-----The steps themselves appear old, dusty, gray and crumbled as the passage of time and many feet have taken their toll on them. The going is slow as the torchlight seems somehow swallowed by the darkness below them and everyone is careful not to trip.
-----Soon the descent ends and the stairs empty out into a single large chamber. From the light of the torches, the chamber has smooth hued walls fashioned from large gray stones. In the center of the chamber, perhaps a few good strides from Sol's feet, where the light is dimmest, a raised platform is seen.
-----On top of the platform a bit of motion is detected although it could be a trick of the flickering light. There, poised atop the platform is the gray stone-like form of a horned creature. Roughly the size of a man, the creature's image has horns atop its head, large bat-like wings and claws ending in sharp talons. The position the stone form has is like a cat ready to bound off the platform.
-----Torn bits of cloth and other rubbish is thrown about this area and from the smell, it is apparent this is where the trolls were housed.
-----No sound is heard here and the whole place gives the uneasy feeling of being inside a tomb.
-----"Careful." Sarah mutters making eye contact with the statue. "There's all sorts of stories of stone things coming to life in old holes." She shivers slightly, ready for anything.
-----"Edwin, could ye get a few o' yer men to keep watch on th' statue as well as behind us, while th' rest o' us search?" Sol asks as he eyes the statue once with a smattering of interest, quickly lost as he begins to wonder if there is anything else down here after all.
-----Raven moves forward to inspect the statue.
-----Edwin orders his men into an odd formation with two stationed looking back up the stairs. The other three he orders positions in front of the other three walls while preparing more torches to illuminate the place.
-----The three members of the Trinity Seekers busily set about searching separate sections of the wall with Sol and Sarah.
-----"Master Sol," Quade whispers, failing to hide his excitement, "Are there any special techniques you use in finding a hidden door or passage? What is it you hope to find down here?"
-----"Deducing from the number of creatures that they have met," Kantar begins, likewise excitedly, "I would say he hopes to find a hidden storage with treasure taken on humanoid raids. But then, . . . that is purely speculation on my part." The young mage glances at Sol for confirmation.
-----Ursulena emits small squeals and giggles as she brushes her hands against the cold stones. She nervously searches with a huge smile frequently giving the impression she has found something only to change her mind in the next moment.
-----At the moment, Sol and Sarah search the far wall opposite the wall where the stairs are located. The other three mages are on the wall to Sol and Sarah's left. They occasionally bump the guard stationed there emoting with an frequent, "Er, sorry!" or "Beg my pardon!"
-----Raven and Rinda approach the center platform as the wolf cautiously trots beside them.
-----His patience still prevailing, Sol tries to reply to all the comments, "No, no special techniques. Push and prod and hope fer luck. Th' only thing I hope t'find is what I've already mentioned...That being whatever is drawing all these creatures together." As Sol speaks he once again takes his magic lens from his pocket and begins to inspect as much ground near all the walls, hoping to find prints that doesn't belong to the party.
-----Sarah smiles at Sol's patience and moves to a different part of the wall to keep looking. "I'm not finding anything." She announces.
-----With a snarl, Raven yells, "Heads up! This statue is alive!" He quickly steps in front of Rinda and faces off with the creature. Raven whirls his swords in front of him and waits for the creature to make its move.
-----Raven suddenly sees the stone-like countenance of the "statue" deepen as the lines of its face form into a terrible snarl. Its eyelids lift revealing two black orbs and the chamber is suddenly filled with the sound of its unearthly shrieking. As it rises, it stands obviously taller than the man facing it.
-----It leaps forward somehow avoiding the whirling short swords. In an instant, one of its claws rakes across Raven's right leg threatening to take the ranger off his feet. The attack leaves a bloody scratch beneath the ripped pants leg.
-----At that moment, something awakens within the hunter. Even though an element of anger is present, Raven's eyes narrow and his presence seems to grow. His muscles swell but remain supple and lithe. His entire body takes on the embodiment of a cool and calculated predator.
-----As he looks down at the vile creature squatting in front of him, his right hand sword continues to spin. It suddenly stops with its blade pointed down in his grip. Raven never looks at his weapon, his eyes completely focused upon a point on the chest of the creature.