Jareth just motions for quiet and shoos everyone back upstairs.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 255):

Clarence backs up the stairs, concerned about some giant monstrosity about to come through the walls...

"bugger, bugger, bugger..."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Sun 04 Oct 2020.

OOC  As the rearguard, I expect Nodwin was about the first one back up the stairs.  Staff in one hand, hand crossbow (loaded) in the other.

Mario exits the stairwell behind Nodwin, holding his light stone (attached to the upper nock of his bow) over the well to help others see their footing.

I assume we all come back up.

In reply to Brodak (msg # 259):

Once back up the spiral stairs, where do you head; only a few people can be in the stepwell room, so folks had to back down the narrow passage.

Jareth motions to the closest to huddle up and tries to get stragglers in the corridor to press in, he says softly, "T'e sill trapped with t'e cultist runes.  T'e drummin could be cultist, could be somethin else.  Nodwin we proved t'e barracks area secure, which was step one for today.  Do we continue explorin t'e sewer maintenance level, drag some corpses to oty?  Better secure our foothold up t'ere and get t'e alchemy set up, or go see what makin t'e noise downstairs before it becomes serious?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 261):

"Wasn't that the same cult that crashed the street? Perhaps we should get some serious guys to deal with that threat, and just clean up nearer to home ourselves?"

"I thought it was Ludlow who collapsed the street."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:45, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

Nodwin ponders what Jareth suggests, and then asks.

"Could your little ermine avoid the bad runes and look in the room for us?  He seems to be a very effective little scout.  But I don't want to endanger him either.  I'd llike to know what we have down here, although given the narrow access point it's easy enough to block if we really need to.

If we do have cultists down there, it seems reasonable to assume they might be using that side passage for something nefarious."

"That's doable.  Akimbo can kip down t'e hall, peek, report back."

Jareth begins creeping down the stairs, he puts his lightstone away.  "Shield your lights, dim as possible."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 265):

Clarence thinks for a bit.

"Ooh, he could have."

He begins shielding his lights, turning around the shield with the rugged lantern handing on it.

Mario looks at the light stone hanging from the nock of his bow, shakes his head, and then wraps his hand around it.

"These things can't just be turned down like a lamp."

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 267):

Akimbo, placed above the runes,darts into the corridor. A moment later it returns, pausing at the gate.

Images rush toJareth of a creaking sound accompanying the slow and steady slapping noise.  There is a breeze that smells faintly of death and a triangle shaped thing in a cage.

OOC Since they were not planning to discuss what Akimbo found in the room, Nodwin stays at the top of the stairs.  In his opinion they could talk about it much more safely out of earshot.

"Douse lights, stay here, keep eye out.  Mario, be ready to shoot, Clarence stay ready light up for Mario.  I go up, talk to Nodwin, it's cultists."

Mario quickly unties his light stone from his bow and stashes it in his pounch, checking to be sure little if any light leaks out -- then stands ready by the top of the stairs.

"Can't see anything down there.  Hope you're quick with that light, Clarence."  His whisper is barely louder than a breath.

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 271):

"Always ready with the light."

In truth, the light on his shield was only 'hidden' because he put his hand on it, and the one in his headlamp was dulled because he held it against the shield. It was a rather comical position he had twisted himself in, and probably a little light leaked out regardless, but if he was startled and turned around, both would be once again revealed. Whether it was wanted or not...

Nodwin's lightstone was still in his pocket...

Reaching the top of the spiral stairs, Jareth waves teh crew over to huddle.

"Nodwin, ain't sure, but sounds like cultist work.  Death an weird thing in a cage.  No report any actual people.  We check it out, being close to this gate, or leave for later?"

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 273):

"Maybe report if for more capable guys to deal with...we don't want another street collapse!"

"We're pretty capable of bringing down these cultists.  Not many of them can keep fighting after they get an arrow through the heart, or throat, or eye.  The little guys with the big knives are the problem -- too close down here to shoot them at a safe distance."

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 275):

"or whatever they summon..."

"In that case, the sooner we take them down, the less problems we'll have."

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 277):

"If we are able to defeat them...if not, no one is warned."

"Ssshhh.  Let's listen a bit." Mario's voice is still just a breath.