(017) A closer look at the Gatehouse

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
With light provided by Olaf, Desmond will follow Wibert down the stairs.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Pelenwin turns to the others. "This level looks secure. I say we head down into the basement to see if there are any more of these foul betrayers left."

Pelenwin says as much, but does he boldly lead the descent into the dark?

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

With light provided by Olaf, Desmond will follow Wibert down the stairs.

Wibert -- Olaf's light illuminates the stairs ahead brightly, and the others are pushing at your back. Do you want to lead the way down or not?

[waysoftheearth]

tombowings wrote:

Pelenwin says as much, but does he boldly lead the descent into the dark?

Definitely.

"Come on, mates, let us descend the scare and fear no more of darkness," begins Pelenwin, heading to the stairs. "Let us rid the world of this scum and seize their misbegotten treasures for our own."

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Fair

"Let's get on with it, then." Mads says, as the tenseness he felt earlier in the day eases away to tedium.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The North-West Stair

Pelenwin tramps down the narrow stair without fear, his mail rattling with each step. Dieter comes next, his mail coat also shunking at each foot fall. The daylight from above quickly vanishes as the company descends, and by the time Pelenwin turns the next right-angle bend, only Ulric's orange lantern light illuminates the cramped stair well.

Highbough follows Ulric down the stair into darkness, and last comes Mads.

These steep stone treads descend farther into darkness that the tower was tall, turning thrice at right angles during the descent, but at last Pelenwin sets foot on a landing where the stair goes no deeper.

It is a musty, cramped space all of crumbling old stone. A pair of rats scurry into a fist-sized sized crevice along the wall as Pelenwin enters the space and approaches a closed, iron bound door -- the only way forward.

There is scarcely room for Dieter to move onto the landing, and the others are still behind him on the stair as Pelenwin reaches the door.

"Have a care," hisses Ulric quietly from three steps up stair -- his voice no louder than the crackling flame in his lantern...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The South-East Stair

"Oi've stubbed me toe!" declares Wibert, clutching the offending digit awkwardly. "You go ahead!" he waves the others past.

And so Desmond takes the lead, followed by Olaf with his bright light, and then Koch and Gustave.

Nidhogg and Andaros are left to defend the dormitories for now...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The South-East Stair

Now Desmond clambers his way down the narrow stair in the eerie blue-white light provided by Olaf.

The stair really is uncomfortably steep for a Halfling, but Desmond doesn't complain, and soon he finds he has rounded two or three bends and finds himself at a landing. The stair continues to descend into cool darkness, but here on this level a stone passageway leads a short distance to an intersection, where there is a closed door directly ahead, while open passages run to the left and to the right...

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
Desmond whispers, "My crazy aunt Callista always used to say, 'If you're to wield a sword and shield, then know what's left is right' so I think we should go this way."

He turns down the left corridor.

[waysoftheearth]

Professor P wrote:
KOCH gives a puzzled look and whispers, "I don't think that made any sense..."

KOCH follows behind Desmond.