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[dlsaint]

Diegos' mood was not in the least bit jovial, but hearing Antehelios comments of lustuos escapades seemed to lighten his mind. That someone could still smile and carryon seemed to be proof that all was not truly lost in the world of the living. "Ante is your shoulder bothering you?' Diego asked. "If so come closer one of the few magics I have had great use for is healing my companions."

[Peregrine]

Once clear of the strange building, Aleksi released Ilmari to watch over the area for arriving reinforcements. He waited a few minutes for the bird's report before following the others. Though he trusted his employer's honesty, he knew far too well that things could change without warning. Finally, satisfied that their investigation into the building had gone unnoticed, he joined the others in the cellar.

"Should be easy enough to open..." he said, crouching beside the door and studying the lock. "Just be ready for trouble once I get it unlocked." He leaned his bow against the wall within easy reach, and pulled a set of lockpicks from his pocket. Working slowly and carefully to avoid breaking the expensive tools, he began to open the lock.

[Malchik]

As Aleksi attempts to open the lock the rest of the party studies the map. Antehelios reports that the food and drink - limited to kwama eggs and ale - are fresh and untainted.

The map shows caverns. There is a short tunnel ahead that leads to what would seem to be a door. Beyond the door is an area large enough to count as a room. From the room tunnels branch left and tight as well as continuing straight ahead.

Eventually the door opens and you move on to the next. This is not locked. Listening at it you can hear faint sounds, They do not apparently come from the room but in case of danger you make any final preparations necessary for conflict.

[Emperor Justin]

Oroko followed the others into the dark, dank prison. The weight of years was heavy in here, the air a cloyingly rancid, thick miasma of long suffering and the basest of emotions. He activated his ring of night eye and helped himself to a little bit of the offered food. not much, just enough to keep the hunger pangs at bay. He knew if he ate too much, combat would be a problem and he would cramp up at the wrong moment or make himself sick. Once he had eaten enough, he pocketed the scroll Diego had given back to him.

Aleksi managed to get the door open, and Oroko quietly applauded his success. As the group entered the next room, they could hear sounds, not identifiable as of yet, coming from farther away behind an unlocked door.

Oroko grips his sword so hard that the ashen gray-blue tint of his skin around the knuckles turns white.

"No point in stopping now. Looks like this door is the only way in," Oroko says and then steps forward, and slowly pushes the door open.

[dlsaint]

Antes' declaration that the kwama eggs and ale were fresh and untainted were a small relief, haelping himself to a small portion he studied the map with Oroko. It would seem that once Aleksi got the door open there was another beyond, then they would have to decide if they should split up and search the tunnels
Aleksi got the door open good, the Gods must favoring our venture thought Diego, hopefully they would shed more grace befor the night was done.

Once more drawing his sword Diego follows Oroko down the hall to the next door. Diego reaches out a hand to Oroko and whispers " Allow me, my armor and dragonskin has saved me from many an ambush."

[Emperor Justin]

Oroko nods and lets Diego go first. The fighter's armor was much heavier than his own, and more likely to withstand a surprise assault.

[Malchik]

There are faint noises from the right hand tunnel and none from the left. As you move towards the tunnel that goes straight ahead you hear a voice of something coming towards you.

"Fetch the others. I will go straight to the ceremony. Tell them to hurry. Our leader is easy to irritate."

Not knowing how many are coming and having nothing to hide behind you quickly run back into the tunnel you just came from hoping to judge the best plan in the situation. You cannot see what or how many the creatures are but the 'footsteps' indicate they have gone into both side tunnels.

When you creep quietly back into the room you hear a distant voice from the left hand tunnel. "Come on out now. We've got to get to the ceremony. We are all supposed to be there but our boss is not a patient one."

OOC> I need to know the exact order in which you enter the tunnels. They only admit you in single file. Also of any preparations you have ready - invisibility, chameleon, socks of instant olfactory assault etc.

[dlsaint]

Shield up and sword ready Diego steps through the door Scanning quickly but there are now signs daedra and he can make out the noises coming from the right tunnel? The feeling doom and despair had not receded any but they were contained as a small knot in his chest. They had not grown stronger since their entry so niether tunnel seemd filled with danger to him.

[Emperor Justin]

Oroko thought quickly as they retreated back outside the door.

"Okay, it sounds like our targets are in the side tunnels only, leaving the central tunnel open. As i see it, we have two options that would suit us best:

"The first option is that we split into two groups, one of 3, the other of 4, and attack our foes in the side tunnels. Since they are so narrow and we have to go single file, I suggest that those with heavier armor go in front. Arcos, since you have the most durable armor, You would be in the front of one group, the group of 3. Diego, since your armor isn't quite as good, but stil lsturdy, you would be in front of the other group, which would consist of 4. Arcos, you would give your fire scroll to one of the men behind you. Those with ranged weapons like myself would trail behind, and we could all use our fire scrolls for long range attacks. The enemy would be at the same disadvantage, that is, being able to attack only in single file.

"Therefore, at the moment, we have the advantage with this plan as we are ready and they are not. However, if we alert them to our presence now, they may send others up the central tunnel to circle around behind us in the side tunnels, pin us down, and kill us. Furthermore, they are more familiar with this place than we are, and i'm assuming that they number greater than just seven, as we do. So, as time went on, they would have the advantage and we would become trapped.

"The other option is for all seven of us to sneak down the central corridor and see where it leads us. Arcos would be in the lead and Diego would bring up the rear, with the less well-armored folk in the middle, holding the fire scrolls. This way, we can sneak in, at least for a while, and not announce our presence immediately.

"However, the downside of this is that we are putting all of our kwama eggs in one basket, and it is still possible for us to be trapped by the enemy using the two side corridors to flank us. But, keep in mind that we may be able to hide our presence long enough to escape the corridor and get to open ground before they realize if we are here.

"If that's the case, and say that the enemy does greatly outnumber us, we can always double back to each of the three corridors and force the enemy into single file. If that happens, I think that Arcos and Diego should take one other person and each of those groups of two block one corridor each, while the remaining three block the final corridor as the fight goes on.

"But that's just guesswork and reemptive strategy at this point. Our immediate concern is getting down those tunnels. so, which shall it be? direct assault and splitting up, or stealth and sticking together? either way, by the sound of things, our enemies are almost ready to ocmplete whatever profane task they came here for, so i suggest we make all haste."

Oroko looked around at his companions for their take on the situation.

[allthatisandeverwas]

Nell considered their options. Should they take the stealthy approach or a direct assault? Stealth would serve us only for a time, with the tunnels as tight as they are, contact with the enemy was inevitable. Nell concluded that it may be best to seperate into three groups as Oroko had suggested.
"I would stand by Diego and Arcos." Nell looked at the two. "Any objections to taking the right tunnel?" It was dangerous but it must be done. "We should maintain secrecy for as long as possible, if there proves to be nothing of interest or if the deadra are amassed in great numbers, only then would we retreat back through the tunnel. Using the tight confines of the tunnels we will attempt to hold off any attackers." Nell was confident he could withstand a prolonged engagment if nessesary, he only hoped Arcos and Diego felt the same. They would all need to be in the right state of mind for what was to come, whatever that may be.