Love waves the group forward.
Low voiced "Looks like the stockade. Also looks like most of the company avoids it. Wonder why"
Once assembled Love takes point as they head through the arch and onward.
"If they avoid it there must be something worse? Or perhaps incorporeal foes?"
Padrym moves up with the others, Magatha at the ready.
You can see that the booted tracks run in all directions at the crossroads, but the most density is going between the tunnel and the path leading deeper along the transept's wall.
The group makes a steady and slow movement into the tunnel, following it as it passes straight ahead and on a downward slope. The tunnel itself is relatively free of debris and rubbish, almost as though it has been maintained in some manner. After about eighty feet the tunnel opens up into a large turn around and back upon itself. A peek round the corner of the tunnel shows it continue to travel down after doubling back upon itself. The tunnel will likely end in a chamber almost directly below part of the transept - and judging by the depth you've descended the roof is likely to only be twenty feet or so above the floor.
Cautiously scouting ahead Love moves forward until he can see where the tunnel opens into a larger area. He cannot spy anything guarding the entrance, but the hairs on his neck rise and his mouth gets a little dry. Judging by the upkeep on the tunnel and the tracks... something must live there... it seems too easy that the entrance would not have something watching it.
One is screaming in pain... not the mundane pain that one might feel as a dagger slides into your flesh, but the soul rending agony of one who is being flayed alive or slowly burnt by fire.
The second is quieter, but there. Sobbing cries full of despair... a woman's voice you think.
Feigr moves as quietly as he can down the tunnel, but suddenly falters. By Magrim's Forge, what is that? Barely managing to stifle a cry, he raises an arm hoping to catch Love's attention.
Feigr makes a quiet noise and attracts Love's attention.
Dolgrym pauses upon seeing Feigr's quick gesture, not wanting to give anything away to whomever might be watching them.
When Dolgrym halts, Cynara does likewise. Hmph. This is too much like being outside...too many things happening that I can't see. Ah, well. At least there's less background noise.
Feigr waits for Love to return and then motions everyone to follow him back up around the turn. He whispers, "I don't know what's down there, but there are at least two tormented souls ahead. I can sense one that was visited by terrible pain, possibly torture, like being flayed or burned alive. The other is weeping in despair...most likely a woman. I don't know if this is the result of something current or something that happened when the mine fell. I need to help release them, but we could be facing something particularly bad ahead. We should be prepared."
Returning.
Sotto Voce: "Lots of traffic. The people with boots seem to be keeping this tunnel clear. I don't know from spirits but I do know this place is lived in."
Love looks around. "Right. Guess this is why you brought me along. I can creep up and take a look. Hold this, give it a tug if you need me back."
The leather clad dwarf removes a ball of twine from his pack and hands one end to Fegir. The ball goes into a half-closed belt-pouch where it can unwind freely and silently as Love creeps forward.
Love creeps forward towards the end of the tunnel. The string silently unwinding behind him.
Padrym waits for Love to return.
Easy my love, easy.
Female voice: I do not like this waiting.
Mumbling into his beard.
"I prefer battle to skulking but I prefer winning to losing as well."
Khepri tenses up, sword and shield at the ready. He doesn't feel right in not being the one in danger and vows he will be there to help Love as soon as he can if he encounters trouble when scouting.
"Next time, Love, I have a spell that will help with communication," the wizard hisses as the rogue moved away holding his end of the ball of twine.
Feigr holds the twine lightly in one hand and watches as Love disappears again into the darkness. Knew this wouldn't be easy when I came. I'm sure this is just the start. Magrim, I hope you're with me.
Love Stealth:
Love makes his way down the corridor and just beyond the field of sight for those that are behind him. In your ears all you hear is his cautious and controlled breathing being transmitted back through the magic of the message spell. The string between you has spooled out limp and forlorn to the bottom of the corridor - connecting you as a most tenuous link between the rear guard and the inky black that seems to swallow where Love has passed into.
The floor ahead changes from the smooth stone of the corridor to a cobble and there is no building or structure near to the entrance. As you get within 10 feet of the exit you are able to see that just beyond the tunnel's mouth is a portcullis that is not visible from afar. It's mechanism is hidden from this approach, but you can tell it would block the whole tunnel and from what little you can see it appears maintained.
Opposite the courtyard is a stone building that still stands. Wide double doors of iron covered with a patina of rust bar passage within and it looks to be but a single story - walls reaching from the ground up to the roof of the flattened chamber maybe 15ft from the floor. There are portals in the stone that one might see out of or into... but they are far too distant to see through with any clarity.
As of yet, you've seen or heard nothing that indicates your presence has been observed.
"Like the old saying goes, I think this is too quiet for comfort. With all those tracks, we should be hearing something," Dolgrym whispers to the others.
"There's definitely something nasty down there. But, if we're going to help take back the mines, we're going to have to deal with it eventually." I hope we're up to this.
"I'm sure Love will find whatever is down there. Let us hope it doesn't find him first."
"I don't like leaving someone on their own. I feel like I am abandoning him." Khepri's scowl grows as he waits impatiently for Love to return safely.
Feigr whispers, "I'm worried about getting trapped beyond the tunnel. I'd say we should see if we can disable the portcullis and then check out the building before proceeding."
Padrym nods at Feigr's advice.
"That's a solid plan, let's do it."
"Sensible, that. Our cracksdwarf friend should be able to take care of that handily."
"I like that idea as well, I have no desire to be trapped."
"I agree. When Love gets back, we need to get him to knock that out for us."
Love sneaks forward searching for anything that would trigger the portcullis. Once at the gate Love spikes the portcullis in the open position.
Unfortunately this makes noise. "Come on up" the thief whispers before the hammer hits the spike.
[ooc]Disable device if needed +15.[/oocp
Love manages to sneak forwards and drive home a spike into the portcullis, beckoning the others to come forward as he does so. The ringing sound of the hammer strike echoes through the chamber. Love is confident that the portcullis will stay in place while the spike does... but surely something heard the hammer blow.
Sure enough in the distance to the left and right of the building ahead of you come shuffling noises and after a few seconds, the sound of clanking chains.
Stealth:
Perc
The mage had been worried about that loud noise, but apparently nothing had heard them.
Khepri moves forward aware of the noise being made. Khepri will move to shield Love from anything that will come hoping that Khepri will be a seen target and spare Love who may be more hidden. He keeps his gaze out the best he can given his eyesight
Padrym moves forward with the others, casting an arcane shielding upon himself as he does so.
"Company's coming."
Love slips behind Khepri. The thief's eyes sweeping through the darkness.
He drops the ball of twine as a knife appears in his left hand.
Cynara readies rapier and buckler.
Arriving as a group at the portcullis, you hear the sound of a mechanism being released directly above you that would have sent the gate crashing down... but Love's piton holds and the portcullis does not move.
The shuffling and clanking coming from deeper within the chamber and out of view continues echoing around the enclosed space, though has not drawn any closer.
As you peer just within the threshold of the chamber you note that the exterior wall is bounded by bars and consists of cells recessed into the outside of the central chamber. As far as you can tell the cell doors are closed, but you cannot see if anything is within them.
Stealth:
Oblivious to anything that is anything, Padrym continues to stand ready with his companions.
"Aye, but what company?"
Cynara closes her eyes and listens carefully, head cocked to one side. She whispers, "Someone moving quietly to the right of the exit...sounded like wood on stone, and footsteps."
Khepri shifts to the direction Cynara mentions, positioning himself hopefully between whatever is coming and the others.
Hearing that trouble was on the way, een though he couldn't hear it, Dolgrym reaches out a casts a spell on Padrym, temporarily increasing his strength.
Keyed in now to the source of nearby sound - Cynara hears another couple of levers being thrown that are answered this time by the sound of metal scraping on stone... like prison grating being drawn aside. That comes from deeper within the main chamber on both the left and the right of the entry and beyond the depth of sight you can muster.
Sotto voce "Right side door opening. Get ready, gonna take a peek."
Love slides into the larger chamber hugging the LEFT-hand wall. This should put the right hand wall in view. Drawing Alchemist's fire from haversack.
Love slips carefully forward and to the left of the entrance. With a clear field of view he confirms that it looks like almost the entirety of the outside wall is lined with prison gates. All within view except for an opening 10ft to the right of where the tunnel exits into the main chamber. That area is recessed and Love sees the beginnings of a set of stone stairs leading up. Though outside of view, Love senses a presence within that recess.
Feigr murmurs, "Just going to have to take your word for it. I can't see or hear a thing. Love, we're already watching, but want us to set a line to watch your back?" While waiting for an answer Feigr begins whispering to the spirits, "Come to me now brothers and sisters of old. Tell me of any of your spirits who lie restless in these chambers."
Thinking Feigr's idea is a good one, Khepri focuses his detect evil that way. Saranrae show me the enemy that threatens us
Feigr continues concentrating and rotates around seeing if there is anything else on the other side. He hisses, "Nothing so far. I'm going to check the other side. Then, do you want me to move closer?"