Private Giles Corey stepped down into the dank basement of the Gaol. It was a new building, and if it hadn't been for the flood, the basement level might've had some semblance of comfort, or at least the same respect as the floor above. One couldn't really call cold, dark stone comfortable, but at least before it wasn't wet cold dark stone.
Torchlight flickered as he passed. The place was still too dark. He'd have to petition for more torch lighting. Then again, it wasn't that necessary. There were very few prisoners down here; something like five or six or so, and most of them died in the flood.
So the private was really only down here specifically for one prisoner, and just to make sure the basement of the Gaol wasn't used to make a new gateway to hell.
Every foot fall made an echoing splat. He hated coming down here. At least he hadn't found that gateway to hell, yet. None of the shadows had quite tried to eat him, either. Only a matter of time around here, it seemed.
Pvt. Corey paused in front of the only occupied prisoner's cell, peering into the darkness. The torches were oh-so-conveniently placed on either side of the cell, illuminating really none of it and just casting deeper shadows and glare. He scanned the darkness, but didn't make out the prisoner. He thought it was sort of off in the first place that the man inside - Giarc Conry - hadn't outburst at the first sign of the guards' coming. He did at every other patrol. The man was a sick dog; covered himself in his own fecal matter a few months back. Giles wondered why they just didn't throw him into the lake, bounds and all.
He frowned, awaiting the sudden clash against the bars and getting none. The private turned away, taking one of the torches from its nook and returning. Now he knew why Giarc hadn't acted as he usually had done; Giarc wasn't there.
There was blood on the wall, alarming at first until the private made out some of the words - it was elven, and Giles was just learning it. 'Blood' and 'fall' was all he needed to make out before he started running upstairs.
"Captain! Lieutenant! We've got a problem - Giarc Conry's gone! And we've got another message in blood down there!"
Blood upon the wall -- how many shall fall? slowly coagulated on the basement cell wall.