Re: Chapter #6c: A Roaming Gnome
"Two, I expected. But, three ... " The gnome faced the three tunnels that had only, until moments ago, been a convenient and comfortable one. It would have been so much better if the tunnels had branched off *after* letting out onto the cliff facing entrance that she had been looking for. That would have taken all of the difficult decisions out of things. But here she was, faced with not two tunnels, but three. And there was certainly little hope in negotiating with them to rearrange themselves for her convenience. Desna knows she'd tried that often enough to know. Insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Nope. That was not her. No sense asking politely. She'd learned that lesson already.
The gnome squatted down next to the remnants of the brickwork that must have, for all intents and purposes, sealed the western tunnel at one time. She could imagine Lord Kaijitsu sealing the tunnel room in the basement after the smugglers had been found out by the Black Arrow. But who sealed this tunnel? It would have to have been the smugglers. But why? Well, given that Tsuto's journal said that Nuteliana kept freaks down here, it sort of stood to reason that maybe the smugglers might have run into a few of these freaks. Maybe in some of Cato's underground Thassilon ruins. And now ... someone had broken the wall back down with the express purpose, no doubt, of releasing the freaks upon Sandpoint.
"Well, don't want to go that way," Pisca said to herself. Or, perhaps she spoke to the tunnels, all three. Or, maybe the words were for the flying monkey shaped light, her sole companion in this mad adventure. The gnome rose and backed away from the Tunnel of the Freaks. She withdrew with more caution than she had when she had approached, knowing now what she did not know then. Or, at least, thought that she knew.
"Freaks. Freeeeaaaaks," said the gnome in a voice, eerie and spectral. She could feel the fine hairs on the back of her neck tingle as they stiffened in fright. "Freeeeaaaaks," Pisca grinned wide as the delicious feeling of fright coursed up and down her body. She nearly gave into the temptation to run screaming and laughing down the eastern tunnel, but reminded herself, at the last possible moment, of the serious mission that she was on.
East was the beach. If there was an entrance that let out under the cliffs it would likely be in that direction. So, the eastern tunnel it would be. Pisca backed cautiously down the east tunnel. The decision was made. But this was still one of the most dangerous of times. She'd had her moment of levity. Humor had eased tensions just enough to relax her guard. Or so the monsters would think. A smile and a laugh made you vulnerable in the most classic of senses. And monsters had an uncanny knack for sensing these moments. That was a little known fact. They knew, and this was always when they chose to strike.
The gnome drew her blade. Her senses were keenly tuned for the low moan, the menacing growl, or the sudden shocking attack from the dark. They might come, but they would not find this gnome unprepared. Maybe she'd better run? No. That would be the worst thing. People who ran always ran straight into whatever it was. So slowly, agonizing step by agonizing step, Pisca made her way east.
Stealth and Perception Check, please.
Active Effects: Dancing Lights 1m
HP 10/18
Archaeologist's Luck 1/7
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Wed 29 Jan 2014.