(012) Beneath the Gatehouse

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

OOC: How wide are the stairs? Could they be blocked by one individual or would it take two?

Ulric examines the stairs by his lantern light. The flight is some 6 or 7ft wide -- and could be blocked by a single Man. The steps were apparently hewn steeply out of the rock in some age gone by. Now they are rough with splits, cracks and loose debris and climb directly ahead some score or so steps where upon an open archway can be dimly seen above. The dust and debris is mostly clear of the most central route, likely indicating that the stairs see intermittent use...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Unless instructed otherwise by Olaf, he will fall into the marching order in optimum position for his torchlight to supplement Ulric's so that the entire party is well-lit.

There are currently three light sources; Michele's torch (which he took from Caine, who took it from Padrig's pack) at one end. Padrig's torch near the middle. Ulric's lantern at the other end.

The party is illuminated well enough without any change to the marching order.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

"I'm ready to check up the up stairs, but let's not split up." Olaf says.

After some hushed discussion it is agreed that the company will investigate up stairs. The marching order is reversed, so that Olaf and Gustave are ahead, followed by Anwyn and Ulric (with his lantern), followed by the rest of the party.

Olaf, sword in one hand and shield in the other, carefully climbs the steep case, searching out a way in the gloom. At the top of the stair he finds another small ante chamber from which passages lead off to the left, right, and directly ahead. That ahead is half as wide again as the others, and, as Ulric approaches the stair top, Olaf and Gustave see by his encroaching lantern light that a bulky pair of great, iron-bound double doors stand in the gloom some 30ft ahead.

Olaf and Gustave have alighted.
Michele and Caine are still in the ante chamber below. The remainder of the company are on the steep stair.

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Gustave, finding himself suddenly on the frontline, draws his elegant blade. He pauses at the top of the stair to listen, then steps into the ante with comrade Olaf, bidding the lantern bearer to follow.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Gustave's blade comes free of its scabbard with a menacing sshhfh.

Gustave and Olaf move carefully into the second ante, a space barely more than a dozen feet long and eight wide, with Anwyn (wisdom 6) trotting carelessly up behind them, while Ulric and the others wait behind them upon the stair.

The passages left and right vanish off into the gloom, while ahead the mighty double doors beckon... and what is that? The muffled sound of a hideous laughter?

Anwyn hears it too, and immediately heads for the great doors, a playful smirk upon her face..

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
Ulric moves to the top of the stairs in order to provide as much light as possible. Seeing Anwyn move toward the doors he whispers as quietly and sternly as he can.

"Anwyn, stop."

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf grunts. His hands are full, sword in one and shield in the other, otherwise he would reach for Anwyn and try to make her pause before moving forward so far and quickly.

"I think we should explore to the left and then to the right before proceeding forward to those iron doors." Olaf whispers to the group as it comes up to the anteroom, "And let us move carefully, looking for traps, both natural or man made, as we go. The age, and disrepair of this place may have made floors and ceilings less than stable, hence natural traps. The fact that it is occupied leads to the possibility of other traps being laid for the unwary."

Olaf lets the group's line reform and unless there is discussion leads toward the left corridor moving carefully.

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Michele nervously looks about, discovering that bringing up the rear is no more comforting that scouting ahead.

"What do you see up there?" he whispers into the gloom.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Anwyn pauses at Ulric and Olaf's advice, and shrugs her shoulders casually.

"Don't you want to know what is so funny?" she peeps, genuinely surprised.

Word of what transpires is whispered down the line, all the way back to Dieter, Michele and Caine at the rear, before Olaf carefully begins to lead on into the left passage...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The left passage is rarely wider than 7 or 8ft as it winds a way unevenly into the cold, pitch dark of the canyon-rock. A dusty debris of fallen stones, an old bone, a long-disused boot, a long dead rodent and so on litters the sides of the passage, but the central way is mostly clear.

Olaf, then Gustave, then Anwyn, lead on by Ulric's mercurial lantern light, and ply a cautious path along 20 or more yards of the narrow passage, until it abruptly turns right.

Peering around the corner, they see that the passage opens into a long chamber that appears low and cluttered in the gloom, but -- even from beyond -- has the unmistakable look of a dunjon. There seem to be a row of barred cells along the right hand side of the chamber, and a jumble of shadowy implements of torment are scattered throughout the left hand side of the grim space, which stretches beyond the reach of Ulric's lantern fire...