In Search of the Source of the Creeping Darkness Main Story

[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Jack Burnett, @Flash Holmwood | MENTIONING @Alexander Varellion | PROXIMITY TO @Koko Riddle[/font]

Laughter. Giggles. Scampering and scratching. Whatever game it was that these dolls seemed to be playing in a twisted universe of role reversal, Evelynn wanted no part. Droplets of cold sweat collected along her spine, a stress reaction from their echoing voices that seemed to taunt and tease, scratching at the security of her environment like their nails against her skin.

They leave us! Absolutely, and not quickly enough. They do not love us! Only a mother could love those eyes—bottomless voids that promised only insanity and painful death. They do not wish to play! The only playing in which she wished to partake was to make use of them as targets for duelling practice. Make them stay! Definitely not!

Still, as swiftly as Evelynn dove for hte unconscious boys' robes, she could hear them—feel them—closing in around her. Her heart raced, the pounding of its rhythm a countdown that reverberated in her very ears. One of them made a move. Its silhouette emerged in the corner of her eyes, black and small, but growing in size all too quickly with proximity. Launching to her feet, Evelynn hoisted back with all her might. It wasn't enough to move the body all the much, but at least it was enough to avoid feeling those needle-like claws cut at her flesh again. The doll seemed to stumble, but she didn't stick around to see why. Even the interior of the room had been left largely unexplored by her keen eye. She had a vague image of a kiln of sorts, and photos—so many photos—scattered around, but the details were lost in her haste to put as much distance between herself and these demonic constructs.

More movement. From behind this time, and heavier in its footsteps. Their master? Evelynn's fingers tightened on her wand as she wheeled, ready to stand over and defend the helpless student at her feet. What was it with her playing the part of prince to some hapless boy's damsel in distress situation? But she needn't have worried.

"Burnett," she breathed, for once absolutely relieved to see that trickster's face. His arrival was met with movement. "Look out!" Evelynn shouted in alarm as another doll took advantage of his relative ignorance to the situation and attacked.

Swift as well as cunning it seemed, the boy managed to avoid any harm. Relief washed over the Gryffindor as he darted in, moving immediately to help her with the supine dead weight. Together they heaved. It was a slow process, but one that was made a little easier as they started moving. Graceless and undignified, their retreat could only be described as desperate. They didn't have time to grab anything from the room, or to close the door. Not without inviting unwanted attention. And Evelynn, for one, had no interest in being painfully transformed into some sort of living doll, no matter how desirable doll-like features might be in the fashion world.

More footsteps sounded as they progressed back down the hall, growing louder by the second and echoing uncomfortably off the walls. Light preceded it, but Flash revealed himself moment's later. Like Burnett, he wasted little time moving in to help. Significantly brawnier than the two of them, Evelynn had little qualms with his attempt to carry the body. She did what she could to help position the unconscious Slytherin more securely onto Flash's shoulder if they were able; although if he couldn't quite manage it, would simply suggest they just make haste, not bother, and just drag him out.

Of course, that was easier said than done. It had been nerve-racking enough to navigate the narrow hallway of bottles before they'd been burdened. Now it would be almost impossible. Almost. Somehow, though, Evelynn seemed to manage it with relative ease. No doubt because she'd already done it once before and despite the danger posed by the dolls behind them, knew instinctually that knocking these over would somehow pose the greater risk. She monitored the other two as they progressed as well, stooping occasionally to move a bottle here and there if it looked as though it might hinder their way.

She'd even allowed herself to believe that they'd manage to make it through the sea of glass without trouble. Right until the tell tall clink of glass and subsequent shatter that followed. Eyes wide and rimmed in white, she snapped her attention to the source of the sound only to have her stomach fall through the stone at her feet. Horrified, she watched the chain reaction as bottle after bottle followed suit. Liquid spilled filling the air with the smell of bleach and something. She still couldn't quite remember what it was. Some sort of cleaning—

And that was when she realized what it was. Ammonia. The liquid she hadn't quite been able to identify. It was ammonia. Or something like it. Her mother had always warned her not to go mixing the household cleaning products together. And this must have been why. If she mixed the wrong ones, it would make a poisonous gas. Like this.

It hit her only faintly at first. A sting in the nose, a tickle in the throat. She tried to clear it, to sniff away the unpleasant itch. That only made it worse. Instinctually, she pulled the collar of her robe up around her face to cover her nose and mouth, trying not to panic as the air thickened with gas and the echoing of shattering glass alike. It stung her eyes, and she found herself blinking both to clear the irritation and the tears that had sprang to blur her vision. Out. They needed to get out.

Never had terror gripped her quite like it did in that moment. They could fight dolls. They could hold off swarms of mosps. They could toss light to stave off the darkness. But how did you fight an invisible gas?! The air was choking. Cough-inducing. It was like the dolls had somehow manifested in the atmosphere itself, their needley fingers diving right into her lungs to choke the air from her. If she hadn't been hurrying before, she certainly was now. Bottles had already been broken and they were now against the clock, she was sure of it. Casting caution to the wind, she grabbed a fist full of Flash's robes and tried to run, urging him forward with her.

[font=century gothic]ACTION: Helping Flash to carry Varellion and hastening to Room 2 to retreat[/font]

[font=century gothic]STA | 8‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ STR | 2‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ EVA | 10 WIS | 10‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‎ ‎ ARC | 2‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‎ ‎ ACC | 10 KEEN EYE — There is a 25% chance of automatically finding something. FEARLESS — Immunity to fear effects.[/font]

[font=century gothic] ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ INVENTORY ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ — Broom Compass — Sketched Map of Underground — Locksmith's Knife — Wizard's Tight — Magical Candles / Lighter — Flash's Invisibility Cloak — Bottle with blonde hair[/font]

Interactions: @Henry Knight, @Santario Martin, and @Starlee Kennedy
Mentions: Dmitri Jones and Hjørdis Jensen

Carrying Santario was no easy task. Her muscles strained to move the girl's body weight and with so much effort concentrated on pulling and keeping Santario's head secure, her Lumos Maxima flickered out. At least there was still Henry's pulsing from somewhere ahead of her. The silence, only punctuated by grunts of strain and the distant noise of other dungeon action, was broken by a question. Surprised by it and not having thought about the well's placement at all, she didn't answer for long enough Henry apologized. She was too stressed to assure him it was fine. Hope of a gentler ride had been dashed, necessarily replaced with the greater need to just get Santario out of there. Driven by necessity and thankfully having cultivated an amount of strength, she managed.

She was out of breath when she emerged at the top after Henry. It wasn't questioned; though not running, that had certainly been a strenuous activity. But why were her eyes stinging? And her lungs didn't usually burn like this. Realization began to dawn as Henry declared it was gas and it would kill them. She wasn't out of breath. The room was.

Shit. She pulled the collar of her shirt over her nose in a likely useless attempt to keep the gas away. Why were things only getting worse? Instinct urged her to move faster, to pull Santario out of these cursed depths as quickly as possible. But logic came next, gave her pause. Santario and Starlee were already half-dead. They would never make it. Already fighting for their lives, how could they make it without oxygen? But what could she even do? Bubble-Head Charm. Primarily used in relation to water, but it provided an oxygen supply of use anywhere there wasn't breathable air. Like in a gas-filled room. To think she'd thought the spell useless, that a single half-hearted decision had led her to teach it to herself less than a month ago.

She wished she had Dmitri's ability to split spells. Instead, there was a decision to make: who first, Santario or Starlee? It had to be them, she knew that much. The instruction on every airplane, to secure your own supply of oxygen before someone else's, echoed in her mind. But that other person wasn't expected to have already been unconscious for a long time, in which case it would be different, wouldn't it? Because Starlee had been up here longer and wouldn't be by her side, she chose her, begging the universe in the back of her head for this to be the right decision.

"Hold on!" Easing Santario's head to the ground, she hurried to Henry, wand held out. Where usually she would take a deep breath to focus before casting, that not an option, she briefly shut her eyes. Had there ever been this much pressure to get a spell right? "Aspira," came the incantation, coughs held back until she got through it, wand tracing the omega-like shape.

There was no breath to spare to elaborate. Hopefully he could figure out what the spell did if he wasn't familiar with it. Hopefully he understood that she couldn't budget the time to offer him the same protection. It felt bad, leaving him to suffer. She wasn't good enough. He'd sounded terrified, asking her to stay. Leaving him wasn't something she would have done unless she had no other choice, but now she was going to ask him to leave her. "Keep going. I'll-" A cough interrupted her. The longer they stayed, the worse this was going to get. "I'll catch up. Have to do San." She'd never called her San before, only ever the full Santario, but her lungs burned against the last three syllables.

If he didn't, she'd urge with a single "Go!" Now her attention was back on Santario. Hang on. Just a moment and she'd be able to give her the same bubble of safe air. With each cough, the want to cast the spell on herself grew. No time. Keeping them safe from the gas was just the first hurdle; Jensen's words to get them to the Hosptial Wing immediately, that they were in danger, coupled with her own observation to conclude she had to hurry as much as possible. Unless she was in danger of dropping, herself, there was only time to protect Santario and Starlee.

Action: Casting the Bubble-Head Charm (Aspira) on Starlee
Location: Room 3
Stats: STA: 7 | EVA: 9 | STR: 7 | WIS: 9 | ARC: 7 | ACC: 8
Abilities: Sixth Sense | Evasive Maneuvers | Prodigal DADA Learner

Despite their close calls with the thieving toys aiming to pluck hair, somehow Evelynn and Jack managed to drag their schoolmate out of the room. Lights up ahead were soon revealed to be uses of the Wand-Lighting Charm by both Koko and Flash. Hopefully whatever they had been battling had been driven off by then. Flash quickly took up the boy onto his back and shoulders, being stronger than both Evelynn and Jack, but Jack hardly had time to sigh in relief.

He barely had time to register the terrifying scene made of his fellow Slytherin's facial features. The giggling, creepy dolls had followed them out, dividing his attention between them and his peers, so he hardly had time or thought to spare for the multitude of bottles on the floor in the next room filled with who-knew-what. Whereas Evelynn managed to avoid the fragile containers, unfortunately, Jack did not.

Immediately, he knew he'd made a horrible mistake. The domino effect that resulted caused the gears in his head to start turning while he watched, struggling to come up with some way to mitigate the damage and danger he had undoubtedly brought down upon them. Gas quickly drifted up to sting their eyes and noses. Whipping out his wand, Jack turned toward the erupting bottles and performed a spiraling movement.

"VENTUS!" he bellowed, concentrating on blowing the harmful chemical clouds away. With luck, perhaps the spell might have deterred their frightful nightmare doll pursuers as well.

Open to interactions
Interacting with: the gas and dolls?
Mentioning: @Evelynn Decipio, @Alexander Varellion, @Flash Holmwood, & @Koko Riddle
Location: Room 10
Action: Casting the Windy Spell against the gas and dolls
Abilities: Prodigal Charms Learner; Binding Mark
Stats: Stamina: 6 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 3 | Wisdom: 10 | ArcPower: 7 | Accuracy: 7
Inventory: Bluebottle broom, bag, wand, invisibility cloak, Locksmith's Knife, a bottle of holy water, pencil, paper, salt
Post Tracker: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Things were an absolute chaos. The second year stumbled into the next room, fleeing from the gas that had been released in the one she only stood in moments ago. Coughing and trying to breathe as little as possible, she pressed her sleeve on mouth and nose. Her throat itched and stung, making it hard for her to stop coughing again. Where was everyone?

There. There was Flash and Koko, and there were Evelynn, Jack carrying someone back inside from a different room- And Jack knocked over one of the bottles standing around in the room. The dungeon truly was an odd place, why on earth were there bottles standing around down here? On second thoughts- Opeila didn't want to know. She made her way over to help her classmates, only to notice that the stinging in her throat got stronger again when she got closer.

Breathing was suddenly painful again. Flash got to the group before Opeila, lifting the boy they had been carrying onto his shoulders. It took Opeila a moment to recognize the fellow duellist, an older boy- Wait, since when was Flash that strong? Well, whatever, not important in this moment. "Th-", she started, but the attempt to speak made her throat itch harder, making the young girl cough again. "The stuff is everywhere- In there too!", she managed to get out, pointing towards room 2, her voice sounding hoarse. For now she would stay near Flash, to help him with Alexander in case that the older boy fell.

Hjørdis frowned as she examined the tracks carefully, most of them were in the room that she had just come from - and towards the well that apparently people had just jumped into. Well, that explains how those two got to the bottom of it... Another set of leading back and forth, likely that of the boy who just came from the room and informed her of the student there. Walking slowly closer in, she would follow see tracks in the back corner. Someone was there - or at least, had been there, it seemed. As quickly as possible, she would examine the area but saw no sign of blood or anything else that made it seem like someone had been injured. Whoever it was, they were walking - and that was enough. Though, she did almost gag from the smell. Whoever it was needed to learn what showers and baths were for because she really disliked the smell. For a woman who cleaned a lot, this was the exact opposite smell of that.

There were a pile of rags on the ground as though someone was living there? There was an exit towards where the tracks were heading to. If she spotted Kaegen, she would instantly recognise him, as though a former memory suddenly returned... A memory that she forgot about somehow. He was one of the first students she had properly spoken to, not too long after she joined Hogwarts. At that time, she was a very different person. Not many people realised or saw the change in her - perhaps no one except her closest did. But she was not a huge fan of children when she joined, she would actively tell people she never wanted children, nor was she overly caring. Yet Kaegen Deathmote surprised her. That day was a day she remembered because he was the first - and still one of the very few - students to hug her. He ruined her white shirt with his blood-stained tears and for some reason... She did not mind. She was not angry she had to clean her shirt, like she probably normally would have been. He opened a part of her heart, whether or not he realised it.

If she saw him, she would raise her hands as though in a 'surrender', telling him that she was not here to hurt him - and like that day, she was there to heal him. He had promised that he would save her, aid her if she needed it. Risk his own life to save hers. She did not want it. She wanted none of that. All she wanted him was him to take care of himself. If she saw him, she would guide him out and tell him to go to the wing in return for that promise.

If she did not see him, she would follow the tracks to the exit. Assuming they were leading out, she would make the assumption that whoever it was, was probably okay for now. At the very least, they were out of the dungeons, out of immediate danger and there were no visible signs that they could not make it to the hospital wing or their dorms themselves. Hjørdis probably would have followed to try and find out who it was, to be certain that they were okay. However, there were far more pressing matters. With everything going on right now, she had to just assume they were okay and that was enough.

With that, she turned back around and walked straight back into the dungeons, running through the rooms as quickly as possible to try and return to the well and make sure the other students were fine. The Knights had taken the girls from the well but she knew they would not be in a great condition. Besides, she had seen plenty of people running around to the other rooms - like idiots!

ACTION: Follow the tracks/try to get Kaegen out before returning, trying to get back into the dungeons to find anyone else. (Maintain Lumos Maxima) ((I'll let you pick the room she ends up in))

"Thanks" Koko would murmur, the pain and terror overwhelming. Her gratitude was delayed but expressed all the same. Her thoughts would go to Sapphire, the girl who had not posted moved in months, the girl who would have passively escaped the dungeons like the rest of the curious students that forgot they were in the middle of a moderated instance. Sapphire, likely unaware of the chaos and the torment the rest of them endured would be waiting for the girl in the Common Room. They would have much to discuss.

Flash Holmwood would take Koko Riddle's hand, they could not stay here. Together they would escape this place that housed the terrible darkness that lived, that writhed that crawled and came and cursed. He knew the way from which they came, down the narrow passageway, take a right and then another right up a flight of stairs... There was nothing to say, no promises to be made, no comfort to be expressed. They needed to leave, later they could process.

Wand in hand, the warm glow of safety offered by such a simple elementary spell. They would travel back towards the entryway, meeting Jack and Evelynn along the way. Jack Burnett and Evelynn D were dragging the best they could, neither known for their brawn, Alexander Varellion. The boy was mangled and beaten, his face one he could hardly recognize, cut and bruised, swollen with his mouth stitched crudely closed and buttons stitched over his eyes.

It was simply barbaric. He looked like one of those puppets, those little ones that had life and caused mischief. That wanted to kill. Only he was too large. This was Alexander, right? One could only hope as the unconscious and battered youth was being taken to safety and brought to their den.

In their retreat, the creatures that had done that to Alexander did not pursue. "To father who sleeps!" One would squeak, they would withdraw and the trio would flee.

"Allow me," was all Flash had to say. He asked for no explanation and asked for no permission as he relinquished his grip on Koko's hand. Ever the gentleman one could suppose even in such dire circumstances, the air would feel cool in his absence over her palm, about her fingertips.

Kneeling down, his hands would reach under the limp snake and he would attempt to lift Alexander over his shoulder. Evelynn would wordlessly assist, there was too much to explain she could prattle on endlessly and this was not the time.

Flash attempts to lift Alexander to carry him out fireman style.
Roll: 13 Success

He would lift Alexander over his shoulder and start to trudge out of the bottle filled space. The rattle of bottles, one clipped by Jack's heel had cause a sort of domino-effect. Bleach and ammonia, a dangerous combination. Something would fill the air, this terrible, prickling scent that tickled his nares and burned his sinuses.

Something was wrong. "Out. Out." he demanded. A greenish haze would start to fill the room, chloramine gas. Evelynn had not relinquished her physical touch upon the felled student. What meager assistance she could provide that Flash did not need she would render.

'We need to get out! Er, this way, I think!'

"VENTUS!"

Jack Burnett would bellow without missing a beat.

Jack casts Ventus.
Roll: 11

A gust of wind would rush from the wand, disappating the toxic fumes to an extent. They were far from safe but it would give them precious time. While Flash took Alexander from him and Eve assisted, they would start to carry Alexander off but Jack lingered behind at the source of the terrible fumes. Rustling in the room adjacent, toxic fumes threatening to end his wizarding career, why he did not follow would remain unknown.

A curse running through her body, a heart heavy with a missing jewel (Sapphire) and the presence of chloramine gas threatening their very lives, she would rush out the room to familiar places. 'We can make it,' Koko announced. There was no way of knowing, just hoping. Positive thinking. Positive words. Even if they only helped her, someone needed to hear them.

'Opeila, we should go,' Koko recommended. The scene of Flash displaying manly brawn, of Alexander battered and maimed, of a green toxic haze that had started to pervade the space, Koko Riddle's proclaimation was more than a recommendation. Koko's arm was covered in a spreading darkness that Opeila would recognize, she would extend the other to the Seer and try to take her hand.

Koko would move from Room 10 to Room 2.
Flash would move from Room 10 to Room 2, carrying Alexander.
Evelynn would help Flash carry Alexander.

Opeila had briefly wondered why there were so many bottles placed in this hall. It was not a natural but it was an intentional occurance. Placed by a twisted, paranoid mind, a boy fearful of intrusion and uwanted by the dolls. Indeed Kaegen Deathmote had filled and placed the crude trap much like he had the well and the weighted door. These dungeons were rife with similar traps, they lacked a refined elegance because the boy who laid them saw faces in the rain.

"Th-"

Opeila started before she let out a harsh cough.

"The stuff is everywhere- In there too!"

Opeila warned. Indeed, the tunnels were filling with toxic fumes that indicated it was time to flee but rather thn doing so she had ventured further in this direction into the dungeon. Opeila would be left to wonder how Flash got so strong (and probably hot in a manly sort of way) but she would not be able to address that thirst this hour as she followed Flash, leaving only Jack in room 10.

_______


Henry Knight was carrying Starlee Kennedy out of the dungeons. "Why do you think this well is here anyway?" Left with the oppertunity to ponder the circumstances of a presently dry well in the basement of this castle, he would likely learn more in the library than he would searching the well proper. Well were in fact indoors in many cases, it saved those who lived in the building from having to go outside in inclimate weather, it prevented animals from entering and falling inside. In the case of a castle such as this, this was also a measure in case the castle became isolated and surrounded. A lack of water would quickly starve out the residents of such a castle. By having a safe, indoor source of water that could not be tampered with, castles and in some cases homes were able to thrive in even the most dire of conditions. In the modern era, with less of a need for wells with indoor plumming, most indoor wells were covered over or filled in. Often not all the way to the top but enough to cover the water table so that the water would not grow stagnant and vermin would not collect in the stale confines of the well. If it was needed again one day, digging through the soil that had no stones would be an easy task. These wells were refered as "dry wells" an example can actually be found in Silence of the Lambs -- the famed scene "it puts the lotion on the skin" comes to mind. The victim in that horror was at the bottom of a very wide dry well.

" s..sorry just thought it could defuse the tension." Nothing would defuse the tension as he got a wiff of the poison that was starting to filter into the room. It was toxic and the sting was almost immediate. "We need to get out now! The gas will kill us," Henry quickly realized. His Lumos (passive wisdom 10) would remain lit as he struggled to drag Starlee.

The girl was breathing and she would not escape the toxic fumes. Once again she was dying.

Henry also risked succumbing to the fumes he he did not take care, if he dallied, if he wasted any more time. " wait for me Bridget, please! Please, don't leave me," Henry begged, that was the tone of fear rather than hubris. The risk was dire and real.

Bridget was not rushing off, she knew that she needed to tuck herself away, that the air was poison. She would tuck her nose into her clothes in hopes that the cloth would filter the toxic fumes but it was a useless effort even if a valient one. The girl was brilliant as she pondered what she could do for the felled teen -- the Bubble Head Charm being her best option. Protect her head with a thin barrier, to let her breathe clear air.

"Hold on!" She was not running ahead but rushing after Henry. Santario abandoned briefly on the ground. Her head resting on the stone floor. Wand in hand, Henry's light was a becon to the source. The fumes would make her eyes water. It was hard to see but she could make out a blurry outline. "Aspira," she incanted with a croak.

Bridget cast the Bubble head Charm on Starlee.
Roll: (+9) 14

"Keep going. I'll..." a hacking cough would interrupt her instructions. Her heroic moment.

"I'll catch up. Have to do San."

"Go!"

She had saved Starlee from likely dying enroute to the common room, now she would have to protect Santario. The gas would creep into her nares, assaulkting her respiratory passageways and threatening her barely stabalized life.

Failed Death saving throw 1 of 3., was formerly stablized.

Hjørdis Jensen would be left behind as the students continued to endeavor to save their peers. There was one more missing, hiding in the shadows. He had slunk into the room, escaping the toxic fumes that would make these dungeons unlivable for a time.

A moving pile of rags, the child hardly appeared to be real or for that matter alive. In other words, he looked as he always had... She would try to communicate the best she could in such dire, dangerous circumstanbces. She was a friend. She was not dangerous. The toxic fumes were. And Kaegen failed to post and as warned, he would be passively escorted out of the dungeons supposedly in compliance with Miss Jensen.

A gait best described as the scurry of a skunk, low to the ground and quick moving. No threat, just flee.

Kaegen and Nora move to room 2.

______

Mathias would push onward, Percival Rainwood flanking Selim Faust the stubborn weirdo that for whatever reason wanted to die in the dungeons. Mathias was not going to make it, the toxic fumes were causing his lungs to swell with fluid. He would let out a series of hacking coughs. He would let out a wheeze, shaking his head he would continue onward. He had no choice, one foot after another. Up the stairs and down the hall.

"Not going to make it," Mathias announced. It was a warning that was barely audible, it was hard to get enough wind. Shallow, rapid wheezing breaths.

Mathias, Percival R. and Selim Faust left Room 2 for Room 1.

Mathias would climb the stair, each step more arduous than the last. He would reach the hall before his legs gave out. Before a dark curtain fell. Before the pain stopped.

Mathias had released Selim from his grip and collapsed.

Mathias was knocked out.

The burden that was Selim was mostly on Percival, the strongest of them all. He was likely stronger than the aggregate sum of the trio and his stubbornly maintained his hold on Faust. The boy was not going to wiggle out of his reach once again.

When Mathias fell to the ground, Selim and Ileen would try to pick him up but Pride could not help them, he could not stand.

Ileen & Selim try to drag Mathias as Percival is dragging them off.
Percival (+8) passively dragging Selim along. 14
Selim (+3) attempts to pull free of Percival and Ileen to pick up Mathias. 5
Ileen (+3) remains on Selim, her helping Mathias is pending if Selim is dragged on or not. 1

Percival was unyeilding, a juggernaught. As Selim tugged, tried again to escape his mighty grip, Percival would hold him. Selim's feeble attempts at freedom were for naught. Ileen would stumble after, her hold on Selim more a token of cooperation at best as Percival did the job of many. As Mathias fell, she would try to halt the procession, try to grab hold of fallen Pride but it felt more like they had stumbled than tried to fight. That was the problem with being such a beefcake sadly for Percival. Someday he would break someone's hand by holding it with a nat 20.

What Happened

Room 1
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@Percival Rainwoodmoved to room 1, dragging Selim. (75 damage from chloramine gas) [75] 325/500 [Room 1]
@Mathias Pride drags Selim to Room 1 (75 damage from chloramine gas) [-75] Unconscious. -25/200 health remaining. [Room 2]
@Ileen Knightdrags Selim to Room 1 (75 damage from chloramine gas) She was so weak Percival did not even notice her attempt to stop the procession towards the common room and safety. [-75] [350/600 health remaining] [Room 2]
@Selim Faust is inside the room and has avoided attempts to be dragged to fresh air. (75 damage from chloramine gas) He failed to escape Percival's mighty grip and save Mathias. [-75] 75/500 health remaining. [Room 4][/color]
@Cassandra Ironwoods has not posted, presumed to have left the dungeon. [Room 1]
@Illowy Magnard has not posted, presumed to have left the dungeon. [Room 1]

Room 2
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@Percival Rainwoodmoved to room 1, dragging Selim. (75 damage from chloramine gas) [75] 325/500 [Room 1]
@Henry Knight would maintain Lumos Maxima (was a Critical Success when cast, no need to roll for maintain). Carrying Starlee out of the dungeon. Moved to Room 2. (50 damage from chloramine gas) [-50] 425/500 health remaining [Room 2]
@Hjørdis Jensen Found Kaegen Deathmote, using the power of friendship to lead him out of the dungeon. (25 damage from chloramine gas) [-25] Moved to room 2. [Room 2]
@Starlee Kennedy Being carried by Henry Knight. Failed death saving throw 2/3 [-25/400 health remaining] Bubble Head Charm cast successfully, she is not taking any more damage. Carried to room 2. [Room 2]
@Cassandra Ironwoods has not posted, presumed to have left the dungeon. [Room 1]
@Illowy Magnard has not posted, presumed to have left the dungeon. [Room 1]
@Opeila Winters moved to room 2. (25 damage from chloramine gas) reduced by 10 for covering mouth and nose. Following Flash back to Room 2 after warning them of the chloramine gas. [-15] [425 health remaining] [Room 2]
@Koko Riddle Lumos Maintained. *Cursed* (50 damage from chloramine gas). Moved to Room 2. [-25] 250/1500 health [Room 2]
@Flash Holmwood Maintains Lumos. Fireman carrying in all his buffnmess Alexander. Moving towards Room 2. (50 damage from chloramine gas) [-50] 625/700 health remaining [Room 2]

Room 3
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@Bridget Collins Put Santario down, cast the Bubble Head Charm on Starlee successfully (50 damage from chloramine gas; reduced by 10 for covering mouth and nose.) [-40] [470 health remaining] [Room 3]
@Henry Knight would maintain Lumos Maxima (was a Critical Success when cast, no need to roll for maintain). Carrying Starlee out of the dungeon. Moved to Room 2. (50 damage from chloramine gas) [-50] 425/500 health remaining [Room 2]
@Hjørdis Jensen Found Kaegen Deathmote, using the power of friendship to lead him out of the dungeon. Maintains Lumos Maxima. (25 damage from chloramine gas) [-25] Moved to room 2. [Room 2]
@Kaegen Deathmote Never posted. He is poorly covered himself with dust and cobwebs. The dirtiest of boys. He has been visualized by Henry and Nora (as he is passively returning to the main areas of the castle like the rest). Because he has not posted in months he is slinking towards the exit of the dungeon. (50 damage from chloramine gas) [-25][-50] [Room 2]\
@Starlee Kennedy Being carried by Henry Knight. Failed death saving throw 2/3 [-25/400 health remaining] Bubble Head Charm cast successfully, she is not taking any more damage. Carried to room 2. [Room 2]
@Santario Martin Unstable, unconscious. Bandaged. Put down by Bridget Collins. Failed death saving throw 1 of 3. (50 damage from chloramine gas) [-50] [-75/600 health remaining] [Room 3]
@Evelynn Decipio helps Flash carry Alexander out of the dungeon. Moves to room 2. (25 damage from chloramine gas) [-25] 650/800 health remaining [Room 2]
@Alexander Varellion Mouth has been sewn closed, he cannot speak (or incant). The doll sewn his eye closed and cover with a button. Alexander is unconscious. (25 damage from chloramine gas) [-25] Successful death saving throw x2. Carried to Room 2 by Flash and Eve. 0/700 health remaining. [Room 2][/quote]

Room 10
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@Opeila Winters moved to room 2. (25 damage from chloramine gas) reduced by 10 for covering mouth and nose. Following Flash back to Room 2 after warning them of the chloramine gas. [-15] [425 health remaining] [Room 2]
@Koko Riddle Lumos Maintained. *Cursed* (50 damage from chloramine gas). Moved to Room 2. [-25] 250/1500 health [Room 2]
@Flash Holmwood Maintains Lumos. Fireman carrying in all his buffnmess Alexander. Moving towards Room 2. (50 damage from chloramine gas) [-50] 625/700 health remaining [Room 2]
@Jack Burnett knocked over the bottles, causing the spread of dangerous chloramine gas. Ventus cast successfully, preventing the gas from getting worse. (25 damage from chloramine gas) [-25] 575/600 health remaining [Room 10]
@Evelynn Decipio helps Flash carry Alexander out of the dungeon. Moves to room 2. (25 damage from chloramine gas) [-25] 650/800 health remaining [Room 2]
@Alexander Varellion Mouth has been sewn closed, he cannot speak (or incant). The doll sewn his eye closed and cover with a button. Alexander is unconscious. (25 damage from chloramine gas) [-25] Successful death saving throw x2. Carried to Room 2 by Flash and Eve. 0/700 health remaining. [Room 2][/quote]

Interacting | @Percival Rainwood
Mentions | @Mathias Pride | @Selim Faust

Now that he had joined the group, Percival was unstoppable. He held Selim tightly in his grip and dragged him towards the exit, Ileen more so stumbling along and being dragged there herself. The gas was by now burning strongly in her eyes and lungs, displacing the oxygen she needed to breathe.
Everything before her eyes began to blur and she simply followed Percival, almost holding onto Selim as well, stumbling more against Mathias than supporting him. They wouldn’t make it. She was absolutely sure that they wouldn’t.
This thought didn’t raise panic in her - more so she felt kind of numb, just as her body had not enough space and energy left to mobilize enough for such a strong reaction. She barely noticed that Selim was still fighting them for some reason she wouldn’t understand anyway. All her concentration was focused on her own feet, taking one step after another to make it to the exit, safety and fresh air.

They were already climbing the stairs, the life-saving fresh air only a few feet away, as Mathias fell. Shaken by a terrible cough, he went down, the prophecy of failure on his lips. Ileen tried to catch him, to hold him, to support him somehow - but the unconscious boy slipped through her fingers and she was dragged along with Selim, but not for long. Her attempt made her already fall behind.

Leave no man behind. Her heart contracted. She did not want to say the words, not to breathe in unnecessarily. Percival would take Selim to safety. And she would try to save the boy who had gotten him out of there.
"Go on, I'll get Mathias!" She was trying to convince not only Percival, but herself as well. She barely had enough strength to keep herself on her feet. She couldn't carry an unconscious boy.
Eyes burning, she let Selim's sleeve slip through her fingers for good, came to a stumbling halt, and turned around. In dueling, she had learned to levitate people. It didn't take much, just enough for her to carry him upstairs and if she didn't make it, he wouldn't crash on the steps and hurt himself. All she had to do was lift him a little. A few inches only.
At least there was no room for despair in her either. Gritting her teeth, she drew her wand and pointed it at the boy lying on the ground. "Wingardium Leviosa." She would not let him die here.

Action: trying to levitate Mathias just a few inches up and move him to the exit
Ability: Sixth Sense, Prodigal Charms Learner
Stats: Sta:6 | Ev:8 | Str:3 | Wis:9 | Arc:6 | Acc:9
Location: Room 2

Interacting: @Bridget Collins
Mentioning: Santario Martin | Starlee Kennedy
Languages: _{English | French | Italian | Arabic | Russian}
Outfit

Whatever was in the air would be painful to the lungs. It was an obvious reaction, one that caused coughing by all those present. Burnett would usefully blow the gas away with a spell-- one Flash was certain they hadn't learned in their classes yet. Even though Flash was plenty preoccupied, this certainly stood out in his mind. For as much as he liked to act like he didn't care, he was ahead of everyone in their year in spellcasting. Meanwhile, Evelynn and Opeila were on either side of him as he hoisted the mangled boy toy onto his shoulders. Luckily, this kind of carry did not require the person doing it to be a power lifter.

What was important was that they were all moving forward. That was, Koko was guiding them to the door they had all foolishly entered in the first place. Once the five of them had gone through, Flash looked behind to make sure none were being left behind-- stress still heavy in the air.

"Burnett! Come on!" Flash would yell back, as though Burnett was going to promptly forget where he was and not flee with the rest of them. Forgive him for being so on edge, it has been a terrible birthday.

There were people in the room, many of which did not seem to be faring much better. Gas was everywhere, others were similarly being dragged up the stairs away from this trap-laden hell. To Koko, Evelynn, and Opeila, he would presume they knew they needed to leave as well. Once they were up the stairs, they were certain to be out of the gas. Being able to feel Alexander's breathing (presumably), Flash would wait one moment longer, his eyes stuck behind him instead of at the pandemonium around them, or the head of house that was certainly very incredibly still unhappy with him.

"Hurry up!" He'd call impatiently to his roommate.

Interactions: @Santario Martin
Mentions: Henry Knight and Starlee Kennedy

Her vision swam, water springing forth in reaction to the stinging. She hadn't known gas did that. Through the blur, she could just barely make out the outline of the bubble, shimmering in Henry's wandlight. She could only trust she had indeed mastered this spell beyond the point of producing splotchy bubbles, as she had at first, unable to make out details. Another wave of panic rolled in; could she be completely certain of how the spell worked? Maybe you had to be in an area with breathable air when you cast it so the spell had something to work with. After all, you would presumably cast it before you took a dive, not once you were submerged with water flooding any attempts to say a spell. Second-guessing would get her nowhere, though, and she couldn't afford to lose her head. If this was their last chance, she hoped it was a solid one.

Henry protested to her instruction to go on without her, stuttering and panicked. He was probably only hurting his oxygen supply and her eyes widened as he appeared to nearly stumble back. The situation was bad as it was, they hardly needed another fall added to the mix. But he caught himself, and her command to go, though choked so likely not too compelling, did the trick. She gave a quick nod to his instruction to stay safe--except in a room without breathable air, she didn't think that was possible--and turned away as soon as she was sure he was going.

A less logical part of her did wish for him to stay. The same apprehension of being alone as when she'd descended down to the well rose now. Maybe she could have used his help, or at least the moral support of another conscious human. What if she couldn't make it? Not an option, she scolded herself. Because if she didn't make it, Santario didn't. And if Henry had stayed, he put himself at greater risk of not making it, too, and neither of them could have carried three people. Beyond him, Starlee needed help as soon as possible, and she should stick to the plan she'd made on a slightly clearer head. It was better this way.

As if she didn't have enough to spur her into haste already, the fact her light was leaving added even more urgency. She hurried back to Santario's side, dropping to her knees beside her, in part because she wanted to be close to eliminate any chance of missing and partly because she was starting to feel lightheaded on her feet. Her shirt was still clutched over her nose for whatever minuscule good it might be doing, though soon enough she'd have to abandon even that protection, both hands needed to pull Santario from the scene. How was she going to drag her all that way? Up the passageway had been hard enough, and while this wouldn't be so steep, she was struggling merely being in this air.

To cast the spell, she had to focus on her target, the body in front of her that didn't really seem like Santario. Santario was her teammate and co-captain, a confident, capable duellist, not this dying figure. But the rise and fall of her chest, the beating heart, meant she was still fighting, and as much as she hated seeing her like this--everything about this, really--all she could do was make sure Santario didn’t lose this fight. Another round of harsh coughs, and then she steeled herself. The sooner she did this, the better, before it became impossible to incant. Come on, just three syllables. "Aspira."

Action: Casting the Bubble-Head Charm (Aspira) on Santario
Location: Room 3
Stats: STA: 7 | EVA: 9 | STR: 7 | WIS: 9 | ARC: 7 | ACC: 8
Abilities: Sixth Sense | Evasive Maneuvers | Prodigal DADA Learner