I. Entry

[onlyme]

Kernodle looks around, ready for surprises.

Guys, so far nothing amiss. Go ahead and up your lights.

[Alethan]

Abelard quickly unshutters his lantern.

[AleBelly]

"Thanks Gents. I'm sure it's unnerving to be completely blind in this area. I saw nothing untoward in the recess in the wall nearest us. That clicking troubles me, and it appears to be drawing closer. How many of you have missile weapons? I'm happy to kneel in the front rank to allow one of you to fire over my shoulder at an oncoming foe. Open to other plans too." Mulvey finally shuts up.

[spanningtree]

If it grows nearer maybe we wait and get a volley in before getting close? Luken will say looking about warily.

[AleBelly]

My thoughts exactly. If it's unfriendly, let's dispatch it before it reaches us." Mulvey will take a knee along the wall, using any irregularities in the rock as cover, ready to draw and fire his bow.

[onlyme]

Kernodle will not argue against this plan. Though he now has a sling, he needs a bit more room to act than his counterparts with bows. If they get into firing position toward the front, he will then cover the rear guard, making sure nothing comes up on them from that direction.

[Alethan]

Abelard shrugs to show he has no weapons for distanced attacks. "Might be another one of them beetles," he adds, listening to the sound again.

[dmw71]

The clicking sound persists at random intervals, and seem to be coming from further down the passageway, beyond the range of illumination provided by Abe's lantern. The duration of the sound is varied.

[spanningtree]

Move up, say 30 feet? Luken will say slinging his shield and sheathing his sword. Un-slinging his crossbow he will look to see if the others are in agreement.

[Alethan]

Abelard nods in agreement. "It is the only path open to us, to be sure."

[AleBelly]

Mulvey agrees. Yes, I suggest we move forward very slowly until we see what's making that noise. My elven dark vision seemed to pick up some movement beyond the range of the lantern. Let 's also watch for surprises from the recesses in the rock walls.

[onlyme]

Kernodle whispers,
Guys, I think we have a wanderer behind us. I cant tell what, but I think I saw some movement this direction from back there.

[AleBelly]

"I don't like this..."As quickly as possible, Mulvey pulls a torch from his backpack, lights it from Abe's lantern, and throws it approximately 40' down the hall to illuminate further.

[dmw71]

Kernodle whispers,
Guys, I think we have a wanderer behind us. I cant tell what, but I think I saw some movement this direction from back there.

DM Note: There may have been some confusion. The movement Kernodle noticed was ahead of your current position, not behind you.

[AleBelly]

"I don't like this..."As quickly as possible, Mulvey pulls a torch from his backpack, lights it from Abe's lantern, and throws it approximately 40' down the hall to illuminate further.

In that case, please ignore this. Thanks!

[dmw71]

Further east down the passage, beyond the range of Abe's lantern and at the very edge of the range of infravision, a light is seen moving from south-to-north, in unison with the clicking sounds.

View: Abe & Luken

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View: Mulvey & Kernolde

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[Alethan]

Abelard tries to steady himself as the repetitive clicking noise rattles him to his bones.

"Bones," he says, quietly. "It sounds like bones tapping against each other..."

[onlyme]

Kernodle starts quietly walking forward, shield ready to defend.
He makes sure he isnt directly in front of the lantern, and asks, I know you need some light, but can you hood it to a small sliver? unless you feel capable of walking in the dark.

[Alethan]

Abelard snaps, apparently on edge, "No, I can't keep shuttering the light! You'll just have to deal with it!"

[dmw71]

"Move up, say 30 feet?" suggests Luken, slinging his shield and switching from his sword to his crossbow. Abelard nods in agreement. "It is the only path open to us, to be sure." Mulvey agrees. "I suggest we move forward very slowly until we see what's making that noise." he starts. "Let's also watch for surprises from the recesses in the rock walls."


At the edge of their vision to the east, a light is seen moving from south-to-north, accompanied by the clicking sound they had been hearing. "Bones," Abelard says quietly. "It sounds like bones tapping against each other..." he continues, becoming clearly unnerved as he snaps at Kernodle who suggests shuttering the lantern again.

"Slowly now," states Mulvey as he cautiously presses the group forward, stopping to inspect each niche in the passage before passing and finding nothing unusual about them with his cursory inspection.

All eyes peeled forward, progress halts when the light from Abe's unshuttered lantern begins to widen, suggesting the fact the group is approaching another cavern. The elf, from his vantage point, is the first to spot the source of the moving light detected moments earlier -- another fire beetle, wandering about this new open cavern. It is currently located in the furthest northeastern corner.

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