Awakening: Main Story Thread 2

[Elliot Kane]

Rasidar opens the door to reveal a corridor lit only by the Light Globes you are carrying. The corridor extends beyond the reach of your lights, though it looks like it might lead to an intersection some thirty feet away - an area more vague shadow than anything else at this point.

The stonework here is similar to that in the room you are currently in - smooth, worked by something that is either more than human - or less so.

The air is still, but beathable, and there is still no sound, no strange smell - nothing that would in any way indicate life...

[Shan]

Ash realizes she has been holding her breath wonder what would be on the other side of the door. She slowly releases it and says softly "No one, no one at all."

"Mr. Knight, what do we do now?" she asks. "Do we all stick together or do some of us need to stay here while other go check things out a piece? There could be traps and the way our globes are glowing we will be easily spotted if someone should happen this way. You gotta plan? she adds with a slight grin.


*E - can we tell how wide the corridor is? can we walk more than just single file?*

[Gray Lensman]

Rasidar quickly takes stock of the situation. The room put him at a distinct unease, though he didn't show it. He didn't like the emptiness and darkness of this place. There were too many ways that something could go wrong.

"Someone should scout ahead," Rasidar says. "`Tis necessary that at least one of us search for traps or hidden foes in the dark. Perhaps a scouting party of two. `Twould seem to me that Ash and Homm should go forward, though I will consider other volunteers should any of you wish to accept this duty."

"`Tis dangerous to go forward alone," he reminds everyone. "Our scouts should go no farther than the intersection for now and signal for us to proceed should you think it safe. Do your best to remain concealed from anyone who may be lurking. Should any foes discover you, call a warning and regroup with us immediately. Fight no one alone unless there is no other option. At the moment, our true strength lies in our numbers."

Rasidar looks to Stelrein. His tactical advice would prove useful.

"`Twould seem to me that we should adopt a traveling formation from here on," Rasidar says to Stelrein. "Should we need to fight here, we must be prepared to defend ourselves. Our strongest fighters should stand in the front row, while our ranged combatants take the rear. Our front row `twould seem to be you, I, and Cedric. Any others who have no ranged weapons should stand behind us, providing cover for the back row. However, I am open to suggestions should you have any to offer."

He waits patiently for the rest of the group to respond...

[Elliot Kane]

Ash

Corridor is 10 feet wide, and about the same height. Wide enough for travel three abreast if you wish - with fighting room.

[LaFille]

As Rasidar opens the door, Mao discovers the dark passageway seeming desert and empty; disturbing. She doesn't like the globes she carries to make her so visible in that environment; thus she manages to put all her pouches in one another and the three spare globes she had in, hoping that the several layers of fabric would hide the glow a bit more, and attaches the pouches at her belt, in her back. She lays the bola on her shoulder and keeps her club in hand.

"Someone should scout ahead," Rasidar says. "`Tis necessary that at least one of us search for traps or hidden foes in the dark. Perhaps a scouting party of two. `Twould seem to me that Ash and Homm should go forward, though I will consider other volunteers should any of you wish to accept this duty."

Mao, a bit agressed by the sound of her comrades' voices breaking the protective silence, whispers: "I would feel safer for them that Yairn accompanies them on that one; and, even though I can't hide as well as they, maybe should I follow them discreetly from afar after they ensured the way is safe to provide quick reinforcement in case they make a hostile encounter."

She looks around, trying to sense the others' points of view and remaining alert to any change in the silence and obscurity lying ahead.

[Gray Lensman]

"Speed and stealth will be of the essence," Rasidar whispers to Mao. "A force too large will be slower and more easily noticed by an enemy. However, if you wish, I would be amenable to you and Yairn staying a discreet distance behind them as backup."

[Shan]

"Sounds good to me," says Ash. She then turns to Homm and asks "Are you comiing? You can stay here if you want. I'm sure one of the others would be willing to take your place."

"If discovered, call warning and run back to the group. Fight if there is no other choice. Got it, Mr. Knight," she says smiling at Rasidar.

"Here you take care of this while I am gone," she says handing the glowing globe Rasidar had given her to him. "I don't think it's a good idea for me to take it with me. It would make me glowy in the dark and I couldn't hide good. Just don't lose it."

[Gray Lensman]

Rasidar calmly accepts the globe from Ash, as she wishes.

"`Tis a good idea," he agrees. "I shall keep it until your safe return. Be careful out there."

[Max]

Yairn followed the rest of the group into the dark coridor. He was wary...but not scared. He felt right in place in the darkness of the corridor. He walked silently and kept look in front of him but glanced back every now and again just to make sure nothing jumped down behind them. They would have to expect danger from every corner and direction if they would survive this place.

Yairn listened to Mao and Rasidar talking about who should go. Yairn of course would feel more comfortable with himself going but he would stay back if Rasidar thought it would alert enemies to their presence.

"I will go ahead if needed." Yairn replied quietly "But you're right. Three would cause a greater chance of us getting discovered"

Yairn looked at Rasidar.

"I'll go along with whatever you think is the best move"

[Gray Lensman]

"For now, I would prefer a small scouting party," Rasidar says quietly. "We need information on the terrain and any opposition before anyone discovers we are awake. However, you may accompany Mao once the others have signaled us ahead."

"The backup squad's role is not to attack so much as to cover the scouting party's retreat, should it prove necessary," he adds quickly. "When we attack, we should do so as a group."

[Shan]

* E - the globes are glowing, can they be seen if they are in a pouch and the ones scim made into a bola are they glowing to where they can be seen? is a bola to big to stuff into her extra pouch? Ash is trying to make sure the light from the globes will not hinder her hiding. she realizes that even a small amount of light could lead to the possibility of her being seen. *

[Elliot Kane]

Ash

The light from the globes is equivalent to strong moonlight, not an electric light. They are fairly easy to damp down

[LaFille]

"Speed and stealth will be of the essence," Rasidar whispers to Mao. "A force too large will be slower and more easily noticed by an enemy. However, if you wish, I would be amenable to you and Yairn staying a discreet distance behind them as backup."

"Agreed," Mao whispers, a bit released. If Homm decided to turn his back on the group and flee alone or whatever, at least her and Yairn could be of help to Ash in case things turn wrong. Homm had seemed a bit agitated/unstable (volatile?) of mind to her, probably one who relies and acts most only for himself, and though she was glad to have him by her side, she wouldn't give him too much of her confidence yet.

"For now, I would prefer a small scouting party," Rasidar says quietly. "We need information on the terrain and any opposition before anyone discovers we are awake. However, you may accompany Mao once the others have signaled us ahead."

"The backup squad's role is not to attack so much as to cover the scouting party's retreat, should it prove necessary," he adds quickly. "When we attack, we should do so as a group."

She nods and looks at Yairn to see if he agrees with the plan.

[SilvaShado]

Stelrein turns to Rasidar, "The three fighter line sounds most adequate. I suggest Cedric being in the center of our line since he seems to be the one most adept at using our makeshift weapons. Loriana and Scim seem to be good candidates for long range and would be best in the back. Having the two scouting parties should be something we adopt, especially when it comes to intersections. One team can go one way while the other goes the opposite way and the main force stays at the intersection, ready to aid either side."

Stelrein pauses to consider, "At this point I wouldn't suggest that the scouts go more than 100 feet out due to our limited vision. Perhaps the globes can be used as signal devices. A vertical up and down motion means to move ahead while a horizontal left to right means to hold our ground. Waving it in a circle should mean to prepare ourselves for an attack."

Stelrein turns to the two scouting teams, "As much as I hate to say this, since our first priority is to find water and food, you might want to go towards any signs of life, opposed to avoiding them. If you do find signs of life, try going further than usual in scouting before returning. Try to assess what they have."

Turning to Rasidar, Stelrein says, "We probably should close the door behind us, to cut off the light. It won't serve to backlight us, making us more visible."

~~~

Loriana is unnerved by the darkness and stillness of the hallway. She unconsciously draws closer to Stelrein, clutching her club to her chest. When she hears his plan for her and Scim to stay in the back, she tucks her club into her belt and pulls out a globe, readying it to throw, keeping her eyes forward and body alert.

[Gray Lensman]

Rasidar listens to Stelrein's suggestions carefully.

"`Twould be a sound proposal," Rasidar agrees. "Especially keeping Cedric at the center. You and I can then cover the flanks, should such be needed."

"I also concur with splitting the scouting parties should it prove necessary. `Tis possible that it leads us to discovering a source of provisions and supplies. Try to find out where they are and what sort of force may be guarding them."

Turning to Rasidar, Stelrein says, "We probably should close the door behind us, to cut off the light. It won't serve to backlight us, making us more visible."

"Very well," Rasidar says, closing the door behind them. "`Tis also possible it may endanger anyone slumbering within."

[Shan]

Stelrein pauses to consider, "At this point I wouldn't suggest that the scouts go more than 100 feet out due to our limited vision. Perhaps the globes can be used as signal devices. A vertical up and down motion means to move ahead while a horizontal left to right means to hold our ground. Waving it in a circle should mean to prepare ourselves for an attack."

Listening carefully to Stelrein Ash turns to Rasidar and says "If we are going to use the globes as signaling devices maybe I should take mine back if you don't need it for light. Mao put hers in one of her pouches and I noticed that the light can not be seen through them. I should be safe carrying it if I do that too."

Turning to Stelrein she asks "Hey, Mr. Soldier guy are you sure it will be safe for us to use the globes that way? What if somebody is hiding just around the corner waiting to jump out and eat us? If they saw us waving the light around wouldn't the light alert them that we were near?" She then grins and says "I could just drop the globe, roll it toward you and tumble out of sight, but then they'd come eat you."

[Gray Lensman]

"I have more than sufficient light," Rasidar says, handing the globe back to Ash. "If you can use the globe without giving away your position, then `twould be best in your hands."

[SilvaShado]

Turning to Ash, Stelrein says, "When you're signaling, you should use your body to cover the light. You can use the pouch as a way of blocking the light from shining everywhere. Just use the opening of your pouch to direct the light straight towards the main group," Stelrein smiles, "Also be sure to signal only after you're sure of what is in the area. So good luck, Miss Scout."

[Shan]

"I have more than sufficient light," Rasidar says, handing the globe back to Ash. "If you can use the globe without giving away your position, then `twould be best in your hands."

Ash wrinkles her nose as she takes the globe back from Rasidar and as she looks at it she says "I don't know if I can do it or not. I've never used a light for a signal before and especially one I had to keep hidden from view."

She looks at the globe in her hand for a moment and then says "It would be easier to just......." She stops, clasping her hand to her mouth, she says "Oops, can't do that. Gotta be quiet." She smiles as Rasidar and Stelrein look at her and says "Don't look so worried. I'm not going to blow it."

"Side to side means you guys stay put.
Up and down means its safe for you guys to come join us.
Round and round means you guys better be ready to attack in a hurry..
And signal keeping globe in pouch so light will not be seen. Got it," she says giving Stelrein a grin and a salute.

[Gray Lensman]

Rasidar offers Ash a reassuring smile. He sees her hesitance, but is undeterred.

"You shall do well," he says with clear certainty. "`Tis a new task, but one you can learn quickly. I have no doubt that you can prevail. Trust in yourself, and you shall."

Suddenly, Rasidar reminded of some vague flash of memory that he can't make out. He knew he'd spoken similar words before, but he couldn't recall to whom or why. He quietly shrugged the memory aside. He would seek his memories out later, when any danger had passed.

For now, he focuses on the group, confident that Ash shall do her part...