Absence of Empathy IC

[Mr the Geoff]

Ulf

As soon as he is able, Ulf clambers through the gap and inspects the hole from the other side before allowing the others to come through.

[PolkaBear]

Below

Ulf: You had widened an unmortared crack between two of the blocks of stone which wall off this side of the room. The hole is now about two feet wide and three feet high.

[Irrealist]

Arfondt

It takes a little effort to push Arfondts broad shape through the crack in the wall. Ahh, it's good to get away from that awful smell. Hopfully we're out of here soon. He steps to the side in order to not block the way and takes a look around the room.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Chaim

"Oh no, it is not idle. You see, I was one of them as was part of the disaster this morning. Only a couple of us were able to escape before the waters burst. I just feel a connection with those who were not so fortunate." Chaim explains.

[PolkaBear]

TPP

Above

The woman nods in understanding. "You poor man; it must have been a tragic morning for you. I'll go ask my supervisor if he'll make an exception for you, okay? If anyone approaches my desk and asks where I am, could you just tell them I'll be right back?" She smiles and walks to the hallway on the far side of the desk.

Below

The group squeezes through the opening. Kord's paladin finds it a difficult fit, being nearly as broad as he is tall; but everyone makes it through.

Rach is quite apologetic for his illness.

Crennick looks around in interest. "I've never been here before. Not that I saw all there was to see in the sewers; but I'm not familiar with this place. Looks like an abandoned project."

Kayte looks at the dead end to the right and wonders if her memory was correct about the hooded stranger leaving in that direction.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Chaim

"I think I can do that." Chaim says gratefully. He glances about the room idly as the secretary walks off.

[PolkaBear]

Above

The woman is gone a little longer than five minutes. She returns with a friendly-yet-disappointed expression. "I'm sorry, sir. My supervisor would not permit it without a good reason. I tried to tell them that you were friends with these people, but then he started getting worked up about protocol and flow of information and yadda-yadda-yadda." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Anyway, I couldn't get him to go for it. Is there a message I could pass along for you?"

[Mr the Geoff]

Ulf

Belatedly realising that any light sources had long disappeared without him noticing, being engrosed in his work, Ulf describes the room to everyone else as he guides them through the gap.

[The Glyphstone]

Brushing dust off his shoulders, Kylen frowns slightly into the darkness - though no one can see it.
"Now where to?"

[PolkaBear]

Below

You hear a rustling, and someone clears his throat. "It's all very fine for you, Ulf; but I'll need some light--if you don't mind."

An arcane light springs into being, clearly illuminating the area in which you stand. Erwin's cap is now glowing. He grins. "It's one thing to crawl around in a tunnel. It's another to go wandering off after murderers and thieves."

Spoiler

Show

With rpgwebprofiler down, I've lost access to several sheets--including Erwin's. What the hey, I'll just say that he knows Light.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Chaim

"No ma'am, that'll be all. Thanks for trying, was appreciated.." he responds, resigned that the fates of those below won't be aided by him.

He walks out and redons his hat and begins to head back to the stables when the mule-like stubbornness within him surface slightly. There would be no harm to go and glance in at the other bulkhead before he heads back home he thinks.

[PolkaBear]

Above

[OOC: So you're not even going to tell the fine folks coordinating the rescue that they're looking in the wrong place?]

The secretary smiles and nods to Chaim, then transfers her attention to a mud-smeared dwarf approaching her desk.

Chaim finds himself back at the bulkhead on Salt Street, across from the Agriculture Exchequer.

[Irrealist]

Arfondt

Arfondt looks around in response to Kylen's question. "Maybe we should check if there are any other exits beside that hallway first, then decide where which way to take."
Asking Erwin to come with him in order to lend him light and his sword if needed, he makes his way along the right wall. He walks along the wall until he finds something interesting or gets back to his starting point.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

OOC: I was going to the other bulkhead where the party supposedly went through.

Also, if they were alive Chaim would assume they've be moving about a bit and the searchers would find them even if they started in not quite the right place.

[PolkaBear]

TPP

Below

[OOC: You'd need a Search Check. Are you taking 20?]

Above

[OOC: Sorry for the misunderstanding]

Chaim finds the bulkhead attended, although it appears closed. Mud coats the worker's clothes and gear; and he digs around in a large pack.

[PolkaBear]

Below

Arfondt's search reveals a chimney of sorts leading up from the unfinished wall. It's little more than a vertical crack or seam between two layers of rock.

The hallway ends after a short distance in a reinforced and locked door.

[tgva8889]

(Ooops.)

Kayte Mursai

Kayte was oddly silent. But...she went through there...was that impossible? She stared down the hallway, spending her thoughts on it but unwilling to actually search the way, she stands almost transfixed by the dead end. Noticing other people doing things, Kayte stands by, watching from a distance but not really doing anything.

As she stands in the darkness, she begins to think about other things. She remembers when she lived with walls like these around her. Putting her hand on the stone, she recalls the horrible life she used to lead. Citizenship had been hard on her for a while, but she fell into the niche eventually. It had been worth it, and Kayte knew it. Sliding her hand from the rock with an almost unwilling motion, she sighed quietly.

Noticing Arfondt searching the wall, Kayte wants to help, but feels like holding herself back a bit. Something about him seemed a little odd to her, as though he was too much like what Kayte had never wanted to be like. Staring back down the dead end hallway to the right, Kayte stares hard, focusing on the wall, as though she would notice something was off just by staring at it. Magical energy seemed to burn her eyes for a few seconds, and Kayte blinked hard, then stared at the wall again.

Spoiler

Show

Use spell-like ability detect secret doors off of the Insightful feat Kayte had, then spend time using it on the wall.

[PolkaBear]

Below

Magic shapes itself to intention as much as to the arcane laws which govern its flux. It is by this principle that the soul exerts its will upon otherwise uncaring and unyielding force.

Kayte detects no doors; but the chimney Arfondt had found tugs at her mind, as if it were used as a door though it were none.

[tgva8889]

Kayte Mursai

Kayte was surprised when she noticed something about the chimney. It was less that she didn't know what was going on, but more that she hadn't expected to be able to do it the way she had. She knew the spell that would let her do what she was doing, but she had made none of the arcane movements, said none of the arcane words, and definitely not used the correct arcane materials. And yet she saw the strange aura about the chimney, the aura she knew was an aura of secrecy. It was odd to her and yet not truly scary. At this point, she was willing to accept this turn of events.

Kayte moved over to the chimney, saying, "Something's not right about this chimney." Without thinking for too long, she looks up the shaft, hoping for this strange sense to give some more help as she concentrates on the aura she senses. Something seemed wrong about this chimney, something unusual and surely below the surface. Kayte couldn't quite put her finger on it yet, but she had great faith that whatever magic was helping her would be able to lead her to the truth.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

OOC: What are the workers doing?

[PolkaBear]

TPP

Above

There is only one worker there, mud-spattered and rather tired-looking. He pulls a small pouch from the pack and opens it, using its contents to fill the pipe he pulls from another pocket.

Below

Kayte receives no other mystical suggestions about the chimney. [Unsuccessful Knowledge (arcane) roll] She has no immediate idea why a crack might be identified as a door.

[Irrealist]

Arfondt

Arfondt steps into the chimney and looks up. Frustrated he turns to the group. "Erwin, can you come over here? It's too dark to see anything."

[PolkaBear]

Below

[OOC Clarification: when referring to rock formations, a "chimney" is a vertical crack that is large enough to allow a body through it. In this case, the creature would need to be of Small size. This 'chimney' is located where the passage roof meets the unfinished wall.]

Erwin steps over so that the light shines where Arfondt indicates.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Chaim walks up to the man and nods to him.

"Good day." he greets.

"Drydale is it?" he continues, referring to the pipeweed.

[PolkaBear]

Above

The worker raises an eyebrow and smiles slightly at the interest. "Nope. It's some stuff from down in Grapesford. Drysdale's too dark for me. This stuff will taste like it's come out of a rat's gut if you get it wet, but it's right enough otherwise. He sniffs it and grates a pinch of it between two thick fingers. "Don't know what I was doing packing it today, but it looks like it came out all right. You need a pinch or two? It might not survive the second trip, so you're welcome to take what you need."

The bright sunshine seems to have brought out the neighbor in everyone.

[Irrealist]

Arfondt

Arfondt signifies Ulf to come over to him. "If we want to see the sun anytime soon, we should try to follow Willem. He must know a way out of here. Look at the chimney up there. Do you think he could have used it to get out?"

He turns to the others. "Maybe someone could have a look at that door?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Chaim

"Don't much touch it, but I know the growers. Relish what you can, these rains have done a number on the fields." he responds and then gestures to the door, "Speaking of the floods, heard tell that you're searching for those that got swept below in the collapse today. Any signs of them?"

[PolkaBear]

[OOC: I don't have enough for an update on with the group down below.]

Above

The worker groaned and rubbed at the mud on his cheek. "That mess? Not likely. Everything's a mess down there, with all the flooding the rain caused. Someone told us that they were just under the bulkhead here; but we've traced several of the lines down from this location, and we haven't found anything. There's still hope, o' course; but the sewer's a maze. Why? You got news? Did they find 'em?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Chaim

"I don't know the below well except for where I fell through. I was one of the few to escape." Chaim admits. "But, I do remember seeing where some of the sewers went and it didn't seem they came anywhere near here. Had a talk with one who does know his way about the below and he thinks he knows where they might have been swept to."

-=-=-=-

OOC: I don't know what it is but I swear I never notice your new posts and I check regularly. Weirdest thing.

[PolkaBear]

Above

[OOC: That's a great avvie, Vorpal Tribble.]

The worker's brows draw together. "Whaddya mean?" he asks darkly, although you get no sense that he's angry with you. "Have we been rooting around in the wrong hole?"