Mater Suspiriorum

[Darithe]

Mave

Mave glances around the passage relieved it is as they left it. Glancing back at Torvik, "Should we continue down another way or return above commander?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik "Well we might as well check any passage we can fit down." the dwarf replies back to the question.

[Revenant]

“Here’s a sigh to those who love me, And a smile to those who hate; And whatever sky’s above me, Here’s a heart for every fate.” ~ Byron

The green brackish waters of the passage entryway fall down from above and splatter the adventurers who walk through the large chamber. Cracks are visible above them in this surprisingly high-ceiling chamber showing it in much need of repair and thus the waters that pour down from above. At Torvik's urging you move through it quickly lest the ceiling above collapse from the weight of the waters it bears. Several dead rats and a few bones float in the waters that cover your boot at ankle length.

You finally move through the cavernous opening taking two steps up into a smaller passage that rises slightly above the water in the room behind. With Torvik in the lead you quickly move down the curving passage that turns to the right. Ahead, you note the passage ends in a T-section with openings to the left and right. No sooner have you moved to that area you hear a crash behind you. Likely the ceiling of the larger chamber has gave way. In the rear, Bear exclaims, as a wall of water nearly as tall as the man himself roars through the passage behind. You have but a moment to decide which way to go....

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik looks left and right at the T intersection then decides to go whatever direction he can discern looks to go 'upwards'. If that is not easy to tell he will go left motioning for haste and the others to follow.

[Darithe]

Mave

Mave plays herder making sure everyone follows Torvik's lead as quickly as possible, not wanting a bath in the odious waters. She will remain in the rear until all are out of danger.

[Revenant]

"Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Torvik, as he has often had to do in the past, must make a sudden though measured choice. The right has a slight rise but the left a greater one. He dashes down the left and keeps moving to give room to the others before he looks back and witnesses the water crashing against the wall behind and flowing into either direction. When it comes to rest murky water covers the floor by about 2 feet. Luckily all have made it down the left corridor with Mave in the rear.

Torvik thinks the passage they are in has a slight rise to it so they continue onward until they reach the point that the passage rises up ahead from the water. Now on dry footing they pause a moment to catch their breaths. Kade says, "That was a close one," letting water drain from the joints of his plate armor, "I hope this doesn't rust."

From somewhere farther down the passage you hear a distant male voice call out, "Hello, is there someone down there?"

[Darithe]

Mave

Glad to be free of the damp aromatic waters. At the sound of the voice, Mave looks to Torvik and whispers, "Should we respond?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik responds first to Kade "Ain't you learned yet Kade boiled linseed oil treat yer armor wit boiled linseed oil an it should protect it against rust." the question about answering the voice the dwarf holds up his one finger (index) "Hold up a minute let me er one o' us go ahead and see if we can get close enough ta see em."

[Revenant]

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." ~ Will Rogers

Torvik wanting to see who asked the question before he answers it, waves for the others to wait there. Kade chagrined that he didn't think to rustproof his armor, him being a blacksmith by trade. Rather like a healer not thinking to treat themselves. The rest of the group watch Torvik sneak forward and then disappear in the long dark passage ahead. As it turns out his hiding was unnecessary because the passage ahead is completely dark.

And in the darkness ahead, Torvik can see the man who asked the question, stumbling around in the darkness with no light source...

Curwain.jpeg (113.79 KiB) Viewed 605 times

The man wears the uniform of a Gull's Landing guard, like the group that set out with Mave's brother. He stands still in the darkness as if listening for an answer to his question.

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik calls back to the man in the gull's landing armor. "Commander Torvik o' tha ranger's o tha horn at yer service lad." and moves forward a little further. "An who might ye be? From that looks o' it yer a gull's landin guard. Least ta me dwarven eyes anyway." he comments.

[Revenant]

The man's face softens at Torvik's words, "I was sure I'd meet my doom in this darkness. I ran out of the last of my torches hours ago. I am Guardsman Curwain Turlot under the command of Sir Erel Gallowhawk. We were ambushed by the blackbirders down here. Many of my fellow guardsmen died but several including Sir Gallowhawk were taken prisoner! I fled, lest I be captured myself and have been trying to find my way out of these maze of passages." He looks about the darkened passage, "I'm so turned around I'm not sure which way I've gone."

[Darithe]

Mave

Mave waits patiently talking briefly with the others left behind. She listens trying to comprehend what is being said if she is within hearing distance.

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik takes out a torch lights it and hands it to the guardsman "Alright well we got more back this way passage crashed in behind us so we ain't got much but watter ta wade through if we keep goin this way." he moves back and signals for the others to come forth.

[Revenant]

Curwain takes the torch, "Good to see a friendly face once more. I thank you sir. Others..." he pauses looking into the darkness behind Torvik.

[Darithe]

Mave

Mave leads the others to where Torvik is, "The others would be us sir. I'm afraid I don't know you though I see you must be one of our town guards. I am Mave Gallowhawk."

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik "Yup others but we're on tha same side as ya. Me recruits an company ere sent down ere ta find two women one is nother recruit of mine." he explains to the guardsman.

[Revenant]

Curwain bows before Mave, "Lady Gallowhawk, we have not met but I have seen you from afar." Then returning his attention to Torvik, "Yes, Sir Erel explained to us the objective, but we never reached the women. We were ambushed by...some vile creature. A woman, who cast magics while her minions attacked. Many of our men were killed, but some were taken prisoner including Sir Erel."

[Darithe]

Mave

"Erel is a prisoner?," she exclaims. She looks to the others, "This is grim tidings. We have lost one of three groups." She paces nervously. Erel was the brother she was closest to, but she had to focus. She turns to look at the guard, "Can you lead us back to where the ambush happened?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik "We encountered undead an some weird creature. Grim tidings indeed. We'd best see about healin tha guardsman and tryin ta save Erel." he responds.

[Revenant]

Curwain frowns a moment as if trying to work out the path he had taken, "I may be able to retrace the path I stumbled through. With light, I likely can that is. As to healing, I thank you but I am uninjured save for my pride." He pauses a moment, "The group Sir Erel formed was made up of hardened warriors and well-trained guardsmen." He looks over the group, "Do you think we can do better against the forces down here?"