THREE HUNDRED SIXTY THREE
(I/C)
“Well,” Wyn said slowly “we be on DIS side of de castle. Might as well check de Butcher old place fer de meats, oui?”
Glancing around the corner to the South, Lannis shook his head and pulled back, whispering to the party, "Last I heard, the Butcher's was the plan and I find it hard to argue. I don't like whatever is was Janeway heard, and we still don't know where Hoots went. Let’s get moving, I don't want to stand still too long.”
Brendon nodded, tapping Kovid and the two of them went back to the front, walking the hall, eyes peeled and heading out. We didn’t hear anything behind us, but took no chances and made sure to hit the north hall without delay, and headed in that direction.
There was still the odd bloody smear on the floor, long dried, and obviously made by a large animal. As the group moved on and the tracks became less distinct and then finally undetectable by the time they arrived at the stairs heading down, Abraxas who had been walking quietly in the back, had a troubling thought. “Senors,” he said, “I have a troubling thought.”
“What is it, Doc?” Brendon asked, taking the steps down slowly and with care.
“Maybe Hoots is EN El Carcinera's room? Con los carnes? Hoots may have had his fill in there. Maybe Hoots is hibernating now?”
Lannis nodded. “Given that you brought it up, I’d say you jinxed us.”
“We should proceed con MUCHO cuidado. Mucho silencio,” he advised. “Antes de El Carcinera's room, we should head to el yail mas rapido."
Hands tightened on weapons as they made their way along, Abraxas muttering along the way. “Uno, Dos, Tres attacks. Si, si. I remember. And one of them is the bite. Like I’m a pollo for him to eat. Ha. And if he hits me Dos times with his claws, he gives me a hug. I know all your tricks, Hooters.” His Scythe twitched a bit as he walked. “I am ready.”
“Psyching yourself up, Monsieur Salazar?”
“Si, Senor Won. Si, indeed.”
The hall grew cool as they walked, turning to the west and proceeding down the long hall. The door at the end of the hall was sitting ajar and a quick look (WMC: Red/Black 4), revealed it was safe. As they walked their way up the steps to the former Kobold Warrens, Kovid was reviewing his map. “Still an open area on here,” he said.
“Where?” Brendon asked.
“Right here. Locusts noises,” he pointed.
“I’m game for checking the locust area,” the Scout nodded.
“We talked about that,” Lannis said, “It’s not a good idea. Noises, by the stairs. Other things to do, like a Dragon, a necrobitch, a goblin with a Tony Stark complex, some useless ceiling dwelling hobgoblin, and an Orc who is trying to wrap up his elven head collection.”
They walked through the statue room, and checking the two door, Brendon led the group through the north one and down the Main West Hall. Kovid shrugged, putting his map away. “I was just joking about the locusts, Big Brain... But there is probably something of value down there. It would be nice to have a complete map, ya know?”
“No. No I don’t,” Lannis replied.
Lyra piped up, “Oh I WASN'T joking about the locusts. I think it’s a good idea.”
“Again. No.”
“Whatever,” she continued, “They would never look for us there. No one in their right mind would ever go there.”
“Right. Like us.” The party turned north, heading along the passage to the west of the Scriptorium and continuing along towards the dressmakers room. “Like, do you all want to die? Seems like a bad idea, like roadside shrimp stands and Intermediate Psychology of Greenskin’s classes.”
The dwarf smiled, “We'll talk about it tomorrow. Keep an ear out for Hoots! Let's move."
They continued on, walking with care as the passage wound its way around, eventually turning north. As they drew closer to the Butcher’s, Abraxas had a wistful smile on his face thinking back to better days. Just shy of the door, Brendon held his hand up and the group slowed. The door to the Butcher’s had been forced open, and there were numerous gouges and slashed in the door and frame. He tilted his head and listened (>Hear Noise, +20% quiet, Red 63), but heard nothing on the other side of the door.
Kovid inched closer, scowling at the ground. “What are those?” he whispered, pointing to a half dozen smashed pale things smeared across the ground.
The group looked, (Wyn, elf, no roll), the elf glancing up and said, “Mushrooms.”
“Any type?” Kovid asked.
“Um..smashed?” He chuckled, “Dere ain’t nuff left to make into truffle paste, but dey were mushrooms, once upon a time.” He looked up, glancing at the door and the smashed fungi. Seeing the parallel gouges 4 wide in the frame he mused, “Hoots?”
“My thoughts.”
“Just look,” Brendon said, “And then we go.”
The party moved the door open and shone the lantern in. The sand had been all churned up, the Butcher’s (Rowena’s) was open, and it looked like the Freezer door across the chamber was open as well. But no one was in the Butchery. Kovid motioned the party in, and we all walked with care, eyes peeled, weapons out. Getting closer, they looked in to the Butcher’s chamber and it looked like it had been used not too long ago, bedding was a mess, casks were pulled out, tapestries had been yanked, chairs and table were knocked askew.
Lyra had been looking around the room (<Wis Check, -2 penalty, White 1 – aced it), and she frowned, looking down at the sand. “I’d say Hoots was in here,” she looked around, “And given the latest tracks across the sand, they all point in that direction,” she pointed at the open Freezer. Even from here we could see the door had been forced open, the hinges weakly holding the door up.
“Let’s go,” Lannis mouthed.
“Let’s look?” Kovid asked.
“LET’S GO!” the magic user mouthed again, exaggerating his lips and jaw, pointing back at the door with both hands and thrusting his pelvis in that direction as well for effect. As the group just peered closer at the open door, his eyes were bugging out of his head, mouth agape and face growing flush. “Are you absolutely ass chewed bonkers?” he whispered harshly.
Kovid and Abraxas did get close enough to peer into the chamber. It was still lit with a faint bluish light, and the air was cold. What meat had been in here was in terrible condition and there was maybe only a third of it left, gnawed on, dragged to the floor, and looked like savaged in places. But dimly in the back of the room, cracked bones around them, bellies distended, mouths and claws covered in scraps of flesh – were not only Hoots the owlbear, but also a large brown she-bear; the two of them snuggling up to one another and resting after gorging on their meal.
“Ok, you saw. Let’s fucking go.”
Time now is Day 8, 3:26 PM
(OOC)
Good guess, Abraxas. Hoots found the meat locker and had a great time. And yes, there is another bear in here as well.
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