina>: "Yeah. Its about the individual, where they are going and what they want. Sometimes the equivalent of your very cooperation based hive can fall apart with workers and guards and scouts and royals fighting one another"
<Alina>: "Because they each think of themselves over the whole"
<Flipside>: "No good comes outta that." the Guard says, acknowledging the auburn spider maintaining the library.
<Flipside>: The Guards get angry, turning around and firing strands of their silk at Jitterbug
Jitterbug tries to crawl away from the spiders, but is caught in the web
<Jitterbug>: Let me go!
<Alina>: "Its how it is on the surface" she says, taking a look around at all the books and trying to figure out which section is which
<Flipside>: The books seem neatly arranged, but disorganized. It's hard to tell what book discusses what at first glance.
<Flipside>: The Guard spiders tug her down to the ground, coiling her in silk.
<Jitterbug>: OhgodHelpMe!
Jitterbug tries to chirp and hiss for the roaches to come get her
Alina taps her chin, thinking. "Are there different categories to the books? A place for histories or bestiaries or fiction?"
<Flipside>: At this depth it's unlikely the roaches will reach her in time. The spiders begin to drag her away, knocking their pincers together.
<Flipside>: The books are written in standard English, most of them seem to cover topics such as gardening, cooking and quantum physics.
<Flipside>: The auburn spider taps her shoulder. "Anything I can help with?"
Alina stands up straight, taking on a more respectful stature to her usually cold way of being. "Yes, do you know where I might find a history or a log? Maybe a discussion on culture or biology?"
<Flipside>: The two guards continue to drag Jitterbug around, getting close to the library. They enter, and the Guard turns to face the two.
<Jitterbug>: Let me go! This is inhumane!
<Flipside>: The auburn spider prods its head, thinking. "Try...the upper shelves."
Alina looks over to see Jitters all strung up, retaining her callous expression and low tone. "Oh... Hey Mrs. Greene"
<Flipside>: The Guard turns around. "You know 'er?"
<Alina>: "Yes, she's one of the guards from my school. By the looks of it in the middle of a poorly thought out decision"
<Flipside>: "The school, eh? You two, let 'er out."
<Alina>: "She means no harm"
<Jitterbug>: Oh, hey there, what's up?
<Jitterbug>: You apart of this?
<Alina>: "They saved me, they're good"
<Flipside>: The two guards bite into their silk, tearing it off. They wander out of the library.
<Jitterbug>: Then why am I we-oh
<Flipside>: "Gotta be careful missy."
<Jitterbug>: Nevermind
Jitterbug gets up, and straightens her shirt
<Jitterbug>: What's all this anyways?
Alina has her hands in her pockets, looking on with indifference, before looking up at the upper shelves
<Alina>: "Its a sentient spider colony"
<Jitterbug>: spider people?
<Jitterbug>: Weeeeeeeird
<Alina>: "...I'll just let the irony stay there"
<Jitterbug>: Hmm?
<Alina>: "Nothing. Can you help me get to those shelves up there?
<Jitterbug>: Sure!
Jitterbug picks Alina up, and flies her to the top shelf
Alina is lifted up, looks for anything that could give a history or myth or even hints of magic among these spiders.
<Flipside>: The books here are written in an odd tongue, that resembles the more runic marking of Norse civilizations.
<Jitterbug>: Whatcha see?
Alina takes a few of the books out, looking at them curiously
<Alina>: "All I need to do is decipher this and we could get a glimpse at just what the stories of these spiders are"
<Flipside>: The writing is a lot like scratch marks, notched into the sheets surprisingly firmly.
<Jitterbug>: Oh...Well, maybe the roaches can read it
<Jitterbug>: I mean, maybe bugs write the same, ya know?
<Alina>: "Bring me down to the librarian, maybe they have a cipher or a translator"
Jitterbug shrugs
Jitterbug flies her down to the librarian, ad begns to look through the books herself
<Alina>: "Hey? Are there any way to translate these old things?"
<Flipside>: The spider looks at the book. "Ah, the Research caste should have some idea of how to do that."
<Alina>: "Then that's where I'm going"
<Flipside>: "They're in the upper levels of the caverns. The Guard can take you there."
<Alina>: "Thank you" she says with somewhat of a bow and motioning for jitters to follow her to the guard
<Jitterbug>: Oh, alright
Jitterbug pops a graphic novel under her arm, and follows suite
<Flipside>: The Guard nods, lowering himself. "Off to see them boffins, yeah?"
Alina nods
<Flipside>: The Guard tuts, standing up and walking down the tunnels once more.
Alina follows with them
<Flipside>: "What's got you interested in dat dere book then?"
Jitterbug begins to flip through her book
<Alina>: "All the other books are in english, and I was told this book could contain some history in it"
<Alina>: "There's something that hasn't been read for a while in here"
<Flipside>: "Ain't been much readin' at the moment. Peoples are busy workin'."
<Alina>: "Its important to remember things. It tells a lot about the past and future"
<Jitterbug>: busy working on what?
<Flipside>: "Tunnelin', expandin', all of that."
<Flipside>: "We're spiders ya know, so the best of the best get a chance to mate with Her Highness."
<Jitterbug>: Don't spider's usually, makes webs in trees and such?
<Alina>: "These aren't normal spiders"
<Alina>: "Not like the surface ones"

<Okeanos>: some spiders burrow]
<Alina>: [yep]
<Okeanos>: ]
<Jitterbug>: I know, but jitters aint the most booksmart, yall know that]

Jitterbug gives Alina a quizzical look, and then goes back to her book
<Alina>: "It is more out of the ordinary as we see it that they have a society"
<Alina>: "Subterranean spiders are more common than you'd think. Ones based around cooperation and castes... not so much"
<Jitterbug>: Eh, yeah, this is giving me the willies, kid
<Jitterbug>: Spiders are weiiiiird
Alina shrugs, continuing on