Mists over the Musarde [IC]

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Before he follows Norzak, he looks at Benn and says nothing, though he raises one eyebrow, followed by the barest hint of a grin. He then continues to follow the dwarf, eyes darting warily.

"Until she is safe, I do not leave her side."

[steveflam]

"Ye'd be more helpful helpin' me mates take care o the kidnappers. I aint lettin nuthin happen ta her, unnerstood? Put yer spear ta good use man." Norzak stops and looks at Dorgio. "I be responsible for her cuz I say so, bub. GO help me pals I;ll be right back n help." He turns and walks back towards where Sancerre was last.

[ewancummins]

Sir Cirdan is still holding the rope, yes?

Yes.

Where is the pipe? - If at all possible, Cirdan will run behind the prisoner, or jump after him...

[By 'pipe' I meant the tunnel in which you are standing- I'll edit for clarity]



Cirdan runs forward, splashing down the length of the tunnel.
Benn moves behind him, flashing his light from one side to the other, searching for any sign of your guide.

At the far end of the tunnel, you find a T-intersection. The left and right branches are both filled with water to about three feet in depth, and otherwise much like the tunnels you've already traversed. Both stretch off into the darkness. Even Sir Cirdan, with his superior vision, cannot see the ends clearly. Directly overhead, right in the middle of the intersection's ceiling, is a bronze hatch,. It looks very old, and is mostly covered in verdigris. There are some bright spots along the rim and on the wheel-like handle, suggestive of recent use.
There's no sign of your prisoner, except for some spots of crimson gore. The rope lies limp in the water, its end severed- a ragged cut.

[ewancummins]

[with Norzak and Dorgio, heading back to the surface...]


The way is clear, and the little party makes good time in hurrying to the exit. Down a tunnel, around a corner, and you come to a vertical shaft, perhaps twenty or so feet. A dead man lies near the base of the shaft, going upwards perhaps twenty feet. Below the opening of the overhead shaft is a dead man, laying face down atop some sort of smashed and twisted iron grill. A few loose blocks of masonry lie nearby. Looking up, one can see the iron handholds of a ladder, leading up into a dimly illuminated room.

Ascending the ladder, you emerge into a small room [Norzak will recognize it as the room with the shaft through which his party had made their initial descent, of course]. A big black candle sits in one corner of the room, casting flickering light across the dusty space. There is one other egress from the room, a wooden door, open to a hallway. The hallway is dimly lit by sunlight. The open door wobbles ever so slightly, as if pushed by a breeze.




[This is definitely the same room and building from which Norzak and the others came- but the candle certainly wasn't there when his party made their initial descent...]

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"I came here for the girl, nobody else," Dorgio replies without slowing his stride. "When she is safe, then, perhaps, we talk."

When they enter the room with the candle, Dorgio looks from the flame to the door. He then looks from the candle to Norzak. "Your group light this?" he whispers.

[steveflam]

"No, but mebbe the girls father, Sancerre did?" He thinks..... "Sancerre, u there?"

[ewancummins]

''Norzak?''

A big man, red haired and dressed in sweaty travelling clothes of fine quality, enters the room. Norzak recognizes his friend Denys Sancerre, naturally.


''You didn't find Evangeline? What, who are these people? Where are Sir Cirdan and Bennedict?''

[steveflam]

"Quickly now, sir. This here be Anja we met her n Dorgio down there in tha sewers. Cirdan and Benn are down there now, about to attack some culprits. I have a favor ta ask so we kin take care 'o gettin' Evangeline back. Look after Anja 'n' 'er puppy fer Dorgio. Tis a long tale we kin explain later. Now we got ta get back ta them rugrats n get missy back fer ye." Turning to Dorgio. "He's a good man he'll look after Anja fer now till we come back up. Join us ta take care 'o the kidnappers and getting back Denys' daughter Evangeline back from them, Dorgio." He turns and not waiting to see if the cleric follows, leaves back to the others.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio pauses, leaving Norzak to return to his comrades. He eyes the candle thoughtfully, then looks to Denys. "Sir, I have your word that Anja will be safe, yes?"

[ewancummins]

Denys answers quickly-
''Yes, of course. I'll watch after her. You have my word. ''

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

The temptation is there—take the girl up to the surface yourself, leave these bolondok to whatever goose chase they'd gotten themselves into, get the credit, get the glory, get the gold. For the church, of course. And the movement. And maybe a little for Dorgio, too. Just a little. Besides, it’s been ages since his last cigarillo.

But Dorgio looks at Denys and sees in his face what Anja’s father must be feeling. He casts his gaze down for a moment.

“A fene egye meg.”

He kneels by the girl and reaches for his cloak. “Anjaka,” he says, using the diminutive, “I must take this again.” He gives her an awkward smile. “When I am back, perhaps we'll have a new friend for you!”

When he gets the cloak back, he will affix it, nod to Denys and Anja, and go back down the tunnels he and Norzak came through.

[steveflam]

Norzak unsheathes his short sword as he walks, sure he'd find hisself some fun upon his return.

[Le Noir Faineant]

Without any hesitation, Cirdan enters the left tunnel.

"Ben, you go for the right! Count to hundred, then turn back and we meet here!"

[Adam]

"One moment," Benn says, fumbling in his pack for a scrap of blank paper from his journal. Tearing it loose, he pulls out a stick of black chalk, and draws two arrows, one pointing left, one right, on the scrap before sticking it to the wall with whatever filth is handy, indicating the direction of their passage. "Alright, see you in a moment."

Benn tries not to let his hands tremble as he proceeds down the right passage.

"!...2...3..."

[ewancummins]

Cirdan, walking down the lefthand passage.....

The water is lower here, just a foot or so, and its flow [moving back towards from the intersection where Benn placed the arrow] is sluggish. Piles of debris and noisome offal lie strewn about, too large to be easily displaced by the weak current. One gets the impression the passage is slanting just slightly upwards.

It's dark here, but Cirdan posesses excellent nightvision, and the dim illumination from Benn's light far to his rear is enough to see by.

Tramping through this mess, Sir Cirdan makes his way down the tunnel a good distance, counting as he goes. Along the way, he notes drag marks in the muck, as of something man sized being pulled further down the tunnel. There are a few indistinct prints of some large animal, perhaps a large dog?