So this comment mostly exists to compile what seems to have been gathered into one key location so everyone's on the same page! I'm freezing this comment so I can edit it as needed.


( ! ) THE GAME PLAN!

OKAY so a general game plan to put everyone on the same page based on the plotting efforts:

• The plan, as it stands, is for super strong folks to team up and hold the half-caved ceiling up (in shifts, for those who aren't inorganically strong/efficient) in order to let the diggers dig more quickly without worrying about further cave-in.
  
  The goal isn't to clear the rubble entirely, just to get a big enough hole for everyone trapped to get out safely.
  
  Then, in theory, those with magic/talismans will basically secure the ceiling in place on a super temporary basis, just long enough for the strongboys to get out from under it and clear of any potential cave-in when it comes loose.
  
  
  
• The timeline, in that case, means that once we factor in the time it takes to organize, to get all involved parties down the tunnel, etc., the rescue attempts finally succeed in making a sufficient hole in the wee hours on the 20th, and the last few spelunkers and rescuers find their way back up the sloped cave quite a bit slipperier as the lake finally begins to pour down into the cave.
  
  
  
• Thread whichever parts suit you! Anything you've volunteered your character to do help-wise can be threaded or handwaved at your leisure, and you're also welcome to handwave having someone (Graham, possibly, or Wei Wuxian, or any ally your character has who is also involved) contact your character to get them involved. You can also literally handwave 100% of their involvement and only thread periphery threads, like going up to the surface and getting food or something, if that's what you'd rather do.
  
  (Because of this, I'm considering the below list + the individual volunteering comments a somewhat definitive list of what everyone's up to, just for handwaving purposes.)

Go forth, have fun - and if you want to touch bases with any of the individual players for more plotting (e.g. 'would Graham get in touch with my character?' or 'maybe one of the teleporting boys could rescue my character so they could help on the outside?') you can totally do that.

( updated: 8/14, 6:45 PST - basically just adding in the final volunteers )


THE SPELUNKERS.

The team based on the spelunking top-level seems to consist of North, Jiang Cheng, Geralt of Rivia, Lan Sizhui, Fran Dagenhart and Daemon Sadi, as well as two new intros (Parker Ryan and i'm just gonna call him Quin) who are there entirely by accident.

Strategy/approach: For the most part, they seem to be going in immediately/shortly after the hatch is revealed, with a couple of them rushing to prepare a few supplies first.

Resources mentioned: Jiang Cheng is notably bringing a few survival supplies (water, food, rope). Daemon can provide light for the trip. Lan Sizhui is capable of basic healing to stabilize bad injuries.

Injuries mentioned: Geralt, Jiang Cheng, and Lan Sizhui may be getting injured somehow, so far undecided.

THE RESCUERS.

According to the rescue efforts plotting, volunteers to help the rescue team so far consist of Graham Casner, Wei Wuxian, Lalli Hotakainen, Number Five, the OA and KD6-3.7 from outside the cave-in and Geralt + Daemon both from the inside. (UPDATE: Rhys Strongfork volunteered on discord to help keep rescue efforts on-track and organized.)


Leadership:

On the surface, Graham will be contacting his network of skilled individuals and generally gathering people to send down to the rescue efforts down in the cave.

His contact downstairs is Wei Wuxian*, who will be spearheading the rescue efforts in the form of leading by example + helping put together a somewhat solid plan. From there, he'll be relying on Rhys (for project management skills) + The OA (for resource distribution + morale/calming influence) to make sure that whatever plan they've settled on is seen through, as Wei Wuxian himself is going to be throwing himself into the actual physical digging/ceiling-holding/whatever.

( * ) If anyone else with a leader-type character wants to take this role and spearhead the actual rescue effort, please let me know! Wei Wuxian is just filling a void here, I never want to hog plot roles as a mod.

Rescue Ideas:

Most people seem to be on the 'support the ceiling + dig them out' strategic track, and are providing thoughts/resources there -

Geralt is brainstorming constructing supports of some sort to hold the ceiling in place, perhaps out of metal. (Possible plotting thread: Support-oriented person might be tasked with looking around for objects that might work?)

K, Geralt, David, and a couple of others on Discord who need to reply to the plotting comments still (I'm remembering Wen Ning specifically) are Very Strong and could probably collectively support the ceiling well enough for diggers to dig the spelunkers free. (Doing this also takes strong people off of the task of actually digging and moving very heavy rocks, so that's a double-edged sword.)

Wei Wuxian and Geralt are able to use talismans/magic to hold the ceiling in place, especially if they spam those talismans/spells. (Depending on how many 'we're strong enough to hold up the ceiling by hand!!' types we get, maybe these magics can be what gets everyone out safely at the end?)

Five and Daemon can teleport and transport others on a limited basis. However, Daemon's is very risky (bits of the person might get left behind + he himself likely is wounded in the process) and probably limited to a total of 2-3 people, and Five has a very limited number of teleports in him (1-2 at most, if carrying another person with him).

Lalli was going to get on the 'oh shit, the lake is refilling, time to figure out a crisis plan' end of things but it looks like we have enough rescue ideas that it won't get to that point.

THE SUPPORT STAFF.

According to the support staff plotting, the volunteers for whatever supportive assistance is needed are Nie Huaisang, Jiang Yanli, River Tam, Petra Seydoux, Rhys Strongfork, Lan Jingyi, Technical Boy and Ellie.

Resources mentioned: Yanli is a bomb-ass cook and good at finding medicinal herbs if necessary. Jingyi has survivalist first aid skills. Rhys is grudgingly willing to climb down the hole if he has to (aka run supplies). Simon (who replied in the rescue efforts comment but will be remaining outside the cave) will be offering medical care to those injured, as will Ellie if needed! Technical Boy can make sure important messages go through to their destination.

Otherwise everyone is mostly just ready for the rescuers to tell them what's needed.