From Citadel to Bastion: The Sunless Citadel

[Ashrem Bayle]

Ashrem traversed the rope and soon found himself on the ledge with the others.

"I have no feeling for what is to come," he announced ominously. "Take care where you step and keep your eyes open", he said to noone in particular.

Obviously on edge, his eyes scanned the area in search of anything that my give some clue as to what recently passed here or for some sign of the missing Hucreles.

OOC: Take 10 on a Search (+5).

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Lamont guesses the bones were those of small mammals, but the exact type eludes him.

Ashrem spots footprints heading down the stairs, along with extremely large rat prints. In another part of the ledge he also finds an old ring of stones that contains the ash of many fires. Stirring the ashes reveals a few rough-hewn spear tips and more animal bones.

 

[novyet]

"Well, shall we continue on then? Moon, will you scout ahead while we follow behind you? Quendros and Khaira can cover us with bows as we head down first. I wonder if the others had this same kind of discussion before they went down...." Farah ponders that last thought to herself as she prepares to head down the stairways into the Sunless Citadel.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

The five-foot wide stairs stretch down into the darkness, and the group is forced to prepare light sources. Three switchbacks are on the stairs, each of which opens onto a small landing. As the party passes the third landing, a fortress top emerges from the darkness. The subterranean citadel, though impressive, seems long forgotten, if the lightless windows, cracked crenallations, and leaning towers are any indication. All is quiet, though a cold breeze blows up from below, bringing with it the scent of dust and a faint trace of rot.

The narrow stairs empty into a small courtyard, apparently the top of what was once a crenellated battlement. The buried citadel has sunk so far into the earth that the battlement is now level with the surrounding cavern floor. The floor stretches away to the north and south, and it is apparently composed of a layer of treacherous, crumbled masonry, which reaches to an unknown depth. To the west looms the surviving structure of what must be the Sunless Citadel.

A tower stands on the west side of the courtyard, twenty feet away. A wooden door is visible on its face.

 

[StalkingBlue]

Moon sneaks towards the tower door, keepng a careful eye out for anything suspicious, little more than a shadow in the flickering light. (Assuming he reaches the door without incident) Moon turns his head to his companions with a finger to his lips, and bends an ear to any apparent keyhole or crack in the door.


OOC: Found my internet cafe in Taormina. They expect to be open throughout the week unless Italy goes back on strike, so hopefully I'm back.
Thanks for taking Moon along, GruTheWanderer!

 

[garyh]

Quendros again uses his longbow to give cover to his companions as Moon scouts ahead. When everyone reaches the door, Quendros follows as well.

OOC: Glad you're back, StalkingBlue!!

 

[GruTheWanderer]

As he approaches the door, Moon spots a well-concealed trapdoor in front of it rigged to drop unwary trespassers. A one-foot wide catwalk allows safe access to the door itself.

Moon stands on the catwalk and listens at the door, but here's nothing from the room beyond.

Ditto on the welcome back. And no problem on bringing your character along.

 

[StalkingBlue]

"Trapdoor!" Moon hisses to his companions, motioning towards the place. He quickly scans for any loose stones to mark the catwalk with, if none he uses chalk.

Throwing a glance back to reassure himself that Quendros is still covering, he puts a hand to the door to open it a crack, very quietly.
If nothing moves inside, he'll open the door far enough for everyone to see and pass through.




Thanks for the welcomes!

 

[GruTheWanderer]

The room beyond the door remains quiet as Moon opens it and peers inside. Finding no immediate threat, he gestures for the others to enter.

The circular interior of the tower is cobbled with cracked granite, upon which sprawl four goblins, all apparently slain in combat. One stands with its back against the western wall, the killing spear still skewering it and holding it upright. Three wooden doors lead off from this area. Above, a hollow tower of loose masonry reaches thirty feet, but the intervening floors and stairs are gone, except for a couple of crumbled ledges.

 

[novyet]

"Hmph...Good Riddance." Farah spits at the corpses of the goblins. "So which way shall we proceed? I don't think up is an option."