January 07 - Paris - Ward 7

[robertod]

The passage makes a sharp bend to the right. The tunnel is filled with humid air. Its ceiling is dripping at some points. Moss has grown on the floor, making it slippery. It is an ancient catacomb, lined with burial niches that have been emptyed of their bones. Pointing the flashlight ahead, the investigatos see the passege ending with a wall. A boulder is closing another opening in this wall, maybe a smaller tunnel. Another passage on the left wall. Its floor is muddy and has overlapping footprints that go in both directions. They are vaguely similar to human feet, elongated, deformed and clawed. The footsteps following the investigators approach, accompanied by a stench and by a snarling breath.

[aine]

“I, I think that’s a dead end straight on.” Clarence whispers urgently, hearing the approaching snarling behind them.
“God let this be a way back to where we started!” He dives down the side passage away from the catacombs.

[Mr. Handy]

Felicity hurries after him, positioning her body to block the light from shining behind her.

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie hurtles down the tunnel after the others, nearly losing his footing as his dress shoes slip on the muddy floor. "Damn, and double damn..." he uttered. "I knew I should have gone by Holts and picked up some boots before we left."

[Mephistophilis]

OOC:   Is there space to squeeze past the stone?

[Mr. Handy]

"I'll go shopping with you," whispers Felicity. "I'll need some new footwear myself if we get out of here. And a pistol." She has packed a shotgun in her luggage, but something smaller and more concealable would be good to have too.

[robertod]

OOC:   Previously said:   Is there space to squeeze past the stone?   No, the stone needs to moved in order to pass

[robertod]

The floor of the new passage is a mash of mud. The feet sink almost to the knee. There´s a dim light coming from there. The passage is short and ends in a cave filled by a pool, approximately nine yards in diameter. A new tunnel begins on the left wall of the cave. This is where the lights comes from.

The hoarse animal breathing approaches menacingly, along with the sound of soft footsteps. Whatever they are, the creatures go straight and head towards the end blocked by the stone. No longer having the flashlight on, the investigators barely see four humanoid shadows disappearing into the darkness after passing close. After their passage, a sound of something heavy being moved comes from the end of the tunnel, from where the creatures headed to. Then, strange whispers suggest that a conversation is taking place there.

[Mephistophilis]

Could those four have moved that stone? Andrew wonders, and he cautiously creeps back towards the catacombs to take a peek and perhaps catch a few of the words being exchanged.

[SaintMeerkat]

Archie holds his breath, his heart pounding so loudly in his chest that he is certain that the creatures are going to hear it. He doesn't dare breathe until the sounds are long past and he hears the faint grating. By the time he opens his eyes, Andrew has already started down the hallway. Once he is sure that Felicity is okay, he follows as silently as possible in the deep muck.

What would the missus think now..." he thinks silently as the damp mud soaks through his clothing. He pauses a couple of times when he nearly loses a shoe, but continues.

[Mephistophilis]

Hearing rapid breathing behind him, Andrew spins and draws his pistol. For a split second he almost pulls the trigger until he recognises the form of Archie through the gloom. He puts his finger to his lips, Shh.

[Mr. Handy]

Felicity stays back, reasoning that the more people there are, the harder it is to sneak, and that Archie knows French and will understand what the creatures are saying if that's their language.

[aine]

Clarence stands motionless in the almost darkness feeling the cold wet mud seep through his trousers. He shivers and reaches for Felicity’s hand, giving it a squeeze.
As his eyes adjust he starts looking forward towards the pool, trying to pick up details whilst he listens for trouble behind.

[robertod]

Archie and Andrew hear the four figures uttering some words in French, in a hoarse, gouty voice. They are greeting a fifth person, a man who, apparently, did not walk with them there. He seems to have come from the other direction. The man has a different voice, more normal. He says he has brought something for them, then says he will have to be away for a few days. Then, again the sound of a large boulder being moved. The four walk back and get closer to the two investigators.

By examining the pool cave, Clearence and Felicity are able to better delineate its size and detail. No new elements stand out, however. The cave only communicates with one other tunnel, the one from which the dim light comes. No noise nor signs of any other activity come from there.

[Mr. Handy]

Felicity squeezes Clarence's hand back, examining the pool to see if anything is in it and how deep it gets.

[SaintMeerkat]

Fascinating... Archie thought to himself as he listened carefully to the conversation. I wonder what he's talking about. Drugs? Weapons? Something worse?

Archie was so lost in thought that he almost didn't notice the four people coming back toward them. Panic seized chest as he tried to decide what to do next.'

OOC:   If it's dark enough that Archie believes he can melt into the shadows by hugging the wall, he is going to do that. Otherwise, I am headed back to the pool cave.

[Mephistophilis]

How can he move that rock so easily? wonders Andrew, before he's brought back to the present by the sound of the approaching figures. He jerks Archie's arm, and points back into the cave. As quickly as he can he rushes back to join the others and escape. He doesn't fancy facing these subterranean denizens in the dark but he holds his pistol ready in case they catch up.

[aine]

‘What do you think’s causing that light?’ Clarence whispers to Felicity. ‘I’d go and peep but it means walking through that water.’ He looks at the inky water with distrust.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm not sure," Felicity whispers back, "but it could have something to do with the man we're here to find."

[robertod]

The four dwellers of the catacombs go straight and move away. Silence returns and the tunnel becomes empty.
The inclination of the ground near the shore of the pool is not high. If it is kept that way going towards the center, the water level should not reach much beyond the knees, at the deepest point of the pool. The walls of the pool are smooth and have no grips. There is no way to walk around the perimeter. Unless the investigators find a raft or something to bridge the two ends, the only way to pass the pool is walking into it.