In reply to Aine Walsh (msg # 63):

the gutter is barely a foot deep. the grate slips back into place with a clang.

Aldous picks up his lantern, unsheathes his smallsword, and continues toward the south (having followed Thorg after the earlier misunderstanding).

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 65):,

you continue southward, where you see that the corridor continues toward an intersection where an open gate hangs out from an opening in the west wall.

Aldous slows, moving to the side of the corridor to try to see as much of what's behind the gate as early as possible.

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 67):

a shape stumbles in the darkness beyond the gate.


the hallway is 3 yards wide, this gate is open a yard into the corridor.   you can see through it but would have to step around.
the locking mechanism looks mangled, as if by crowbar.

He gets his shield ready and drops his spear point to about 4 ½ feet above the ground.

"Easy, mi' jus' b'a burgl'r."  None the less, Aldous raises his lantern higher and brings his smallsword to guard as he slowly advances.

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 70):

Aine lets her light be seen...

In reply to Aine Walsh (msg # 71):

you hear a high pitched scream from within, and a head flies out to slam against the gate!

"'Nother 'un?  'N this'n's loose!"

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 73):

as the chittering head rolls at the base of the gate, the thrower stumbles into view.

it is a headless corpse, carrying a Sickle like blade and wirh two more heads hanging from its belt.

What the ... Thorg comes on guard and judges the distance.

Aldous slashes his smallsword back and forth with a whoosh, and stands his ground.

"Sa'one b'fore, b'hin' lockt door.  Heds prolly bite."

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 76):

the headless thing shrieks, with a diturbing high pitched sound.

make a fright check, +1

With the lights close by, Aldous continues to stand his ground even against the scream of the headless corpse.

He needs all his training and strength of Character  to stand, his knees quake slightly... but he stands.

In reply to Thorg (msg # 79):

Aine resists easily enough, and creates an icy sphere to return to it!

Is there gaps in the bars that would allow a 1d icy sphere? If not, she will use a flame jet on the head...

In reply to Aine Walsh (msg # 80):

the gate has openings about 3 inches wide,  missile spells are sufficiently large that this is a small target- -5 to hit through it unless the spell is cast with hands through the bars... as it is, it head is -4 to hit on its own.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 81):

Aine tries to burn the head, but it is small, and she misses. She considers other options...

Aldous advances, hilt high and point down, with his lantern held above his left shoulder.

He edges forward, but if Aldous slides in front of him, he lets him go.

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 83):

is he stabbing for the thrown head, which is rolling about near the base of the gate, or advancing past to strike at the headless corpse?

btw Aine's targeting does subtract her SM as a bonus

Unless the head moves on its own, Aldous passes it up and moves on toward the headless corpse.

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 86):

Aine finds it easier to hit the head, and casts another jet of flame at it.

In reply to Aine Walsh (msg # 87):

the head, now in flames, chatters in a silent scream... the shreik-whistling corpse advances with sickle in hand toward Throg.