The door before them lies ajar, made so by Gaeded and Caithryth's attempts moments earlier. The four stand there, Caithryth and Byrhtnoth holding glowing a glowing lantern and candle, that just illuminates inside the door some. Not much can be seen from here, except for the moist stone and more darkness. It is time to go in...
Caithryth straightens up. "Right. Gaeded, shall I have the honours?" Gaeded would look over to Caithryth, "Go ahead-" She is cut off by Byrhtnoth pushing past her some and slipping in through the door. She blinks and then shakes her head, "In we go then." Caithryth grins and follows the man, shrugging as she smiles at Gaeded. "Guess he wants to show us."
Athlenah, at the back of the group, mutters, 'I have a bad feeling about this.' Caithryth looks at Athlenah. "Ah, come on. You're exaggerating. It's not like the dead can walk or anything." And with that, the company steps through the threshold and into the tomb.
As the company steps into the tomb, instantly they feel a cold chill in the air and a damp, pungent smells fills their noses. Byrhtnoth stands a few metres ahead of them, illuminating the area with his candle. The area here is wide, but barren and the company can just see the stairs on the other side from here.
Athlenah says, 'You have never been to the Barrows.'
Caithryth laughs and shakes her head. It's an entirely inappropriate sound and gesture in the dark, damp halls. "You know where I've been and you've seen the same."
Caithryth's laugh echoes some down the tunnels. It's somewhat offputting. Byrhtnoth gives Caithryth a quick look before setting off down the stairs.
Athlenah says, 'Sadly I have.'
Caithryth says, 'See, I know what I am talking about.' Caithryth raises the lantern a bit higher and starts to set out towards the stairs, following Byrhtnoth, a few steps behind.
Byrhtnoth splashes through the water below, pausing some to look about at anything that could hold treasure. He doesn't spend long looking though and makes his way up the stairs on the other side, leaving the others behind some. Caithryth stops at the end of the stairs, waiting for him to clear the water - and to find out how deep it is - before setting off behind him. Caithryth stops halfway and checks out the alcoves to the side, illuminating them with the torch. Gaeded would take a moment to look at the water, following along, not looking about much, more focusing on keeping everyone together. Athlenah stand on the stairs and look down at the black murky water and watch the two. Caithryth finds a few silver coins in an urn lying about and some more that have fallen into a crack. Other than that, this area seems pretty sparse.
Athlenah picks her cloak and walks trough the water to the other side. Caithryth grins and pockets the silver coins. "First easy pickings found!", she calls out, then she turns to follow the others up the stairs. Athlenah looks around to inspect the room.
Athlenah says, 'Stealing from the dead, are you, Caith?'
Caithryth shrugs, 'They don't need it anymore.'
Athlenah looks around but from here nothing catches her eye. Perhaps if she had a closer look... Byrhtnoth seems to be doing just that, peering into a tomb to try and see if there's anything. Caithryth, once up the stairs takes a look at the alcoves on the left side, lighting them up with the lantern to see if there is more than dust, mold and bones. Athlenah walks around the room, inspecting all the resting dead's coffins. Caithryth looks about with her lantern, but cannot quite see anything. It would make sense that this area would be more barren, as it is close to the entrance. Items of interest would most likely be further in. Athlenah, whilst looking about, spots a pile of silver coins in the ribcage of a skeleton, despite not carrying a light. Caithryth looses interest in these alcoves and walks over to the tunnel leading forward. "Maybe we need to get deeper in, maybe here were just servants or somesuch."
Athlenah shrugs, 'Welp, if you say its true, Caith.' and then slips her hand into the ribcage and grabs the silver coins. Caithryth says, 'Sure. I am the flame of wisdom in this dark tomb. And the like.' Caithryth raises her lantern as she investigates the tunnel and the bend. Gaeded would keep an eye on everyone. Byrhtnoth kicks the wood of the tomb and moves off further down the tunnel.
Caithryth mouths an O as she walks towards the hall of the tomb opening up. Byrhtnoth grins as he sees the large cavern before them. "So big." he says to them, before moving off to inspect some of the tombs on the large column. Caithryth sighs. "That's what they all say." and follows over, to get a look around the central platform onto the levels below. Gaeded would raise a brow at the sight. Once more, she follows the others, keeping an eye on everyone.
Caithryth takes a look around the pillar, trying to illuminate as much as the small lantern can do before she returns to the others. Athlenah looks around in awe, 'This place is huge. Bigger than the ones in Bree-land.'
Caithryth looks impressed. "There's little tombs all around, this is huge." Caithryth sees some openings to some passageways as she makes her way around, just barely, but they are definitely there. Athlenah looks up and around her. Caithryth starts to search the alcoves of the central pillar, on the outside, as the others seem to have the middle. Athlenah looks up and around, barely seeing anything because Bryhtnoth is already looking at one of the tombs and the others are too high up. Caithryth, however, spots a silver necklace of some kind, obviously quite old.
Caithryth carefully removes the silver necklace from the corpse it once belonged to and puts it into one of the little pouches she brought for the trip, hooking it into her belt. Caithryth then continues searching the next alcoves as she makes her way around the pillar.
Athlenah walks to Gaeded. "What do you think of this place?"
Gaeded shrugs, 'It's cold and damp and wet. Not the nicest place. But not terrible.'
Caithryth sees nothing more. Again, it seems quite empty. Caithryth gets a feeling that there may be even more to this tomb than meets the eye and perhaps searching the tunnels she can see off to the side may pay more profit. Caithryth walks back to the others. "There's more tunnels down there, including a big one." Caithryth looks at her comrades and grins. "We should venture deeper in."
Gaeded would nod to Caithryth and calls Byrhtnoth over. He peels himself away from searching tombs and plods over to the group. Gaeded translates what Caithryth says and he looks to her, "Where big one?"
Athlenah mutters, 'I still have a bad feeling about this place.'
Caithryth points towards the back of the pillar. "Down there. We need to get down one of the sides, from the looks of it, then onwards." She gestures the directions so he can understand her without words. Byrhtnoth nods and then walks over to find a way down to it. Caithryth slowly makes her way down the stairs and turns to the left. Caithryth calls out. "More water here." Athlenah picks up her cloak again. Caithryth says, 'Now that looks inviting.'
After walking some way down a tunnel, the party comes across a wider chamber, though nowhere near as big as the previous. Byrhtnoth rushes ahead once more, looking about this area. Caithryth points at Byrthnoth, then at the right path. "You, right, me left." And investigates the path to the left. Caithryth investigates the stone alcoves on the raised section, one by one, picking through rubble and dust. Byrhtnoth moves to the left, looking about. He seems to pocket a few things here and there. Athlenah doesn't seem to want to linger here very long, 'Looks like we go straight.'
Caithryth looks in every crack and crevice, but it seems this side of the room bears no fruit, apart from old bones and musty rags. Athlenah looks around the room as she is crossing it. Caithryth ends up at the end of 'her' patch, shaking her head. "No luck here." As both people with light sources go up to the sides, it's hard for Athlenah to see anything in the tombs as she walks past. There might be something there, but she just can't see it. Caithryth looks at the tunnel ahead. "Does someone have chalk or something?" Gaeded would shake her head. Byrhtnoth doesn't seem to understand and just wanders into the tunnel ahead regardless. Caithryth points towards the man. "I don't know whether I should be concerned or impressed by his carelessness." Caithryth follows, nonetheless. Caithryth looks up at the partially collapsed ceiling, mouthing a quiet "lovely" before pushing on.
Now that the others have moved on, it is pitch black for Athlenah. She doesn't even know where she is looking and cannot see her hands if she raises them in front of her. Athlenah fumbles about and manages not to fall over. But she is now alone in the dank, dark room and she cannot see at all. It is quite scary. Athlenah take out an arrow and place it on her bow. Athlenah cannot see in front of her and struggles to set it up, but manages to after some fumbling.
Caithryth looks at Gaeded, and narrows her eyes. Then she looks around. "Where's she?"
Gaeded stops, looking over her shoulder, 'She was just behind me.. oh..' She curses under her breath in Rohirric.
Caithryth calls out to the man. "Wait here!" And then, quieter, at Gaeded. "I'll get her." Caithryth walks back, lantern held high and calls out Athlenah's name.
Athlenah tries to listen for something. Athlenah is quite scared and struggles to focus, but she manages to after some moments and then listens closely. She hears someone's footsteps in the water just before she hears Caithryth's voice call out her name. Athlenah shouts, 'Caith!'
Caithryth responds with a shout "I'm coming! Don't run away." Caithryth then turns around the corner, together with the dim shimmer of light from her lantern.
Athlenah shouts, 'Not like I can go anywhere!' Caithryth walks over into the last chamber and sighs in a bit of relief when she sees Athlenah. She waves her over. "Come now, and get your act a bit more together, we can't get lost in here."
Caithryth comes closer, asking curiously as Athlenah points out something in the dirt. "What is it?"
Byrhtnoth seems to get getting bored waiting for Athlenah and Caithryth to return to them. Gaeded speaks with him in Rohirric some, as if trying to convince him not to move on.
Athlenah kneels down and scrapes away the mud. Athlenah mutters, "I am not sure." Caithryth looks impatiently down at Athlenah searching for something. "What do you mean, you're not sure." Athlenah finds a small jar. It's lid is shut. Athlenah picks up the jar and inspect it and even shake it gently. When Athlenah shakes it, it seems like something heavy, but liquid like, is inside. Caithryth walks over to Athlenah and grabs her by the shoulder, pulling her with her as she turns to move back to the tunnel. "We need to get back to the others."
Athlenah looks at Caith and slap her arm away "Let me go!" Athlenah put the jar into her bag for further inspection later.
Byrthnoth storms off, his footsteps loud in the water, heard even by the two. Gaeded stays where she is, "Uh.. Caithryth! Athlenah!" Caithryth narrows her eyes and calls out to Athlenah. "Either you're coming now, or you'll wait here until we're back." Caithryth raises her voice to call back to Gaeded. "We're coming." Caithryth then turns and walks back towards the tunnel she came from. Caithryth says, 'Not fine.'
As the two return, Gaeded stands alone in the dark. Caithryth almost stumbles into Gaeded as she ducks below the stone ceiling. Caithryth asks, 'Where's the big boy?'
The shieldmaiden looks to Caithryth, a little annoyed, "He got impatient and went off on his own. I was trying to keep him here, but he eventually stopped listening to me." Caithryth nods, and just looks to Athlenah, but says nothing. Then she looks back at Gaeded. "We better follow."
Athlenah glares at Caith. "I suggest finding a third source of light."
Gaeded says, 'Yea.. No stopping. We can't have him getting lost on his own.'
Athlenah says, 'I just found something interesting.'
Caithryth says, 'And it will all be worthless if you get lost in the dark for it.'
Athlenah says, 'It would be nice for you to wait for me'
Caithryth says, 'That's all you can think of?' Caithryth stops at the crossroads. There is no sign of Byrhtnoth here. Caithryth raises her lantern up and investigates the three paths. Two seem to be blocked by grates. Athlenah says, 'Yes. You and he are the only ones with light.' Caithryth shushes Athlenah as they enter the big cavern.
This large cavern is illuminated by things that glow orange. The company cannot make out what they are. Caithryth looks for any sign of the torchbearer. Athlenah looks down in the mud and sand for his tracks; she can see footprints leading towards the rickety wooden stairs. Caithryth can see the small glow of the candle bobbing about lower of the stairs. Athlenah says, 'He have been here.' Athlenah feels on the tracks "I say twenty to thirty seconds ago."
Caithryth calls out. "Rider, wait!" with that hint of annoyance in her voice. There is a sigh from down below, just about heard by the three. Caithryth talks to the others. "He's down there, stay close." The stairs are moist, due to the waterfall, and creak when walked on. The company would have to be careful walking on them, in case a plank may break and they fall through.
Athlenah says, 'Next of a tomb, this might also been a mine.'
Gaeded shrugs, 'Who knows?'
Caithryth walks up to Byrthnoth. "Thank you."
Byrhtnoth looks at them and shrugs, "Not much here. I go back up."
Caithryth looks around, marvelling a bit at the glowing .. things, plants and the way they cast their eerie light onto the walls of the natural cave. Caithryth puts her hand onto his shoulder. "We go up." And then follows. Athlenah looks around and follows her friends...
