(036) The Remains of the Day

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
Josiane listens to the back-and-forth of the debate, favouring Gustave with a look of mild (but very pleasant) surprise and a grateful smile, while flashing a sour glance in the direction of Highbough. "His senility seems distinctively selective," she thinks to herself.

Steeling herself, she takes a sniff of the foul air. Does the carrion smell appear to be coming from any particular direction?

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Steeling herself, she takes a sniff of the foul air. Does the carrion smell appear to be coming from any particular direction?

The foul taint seems to hang in the air all about rather than come from any one specific place. If anything, it rises from the dark void below...

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
"Well, whatever we're going to do, I suggest we do it fast." Olaf says, "Standing around in here is just asking to get killed."

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Do I understand correctly that normal lantern light will not penetrate the darkness below? That's never a good sign.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Do I understand correctly that normal lantern light will not penetrate the darkness below? That's never a good sign.

Highbough approaches the edge... and finds his suspicion is apparently correct. Below there is impenetrable darkness.

From this new vantage, the old Elf can see that the ledges leading away to the left and to the right run all about the perimeter of the great vault, and that might be circular in shape... does one of them become a stair out there, at the very limit of his perception? Squinting mightily for a moment, he forms the impression that the ledge to his left runs into a stair that descends into the blackness...

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
"Let's get out of here," whispers Highbough as he backs away from the precipice.

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
"Know this," says Josiane quietly; "I know something of the lore of these creatures. Those who fall at their hands and whose bodies lie unshriven will rise and join their number. Our friends may be dead, but to leave them here will subject them to a fate far worse."

She looks out into the void, straining to pierce the gloom, searching for any sign or guidance that may await her out in the waiting darkness.

"But I hold no-one craven who would withdraw. And Lord Olaf speaks wisely - endless debate will only lead to all our deaths."

She turns her gaze to the rest of the company.

"Perhaps a vote is called for?"

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Gustave suppresses a shiver at Josiane's articulate description of the afterlife as a victim of the undead.

Looking around at the weary party he speaks resignedly "No, there is no need for a vote."

"If our friends are indeed lost - in death or in undeath, then we will not be helping them with our own deaths. Let us then return to the surface, if the way is still open to us, and return better equipped."

He casts a final glance at the eerie green flames across the black divide "This place is a labyrinth far beyond our reckoning, and holds things we could not have imagined ere we entered."

"Come, let us make haste", he says, making his way back up the stairs, "There will be no soup for us tonight..."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Very well.

After discussing the alternatives at some length a consensus is apparently reached, and the company turns around, and climbs the stair back into the fateful third vault.

When you arrive back there, after a short climb, it is cool and silent, as before.

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
Dorgan will let the rest of the party sort out the marching order. He'll continue to stick close to Josiane.