(084) The Churchcroft Cellar

[waysoftheearth]

When nothing bursts out of the door, Mero confirms its physicality with his spear, sees no light coming from the crack under it, and hears no sound when he listens cautiously at it. All this being done to his satisfaction, he hands his helmet to Schlags before putting his shoulder to the door and forcing it thru in one swift blow.

Inside, there is a modestly-sized ante, perhaps 20ft by 30ft. Narrow side-boards occupy about three quarters of the left and right-hand walls, each decorated with mismatched assortment of chipped, and muddy old vases. Some are empty, some hold remains of long-dead plants. Not quite directly opposite the entry, there is another door.

listening: 1d6=?, forcing door: 1d6=6

[acodispo]

Walfried murmurs: "Let's take a quick look around that next corner before we explore this room further."

If there's no objection, he leads the way further down the corridor, and takes a peak 'round the corner, motioning for Schlags to hold out the torch.

[waysoftheearth]

Brother Walfried advances another 20ft to look around the corner. By the dim illumination behind him, he sees another dark passageway which turns to the left about 50ft away. 10ft along the passage, there is yet another door to the right...

[The Red Baron]

Mero thanks Schlags, and straps back on his helmet.

[mushgnome]

While this is happening, Boggs peers through the door into the ante room. He visually scans for tracks or signs of verminous creatures. He looks up at the ceiling for webs or creepers. Finally, does he recognize the dried plants?

[waysoftheearth]

The company pushes up behind Walfried sufficiently for Boggs to examine the ante... he sees the usual cobwebs above and rat droppings around the floor and only the dusty sideboards. The plants are so withered and dried, it is difficult to tell what they might have been. Mayhap, at some point, they were a pretty arrangement of flowers?

The front part of the company has now advanced beyond the ante door. Staying well formed while backing the company up to enter the room "in order" will be modestly tricky compared to pushing ahead...

[acodispo]

"Hrmph," Walfried ponders, audibly. Then he murmurs to those near him:

"There is another door ahead, and a continuing passageway.

"We'll move ahead & check this door, but ask the Eriff hold back a man or two and take a closer look at the nursery -- check that door for noise beyond, and so forth."

Then he peers at the long crowded line extending down the passageway and seems a little stymied by the logistics of such a large group in such a small space.

"Eh, just pass all that back down the line. And let's find a strong point soon, station a portion of us there, and then send out scouts. We are too unwieldy."

Brother Walfried then advances down the passage, to the next door on the right. He has noticed that Mero has a good routine with the things and will beckon for the fighting-man to take a look, while he keeps watch on the passage beyond.

[sully]

Chiron opines, Sounds reasonable.

[Tonneau]

"Hrmph," Walfried ponders, audibly. Then he murmurs to those near him:

"There is another door ahead, and a continuing passageway.

"We'll move ahead & check this door, but ask the Eriff hold back a man or two and take a closer look at the nursery -- check that door for noise beyond, and so forth."

"Well you can inform 'is Holiness that the eriff says he can use his own ears and so forth, an' that p'rhaps there was some misunderstandin' on his part, but this Lemmi 'aint his wetnurse." Lemmi informs the last inline in the information chain, beaming a grin at them.

"Cant 'ear a bloody thing w'you lot crashin' round anyways; s'a wonder snorks arn't pourin' out the walls by now."

[mushgnome]

Quiet as a mouse and using his expert ability to detect traps, Boggs crosses the room and listens at the far door. His men are disciplined and do not push and and shove or make any noise out in the hall.

I agree, we need to find a decent-sized room to use as our base camp and rally point.