The Basement Fall Hufflepuff MS

The girl did not stop, and certainly did not turn back. After Howard shouted her name however, Caradoc knew why that was the case. Ethen was taken? Caradoc silently took in every word uttered to him, either in panic or from a place of worry. He was trying to make a mental picture of what exactly had transpired between the common room and their arrival in the hallway. The man placed a hand on Willow's shoulder. As he looked down, he'd offer a faint smile. “That old floor was long overdue for a renovation anyway.” He winked, gave her shoulder a little squeeze. “For now, I need you with me, here, Willow.”

Taking responsibility was a big sign of growing up, Caradoc thought to himself. It was why he and his brother had clashed, because he saw the value in it. Caduceus wanted to live his life freely, but it were others that had to catch him again and again. The responsible thing to do now, was to get these students back to safety. Opening the Slytherin common room felt like a mistake for now. The rooms were sealed still, it was best to keep it that way.

“Miss Cooper, stay close to Miss Anderson for now. In fact, I need you all to stick together.” I can't do this alone, he thought to himself. “Miss Romero, I do not know what this… man? Wants. But we're going to get our fellow badger back.” Caradoc did a quick headcount and tried to acknowledge each one of them individually. “Mr. Pritchard, we're in the Slytherin hallway, not far from here you can find the hall that'll lead you up back to the castle. Each one of you can choose to do one of two things here. You either find your way back up and find another professor for me, and wait in the hospital room afterwards. Or you stick with me down here and help me get Ethen back. As we speak, Atlas is moving on her own. So let's go.”

Caradoc stepped to the front of the line and patted Howard on the shoulder, leaning over to whisper to the boy. “You're the oldest here, Mr. White. I'm going to need your help keeping these kids safe. I know you have certain… skills. Maybe you can guide us down these paths?” The Head of Hufflepuff looked behind him and took another take of everyone's face. This wasn't how any of them imagined this school year would start, but they'd have to make the most of what they got. And right now, the least they needed to do, was getting everyone out of here alive.

Without further delay, Caradoc started stepping forward and moved along the hallway. If there was a light at the end of it still, he'd call out to Atlas. If not, he'd try to make haste and hope Howard would catch her scent quickly.

[font=Tempus Sans ITC]T[/font]hat fall was not what he was expecting. Jack must've hit his head on the ground pretty hard because he was out of for a solid minute or so. Stupidity didn't run in the boy's family since his mother is an intelligent woman, so it had to be from the multiple hits to the head while growing up, and this moment hadn't changed much of anything. Brain trauma is a constant theme in Jack's life. Groaning, the former prefect, just stayed there on his back until he felt the weight of his friend Mr. Jones pulled himself off. This was not the way to start the school year.

[font=Tempus Sans ITC]S[/font]lowly and tiredly, the boy would peel himself off of the ground as many people exclaimed their worry over Ethan and the Monster man. "Yeah, yeah, Fine, not dead, just pissed." The boy barely even tried to grab a breath before responding to Rosie and Aaron. However, the booming voice of a particularly loud Huffleman made Jack's already hurt brain wiggle even more with protest. Now finally pulling himself off of the ground, Jack would take Aaron's wand in his hand. "This was pokin' me right in the stomach." The boy would stretch out the wand to his friend.

[font=Tempus Sans ITC]T[/font]here was too much chatter for Jack to join in with anything pertinent, so he just remained silent for the first time in his life. However, thankfully, Caradoc took control before things could spiral any further into chaos. Chaos is fun to a certain extent, but sometimes it just grew to be annoying and unfun. This was particularly unfun for Jack. The boy preferred physical sport and not the fact that this was turning into a scavenger hunt. Brain hurty too much for that nonsense. But now that Caradoc was starting to move, Jack would move up in step with the man. Their relationship probably wasn't the best, but Jack wanted to act like a leader, plus the Warren family was known for being able to take a hit or two.

Interaction with @Caradoc Browne, @Aaron Jones, @Rosie Parker

Interacting with: Everyone but mostly @Howard White and @Caradoc Browne

Serena sighed a breath of relief as she noticed that the spiders had disappeared. She had not seen the ones in the campout at that time but she knew of them from the newspaper articles and rumours. They were similar to the darkness that attacked her, she would have assumed, and similar to the ones that lurked in the dungeons. Nonetheless, she was not filled with complete relief. There was still a lot that could go wrong. They needed help and she had absolutely no idea what to do.

The light was their saving grace right now but her mind was more worried about the shadow thing and Ethen... And Pizza. Her eyes quickly searched whatever they could see, trying to look for the creature. He was here, right? He fell with everyone else... But where would he go? He was too young to die! Alright, he was kind of old for a rat, they did not live that many years. But still! He had years left in him!

She could hear Rosie's and Willow's voices, she saw Howard move near her and she knew that they had to do something. But... what? Her heart would definitely skip a beat - and not in a good way - as she jumped, hearing a loud yell telling them to be quiet. Their Head of House. Relief surged through her, he would help. Of course he was mad, he had every right to be but he would help and that was enough.

Opening her mouth to try and get his attention, to explain what was happening, she stopped midway. What was she supposed to say? This was madness. There was no possible way that... what she thought was... real... But... what if... Luckily for her, everyone else quickly answered his questions. Serena stared at the ground, allowing their words wash over her ears, trying to process everything. Did anyone else see what she had seen? Was she imagining it? Was she going crazy? Perhaps. She had no idea but... There was so much information. "Pizza? Pizza!" She would hiss, trying to find her rat. Serena kept whispering his name, trying to summon him.

Spiders, venom, Slytherin, Ethen, the Shadow man thing... Serena had no idea how long it took - seconds perhaps. But everyone was moving, "Wait-" She whispered inaudibly. They were going to save Ethen, they were going to fight that Shadow thing but... she had to stop them. Well, not stop them. Half-stop them. AH, WHAT WAS SHE SUPPOSED TO DO?

Her legs moved, trying to stick with the group. She had to stay with them, she knew that much. She looked at Howard for a moment. He was going to attack the shadow thing again, wasn't he? Serena felt sick. What if this was a mistake? "Professor- I-" She bit her lip, staring at the floor as she looked for her rat, "Okay, this is crazy but I just- Is it possible that- Do you think the shadow thing is trying to swallow Ethen?" She asked, her voice was barely above a whisper, "I know it sounds stupid but I- It did that to me. Well, not permanently obviously cos I'm here but I think- I think it's done that to someone else- Like he's trapped- It had a face! It was this young cute face! I think there's a student- Or maybe it is a student? No but if it's the same one from first year then it can't be that student... I've seen him around. I- I swear- I don't know his name or house or well anything about it. I'm not imagining thi-" Was she imagining this? Maybe. She was not sure anymore... But she was convinced she had seen his face around, at events or passing in the corridors or whatever.

"Can it do that? Trap someone I mean- I-" She was spiralling in a way, spewing out random questions and thoughts as she panted softly, trying to keep up with the rest of the group. There was a frown on her face as she walked as fast as she could, looking towards Howard for a moment, "Please don't hurt him... The shadow thing I mean. We have to- Save him. I don't know how, I don't even know if I'm right but- but if I am then we have to, please, I can't- No one should have to be trappe- it's awful, please- I'm begging- please," Her eyes watered. Her tone of voice was a mixture of panic and begging. It was quiet but quick as she spoke through panted breathes, trying not to cry. Her deepest fear was being trapped in that dark void again, realising how alone she truly was in the world. Unable to hear, see, feel anything except the loneliness.

She had looked at Howard for a reason. He had admitted to having this chaotic darkness within him and that was true even when he protected people. She was scared. So scared. That Howard would hurt the shadow creature in an attempt to protect Ethen and then they would find out that someone was trapped in the shadow and had gotten hurt as a result... Serena did not want to see the guilt on Howard's face again, not this time. She looked at Professor Browne with watered eyes, as she finished talking, practically begging the professor to believe her. Even though what she was saying was probably absolutely insane. "You know how to get him out right? Please? Without hurting- We can save Ethen right? Please-" She asked, probably putting far too much pressure on the man but she was hopeful. She had absolutely no idea how to do it...

Was she crazy? Maybe. Was there any truth to her words? She had no idea. But she was scared. This was literally her deepest and darkest fear and... the desire to run away was so soreal. But she could not. That face would haunt her. She could not stop picturing that face. The shadow thing had a bloody face! It might not even have been a student but he looked young - and cute!

All she knew was that she had to do something to save that boy and stop Ethen from having the same fate, if there was any truth to her words. She refused to allow anyone else to suffer that fate. She had experienced it for what felt like an eternity but in reality, it was probably not even minutes, if that. But she, honestly, had no idea how long it had been. At the end of the day, it did not matter. All she knew was no one else should have to suffer that same awful fate. And if there was a chance someone was experiencing it, they had to do something to save him. No matter what it took.

ACTION: Searching for Pizza (Maintaining Lumos) and following the group

Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 13 | Strength: 1 | Wisdom: 15 | Arcane Power: 5 | Accuracy: 10
Abilities: Part-Goblin, Evasive Maneuvers, Beastmaster
Fifth-Year Armour: +10% auto-dodge on attacks [=20% auto-dodge overall]

☁ Interacting ☁
@Lydia Cooper & @Caradoc Browne

There was something about Papa Badger that seemed to bring a sense of calm to her. Even after she had quit prefect, even after everything that had happened last year with the last time he found them in the dungeons all by themselves. When he was there, there was a sense that everything would be ok. Willow could almost feel the anxiety and worry that had flooded her veins dissipate as he put his hand on her shoulder. Despite all of the wrong she thought had had caused. Combined with her friend and captain, Lydia, trying to console Willow. She was grateful for the two of them in bringing her back to earth. Even closer to the earth than the dungeons already brought them.

The young badger tentatively peeled herself away from Papa Badger and took her place at Lydia's side. She couldn't see Atlas anymore, and Ethen seemed worlds away. No one was left behind in the badger pack and there was no way she would be leaving to find a Professor. She knew that would be helpful, but she couldn't bring herself to depart. To leave them and not know what was happening. Willow took Lydia's hand in hers, just in case darkness happened. They would have a physical lifeline to each other.

More for herself, than for anyone else, Willow looked to Lydia. "Everything is going to be ok. We're gonna get Atlas and Ethen and go back to sleep." She nodded with determination and gripped her wand tightly. There was a pause before she looked forward. "I'm glad you're here Lydia." Despite it absolutely sucking that they were both in the dungeons, she was glad there was someone down here with her that she knew that she could rely on. She felt some sort of responsibility to help guard the pack as she was part of the duelling team, especially beside the other captain. There was one thing that they knew worked against darkness, and that was light. "Lumos."

Willow's solemn footsteps joined the others in traversing the dungeons to find their badgers.

☁ Action || Casting Lumos, following the pack ☁
☁ Permission granted to grab Lydia's hand ☁

Actions: Cast Lumos, try to catch up with the group in a super cool and definitely not dying kind of way.
Mentions:Jack, Aaron, and Caradoc

- Open to interactions! -
- Interacting with @Willow Anderson & @Caradoc Browne
Mentioning: all the badgers present, plus Ethen and Atlas -

Looking back and forth between Willow and Prof. Browne, Lydia really hoped that the man would not get too upset with her friend, after all, she had done all of this to try and save a fellow Badger, they couldn't simply leave him like that. Seeing that their Head of House didn't get upset with Willow, Lydia slightly relaxed, only to tense up once again as the man talked to her. He wanted her to stay close to Willow, and Lydia nodded to him; of course she would have done that, she'd never leave her side, not when she needed her and when they all needed to stick together. She was going to be there for her.

As Willow took her hand, Lydia turned towards her and lightly squeezed her hand, to show her that she was there, and things would have been okay. "Of course Willow, we'll get them back, and everything will be alright. We have Professor Browne here with us now, he's going to help us get the others back," Lydia tried to reassure her, and then squeezed her hand once more. "Of course, I'd never leave you behind, or any other of us. We're all in this together," Even if she didn't say that too often, Lydia felt so proud of being in Hufflepuff, and she really felt like they were all a big, giant family; and in families nobody was left behind, not even when a monster threatened them. They would stick together and face whatever lied ahead.

Feeling a sense of responsibility, now more than ever, Lydia tightened the grip on her wand and raised her arm even higher, hoping that the light would keep protecting them as they ventured further into the unknown dungeons.

Action: Maintaining Lumos and following the others;
Stats: Sta: 5|| Eva: 7 || Str: 5 || Wis: 15 || AP: 5 || Acc: 5
Abilities: Alluring || Lovely Creature || Scream

There was a great deal of chatter, some tearful confessions and panicked voices that would make themselves heard. This was a lot to take in -- they had let a darkness into their common room. A darkness that they had seen before, some even recalled it. A bringer of gifts. Of dark and terrible gifts. A taker of men. It had stolen Ethen after the boy had gifted him the almighty carrot.

Howard was right, they needed to move on. Caradoc was on the same page as the dhampir. before Howard could get too far, Caradoc took a few steps after him and attempted to lay a hand on the teen's shoulder. Likely the closest thing White was going to have to a father figure. “You're the oldest here, Mr. White. I'm going to need your help keeping these kids safe. I know you have certain… skills. Maybe you can guide us down these paths?”

Little did Caradoc know, or perhaps Howard realized, he was the best man for the job. he had been down here before. He had come upon the hags in this very place. he had bound himself to them in these same dark corridors. Much had changed since he had gone down here, others had gone stark-raving mad, the terrors that lurked in here were pushed out and in their absence a new darkness had entered. That was how it was with idle, empty spaces -- there was a place for something even worse to roost

Thankfully this was likely the last of it. Stories were one by one coming to a close and this was no exception. It was not, it never was, a clean extraction.

Serena would pursue Caradoc. "Professor- I-" Serena would try to get her head of House's attention. "Okay, this is crazy but I just- Is it possible that- Do you think the shadow thing is trying to swallow Ethen?" She inquired. An outlandish theory in truth, that the darkness would consume the carrot-giving boy. "I know it sounds stupid but I- It did that to me. Well, not permanently obviously cos I'm here but I think- I think it's done that to someone else- Like he's trapped- It had a face! It was this young cute face! I think there's a student- Or maybe it is a student? No but if it's the same one from first year then it can't be that student... I've seen him around. I- I swear- I don't know his name or house or well anything about it. I'm not imagining thi-" She sounded like she lost her mind. Perhaps not everyone should be involved in this search party. The dark was getting to the little girl.

Not that madness was ever a deterrent. "Can it do that? Trap someone I mean- I-" It was a bit out there but in terms of magic anythig is possible, even things the moderator had previously not thought of. Eating Ethen was not the worst plan...

She would rush after the departing group. Howard with his long-legged stride had already left the group in pursuit of Atlas. Lumos-lit wand in hand.

Serena maintains Lumos.
Wisdom (+15) 17 Success

"Please don't hurt him... The shadow thing I mean. We have to- Save him. I don't know how, I don't even know if I'm right but- but if I am then we have to, please, I can't- No one should have to be trappe- it's awful, please- I'm begging- please."

Howard was not the gentle sort. Not anymore. His burning ember gaze and his thick claws, he was more a predator than a boy. He was not a thinker, nor was his a blind follower. He dependended on his instinct more than his sentiment or what could be learned from a book. They were very different people.

Caradoc Browne would start to catch up to the party. "You know how to get him out right? Please? Without hurting- We can save Ethen right? Please-" How could he? How could he know? @Jack Warren was matching the adult wizard's stride. Too much ongoing for the former Prefect to speculate or contribute.

A muffled voice from the other side of the door would answer @Willow Anderson's pleas. They did not know, they could not trust. they had thoughtlessly opened the door before. Some of them learned
from their mistakes. @Percival Gray had in any case. Unbeknownst to the Hufflepuffs on the other side, Percival was holding off his entire house on the other side of the door. He was not going to make the same mistake once again. "Okay Willow, I know you hear me back there. We will help you as soon as possible, but you need to answer this for me. Can you tell me where we were when we first met, and what I did to anger you at the time? I'm sure the Willow I know would be stubborn enough to remember."

Did Willow hear Percival's muffled voice before she stepped away from the door. Before she appreciated Lydia Cooper for her presence. Before she lied to herself and said everything was going to be okay. (Note: You might want to owl/DM Percival so he notices your reply if you reply. Otherwise you can leave him to die at he hands of his housemates.)

Willow casts Lumos
Wisdom (+10) 5 Success

@Rosie Parker would rush past the duo, Willow and Lydia walking hand in hand. The girl was cursed, pained and at this moment untreated. A creeping ache would persist, when she moved a burning sting. The darkness had now infected her like it had many of her contemporaries. She could not wait under the crudely made skylight, she was one of the older Hufflepuffs present, they were depending on her and Howard both.

Rosie cast Lumos
Wisdom (+6) 17 Success

The students, yes most of them, would be drawn down the same narrow stony hall as Atlas. Drawn by their need to rescue one of their own. Drawn by the loss of their friend, their housemate, their fellow badger. Stolen from them. Kidnapped and likely in peril. Worried chatter and uncertainty could be heard over the shuffling of feet, the scrape of cloth and the skitter of vermin in these halls. Pizza Rat (ahem Serena) had found a sensible date, she had a few fleas but he was in hot pursuit! A toe might hit an abandoned bottle, contents sucked dry. Errant bottles of butterbeer and firewater.

Howard would recognize the old, stale iron scent, reminiscent of blood. His eyes, adjusted to the dark, he hardly required the torch that illuminated the space. The doors were either locked, silence on the other side or they were left open. Evidence of Alas' crossing. An overturned partially blocked the hall. A pair of chalk outlines, delineated the former placement of the now moved chair, marking it like a body one might find at the scene of a murder.

A thick, crudely drawn arrow pointing downward with the statement in bold:

CONFIRMATION.

Whatever that might have meant. There were footsteps, many in white both coming and going from here. Evidence that could only be seen under the light of numerous Lumos and a single torch - that something was dragged.

Down a flight of stairs, the same that Atlas had traversed moments earlier.


____________

Atlas Reid was the canary of this party, little did any of them know. She was going to find Ethen even if it killed her. And it very well might. This was about where things got weird. At the very bottom of the stairs, she would still not hear Ethen answer her frantic cries. How far could he have gone? Could he even answer her if he could hear her?

The terrible possibilities wee too many. The only solution was finding him and saving him. He was the weirdest disney princess to date, there was a reason that they have not attempted to procure the rights to this story as of yet in spite its inherent charm.

“Ethen?...Ethen please be down here.”

“ETHEN! GET OUT HERE!”

He was still too far. This room was creepy and more than that, she needed to make a decision. there were three paths that she might choose. She would look around the room, under the light of her Lumos.

Atlas maintains Lumos.
Wisdom (+7) 6 Success

.

They were in a large open space that was cluttered with litter. A back scratcher was placed against a wall. Several mason jars, most empty but there were several that had contents -- one was half full of dirt and a rather chubby, sadly deceased earth worm, another had a smaller mason jar stored safely inside and the third was filled with dark, dirty, snarled hair as well as what appeared to be toenail clippings. There was also half, yes half a stool. Two legs, padded top, split in half, the other half mysteriously absent. There were feathers and tangled snarls of hair. Black splotches on the ground, from Atlas' left, leading back to the stairs.

The walls of the dungeon were a concern as well. The walls were adorned with 'paintings', drawn with chalk. There was heavy favoritism on drawing eyes. There are a total of four exits in this room. The one from which they came. Over the archway would be a single marking: an X.

The second to the right would have the word HOME written above the threshold. The door was open and a glint of colored glass, many pieces of glass would meet her gaze. The third, the center passageway would have the nothing written over or near the door but there was a curious array of footprints in white dust that led to and from the passageway immediately in front of her. The fourth was a door, an open door made of wood secured with iron. A foul smell came from that direction, like rotted meat. Something was written on the door: NOBODY IS HOME.

There was no time to waste as Howard felt an urgency that drove him into action. He would call to his fellow Hufflepuffs that were brave enough to continue the rescue mission before his long legs carried him forward. With torch in hand he would make his way, determined to bring everyone back. Like a marine in wizard robes, no one left behind. However, he would not make it too far before Professor Browne's hand caught his shoulder. For so long he had looked to staff with cautious eyes. Mostly because he had spent the first four years committing acts of evil as the darkness within drove him down shadowed roads. If only he had look to people like Caradoc earlier. Perhaps he could have cultivated those hints of light that peaked through his cracked and broken soul, but surely there was no wrong time for redemption. The internal war within Howard White would continue to rage, the final outcome yet to be determined, however as his ember colored his stared ahead into the darkness before them the light would win this battle.

Professor Browne would call upon him to help lead the way and Howard would answer his call of duty. Caradoc would remind him that he was uniquely suited to lead the group of Huffles through the darkness that lied ahead. Eyes that barely needed light to see could spot trouble ahead. A nose that could track like a hound could help them find their missing comrades. With a stern nod Howard would heed the older man's advice and let his senses guide him. As they began to make their way, Serena would join and make her case for salvation. Howard would keep quiet as she spoke. The moments in the common room had been so chaotic, could it be possible she was just seeing things as the adrenaline coursed through her veins? Or was it possible that such a creature could carry with it the corrupted soul of a human? Or the essence of what once was? Howard had assumed that the creature was just pure evil. He had reacted to a threat the only way he knew how, kill or be killed. It was how his mind worked, but as he had come to realize, it often drifted towards violence and brutality. Serena had proven herself a positive influence. An agent of the light that he so desperately needed. "It has Ethen, Serena. We can't let whatever happened to that thing happen to him. I won't attack first, but I will protect you...us." A bit of a slip and the best he could promise.

The group would continue forward down the same hall Atlas had just been down. Familiar scents would fill Howard's sensitive nostrils. The air was stale and carried hints iron and ash. He had been her before. Long ago when his eyes were still blue and his flesh still full of life. A tingle of fear would creep down his spine, but he did his best to stay focused. His eyes would soon be drawn to chalk on the floor. Several footsteps could be seen going to and from the scene before them, all towards a flight of stairs that were labeled CONFIRMATION. Howard had no idea what it meant, but there was no time to ponder. "There are footsteps leading this way." He informed the group. Before moving forward he would pause and tilt his head back, nose high in the air. With long inhales he would take in the air again trying to pick up on either Atlas's or Ethen's scent.

Action: Moving down the stairs. Attempting to pickup on Atlas's or Ethen's scent.

Interacting with: @Howard White briefly

Serena had no idea what they were meant to do. If that boy was truly trapped in a shadow or something, they had to do something but she had no idea what. It was definitely crazy but she could have sworn she saw a face. No name came to mind, no house but he must have been a student. There was something so familiar about him like she had seen him around before. Despite that, she knew that it might also come down to trying to stop Ethen from potentially meeting the same fate and saving the boy. There was also the possibility that the boy could change into this shadow thing at will or something. She had no idea if that was a thing but there were weirder things in the magical world.

She also had no idea if anyone would believe her... or if she believed herself. Did she actually see the face? She did, right? Of course, she did... No one else seemed to have though - or at least, if they had, none of them had spoken up about it. Was she just imagining it? Were her eyes playing tricks on her? How could there be a face in the darkness? She had no idea but she felt like they needed to figure it out.

Falling quiet, since she had nothing else to say to try and convince people, she followed the group just focusing on trying to keep the way lighted and look for her rat. Pizza did not seem to be around. Her gaze raised from the floor of the dungeon for a brief moment as she heard Howard's voice addressing her. He was right. If it came down to it... she would choose Ethen. Not because the boy did anything wrong but because Ethen was her friend and they could save him. They had a better chance at that than whatever she was proposing. She just... wanted to save them both. But she had no idea how or if it was even possible.

Her heart raced and her cheeks flushed as she stared at the side of Howard's face, slightly behind him - did he just say...? The moment had passed already but she could have sworn he said her. He looked like he was concentrating on trying to pick up some sort of scent or something. She was not sure what exactly he was doing but she found herself watching him for a moment, before quickly looking away as she realised what she was doing. She nodded, regardless of whether or not he looked at her, staring at the ground, "Th-thank you," She replied, her voice slightly higher pitch than she normally spoke in. She fell quiet, unsure of what else to say and went back to awkwardly staring at the ground trying to find her rat.

Exhaling, she mentally scolded herself, trying to calm her racing heart as she tried to focus on what mattered. He obviously meant all of them. Not just her. She was not special. Right. She should just be glad that he said he wouldn't attack the shadow thing straight off the bat. Hopefully, they could save Ethen without it coming to that.

Serena had no idea how long they had been walking or where exactly they were but the place got far creepier. "Confirmation?" She repeated the words that they were reading out aloud, her tone clearly confused. Confirmation of... what? She had no idea what it meant but she really did not like it. It felt so out of place. Stopping, she had no intention of moving. All she wanted to do was turn around and run. Her breathing was slightly audible as she panted softly, clearly scared to continue. But Howard was apparently able to see some footprints, which meant they were probably going in the right direction and he was going ahead. Curses escaped her mouth under her breathe as she braved herself to follow, not about to let him go alone or get left behind in this creepy place. Besides, at least they had their head of house with them.

Serena tried to follow, getting more and more worried that she had not seen Pizza Rat anywhere. Where the hell had he run off to? She had to find him but... how? "Accio food," She mumbled, waving her wand in the hope that she could summon some pet food, pizza or anything that she could use to try and force Pizza to return. The smell would entice him, right? She just needed to find some food!

ACTION: Trying to summon some food for Pizza (Maintaining Lumos), Following the down the stairs

Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 13 | Strength: 1 | Wisdom: 15 | Arcane Power: 5 | Accuracy: 10
Abilities: Part-Goblin, Evasive Maneuvers, Beastmaster
Fifth-Year Armour: +10% auto-dodge on attacks [=20% auto-dodge overall]

As Atlas had expected, her cries were met with nothing but silence. Not even a faint whisper or distant shout would return to her ears to rekindle her hope. In truth, she had no idea if her boyfriend was even down there. They had no way to truly know where Ethen was or how to find him. Everything had happened so quickly that they hadn’t even really begun to understand what the kidnapper was. But this was the only place she could search. So even if she needed to check every corner of every room, Atlas would continue her search.

Occasionally, Atlas would mumble for Ethen but her voice was barely audible as her search continued. Had he been even remotely close, she would have heard something. At least she hoped so. The alternative was a far worse possibility.

Thankfully, Atlas’ Lumos seemed to be holding despite the troubles brewing in her wounded mind. Entering one of the rooms, Atlas was happy to have the light, for it would have been terrifying to tread along in complete darkness. Although the sight of the room wasn’t exactly the most appealing. It was a mess of clutter and abandoned items. But not in a whimsical manner. No, the abandoned room looked like it belonged more in a horror movie than anything. After taking a quick look at a couple of the mason jars, Atlas decided that she did not want to know what the room could have possibly been used for.

Everything appeared to be decrepit and long forgotten. Her eyes, momentarily, followed a series of black splotches that seemed to lead back the way she came. But the real issue was in front of her. While still standing in the threshold, she could see three potential paths in front of her. Any one of them might lead her to Ethen but they were just as likely to pull her further away and Atlas hated the idea. Taking a few steps with her heart pounding, the girl studied the path. The strange drawings on the dungeon walls made the room only more disconcerting. She couldn’t possibly begin to imagine what the hell would want to be down here doodling eyes…

Clenching her jaw and refusing to let even the slightest phantom of fear creep over her, Atlas focused on her choices. To the right, one of the doorways was marked with the word HOME… Home for what? The central path held only strange footprints left in some unfamiliar white powder. She traced her wand over the sight hoping that they were just left by some foolish Slytherin students who had gone exploring and not anything more sinister. The final path smelled like some festering hell hole. Atlas involuntarily winced at the foul odor emanating from the direction. Normally the scent alone would have driven her from such a path and the message ‘NOBODY IS HOME’ on the door didn’t exactly make it seem like the most inviting option.

But maybe that was the point. All of the paths had their horrific and unnerving qualities but this one seemed to be the most unnerving. She had nothing to go on. Nothing but her gut to lead her forward and, for some reason, when she thought of Ethen, she thought he likely would have ended up in some smelly hell hole. That would be rather on-brand for her strange boyfriend. Still not liking the prospect, Atlas made her decision and would press forward into the path warning that NOBODY IS HOME. She hoped that part was at least true. She didn’t want to find out who could possibly consider this place a home. But she did hope that somewhere in this festering path she would find Ethen.

ACTION: Taking the fourth path marked by NOBODY IS HOME and maintaining Lumos.

Reducio

STATS:
Stamina: 10
Evasion: 1o
Strength: 4
Wisdom: 7
Arc. Power: 7
Accuracy: 10

ABILITIES:
Fearless
Effect: Fear effects such as a dhmpir's aura, the ability terrible presence, a lycanothrope's intimidation or certain charms, potions and jinxes that would normally cause a fear effect do not work on you as you are immune to them.