(041) The Fireplace Subterrane

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:

Dorgan warmly receives Mads' Cold Iron Axe from Des. Since the party is most likely to face a rather large opponent at the beginning, the dwarf will throw his shield on his back, hook his axe and dagger on his belt, and carry the battleaxe.

Upon further reflection, Dorgan will proceed down the narrow stairway entrance with shield on his right arm in front and axe in his left hand behind him.

Only when they emerge into the larger room, and there is no imminent danger, will he swap out 1H axe and shield for 2H axe.

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Gustave sighs deeply before removing his recently donned armour, muttering something about the next escapade being to some location designed to admit persons of normal stature.

He the assembles the whole into a large bundle and, carrying this bulk in front of him like a shiny steel baby, follows Dorgan into the depths.

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:
Okay.

On the Team Dieter side, Dieter peels down to his gambeson and makes a bundle of the rest of his armor.

"Pass it through to me when I signal."

Then he takes up his sword and worms his way through the narrow opening, holding a rope connected to his gear with the other hand.

Is there any light in there, or will I need a torch, too?

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Ulric locates Bennug polishing cutlery in the kitchen after the company's morning meal.

"Please finish your current duties then you and the rest of the staff may take the day off. Return to prepare the evening meal. My comrades and I have business to attend to and do not wish to be disturbed."

"Master is too kind," says Bennug with a low bow.

Just as Ulric is about to return to the dining hall, he senses Bennug has something more to say. The butler is clearly reluctant to say too much infront of the three or four other goblins industriously at work, clearly his throat several times and adjusting his stiff collar unreasonably persistently.

At last, when Ulric steps out into the hall, Bennug deigns to whisper to him, "Master would be wise secure his treasury, for servants of any kind have eyes and ears and tongues that will wag. Doubtless the tale of your company's recent... accounting... has already been much exaggerated in the servants' circles."

Bennug coughs to cover his whispering, bows again, and gets back to his work...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Dieter's crew enter the subterrane from the ballroom, while Gustave's lot enter from the dining hall.

Once Dorgan has demonstrated how to open the secret door in the ballroom, he hurries back to join his team in the dining hall.

Highbough volunteers to scout one of the passageways. He'll squeeze through, take a quick look around with his lantern, and fall back at the first sign of trouble.

By the time Dorgan is returned, Highbough has already vanished into the tiny tunnel...

Meanwhile, Dieter leads the way in from the other side.

The descent from the ballroom is extremely narrow and steep, and the ceiling so low that Dieter has to crawl forward in a side-on crouch. There is no light ahead of him, and pretty soon all light from behind him is blotted out by his own bulk.

The descent from the dining hall is no less cramped, but Highbough is considerably smaller than Dieter, and he manages to navigate the steep stair in a doubled over posture that does nothing for his aged back. His lantern illuminates the cool, dark way ahead, and before long...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Soon enough Highbough finds himself at the foot of the stair, and can finally straighten his back!

He has entered a cramped, musty vault which extends further back to his right into the darkness. There is an unpleasant smell in the air, not unlike the acid of crushed ants... as he remember from his last visit, the walls are encrusted with a thick, crystallised saliva -- or something of that nature.

Not 20ft directly ahead of him, Highbough spies another narrow stair, which climbs up toward the ballroom hall. Farther back, there appears to be a clutter of old crates and such, as well as a significant amount of clumping earth. All this surrounds a great black hole in the ground.

Meanwhile, halfway down the cramped stair from the ballroom, Dieter now sees a yellow light in a space some 30ft or so ahead...

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
"Look up to the holes in the ceiling, when we get to the first chamber," Desmond whispers as they enter the passage.

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
Ulric returns to the ballroom to find anyone not yet descending into the cellar.

"We need to secure our valuables before we leave the upper house vacant. Bennug has suggested that some of the servants have been overly interested in our wealth. Help me take any coins or other valuables not on our persons to my room. I have a strongbox we can place them inside; I can then seal the door against intruders."

Ulric will go about the process moving any obvious valuable to his room, placing as much into his strongbox as possible then locking it. Any other valuables will be placed under his bed. Once this is done he will secure the door with The Trammel.

When the task is done he will join Team Dieter.

OOC: Ideally we can get this done before everyone (or anyone) goes below.

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough bobs his lantern up and down three times to indicate the coast is clear (for the moment).

Retroactively he would have taken Ulric aside and whispered to make sure the fell sword from the crypt is locked away with the other valuables.

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
Josiane helps Ulric secure the company's wealth before moving to join Gustave's party as they enter the tunnels.

Am I right in thinking she's small enough to squeeze through the entrance in her light armour?