Story I: The Rift

Pyrrah, at last, gets her torch lit and is visibly relieved to be able to see, even if for a short distance. She can make out the face of the corpse now, but the others appear to already be investigating it. Instead, she closes her eyes and listens closely, knowing very well that when it came to the darkness her eyes were the most useless of her senses. She prayed to hear nothing, dreaded hearing the noises she'd thought she'd heard the day before.

Ameera whispers, "Lets peek at what's around the bend" and walks down the passage to where it begins to turn to the right, shoulder to the right wall and leaning forward to look further around the turn.

Devanis looks up at Ameera's question and frowns slightly at Beric's estimate. "I'd say it's a little more than that, about 400 or 500 feet, maybe" his search of the corpse turns up a small purse which he pockets, and a longsword and dagger, which he straps on his own person. He tosses aside several waterlogged torches and some other rotten items. He sniffs at an empty bottle, trying to determine what it once contained. Afterwards, he stows the bottle as well.

As Ameera peeks around the bend Devanis takes a minute to re-attune himself with the underdark. His vision down here is better than other humans, borne of practice rather than blood. But he knows that to survive down here one must rely on all of one's senses, not just sight and hearing. He puts his palm to the ground, tuning out his companions for now.

Erran follows about 15ft behind Ameera, leaning close to the tunnel's wall as well. He steps carefully, doing his best to not disperse too much of the debris on the ground, Erran calls forward in a hushed tone,

"See anything?"

Devanis moves up front beside Ameera, replying to Erran in a low voice as he does so, "They're out there, whether we see them or not. Stay alert. Is everybody ready? Let's move." After peering around the bend he scouts ahead.

Pyrrah stands, using her free arm to throw her packs back over her shoulder. "Just a few animals, I think. Too small, too quiet." She whispers. However, since she isn't yet used to the sounding of the cave walls, it comes out slightly louder than intended, just loud enough for the group to hear if they wanted to. She follows the rest, keeping her torch low so that she could make out the bumps and loose stones beneath her feet and correct her footing before she made a ruckus. Unlike the others, she can't see outside of the flame's range. She takes her time, placing her steps carefully as she follows behind the rest of the party and hoping that at some point soon her eyes would adjust and her natural stealth take back over.

Whispering to Erran Im still getting used to what I can see, this is my first time away from the perpetual light of the city, but these seems to be a faint glow further up, wait.... as she realizes Devanis is stepping ahead, Ameera calls into Devanis' mind. do you see that blue glow ahead?

As the party rounds the corner, Erran maintains his distance from the two scouts, keep pace just ahead of Baric and Pyrrah.

Keep calm, that's how you stay alive,

The words ring in his mind as his eyes widen at the sight of the glow. Erran's hand reaches up towards the hilt of his blade, trying to move as stealthily as he can.

Ameera keeps pace with Devanis, one step behind and on his offhand side. She walks crouched with the practiced stance of someone ready to jump. She fishes a small twig from her purse, clutching it tightly in her right hand.

Halt. It may just be a plant. But not one I've ever seen before. Baric lifts a fist then realizes his companions are in front of him and not soldiers behind. He taps one or two of those in front of him to slow them. At the same time, he silently draws a dagger, preparing it for defense.

In the torch light, Pyrrah sees Baric draw his weapon, and she can see now the strange glow up ahead. Instinctively, she draws one of her daggers with her free hand, holding it tightly in preparation to be thrown. She watches her steps, trying her best to be quiet despite the low light and shifty floor. She angles the torch behind her, using her body to shield some of the light from whatever lay ahead.

Devanis narrows his eyes at the blue glow up ahead as he creeps cautiously forward to the next bend.

Ameera hugs the wall opposite of Devanis looking ahead and moving quietly to go past the blue glow and watching ahead while the others investigate. She sends a thought to ErranI don't think the glow is dangerous and to Devanis Ill watch ahead.