To Delve in Dark Places

[Vanidor]

The Channeler sneered some, remaining in his stance. Then, towards the rear of the shack a pinpoint of light would appear, before forming into a line that rotated into a square-shaped opening just large enough for a large man on horseback. Beyond it was a dimly lit corridor of roughly hewn stone. "I will open one in the same location twelve hours from now. And I will continue to do the same for the next three days. If you are not back by then... Likely you will be dead or lost, and beyond my assistance." Jons nodded. It wouldn't be his first foray into the Underdark, to tell the truth. He knew the dangers. He was fairly sure Solena did as well.

"Thank you, Yeoric. Your assistance, as always, is appreciated." The sneer scarcely waivered. Jons would glance at the other two, nod his head to the two of them. "Hop on through. I'll go through last. Time to get this party started for real, eh?" A slight grin, and Feul was taking a soft leather hood from within the pouch at his side, the thing to be slid over the head. It covered all but his face, though soon enough he'll pull the lower lip of the hood up to cover mouth and nostrils.

[Elfling]

"Please." Solena rolled her eyes at the attitude, but it did one thing quite well. She had no interest in standing there chatting with ears that she didn't trust listening. Nor did she seem inclined to tease either of the men. Irritation wasn't subtle, and she simply stepped through the portal, in part to make sure nothing would be surprising them on the other side. The last thing that she wanted was to get Tennant hurt.. and until she'd seen him in action, she was going to assume it a possibility.

[Tolleson]

Traveling by portal was surely a luxury. Far off places became instantly within grasp; all one would have to do was reach out, step through, and then what was an impossible journey or simply a long one became mere seconds of minor unease. Or in Tennant’s case quite a bit greater unease. Was it any surprise, this portal could well have been opened anywhere. And they were to trust this uneasy relationship between two men he hardly knew.

A sigh would escape the redhead as he followed Solena through. He couldn’t have her getting hurt either and in truth, he’d risked as much for significantly less. But then again, so rarely was his destination such a notoriously dangerous place.

Tennant would give a cocky half salute to Yeoric, in thanks or in jest would be hard to say. The other hand did not leave where it rested on the hilt of the bladeless sword. And even as he stepped forward his salute shifted until he also held tight, securing the strap across his body, the viles on his belt. A potion at the ready for the imitate darkness.

One foot then the other, quick as any gait but fare more careful as he passed through. After all, who was to say what they would find on the other side.

[Vanidor]

Feul would step through at last, nodding one last time to the man in the room behind them, and then turning away from the illumination created by the open gateway. His eyes closed, the man would reach into that pouch again and retrieve a pair of goggles that would then be slipped over his eyes. Whilst this is done, the gateway shuts silently, cutting off the light that had momentarily bathed this section of the Underdark.

Jons opened his eyes then. "I hate these things. Not the portals, but these. What I would do for..." He stopped, glancing at the other two, then shook his head. There was no real need to elaborate on things that couldn't be. "Hunm. We should be close, but it has been some time since the Duke stepped into this part of the Underdark. Though his memory seemed good enough to get us HERE." A hand reached out and touched at the wall. He'd not been here for this action. He had hated that, but that was one of the reasons that he was here. He would have found a way to attach himself to this mission one way or the other.

Solena just made it easier.

"Solena, if you would? Then, sir, if you would follow. I'll take the rear. Veer left at the next two breaks. And we should come to an open area with some broken steps leading down... If you see anything, I leave it to you." A slight nod, and he'd motion for them to carry on.

[Elfling]

"Yes, what would you do?"

It was an innocent enough question, except that both men accompanying her (and quite a few others that weren't there) knew far better. Nimble, gloved fingers tucked into a specific little pouch used for carrying delicate vials, and she drew one out, holding it up rather tauntingly. "Pick your poison, Jons?" It was mischievous of her, offering him something that could make those goggles completely unnecessary. For a time. The fact that she hadn't asked for a price was likely not encouraging either.

Not that she wasn't listening. Whether or not he accepted her.. offer.. Solena nodded at the instructions on which way to travel. Potion taken or replaced, both of her hands were armed with pretty, violet-hilted knives before she took even a step forward. If she was going to be in front, she was going in prepared. At least she had the best set of ears with which to listen. It wasn't her first foray underground. She knew what to pay attention to.

[Tolleson]

A hand already on the padded bandolier of potions, Tennant removed one that once well within dark, appeared to glow. It was faint and the most saturated blue that emanated from the small, sturdy vile. He held it up, filled and removed the dropper, and placed a drop in each eye. Though it was ever so faint, behind enormous pupils the whites of his eyes began to glow as well.

The bottle was re-corked and a sly look given to them both as it was carefully put away. “I’m afraid I didn’t bring enough to share,” which was only partially true. But who knew how long the mission would take.

“Can you see all right?” Even then he was moving, assuming formation and heading on – it was really just a lingering gesture of polite interaction that left him asking. Though a spare glance was given back to ensure Feul followed and didn’t faceplant into darkness.

Following Solena’s lead, the bladeless hilt slid away from his side, an inconspicuous button pressed and the blade instantly unfolded and locked into place. Having Solena ahead was some comfort, he’d seen her fight after all. And it wasn’t just that he thought her entirely capable, but the view was much preferred over the alternative.

[Vanidor]

Not that either of the two could see his slight smile, but Feul produced one anyway, there beneath his leather wrap. The man could see quite fine here in the darkness, in fact, he was perhaps more at home here in the shadows than either of the other two. Still. Their... concern amused him. "Keep your vials, I shall be fine. There is light enough here, for those that know how to look." Again, that slight smile.

In either case, he will follow along behind the others, the occasionally letting his heel touch the earth in order to let Solena and Tennant know that he was still there. The jaunt should be quiet enough, at least here. If his research was accurate, little wandered this particular section of the tunnels for many reasons. The lingering taint of Audmathus' fury was one of them. Though, just as much as it repelled, it drew. He didn't figure they'd run into anything hunting for a taste of that one's spent glory until they got to the chamber, or the tunnels directly around it.

Still. Once they reached the first break in the trail he would kneel down and set a simple trap across the length of the floor. It was an act that was do so swiftly that he'd not need to tell the others of it, well at least yet. On the way back, of course, but for now... All he needed do was set a few things in place, and then lay the trio of lines across the path. Anything that came this way, well almost anything, would trip the flask. The flask would break. And explode. Likely it wouldn't really hurt whatever it fell on, but the illumination would carry down here, as would the sound. That would be enough.

Feul so hated being surprised. And this was one way to make sure it was less likely to occur.

[Elfling]

One more thing to add to the list of 'things to consider' once this was all over. Solena was starting to pick up bits and pieces. However, to confront anything down here was suicidal. Stupid. Gods, how she hated the Underdark. Taking point wasn't so much of a problem; in truth, it was probably safest. Ears could pick out the laying of the trap with little else to distract but the breathing of two men. It was so easy to ignore that she barely noticed, save for a instinctual knowledge of the sound's cessation, should it cease.

The tunnel was empty, but that wasn't surprising either. Tunnels could often wind without a single contact for quite a while, only to be startled by denizens, and drow weren't automatically worst of what could be found. So it was that the elf was silent until the tunnel started to open wider. Only then did she stop, lifting a hand with her palm out, fingers splayed slightly to indicate to her followers that they needed to stop as well.

Knife-length ears twitched, listening for the space of two, three, five heartbeats before her head turned slightly, allowing her to glance over her shoulder. "Tunnel's ended," she murmured low. Jons had a better idea of what to expect.

[Tolleson]

If Tennant noticed the laying of the trap behind him, he made no mention or indication. Unlike Solena he didn’t possess hearing beyond a trained human ear, and his attentions were on the path that lay ahead. So when the woman’s hand went up he stopped immediately, silently, and straining to see or hear or feel something in the air around them.

At first is eyes traced her fingers, her arm, her figure. Then his eyes settled on a few shapes in the distance, perhaps the rocks of the wall or ancient formations made from minerals and water. Shapes that were mere shadows, despite the potion, unmoving and for now served as the boundary ahead.

Words weren’t spoken, even his mind and heart were calm, long and silent breaths he watched and waited for the party to decide, or to explain, the party which knew far more than he of this strange place.