In Search of the Source of the Creeping Darkness Main Story

Room 1

Rainwood was a juggernaut, there was no burden, no barrier, no breaking point fir this boy. When he put his mind of admittedly limited capacity onto something, there was no stopping him. Had the boy the brain to match the brawn, he would be a terrifying and terrible sight to behold. The unstoppable would drag Selim to the safety of the common room by force.

So up the stairs, they -- the three of them that is, as Mathias fell victim to the chloramine gas, would trudge up the stairs. Ileen stumbling Percival, her hands still on Selim, trying to "help" whilst Faust wiggled about. He was not making much sense, the hacking coughs and the shark wheezes made him impossible to understand, not that the boy was saine on a 'good' day. Selim was never well-behaved and this evening would be no exception. Percival was their guiding hand, their sentinel, their defender and their savior.

Selim's legs would give out. His struggle to breathe would come to a merciful end as the world grew darker, as if a shade had been drawn over his eyes and his body fell limp in Percival's grip. Selim has been rendered unconscious.

Selim Faust (unconscious) and Percival Rainwood travel to the common room.

Ileen Knight's vision would burn and blur. Her lungs would scream for fresh air but there was none available to her. She would falter before Percival ever did, that dumb sexy goliath of a man, but Mathias would fall before she did. The most feeble among them obviously apparent, Mathias Pride (with his 2 stamina). It was nothing dramatic, just an unceremonious thunk and a shift in their shared burden.

Percival and Selim stepping past, possibly over if not on the unmoving youth, Ileen would stop. They were only a matter of feet away from the common room, sadly Mathias was not going to be able to make it. Ileen would try to break his fall, but the limp youth crashed to the ground faster than her hands were made ready.

One step after another...

She could make it if she tried. But she was unwilling to make it without Pride it would seem. Mathias was not moving, just barely breathing. His breaths came out in gurgling wheezes.

"Go on, I'll get Mathias!"

Ileen would proclaim. A task that might be very-well beyond her, she could not wrangle Selim without Percival's help yet she had come to believe that she could rescue to fallen first year. She would relinquish her hold on Selim and draw her wand. The door to the common room would open and close. The sound of the knob turning and the tumblers rolling seemed louder in this panicked state.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

Ileen would declare her word of power, length of wood in hand.

Ileen casts Leviosa on Mathias.
Roll: 8

It was not much, but it was all she needed. Enough to raise Pride from the ground, his weight while not substantial was still too much for the girl's noodle arms and Rainwood's glorious Adonis-like bod was far too busy managing the slippery snake of a boy they had just rescued. His clothes enchanted, he would hover over the ground just barely. In fact it did not even look like he had been lifted from the floor, the only visible sign being his clothes. His shirt and pants, tented upward towards the ceiling. As ilenn gave him a push or a nudge she would feel him slide, or rather glide with relative ease as if upon a slick surface.

Ileen would guide the frail, failing boy into the common room. Only at the loss of a single death saving throw.

Mathias Pride was brought into the common room.

Once in the common room, the door opened and then quickly closed behind him. He would be placed wherever Ileen left him and Selim likewise. Percival would make it inside the common room, on the very fringe of passing out (reached 0 health). No further harm (should) come to them, given the door remained closed and they were given adequate air. Both were in need of medical attention, assistance that would have to wait while they languished and the others continued to file in. The two of them were not the only ones that fell victim to this meat-grinder of a dungeon. Their duty for now would be rest and recovery, taking an inventory of the thing that they have learned as well as the members that have come and gone.

______

Room 2

Henry Knight needed to carry Starlee out, she was dying in his arms once again and Knight was not faring much better. The poison was seeping into his lungs, poisoning the very air he breathed. Bridget had the right idea, protect them from further harm -- Starlee and Santario were not only both vulnerable but they would never make it to the common rooms unless they did something. Protected them from further insult at the possible risk to themselves as their throat and lungs continued to burn.

Henry would initially protest, he could not leave Bridget. But what could he do if she fell as well? He lacked the brawn to carry them both. Even now he awkwardly held his wand that flooded the space with a Lumos light and walked with an awkward, burdened gait as he tried to the best of his ability to get Starlee to safety. The terror etched onto Bridget's face likely matched his own. What could he do if he failed, if he fell and he was no longer able to carry Starlee to safety? Simple, Starlee would die. Henry would possibly die as well, dependent and vulnerable to the mercy of his peers. His peers who were, if they could still stand, busy trying to save others. There were times when sentiment was good, it told people you cared and gave them a sense of security and then other times it left you at risk adding to the burden of others. A foolish risk based purely on sentiment and pride.

He was not going to be that burden. "Stay safe" the only hope and regard he could offer as he carried Starlee towards the exit. Up a flight of stairs where her weight would become more apparent.

With each tridging step, one foot after another he needed to remember, he would get close to that common room door.

Henry is in Room 1 with Starlee

This room was a place of convergence. As Henry and Starlee made their way across the room, Flash and company would come from their right. A fresh wave of poison would follow them, Alexander flung over Holmwood's shoulder. Flash and Eve had seen the terrors that awaited them deeper in this dungeon. Terrors that they could not face alone and as the toxic fumes encroached upon their space Flash knew that they could not stay. "Burnett! Come on!" Holwood demanded. Now was not the time to monologue, even if it was Jack's favorite past time. Jack lingered behind the rest of the crowd, awestruck perhaps at the carnage he had wrought upon his peers. Perhaps merely staring in the void (forgetting to post). Jack's attention summoned by Flash's pull back to reality (and the fact that I am passively moving user's who can't be bothered to post towards the exit) Jack would wander into the next room, trailing behind his peers.

Flash would carry Alexander out, his ragged, wheezing and labored breaths whistling in his ear. Alexander was not the only one injured in a grotesque manner he would quickly discover. He had saved Koko from a terrible fate and in his idle thoughts it was possible that they had the worst of it. Henry Knight was bridal carrying a battered girl (Starlee) in his arms towards the exit. Her head encased in a protective bubble, while there was a modicum of toxic gas still housed within, it served as a sort of filter that protected the girl from further harm. In the next room, past the open archway he would see Bridget kneeling next to Santario Martin who was also downed.

The problem Flash would face is the fact that Alexander was also dying. The gas that invaded his lungs and filled his body with poison would not relent. The toxic fumes were in fact stronger here, where the terrible chloramine gas would collalease.

"Hurry up!"

Flash would shout to summon Jack along.

Flash Holmwood carrying Alexander would move to room 1.
*Alex needs some healing to at least stabilize him ladies.

Koko, Opeila, Nora and Kaegen never posted, passive movement towards exit.
Koko is unconscious

________________

Room 3

Bridget had saved Starlee from certain death, she would not waste her breath talking. She would not let more poison needlessly enter. Just a curt nod was all she would give. Henry would part company with the duellist, Starlee steps closer to safety. That just left Bridget and Santario. She was already dying yet again, her ashen complexion a reflection of her failing health. It was hard for her to breathe, Santario was yet again struggling to survive.

Bridget had a plan, she could only hope that it would work as she uttered the incantation in hopes of preserving Santario's life. "Aspira."

Bridget casts Aspira on Santario.
Roll: 7

A protective bubble would form around Santario's head. It would give her the time she needed to carry her out of the dungeons (hopefully). The toxic fumes were getting worse. Her throat had an itch that she could not scratch. Her lungs were starting to swell and fill with fluid. She tried to breathe through a layer of cloth, to mitigate some of the gas, which helped but it was not enough to negate the terrible fumes.

What Happened

Room 1
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@Percival Rainwood moved to the common room, dragging Selim. (150 damage from chloramine gas) [-325] 0/500 [Common Room]
@Mathias Pride lifted by a Leviosa cast by Ileen - dragged out. (150 damage from chloramine gas) [-75] *Failed death saving throw 1/3* Unconscious. -175/200 health remaining. [Common Room]
@Ileen Knight uses Leviosa to lift Mathias and then drags him to the common room (150 damage from chloramine gas). [-325] [25/600 health remaining] [Common Room]
@Selim Faust dragged into the common room by Percival's mighty grip. (150 damage from chloramine gas) [-325] Selim is unconscious. -250/500 [Common Room]

Room 2
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@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. (100 damage from chloramine gas) [-325] 100/500 health remaining [Room 1]
@Hjørdis Jensen Found Kaegen Deathmote, using the power of friendship to lead him out of the dungeon. (100 damage from chloramine gas) [-100][-325] Moved to room 2. [Room 1]
@Starlee Kennedy Being carried by Henry Knight. Starlee is unconscious. 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 1. [Room 1]
@Opeila Winters moved to room 1 passively as she has not posted. (100 damage from chloramine gas) reduced by 25 for covering mouth and nose. [-325] [25 health remaining] [Room 1]
@Koko Riddle Lumos Maintained. *Cursed* (325 damage from chloramine gas). Moved to room 1 passively as she has not posted. [-325] Koko is unconscious. -175/1500 health [Room 2]
@Flash Holmwood Maintains Lumos. Fireman carrying in all his bluffness Alexander. Moving towards Room 1. (100 damage from chloramine gas) [-325] 300/700 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. (325 damage from chloramine gas) [-325] Successful death saving throw x2. Failed Death Saving throw x 2. Carried to Room 1 by Flash and Eve. -350/700 health remaining. [Room 1][/quote]
@Evelynn Decipio helps Flash carry Alexander out of the dungeon. Moves to room 2. (325 damage from chloramine gas) [-325] 325/800 health remaining [Room 1]

Room 3
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@Bridget Collins Cast the Bubble Head Charm on Santario successfully (100 damage from chloramine gas; reduced by 25 for covering mouth and nose.) [-75] [395 health remaining] [Room 3]
@Santario Martin Unstable, unconscious. Bandaged. Bubble head charm has been successfully cast, she is no longer taking damage. Failed death saving throw 1 of 3. Santario is unconscious. [-75/600 health remaining] [Room 3]

Room 10
Starting to fill with chloramine gas
@Jack Burnett Never posted, passively moving to room 2. (50 damage from chloramine gas) [-50] 525/600 health remaining [Room 2]

Of importance here, there are several of you that WILL pass out next round, get to the common room door.
Koko is KO'd, someone needs to pick her up.
Alexander is dying, he needs to be stabilized.

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

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

Ileen somehow made it with floating Mathias to the Common Room, right after Percival with Selim. As she quickly shut the door behind her to keep the toxic gas out. She didn’t even recall how she made the last steps.
Her legs buckled right under her and she held out her hand with effort, which had tremblingly pointed the wand at Mathias. With the last of her strength, Ileen levitated him to a nearby sofa far away from the door and lowered him to the ground as gently as possible. Black spots broke through her vision and she felt a strong need to just lie down on the floor and take a nap there. She felt weak and exhausted. Percival, who had dragged Selim in, also looked more dead than alive. But he was still breathing. So were Selim and Mathias. They were alive. Barely.

And this image of the three boys, most of whom were no longer conscious, pushed aside the fog of approaching unconsciousness. Someone had to take care of them! They needed urgent medical care! And she was a healer! Of course, she couldn't do that much yet, but it was better than nothing.
With a groan she struggled to her feet and staggered to the three. Her eyes and throat burned, but she tried to ignore it. "Sit down and don't move." Her voice was raspy and rough as she gave the instruction and she wrestled briefly with an urge to cough as she laid Selim and Mathias side by side and propped them up with pillows. In her head, she tried to remember everything she had read about gas and poisoning. It was necessary to keep people as still as possible so that the poison would not spread. Fresh air. Wash out eyes, wounds and lips with water to loosen it from the mucous membranes. Her eyes also noticed Selim's wounds. Probably from the rats. She would take care of that right away. But first she had to make sure they stopped dying and stabilize them.
As quickly as she could, she dragged herself to her dormitory, where she always kept some healing supplies and water for the night. Her heart fluttered like a hummingbird in her chest and she had to brace herself a few times along the way. Her burning eyes began to water. Good. Her body tried to get rid of the poison.

In the dormitory, she didn't waste any time, but grabbed her water, some wipes and iodine. Then she returned to the common room, knelt down in front of Percival, and arranged her utensils. She would be no help if she lost consciousness herself, so she quickly washed her eyes out. Then she bent to Percival to help him as well. Her touch was gentle, her eyes fixed on her fingers in deep concentration. She wanted to thank him, but there was no time for that yet. He knew anyway. When she was done, she gently squeezed his hand. "Sit here. You need to get the poison out of your system."
Then she turned to Selim and Mathias. She would rinse their eyes and clean their wounds as well.
She couldn't give them an antidote, but she could at least give them first aid. Her fingers stopped trembling, suddenly she was calm. She was in her element. Even if she wished they were not in this situation.
She wished she could get more people, but she knew she would lose consciousness as soon as she left the room. If she heard footsteps behind the door, however, she would rush to help. She already had a plan. She could use the hot air charm to keep the gas away from the door as she brought people in.
If she didn't hear anyone coming, she would stay with the three boys. Selim had the most open wounds. After cleaning them, Ileen drew her wand again. "Ferula."
Bitterness resonated in her voice. How little she could do. Tears still flushed the poison from her eyes, blurring everything, and she sniffled. Glancing over her shoulder, she would turn to Percival. "Thank you." Hopefully, she was enough. What would happen to the others outside?

Action: Trying to stabilize everyone in the room, washing the eyes and wounds with clear water, casting Ferula at Selim

If someone is behind the door, casting hot-air charm to keep the gas outside and help them inside

Ability: Sixth Sense, Prodigal Charms Learner
Stats: Sta:6 | Ev:8 | Str:3 | Wis:9 | Arc:6 | Acc:9
Location: Common Room

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

Tears began streaming down Evelynn's cheeks. Her eyes were burning, and no amount of blinking could seem to help. With blurred vision, helped not at all by the frequent wiping of her sleeves against her face, she pushed on. But it wasn't just her eyes. As they retraced their steps, the gas only seemed to thicken, seeping and scraping at her lungs and setting them aflame. It was like someone had emptied a full cannister of pepper into them in a way. Her throat scratched, sinuses ached, and her breaths game in chocking coughing fits and spurts, heavy and laboured as though she was trying to suck air through dense fabric that just wouldn't let her breathe. Her limbs began to grow sluggish, her head foggy.

With every step, her centre of balance threatened to waver. And panic began to set in like a vice at her sternum. She was dying. They all were. This journey... this dive into the dungeons... it had been a colossal mistake. One she wasn't even sure she would be recovering from. It was worse, even, than the events on the train. Some of the students, at that time, too, had been near death. But at least it was slow, ebbing, exposure to the cold and loss of blood the culprits. There were things that could be done. Bandaging, pressure, adding layers, creating fire. They had tools at their disposal to combat the threats to life. Even if it had ended up being futile in the end—which it hadn't—there had been hope.

Not so here. How could you fight the very air upon which you were reliant to breathe? How could you combat your own subconscious reactions to draw breath? That which they relied upon for life was killing them. It was terrifying. She didn't know what to do. That notion alone was enough to exacerbate the salty stream that etched its way down her face, burning and scratching as it mixed and picked up the chemicals in the air to irritate her skin.

"Hurry," she choked, pulling Flash's sleeve to coax him to continue on when he had paused to address Burnett. "We d—" She coughed. "W- we don't—"

But every attempt to speak just brought with it a fresh fit of spluttering coughing. Again, she pulled up her robes, doing what she could to tighten them around her nose and mouth for what little filtering it might allow. They slugged on, making their bleary way for the exit as hastily as they could. Until a collapse sounded. Caught between her sense of survival and her sense of loyalty to her classmates, Evelynn chanced a glance to source the sound. Riddle. Apparently the upperclassman had succumbed.

Choking back an anguished sob that was somewhere between frustration of the inconvenience and the added stress of witnessing the materialization of their own eventuality if they didn't get out of here, Evelynn released her hold on Flash and the unconscious boy he carried. Wand already in hand, she would make a quick cross over her sternum with her free hand, silently imploring some sort of divine intervention to give her enough self control to suffer through the air for a single incantation.

"Wingardium leviosa," she would attempt, aiming to levitate the clothing on the girl's person, and thereby her with it. If successful, she'd grab a hold of the girl's robe and pull; if not, she'd leave her there. Either way, Evelynn knew her own time was numbered and she'd have to make a break for it, running for the exit with breath held and praying she would make it out. That she would be able to see her mother again.

[font=century gothic]ACTION: Casts Levitation Charm on Koko and (if successful) pulls her, running for the exit while holding her breath[/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: None
Mentions: Santario Martin and Koko Riddle

Another bubble sprung from her wand, again just barely visible through her teary eyes, encasing Santario's head in breathable air. In an ideal situation, this was her cue to go. Santario had been in considerable peril before the toxic fumes added to the mix, and the sooner she received medical attention, the better. But as Bridget turned to size up the distance she would have to cover, it became clear this was not that ideal situation. Down this hallway, to forking chamber, up a flight of stairs. The gas likely wouldn't stop anywhere; she knew enough about science to know it would spread and spread until it couldn't any farther, though at least eventually it would be thinner. It seemed so far...

As she watched a housemate go down--she couldn't tell who from here--her stomach sank. She wasn't going to make it, not with the burden of an unconscious body, was she? They, Slytherin as a whole, might not make it, dropping like flies. It was too far, the gas too thick. Her lungs hurt, incomparable to anything she'd ever experienced before. Not challenges with her siblings to see who could hold their breath the longest, because they always stopped as soon as it became a bit uncomfortable, not when they truly couldn't any longer. Not even the thick smoke trapped in with them the year of her first masquerade. At least then they could stick close to the ground to avoid the worst of it, but she had no idea what kind of gas this was, if it was more or less dense than air.

The gas was getting worse. Whether it was actually thicker or this was just the compounding effect of being in it so long, she couldn't tell. Did it matter? Either way, her lungs burned horribly and she just wanted it to stop. But it wasn't as if a switch would flip and it would go away. They had to get themselves out.

She had secured oxygen supplies for their most vulnerable, and now it seemed she should do the same for herself. It was another few moments of staying here, but if it gave her the best chance of making it out, those seconds were the rational sacrifice. The worst thing would be going down, behind all the others as she was. I'm sorry, Santario, just a little longer. And so, letting the fabric of her shirt drop with the hope it was about to be replaced with something more effective, she would incant the spell a third time. "Aspira." It was getting harder to say every time, voice raspy and rattling coughs more and more frequent. But if she could just manage it one more time, rally her focus, she would have respite, the assurance she could make it.

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

"Burnett! Come on!"

Flash's voice startled Jack out of his stupor as the redhead watched the effects of his spell play out. He didn't have time to stand there gawking, though. Even if it kept the gas from spreading any further, there was still the gas they had already inhaled. Jack had also kind of wanted to see if the puppets had been kept at bay, but at Flash's call, he decided he probably didn't want to stick around in case they were still close after all.

Everyone else was already going on ahead, as was the smart thing to do, and Jack hurried to follow in their footsteps. Would Alexander survive? He wished he knew something like the bubble-head charm or a healing spell to help the other Slytherin, but unfortunately, he wasn't that advanced in his studies. All they could do was hurry as best they could up the stairs and out of the vicinity of the gas.

"Hurry up!"

Grateful to Flash for calling out to him as well as attempting to carry Alexander, Jack tried to assist his dorm mate along with the girls beside them to get the unconcious boy out of danger. With his own eyes stinging, he could barely see and could only imagine how the others were faring, but at least he could tell they were close with the press of moving bodies as they struggled to get away as fast as possible.

As he hurried, he ran straight into a body and stumbled in confusion before realizing it was Koko. He had heard someone - Evelynn? - use the Levitation Charm on the girl - or perhaps her clothes? - to make her easier to drag along. Struck by this stroke of genius, Jack wondered if using the same spell on Alexander would have helped Flash. Then again, the memory of how the clothes had ripped off of someone during the night of the shadow spider attack made him decide against it.

Instead, he tried to assist Evelynn once again as she attempted to drag a second body to saftey.

Open to interactions
Interacting with: @Evelynn Decipio & @Koko Riddle
Mentioning: @Alexander Varellion & @Flash Holmwood
Location: Room 2
Action: Attempting to assist Evelynn to pull a potentially levitating Koko toward the exit
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] [8]

Hjørdis backtracked towards the exit, entering through Room two again. This time, she was accompanied by Kaegen - though she had no idea why he had been wrapped up in this mess and if the others had managed to get out by now. She had left Starlee and Santario in others' hands.

She had hoped to return to a quiet room, everyone having left. That was not the case, not even close to the truth. She was hit by a cloud of gas that forced coughs to escape her lips. Covering her mouth instantly as the gas hit her, Hjørdis looked around for the source of it. Why there was a gas leak in the school was beyond her but the source was not immediately evident either. It was not a quick fix but she had an idea.

Well, she had an idea until she saw the chaos around her. Henry was still in the room, with Starlee who looked like she was in worse condition than before if that was even possible. He seemed to be trying to get her out of the room, at the very least. Hjørdis could revive her outside, if needed. But the room was filled with others, all badly hurt. Her lumos lit wand pointed towards the first figure she could see that desperately looked like they needed help, "Episkey," She cast directly at Alexander. With her other hand, she covered her nose and mouth a little to try and reduce the amount of air she was breathing in. It was not good. She could only hope the kids were smart enough to stop the gas.

ACTION: Episkey at Alexander Varellion (Maintaining Lumos)

There was plenty of chaos to try to understand, and plenty of stinging gas to fill the lungs. Even worse than in the room before, no doubt because of the helpful gust of wind that Burnett had summoned, Flash felt tears forming at his eyes, wishing he could hack into his sleeve or cover his face. Instead, he had few options with Varellion on his back, the only way to go was up and out. He would have the satisfaction of hearing the Burnett was following behind, and see Evelynn immediately attend to Koko who had abruptly passed out. It was no wonder, she had also just moments before become cursed. No doubt she had been reeling with pain, it was lucky she made it as far as she did, Flash was not able to throw more than one person on his back, and had not considered the magical alternative.

Why would he, anyway, his spellcasting had done him few to no favors that day. He was once again still alive, having made it out unscathed only due to the fact that the monster had found a more delectable target in his compatriot nearby. How long was he going to evade danger in lieu of some other poor stand-in? He didn't want to imagine future peril, certainly with this knowledge he would not be so recklessly curious again (deception check failed). Unable to assist in any other way besides to be still as his head of house attempted to stave off Varellion's untimely demise, Flash would continue towards the common room to gather his senses and breathe once again. There, he might be able to be somewhat useful again, but he would not feel at ease until everyone he knew was there had returned. Going back was not off the table, deadly gas or not.

| Outfit |

Percival was not too sure when Ileen had faltered behind to retrieve Pride. Everything felt as if it were warping around him. As if he was slowly being cocooned in plastic wrap. The world felt so distant as it were close. Percival's hands clung desperately onto the arm of Selim Faust. As if he were clinging onto his last chance of survival. Though in reality, the unconscious boy was doing nothing more than hindering him. As everything swayed about him only one thing remained constant and that was the stairs in front of teary eyesight. His lungs burned, and every labored breath dragged at the raw flesh of his throat. Each harsh swallow felt as if he were swallowing knives rather than then metallic-tasting saliva.

Each step felt as if he were taking a hundred and not just a singular one. The boy would pull Selim up the steps bodily and clumsily. He was sure if the boy had been awake he would have attested to being forcefully pulled up the stairs. Though it wasn't as if the other was awake and Percival was too tired to actually try and carry the boy up the stairs. It seemed as if they had been walking up these blasted stairs for hours. His blood roared in his ears and tears streamed down his face as they burned away.

It seemed like a miracle as he stumbled through the door unaware that he was still holding the unconscious boy's arm. After a second, the boy would let go of the other's arm and slowly move towards when Ileen told him to sit. The air, the sweet fresh air, felt wonderful to his sore lungs. Though, each breath he took in hurt as much as it felt good. Percival could not help but feel grateful as Ileen helped him first. His eyes no longer stinging allowed him to glance about the common room ever so slightly. It was just the four of them. Had there not been at least a dozen of them down there? Percival wasn't too sure if he could stand again from his slouched position. Though his eyes would glance towards the door. A sick feeling deep in his gut.

Open to Interactions

Location: Common Room
Action: Sitting down

Interacting with: @Ileen Knight, @Mathias Pride
Mentioning:@Selim Faust

Reducio

|Sta 6 | Eva 6 | | Str 8 | Wis 5 | | Arc 8 | Acc 7 |

Inventory: ⋅ Metal Lighter ⋅ Scrap of Parchment / Fountain Pen

Foulplay ⋅ Lovely Creature

@Henry Knight would carry Starlee's unconscious and unmoving body up the stairs and down the hall. The bubble head charm was working, it was keeping her alive. He was useless to them dead, failing not only himself but Starlee also. Still his lungs burned and it was getting harder to breathe.

He wanted to help @Koko Riddle but he was already carrying Starlee. The sum aggregate strength required to carry the two girls was more than he could muster. There would be a lingering sense of guilt perhaps that he had to leave someone behind but it was either he saved one or none. The toxic fumes would continue to invade hs body, threatening to choke out what little stamina remained.

He would stumble into the common room. Opeila staggering in after.

Henry Knight entered the common room (safe).
Starlee entered the common room, carried by Henry (safe).

The common room promised safety. Among the injured and recovering was @Ileen Knight. She was tending to the broken -- Selim Faust and Mathias Pride were not moving. Their lungs had filled with fluid, their ashen complexions made them look more dead than alive. Percival had used the last of his strength to save them, the antithesis of the man people believed him to be. Perhaps Ileen made him better. Perhaps he was always better and Ileen was the much needed excuse.

All they needed was fresh air, well better still oxygen. The best she could do was supportive care. The best she could do was express her appreciation for Percival, hardly the brute or the bully others saw. He had nothing left, he gave it all for her.

Her actions finite, there would be some critical failures as she tried to wash founds, administer first aide, cast Ferula and the hot air charm. Poor Selim would be wrapped up (bound) like a mummy. Heavily blanketed under a thick layer of bandages, the unstable teen would hopefully not wake in this state and further deteriorate his fragile mental state. She would flush the poison from her eyes and mucus membranes, thankfully helping herself before working on the others but the stinging concoction of watered down bullshit would not be successfully washed from her peers in her haste.

The door would swing open, Henry's grand entrance promised a cloud of poison would fill the common room. No, she would not let that happen. Yet she was again, rushed and made too great haste. Henry would be met with a gust of wind that was actually hot, scalding him as he entered a room that he thought was safe.

Henry gave all he had, he would crumble as he breeched the threshold of the common room. He would drop Starlee onto the ground. He would remain conscious as his knees buckled, as he fell. Vulnerable, he would not be able to shield Starlee, to break her fall, to serve s a barrier to an attack from inside. Henry's heroes welcome would leave him red and blistered. Starlee also. Opeila succumbed to the gas, but her lingering awareness as the curtain would draw she would feel hell's flames...

Henry and Starlee are unconscious and covered in blisters.
Opeila is unconscious and covered in blisters, laying on top of Henry.

Starlee was not able to withstand any more damage. all of Henry's efforts were for what? To move a corpse from point A to Point B. Bridget's efforts were for what? To prevent her from dying one way sop that she could be killed yet5 another. Starlee was no longer breathing. Yes, this would be how people die.

Nora, going to need you to do the same thig you did to Santario.

Flash Holmwoods sleeve would feel a tug. Eve was beckoning him to hurry along. The toxic gas was getting denser. Her peers were falling down all around her. She could not leave Flash or Jack behind. Her robes pulled over her mouth only gave a modicum of protection from the toxic gas. She was not going to last much longer. Jack was curious and therefore he hesitated. A dangerous thought he did not entertain as Jack was beckoned onward by Flash.

...it still hurt, death was rarely kind.

Eve just needed to escape with the rest of them. She just needed to get ahead of the gas. Through wheezing breaths and hazy vision she would see Koko Riddle crumble, Henry hesitate and then stagger on past. Already burdened by one in these lethal fumes he could not afford to stay.

Eve would relinquish her hold on Flash who moved up the stairs with Alexander slung over his shoulder. Again, his hands perhaps tied. Their head of House was at their side, the rushed boy catching up rather easily with a long stride. The boy's mouth was sewn closed and buttons over the eyes. Someone was turning him into a life-sized doll. He looked terrible even before the gas had gotten to him.He was breathing but just barely.

"Episkey."

Nora casts Episkey
Too high Wisdom to fail.

Jensen would incant. A modicum of realing, a thread of respite. She would follow a hastily moving Flash. Flash would carry Alexander up the stairs and barge in through the open door immediately after Henry.

Nora Jensen entered the common room (safe).
Flash Holwood entered the common room (safe).
Alexander Varelion entered (carried) the common room (safe).

They would rush in head first, the door still open to the common room. A wave of heat would blast into them just as they entered and tripped over the fallen forms of their classmates (in Nora's case students). The same blast of air that scorched Henry and Starlee would rush over Flash and Alexander. Intense pain. Flash and Nora both would feel their flesh blister and boil and this was certainly not Alexander's day. A constant cycle of stabilization and then near-death experiences described the Slytherin's day. Thankfully he would not be among the dead, unlike Starlee whose color had left her ashen face. Yes, maimed terribly by the heat, the girl was dead.

Nora was burnt alive. Remains conscious.
Flash was burnt alive. Remains conscious.
Alexander was burnt erm almost alive?
Flash and Nora tripped over the bodies of Henry, Opeila and Starlee nd are in the Common room

Eve was left behind but nor abandoned or forgotten. She needed to pick-up the last of the fallen -- Koko Riddle. Jack would stumble, bleary eyed over to her felled form. They were leaving nobody behind. Their housemates were dropping like flies. Eve would attempt to levitate the girl much like Ileen had. Magic was an effective way to narrow the gap between their their lack of physical prowess and the power that they required.

"Wingardium leviosa."

Eve casts Wingardium Leviosa
Wisdom passively high enough without roll.

Koko's motionless form wold levitate off the floor. Just a few inches but that was all Eve required. Hovering, Jack would grab a heel and Eve a shoulder,they would be able to pull the girl along. Quickly, before the gas overtook them both.

They would make their way down the hall. A procession essentially behind Holmwood. Evelynn would be one of the few students that stepped into another house's common room. She would be met with a dark green chambers. It was a contrast from the cozy space she had grown accustomed to. Their snake den was dim and cool. Their furniture antique, expensive looking and not quite as plush as the her common room. This was what safety looked like.

Evelynn would enter the common room (safe)
Koko would enter (carried) the common room (safe)

That was the hope as Koko was rushed in and a wave of heat came out of nowhere. The blast of wind would sear the flesh of her predecessors in a wild, reckless cast because a girl tried to do too much. Flash and Nora would not even have a chance to turn around and warn the three of them as they entered, again tripping over Starlee, Henry and Opeila. The three of them would be covered in blisters as their flesh was unnaturally scorched. Yet they were more4 enduring than some of their peers, the two of them -- Jack and Eve were more durable than credited. They would remain standing, unlike the felled and dying all around them.

Evelynn was overwhelmed by the heat
Koko was blasted by the heat

_______

Room 3

That would leave only the one, Bridget Collins down in the dungeons. She seemed to be the last to go anywhere. She had saved her friends, the bubble head charm was protecting them from certain death. The gas was getting thicker, filling her lungs. It was getting harder to breathe. She needed to finally protect herself.

"Aspira."

Bridget cast the Bubble Head Charm on herself
Roll: 16 Success

A bubble would form around her head, serving as a temporary filter between the toxic fumes and her. Yes, there was some in the bubble about her head but that was the case with the others also. A few breaths and that poison would be gone. A simple barrier that might save her life. She just needs to drag Santario back to the common room before the bubble head charm wore off. everything has a finite duration, the bubble head charm would be no exception.