Immersive Ink

waysoftheearth wrote:
Armour is donned while Ulric, Gustave and Dorgan press forward somewhat into the cellar.

By the bobbing lantern light, it appears that the walls and ceiling in the cellar's ante are sound enough, but further back there is significant deterioration in their condition. There are a number of dark cracks and fissures that might hide vermin, or even children!

The stink of the crystalised phlegm on the surfaces is tangible, and distasteful. There are some sizeable mounds of earth beneath some cracks, possibly indicating where tunnels have been excavated.

Most notably, however, are the stacks of disused timber crates in the place. Some are partially covered in earth. Beyond them all is a large, dark hole in the floor at the rear of the cellar...

sulldawga wrote:
Team Gustave (or at least Dorgan) will pause and wait for the other guys to armor up before they move any further forward.

"Ulric, whatta ya make of this stench? And these crystals everywhere?"

tonneau wrote:
Gustave halts next to Dorgan, glancing around at the various dark cavities with clear suspicion. Squinting into the gloom, he attempts to ascertain if there is any other exits from this pit, apart from the gaping hole in the floor.

He wrinkles his nose in disgust, "I know not, my dear dwarf", he says, "but it reminds me somewhat of the cooking of a lass I once had the misfortune of becoming involved with."

waysoftheearth wrote:

tonneau wrote:Gustave halts next to the dwarf, glancing around at the various dark cavities with clear suspicion. Squinting into the gloom, he attempts to ascertain if there is any other exits from this pit, apart from the gaping hole in the floor.

It is difficult, nay impossible in this light, to tell whether the cellar continues much farther back -- beyond the clutter of boxes and earthworks -- or whether it might end abruptly just out of sight.

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough doesn't like the look of those crates. Are they intact and sealed, or is it possible more of the centipedes are nesting inside? He will move forward when the group is ready to proceed, acting as light-bearer from the 2nd rank.

ehiker133 wrote:
Do we need more light? An additional light source, perhaps? I don't like going into this without getting a better view of the ceiling. Or knowing what the substance on the walls is, for that matter.

That would suck if the hole was the tunnel of a purple worm, wouldn't it? Just sayin'...

Desmond loads a rock into his sling and keeps a sharp eye out for a likely target as the party moves forward (er... down the stairs?).

"Anyone with a ranged weapon should perhaps make sure it is prepared, just in case..."

mushgnome wrote:
Do we have the glowing light stick with us?

danhem wrote:

sulldawga wrote:Team Gustave (or at least Dorgan) will pause and wait for the other guys to armor up before they move any further forward.

"Ulric, whatta ya make of this stench? And these crystals everywhere?"

"Let me see," Ulric says as he approaches the nearest wall.

Ulric uses his dagger to chip away some of the phlegm and to inspect the disturbed earth near the cracks. He searches his mind for any knowledge of such substances with a similar appearance and smell.

Having finished his study, Ulric looks toward the back of the cellar shining his lantern in that direction.

"We're not going to get this done by just standing here. Let's move forward toward those crates. Watch the ceiling, walls, and floor for movement."

waysoftheearth wrote:

sulldawga wrote: "Ulric, whatta ya make of this stench? And these crystals everywhere?"

"Crystals" might be an overly generous term... the stuff if more like dried, hardened saliva/slime.

waysoftheearth wrote:

mushgnome wrote:Highbough doesn't like the look of those crates. Are they intact and sealed, or is it possible more of the centipedes are nesting inside? He will move forward when the group is ready to proceed, acting as light-bearer from the 2nd rank.

It appears as thou most of the crates have been down here for a long, long time. Some are partially buried by earth, and others have rotted timbers. That aside, they appear to be "sealed", or at least not open.