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As she got used to the darkness of the tunnel, her pace quickened and she began silently striding along the passage, arm outstretched to keep her bearings. Along the wall, she could feel the occasional cold of metal, torch brackets, evidence of past use (and current disuse) of this passage. In addition to this, she could feel the dusty covers of books and the rough wood of crates. From the number of sticky cobwebs attached to her hand she could tell that this tunnel had not been used for an age, a fact that both comforted and unnerved her.

She was pulled from her thoughts however as she came to an abrupt stop as she felt the stone bounce back at her. Apparently, she had reached the end of the tunnel; but no, she knew that couldn't be right. She had hardly covered enough distance to have reached the tower. Deciding to keep along the left side of the wall she took a couple of cautious steps forward soon finding there to be another passage- it was likely then that there were two corridors, presumably heading in different directions. Pausing to listen, she heard no signs of danger, and so decided to continue along the left passage, throwing her stones and trailing her arm as she strode along.

Only about 10 feet down the left tunnel, Sonny comes to a locked wooden door. Almost at the same time, something with a lot of legs scuttles across the hand touching the wall.




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"I suppose it can be lonely at times. Urir is not much of a conversationalist," Dulirn replied to Garner. He took another sip of his wine. "That is why it is so appreciated when visitors come calling. Urir will clean up bed chambers for you both, of course. Do you wish a separate chamber for your servant?" he asked to Ingeborg, as if it were already a forgone conclusion that they'd both be spending the night.

After meters of nothing (save for some sticky cobwebs) Sonny finally encountered something of interest: a door, spanning the width and height of the tunnel. A quick kick to the door established that it was locked, possibly requiring a great deal of force to open. She was distracted from pursuing this train of thought, however, as she felt multiple legs brush over her exposed hand. With a sharp cry of surprise, she pushed herself away from the wall, shaking her hand frantically, hoping whatever was on her had gone. Feeling no further contact she let out a shaky breath, cutting herself off as she suddenly remembered her situation. She stood frozen, listening, hoping to the gods that no one had heard her in her moment of surprise. To be discovered this far into her exploration would not only be disappointing but also dangerous- with escape so far away she would likely find herself at the mercy of whoever owned this strange tower.

"Now what?" Urir huffed in aggravation as he heard a muffled cry from below. He'd been about to bring the dessert out to the "guests", but set the tray back down. "That gnome better not be getting into our stores again...," he grumbled as he lit a torch and opened the basement door.

--

For several seconds, it seemed Sonny had escaped detection. But then, from somewhere down the unexplored right tunnel a creaky door opened. As of yet, the light of Urir's torch would not be visible, but his voice would travel far enough to be heard. "Orver! Is that you? You'd better not be helpin' yourself to Dulirn's tobacco..."

Sonny remained frozen, heart pounding in her chest as she attempted to be silent and still. After several seconds of quiet, it appeared she was safe, and the young huntress began to allow a small exhale of air to escape. This was quickly cut off as she began to hear the echo of a voice coming from the right-hand tunnel. Instantly she was back on high alert, mentally searching the surrounding space for somewhere to hide as the sound of footsteps on stone got louder.

Slowly, with light steps, she backed herself into the corner, carefully reaching to the straps attached to her legs for the daggers she kept there. Then, poised, she waited, hoping desperately that the steps would stay away, that the light she supposed the voice to be carrying would not reflect on the walls in front of her.

((For reference. Where it says 'cave-in', I replaced with the locked door. And the stairs at the bottom is really the tunnel where Sonny entered.))



"Orver?" Urir's torchlight preceded him down the tunnel and into the cluttered, dusty room. "hmph..." The flames illuminated his large brimmed hat and his large nose as he tried to peer into the shadows, but didn't spot the girl hiding there. He moved into the tunnel where Sonny had entered. "Damn gnome left the door hanging wide open..." his voice drifted back to Sonny, followed by the sound of the door closing and then a moment later of a 'click' as he locked it with a key.

Meanwhile had the winter maiden finished her meal. In lieu of eating herself she had begun feeding scraps to her snow goblin servant, taking cruel pleasure in it's unwillingness to subject to the indignancies of it's treatment, at once shaking it's head violently and then at a coo allowing the morsel into it's gape. Little purling giggles erupted from the so-proclaimed princess of the north as she fed her servant from own plate. The stubby creature meanwhile had turned red-faced (proving once and for all that goblins have red blood like everyone else and that the chalk color of it's skin was a thick pigment belonging to it's complexion) and each subsequent swallow coaxed a snort of frustration. Perhaps the only thing that could be taken away from this ludicrous show was the fact that the goblin's gaze throughout it's ordeals, remained obeisant tracing it's mistress. Not once did intentions swerve from the course of affection in spite of the little's complaints. Where one may turn murderous for a slight, the goblin was as devoted as they came, for all it's objections complying with every offense. Possibly even secretly enjoying Ingeborg's attentions...

"I'll have Urir fix up bed chambers for you. Do you wish a separate chamber for your servant?" Dulirn asked to Ingeborg, as if it were already a forgone conclusion that she'd be spending the night.

Garner snaps out of his pondering, he seems to have lost track of things going on around him

"Almost forgot about the time, it's getting rather late, I best be on my way. Hopefully the fog might of cleared by now and i can at least make it to the next town in one piece" He then promptly begins walking to the door to leave.

"But the evening has only just begun," the wizard stated as he pointed at the dining room door and it slammed shut as Garner headed for it, blocking the easy exit from the room. "Won't you stay for dessert?" he asked cordially, as if he had not just imposed his will on the fiend.

She had glanced up to trace Garner leaving with a peripherial interest then jolted in her seat as the door slammed obnoxiously loud. "Can you not?" Annoyance was a tarnish as much twining the dissent of her tonality as accusing in the twin icicles of her stare as it ricocheted between the men. Then she ran her hand over the bulbous, pale crown of her goblin servant whom had stilled to the nursing in spite of initial derision. The little creature, as always, was of a mind of it's mistress, scowling at the noise that had not in the least bothered it.

"Mister Clobberpot is eating," said the northerner, sniffing her own indignation. Mister Clobberpot meanwhile had found himself in a situation where the humiliation of forced regression vied with his absolute affection for his princess-mother, his cheeks ablaze for shame but his mouth smacking around each spoonful with an eager panache, eyes rounded for affection for his mistress.

((Which door did he lock? The locked one at the point labelled cave-in?))

((Assuming I looked at it correctly, the 'cave in' was a previously locked door, and the 'stairs' are the door Sonny just walked through, which was locked by Urir))

She watched carefully, holding her breath as her heart beat at an increasing pace in her chest. From her squatted position in the corner she could hardly make out the flame-lit figure, picking up only the detail of his clothes (she guessed he was a him from the gruff voice) and their strange profile, which seemed characterised by a large nose. His call for Orver had her mind spinning into overdrive- was there another creature here? If so then she this exploration was riskier than she had previously judged. She was pulled from her thoughts as the heavy footsteps began again, and her eyes widened as she saw the figure walk towards the door through which she had come in, her only source of escape from this tunnel; she had to bite back curses as she heard the metal clink of a key. Her only hope of escape now it seemed was through the tunnels, perhaps the one from which the creature had appeared. She had to stay put for now though- only after the man had returned from whence he came could she begin looking (or rather, feeling) around again.

Urir, satisfied that he had done what was needed to keep the gnome intruder out of their supplies, pocketed the key, then turned and headed back the way he had come, not giving so much as a glance in Sonny's direction.

As he is leaving, his torch briefly illuminates a fan of daggers—all of different craftsmanship and make—decorating the back wall. The daggers come from a variety of races and cultures; some are crafted by orcs or goblins while others are of human manufacture. One impossibly slender blade is clearly of elven origin.

Her breath caught in eager admiration as she caught a glimpse of the ornate blades adorning the back wall. She struggled to contain herself as the footsteps began to slowly get lighter, the light from the man's torch fainter. Slowly she began to get back up, taking a couple cautious steps towards the wall. Hearing nothing more she crossed the remaining distance to the wall, carefully running her fingers gingerly over the cold metal of the blades.

Trying not to get too engrossed in her appreciation of the beautiful weapons, she kept her ears peeled, glancing behind every so often to make sure there was no return of the firelight. After a quick peruse, she began to start cautiously trying to remove the blades from the wall, hastily stashing them around her person. She chose blades with no real system, figuring at the least they would make good money in the towns, though hesitated when she came to the elfen-style blade. Something about it seemed almost to call to her. With yet another cautious look around, she removed it from the wall, slipping it straight into the sheath, bound on her arm.

Urir's footsteps (and light) soon return back up the stairs, somewhere down the right hallway. Nothing stops the theft of the blades...

Which way does Sonny go?