Post by Admin on Jun 15, 2014 2:10:47 GMT
Jiao spies Leath. "Come now, we are almost overdue."
---
The group meets back at the Varangian barracks with their newfound supplies. An impatient Erik greets them as they assemble.
"I was worried you'd be late," he says. "But no matter. I've organized patrols for every catacombs entrance I could find. Some parts may connect with old sewers and cisterns, and many of the tunnels have collapsed. My scouts reported signs of recent habitation, so the cultists may still be in there. I've taken great pains to keep this operation secret from Cesare, since I don't trust the whelp."
"How about Julio and his followers?" Jiao asks. "They were interested in helping."
"And they have helped the scouting parties. They're holding position near a sewer exit," the Varangian says. "But I need experienced freelancers to clear the tunnels under the Hagia Sophia. We expect there could be undead, conjured fiends, or similar abominations. My men lack magical training and firearms, which your group will provide."
The Varangian assembles his soldiers, and they march down through the street. Along the way, they note what appears to be an absence of the Italian mercenaries from earlier. The city guard, however, now patrol in larger numbers. The Varangians simply seem as another armed convoy marching down the street, and the crowd gives them no special attention.
The group halts in an alleyway near Hagia Sophia. Two waiting Varangians let the group through, and down a flight of stairs. The air becomes damp and wet, as the scent of mold and mildew issues forth. The Varangians have magical torches, and their chaplain treats a wounded soldier with a healing spell. Nearby, Julio and one of his followers chant a protective spell around the tunnel entrance.
"Erik, we've disarmed more of the traps in the first hundred feet, but there still could be some ahead," Julio says. "Our spells detected no traces of outsiders like demons or devils, but the traces of malign magic make detection difficult."
"Good work. Now, I have a new mission for you," Erik turns to the party. "According to the old blueprints, down this hallway is a large empty chamber right under Hagia Sophia. The hallway should be straight, with no branching passages. My troops have been unable to breach it due to magical traps. I believe the cultist from yesterday had emerged from here. I want you to find this central chamber, find out what is in it, and report back. Kill anyone who gets in your way. Especially if they're the Signed. I have to manage the other scouting groups, so I will remain behind with Julio."
A hallway unfolds before the party: a long claustrophobic corridor leading into the chthonic deeps. A magical brazier marks an turn in the hallway, before it again plunges into darkness. In that darkness somewhere are the answers they seek, the crossroads of the past and present.
Jiao hands out magical torches as the party approaches the edge of the dark tunnel. "Hans, could you look for traps?"
---
The group meets back at the Varangian barracks with their newfound supplies. An impatient Erik greets them as they assemble.
"I was worried you'd be late," he says. "But no matter. I've organized patrols for every catacombs entrance I could find. Some parts may connect with old sewers and cisterns, and many of the tunnels have collapsed. My scouts reported signs of recent habitation, so the cultists may still be in there. I've taken great pains to keep this operation secret from Cesare, since I don't trust the whelp."
"How about Julio and his followers?" Jiao asks. "They were interested in helping."
"And they have helped the scouting parties. They're holding position near a sewer exit," the Varangian says. "But I need experienced freelancers to clear the tunnels under the Hagia Sophia. We expect there could be undead, conjured fiends, or similar abominations. My men lack magical training and firearms, which your group will provide."
The Varangian assembles his soldiers, and they march down through the street. Along the way, they note what appears to be an absence of the Italian mercenaries from earlier. The city guard, however, now patrol in larger numbers. The Varangians simply seem as another armed convoy marching down the street, and the crowd gives them no special attention.
The group halts in an alleyway near Hagia Sophia. Two waiting Varangians let the group through, and down a flight of stairs. The air becomes damp and wet, as the scent of mold and mildew issues forth. The Varangians have magical torches, and their chaplain treats a wounded soldier with a healing spell. Nearby, Julio and one of his followers chant a protective spell around the tunnel entrance.
"Erik, we've disarmed more of the traps in the first hundred feet, but there still could be some ahead," Julio says. "Our spells detected no traces of outsiders like demons or devils, but the traces of malign magic make detection difficult."
"Good work. Now, I have a new mission for you," Erik turns to the party. "According to the old blueprints, down this hallway is a large empty chamber right under Hagia Sophia. The hallway should be straight, with no branching passages. My troops have been unable to breach it due to magical traps. I believe the cultist from yesterday had emerged from here. I want you to find this central chamber, find out what is in it, and report back. Kill anyone who gets in your way. Especially if they're the Signed. I have to manage the other scouting groups, so I will remain behind with Julio."
A hallway unfolds before the party: a long claustrophobic corridor leading into the chthonic deeps. A magical brazier marks an turn in the hallway, before it again plunges into darkness. In that darkness somewhere are the answers they seek, the crossroads of the past and present.
Jiao hands out magical torches as the party approaches the edge of the dark tunnel. "Hans, could you look for traps?"
