In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 204):

The gate, once you open it to inspect the reverse side, looks like something other than a key was used, and presumably from a low angke; the intruder was not tall.

When they pause for Jareth to check the lock, and for Akimbo to do his search, Nodwin pulls a light stone out of his pouch and attaches it to his head using a length of cloth.  He also hands one to Clarence, and if anyone else wants one he'll offer them one as well.

OOC  Nodwin has 5 stones with "Daylight" level Continual Light cast on them.  He will cast again when they stop to let Akimbo sniff the area, while Jareth looks over the locks.

[Private to GM: He will be down 6 fatigue, but I expect they will be here at least 15 minutes so he should only be down a couple.
13:52, Today: Secret Roll: Nodwin Zideqick rolled 11 using 2d6.  Number of days on new light stone.
13:47, Today: Secret Roll: Nodwin Zideqick rolled 12 using 2d6+3.  Continual Light 14.]

In reply to Nodwin Zideqick (msg # 206):

Clarence has his own light items, but will accept another, including a candle in his headlight with continual light on it and a light in the lantern, as well as the lantern hook.

"Ah!"  Mario breaks out in a grin and exchanges the stone, now gone dark, that was tied to the upper nock of his bow for the fresh one Nodwin offers.  "This is much better than a torch for everything except starting a fire."

Jocelyn accepts one and thanks Nodwin ...

Brodak takes one and then tries to figure out where to put it...

Jareth will exchange the 'burned out' lightstone from a few days back for a new one.

"Someone short was pickin t'e lock.  Eit'er our missin cultis is short, or we got small t'eif down here.  Akimbo has t'e scent, run across t'em again, hopefully can scent it out."

Jareth stops to tie a few hairs aroudn the lower gate bars as 'the gate was opened detection device'.

"Nodwin ya need a rest or we good to check down past t'e kitchen?"

Nodwin stands up with a nod to Jareth.  "I'm a little tired yet, but not enough that you all need to ait up on me.  We can continue. I will find another couple minutes to rest along the way."

OOC  I figure we were at least 10-15 minutes here, he should only be down a couple fatigue.

"Good enuff.  Let see what past t'e kitchen an t'en decided where explore to next."

In reply to Nodwin Zideqick (msg # 212):

Rounding the corner by the kitchen, a short narrow corridor heads into the darkness. Nodwin's light stones reveal a short side passage about 10 yards in. The corridor aheadis onlyba yard wide.

Brodak fills it nicely and moves slowly forward, ever alert

In reply to Brodak (msg # 215):

Clarence follows, holding up his light high. Well, all of his lights...

"Hardly any sense following him into there -- he's too big to shoot past unless something even bigger comes up."

Nodwin tells the group "You should follow Clarence so he can protect you with his shield.  Brodak can handle anything in front of us, but may need your help.  I will make sure nothing comes up from behind as a rear guard."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

Mario hangs back, going just ahead of Nodwin to be able to shoot backward past him if needed.

Jareth goes third, muttering something about "...need someone what can see case Clarence an Brodak walk into trap..."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 220):

Clarence will continue forward with the light, in the proud tradition of torch-bearers...

In reply to Clarence Montague (msg # 221):

You get to the 'intersection' and see that there is a yard wide turnoff if three yards that end in another bronze gate. The narrow passage  otherwise heads on about 20 yards, and makes a sharp turn to the left, from which a faint breeze blows.


[Private to Narrator: this leads behind the kitchen, etc,has a chained room full of undead, and has a ladderwell down to level 3 that is adjacent to an airway]

In reply to Narrator (msg # 222):

Clarence moves past the grate after shining his light to see well past the grate.

"Brodak, hold here moment," Jareth indicates for Brodak to stay in the 'main' passageway.

He pulls Akimbo out of a pocket, "Give t'e sniff, what's gone by here, an t'en t'e gate."

Jareth moves cautiously up to the gate to examine the lock and the area before and past it.


OOC:  "...that there is a yard wide turnoff if three yards that end in another bronze gate."  Which direction is it splitting off of the 'main passage'?

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 224):

Thr side gate is to the right on the main passage (main as in longer, not wider; these are all a yard wide, and barely two yards high- 7 feet at the peak of the arch)

The gate is a standard one for this level, the lock shows few recent pick marks, and there is a wooden wedge tied to the end of the gate with a bit of twine.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 225):

Clarence makes sure the passage is well lit...

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 224):

The ferret dashes through the gate, and returns seconds later, chittering about dead thing dust and a slope.


Meanwhile,  a steady current of air comes from the bend in the corridor ahead

In reply to Narrator (msg # 227):

"That grate seems solid. Let's go where the wind blows..."

"Is gate.  That means someone could come on us behind.  Granted, same with ot'er gate down t'e otyugh way.  Hopefully oty make t'e racket if somethin come that way."

Jareth unties and pockets the wedge.  "An this wedge means t'ey come this way often, like to keep t'e gate open.  But yeah, we go find t'e end this tunnel, t'en decide."

Akimbo scampers back up into a pocket as they move away from the gate, "chitter-chitter, squeak brrrrrrrrp."

"Ya?  Somethin dead over t'ere?  An down slope.  We check it later."