In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 854):

the door isn't a stairway door, but is elevated with a step at the threshold... think submarine and you get the idea. it appears to be untrapped, and is barred on this side, and opendm in to this room.

"Look clear.  Everybody quiet down, let me see if I can hear anything on the other side."

He presses his ear to the door -- at the keyhole, if there is one -- and listens intently while covering the other ear.

[Private to GM: 07:56, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 7 using 3d6.  Per (11) listening at the elevated door.]

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 856):

you hear a steady dripping sound.

"They said this was below the baths.  Seems right, I hear water."

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 858):

Clarence continued to watch his charges.

In reply to Clarence Montague (msg # 859):

The spearwoman prods one.
"Anything we should know about?"

In reply to Charlene Le Poire (msg # 860):

"There is something in the water... leeches, the kind that jump."

"Fy really begin like you Plumber's man.  What's ya name?"

"Jumping leeches you say?"  Mario slings his bow so the upper nock with its attached light stone sticks up above his head, and readies his quarterstaff instead.  "Okay, I'm as ready as I'll get."  He reaches out to check if the door is locked, but without opening it.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 862):

"Name is Anton."

the door is unlocked
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:28, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

"Door's ready when we are.  But."  He turns to Anton.

"What's beyond the jumping leeches?  What are we going toward in there?"

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 865):

"Furnaces first, for the calorium, then just plumbing for the tepidarium, where there are stairs. over from there is the frigidarium..."

In reply to Narrator (msg # 866):

"Should I take the less cooperative ones as decoys for the leeches? Or do we stay here?"

Jareth rises and answers Clarence, "Me, Brodak, an Mario should lead, t'en you an Joce, Mel an Nodwin follow.  An try an keep t'e leeches off t'ese guys, t'ey're allies."

He joins Mario at the door but leaves room for Brodak to the front once the door is opened.  He pauses to let anyone dissent, and if no one dissents, gently opens the door (pushing it with his staff or pulling it open with his hand, whichever).

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 868):

Clarence will use his shield as directed.

Mario makes space the other way from Jareth to allow Brodak ahead, then holds out his hand to restrain the big axe-wielder.

"Jareth, do you think we're ahead to go through here at a run, or just try to keep the leeches brushed off as best we can?"

"Just couple o' leeches Mario... hmm.  Clarence, pass out your torches.  Let's keep 'em lit an deal decisively with any leeches."

He takes the prisoners off of Clarence's hands while Clarence passes out and lights torches.

What we're lookin for should be one th'se rooms.  Unless it's in t'e smuggler's belongins...

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 871):

Clarence passed out his remaining 3 torches, lighting them is requested.

Brodak surges to the door and then looks at Mario who has his hand up in front of him... Not Go?

"Just checking on the leeches.  He didn't say how big they are, or how hungry, or how many.  Like a warm pond, or a physicker's surgery, like regular leeches or grown huge like that worm we saw a little of a week or two ago?  Even normal pond leeches can endanger an ox, if there are too many of them."

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 874):

Anton shakes his head
"They ain't big, but there is plenty of them. pass me that firkin over there."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:57, Tue 14 Sept 2021.

"An 'leapin' ain just cute name."  Jareth pulls up his leather lower-face mask, drops his goggles down over his eyes, and eases his hood up, cinching it down as tight around his face as he can.

Slightly muffled, "I'll lead, Brodak, swat any leapers what get on me with that torch."  He moves to the door, "Everyone else, watch out, like Boo, t'ey go for t'e eyes..."

Once everyone else has made preparations, he eases the door open and enters the furnace room.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 876):

Clarence will move the firkin to Anton with his blade butt, keeping the knife just in case.

Mario swallows, hard, as Jareth dons mask and goggles, then raises a hand to where his simple steel pot helmet ends above his eyebrows, and slides that hand down to where his leathers just cover his collarbones.

"I don't like this, Jareth.  I don't have anything like those, and I need my eyes."

"T'ey don't eat eyes, Mario," Jareth waits while everyone adjusts, "just bloody uncomfortable t'ey get on yah t'ere.  Make yer vision all blurry for days till ya eye heal right.  Nodwin probably has spell that straighten it right out though if ya do get one on ya eyeball."

Jareth chuckles, "This place give Ymid an it's flyin critter all kinda fits, eye bet," he points to his eye as he says it.