We set up camp the best we can in our makeshift room, even though its covered in exploded chest beast stuff. We all look like we could sleep for days, so much has happened since we regrouped. We’ve been down here so long, I couldn’t even tell you the time of day.. was it even night? All I know is as soon as my head was resting on the stone I was out like a light.

As the night passed.. or was it day? no matter… Eventually we’re all up. Gondar was awake first. Did he even get any sleep? He’s looking worse by the day.. or was it hours? I greet everyone a good morning to help start the day off well which is met with a few grunts and groans. We all seem to be struggling a little down here. We set back out in the search of the person everyone calls the green master.

El bardo and Maisee recall seeing a rope ladder that led up to, what I could only describe as a reverse pit, and that it may be worth getting Gondar to climb up for a look since he’s the smallest of the group and may actually fit up into the space. Gondar begins to ascend the ladder, slowly. Unusually slow for him. He’s always been so lightning fast to me. Slipping away from attacks before they’ve even landed their deadly blows. But today.. or are we still in yesterday… he looks like he’s being extra careful with each step up.

When he reaches the top he whispers down that he was able to make out a canvas mechanism and that it seems to open. Before we could ask anything else he starts to climb down. Missing a few rungs unsteadily along the way. As he gets to the bottom and faces El Bardo who seems to see something in the exchange and nods. Before I could ask if everything was ok was bounds on up the rope ladder in what seems like two big leaps. We can hear the canvas mechanism slowly lurch open, and then the reverse pit begins to light up with El Bardo’s shadow. He looks frozen on the spot.. then we start to hear grumbles. He must really hungry! Or maybe the gunk may have given him a bad stomach, which can’t be nice in leather pants, I can’t imagine how long they’d take to get off and back on again with an upset stomach. I take a big step back from the rope.

As El Bardo made his way back down the ladder he asks

“You’ll never guess what guys?”

I quickly blurt out “oooh i love guessing games, they’re my favourite!”

El Bardo looked taken back for a few moments then shook his head to regain his trail.

“I found the Xvart Naxiran and he’s warned us not to use this ladder, but to work our way up the stairs to the south.”

As we double back I begin to bound up the stairs and a hand rests on my shoulder stopping me in my tracks.

Maisee explains “Maybe its best we let El Bardo head up first since Naxiran would be expecting him and seeing someone like you bounding up may scare him off”

I do tend to have that affect on people I’ve found since making my own way in the world. And Maisee always looks like she knows more about how these things work so I agree and turn to El Bardo

“If theres any trouble we should make a secret word or something you can shout for us to know to run up!”

El Bardo smiles and says “Thats a good idea, and one which we could keep for another time, I’ll instead give you this stone that has a blue smiley face mark…”

“Does the mark match your face and it’ll turn scared if you’re in trouble!”

which I proceed demonstrate. Maisee looks like she’s sneezing lots as she turns to look away, her shoulders juddering.

“No Matt” smiling again El Bardo continues “the face is only on the stone to show I’m ok. It is important however that once the mark goes that I’m in need of help!”

“Got it I’ll make sure I wont miss it” as I begin to eagerly watch the face on the stone as El Bardo hands it to me.

El Bardo makes his way up the spiral stairs and eventually it falls silent again as I couldn’t make out anymore steps above us. I grip the stone a little harder and can notice my breathing becoming more intense as the little blue face is smiling up at me. How long has he been up there for, it felt like I’d been staring at this stone for hours doing my best to not blink. I eventually succumbed and had to blink as my eyes were watery. As I regain focus the blue face had disappeared.. did I flip it over by mistake. I rotated it a couple of times but couldn’t see it. Maybe my eyes were still watery, before I could wipe them Gondar said

“wasn’t we meant to head up quickly when the mark was gone from the stone?”

Crap I failed at this simple task.. and before any of the others said anything I start leaping 4 steps at a time. Reaching a double door I throw myself in to the room hammer ready, as I catchup with El Bardo I ask

“Everything Ok”

The Xvart opposite El Bardo jumps back 10 feet upon seeing me burst into the room. El Bardo with his hands up (and out to the side) looks back to the Xvart to say almost in a whisper

“These where the are my friends I told you about, we’re hear to help. I only sent them a signal to say they were safe to come up to listen to what you have to say”

As the Xvart looks on unsure of the situation Gondar and Maisee stroll into the room as cool as can be. The Xvart starts to introduce himself as Naxiran, and almost in a sorry way starts to explain he always wanted to break free from this place.. the Warlocks.. but that his master would not allow this. He looks shocked, trembling before us when i mention the name Artis and that we’d released the green hostage from the laborotory. He points to a pristine picture on the wall and whispers he’s watching and that he knows now and starts to beg us to let him to leave. We didn’t stand in his way and as he rushes by I said that we’ll find Artis to put an end to this.

“Are we going in quietly?” I ask.

“No lets just get this over with, I’ve had enough of being down here” Says Maisee, “Just do your kicking thing you’ve both got going!”

El Bardo and I stand side to side in front of the double doors.

“On three ok Matt. 1… 2…”