Shackled City - Chapter II

[Majin]

Raven finds no traps on the "trapdoor", and when opened, reveals 3-foot-tall, cobweb-filled storage area that runs throughout the length of the stage. From this vantage point, you can see some instruments laying against a wooden chest in the shadowy crawlspace.

 

[Verbatim]

Zeric listened as Raven told him of what was below the stage and pondered if the chest would be worth opening.

~Could the chest hold a spare collection of keys? As I am sure the gnomes would consider this a central meeting area due to the illusionary play...~

Looking over to Raven, Zeric knew that while the half-orc was a capable fighter, she was not trained to face a foe head on like he was and knew that if any should go below in case of a skulk ambush it should be him.

"I will go fetch the chest and see if the gnomes placed any keys within. If there are skulks hiding below, I will deal with them..."

Dropping into the hatchway below, Zeric hunched over and began inching towards the chest.

 

[hippocrachus]

Orpheus' attention is drawn back to his companions when Zeric begins climbing into the gloomy shaft. He sidles up to the stage to get a better look.
"Give him some light," the bard says, demanding of the others what he can't give himself.

 

[kirinke]

Alinis places a hand on Zeric's shoulder. "I'll go with you, in that light, my eyes will be better than yours, though they aren't as good as Raven's," she smiles at the half-orc. "And I'll stick with the bow," she added dryly.

 

[Manzanita]

Raven

Raven's eyes narrow with concern as Zeric drops into the passage. "Be careful!" she hisses. Once there is space (& after Alanis, I guess), Raven will drop in as well, morningstar in hand.

 

[Verbatim]

Alinis places a hand on Zeric's shoulder. "I'll go with you, in that light, my eyes will be better than yours, though they aren't as good as Raven's," she smiles at the half-orc. "And I'll stick with the bow," she added dryly.

"How are you going to draw your bow when you are bent nearly in half walking under the stage? If you want to help me, begin to look at your environment and think as your enemy would think."

Zeric's voice was neither sharp, nor gentle, but carried the tone of a weary parent doing his best to make a child see that the fire would burn her if she stuck her hand in.

"I do appreciate the thought, but in this instance I think I am more than capable of moving a simple chest. After all, am I nothing more than a brute?"

Zeric's eyes landed on the dandy with the last remark and while there was again an absence of malice in his voice, a touch of frustration was still there.

Bending his knees slightly, Zeric placed his hands on the lip of the trapdoor's opening and jumped into the underfloor below.

 

[hippocrachus]

Orpheus holds Zeric's eye contact with a look of edification. He gives the arrogant man a wink, and goes back to watching the play.

 

[Mimic]

Althron watches and listens to Zeric refuse Alinis' offer of help with a small shake of his head.

"Aye and how well will you swing that sword with you being bent at the waist boy?" He thinks to himself as he walks over to her.

"Don't take it too hard, he means well. He just has troubles showing it." He says in a low voice so only she can hear.

 

[Majin]

Without much trouble Zeric is able to life the chest up and out of the trapdoor onto the stage if he so wishes. He also finds a masterwork mandolin leaning against it.

 

[kirinke]

Alinis nods. "Aye. If he did not, he would not care as much as he does. And I've lived long enough to recognize that he is not acting, nor cares to." she said, just as softly.