OEPT11b

[greentongue]

The entrance turned into stairs down. Leading the way with a guard slightly behind and a torchbearer directly behind, Huruyan carefully navigated the well work stairs.

When Huruyan had got about 90 feet down and ahead another 30 the stairs looked like ended in a platform there was a chunk sound as weight was put on a step.
17:33, Today: GM rolled 2 using 1d6 ((2)).
Traps and pits open on a roll of 1 or 2 on a 6-sided die.

Under everyone's feet the stair steps gave way and became a chute.
While Huruyan maintained his balance and surfed the now smooth stone, others behind him were not so lucky.

Lord Seer Epengar made it clear he was not pleased by this turn of events and resented being jostled by bearers and soldiers.

Soon the fifteen people in the group were piled together on the landing at the foot of what had been stairs.
The landing was 10 foot square and then widened out another 5 feet to the right to form a further 15 by 15 chamber with a 5 foot wide stair leading down from its middle.
This additional stair was short and ended at its own small landing at the edge of water.
On the other side of about 10 feet of water was an irregular causeway that was itself about 10 feet wide.
Across the darkness, the light glinting from sets of many eyes could be seen.
They were 50 to 60 feet away at opening on the other side of the cavern that the landing jutted into.

[greentongue]

Lord Seer Epengar
Speaking loudly towards the watching eyes,"
کودکان از Ksarul ما آمده ایم تا شما را از کسانی که شما برای غذا شکار را نجات دهد. برای این مزیت ما نیاز به ارائه برای نشان دادن قدردانی خود را."

To those around him, "Wait here for them to bring the dowry."
"There is no need for us to chase after them if they can bring it to us."

To Huruyan, "I suggest searching for some way to reset the stairs."
"We may need to leave in a hurry."

Huruyan
"Yes, we should all look for some way to reset the stairs." With that, Huruyan started looking for anything that could reset the stairs. "Check everything, floor walls, even the ceiling.

---
While everyone organized themselves from out of the clump they had landed in, Huruyan and the two guards from his clan searched for some reset lever.
[Private to Huruyan: Roll a D6 for each of the three of you. Success on a 1 or 2.]

Everyone heard hissing from the darkness that sounded like the language Lord Seer Epengar had spoke but it was hard to tell what was happening, besides sets of eyes coming and going.

[greentongue]

Huruyan
"We've found the reset Lord Epengar. If what you can hear doesn't sound like they plan to attack immediately, I think my first task should be to find which is the trigger stair and mark it so that when we leave we will be able to leave quickly if necessary."

Lord Seer Epengar
"Yes, Hunter Huruyan, that sounds like a very good idea."

"I'm not sure when they will bring the dowry."
"It may be that they are to frightened by us to approach."
"Some of us retreating up the stairs may encourage them to come out."

---
Careful examination, after knowing the general area to look, allowed Huruyan to identify the step that triggered the stairs to collapse.

Even after all the time taken to search, no Qol approached those waiting with the Lord Seer.

[greentongue]

Huruyan
After finding the correct stair, Huruyan placed some markers on the stair to identify it, and make it obvious which stair it was. Then he turned to Lord Epengar; "Lord Epengar, have they said that they plan on bringing to dowry to us, because it looks to me like we will have to go and get it?"

Lord Seer Epengar
With some obvious exasperation, "No, they have yet to respond."
"I know they understood me because I can catch a few of the words as they whisper together."
"I don't think they believe me after our unceremonious arrival."

"Do you think we should try to send someone across to one of the openings?"

[greentongue]

Huruyan
"I think that we should check to see how deep the water is and go from there. I will try to touch the bottom with my spear." Huruyan then does some checking with his spear to determine the depth of the water. If necessary he will enlist the aid of some of the others.

---
Huruyan went down the short steps to the water's edge and determined that the water was only about five feet deep.
While the water was clear, any brushing stirred the slit on the bottom.

His actions caused an increase in the ‎sibilant speech coming from the far side of the opening.
The echos made it sound is if a crowd was growing.

[greentongue]

Huruyan
"Lord Epengar, it appears that if necessary we can just walk across the water to the other side. But we also need to be ready in case they attack. Lord, does what they are saying tell you anything about their intensions?"

Turning away from Lord Epengar,"Everyone, I have placed markers on the trigger stair. Be careful when we leave to not step on that stair, even if we leave very quickly." This last spoken loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Lord Seer Epengar
"Hunter Huruyan, the best I can determine is that they are waiting for us to go away."

"From the sound they have massed on that side of the cavern but are more determined to defend than attack."

"I could try questioning them if there is something you think they would tell us."

"I don't hear much from the far left tunnel so we wanted to split up, we could investigate it."

Huruyan
"Lord Epengar, did you hear anything from above? I could swear that I heard yelling from the top of the stairs."

Lord Seer Epengar
"Huh?"
"Yes, Hunter Huruyan, I did hear something but I was listening to the Qol and not paying attention to it."

[greentongue]

Huruyan
"I don't like it. We need to go and check on the others." Loudly, "It sounds like the others upstairs are in trouble, let's go check up on them." With that Huruyan started up the stairs.

---
Those that had come with Hunter Huruyan joined him in the climb up that stairs.

Lord Seer Epengar dithered as some of the Blazoned Cresent soldiers turned to join Huruyan.

After a bit everyone retreated up the stairs and heard the volume of the Qol voices increase.

As Huruyan and the couple of Emerald Fisher soldiers arrive at the entrance they can hear the sounds of battle and the voice of Lord Captain Kureshu.

Ahead of them was a clump of Blazoned Cresent soldiers with Lord Captain Kureshu in command.

To the right was the Blazoned Cresent tents with their door flaps pulled shut and a haphazard line of short sharpened stakes leaning out.

To the left was the the Blazoned Cresent pavilion teaming with cowering servants followed by a line of miscellaneous brush and rocks.
The brush and rocks glisten slightly in places as if it was wet.

The Blazoned Cresent soldiers in front are facing a number of usually large and heavy Hlyss and Lord Captain Kureshu is encouraging his troops to stand fast.

Moving rapidly around to the left is a scattering of Hlyss with long blade like hands.
They look like they intend to scamper over the brush barrier.

Guardsman Ssiyor is just coming down the side of the ruin near the pavilion, weapon ready.

[greentongue]

Huruyan
Huruyan calls out, "Lord Captain, I bring reinforcements from below. Where do you need us?" Looking around, "And, where is Kumahl?"