Chapter Two: In An Elven Way

The children look to Lopeina as she speaks, but they don't understand her words. However, her tone convinces them that she is not a threat and they turn to Ashwyn and Ishal, confused about what Lopeina was trying to say to them.

"She wants to know if you will come with us. We will protect you." She said.

The children exchanged a look and then they nodded.

Ashwyn smiled at them. "Good." She took the two youngest children over to Lopeina and placed their hands into Lopeina's hands. "Stay near to her. We will all make sure you are safe."

Zane knelt down next to Ishal and the older children. "Please, take my hand. We'll stay in the back with your friends and let these big tough fighters protect us. What do you say?" He asked, with a playful wink.

[Zane Persuasion roll: 17]

The older children smiled and even giggled shyly before nodding. They left Ishal and took his hands.

Ashwyn stood, satisfied that the children were comforted She moved over to approach Sigurd. "You're not threatening. I'm sorry for implying that." She nudged him in the chest as they walked. "I didn't know you spoke Elven, actually." She said, whispered with a smirk.

Ishal watched Sigurd hold off from approaching the door. With Lopeina and Zane holding onto the children, that left her to approach. She walked to the door and opened it, standing ready for anything that might happen. When it swung open without incident, she carefully stepped through.

(DM post coming....)

Before they enter the door, Lopiena indicates the spear she had been carrying up to this point. "If anyone wants that spear, you're welcome to it...my hands are full." Smiling at the children, she takes one of their hands in each of her own and follows the rest of the group. Without spear or torch, she can barely see the hallway except for the dim phosphorescent fungus; fortunately everyone else in front gives her an idea of which way to go, and the children on either side of her create a bit of a guide. Stepping carefully, she is able to keep up with the rest of the group...mostly.

Sigurd smiled at Ashwyn and nudged her back "there's a lot you don't know about me" he smirked and continued through the door. A blast of new scents hit his nose and he shook his head as if to shake it off the fungus and stale air wasn't the most pleasant of odors he'd encountered in his life but it was up there. He was curious as to what the subtle metallic smell was though. "Everyone on guard..." he said as he walked beside Ishal down the hallway.

Ishal glanced sideways at Sigurd as she walked slowly down the hall before turning and looking back at the passage way.

[About 20 ft down the passage, Sigurd, Ishal and Ashwyn would notice a small slit in the stone ceiling.]

Ashwyn approached behind Sigurd and took his arm. "Wait." She said, even though she was certain he'd see it also. "I think it's a trap." She said. She knelt down in front of it, carefully looking along the edges. She found a string tied through a small hole that traveled the length of the passageway. It was almost invisible unless one was carefully looking at it. "Everyone one stand back." She called. She was almost certain she knew what it triggered, but she didn't want to take any chances.

"Wait here." She said and turned back to pick up the spear that Lopiena had set down. She returned and stood back from the string before carefully using the spear to slice it. The second it broke, a giant Guillotine Blade fell down from the slit. It fell with a speed that surprised Ashwyn and before she had pulled the spear back the blade hit it, breaking off a tip of the old weapon. The tip flew back at the party and hit Zane across the cheek.

He gasped in shock but it was over before he had really processed it. His cheek bled but only slightly.

Ashwyn turned to look at him and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Zane...are you alright?"

Zane inspected his cheek for a moment but nodded. "Quite alright...just a scrape."

She nodded, glad that it wasn't more serious. "Well..." She turned back to the large blade that was now stuck half way into the floor. "At least it wasn't that thing."

[Critical Fail on an attempt to disable the trap...figures...]

Unable to see much of anything, Lopiena is grateful that Ashwyn was able to detect the trap...but the sudden crash and puff of air from the descending blade makes her jump. Shaking her head...show no fear around the children or they will feel it too...she gives their hands a little squeeze, and keeps her voice low and calm. "Is everything ok up there? What happened?"

Taking a step back Sigurd noted the string when Ashwyn told him to stop, he watched her trip the trap with the spear an saw the head fly back and graze Zane. When Lopiena spoke he turned back "Everything is alright, just a giant blade falling from the ceiling, chopping your spear you found and Zane nearly ate it. but it's all fine"

He stared down the rest of the hallway, "It look alright the rest of the way, I could be wrong" Sigurd said stepping over the blade.

"Well that's very...descriptive," Lopiena laughs. "I'm glad everyone is ok. If there is still a giant blade in the floor, please let me know so I dont 'eat it' as well." Stepping carefully and feeling along the floor with bare feet, Lopiena continues forward.

Sigurd turned the corner and looked down the hallway, another hallway... His fist clenched and he noted the holes in the walls, obviously another trap. So he turns and looks to the children "Children, I have a very important question, you've all lived in this place for a while, how do we get through this room without setting off the traps?" he asked calmly. If anyone knew their way around it was going to be them.

The children poked their heads around the corner and looked up at Sigurd when he spoke to them. The youngest ones clutched at Lopeina's hands, trying to hide behind her. The girl did the same with Zane, but the oldest boy stood facing him, not willing to show his fear.

"We don't come this way. The fain lavan hunts here." He said. He spoke clearly, but there was fear in his eyes.

Ashwyn looked over at him. "Fain lavan?"

Zane raised a brow. "Is that Elven? I've never heard that word before."

Ishal stepped forward. "It's an ancient word. From the old language. It means 'White Beast'."

Sigurd paused for a moment "was it just you lot that ran into that room? We want to save all of you but we are horribly under equipped right now to fight anything.." he knelt down to make sure he was eye level with them offering a kind smile and hiding his annoyance. "If no one else went this way I suggest we avoid whatever hunts here and head back down the other hall way."

Feeling deaf as well as blind, Lopiena listens to the fluid language everyone is speaking and tries to pick out word sounds. Maybe someone will teach me after all this is over. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she quietly comforts the kids trying to hide behind her. Whatever is down here, it can't be good...

The children looked at Sigurd again and his smile seemed to help calm them as they came out from behind those they were hiding behind. The oldest one spoke again. "We were alone. We got here first. We're the fastest. But then the secret door got stuck. So the others had to go another way."

Ishal nodded. "So. No more children this way? Then I agree with Sigurd. No other children this way means we should go the other way."

As if in response to their words, the door they came through slammed shut with a loud bang. Ashwyn heard it and ran back to look at it. Just as she turned the corner, she saw more small square holes opening up all along the walls of the hallway they had just come through. Starting at the door and coming their way.

"I think it's a very good idea to run now..." Ashwyn called to the others.

Suddenly the holes closest to the door began to spew fire. It blew on it's own for a few seconds and then the next set of holes began to spew fire as well. Slowly moving closer.

"A very very good idea to run!" Ashwyn shouted before turning and picking up one of the smallest children and turning to run down the hall.

Ishal moved past her as Ashwyn ran the other way until she too saw the fire. Her eyes widened and she turned around and picked up another child. "Everyone move. NOW!"

The fires were increasing in speed as they moved down the hall.

Zane saw the light of the fire around the corner as Ashwyn and Ishal ran past him. He picked up another child and turned to run behind them.

Looking up at the coming fire...hey I can see! ...Lopiena picks up the fourth child and runs as fast as she can to catch up to the others. Hugging the child close to her chest to protect her from the onslaught of flame, as she runs she keeps one hand loose. Opening and closing her hand in rapid motion, she calls on one of her favorite childhood pastimes. "Extinguish. Extinguish. Extinguish...." at each gesture, one small fire goes out...only to be replaced by ten more. Running faster, she dives into the hallway seeking escape from the coming flames.
(Druidic cantrip again, same one as before)

The second the door closed Sigurd let out a very audible groan "Oh come on!" he shouted. Suddenly the flame jets started and everyone took off running. Each child was grabbed and accounted for so he focused more on running. Leaving a long trail of expletives in Common, Elvish and Slyvan Sigurd held pace behind everyone in case someone tripped.

(Rolled 15)

Slowing down for the rougher terrian, Lopiena tries to look ahead to get an idea of what this new area might entail. With the light of the fires behind them, their shadows block much of the wall and it's difficult to see whether more of those fire-spewing sqares are present...or any other traps, for that matter. Moving as fast as possible, Lo angles closer to the wall to both get out of the way for Sigurd and to try and avoid any centrally located traps.

[Dex Check: Ashwyn-21, Ishal-16, Zane-17]

Ashwyn held the child close to her chest, arm tucked under his legs, as she ran.

Ishal was close behind her, holding on tight to the second child.

Zane was far less graceful than the two elven women ahead of him but he was able to keep up while holding the older child.

Ashwyn was the first to cross the threshold of the archway. The first thing she noticed was that the stones were different here and there were no small holes. She turned around just as Ishal was passing into the new section.

"Come on! I think we'll be safe here!" She called to the others.

Zane tripped his way through the archway and tumbled with the child, but neither were hurt. "Oh goodness..... can anything go our way this trip?" He asked, exhausted.

((Rolled a 21))

Sigurd barreled along behind everyone, feeling the flames lick at his bare heels. He was grateful he wasn't in wolf form or the smell of burning fur would be added on top of the days misfortunes. He was happy that no one fell in front of him as he slid into the archway with a sigh "for once gnome.. I agree with you"

Ashwyn visibly relaxed when the fires stopped. She carefully looked over the children and when she found no damage she relaxed even more.

"Is everyone alright?" She asked, looking around at everyone.

Zane was laying flat on his back with the child sitting on him. He was breathing heavily. "I believe so....except for perhaps my sanity."

"I am well." Ishal said, sitting up and inspecting her equipment.

Ashwyn crawled over to Sigurd, her eyes looking him over. "Are you okay?" She asked him.

Sigurd took a moment to catch his breath, he propped himself against the wall with his arm. When Ashwyn came over to him he smiled "I'm a little warm but in one piece. You look a little singed as well" he helped her to her feet. How are the children?"

Gently putting the child she was carrying down...and idly wondering if now is a good time to ask for names...Lopiena smiles and makes sure the child is unharmed. Taking advantage of the fact that they don't speak the same language, she keeps her voice low and calm as if reassuring the child while actually addressing the others. "I think everyone is ok, but I'm not sure I like the way that fire was funneling us this way. Perhaps we should wait for things to cool down a bit and then turn back?" Looking around at their little group...even Sigurd seems worn down...she suddenly looks troubled. "None of this would have happened if I hadn't run off. I am so sorry..." Suddenly realizing she's expressing negative emotions that could be passed to the kids, she visibly shakes herself and smiles again. "Maybe we should take a short break here, it seems safe enough."

Ashwyn chuckled at Sigurd's comment and accepted his hand as they both stood up. At his question, she turned around to look at the children again just as Lopeina answered.

"I concur. Everyone seems alright." She bent over slightly, hands on her knees, to look at the kids. "Everyone alright?"

They all nodded in turn. They looked shaken, but otherwise fine.

At Lopeina's appology, Zane approached her. "Nonsense. If anything this was my fault. I should never have let myself become so distracted. You're only a child! I should have been more responsible." He shook his head.

"Casting blame will not assist us." Ishal said, finished checking over her gear.

Ashwyn nodded. "Agreed." She sighed and looked around the area. "I'm not so sure going back with be an option..." She said. Looking around she found a small stone on the floor and she picked it up. She carefully tossed it into the previous hallway.

The fires immediately engulfed it for a few seconds before falling silent.

"Forward it is, then." Ishal nodded and had already started walking when Lopinea mentioned taking a rest.

Ashwyn nodded. "It's not a bad idea." She turned to the kids. "When was the last time any of you ate?"

They all glanced at one another nervously and Ashwyn could pick up the sound of gurgling stomachs. She chuckled. "I think the kids are hungry anyway." She turned to Zane. "Hey Zane, we should have those cheese wheels in that bag, right? Why don't we stop for a quick bite before we carry on?"

[btw, there has been some questions as to the current time: It is now around 3am. Roughly 8 hours since the party woke from their afternoon long rest]