Cadfael Presses On, A Light Ahead
Subject: just so i know
Are you waiting for me to write a turn now? Everyone is following Cadfael down the tunnel?
From: Scott
Subject: Re: just so i know
Mission is waiting for Cadfael to acknowledge his comments. If the priest has nothing to say, and keeps on walking (slow as may be), Mission shakes his head.
"Do you intend to walk right through the half-orc and his friends, priest?"
From: Mike
Subject: Re: just so i know
Yes. Cautiously.
From: Dan
Subject: Cadfael to Mission
OOC: This comes in response to Scott's first post, sorry I didn't get it out sooner. Let's all pretend his second comment never happened.
IC:
Cadfael stops his clumsy progress when Mission draws beside him and hearing the Monk's words he sighs and rests against the wall.
"I --" he begins tentatively, but does not continue with that thought. He starts again, "Have no fear of those horrors, they are not players for this mission; they have no hold. The Gods will make sacrifices to pave the way to their promise; those without faith will not return."
Cadfael reaches out to clutch at Mission's arm and catches hold of his sleeve. Through the darkness Mission could not tell that Cadfael's hand was trembling but the hand that now holds his sleeve quivers with fear.
"There is no time! The darkness presses in all around, it is so thick you can taste it. There are moments when the blackness is so overpowering I wonder if I shall never see the light again, but always when I open my eyes the light returns so I may find myself again. But now? Just now I was plunged into the darkness and held my breath waiting for the light to come back to me. And the light came, like a red sun it drove back the darkness with a song that called to me. Gladly I let it surround me but when I looked at my hands I --" he swallows hard, "I could no more see them than were I in the dead of night."
"I do not know if the light is forsaking me or if I am forsaking the light. But if this mission is to succeed we must go NOW, else Pelor's Promise will be broken."
Cadfael releases Mission's sleave and continues to fumble down the tunnel.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Cadfael to Mission
Ok. I will just wait for Mission to check in to respond and then I will write the next turn.
PS Cadfael is even starting to freak me out.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Cadfael to Mission
"And go we shall, but _quietly_!" Mission whispers to Cadfael.
And then he will move off to scout ahead as stealthily as possible.
From: Ty
Subject: The underground trail; following and arriving
The party continues up the tunnel, driven by Cadfael's need to reach the temple. Rennik and Mission exchange glances, and mission walks beside the priest, slowing him down a bit while Rennik moves to the front of the group. The light of the other party's torch is not visible, and Rennik makes sure to keep the pace slow enough that the group doesn't catch up to them. Mission still has Cadfael's glowing glove, and the priest makes no move to take it back, so he keeps it tucked in his pants with only part of one finger showing. This provides a very dim illumination to travel by.
Lunch finishes off most of the party's food supplies, so much of it having been lost to the crocodile. Rennik comforts everyone by promising that if they make it out of the tunnels, he will be able to forage and hunt for food. At one point, Tichenor shows up with a blood rodent of some kind in his jaws, then gulps it down. If worse comes to worse, rat stew might be on the menu.
A few hours later, Farron starts to act nervous, and keeps looking at Rennik's back like he wants to go up and talk to him. Sa'id asks what is bothering him, and Farron says, "I feel like we should be there." Even as the last word is spoken, Rennik holds up one hand, motioning the party to stop, then drops down to one knee. The group quickly does the same, no one even noticing that such actions have almost become reflex.
Rennik moves back to the group and says in barely a whisper, "Light up ahead, not moving." Even as he says it, Mission tucks the small bit of glowing glove down into his trousers and the tunnel is plunged into darkness. Once everyone's eyes adjust, it is easy to see a distant spark of light that dances and twinkles like a star. It must be a fire or torch.
[Please check in. If Rennik or Mission wish to scout ahead, the tunnel is quite dark and hiding should be possible clear up to the edge of the fire's circle of light.]
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The underground trail; following and arriving
"This is a familiar bit," Mission whispers to Rennick. "Strange group in the darkness, unaware of our presence; death and life in the balance. What are the odds that this bunch will be as easily defeated?"
Not a very good wager, if Mission was a betting man.
"I want to try to get closer, and see what we can discover. We have some of the mage fire with us," the monk's tone is suddenly harsh, "if this bunch is allied with Elise and Anileth. Strike first, and take prisoners if we can.
"If we can't. . . the Stone falls heavily, but Blood will stand."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The underground trail; following and arriving
[OOC: Scott, you must have found your creativity again from wherever you said it had gotten to, because your last few messages have been awesome.]
Sa'id nods to himself in the dark, and moves to the side of the tunnel, focusing on the flickering light in the distance.
He will wait for Rennik and/or Mission to scout ahead.