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Post by Galadare on Aug 14, 2009 22:50:35 GMT -5
The toadstools are toxic. While they are not the herb she seeks, Nezumi recognizes them as a variety that are valued by the druid. A lucky find on most days but today they are but a dead end.
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Post by Lironah on Aug 14, 2009 22:55:51 GMT -5
Nezumi sighs, but takes a square of cloth and gathers up as many of the toadstools as she can without touching them, tying the ends together with a piece of cord. She slips back down the cleft and past the pool, casting another nervous glance at the pile of rocks.
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Post by Galadare on Aug 14, 2009 23:03:44 GMT -5
Nezumi returns to the branch in the tunnel where she left the glowing leaf of mistletoe. Finding all as she left it, she proceeds down the other path.
In time, the tunnel opens into a long chamber filled with the dripping of water droplets from the dome above. The uneven ground is deep in scree and the going is difficult. At the edge of her light, she spies two more tunnels leading out of the gallery.
As Nezumi presses deeper into the chamber a chill comes over her and she trembles. A misstep nearly sends her to the floor and upon catching herself, she glimpses something that chills her even more; broken bones among the broken stones.
As she rises she catches a hint of movement behind her and turns to see an apparition of indistinct form. Dark and terrible, it glides toward her with a wave of malice in the van.
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Post by Lironah on Aug 14, 2009 23:14:37 GMT -5
"Ehh...ehh!" she almost wails, scrambling backwards away from the apparition and to her feet. She holds her mistletoe between her and it, trembling so hard that several of the leaves fall off. She backs up toward the left fork, trying to decide if she can make a run for it and slip past the ghost.
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Post by Galadare on Aug 14, 2009 23:28:59 GMT -5
The spirit surges toward Nezumi in a flash and is upon her almost before she can even raise her mistletoe. But raise it she does and the apparition stops mere inches from her.
The wraith looms menacingly, but otherwise does not harm her. Rather, it's inability to tough her bolsters her courage. She stands up straighter and the shaking stops, which in turn forces the apparition away. Until it slinks off, impotent in the face of Nezumi's courage and determination.
With the spirit gone, Nezumi takes the left tunnel and soon comes upon a chamber faintly lit by a shaft in the ceiling above. At the far end Nezumi sees a skeleton long decayed leaning against the chamber wall.
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Post by Lironah on Aug 14, 2009 23:40:48 GMT -5
Nezumi grimaces, suppressing a shudder, and turns around, walking back the way she came. No point searching that room for an herb which grows in absolute darkness.
When she comes to the large chamber, she holds up her mistletoe in a warding manner, convinced that it was some spell the druid put into it which protected her. She takes the other branch, clambering slowly across the scree.
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Post by Galadare on Aug 14, 2009 23:48:25 GMT -5
Nezumi winds through the tunnel and almost steps into a deep chasm as she turns a blind corner.
The faint howling of wind rises from the pit as Nezumi inspects it. The faint light from the mistletoe fails to penetrate the gloom.
A narrow ledge will allow her to climb around the pit, but traversing it will not be easy, and to fall would surely mean Nezumi's death.
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Post by Lironah on Aug 14, 2009 23:51:57 GMT -5
Nezumi plucks one of the leaves from her branch and drops it down into the hole.
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Post by Galadare on Aug 14, 2009 23:58:49 GMT -5
The leaf falls into the chasm for a moment before lighting upon the rocks more than 80 feet below.
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Post by Lironah on Aug 15, 2009 0:06:51 GMT -5
Nezumi sighs, but decides that her rope isn't long enough to climb down the chasm with. Instead she fastens it to an outcropping and uses it to brace herself as she crosses the ledge.
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