Immersive Ink

waysoftheearth wrote:
The situation is thus:

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# Wall
@ Darkness/Unknown
O Column
e Elindir
g Legandir
8 Other company members

ehiker133 wrote:
Norin whispers, "We need to stick together. We don't know how vast this hall could be, so let's stay close to a wall until we can find out."

mushgnome wrote:
"I agree with Norin," whispers Sili. "Standard Procedure is to circle the room clockwise and find all the exits."

crusssdaddy wrote:
Arbenbard steps forward to examine the corpses. Any heraldry, unique equipment, etc.? Nat stands close watch.

doctorx wrote:

mushgnome wrote:"I agree with Norin," whispers Sili. "Standard Procedure is to circle the room clockwise and find all the exits."

Lmluin gives a curt nod; "Agreed."

Then he sees Arbenbard starting forward toward the bodies; "Arbenbard! Wait!" he hisses; "Let us make safe the hall first!"

waysoftheearth wrote:
Nat puts a cautionary hand upon Ardenbard's shoulder, advising him to heed Lomeluin's advice -- at least for now. There's no telling the extent of this chamber, or what might lay silently in wait just beyond the torch light.

Thus it is that the company proceeds slowly about the great perimeter, turning first left (more or less north, to the Dwarves present).

Soon, beyond the great row of columns, a narrow arch is revealed -- wide enough just for single file -- and within is another stair climbing further up and westward.

Marking the presence of this exit, the company continues until they encounter the huge, flat expanse of the chamber's boundary wall, and here they turn right to follow it as far as the vault does extend. And this is some way indeed, Ardenbard makes it perhaps 200 feet before another wall is spied in the gloom ahead.

And in this one there is a massive Dwarf-decorated arch above a broad stair, again climbing up, ever up. This second one is wide enough for two to climb abreast with comfort. It is as wide as the first stair you did climb.

"Not more stairs, surely?" complains Grim the Dunderling, near the back of the column.

Somewhere, a long way off in the dark comes a sharp metal bang, like hammer on anvil. But only once does it come...

waysoftheearth wrote:
'Tis not entirely unlike this:

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# Wall
@ Darkness/Unknown
O Column
X Fresh Orc corpses
e Elindir
g Legandir
s Sili
n Norin
S Soval
8 Other company members

waysoftheearth wrote:
The company has observed much rubble and detritus in the grand hall, and no few bodies of slain Orcs. Most of these might have been rotting and gathering dust here for years or decades, but none have recognisable markings of rank or organisation upon them.

Behind the row of mighty columns near the center of the room are two far fresher corpses... albeit missing several limbs, most of one abdomen and one head between them. The stench of them is palpable.

tombowings wrote:
"Norin," Elindir whispers, "examine the cause of the foul orc's death - be if sword, fire, or the ripping of flesh."

Meanwhile, Elindir will move towards the nearby staircase, listen for any signs of movement above.

doctorx wrote:

tombowings wrote:"Norin," Elindir whispers, "examine the cause of the foul orc's death - be if sword, fire, or the ripping of flesh."

Meanwhile, Elindir will move towards the nearby staircase, listen for any signs of movement above.

"'Ware that hammer blow!" mutters Lomeluin; "Let none wander too far from the company until we have completed our circle of this place."

His elf eyes hunt the shadows of the cavernous hall for any sign of threat.

"Something speaks in the dark. And it speaks of us, I'll wager..."