Chapter 1: The Knaves Visit the Spudfields

"Well I'll be a hand up a puppet's ass, I didn't think that would actually work. Should we take the stones?"

Clomm’s face is blank, but inside he is a mixture of dumbfounded and giddy with power. He gives the others a slow nod, a slight smirk crinkling the burn scars on his cheeks and lips.

Audree gently removes both stones.

Audree exhales gratefully. "Well that went better than I expected. Let's just hope they aren't cursed or anything," she mutters. She stares at the face's eyes but she doesn't want to press her luck so soon. "Let's look around the corner and see if we find anything else down here. We can come back to the face later," she suggests.

Having already been smoked and gassed during his brief foray into this barrow, Endrei keeps his distance from the giant face and its ominously gaseous eyes. His eyebrows lift in surprise when the hinged mouth falls open; he glances from the gemstones to Clomm's new, baby-faced staff, then back.

Two stones, two empty eye sockets...

The giant clears his throat. "Ms. Watters, are those gems... well, baby-eye-sized? I mean..." Endrei trails off uneasily, then twiddles his sausage fingers at the head of Clomm's staff. "I mean that staff somehow opened the mouth, and in the mouth were those two gems, and the face on the staff doesn't have any eyes, and..."

And what? Should they really tamper with this... ritual implement, or whatever it is? They were just supposed to clear out the Spudfields' cellar, for a hot meal and a comfortable night's rest. No one said anything about subterranean temples.

Clomm sags in relief when the stones are harmlessly retrieved. He nods along with the big man’s thoughts. "Perhaps a brief test at connecting them?" Clomm licks his scarred lips, hungry for more power. He reaches a hand out to Audree, urging her to give him the stones.

Audree shrugs. "Sure. Whats the worst that can happen?" She hands over one of the stones. No need to hand over both yet.

Clomm carefully places the stone in the eye socket.

Clomm looks around, eyes wide. "Shall we add the other one?"

Endrei shuffles to the top of the stairway and peers down into the dark. His nose wrinkles at the smell, although it's hard to tell given the shadows and the usual mess of his features.

"Well something happened," he observes. "Down there. Normally I'd say in for a penny, but..."

The giant chews on his lip. "Maybe we go down, see what that was first, and then put the other stone in?"

Clomm shrugs, then nods. It sounded like wisdom. He could wait.

Audree nods in agreement that this plan has some wisdom.

Endrei looks from one companion to the next. Regarding his suggestion, all seem agreeable. None, alas, appear to be in any hurry to descend. The big man glances uneasily down the stairs, then back to the others, then once more at the darkness awaiting them below. He swallows.

"Me first, then," he rumbles, with obvious reluctance. "Ms. Watters, if you could raise that torch up a little behind me..."

Gripping his great hammer in both mitts, Endrei creeps down the stairs. He moves slowly, waiting for their feeble light to reveal each step before sliding a foot onto it. He squints into the murk, wary for any shape that might be moving in the darkness.

Audree grabs Endrei's forearm to stop him. "It's ok, I'll go first. I have the light anyway." She'll slide past and descend first unless Endrei protests.

Clomm waits to go last.