The Realm of Ganoltir: Strife, Exploration, and Prosperity
https://ganoltirproject.com/forum/
Aurelius rudely wakes the orc up after binding his wrists. "Get up, or you die here." Aurelius said, intending for the orc to walk with them. He wouldn't carry him even if he wants the orc to live.
Einkill heads back to the rest of the group. "Well, the good news is I've found a way out. The bad news is its through the sewers. Although, I supposed a bit of time in the stench is better than getting eaten."
Leo's eyes dart back and forth between the creatures flanking the building. He shuts the door, shaking his head. Returning to the others, he says, "There's a rear door into the alley, but we've got shamblers on both sides of the building. No chance in getting out that way without a fight."
Marcus spits on the ground and releases his grip on the terrified man. "Fine." he says, stepping back and letting the man straighten himself up. "We're leaving, and your weapon is in the street out there. If you've a head on your shoulders, you'll come with us. You can carry the lieutenant there," he says.
Turning to Einkill and Leonidas, he says, "looks like the sewers it is then. Lead the way."
"We can only hope those creatures haven't found a way down there already," Leonidas says as he makes his way towards the sewer's entrance. He grimaces as the cool, dank air hits his face. I suppose there are worse places to escape through.
"Good job Einkill. Let's move! What are you waiting for?" Varon shouts from the loft. After coming down from the loft Varon tells his companions what he knows about the sewers.
Encounter 1.5: Warehouse Skill Challenge
The human survivor visibly relaxes after Marcus releases him, nodding his apparent understanding of the situation. He steps over to the orc, who is just coming to.
"Builo! We need to move!"
The orc sucks in a breath, his reddened eyes taking in the warehouse around him. "What the fuck? What's going on?" he barks through a pained groan.
"These people," he explains in a frantic tone. "They won. Mila, Jun, the others... they're gone. Damn biters got 'em."
"I told them to hold the damned line. Good-for-nothing chickenshits." He climbs to his feet, looking down at his tight bindings, then at the rest of you as you move for the sewer entrance. "So what the fuck, then? You want me to just come along like your goddamned prisoner?"
His question is punctuated by the cracking of the double-doors, as the dead and stinking forms begin to squeeze through the edges of the failing barricade, albeit slowly.
"Move your ass, mate," Weasel insists, clearly uninterested in the orc's dramatics.
Amidst the chaos of the breaching dead, the complaining prisoners, and the crossfire of quick chatter and planning, the ten of you begin to crowd around the door downward. Guthrik and Redros bring up the rear, ensuring the two prisoners stay in the middle of your group. You file into the dank, dark stairwell and Redros shuts the door behind him, which grinds against the frame.
As your eyes begin to struggle against the lack of light further down, you hear the dampened sounds of the walkers tearing their way through the boxes at the entrance of the warehouse. They haven't broken through — yet. Ahead of you, the steps descend, curving back around in a U-shape before disappearing into an eventual, oppressive darkness.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I expect you to do," Marcus responds, as they rush towards the sewer entrance. "Unless you want to stay here and join your friends in the afterlife," he continues, as it becomes clear the creatures will be in the building soon.
Leonidas rolls his eyes as the orc rambles incessantly and angrily. "Gods, shut your mouth or we'll shut it for you. Your people are dead and it's all on you, you godsdamned moron." I'll kill him myself if he keeps this up. He shakes his head, descending the stairway into the sewers below. He squints into the darkness, hopeful that someone can light the way.
Aurelius follows down after the two prisoners, mumbling some mild obscenities as the Orc complains. As the stairway begins to darken, he pulls out a torch and lights it. With the torch lit he looks around, hoping they were heading the right way.
"Fuck you both," the manacled Builo growls dismissively, following along for the time being. The other man, unrestrained but unarmed, seems to comply as well.
As Aurelius sparks a torch, you can see the stairway a little more clearly. The stone stairs beneath you are damp and worn, but look like they haven't seen much recent use based on the thick, mostly unperturbed moss that has grown along them. The sides of the stairwell are a slick, chiseled dark stone and they curve toward the top, forming an upside-down U-shape with the ceiling.
While there is no banister as a handhold, the steps seem safe downward and around the corner.
Choosing to ignore the troublesome orc, Leonidas carefully heads down the staircase, letting the guardsman take the lead. Better him than me. "Just stay close and quiet. Not much of an escape if they hear us down here."
Following his gut, Aurelius takes the lead and tries to walk as quietly as possible down the stairs.
As you descend the stairs with Aurelius in lead, the way forward wraps back under the warehouse. Each step down brings you closer and closer to the sounds of water in motion.
After a complete half-turn, the stairs eventually terminate at a small, tight and level stone landing. This tiny chamber is smooth and bare on all sides, its only feature a single, metal door directly in front of you. On the door are two small grates — one near the top, and one just a few centimeters off the ground. A single, rusted handle is placed center-right.
Those approaching the door, you can barely make out, through the grates, a sewer canal running to the left and the right.
Aurelius looks back at his party, nodding. "This seems to be it, the sewer. Are we ready?" He asks, getting confirmation before opening the door.
"Lead the way," Leonidas says, gesturing towards the closed door before them. "Mind your step, though. Aurelia's not saving you from drowning in a sewer canal."
Marcus sticks towards the rear, making sure their two prisoners continue moving forward with no issues, and keeping his eye on them for any signs they might be trying something sneaky. Once the man in the front speaks, he says, "yes, not like we've anywhere else to go. Forward or deal with those things again."
Aurelius takes a deep breath and opens the door, carefully stepping out into the sewer proper, finding a spot to stand. He takes a moment to catch his bearings.
Aurelius looks back at Marcus, seeming unsure. "Where are we going? I think I know my way down here."
"The mare is west of here," Marcus responds, remembering the direction they'd been heading in before. "Which of these routes is west? That's the one we should be taking."
Leonidas shrugs at the man's question. "I don't suppose they put signs down here. I hope you know where you're going, for all our sake," the young man says, glaring at the guardsman. Getting lost in the sewers would hardly do us very good. There's no food down there! And I'm not eating another rat!
Aurelius takes a deep breath and nods. "Alright, alright. Follow me." He smiles at the others, showing no hint of his fear. If I do get us lost... No. I can't think of that. He follows the walkway to the north towards the next intersection.
The group takes the leftward passage toward the intersection, your footfalls echoing softly throughout the vacant sewer tunnel. With the aid of Aurelius' torch, he leads you to a T-intersection. The channel next to you filters into a larger one in either direction, under what you assume to be the avenue above-ground.
To your right, eastward, the passage spans with a slight curve to the left that continues past where the torch illuminates. You notice one branching channel set into the north face.
To your left now, westward, you can see the large channel continue in a straight line past your light.
Aurelius continues to lead the way, and when they get to the crossroads, he turns left, assuming that to still be the right way.
With the junior Watchman leading the pack, you continue along the tunnel to the left. It is wider and taller than the smaller branch you entered on, and every so often there is a small stone arch across the channel to bridge the two walkways on either side. There is no light at all, save for Aurelius' torch.
The dark passageway continues on for several minutes, with a handful of smaller tunnels branching off on either side, until coming to a four-way intersection within a moderately sized chamber. Above, you can see a series of small grates in the flat ceiling, each with light pouring through. At your level, bridged walkways connect all four mouths of tunnels, allowing movement between corners of the central chamber.
Ahead of you, the tunnel descends westward a couple meters before tapering in size to a stone pipe about two meters wide. "Think that leads to the river?" Guthrik asks, to which Weasel grunts a knowing affirmation. "Yeh, we should be close."
To your left, a smaller tunnel curves off to the south and out of sight.
To your right, another tunnel cuts north. Several meters into this tunnel along the right side of the wall, you can see some sort of metal door similar to the one that you entered from.
"Chances are that door is a way out," Marcus says, pointing it out to the others. "We should check that before going anywhere else."
"Where do you suppose it exits?" Leonidas says, raising an eyebrow as he walks towards the door. "Another basement or warehouse, maybe?" He eyes the young guard. "Why don't you take point, Aurelius," he says, eager to use the honor-bound man as a shield if danger should arise.
Aurelius carefully goes over to the door and examines it before checking if it is locked.
"I don't know, but it could hardly be worse than the sewer," Marcus responds.
I could think of a dozen things worse than a sewer right now, Leonidas thinks, glaring at the young guard impatiently.
"We should check it out anyway. Quietly." Varon says. "If the place is safe we can take a short break to recuperate."
Aurelius, satisfied that the door is at least unlocked, finally turns back to the others and nods. "It's unlocked, lets scope it out and see if it's safe." He says with a low volume, and tries to quietly open the door.
The door opens with a lonely, quiet squeal of metal that is hardly heard over the flowing water behind you. In front of you is a small stone landing that continues forward several meters before ending at an iron ladder upwards. You can see some sort of hatch at the top.
"You've got the best eyes here, check it out," Marcus says to Redros as the ladder comes into view. "Let us know if it's safe."
Redros nods, stepping through the doorway and toward the ladder. Carefully, he climbs it, one bar at a time. At the top, he pulls on some sort of metal handle, and you hear the soft creak of the hatch open. Light creeps in from the street above.
The tracker peers down at Marcus. "I think this is close to the tavern," he says in a whisper. "Want me to take point?"
"Sure," Marcus responds. "Any of those walkers in sight? Don't want to head up if we're just going to get ambushed again."
Redros peeks his head out for a moment, and he disappears from view. After a short moment, you see him again, from above. "Coast is clear."
Weasel lets out a sigh. "Finally, some good luck around here." He sheaths his long dagger. "C'mon, let's get moving."
Marcus motions for the others to proceed, but holds Guthrik back to watch the prisoners alongside him. Marcus will head up last, after the prisoners and Guthrik are out.
With a knowing nod, Guthrik stands behind.
"Untie me," Builo grunts, staring at the ladder upward before turning back to address the rest of you. The human survivor, unbound, looks on with eyes wide.
Aurelius makes it to the top of the ladder and looks around at their surroundings. "Finally, a moment's respite." He says quietly.
Leonidas breathes a sigh of relief as their way out of the sewers appears to be clear. "Thank the gods. I couldn't spend another moment down here." He scurries up the ladder, taking a deep breath of the outside's fresh air. He stifles a cough as a waft of rotting meets his nose. Perhaps the sewer wasn't so bad.
Marcus waits until all but he, Gurhrik, and the two prisoners have made their way up the ladder before doing anything else. Once that has happened, he walks the orcish prisoner to the base of the ladder before removing his bindings. "Alright, go," he says, waiting intently for the man to climb. "You guys at the top, make sure these prisoners don't make a run for it, and tie them back up once they're out," he continues.